City Council Special Minutes Page 1 of 27 February 20, 2026 *
City of Lafayette
Special City Council Minutes
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City Council Special Minutes Page 2 of 27 February 20, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER – 9:07 A.M.
Mayor Anduri the Special City Council meeting to order at 9:07 a.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Anduri, Vice Mayor McCormick; Councilmembers Candell, Cervantes, and Wotherspoon
Absent: None
Staff Present: Niroop Srivatsa, City Manager; Tracy Robinson, Assistant City Manager; Jonathan Katayanagi, Park, Trails, and Recreation Director; Stephanie Cervantes, Assistant Planning and Building Director; Patrick Golier, Transportation and Circulation Program Manager, Heather Ward, Management Analyst; Andy Comly, Emergency Services Coordinator; and Mala Subramanian, City Attorney
3. Disclosure and/or Take Action on Remote Participation due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances Pursuant to AB 2449 (Gov. Code section 54953(f).)
4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Wotherspoon/Candell) to adopt the agenda. Roll Call Vote: Vote: 5-0 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, Candell, Cervantes, Wotherspoon; Noes: None).
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS - (For items not on the agenda) – None.
6. INTRODUCTION OF THE CONSULTANT AND AGENDA REVIEW/OBBJECTIVES Mayor Anduri introduced Consultant Nadine Levin, and Ms. Levin proceeded to hold a fun ice breaker for the Council.
Ms. Levin gave a PowerPoint presentation and provided the Council with the agenda objectives noting that, to ensure a productive day, they have a hard stop at 2:30 with a 10-minute break and a 30-minute lunch break.
7. SETTING THE STAGE BY THE CONSULTANT
Regarding her conversations with Councilmembers on what would be a successful day, feedback included:
1. Receiving an update on priorities and staffing, and to discuss and confirm the priorities for 2026/27.
2. Discussion of interested topics within the three most important priorities.
3. Discussion of staffing.
Regarding the process, the Council will discuss the current adopted priorities and will hear a status update from staff on those priorities, if there are any, and discuss and arrive at consensus on top priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Public comment will be called after each staff presentation.
8. GOAL-SETTING DISCUSSION
Recommendation: Identify priorities, seek consensus, and discuss next steps City Council Special Minutes Page 3 of 27 February 20, 2026 FY25-26 Council Priorities Tracker
Staffing Report
FY25-26 Final Budget City Manager’s Memo
Facilities Assessment Staff Report
Options for Raising Revenue (2021)
Community Center – Condition, Site Options, and Strategic Paths Forward Update on Park, Trail, and Open Space Needs Identified in Adopted City Plans Council Priority 2: Mt. Diablo Corridor Multi-Modal Mobility Planning Efforts Regarding the first priority of Wildfire Prevention, Emergency Preparedness, and Utility Safety, City Manager Niroop Srivatsa introduced the City’s Emergency Services Coordinator, Andy Comly.
Andy Comly, Emergency Services Coordinator, reported that 2025 was a strong year, with several priorities continuing into 2026 and 2027. He highlighted the following accomplishments and ongoing initiatives:
Firewise Growth
• Firewise communities experienced 76% year-over-year growth in the number of homes participating.
• The Burton Valley neighborhood recently created a Firewise neighborhood with approximately 900 homes, bringing the city to just under 2,800 Firewise homes out of roughly 9,000 total homes in Lafayette.
• Continued support for Firewise remains a priority.
Community Warning System (CWS)
• The Community Warning System saw a surge in participation due to a friendly competition initiated by Happy Valley.
• Within 24 hours of launching the November campaign, CWS officials acknowledged a significant increase in sign-ups.
• The campaign generated 64 new sign-ups in one month, compared to the typical monthly average of 20–24.
• Continued support for CWS is planned.
Emergency Shelter & Partnerships
• The Parks, Trails & Recreation Department continues to partner with the American Red Cross to prepare the Community Center as an emergency shelter.
• The City received two recognitions: one specifically for the Community Center and another for the City of Lafayette.
• Staff were thanked for coordinating shelter training efforts, which will expand to include Moraga and other neighboring cities.
Public Outreach & Education
• 2025 goals were successfully met, including Town Halls, community events, education efforts, and collaboration with utilities.
• These outreach efforts will continue into 2026.
• Following last year’s focus on evacuation preparedness, 2026 will include expanded education on defensible space and insurance.
City Council Special Minutes Page 4 of 27 February 20, 2026 • The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety provides guidance recognized by insurance companies to help homeowners harden properties and potentially improve insurance rates.
CERT & Disaster Preparedness
• Increased support was provided to the Lamorinda CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), part of the nationwide Community Emergency Response Team program that helps residents become more self-sufficient during emergencies and expands the City’s roster of trained Disaster Service Workers available for activation during emergencies • The Lamorinda CERT Team annual exercise will be hosted by Lafayette in June.
Communications & Utilities
• Continued improvements in utility communications.
• Neighborhood training on general and amateur radio services. • Promotion of all-hazard and NOAA radio with S.A.M.E. digital technology for localized WEA alerts from the county Community Warning System.
• Strengthening auxiliary communications systems and emergency beacon capabilities for use when primary systems fail.
Wildfire Hazard Reduction
• Ongoing efforts to reduce wildfire risks, including requests for state funding. • An overview was provided for the fuel break North of Lafayette, which is part of the Orinda Shaded Fuel Break grant managed by the Moraga Orinda Fire Department (MOFD).
Internal Training & Exercises
• Significant internal training was completed for all employees. • Additional operational and section-specific training was provided. • The City participated in the Great ShakeOut last October, a multi-agency earthquake preparedness drill.
Overall, Mr. Comly emphasized continued momentum in emergency preparedness, wildfire mitigation, community education, and regional collaboration as the City moves into 2026 and beyond. He then asked for any questions.
Councilmember Cervantes thanked Mr. Comly for his leadership and positive attitude, noting that it has contributed to the progress seen within the Emergency Services Commission, which has also stepped up its efforts.
Vice Mayor McCormick agreed, stating that the Commission is clearly committed and that he anticipates significant activity over the next few years.
Councilmember Candell referenced a presentation from Berkeley and noted the “No Parking on Red Flag Days” policy. She suggested Lafayette consider a similar approach. Mr. Comly responded that the City does not currently have parking along designated evacuation routes but agreed staff could review conditions citywide to confirm.
Councilmember Wotherspoon raised concerns about Mount Diablo Boulevard as a potential evacuation route, particularly if traffic volume were to overwhelm the two lanes. She recommended conducting an evacuation study and scenario analysis.
City Council Special Minutes Page 5 of 27 February 20, 2026 Councilmember Cervantes asked, if the City were to prioritize a few key actions, what those should be.
Mr. Comly responded that the most critical items are those previously included in correspondence to Senator Grayson:
1. Cleaning up Moraga Road from Lafayette to the Moraga border.
2. Pre-staging traffic control devices (cones, barriers) and adding significant evacuation route intersections.
Vice Mayor McCormick asked, whether while awaiting outside funding, the City should consider selffunding certain priority items and requested a timeline. Mr. Comly stated that funding discussions are occurring concurrently with the City’s budget process, but external funding is not imminent. Therefore, Council may need to determine whether to independently address certain items.
City Manager Srivatsa explained that February is when state and federal legislators request project submissions for potential funding. This annual process previously secured funding for School Street and other projects. Staff could package a proposal and submit it to Casey Elliott for consideration.
Mayor Anduri suggested revisiting the nine sub-categories established the previous year to evaluate progress, determine which should continue, and consider whether any should be added or removed.
Mr. Comly explained that he structured his presentation around several focus areas: community engagement, internal training, mitigation efforts, and partnerships. Accomplishments included hosting Town Halls and expanding public education. He recommended increasing community-based training opportunities and targeted education efforts.
Ms. Levin noted that of the nine tasks identified previously, some have been completed while others remain ongoing, and asked whether additional priorities should be identified for 2026–2027.
