As Napa prepares for the August retirement of its current Parks & Recreation Director, John Coates, the City has decided to shift administrative duties to address the impending vacancy. The department will remain intact, with day to day operations continuing under the supervision of Recreation Manager Katrina Gregory, and Parks & Urban Forestry Manager Jeff Gittings. Following Coates’ retirement, general oversight of the Parks & Recreation Department will fall to Vin Smith, Director of Community Development.
Coates will be honored at a City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, recognizing him for his many contributions to the City of Napa.
“All of us here at the City are thrilled for John and wish him well as he enters retirement,” says City Manager Steve Potter. “As a City, we are also dedicated to preserving the quality of services that our Parks & Recreation department offers our residents, and believe that these administrative adjustments will do just that while preserving essential City budget.”
By shifting department oversight to fall under Community Development, the City is able to keep the department intact and save the funds it would spend on a salary, without additional impacts to Parks & Recreation services.
“We have heard how very valuable the Parks & Rec Department is to so many in our community and how it makes Napa such a wonderful place to live, work and play,” says Potter. “We will continue to listen to our community and make the best decisions we can to meet the needs of all Napans.”