Items of Interest: Yountville Town Council Aug. 5 – Part 2
Recognition of the Dulinskys
The council approved naming the newly created barbecue area at the back of the Yountville Community Center as “Bud’s Barbecue” and reaffirmed the naming of the community hall kitchen as “Barbara’s Kitchen.” Staff will install signage in the barbecue area, as well as on the kitchen’s indoor and outdoor entrances, reflecting the new names. They will also hang photographs of Bud and Barbara Dulinsky inside the community hall, along with a small storyboard that will share their long connection to the community and the town in general. Several of the council members shared fun stories of their interactions with the Dulinskys over the years. The vote was 5-0 in favor.
Editor’s note: The Dulinskys, both buried in the Yountville Cemetery, were prominent residents of Yountville. In 1956 they built the Cash & Carry grocery store which is now Ranch Market Too, and the family operated it for many years. Bud was elected to Yountville’s first City Council in 1964 and Barbara served as the Town Treasurer for more than 25 years.
Financial Advisor for Yountville Commons project
Council approved an agreement to contract with KNN Public Finance of Berkeley, Calif. to provide financial advisory services, especially in relation to the Yountville Commons project. A Request for Proposal drew eight responses. A four-person interview panel, consisting of Brad Raulston, town manager; Celia King, town administrative services director; Kyle Batista, town financial analyst, and Liz Habkirk, assistant town manager of Napa, interviewed three applicants and recommended the choice of KNN Public Finance.
The contract is for three years and not to exceed $100,000. The firm’s task will be to provide an in-depth analysis of the town’s current fiscal status, strategic planning and analysis, capital financing options, long-term debt management and, most importantly, present different funding scenarios and options for the Yountville Commons project.
Council member Trippe asked detailed and specific questions about the financing of the Yountville Commons project to ascertain that KNN Public Finance was a good choice. The lead project director for the firm was at the meeting to answer the questions, and all council members were satisfied with this choice.
In answer to a question from Vice Mayor McKee about the transparency of the financing of the Commons, Raulston explained that he will be making quarterly presentations on the project to the community as each step, including financing, is achieved,. Building a toolbox of experts to advise the town and the council in their decisions on the Yountville Commons was a major focal point of the discussion. The vote was 5-0 in favor.
Bardessono Fitness Center
The council voted to approve a 588-square foot addition on the second floor of the Bardessono spa building to enclose their fitness center and to change out their second story pool deck cabanas. Vote was 3-0. Mohler and Trippe were recused for proximity to the project.
Temporary Use Permit
The council voted to create a temporary use permit ordinance as it was missing from the current options of permits. The ordinance will authorize staff to permit certain short-term activities administratively in any zoning district of the town, if they meet certain standards. Examples of allowed uses subject to a temporary use permit include festivals, markets, pop-up retail and seasonal activities, for no more than 12 months at a time. Vote was 5-0 in favor.
The next two agenda items were both in relation to the Yountville Commons project. The endeavor is moving forward in a very detailed, thoughtful, team-building process. The recommendation to hire a financial analyst firm with the breadth of understanding on how to finance projects of this size, and to create a qualifications panel to begin the search for a design-build firm were both important steps being decided upon.
Releasing a Request for Qualification and creating a Qualifications Panel
Choosing a design-build firm will be an important step in this process, but to get to this, the town will first put out a Request for Qualification (RFQ). This will narrow down the anticipated large field of design-build entities by sorting out the firms that might not meet the requirements set out by the town.
To accomplish this next step the town will create a qualifications panel to evaluate the RFQ submittals and then a shortlist of those qualified to potentially assist the town with the various stages/phases of the Yountville Commons Project.
The Qualifications Panel will be made up of the following:
• Town Manager Brad Raulston
• Architect/Planner Brendan Kelly of Kelly Morgan Architects
• Consulting Project Manager Sean Grinnell of Pound Management
• Town Public Works Director John Ferons
• Chairpersons of the three advisory Committees (or their designated assignees)
o Zoning and Design Review Board, Stephen Miller
o Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, Alan Tenscher
o Measure S Oversight Committee, Lisa Bertolucci
Once funding has been approved, the shortlisted firms will be invited to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFPs submitted for the design-build will be evaluated by a team yet to be determined. The council discussed that the firm finally selected should be chosen based on best value, considering not just price but functionality, lifecycle cost, and alignment with town sustainability objectives.
The vote was 5-0 in favor.
