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Fourteen new electric buses are now rolling through Napa County as Vine Transit accelerates its transition to a cleaner, greener fleet. Made possible by federal grants supporting sustainable transportation, these zero-emission buses will reduce greenhouse gases, improve air quality, and provide riders with a quieter, smoother trip.

“Our diesel buses were long past their useful life, and we have been eagerly awaiting these new Gillig battery electric buses,” said Rebecca Schenck, director of transit for the Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA), which operates Vine Transit. “Every zero-emission bus we put on the road strengthens our commitment to cleaner air and better mobility for Napa County.”

Replacing just one diesel bus with an electric model eliminates roughly 100 metric tons of carbon emissions every year—a significant step since transportation is the leading source of greenhouse gases. NVTA has set a goal of operating a zero-emission fleet by 2040.

The new buses were funded through two competitive Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants. In 2021, NVTA received $8.4 million from the Buses and Bus Facilities Program to purchase eight buses and install charging infrastructure at its state-of-the-art Vine Transit Maintenance Facility.

The following year, the agency secured an additional $6.3 million Low or No Emission Grant award to buy six more electric buses. That year, the FTA awarded just 150 projects nationwide out of more than 530 applications—highlighting the strength and importance of NVTA’s proposal.

Vine Transit put its first electric buses into service in 2022. With these latest additions, 25% of the fleet is now zero-emission, marking another milestone toward a cleaner future. The new maintenance facility is already equipped to support electric and hydrogen technologies, as they become available locally.

Pierre R. Washington, a resident of American Canyon since 2006, was elected to the City Council in November 2020 and Mayor in 2024. Pierre is passionate about economic development, public safety, affordable housing and social equity. One of his goals is to diversify the City’s government, staff and volunteer groups to better resemble the community’s diverse cultural backgrounds.

Pierre currently serves on several local and regional committees, including the Napa Valley Transportation Authority, Napa Vallejo Waste Management Authority, Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Napa County Resource Conservation District, North Bay Watershed Association, Napa County Youth Opportunity Commission, and Napa Valley Unified School District 2X2 Committee. He’s also a member of statewide groups, such as the Latino and African American Caucuses of the League of California Cities. He volunteers regularly with several local organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lions Club of American Canyon, and the American Canyon Open Space Advisory Commission. Pierre also frequently volunteers with the Faith Bible Church of Vallejo where he assists with security and Faith Food Fridays, a non-profit food distribution center.

Pierre is a veteran of the United States Navy. He served 11 years in active duty and 11 years in the Navy Reserve. Before retiring, he had a 22-year career in law enforcement at the Richmond Police Department and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department. Currently, he oversees security, safety, health and environmental issues for a biotechnology company.

Pierre has seven adult children with his wife, Cherylyn. In his spare time, he loves camping and “RV’n”—traveling in his recreational vehicle.

Liz is a fourth-generation Napa native, whose family has resided in Napa County for over 140 years. Her great-great-grandfather served as a Napa County Supervisor for District 2 from 1901 to 1904. With 20 years in healthcare, including a decade focused on public health and community benefits, Liz has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, serving as an Executive Director. She was also a small business owner in the local tourism industry. Liz holds a degree in Communications from Napa Valley College, but she values her lived experiences in Napa County as her most significant education.

Elected at-large to the Napa City Council in 2018 and re-elected in 2022 for the newly established City District 1, Liz has been active in regional governance. She served on the Association of Bay Area Governments General Assembly and the Napa County Flood Control & Water Conservation District Board from 2018 to 2020, continuing thereafter as an Alternate Board Member for both. She was appointed to the Napa Valley Transportation Authority in 2018, serving as Chair for two years, and held positions on the Oversight Board of the Area Agency on Aging, Napa County Climate Action Committee (Chair for two years), the City of Napa Nomination Committee, and the Napa Subregion Housing Allocation Committee.

In the community, Liz is involved with the Napa County Suicide Prevention Council, the Napa County Historical Society Board, and Operation with Love From Home Board, and has previously served on the Board of the Napa County Hispanic Chamber, Hands Across the Valley, and the Napa Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s & Dementia. She is a member of Rotary, Native Daughters of the Golden West, and the Moose Lodge.

Liz is married to Jess Hudak and has three grown children and three grandchildren.

Bernardo “Bernie” Narvaez is a local business owner and Iraq War Veteran having served in the U.S. Marines for six years. Born in Sinaloa, Mexico, Bernie’s family immigrated to California in 1990, overcoming poverty and homelessness.

In 2008, Bernie, with his father Gerardo, established Narvaez Insurance in the City of Napa, serving families and small businesses. Bernie has served as a Parks and Recreations Commissioner and Vice-Chair for the 2040 General Plan update for the City of Napa. He currently serves as the vice-chair of the Napa County Veterans commission, advocating for veterans’ services and benefits.

