Steven Rogers, Yountville’s Town Manager for the past 15 years, announced his plans to retire in early 2023, culminating a 37-year career in local government. The announcement was made following the Town Council’s meeting on Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to both serve as Town Manager and live in such a special community as Yountville,” Rogers said following his announcement. “I am grateful for the support of the 12 different elected council members I worked with over the years who focused on the needs and priorities of our community. I also want to express appreciation to the many engaged residents who served on our boards and commissions or just shared their thoughts about Yountville with me. Most importantly, though, I remain incredibly thankful and appreciative of the amazing employees of the Town who contribute day in and day out to provide Yountville with high quality services and make it the desirable place to live that it is. On a personal note, I look forward to enjoying the Yountville lifestyle that many of our retired residents enjoy,” said Rogers.
Rogers is the longest current serving manager in Napa County. He was hired by the Yountville Town Council in October of 2007. He has guided the Town through the challenges of the modern era Great Recession, a major earthquake in 2014, multiple wildfires in 2017 and 2020, a mass shooting in 2018, and the ongoing impacts of the COVID pandemic.
Throughout his management in Yountville, the Town has adopted balanced budgets every year. Rogers has been instrumental in strengthening the Town’s financial position, growing and establishing critical reserve funds, and proactively addressing pension and OPEB obligations. Rogers helped create the Town’s Revenue Stabilization Fund to prepare for uneven revenue cycles associated with the fluctuations of a tourism-centric local economy.
“Steve has been instrumental in the evolution and success of Yountville for 15 years,” said Yountville Mayor John Dunbar. “That length of service in one community is extremely rare for his position, and it is a testament to his dedicated, effective leadership. I was part of the Council that hired Steve and I can say confidently that we got it right. Steve also has assembled an incredible Town staff that shares his commitment to serving our residents, businesses and visitors at the highest level,” Dunbar said.
During his lengthy tenure, Rogers has managed a number of significant capital projects, including the financing and construction of the Yountville Community Center; seismic retrofit of the historic Town Hall; renovations to Yountville Community Park and Veterans Memorial Park; the expansion of the Town’s signature pedestrian pathway system; street, facility and infrastructure maintenance projects; upgrades to the municipal wastewater treatment plant and expansion of the recycled water system.
In addition, Rogers has helped Yountville lead in environmental and climate protection initiatives, including gas-powered leaf blower and pesticide bans, methane recapture and solar energy systems, electric vehicle charging stations, and a tree protection and replanting policy.
In 2019, Rogers worked with the Town Council to create a ceremonial flag policy and supported the raising of the LGBTQ Rainbow Flag to recognize June as Pride Month.
Steve was instrumental in establishing Napa County’s Tourism Improvement District and chairs the Yountville TID-Local Government Committee. He also has played critical roles in drafting local ordinances, resolutions and other government actions that have been replicated in neighboring jurisdictions.
Rogers led multi-year General Plan and Zoning Code updates, and he supported the creation of Yountville’s Arts Commission and Parks & Recreation Commission. He was a strong advocate for increased use of technology to improve the Town’s operational processes.
Rogers and has been involved in various community activities including FOCUS, the Board of Directors for Yountville Kiwanis and the Yountville Chamber of Commerce, the Board and as President of Leadership Napa Valley, and as a sponsor of Yountville’s “Movies in the Park” and “Music in the Park” series.
Professionally, he has represented the Town serving on the Board of Directors of the California Insurance Risk Authority (CIRA), Board of Directors for Regional Government Services (RGS), as chair of the Napa County City Managers group, and elected as President of the statewide League of California Cities City Managers Department.
Rogers previously served in local government positions in Santa Paula, Indio, San Bruno, and the North Tahoe Public Utility District. A native of Michigan, Rogers holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a master’s in Public Administration focusing on local government from the University of Kansas.
The Yountville Town Council will meet in the next few weeks to discuss next steps and the process to select Roger’s successor. Rogers has indicated a willingness to stay on into early 2023 to help the newly constituted Town Council with this transition.
