In Napa, back to basics

Cities are judged by how they provide the basics.

Local government agencies are and should be judged by how well they provide essential services including police and fire protection, safe streets and intersections, water delivery and garbage pick-up. These are things citizens expect cities to do.

What do these essential functions have to do with global warming or environmentally-advanced construction materials? The connection is tenuous, yet when the city held a public forum last week on what promises to be a very tight 2007-09 budget, much time was spent discussing the role the city can play regarding “green building” and global warming.

Like many others, we see the importance of addressing these topics, as individuals and as a society. However, we feel it is far more important for this city to focus on the basics, and focus on them now.

Last year, a city of Napa department got slammed by the Napa County civil grand jury for “arrogance” and poor service provided to those who sought the approval of construction projects.

In recent months, it came to light that the city had less-than-adequate oversight of housing funds, and the city did not realize it had lost track of $1.4 million for several months.

Year after year, Napa is ranked as one of the worst Bay Area cities when it comes to road maintenance.

Clearly, the city has plenty of challenges in front of it. The most important is to get on sound fiscal footing to provide services reasonably expected by local residents.

Mike Parness, Napa’s new city manager, seems to recognize this, as he has taken forceful and promising first steps in the effort to control costs and improve city services. This will not be easy.

Meanwhile, city staffers have been at work on a green construction ordinance, and that is fine. Use of more sustainable construction methods and materials will reduce our dependence on materials that are not healthy for the planet or the economy. Similarly, many cities are taking action to try to arrest the progress of global warming. This city, like others, can make positive moves by acquiring fuel-efficient vehicles and machinery as it replaces existing equipment, and by encouraging consumer conservation efforts.

But it will be of little consolation for locals if Napa is one of the greenest cities in the Bay Area while its roads remain among the worst and emergency response times are below average. And we submit that the city will be better positioned to tackle global warming by connecting with regional, state and federal efforts to impose new regulations or encourage new practices than it would be acting alone.

Meanwhile, we’re hoping for the basics: A balanced budget, a call back from the overworked people in code enforcement and continued dedication to the quality of life of all Napans.

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