Mayor Anduri confirmed that Items 1 and 4—Town Hall meetings and public education—would be discussed together as part of ongoing community outreach. Mr. Comly agreed.
Vice Mayor McCormick commended staff’s work and suggested adding an emergency preparedness booth at the Art & Wine Festival. He emphasized the broader question of how to effectively reach more of the community.
Mr. Comly responded that Firewise and CERT programs are effective outreach channels. He also suggested engaging homeowners associations and potentially faith-based organizations as additional pathways for outreach.
Vice Mayor McCormick proposed a strategic approach: rather than focusing solely on large Town Halls, the City could aim to thoroughly train approximately 5% of Lafayette residents as local preparedness leaders, who could then help educate and support their neighborhoods.
Mayor Anduri stated that, given the progress made by the Emergency Services Commission (ESC) and Mr.
Comly’s leadership, Items 1 and 4 are essentially focused on empowering the ESC and Mr. Comly to develop and implement community outreach plans. He noted that the City now has a strong team in place and suggested combining both categories and allowing them to move forward with that responsibility.
City Council Special Minutes Page 6 of 27 February 20, 2026 Councilmembers agreed with the approach and clarified that Item 4 would effectively be consolidated into Item 1.
Mr. Comly responded that he can expand outreach by utilizing the CERT mailing list, connecting with HOA groups, and initiating conversations with those networks to help disseminate information and increase community engagement.
Regarding Item 2; “Take steps to ensure wildfire risk is considered during the 2031-38 RHNA process and explore collaboration with Orinda and Moraga,” Mayor Anduri said they have not been able to get to this but agreed it is critical. City Manager Srivatsa said the Council talked about other areas in the State that have received their 7 cycle numbers; so in 2026, Planning staff will reach out to their counterparts in Orinda and Moraga to lay the groundwork. They still do not know what their 7th cycle RHNA numbers are.
Councilmember Wotherspoon stated that the Plan Bay Area document addresses wildfire risk, and the EIR goes into greater detail but appears to discount evacuation concerns. She expressed concern that the approach outlined in the EIR seems to rely primarily on requiring residents to harden their homes, without fully addressing evacuation challenges. She further noted that the Plan references “growth geography,” which identifies areas where ABAG anticipates future development to be concentrated for a variety of planning reasons. She described this as a pre-established framework for RHNA that the EIR references in its fire risk analysis.
Councilmember Wotherspoon expressed hope that staff would closely review the EIR to determine whether there are additional steps the City can take at this stage, while continuing to raise concerns regarding wildfire risk and evacuation capacity.
Mayor Anduri said this might be something to place on a Council agenda in a month or so to bring back Plan Bay Area 2050 and the EIR to look at what is involved here, and to look at the parameters of the RHNA allocation to ensure that the three city fire situations somehow gets addressed.
Regarding Item 3; “Hold a conversation with EBMUD about the Reservoir and hydrant capacitycompleted,” this item was completed and is not needed in the 2026-2027 goals.
Regarding Item 5; Mayor Anduri said there are words that were deleted here which he thinks are important; after “Suppress the risk of wildfires including fuel reduction and shaded fuel breaks, methods for early detection of ignition, and rapid response to ignition, obtain clarification on roles and responsibilities.” They had looked at whether they should be encouraging, whether on a State or County level, satellite detection of ignition. Mr. Comly confirmed he has this on his list to accomplish, noting they can look at technologies, but most of that will probably be Con Fire type of things which are fire-related activities. Councilmembers agreed this is still an active item.
Regarding Item 6; the Countywide Evacuation Study, Ms. Srivatsa stated this is currently underway and it will take 6-8 months to complete. Councilmember Wotherspoon noted this is a county-based item analysis and she had advocated in the past for a focused city analysis with more local specificity. Her concern is whether it is at the level of specificity the city needs to make their own decisions for their own roads.
Mayor Anduri referenced the Tri-Cities meeting in Orinda, where a presentation had been given, and asked for an update.
City Council Special Minutes Page 7 of 27 February 20, 2026 City Manager Srivatsa explained that issuance of the RFP had been delayed because the cities submitted comments following the Tri-City meeting. As a result, the RFP was released a few months later than originally anticipated. She noted she was unsure whether the final scope fully addressed all of the cities’ comments but agreed to circulate the scope of work to the Council. Staff could return at a future meeting for discussion and direction on whether Lafayette should pursue its own study. She cautioned that such an effort would be expensive and expressed uncertainty about whether current technology could fully deliver the level of detail the City might seek.
Councilmember Cervantes stated that he had reviewed Berkeley’s evacuation study and noted the cost was approximately $1,000 per page, with the primary conclusion being that residents should evacuate early. He added that Orinda has also completed related work and suggested that, for the amount spent on another study, the City could potentially invest in evacuation radios or other tangible resources. He encouraged caution before commissioning an additional costly study and recommended considering more cost-effective solutions.
Councilmember Wotherspoon observed that since other cities have already completed studies, Lafayette might be able to leverage their findings and focus on identifying specific questions or gaps unique to Lafayette’s neighborhoods and roadway network.
Mayor Anduri added that Lafayette had hoped the regional study would include elements that would benefit Lafayette directly, but based on the scope reviewed, he was not optimistic that it would fully address the City’s specific needs.
Ms. Srivatsa agreed to bring the item back to the full Council after she sends out the scope of work and also identify the software purchased that allows you to plug in scenarios on which way the wind is blowing, temperature, and then it identifies evacuation routes. In her opinion, that needs to be in the hands of fire experts when something happens because staff is not qualified to do that, but she can share what is out there and the Council can make a decision as part of the budget.
Regarding Item 7; Mayor Anduri said he thinks this item can be deleted because it comes within Item 5, and Councilmembers agreed.
Under Discussion, “After the CCTA evacuation study is complete, consider developing objective standards for wildfire risk when making land use decisions.” The predicate to the path is having an adequate evacuation study, so after they have an accurate evacuation study, Lafayette must look at its own as to whether they want to take wildfire risk into consideration when making land use decisions.
Councilmembers agreed to leave this as is.
Regarding Item 9; “Work with utilities and communication partners about the Safety Element.” Mayor Anduri said he thinks this is part of what they do, and Councilmembers agreed to remove it because it is part of the normal scope of work.
Mayor Anduri asked for discussion of the roads and parking, and said what he was hearing is that they want to have the current situation on whether there are roads with problems. This is something they would like to see done. Ms. Srivatsa suggested identifying the task and Mayor Anduri recommended it state, “Evaluate whether parking on certain roads which create problems in case of evacuation or fire access on high fire days.”
City Council Special Minutes Page 8 of 27 February 20, 2026 Ms. Levin asked whether the discussion applied to specific areas. Mayor Anduri responded that he believed the focus was on roads such as Springhill and others with single points of ingress and egress. Mr.
Comly suggested referring to them as designated evacuation routes.
Mayor Anduri noted that Bacon Way had been mentioned as a roadway that funnels into a narrower outlet. Mr. Comly clarified that Stanley Boulevard would likely serve as the primary evacuation route in that area. Councilmember Wotherspoon commented that she believed there may be parking along portions of the roadway.
City Manager Srivatsa added that Boyer Circle had been designated in prior discussions. Although it is a local street, its topography limits parking availability. Councilmember Candell suggested that any restriction would apply only during designated Red Flag Days and could be clearly marked with signage.
He noted that Orinda has installed signs stating “No Parking on Red Flag Days.” Ms. Levin recommended further discussion regarding implementation details, including whether temporary or permanent signage would be used, how Red Flag Days would be identified, and which roads would be designated as evacuation routes. It was noted that several streets in town are narrow and currently allow on-street parking, which could impede fire apparatus access. Any restriction would primarily affect residents who park on the street, and in many cases, those residents may be able to use driveways or private property during Red Flag conditions.
Mayor Anduri asked whether this gets written into the priorities or, whether it is a task to pursue, and he would say it is the latter. He said this fits into evacuation and repositioning the cones and hardening evacuation routes and this is a priority so Councilmembers agreed to include this task into that priority.
