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This week, we had expected indoor restaurant dining to return, but the County this week pushed pause on some anticipated July openings. In addition to indoor dining, gyms/fitness centers, bars, indoor museums and hotels for tourism will remain closed for the time being. The Governor is trying to discourage holiday weekend travel to State beaches, and is encouraging celebrating the holiday at home with your own family rather than in large neighborhood gatherings.
The actions are a result of the numbers. The seven-day average number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the county increased by 75% over the past two weeks. Newly-identified positive cases have also increased dramatically in our region.
This slow reopening of different business sectors in our community has been hard for us all, from those who manage the operations to those who use them. I know how frustrating this time has been for all of us, and thank you for your patience as we work within State and County guidelines to reopen Walnut Creek safely. Find out about our Rebound program below, and get the latest information on the County's reopening timeline on the coronavirus website.
Questions, comments about this Update or anything else? Email me at CMUpdates@walnut-creek.org.
The City Council met Tuesday night and into early Wednesday morning, discussing the budget that will cover our spending through the end of June 2021. The Council is making extremely difficult decisions, with severe cuts required to balance our budget in light of decreased revenues. The Council will adopt a balanced budget at its next meeting on Tuesday, July 7. You can watch a replay of Tuesday's meeting, view agenda documents and see upcoming meeting information on our City's public meetings webpage.
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Walnut Creek Rebound: downtown businesses reopening; safety precautions critical to keeping them open
The City is ready to work side-by-side with our business community to find creative ways to allow for retail and restaurant operations in the world of COVID-19. Our City Rebound program offers a variety of temporary changes to enable businesses to use outdoor spaces, including curbside pickup zones and expanded outdoor dining. We have streamlined the application process, and will make changes as necessary to reactivate our business community.
Please visit the City's Rebound website for details on how your operation can take advantage of the many opportunities available.
Meanwhile, take a look at some of the images of a reopening Walnut Creek. It's great to see our businesses back in operation.
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Downtown Parking Update: garages and purple meters remain available at no cost
As the downtown opens to more dining and shopping, note that changes are coming to parking. Downtown green meters are now charging $2 per hour with 3 hour time limits to allow for more visitors to park. Want to continue to park for free? Use any of the purple meters or park at any of the City garages. City garages are located adjacent to the Lesher Center, at 1390 Broadway and 1350 Locust Street.
Download the Parkmobile app to pay for parking, extend your time and avoid touching the parking meters.
Find out more at the Parking website, or by watching this short video.
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Two-week closure planned for Southbound I-680 on-ramp at South Main Street
Closure begins at 10:00 p.m. Sunday, July 5
One of the unexpected benefits of the shelter at home order has been the ability to fast-track highway construction projects throughout the state. That includes Contra Costa Transportation Authority's effort to build 11 miles of new express lane roadway from Martinez to around Livorna Road in Alamo. Construction is nearly a year ahead of schedule, and the new lane could be open by the end of summer. To make this happen, overnight work will take place from the evening of July 5 through Monday morning on July 20. Find more details on the project website.
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Don't forget to fill out your Census form
It's not too late to fill out your Census form if you haven't done it yet, and it is easier than ever this year. You can fill it out online, over the phone, or ask for a paper form. The Census is vital now more than ever as it will determine how much money our County and City will receive from the federal government for social services, infrastructure, schools, health clinics and more. Find out more by visiting the County's Census 2020 website.
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Help set the City’s environmental goals and strategies for the next decade by giving your input as we develop our new Sustainability Action Plan. The City is updating its plan to address climate change and expanding it to include new environmental sustainability topics. There are several upcoming opportunities this summer to share your input: 7/9 Planning Commission meeting, 7/16 Transportation Commission meeting, and 7/29 Virtual Community Workshop. Visit the project website to learn more and register for the community workshop.
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Face coverings required - please wear them to keep everyone safe
Just a few months ago, seeing someone wearing a mask around town was out of the ordinary, and seemed like an overreaction to the coronavirus that was just emerging. Now, we have clear guidance that wearing a face covering and keeping physical distance from each other makes a difference in helping everyone stay healthy. The City's goal is to emphasize education, not citation, in how we enforce the County Health Officer's direction regarding face coverings. Please keep up to date on the latest information at the City's coronavirus website.
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Celebrating July 4 Safely
While typically a time to celebrate with block parties and gatherings, Independence Day will look a little different this year. Public fireworks events have been cancelled this year due to COVID-19, and the Contra Costa County Fire District is urging people to avoid the temptation to replace them with fireworks in your own neighborhood. All fireworks, even those dubbed safe and sane, are illegal in Contra Costa County. For the past few weeks though, Con Fire crews have been responding to an extraordinarily high number of fireworks-related calls.
Please note, City offices will be closed on Friday in observance of the holiday.
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Need more art in your life?
Hop online or take a public art walking tour through Walnut Creek
Get your daily dose of exercise and culture by heading out for a walk through downtown Walnut Creek. Visit the Walk Walnut Creek website to learn about four different walking routes throughout the City with unique art stops along the way. Each artwork has a corresponding recorded audio explanation to enhance your knowledge of the surprises in our City.
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