February 2016
 At her State of the City presentation, Mayor Loella Haskew
announced her theme for the year: Walnut Creek Works.
As your City Manager, I
could not agree more. Walnut Creek works in myriad ways. Dedicated nonprofits and
volunteers contribute their time and talents to a wide range of needs. Our
businesses continue to innovate and invigorate our local economy. City
employees come to work every day with one goal in mind: to serve the public.
As part of the Walnut Creek Works initiative, we’ll be
highlighting examples of great work done by all of the people and groups listed
above. If you have suggestions, please let me know! Email cmupdates@walnut-creek.org
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State of the City on video
Want to hear the State of the City address? Just click here to watch the 15-minute address by Mayor Loella Haskew. A longer version, including the presentation by Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce President Linda Rimac Colberg, is available by clicking here.
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 Financial update
The City will not pursue a revenue measure this year, a City Council majority decided at a study session last night in light of the City's 2014-15 budget surplus.
The Council committed to having a vigorous discussion next month about how to use the surplus to address pension liabilities, long term facility needs and short term community projects. The improved long term financial picture still does not fully address future capital needs such as replacement of aging community facilities.
Additionally, the City Council approved a revised Long Term Financial Forecast that will serve as the basis for development of our next two-year budget.
City to consider joining clean energy program
On Feb. 16, the City Council will consider taking the first steps to join MCE, a Community Choice Energy program that would allow the City to partner with other local governments to deliver cleaner, renewable energy to residents and businesses. PG&E would continue to deliver energy, maintain the grid infrastructure and handle customer billing. Learn more about Community Choice Energy by visiting our Going Green Together website.
Shadelands zoning changes to be considered by City Council
The City Council on Feb. 16 will consider zoning changes for
the Shadelands business center that would allow for a broader range of
development types, including schools, hotels and skilled nursing facilities,
and streamline the review process to allow more approvals at the staff level. More detail is available in this Planning Commission staff report.
The
changes are part of a collaborative effort between the City, the Walnut Creek
Chamber of Commerce and Shadelands property owners to revitalize the 273-acre business
center and bring more jobs to Walnut Creek. Learn more about what’s in store
for the Shadelands by visiting its new website.
Library garage now closed midnight to 6 a.m.
Starting today, the Walnut Creek Library garage will be
closed from midnight until 6 a.m. We are making the change due to an increase
in car break-ins and vandalism taking place in the early morning hours, as well
as persons sleeping in the garage stairwells overnight. Anyone who leaves their
car in the garage after midnight will need to wait until 6 a.m. to retrieve it.
For questions or concerns regarding this change, contact Carla Hansen in the
City Manager’s Office. |
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Super Bowl on Cypress Street tonight
The Super Bowl comes to Cypress Street tonight with live
music, games, food and festivities. Festivities run from 5-8 p.m., part of the
1st Wednesday street fests produced every month by the Walnut Creek
Downtown Association.
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My Hero! saving the day at the Bedford Gallery
Experience the escapades of iconic superheroes with “My
Hero! Contemporary Art and Superhero Action,” a collection of international
artworks in a variety of media. Through March 20 at the Bedford Gallery.
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Authors on deck a Library Gala
Tickets to the Walnut Creek Library Foundation’s Authors
Gala go on sale March 1. The April 16 event is always a sell-out, with the
opportunity to mingle with authors over cocktails and dinner at the library.
Two options are available: $75 for the Bon Voyage cocktail reception, and $250
for Dinner on the Promenade.
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