Councilmember Cervantes said if they cannot get funding from the State it could be a pilot program. Ms.
Srivatsa said the budget is less than $100,000 for prepositioning traffic safety equipment, and so as a new subtask for Priority 1, it could be done.
Mr. Comly said there were 17 spots identified for pre-positioning traffic cones and the number of locations can be scaled back to 4 for a pilot implementation.
Mayor Anduri said he likes the pilot idea to put out 4, see how they look and work and Councilmembers said they know what intersections they should be located, and agreed this subtask could go under the Harden Evacuation Route priority as an added subtask.
Mayor Anduri said the other item they discussed were sirens. Mr. Comly outlined the County’s emergency alert plans and the complexities involved. The County is evaluating warning sirens, noting the need for clear, consistent tones and sufficient coverage, particularly for overnight effectiveness. Due to these challenges, officials are promoting NOAA radios for in-home alerts. The system will likely be coordinated countywide between fire and County agencies, including evacuation decisions. With approximately 30 alert types available, ensuring public understanding and audibility is essential. The ESC may further review siren options, and Councilmembers discussed radio types and alert systems.
Councilmember Cervantes asked if there is anything missing under this category, stating there is public education, evacuation, home hardening, and working with Con Fire. Mayor Anduri said he thinks this is everything related to wildfire and asked if “insurance” should be a separate item.
City Council Special Minutes Page 9 of 27 February 20, 2026 Mr. Comly said the Senator does not feel like he has control over the insurance companies and their models. It is what to do to get insurance rates down and stop getting people canceled, but it all comes out of the same thing—defensible space, home hardening, and unless an entire community is done the reductions are not significant. He agreed to send the Council an IBHS document which outlines items to help with work to result in insurance reduction.
Ms. Srivatsa said when she and community liaisons were at Senator Grayson’s meeting, Con Fire talked about the Ambassador program. Mr. Comly said Con Fire is working on the Ambassador Program and he has met with Con Fire who will announce this at a future Council meeting in the next couple of months.
He then described the program and said it is a good way to have a non-threatening person come out and talk with homeowners about defensible space.
Councilmember Cervantes inquired about fire detection satellites or cameras under Item 5, and asked whether residents should take any action. Mayor Anduri stated that Donn Walklett is researching the matter and noted that two satellite systems are currently in development. He clarified that “rapid response and early detection” was omitted from Item 5 and suggested implementation should occur at the state or county level.
Ms. Levin asked and confirmed the following summary and related changes to outcomes and tasks/subtasks:
• Council supported a new outcome and calling the item “Fire Evacuation Route Hardening.” Within that, subtasks include: safety boxes, radios, trimming/limbing up and eliminating vegetation along evacuation routes, parking analysis.
• Under Item 3, the Council combined 1 and 4;
• Delete 7 and 9
• Added a new outcome of Fire Evacuation Route Hardening with subtasks; • The City Manager will return with the CCTA Scope of Work and what other cities are doing so the Council can discuss budgetary issues
• The EPC will work on community engagement 1 and 4.
• Item 5 is fire detector satellites and staff will update wording • In terms of RHNA, “Engagement with Orinda and Moraga on wildfire risks” which will be part of what is already in the outcomes under Item 2.
BREAK
Mayor Anduri and Councilmembers took a break at 10:27 a.m. and reconvened at 10:40 a.m.
Mayor Anduri opened public comment on the wildfire priority, and there were no speakers.
Priority 2 Discussion:
City Manager Srivatsa stated that under the Mt. Diablo Corridor Plan, there are 6 subtasks. Assistant Planning Director Cervantes will provide updates on 1 and 2, she will provide an update on 3, 4 and 5, and then Patrick Golier has slides for 6, which is the multi-mobility study.
City Council Special Minutes Page 10 of 27 February 20, 2026 Assistant Planning Director Stefanie Cervantes provided an update on where they are on Items 1 and 2 of Priority 2. Regarding the preparation of ODS for the downtown and multiple-family residential developments, this item that went to the Council in January and staff is currently working with the consultant and have scheduled meetings with the ODS Working Group in March to address feedback. They will bring back an item to go through the approval process to the PC and back to the City Council for final adoption, and they expect to wrap up in the spring.
For Item 2; the 949 Moraga project, developing that site for affordable housing has been a lot of work over the last few weeks. Staff has two items scheduled for Monday, February 23rd; one with the Council for a waiver request for the planning application fees that was submitted, and staff is taking that application to a DRC/PC joint meeting on Monday as well for their feedback and recommendations. Staff is also progressing on the Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) as well and the City Manager can provide more information regarding the details of that.
City Manager Srivatsa stated the DDA formalizes the contract between the City and SAHA. There are a couple of points they are still discussing and staff is scheduled to bring it to the Council on Monday, February 23rd, or a subsequent meeting, but that finalizes the DDA.
Regarding DeSilva, she and Planning Director Wolff have had two meetings with the owners and owners’ representative who are interested in proceeding with a housing project. They are looking at partners and have had some preliminary conversations about the process, what it would take because they talked about a development agreement and securing the deal points. DeSilva would like to bring into the conversation the property they own on the north side which is a very small and highly constrained. They are meeting again in a couple of weeks and will keep the work going until staff can come back and report to the Council, but they are still interested in providing the City for recreational purposes.
Regarding the Plaza Way update, the Council has an item on the next agenda regarding the sale of the Campana property. She explained that the Plaza Way Overlay has a couple of components to it; one is the consolidated parking lot of Plaza Way and the second one are the design guidelines, and the third are the restricted number of land uses allowed in Plaza Way. So, together they form the overlay.
Given recent changes in State law, the City can no longer achieve the vision of a consolidated parking lot and while staff will still try to make those physical connections between properties, the chances of getting a consolidated parking lot at this time will likely not materialize. She thinks it is still a good idea to keep the restricted number of land uses because what they really want to see are uses that activate the plaza and not service-related uses, and the design guidelines are equally important because they are very specific to Plaza Way. Given the Campana building may be sold, staff is recommending this task be removed because they do not see a task at hand.
Councilmember Wotherspoon asked and Ms. Srivatsa then explained the idea for the Campana property and removal of two residential buildings to achieve a larger space.
City Council Special Minutes Page 11 of 27 February 20, 2026 Regarding Item 6; the Multi-Modal Plan for Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Transportation Manager Patrick Golier reported on the large number of transportation, planning, design, and construction efforts taking place in the downtown over the next several years. He noted that while these projects vary in scale and scope and funding sources, they represent a collective body of work that will advance a multi-year effort to improve safety, connectivity, and multi-modal access, which he described.
Construction projects underway:
• Town Center and Bike Station Project: The project will improve pedestrian and bicycle access between BART and Mt. Diablo Blvd., expand bike parking at the station and create a public plaza at the Town Center Pathway. Construction is imminent.
• Connecting Lafayette: This project will result in construction of separated Class I facility on School Street and a pathway on Topper Lane. It closes a critical gap in the City’s walking and biking networks between the Lamorinda Trail and downtown, and also improves safety for students at the two schools on that street.
• Aqueduct Pathways: Funding is currently being secured for the construction of the segment of this pathway between Dolores Drive where the pathway is and the BART Station. More broadly, this project would result in the construction of a fully separated ped and bike path along the EBMUD right-of-way through downtown, connecting BART and running east to Pleasant Hill Road and beyond. When constructed, it will provide a direct, safe and comfortable connection to walk or bike to jobs, school, shopping, and transit without relying on a car.
Mr. Golier presented a map showing the locations of the three construction projects are located as 1, 2 and 3. The projects contribute towards starting to form a continuous active transportation network feeding into the Mt. Diablo corridor.
Planning and Design projects currently underway:
• Aqueduct Pathway Project (Design Phase): With construction funding secured for one segment, MTC funding is supporting design of the broader pathway between Dolores Drive and Pleasant Hill Road. Completing the design will allow phased construction and strengthen the City’s competitiveness for future funding.
