March 2016
 Introducing our Employees of the Year
It is my pleasure to introduce our Employees of the Year: Walnut Creek Police Officer Will Appel and Public Works Administrative Analyst Gina Eicher. Their enthusiasm and dedication to serving the community is, to me, what public service is all about.
In addition, please join me in congratulating community members David German (Transportation), Robert Kearsley (Park, Recreation and Open Space), Peter Lezak (Planning), and James Murray (Mosquito & Vector Control Board District) on their commission/advisory board appointments. We received a record 28 applications for 5 open seats on our volunteer commissions, proving again that community spirit runs deep in Walnut Creek.
Questions, comments about this Update or anything else? Email me at CMUpdates@walnut-creek.org.
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 Budget season is upon us
The 2016-18 operating and capital budgets are working their way through the Finance Committee and will go to the full City Council in April and May.
The bottom line: Thanks to the economic recovery, the draft budget proposes continuing services at the same level as they are today. This does not mean all of our problems have been solved -- we continue to have shortfalls when it comes to fixing or replacing our aging community centers and roads -- but we are definitely in better shape than we were two years ago.
All budget hearings are open to the public and will be posted on our website. I hope you will participate and share with the City Council and staff your ideas for providing services and allocating our resources.
City may join Marin Clean Energy
Walnut Creek residents and businesses may soon be getting
their electricity from Marin Clean Energy, a Community Choice Energy Program that
procures renewable energy for its customers. Under this program, PG&E would
continue to maintain the power grid and infrastructure, respond to outages, and
handle billing. Customers would be given the option of “opting out” of the program.
The City Council voted on Feb. 16 to join Marin Clean Energy; at its March 15
meeting, the Council will be asked to finalize that decision. Click here for more information.
Bocce in Walnut Creek?
The Park, Recreation and Open Space Commission is interested
in measuring community interest in bocce ball programs and the possibility of
building bocce facilities in city parks. Share your opinions by taking the
short survey (click here for survey).
Hotel project coming to Council
A proposal to build a 160-room Marriott Residence Inn at the current site of the Bank of the West and Dirito Brothers Used Cars (corner
of 2050 N California Blvd./2047 N. Main) will be heard by the Planning Commission this Thursday, March 10, and is expected to be considered by the City Council in April. Click here to read the staff report to the Planning Commission.
Latest on Larkey Pool
The rebuilding of Larkey Pool passed two key milestones
recently. The Aquanuts signed a formal agreement with the City to raise
$200,000 to cover the cost of making the pool deeper, and the contract to
rebuild the pool was awarded to Arntz Builders, Inc. on Feb. 16. Demolition of
the pool will begin later this spring, with a 2017 reopening.
 Public Works gets 1st #WalnutCreekWorks award
Throughout 2016, Mayor Loella Haskew will be honoring City
staff and community groups who go the extra mile on behalf of Walnut Creek.
Public Works Manager Rich Payne, left, accepted the first #WalnutCreekWorks” commendation on behalf of the Street Maintenance crew's proactive flood prevention work. Click here to watch a short video on how Public Works helped "weather the storms."
On
March 1, the Mayor recognized the work Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) volunteers do to keep Walnut Creek safe from disaster.
Do
you know of a community group that goes above and beyond to help “Walnut Creek
Work”? If so, email community@walnut-creek.org.
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 My Hero! on video
The Bedford Gallery's "My Hero!" exhibit proved the perfect fodder for a lively video by Walnut Creek TV. Whether you've seen the exhibit in person or not, this short interview with gallery curator Carrie Lederer is sure to inform. Watch it now by clicking here!
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 Egg-Stravaganza
Bring the kids to Heather Farm Park on Saturday, March 26 for the 2016
Egg-Stravaganza. The fun begins at 9 a.m. with egg hunts, photos with the
Easter Bunny, face painting and crafts. The 2016 Egg-Stravaganza is hosted by the Walnut Creek
Interact Youth Council (a program of the Rotary Club) in partnership with
Walnut Creek Recreation.
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Disco on tap at Walnut Creek 1st Wednesday
It’s time
for bell bottoms, groovy tunes and anything tie-dyed as Walnut Creek Downtown
celebrates the ‘70s with a funky festival of live music, food and fun. The 1st Wednesday street fest run from 5-8 p.m. April 6 on Cypress Street between N. Main and Locust. Learn more at walnutcreekdowntown.com
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