Welcome to 2025! Last year went by very quickly as we moved forward on many significant projects. We are excited for what's ahead this year, and thankful for your support of City initiatives.
I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season. Happy New Year to all of our Walnut Creek residents.
The City Council's next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 21, at 6:00 p.m.
The Council had a busy December. On December 3, returning City Councilmembers Cindy Darling and Kevin Wilk were sworn in, along with first-time Councilmember Craig DeVinney. The Council selected Cindy Darling to serve as Mayor, and Kevin Wilk to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. They also paid tribute to retiring Mayor Loella Haskew, who served on the Council for 12 years.
On December 17, the City Council received an update about work accomplished pertaining to the Council's five strategic priorities. Significant progress has taken place on each of them. The Council revisits its priorities every two years, and will be discussing priorities for 2025-2026 in February. You can read the update on priorities online, or view the presentation on Walnut Creek TV.
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.
Walnut Creek recognized for best practices in sustainability
We were pleased to have the City recognized with the Beacon Spotlight Award from the Institute for Local Government. Walnut Creek received platinum recognition for best practices in sustainability, which is fitting as sustainability is one of the City Council's strategic priorities. The City demonstrated 66 best practices within eleven sustainability categories, in part because of the City’s longstanding commitment in this arena. From installing 39 EV chargers to converting 96% of our streetlights to energy efficient LEDS, the City is making strides in sustainability. Many new programs and projects have been launched since the City’s adoption of a Sustainability Action Plan in 2023.
A ribbon cutting ceremony last month marked a milestone in affordable housing for our city. The new cottages at Hope Village Walnut Creek were completed onsite at Grace Presbyterian Church. The new cottage community is the first affordable cottage community established on faith-owned land in Contra Costa County. This groundbreaking project aims to provide dignified housing and essential supportive services for individuals experiencing difficulty in securing affordable housing. Hope Village consists of six units built on the church parking lot in an effort by Hope Solutions to support transitioning low income people into a stable living situation. It is a pilot community in a series of regional projects aimed at building housing like this on faith-based properties throughout Contra Costa County.
Do you have small appliances that need fixing? A shirt that has a hole in it? Jewelry that is broken?Reduce waste and get household items fixed for free by experienced volunteers atWalnut Creek’s upcoming Repair Cafe on January 25that the Civic Park Community Center Assembly Hall from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. This will be the first citywide free repair cafe event.
Sister Cities - opportunity coming for middle school students to participate
A unique opportunity is coming for some local students who could end up visiting either Italy or Hungary as part of Walnut Creek Sister Cities International's annual student ambassador exchange. Each year, 8th grade students from Walnut Creek spend a week exploring one of our two sister cities, Siofok, Hungary, or Noceto, Italy, and living with host families. Later, students from our sister cities come to Walnut Creek to live with our participating students and their families. The Sister Cities organization is holding a mandatory meeting for potential participants and a parent/guardian on Tuesday, January 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the Oak View Room of the Walnut Creek Library. Current 7th graders are eligible to apply to be a Youth Ambassador to either Hungary or Italy.
Yes, it's early January, but now is the time to start planning for summer. Your kids can have an unforgettable summer of fun, learning, and adventure with Walnut Creek's 2025 Summer Camps. Our Arts + Rec Department has something for every age and interest, from imaginative preschool activities to engaging STEM challenges, inspiring arts, and action-packed sports. Whether your child dreams of becoming an artist, engineer, or star athlete, our camps offer expertly designed programs to spark creativity, foster friendships, and develop new skills.
Register early to take advantage of discounted pricing:
January 15 - 31 - registration opens for 10% off
February 1 - 29 - registration is 7% off
Visit the website to find out more and register, or call 925-295-1490 for assistance.
Walnut Creek on Ice season wrapping up: Sensory Friendly Skate Night Monday, January 6
Walnut Creek on Ice is wrapping up its season on January 12, but there is still time to enjoy skating and give the new ice slide a try.
On Monday, January 6, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., skating is free for participants ages 5 and above who would prefer a sensory-friendly ice skating session hosted by Walnut Creek Arts + Rec and Walnut Creek Downtown. The rink will be closed to the public during this time and reserved for individuals with disabilities and their family members. Participants can expect softened lighting, minimized sounds, and sensory tools available for use as needed. Family members and care givers are responsible for the supervision of the registered participant.
January will be busy at the Lesher Center for the Arts, including two performances as part of our Headliners Series.
On January 11, Ms. Monét performs her first event at the Lesher Center. A fan favorite on NBC’s The Voice, this Bay Area native has toured with Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald, Johnny Mathis and more.
On January 18, Stella Cole delivers classics with her debut recording and current tour. From Barbara Streisand’s “When the Sun Comes Out” to Billie Eilish’s “My Future,” her interpretations will impress music lovers from all generations.
Find out more and purchase tickets online at the Lesher Center for the Arts website.
Stitched: Contemporary Embroidery on view at Bedford Gallery: January 11 - March 30
Stitched: Contemporary Embroidery highlights artists who pair traditional embroidery techniques with innovative approaches and subject matter to create striking visual dialogs. Visit the Bedford to explore a new generation of artists who are pushing the boundaries of a beloved art form.
Artist credit: Liz Harvey, Head Trip, 2016-2023, embroidery floss, embroidery hoops, hardware, fabric.
City staff to participate in Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan's "mobile office hours" January 21
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan's office is planning to host what's described as mobile office hours later this month. A number of City employees will be on hand, along with staff from County Supervisor Ken Carlson's office, in an effort to provide a one-stop shop for residents who are seeking answers to questions about city, county and state government operations. The event will be held on January 21 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the community room adjacent to Trinity Center, at 1888 Trinity Avenue.
