TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Sheryl L. Bratton, County Counsel
REPORT BY: Sheryl L. Bratton, County Counsel
SUBJECT: Resolution amending Chief Executive Officer Ryan Alsop’s Housing Loan Terms and Conditions
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt a Resolution changing the terms of the relocation incentive loan provided to Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Alsop, to be an unsecured loan and authorizing the Board Chair, or designee, to execute reconveyance documents, in a form acceptable to the County Counsel. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
In June 2023, the County appointed Ryan Alsop as the Napa County Chief Executive Officer for a three-year term effective August 7, 2023, and the Chair signed Employment Agreement No. 230460B for Mr. Alsop to serve as Napa County Chief Executive Officer through August 6, 2026. The Employment Agreement included a forgivable relocation incentive loan for the acquisition of a primary residence. In July 2023, the Board of Supervisors authorized Resolution No. 2023-97, approving the relocation loan to assist Employee with the acquisition of a personal residence in Napa County.
Section 4.4.6 of the Employment Agreement provides that the loan shall be in the amount of Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000), and shall be forgivable each year in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) per year for each year that Employee is employed by the County commencing from the anniversary of the loan closing date. Section 4.4.6 also provides that a lien will be recorded against the property securing the loan.
In December 2025, the Board adopted Resolution No. 2025-129, extending the term of the employment agreement with Alsop from August 6, 2026, to December 31, 2029. In addition, in accordance with the terms of the home relocation incentive loan, the County waived $15,000 of the then-remaining balance of the incentive loan. The resolution also delegated authority to the Director of Housing and Community Services to execute a subordination agreement if needed in connection with the refinancing of Alsop’s primary residential home loan from a third party commercial lender under certain terms and conditions.
Currently, the existence of the County’s security interest in the loan is making it difficult for Mr. Alsop to refinance his primary loan on his principal residence. Under the terms of the relocation incentive loan, for each year Alsop remains employed with the County, any balance owed under the loan is reduced by $15,000. Currently, the outstanding loan balance is $45,000 and will be reduced to $30,000 in the coming months as Alsop completes his third year of employment. Should Alsop remain employed through September 2028, the loan will be fully forgiven. In the unlikely event that Alsop leaves employment before September 2028 with a balance owing under the relocation incentive loan, the County has the ability to recoup the remaining balance through an offset of final wages.
Requested Actions: Adopt a Resolution changing the terms of the relocation incentive loan provided to Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Alsop, to be an unsecured loan and authorizing the Board Chair, or designee to execute reconveyance documents, and any other documents necessary to releasing the deed of trust, in a form acceptable to the County Counsel.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Additional Information |
Strategic Initiative: Integrity & Collaboration |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.