• BART Station Access and Circulation Study: This study advances compliance with MTC’s TransitOriented Communities Policy by promoting safer multimodal access within a half-mile of the station. It will identify gaps in pedestrian and bicycle networks, recommend improvements, enhance safety, reduce conflicts, and improve transit connectivity—positioning the City for future regional transportation funding.
• Downtown Parking Management Study: Nearing completion, this study updates the 2016 Parking Management Strategy and evaluates public and private parking along the Mt. Diablo Boulevard corridor. Its goal is to balance supply and demand, support housing growth and diverse downtown uses, and encourage multimodal travel.
Vice Mayor McCormick referred to the BART Station study, and asked if this has begun. Mr. Golier said yes; MTC gave the City a consultant team and they had a kick-off meeting last week.
Mayor Anduri suggested integrating the BART Station Access and Circulation Study into the broader multimodal mobility study, noting $350,000 has been awarded for the BART study and $300,000 allocated for the multi-modal study. He asked how the efforts could be aligned.
City Council Special Minutes Page 12 of 27 February 20, 2026 Mr. Golier agreed there is overlap but emphasized the BART study is necessary to ensure compliance with MTC’s Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Policy, particularly its access and circulation requirements, including complete streets guidelines and other related components. The City must still demonstrate TOC compliance.
Regarding the TOC policy status, Ms. Srivatsa said MTC has not released the updated policy. Ms. Cervantes noted the compliance deadline was extended from early 2026 to 2027, and revisions have not yet been finalized.
Mayor Anduri asked whether the subcommittee had reviewed the most current version and how the consultant’s work could inform the City’s corridor study, observing that four related studies total approximately $1.12 million in the same geographic area.
Mr. Golier responded that all studies are MTC-funded with no local match and can significantly advance the City’s work. He plans to share MTC’s TOC compliance template with the Council and has focused the BART study on identifying multimodal gaps within a half-mile of the station. He recommended coordinating consultants for both studies and proposed forming a multimodal task force to ensure alignment, consistency, and streamlined public engagement.
Mr. Golier outlined the Mt. Diablo Corridor Multi-Modal (“M3”) Study, which will serve as the parent planning effort establishing a 20-year vision for how walking, biking, transit, and vehicle travel function together downtown. Covering the Mt. Diablo corridor from Acalanes Road to Pleasant Hill Road, the study will identify where multimodal improvements would have the greatest long-term impact, integrate findings from concurrent efforts, and guide related initiatives. An RFP has been issued, with work anticipated to begin by early summer 2026.
He also identified two technical sub-studies to be incorporated into the broader M3 framework rather than pursued independently:
• Right Turn on Red Restrictions: Evaluation of restricting right turns on red at three key Mt. Diablo Boulevard intersections to improve pedestrian safety and comfort, balanced against operational impacts within the overall multimodal system.
• Moraga Road Re-Design Concept Study: In advance of a future resurfacing project, this study would assess potential roadway reconfiguration options, including pedestrian and bicycle safety, left-turn access, and traffic flow.
In response to Vice Mayor McCormick’s question about the specific funding amounts, Mr. Golier explained they reflect prior technical work completed for the two sub-studies, which he now proposes to fold into the comprehensive M3 study.
Mr. Golier outlined a long-term planning effort to improve pedestrian and bicycle access along Pleasant Hill Road through the Highway 24 interchange, enhancing north-south connectivity. While the City has completed 100% PS&E plans for a center median pathway, Council previously directed staff to evaluate alternative alignments. Staff now proposes assessing both east and west side options—particularly given the Aqueduct Pathway’s planned connection near the Terraces—and ensuring consistency with the broader framework of the M3 study and overall downtown improvements, including areas north of Deer Hill Road.
City Council Special Minutes Page 13 of 27 February 20, 2026 Mayor Anduri recalled prior Council direction to wait for Caltrans to complete its work before advancing the project. Mr. Golier confirmed the RRB installation is believed to be complete but emphasized the need to evaluate all alignment options comprehensively. Mayor Anduri suggested bringing the matter back to Council for formal direction, rather than addressing it informally, and Ms. Srivatsa agreed a status report would be appropriate.
Councilmember Wotherspoon requested that staff provide additional information regarding the Aqueduct Pathway extension to Pleasant Hill Road, including how its design would integrate with a potential west side alignment alternative.
Mayor Anduri sought clarification on the pathway’s alignment, confirming that it does not follow Deer Hill Road but instead runs along the ledge above the freeway near the Terraces property. He also confirmed that the right-of-way connection to Pleasant Hill Road is located between Deer Hill Road and the Highway 24 interchange.
Mr. Golier outlined two additional long-term initiatives: updates to the Citywide Bicycle and Walkways Master Plans and the Circulation Element. He applied for a Caltrans grant in late 2025 to fund the master plan updates, which would align with recommendations from the City’s ongoing transportation studies.
Updating the Circulation Element would incorporate these transportation findings into the General Plan’s long-range policies.
He presented a comprehensive map of all planning and design efforts, noting that advancing them concurrently will help align recommendations, avoid conflicting investments, streamline public engagement, and incrementally advance a more multimodal downtown. Yellow-shaded areas indicate the parking and multimodal study boundaries.
To support coordination, staff plans to establish a multimodal mobility advisory committee to provide integrated input before formal Commission and Council review. Mr. Golier emphasized that the vision is being advanced through a coordinated portfolio of projects at varying stages, collectively aimed at creating a safer, more connected, and more multimodal downtown Lafayette. Councilmembers expressed appreciation for his work.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment, and there were no speakers.
Councilmember Wotherspoon asked how the CCTA Countywide and Lamorinda Smart Signals project fits within the broader transportation framework. Mr. Golier noted that the CCTA Smart Signals project—an additional construction effort beginning this summer, with anticipated construction in Lafayette in 2026— should have been included in the overview. The project will enable staff to monitor conditions in real time, respond more quickly to incidents, and adjust signal timing and phasing to test new concepts.
Councilmember Wotherspoon also questioned whether prior modeling for proposed “no right turn on red” restrictions would need to be revisited in light of the Smart Signals project. Mr. Golier responded that it would not; the new system will begin with existing signal phasing and simply make it easier to observe and adjust operations in real time.
City Council Special Minutes Page 14 of 27 February 20, 2026 Mayor Anduri expressed concern about implementing infrastructure before completion of the multimodal study and asked whether the Smart Signals project could create constraints later. Mr. Golier confirmed it would not; the technology upgrade will increase flexibility. While signal locations are fixed as design is finalized—and not all signals on Moraga Road and Mt. Diablo Boulevard are included—the project upgrades existing technology rather than adding new signals.
Ms. Srivatsa clarified that the improvements will enhance data collection and operational awareness, allowing staff to analyze queuing patterns, including impacts from Highway 24 backups, and monitor conditions in real time.
Councilmember Candell asked why construction of the Aqueduct Pathway is not scheduled until 2029.
Mr. Golier explained that most funding comes from the STIP (State Transportation Improvement Program), and that is the earliest it will be available.
Mayor Anduri asked when design to Pleasant Hill Road will be completed, and Mr. Golier said they hope to finish by the end of this year. Councilmember Wotherspoon asked to confirm the design phase level, and Mr. Golier stated it is 100% engineering and design ready.
Vice Mayor McCormick asked why the downtown parking study is still pending. Mr. Golier said it will go to the TransCirc Commission on March 2 and then to Council within a month.
Councilmember Wotherspoon asked whether input from the CCTA Evacuation Study could inform these downtown studies, noting concerns about the study’s granularity for Lafayette’s specific needs. Mr. Golier responded that the evacuation study should serve as an input, and he will coordinate with Mr. Comly, particularly regarding Moraga Road or Mt. Diablo Boulevard and wildfire risk. However, he cautioned that the CCTA study may not provide sufficient detail for local planning.
Mayor Anduri summarized the discussion as follows:
• Objective Design Standards – should remain, aiming for completion by next fiscal year. • Item 2 – should remain.
• DeSilva item – should not be changed and will move forward. • Item 4 – recommendation is to remove, and Councilmembers agreed. • Item 5 – staff recommends removing, but Mayor Anduri noted the importance of maintaining focus on downtown parks, creeks, and the 2017 Master Plan priorities. Councilmembers agreed to keep it to remain top of mind.
