City Council Update
The City Council meets tomorrow, Tuesday, June 4, with a range of topics on the agenda. The Council will issue a proclamation recognizing Gun Violence Awareness Day, and hear a presentation from the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District. The District has been doing significant upgrade work in downtown Walnut Creek.
The Council will also take into consideration zoning ordinance amendments, including one allowing expanded residential density with certain conditions to comply with new State laws, and another allowing accessory dwelling units, often called ADUs, on faith-based properties.
When the City Council meets on June 18, staff will present an update on progress made towards the Council's five strategic priorities. You can read more about the priorities on our website.
In May, the Council issued proclamations for National Police Week, National Public Works Week and Affordable Housing Month. The Council also denied an appeal pertaining to a Chick-fil-A restaurant planned for the Citrus Marketplace Shopping Center. The restaurant did not propose a drive-thru at this location, and the Council added conditions that will expand traffic monitoring, and other measures if congestion becomes a problem.
You are welcome to attend our meetings in person, or watch on Walnut Creek TV, YouTube live, or video on demand through Roku, Amazon Firestick, and Apple TV. Find out more meeting details by visiting our public meetings and agendas webpage.
Conduct expected in public meetings
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While most City Council and other public meetings have been civil in nature, and issues are discussed with a chance for all sides to participate, we have recently experienced less than civil behavior. As many of you know, we have had instances of hate speech during public comment. While more prevalent when we were using Zoom, there have been several times when hate speech was brought into the Council chamber. The City Council and community members strongly rebuked these types of comments and have also recognized First Amendment rights of those speaking. However, disruption hasn't just been limited to hate speech. During a recent appeal of a land use decision, many residents in the Chamber were disruptive, and dismissive of the process of local government meetings. The City's meetings are governed by the State mandated Brown Act, which is intended to help ensure all voices can be heard. Our expectation is that everyone attending our meetings will do so respectfully, even on issues in which they might disagree with one another or with City decisions.
We encourage and welcome your presence at City meetings. We just ask that you show respect to everyone in the room.
Progress made with the countywide crisis mental health response program
A new data dashboard is giving some clarity to the impacts of the countywide behavioral health program known as A3, which aims to provide timely and appropriate mental heath services to “anyone, anywhere, anytime” in Contra Costa County.
The City of Walnut Creek has been involved in the development of the A3 program since its inception. The new resource centralizes A3’s reporting call volume, mobile response details, client demographics and other key metrics. Users have the ability to filter data by city, number of people served, total calls, or mobile responses, giving a snapshot of how much A3 is being used by residents in Walnut Creek.
What's on deck at the Lesher Center for the Arts
Center Repertory Company’s production of the Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece Cabaret runs through June 23 at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Tickets are going fast as it has already received rave reviews in the San Francisco Chronicle and more. Kick off the 2024/25 Headliners Season with a fireside chat with EGOT winner Rita Moreno and enjoy a diverse range of artists and genres all season long—from a Broadway powerhouse to the newest superstars of Jazz, Dance, Music—the 2024/25 Headliners Season offers something for everyone. Uplift Native Voices with Good Medicine, a night of live native stand-up comedy on June 22. Visit the Lesher Center website for ticket information and details.
Pride Month events in Walnut Creek
Pride Month kicked off this past weekend with yoga in the park, story time and crafts. There are remaining activities through our Arts + Recreation Department throughout June. Visit the Arts + Rec website for details, including a special night of Cabaret at the Lesher Center. The annual raising of the Pride Flag occurred on Friday and was attended by Councilmembers and residents. The City began raising the Pride Flag in 2019.
Summer classes and more: register now
Registration is open for Summer Arts + Rec classes. There are endless options for classes, everything from learning line dancing to how to prepare Indonesian cuisine. There is truly something for all interests and all ages.
Additionally, the Arts + Rec Department is still accepting Summer Camp registrations for select camp options. Recreational swim hours at Larkey Park and Clarke Memorial Swim Centers return beginning on June 10. Visit the Arts + Rec website for all the details.
Walnut Creek Uncorked: Thursday, June 20
Kick off summer with a sip, savor and stroll in downtown Walnut Creek. Live music and entertainment will be available from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. with a check in at Rudney Plaza just outside of the Lesher Center for the Arts. More than 30 wine, beer and spirit tastings will be available, along with a variety of food tastings. Artisan vendors will have plenty of crafts and other items for purchase. Details on tickets can be found on the website for the presenting sponsor, Walnut Creek Downtown.
Northbound Interstate 680 express lane completion project
Caltrans, in partnership with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA,) is proposing to complete a gap in the existing express lanes on Interstate 680 that run through Walnut Creek. The proposed project would construct a northbound express lane from Livorna Road to State Route 242, with a goal of easing congestion, especially during peak hours. A draft Environmental Impact Report is on the CCTA website, along with opportunities for the public to find out more and provide comments at one of two meetings to be held later this week. Find out details on the CCTA project website.
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