Bernie and his wife Gaby own a home in Napa and are raising two young daughters. As a graduate of Leadership Napa Valley class 30 and Napa Citizens Academy class 3, he serves as the President of the Napa County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Bernie is an active member of Napa Sunrise Rotary, the Napa Marines Corps League, and is a co-founder of the Napa County Latinx Democratic Club.

Michelle is the Executive Director of QA Commons, a national nonprofit focused on improving students’ workforce success and economic mobility. She manages daily operations, oversees projects, develops initiatives, raises funds, and works with the Board to achieve organizational goals. As a consultant, Michelle has researched rural economic development and labor markets, co-written winning grants for federal agencies, and served on education nonprofit boards. Before entering the nonprofit sector, she spent over 15 years in corporate roles at Bank of America, Atlas Capital Advisors, and Oracle Corporation. Michelle holds an M.A. in Demography from U.C. Berkeley and a B.A. in Rural Sociology from Cornell University. She lives in St. Helena with her husband and three children, all students in the St. Helena Unified School District. In her spare time, she plays in the St. Helena bocce league and is a Masters swimmer with the Napa Valley Waves.

A fifth generation Napan, rural resident, and scientist, Amber brings a unique skillset to local governance. Since the 2010s, she has been a strong advocate for sustainable natural resource management in Napa County, serving on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan Advisory Committee and as Board Secretary for Protect Rural Napa, a local nonprofit. Amber’s professional background includes work in natural resources management and sustainable transportation. Amber earned her doctorate in Geography from UC Davis in 2014, specializing in land use change, mapping, and plant ecology. Her postdoctoral research at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences focused on floodplain management and California state agency responses to the 2012–2016 drought. When she’s not making maps or reading, Amber enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with her family.

Alfredo Pedroza is a lifelong Napa resident and elected District 4 Supervisor in 2016, after being appointed by the Governor in 2014 to finish his predecessor’s term. Before joining the Board of Supervisors, Alfredo was elected to the Napa City Council in 2012, becoming the youngest and first Latino Council member ever elected. 

Professionally, Alfredo has worked in the financial services industry for more than 10 years, having careers with credit unions and community banks. Alfredo’s many years of experience in the financial services industry have helped countless local families and businesses improve their finances and thoughtfully manage and sustain growth. His broad-based community leadership roles encompassing commerce, educational and social service organizations have helped facilitate job growth and economic development, provide aid for local schools and lend support to individuals and families most in need.

Alfredo is active with service clubs and nonprofit organizations. His passion for public and community service stems from his commitment to working to create a Napa County where his children and future generations of Napa citizens will live, seek jobs, start businesses, and raise their families.

Alfredo is a graduate of Sonoma State University, where he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a minor in Economics. He and his wife, Brenda, another Napa native, attended local schools, volunteer locally, and are the proud parents of three young children: Alfredo III, who was born in 2015, Alessandra, who was born in September 2019, and the newest member of the family, Santiago, who was born in February 2021.

Email: alfredo.pedroza@countyofnapa.org

Anna was elected to the St. Helena City Council in 2018 and 2022. Anna received a Bachelor’s of Art from the University of California, Santa Barbara, majoring in Communications and Spanish and a Master’s of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine Business School. Anna has experience working for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations in leadership roles and provided consulting services to organizations that want to create positive work environments with a focus on leadership and engagement.

As a resident of St. Helena, Anna has been focused on raising her two children, teaching as an adjunct professor at a local college, community organizing, and becoming an active advocate and volunteer.

Email: achouteau@cityofsthelena.org

Paul was elected to the St. Helena City Council in 2014, 2018 and as Mayor in 2022. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and social welfare from U.C. Berkeley and his Juris Doctorate degree from U.C. Davis Law School. Paul has maintained a private law practice in Calistoga since 1997 focusing primarily on business and real estate transactions, insurance disputes and civil litigation.

Paul served on the Board of Directors for the 25th District Agricultural Association (Napa Expo) for seven years. He was a Board Member of Community Action of the Napa Valley. He served on the Calistoga Planning Commission and was elected to the Calistoga City Council in 1997. He also previously served on LAFCO from 1997 to 2001 and in 2017. In addition to his current St. Helena City Council service, Paul is a member of the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce, the Calistoga Rotary Club and the St. Helena Catholic Church. He enjoys hiking, biking, politics, reading, sports and jazz. Paul’s wife, Kara, is a Spanish teacher at RLS. They live in St. Helena with their daughter, Lia. Their eldest child, Tavy, is studying computer science in the East Bay.

Email: pdohring@cityofsthelena.org