Councilmember Candell raised concerns about whether storm drainage and downtown creeks are prepared for climate change, particularly constant heavy rainfall. Mayor Anduri noted that in 2023 water levels nearly reached the top of the downtown creek banks, and other risks include high winds, fallen trees, and hardened electrical infrastructure. Ms. Srivatsa added that staff will review what other cities are doing in this regard.
Mayor Anduri emphasized the importance of keeping protected bikeways from each quadrant of the City to downtown top of mind, similar to the priority given to downtown parks. He noted that while the southeast quadrant will have connections via the trail and the School Street project to First Street, other areas—particularly the DeSilva development and the northeast quadrant—currently lack safe biking routes, with limited options such as the Aqueduct requiring travel down Risa Road.
City Council Special Minutes Page 15 of 27 February 20, 2026 Councilmember Wotherspoon asked whether this would be addressed through the Ped/Bike Plan study.
Ms. Srivatsa noted it is not on the upcoming year’s list. Mr. Golier added that the citywide Bicycle and Walkways Master Plan would cover gaps across quadrants and could analyze constrained areas like Happy Valley Road.
Mayor Anduri suggested making the Bicycle and Walkways Master Plan a priority to advance protected bikeways, noting past discussions have not translated into implementation. He stressed that planning individual projects should always consider whether they support the eventual goal of protected bikeways, rather than hinder it.
Councilmember Wotherspoon noted the need for policy input prioritizing Class IV protected bike facilities over Class III sharrows. Mr. Golier said the proposed multimodal advisory committee could establish this as a framework, starting with downtown. Mayor Anduri added that even studies like the MTC BART station analysis, covering a half-mile radius including Happy Valley, should inform this goal. Projects such as the West Reach, which may involve removing parking, should consider their fit within the protected bikeway network.
Councilmember Cervantes observed that while not all stretches may be feasible, establishing the goal is critical. Mayor Anduri agreed, emphasizing that without explicitly prioritizing this objective and considering it in all planning, protected bikeways will not materialize.
Ms. Srivatsa said if the concept is the same as Number 5; she suggested changing the following: “…and Plan for Parks, Streets, and Pathways, and protected bikeways connecting neighborhoods to the downtown.” She is looking at deliverables and she does agree that this should be under the umbrella of updating the Bikeways Master Plan. Given the tasks in the current upcoming fiscal year Work Plan, she does not think staff has the capacity to update the Bikeways Master Plan because Mr. Golier is going to be involved in M3 and all of the other projects. As a concept, this is something they can share with staff, the TransCirc Commission, the DRC, PC as a Council directive. She suggested adding that wording to Number 5.
Mayor Anduri said he did not believe it truly fit in Number 5. He wants it on record that protected bikeways is a goal, and he suggested bringing this to the Council. This is basically the Mt. Diablo Corridor they are talking about here and if it feasible to do, they want protected bikeways for each quadrant and memorialize it by identifying it.
Mayor Anduri asked if there were any other items.
Councilmember Wotherspoon emphasized the need to consider evacuation routes in relation to wildfire prevention and how input from the CCTA study could inform local planning.
Mayor Anduri clarified that the M3 study RFP already considers evacuation routes, focusing on capacity evaluations. Councilmember Wotherspoon added that they also need to understand what modifications are possible, constraints, and the pros and cons of potential designs and facilities. Mayor Anduri noted the consultant will keep this in mind, and while a full CEQA review may not be conducted, a safety evaluation could be included.
City Council Special Minutes Page 16 of 27 February 20, 2026 Councilmember Wotherspoon referenced Orinda’s scenario-based approach, where networks respond dynamically rather than statically, and stressed the importance of obtaining data for scenario analysis.
She noted the CCTA evacuation study may lack the necessary granularity and suggested that, if significant, this could be added as a formal item (#7) in the planning priorities.
Councilmember Candell added that any local analysis should feed into traffic studies, particularly if they disagree with CCTA findings. Mayor Anduri noted the Council previously delayed a neighborhood evacuation study in anticipation of CCTA, but if CCTA data proves insufficient, the City will consider an independent study. Ms. Levin confirmed that staff will compile this information in a manageable format to bring back to Council.
Mayor Anduri confirmed that they are going with what they had--the elimination of number 4, and the City Manager not adding any outcome but letting staff know the importance of the Council is putting on protected bikeways for all quadrants of the City.
Ms. Srivatsa recognized Management Analyst Heather Ward, who worked with Mr. Golier and Mr. Wolff in drafting the RFP for the multi-mobility study. It would not have gotten off the ground without her efforts, and Councilmembers thanked her.
Mayor Anduri said under Councilmember Activities on the Council agenda for Councilmembers to report on, he had asked Planning to give the Mayor and Vice Mayor a complete overview of all of the development going on and is planned for downtown. They separately received that report and he would recommend putting it on a Council agenda so everyone hears what is going on. Councilmembers agreed.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
Mayor Anduri referred to the Mt. Diablo Corridor Plan and he asked if everyone feels they have enough information, the impact of RHNA numbers on the plan, and concern for downtown businesses. Ms. Levin said Councilmembers wanted to be kept in mind because as the plan goes ahead, what will happen with downtown businesses. She thinks “The potential for more community gathering spaces and public spaces” was raised by a Councilmember as something to keep in mind as the plan moves forward.
Councilmember Wotherspoon referred to the Berkeley study and she quoted, “The impact of traffic calming devices (or facilities) on evacuation illustrates the complexity of public safety demands on Berkeley’s roadway system. The day-to-day public safety function of traffic calming devices pose a significant challenge to evacuation traffic flow, and this situation illustrates the dynamic and complex public safety demands on the roadway system.” We may find that possibly there needs to be a signal in a place at an intersection where there is no signal which can be tied into the Smart Signals controls.
Vice Mayor McCormick said the smart signals solves both problems—it facilitates better throughput on normal times and it keeps people safe, yet for evacuation routes, it is all green.
Councilmember Cervantes raised the idea of using two outbound lanes during an evacuation, specifically noting concerns about Springhill Road and Moraga Road due to heavy traffic.
City Council Special Minutes Page 17 of 27 February 20, 2026 Mr. Comly explained that contraflow operations are used in such scenarios, but require closing driveways and deploying personnel to manage traffic. During a Springhill trial, CERT volunteers managed contraflow from city streets to the main exit. In a fire scenario on Moraga Road, contraflow would be implemented northbound, necessitating closure of side streets and local access.
Councilmember Cervantes asked whether contingency planning exists for such operations. Mr. Comly noted that fire departments typically lead these efforts but was unsure about formal planning; he suggested contraflow could also be integrated into signage strategies. He referenced Orinda’s work on Moraga Way, where they invested in a bike path that can double as an emergency lane, calling it a good example.
LUNCH BREAK
Mayor Anduri called for a lunch break at 11:52 p.m. and the Council reconvened the Special Meeting at 12:30 p.m.
Mayor Anduri asked for discussion of current Priority 3.
Assistant City Manager Tracy Robinson stated she will go through the tasks and indicate where they are on Fiscal Sustainability:
• The City established Measure H Citizens Oversight Committee and their first meeting is scheduled for March 3rd.
• Completion of a Capital Assessment Study and final recommendations were presented concurrent with the final budget in January 2026.
• Ask the City Manager to explore additional sources of revenue, including working with other entities to advocate for changing the Bradley Burns sales tax allocation. • In progress is that the development impact fee study is underway to update existing impact fees and consider new fees.
• The Cal Cities City Manager’s Department’s draft Sales Tax Redistribution Proposal will be released to all cities in the Spring/Summer 2026.
• Ask the City Manager to explore additional efficiency measures. This is an on-going priority and the department will be looking for ways to improve efficiency as they always do, and they can report specifically on those.
• Determine the amount of revenue from the new half-cent sales tax. This is completed and she is not sure they have had four quarters come in yet, but if it continues on pace, it should be roughly $2.8 million this fiscal year.
