City Council Update
The City Council will meet next on January 16. The City Council will consider proceeding with improvements to the driving range at Boundary Oak Golf Course during that meeting.
In December, the Council held its traditional reorganization meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Loella Haskew was selected as Mayor. She and outgoing Mayor Cindy Silva shared their reflections on the past year and the coming one. Mayor Haskew last served as Mayor in 2020. Cindy Darling was selected as Mayor Pro Tem.
You can view agenda material and prior meetings on the public meetings agendas and videos webpage. As always, you're invited to attend in person, or watch live on YouTube, Walnut Creek TV, or on our City's website.
Measure O Update: your tax dollars at work
Thanks to voters who approved Measure O, the temporary ½ sales tax increase, efforts are underway on a variety of fronts to spend the funds on projects, programs and services important to Walnut Creek residents. Five new police officer positions dedicated to the downtown area are now in place, which was especially helpful during the holiday season. New sports field lighting is coming to Tice Valley Park, and it should be operational by next fall. The design phase starts soon for new all-weather fields at Heather Farm Park. Public engagement for the conversion of Fields 1 and 2 will begin early in 2024.
One of the most visible projects is the upcoming replacement of the aging aquatics center and community center at Heather Farm Park. Both were built more than 50 years ago, and need more than just a renovation. Public outreach during the fall was helpful for providing guidance and input in the overall design of the project. As a result of that first round of public engagement, architects are preparing a schematic design presentation package which will be presented to various city commissions and the City Council in early 2024. The next meeting will be before the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission on January 9. At that meeting, there will be a review of the buildings and site layout. The goal is to begin construction in the summer of 2025; construction is expected to take two years. To find out the latest about this project, visit the Heather Farm Park webpage at walnut-creek.org/heatherfarm. The City is pleased to be able to provide the new facility and pools in a balanced way for the entire community.
Apply for City Commissions
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A number of City Commissions have openings; if you are interested in becoming more involved with the City, see what options might work for you.
Walnut Creek has an Arts Commission, a Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission, a Transportation Commission, a Design Review Commission, a Planning Commission and more - find out how you can become part of leading your City at the Commissions webpage.
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Winter weather on the way - be prepared
2023 arrived with a bang, drenching the Bay Area with heavy rain and wind. While 2024 didn't start quite as busy, rain is in the forecast for this week, and it always pays to be prepared. The City's Walnut Creek Public Works team used the relatively dry weeks leading up to the holidays to ensure as much preventive work could be done as possible, clearing out storm drain systems, providing additional sweeping in neighborhoods with mature trees, and restocking sandbag supplies. These efforts by the Public Works Department aim to minimize the risks of blockages, flooding, and other potential problems during heavy winds and rainfall. Find out what you can do to manage through storms and prepare in advance by visiting our storm preparedness webpage.
City launches new websites
 Last month, the City completed a major overhaul of Walnut Creek's main website, as well as sites for the Police Department, Arts + Recreation, and Economic Development. Each of those can be reached through the main site, which now has the address of https://www.walnutcreekca.gov.
The City revamped the sites to provide easier access to services and information, and expanded community engagement. They were designed with the help of our community and staff through a series of surveys, workshops and user-testing throughout 2023. They also offer an improved experience on phones and other mobile devices.
Arts + Recreation courses underway soon; and it is not too early to think about Summer Camps
Winter quarter Arts + Rec classes begin on January 7, and there is still time to register for classes; check out the course options in the Winter Guide, and register for activities today.
And yes, it's January, but it is not too soon to start planning summer camp options for your kids. An interactive summer camp fair will be held on January 27 from 9 a.m. until noon at Civic Park Community Center Assembly Hall at 1375 Civic Drive. Bring the family to discover options and chat with staff at this informal event. Early bird pricing of 10% off camp fees runs through January 30. Find out more about the summer camp fair online.
And save the date for Arts + Rec's Job Fair. They're looking for enthusiastic, creative, and community-oriented individuals and will be hiring for multiple hourly positions, including summer camp counselors, building attendants, coaches, preschool teachers, ticket agents and more. There is truly something for everyone. The job fair will be held on February 8 from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Shadelands Art Center, 111 N. Wiget Lane. Visit the department website for details.
This month at the Lesher Center: Every Brilliant Thing
 Coming up in the new year from Center Repertory Company is "Every Brilliant Thing," a poignant journey through grief. It runs January 6 - 28, with "pay what you can" ticket options at the January 6 - 14 performances.
While you're there, stop by Bedford Gallery and find its latest exhibition, California Clay. It showcases the talent of contemporary ceramicists. Learn more about the exhibition online.
Give us your feedback: Sustainability Survey available through January 15
The City Council adopted a new Sustainability Action Plan in July, which outlines how the City and the Walnut Creek community can collectively reduce our climate change-causing emissions, as well as improve our sustainability and resilience. To further understand how we can work together to achieve our goals, the City has prepared a short survey online, and is looking for input from the community. The survey will remain open through January 15.
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