American Canyon Weighs Shrinking Sites Reservoir Stake Ahead of December Vote

American Canyon is weighing whether to cut its share of the Sites Reservoir project, an estimated $9.4 billion bet on future water supply, from about 1.8% to about 1%. The council heard a detailed update Monday but took no vote, and public speakers pressed for cost numbers before a go/no-go decision expected in mid-December. With Mayor Pierre Washington absent, the four members present also unanimously adopted a countywide hazard plan and advanced a zoning fix for home businesses on large rural lots.

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• Sites Reservoir share could drop to about 1% as staff align the stake with 2050 water demand.
• Ratepayer impact remains unquantified, with financing talks set for Nov. 17.
• Hazard mitigation plan adopted 4-0, preserving FEMA and Cal OES funding eligibility.
• Home business rules extended to residential estate lots on first reading, 4-0.

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Sites Reservoir: Smaller Stake, Big Questions

The basics: Sites is a new off-stream reservoir north of the Delta, slightly smaller than Lake Berryessa. It would divert about 300,000 acre-feet a year for 30 participating local agencies. Its estimated cost is $7.5 billion in 2024 dollars, or about $9.4 billion with escalation.

Why it matters: American Canyon has already spent about $3.6M to reserve about 25,000 acre-feet of storage, roughly 1.77% of the project. The December decision would commit the city to final design, and no one can yet say what it would mean for water bills.

Where things stand: City Manager Jason Holley said the city's current share exceeds its needs. The Urban Water Management Plan projects 2050 demand of about 2,700 acre-feet.

"Probably makes sense to rightsize our participation and to think about perhaps scaling back our percentage maybe from 1.8 to like 1%, something like that," said Holley.

CalSim3 modeling, the state's water system simulation tool, showed about 4,000 acre-feet available to the city in 68% of years under dry-year prioritization. Under a top-speed scenario, deliveries could reach 10,000 acre-feet. Phil Braun, a part-time retired annuitant with the city, noted a timing advantage: "American Canyon is the only diverter who is considered north-of-Delta."

A final state water right hearing is expected Nov. 4.

The other side: Councilmember Melissa Lamattina led the skeptical questioning.

"What happens during the other 32%, particularly during drought years when we may need this water the most?" she asked. She also cited the city's share, estimated at about $177M plus $13M a year, and asked what that would mean for a typical monthly bill.

Holley said staff cannot yet give a specific rate-increase percentage. He added that the North Bay Aqueduct will need investment and that a non-project water agreement with the state Department of Water Resources is planned.

Councilmember Brando Cruz asked whether the city could recoup its $3.6M if it left the project. Staff said the only participant transaction so far happened at cost. Vice Mayor Mark Joseph added that the cities of Napa and Fairfield are on the project's waiting list, suggesting an exit would likely be recoverable.

Three public commenters raised concerns about cost and risk:

• Travis McDowell asked about a backup plan if Sites misses its target date and whether remaining partners pay more if one exits.
• Robert Cole asked about operations, maintenance and conveyance costs.
• Chris Chiego cited rising costs since 2017, exposure to overruns and uncertain water-sale revenue, and requested a public open house.

"I think it's worth making sure residents know what the price is before the city commits to building it," said Chiego.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The item was receive-and-file, with no vote. The council leaned supportive. Councilmember David Oro argued a water right is worth the expense. Holley noted the city sold surplus State Water Project carryover water this year. Joseph called Sites an economic development strategy paired with the city's high-strength waste project.

"I think for us, the best way forward is to look at this as an economic development opportunity," said Joseph.

Ratepayers carry the open risk. A smaller share would lower exposure but also shrink future supply.

What's next: Staff return Nov. 17 with costs and financing. A go/no-go decision is expected in mid-December, with Dec. 15 cited by speakers.

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Hazard Plan Adopted, With Errors Flagged

Why it matters: Adopting the Napa County 2026 Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan keeps American Canyon eligible for FEMA and Cal OES disaster funding. The plan is renewed every five years countywide.

Where things stand: Public Works Director Erica Almond Smithies outlined five high-priority city actions:

• Wildfire resilience
• Sea level rise
• Drought readiness
• Flood notification
• Stormwater resilience

New 2026 actions cover backup power, dam inundation, slope erosion and high wind. "This is not approving or adopting funding," she said. The action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.

Joseph caught at least one error in the document. "It has a picture of the Howell Mountain Mutual Water Company's dam inundation exposure instead of the American Canyon Dam inundation zone," he said. He also questioned an implausible statistic on homes built before 1939.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Joseph moved the resolution and Lamattina seconded. The vote was For: 4 (Cruz, Lamattina, Oro, Joseph), Against: 0, Absent: 1 (Washington). No public comment was received.

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Home Business Fix for Estate Lots

Why it matters: The city's zoning code omitted residential estate lots, zoned for one unit per acre, from the relaxed home-business standards available to other large-lot properties.

Where things stand: Community Development Director Brent Cooper said the amendment to Chapter 19.29 corrects the oversight. "So the larger zoning was somehow missed in the way the ordinance was written," he said.

Standard rules still apply in typical neighborhoods:

• No change to a home's appearance
• Residents only as workers
• No in-person sales
• No noisy equipment
• Parking in garages or driveways

The other side: Sindy Biederman of American Canyon Troop Support asked, "How is that vibration measured to be able to tell if you've got a complaint?" Staff said the code sets no numeric vibration standard. Instead, it uses a test of whether vibration can be felt beyond the property line. Numeric noise limits do exist, and the amendment does not change either standard. Public commenter Justin Hall echoed the noise concern.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The council waived the first reading, 4-0, with Washington absent. The Planning Commission reviewed the change Sept. 25.

What's next: Second reading is set for the Nov. 17 consent calendar.

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• Consent calendar: Approved 4-0, with Washington absent, without discussion.
• Closed session: No reportable action on litigation with Vallejo, litigation with AC1 LLC, or property negotiations.
• PG&E winter outlook: Mark Van Gorder of PG&E warned of El Niño storms and king tides on Thanksgiving and Christmas. He urged residents to prepare for 24- to 48-hour rural outages and said the Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA) is leading possible Highway 29 undergrounding, with no set timeline.
• Stolen plaque replaced: ACTS and the Tyler Switzer family each gave $1,000 to replace the Lance Cpl. Philip West plaque stolen in May.
• Proclamations: The council recognized Veterans Day and National Code Compliance Appreciation Month, honoring code enforcement officer Tiffany Ford.

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Looking ahead: Joseph said NVTA was set to consider about $750,000 in grants for an East American Canyon Road sidewalk, while the city still pursues $10M and $30M grants. The Veterans Day ceremony is at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at American Canyon Middle School. The council returns Nov. 17 to review Sites financing.