• Determine the impact of federal cut-backs. As of now, the City is not directly impacted; however, other agencies are impacted and they may have downstream effects on the City. As an example, the County is going to increase their sales tax in response to cuts. This will indirectly affect the City’s ability. Mayor Anduri said there was an adjustment in sales tax that cities and counties that could be added which was a 2% cap. Ms. Robinson said they are looking at special legislation, but regardless, the higher it gets people will have less of an appetite. Mayor Anduri said there was another entity included in the sales tax and that was removed, so it is just county and city that counts against their caps.
Ms. Robinson reported that the City’s finances are currently strong, supported by Measure H, which provides temporary flexibility to maintain service levels and plan proactively. She emphasized the need for continued fiscal discipline, noting that the current surplus is temporary and cost pressures will persist.
City Council Special Minutes Page 18 of 27 February 20, 2026 A key focus in the current budget has been deferred maintenance, with an ongoing annual need of approximately $855,000 (adjusted for inflation). About half of this is currently funded by Measure H, which sunsets in six years, highlighting longer-term funding challenges.
The Community Center exemplifies these challenges: the building is nearing the end of its useful life, and while repairs are possible, costs are high and unpredictable. There is currently no identified funding source for a full replacement. Ms. Robinson indicated that upcoming discussions will explore potential options and broader policy considerations. She then turned the presentation over to Director Katayanagi for further details on the Community Center.
Parks, Trails, and Recreation Director Jonathan Katayanagi thanked Council for the session and focus on parks, noting the City faces significant deferred maintenance challenges. He referred to the staff report regarding the Community Center and clarified that today’s discussion is about priorities, not final decisions on Community Center options.
He provided context on service levels, noting that the current Community Center’s indoor space is slightly below minimum standards relative to the City’s population, with benchmarks ranging from 1.5 to 2 square feet per resident. Policy considerations include whether replacement or renovations should maintain the current level of service or expand capacity to accommodate new residents and potentially provide a centralized, downtown location. The staff report included several City plans but Katayanagi added that the Age Friendly plan also highlights the importance of accessible downtown spaces.
Mr. Katayanagi outlined three scenarios for the Community Center:
1. Maintain Current Service – Focused on the existing facility:
o Option A: Renovate and maintain the current building over time. o Option B: Level the existing building and construct a new facility within the same footprint.
2. Expand Existing Site – Consider growth on the current site, adding levels or structured/groundlevel parking to increase space.
3. Downtown Facility – Explore relocating or expanding downtown while considering recent investments at the current site (Jennifer Russell Building, large hall, pickleball courts, playground, restrooms). Options include retaining some existing assets, rebuilding portions of the current site, or adding a new downtown facility. Katayanagi emphasized that the current site offers a prime pickleball location, one of the few unconstrained in the area.
The discussion is intended to prioritize options for the upcoming fiscal year while weighing constraints, community needs, and long-term strategy.
He then reviewed the cost implications of the Community Center options. He noted that any expansion— whether on the existing site or elsewhere—would require additional staff, and establishing a downtown facility would be the most complex option.
He presented a slide summarizing pros and cons for each scenario, as detailed in the staff report, along with a map of the current Community Center site. Staff is seeking Council guidance on priorities and input on how to proceed with studying and evaluating the options further.
City Council Special Minutes Page 19 of 27 February 20, 2026 Jonathan Katayanagi then reviewed park priorities based on multiple City plans, including the Facilities Master Plan, Trails Master Plan, Downtown Specific Plan, Creeks Plan, Open Space Plan, and the Age Friendly Action Plan. Key points include:
• Fields: The highest priority due to severe shortage. The City has only four fields, insufficient for adult sports and high spring/fall demand. Options to increase capacity include land acquisition, synthetic turf, and lighting, though synthetic turf adds limited hours, and lighting often faces neighborhood resistance.
• Bike parks: A longstanding community interest since 2009. Smaller-scale facilities, such as pump tracks or dirt/asphalt jumps, are feasible and have ongoing community demand. • Off-leash dog areas: Limited opportunities currently. Informal spaces exist, but City policies differ from EBRPD, suggesting potential ordinance revisions or new land acquisition. • Neighborhood/Downtown parks: Especially limited in northern Lafayette. Staff monitors opportunities, including Gazebo Park and the Leigh Creekside/Gazebo Park collaborative concept, while some sites, like Library Park, have been lost to development. • Trails: The Trails Subcommittee plans to update the Trails Master Plan this year to improve connectivity.
• Nature-oriented parks: The Hanlin Nature Park is in development, with geotechnical studies and site repairs underway. The goal is an open-space park with trails. • Regional partnerships: Collaboration with the school district, County Flood Control, EBMUD, and others could be considered to expand recreation opportunities. • Financial realities: Land acquisition costs are high, construction and long-term maintenance costs continue to rise, and changes in developer fee timing affect funding. Expanding facilities also increases baseline staff costs.
Overall, fields remain the most urgent need, but bike parks, off-leash areas, neighborhood parks, trails, and nature-oriented spaces are also priorities, with careful consideration of costs, maintenance, and staffing impacts.
Mr. Katayanagi asked Council which park and Community Center opportunities they would like explored for the year. He noted potential low-cost options, such as trialing a fenced dog area in the Community Park meadow, though all initiatives add cost and staff time.
Vice Mayor McCormick expressed skepticism about a downtown Community Center, citing limited suitable parcels, competition for sites, and challenges with Boswell’s and Campana properties.
Mr. Katayanagi explained the difficulty in acquiring downtown parcels, which often sell before the City can act. He suggested that opportunities might arise with willing property owners or larger corridor sites like the DeSilva property, which, while not immediately downtown, could accommodate fields, parking, and a Community Center. Hybrid approaches—investing in the existing site while adding another—offer more flexibility but remain challenging. The City has established a Community Foundation fund to help secure parcels if needed.
Councilmember Wotherspoon asked about the footprint for a 20,000 sq. ft. downtown facility and whether smaller parcels like the Oak Bridge parking lot could work.
City Council Special Minutes Page 20 of 27 February 20, 2026 Mr. Katayanagi said smaller parcels could be considered, but constraints like parking, ingress/egress, and multi-story building feasibility would need careful evaluation. He emphasized that fully relocating the Community Center downtown would significantly impact childcare services, particularly for Burton Valley Elementary, which has the highest demand for aftercare. The current After School Awesome program serves 80–90 students daily, closer to 100 with additional programs, requiring bus transport. Moving the facility would complicate these logistics.
Councilmember Cervantes agreed, noting that available downtown lots are largely taken by housing, making a downtown Community Center effectively infeasible given real-world site limitations and costs.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period.
GRACE DIXON urged the Council to consider the “ripple effect” principle, highlighting that multiple smaller parks and community centers can create broader neighborhood benefits—boosting economic vibrancy, property values, accessibility, and sustainability—rather than relying solely on a single large facility.
She recommended conducting an updated community survey, noting that existing data is outdated and downtown residents have long requested additional park space. Dixon emphasized evaluating investments for their potential to generate revenue, support economic vitality, and ensure inclusive access, including walkability, wheelchair accessibility, and facilities serving all ages. She stressed that community centers and shared public spaces often serve more residents than specialized facilities like sports fields.
Finally, she raised concerns about funding equity, citing a facilities assessment showing only 5.6% of planned park funding is allocated to downtown, with 95% directed elsewhere. While acknowledging site limitations, she urged the City to pursue more equitable investment strategies and explore creative solutions to better serve downtown neighborhoods.
Councilmember Cervantes acknowledged Ms. Dixon’s points, asking how they might be implemented in the downtownachievable. She emphasized that downtown’s vertical development potential allows facilities to go higher, minimizing footprint. She highlighted the Oak Bridge lot as an ideal location— centrally accessible to senior centers, Lafayette Elementary, Stanley, and other nearby residents—citing her personal experience using the site for 16 weeks. She noted that parking is currently sufficient, with minimal use of the Oak Bridge lot itself, and her five-year analysis showed only about 20% occupancy there.
Mayor Anduri closed the public comment period and returned questions and/or discussion to the Council.
Councilmembers discussed the challenges and opportunities of a downtown Community Center versus maintaining or expanding the existing site:
• Land availability: Councilmember Wotherspoon asked if all downtown land is spoken for; Mayor Anduri confirmed most opportunity sites are designated for housing. Wotherspoon noted potential for creative solutions, such as converting a surface parking lot to underground parking with a center above via a long-term lease. Vice Mayor McCormick cautioned that a benevolent landowner would be required, making it aspirational.
• Equity and accessibility: Councilmember Wotherspoon stressed the importance of a downtown location for walkability and bike access, noting the current Burton Valley location is far for residents in northern areas. A central location could serve more people as downtown housing density increases.
City Council Special Minutes Page 21 of 27 February 20, 2026 • Feasibility and size: Councilmember Cervantes suggested a minimum of 25,000 sq. ft., balancing financial realities with the cost of maintaining the current site (~$800,000/year) versus building new. Councilmember Candell supported exploring a distributed model for services, combining centralized and satellite locations.
• Existing facilities and programming: Mayor Anduri emphasized retaining current amenities at the Burton Valley site (pickleball, afterschool care, Jennifer Russell Building) while potentially relocating the main Community Center downtown. Mr. Katayanagi noted that expansion across multiple sites increases staff and maintenance needs but enhances services for youth, seniors, and the broader community.
• Next steps: The Council agreed it is worth exploring downtown feasibility, considering long-term population growth, accessibility, and balancing centralized versus satellite services. Creative solutions and careful planning will be needed to make this vision practical.
Mayor Anduri emphasized that the top priority for the year is to evaluate the Community Center and overall recreational opportunities, factoring in maintaining existing services and preparing for potential renewal of Measure H in 2030. Regarding policy direction, the Council expressed support for exploring relocating most Community Center operations downtown, while considering hybrid or distributed options to balance equity, accessibility, and program continuity.
Regarding financial considerations, Councilmember Cervantes highlighted the annual cost impact, noting the need to identify and plan for budget implications. Mayor Anduri added that achieving recreation goals in a fiscally sustainable way should be a formal priority.
Vice Mayor McCormick suggested a feasibility study as a first step to evaluate all options, including potential downtown relocation, hybrid approaches, or expansion of existing facilities. This would help prioritize effectively while managing time and costs.
Regarding next steps, Councilmember Wotherspoon noted that a full relocation downtown may not be feasible, so the hybrid model—maintaining existing operations while exploring downtown opportunities—should rise to the top for analysis.
The Council agreed to aim towards condensing priorities, focusing on actionable steps, and sequencing efforts so that analysis, policy decisions, and financial planning align to guide a recommendation by the end of the fiscal year.
Mayor Anduri asked to look at their existing tasks:
• He recommended deleting Number 1.
• For Number 2, at the Council meeting, there was the recommendation from staff that they carry out the survey of the remaining assets, and he confirmed the Council approved that. He wants to put this on there so the public knows they are not done yet. Fiscal sustainability is still a core responsibility, but he thinks that is a follow-on and he did not think they need to include it. • In terms of Number 3, they can look for other revenue sources. • For Number 4, look at additional efficiencies, and these both are part of what they do. They call this out here because this year they were looking at their situation, but they still want reports as part of the budget process, but he did not think these needed to be called out. • Regarding Numbers 5 and 6 they come off.
• The third priority is now recreation.
City Council Special Minutes Page 22 of 27 February 20, 2026 Ms. Levin said therefore, these become operational type of things. Mayor Anduri said yes, noting it is February and these are priorities for this fiscal year so they will get reports during this fiscal year as part of their budget process. Going to the next fiscal year, they are just part of their on-going operations.
Ms. Srivatsa asked and confirmed the item would state, “Planning for Developing and Financing the City’s Recreational Needs.” Councilmembers agreed with this, and confirmed the fiscal part will come back.
The following is a summary of the Council’s discussion on sales tax generation and downtown commercial vibrancy:
• Councilmember Wotherspoon’s proposal: Explore ways to increase sales tax revenue by attracting new businesses and boosting downtown vibrancy, referencing a 2021 report on fundraising and commercial success. She emphasized going beyond supporting existing businesses. • Vice Mayor McCormick’s perspective: Downtown occupancy is already high, and while attracting new businesses is good, he does not see it as a Council-level priority. He questioned whether actively recruiting new businesses is the best use of Council time. • Mayor Anduri’s view: Current initiatives like “Shop Local – Shop Lafayette” already support local business activity. More could be done, but it may not rise to the level of a formal priority. • Additional points:
o Large new developments (e.g., Costco, auto row) are not feasible on existing vacant lots. o Automobile sales do not generate sales tax revenue for the City, per Ms. Srivatsa. o Lafayette has some vacant storefronts, but the consensus is that this issue does not warrant inclusion as a top Council priority at this time.
In summary, the Council acknowledged the value of supporting commercial vitality but did not elevate it to a high priority for the upcoming year. Regarding a summary of the Council’s discussion on Community Center next steps and feasibility:
Newly Established Third Goal:
• Council confirmed a third priority: “Achieving recreational needs in a fiscally sustainable way.” • This includes evaluating the future of the Community Center, recreation programs, and related facilities.
Feasibility and Needs Assessment
Mayor Anduri stated that before detailed cost studies, the City should understand what the community actually wants and needs:
o How much space is needed?
o What types of programs and classrooms are most used or desired? o How might demand change if a facility is downtown with higher population density? Mr. Katayanagi stated the last Facilities Master Plan and Needs Assessment was done in 2009. They also have existing usage data on popular classes, waitlists, and program participation.
Ms. Srivatsa suggested contracting for industry-standard benchmarks based on cities similar to Lafayette and performing a community survey.
City Council Special Minutes Page 23 of 27 February 20, 2026 Mayor Anduri noted that past surveys may have been limited in usefulness, so combining user data with demographic trends and benchmarking is important.
Financial Considerations
• Councilmember Cervantes:
o Cheapest new center option (Option 1B) would cost more than maintaining the current building but could potentially be financed internally.
o Larger or downtown options may require G.O. bonds (2/3 voter approval) or community fundraising.
• Mayor Anduri & Vice Mayor McCormick:
o Need to assess willingness of the community to fundraise. o Past successes include the Library and Park Theater campaigns. • Councilmember Candell:
o Community may fundraise for parks or fields, but a large community center could be challenging.
Demographic & Program Considerations
• Councilmember Wotherspoon noted that younger families are moving in, which may increase demand for certain programs and facilities.
• Mr. Katayanagi stated expansion at DeSilva site could help meet multiple goals but requires funding.
Next Steps / Staff Direction
Ms. Levin summarized staff needs:
1. Conduct a needs assessment (survey, user data, demographic analysis, industry standards).
2. Evaluate financial implications (construction costs, ongoing operations, fundraising potential, G.O. bond feasibility).
3. Review location options: maintain existing site, downtown site, hybrid model.
4. Determine size and programming parameters for a future facility.
5. Consider how the existing Community Center assets will be incorporated or repurposed.
6. Include analysis of other recreation facilities to understand overall service levels.
In short, the Council’s direction is to start with understanding the community’s needs and preferences, then overlay financial feasibility and location options, before moving to a formal recommendation or construction plan.
Ms. Srivatsa asked how much the City has in impact fees, and Mayor Anduri said he raised this which is $4.2 million in the Park Acquisition Fund and the City has been paying back for facilities improvements and are just about complete. So, they have very little left in the Facilities Fund. The Terraces will be significant for the community, but they are waiting on occupation and fees.
Mayor Anduri said they are looking at the Gazebo site as well and he asked if there was more information about the Lennar project, and he confirmed they already paid fees. Councilmember Wotherspoon questioned where would the Campana money go and Ms. Robinson said they took money out of the City Hall fund to buy Campana but if they sell Campana, that brings money into the City Hall Fund. The City owns the property on El Nido Ranch Road to the west which is hilly with constraints.
City Council Special Minutes Page 24 of 27 February 20, 2026 Ms. Robinson said staff would be able to identify pots of money of what could be used once the financial implications are determined. Staff would come back with more language on this priority, and Ms. Srivatsa said staff can come back with things staff can do and Ms. Robinson said some of these would take longer for others.
Vice Mayor McCormick asked if this is using existing staff to answer this first level of questions. Ms.
Srivatsa said this would be a huge lift for PTR if this is the priority for the next year or so, staff would have to additionally consider this.
Mayor Anduri said he did not know how much more they could do other than to say this is a big new priority and they will focus on it and make something happen. Ms. Robinson said staff will need to come back and identify what is needed.
Councilmember Wotherspoon asked if they were addressing what is on the slide; specific priorities or are they saying they are interested in all of it right now pending staff’s analysis. Mayor Anduri said this is hard to answer because each have different factors with it. Over the course of the year, they can look at which ones are realistic to actually do, those they can do without a huge additional cost, but you cannot do any of them without additional staff. One of the reasons for holding this session is that the City Manager goes to the departments and relays the priorities, and asks what is needed for the budget to be approved in June in order to carry these things out.
Councilmember Candell added that the Olympic staging area’s lease is coming due. She asked if they need answers about ideas sooner rather than later for that. Mr. Katayanagi said it is his understanding that EBRPD and the County are in conversations right now. They are working together on what that looks like moving forward. So, this is something staff can keep on their radar and come back to a future Council meeting as well, as it warrants further Council discussion and PTR Commission discussion.
Mayor Anduri asked if the current lease just covers the parking area, and Mr. Katayanagi said they lease the staging areas. Mayor Anduri said there is the empty space and the space to the north of the parking area and he asked if that is part of the lease. Mr. Katayanagi said he does not have the specific details. It could be the entire area in between the staging areas, so there are possibilities there.
Mayor Anduri said if the City could get that entire parcel, they would want it. It was supposed to be the dog park, but it could be a bike park or something else because that is the only level space out there.
Mr. Katayanagi said they do utilize the staging areas and there is a planned trail expansion too. So, they have easements and the City has portions of those easements that go from the roundabout all the way to Rohrer and they have lined up the entire trail and have done the studies. They still need the staging area for the regional trail but there may be opportunities to partner or sublease a portion of what is there to achieve their goals, and staff is having those conversations to move that forward.
Councilmembers then discussed and described the four sides of the parcel, staging area, owners, those involved, the Calaveras Ridge Trail that is planned to start from there at the roundabout towards Rohrer Drive along the ridge. Mr. Katayanagi said it is a trail that they have been working to achieve overtime.
The Commission had looked at the area in between the land as a dog park and a bike park that would fit into that area, but it is used fairly frequently as an equipment staging area, but otherwise it is just open, and with proper fencing, a dog park would be pretty achievable. With the trail, bike or dog use would work very well in that area.
City Council Special Minutes Page 25 of 27 February 20, 2026 Councilmembers agreed they could not do anything with the Olympic parcel at this time until more is known.
9. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER
Recommendation: Receive and file
City Manager Srivatsa stated this was a great workshop and staff has received a lot of direction, they will figure out how to do it, whether it is achievable and how much it will cost.
She noted that typically, Ms. Levin types up the priorities, they are brought to a Council meeting for approval and this should happen within the next month. Then, at the end of March, the management team is meeting to start work on preparing for the next fiscal year.
Councilmember Cervantes asked if they should rank order the three priorities to help staff. Ms. Srivatsa said wildfire is Mr. Comly and the Police Department; Item 2 is Patrick Golier and Engineering with some assistance from Planning; and the third priority is Parks, Trails and Recreation and she and Heather Ward will assist. So, these are three separate priorities
10. SUMMARY OF THE DAY AND COUNCILMEMBER CHECK-IN AND TAKE-AWAYS The Council briefly discussed Commissioner appointment renewals. Currently, Commissioners automatically renew for two years with a review at six years. Councilmember Candell suggested adding an option for Chairs to request an interim review every two years if concerns arise, though this would be rare. Mayor Anduri noted this could be awkward in practice since there is currently no formal recourse if a Commissioner is uncooperative.
City Attorney Subramanian recommended addressing any policy updates about renewals at a future agenda rather than in the current priority discussion.
Mayor Anduri said there is also discussion it will take to maintain the positive Council relationship.
Ms. Levin said everybody spoke about what a great group it is to work with and one individual indicated maybe at some point there is an opportunity why they work together so well and how they sustain that.
Take-Aways:
Councilmember Cervantes said Councilmembers all work great together and he has seen many cities and special districts where this is not the case. He thinks it might be getting the right people together, working towards the right goal with the right staff and it all works out. But, there is an element of collegiality here which he really finds refreshing.
Ms. Levin said what she sees in the last 4 or 5 years is that the Council talks to each other, respect each other and she notices that a lot of Councilmembers talk over, interrupt those kinds of conduct, and unfortunately she sees a lot of that in the last year especially. The word she would use is that you respect each other. Councilmembers thinks each one of them listens to each other even if they do not agree.
City Council Special Minutes Page 26 of 27 February 20, 2026 Ms. Levin asked if there are other things that come to mind. Ms. Srivatsa said there is one more—how will you engage with other entities regarding the external environment. She thinks this means the changing environments with regulatory issues, federal issues, how you work with other cities, counties, agencies.
Councilmember Cervantes said he is conscious, particularly in light of the State’s impact on cities, where there is a long game the Council needs to be thinking about as illustrated by SB 79. Having a thought-out strategy over years as to how the City builds relationships and get itself known, and in the mix of some issues, particularly as there are concentric circles around the City matter, such as their state legislators, supervisors, etc.?
Mayor Anduri said he sees this as the Legislative Committee taking the lead on this, particularly now that they have the Lamorinda framework. Everyone is approved, and he confirmed it is scheduled to be one person from each city. It was going to be the Mayor, but it should be someone from the Legislative Committee. Ms. Srivatsa said staff is trying to schedule that meeting for mid-March. Their Legislative Committee is going to be looking at the bills first and triaging them to send forward.
Mayor Anduri said when making the Council assignments, he counted the Legislative Committee as three or four assignments because it was so much work from his perspective. It would be even more important in the future too.
Ms. Levin asked if there were any more items, and there were none. She asked if there were any takeaways from today.
Councilmember Cervantes said this session reinforces his thought on sense of collegiality here, respect, listening to each, does not always agree on everything, but they accept someone’s viewpoint and possibly could be convinced with a different approach. So, he values that this group works well together, respects staff, and the collegiality is refreshing.
Vice Mayor McCormick agreed and he likes where they end on the priorities. The fact that fiscal sustainability was such a big deal, they focused on it, knocked it out of the park, and now they are doing the next thing and working on recreation. He thinks they are all aligned and he is all in.
Mayor Anduri said his takeaway is what an incredibly strong staff they have as a team. Partly, the benefit of Measure H. They have Management Analyst Heather Ward now and Human Resources Analyst Dana Poplin working with Tracy Robinson, they are bringing in strong people to do things, will probably have to think about things they do with the PTR area, and it brings home to him that the stronger staff they have is just worth investing in.
Councilmember Candell said she thinks they were far more aspirational this year than they have been in a long time. It is fun to have that luxury and try to think beyond keeping the doors open and trying to actually think where they want to go. She thanked the Mayor for doing a lot of the pushing on that and in preparing.
Councilmember Wotherspoon said she just reflects on how many challenges they have that they have discussed but also how many opportunities. It is actually quite exciting. She is glad they are in a position where they have some of that financial stability to stop and think about the aspirational things.
City Council Special Minutes Page 27 of 27 February 20, 2026 Ms. Levin asked if there is anything the Council would have done differently. She heard there was a good lunch and good cookies. Councilmembers said everything was great and they had nothing to add.
11. ADJOURNMENT – 2:15 p.m.
APPROVED:
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Carl Anduri, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Joanne Robbins, City Clerk