City Council Special Meeting 9:00am
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
CITY HALL
BOUNDARY OAK GOLF COURSE, 3800 VALLEY VISTA ROAD, WALNUT CREEK CouncilMembers:
DEVINNEY
FRANCOIS
sILVA
mAYOR pRO tEM Wilk
mayor Darling
Meeting minutes are considered draft until approved by the City Council.
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AT 9:00 AM
1. OPENING – Mayor Darling called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. a.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
b.
ROLL CALL - all Councilmembers were in attendance.
2. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Darling reported that public comments at special meetings are limited to subjects on the agenda only. No in-person public comments were received. Written public comments were received, provided to the City Council and posted online as part of the meeting record.
Correspondence
3. CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE WORKSHOP
Council Handbook Appendix E
City Manager Dan Buckshi shared that a best practice of City Councils is to periodically hold workshops in order to focus upon governance. Walnut Creek has a history of holding such workshops. The purpose of this meeting was for the City Council to discuss what’s working well, what could be done better, and to generate ideas about how to continuously improve.
Melissa Kuehne and Jon Barilone, Institute of Local Government, facilitated the workshop. The City Council discussed the importance of governance, including a refresher on leadership and governance; reviewed key themes (excellence in governance, Council roles, successes and challenges, what’s working well, areas for improvement) from assessment interviews conducted; and discussed foundations for high-performing City Council’s, effective leadership and culture, and communications styles.
Facilitator Kuehne discussed the importance of reviewing the “Agreed Upon Norms for City Council-City Staff Interactions” periodically, particularly when a new Councilmember joins. The City Council reviewed and reaffirmed the City Council adopted norms from 2011.
Discussion ensued relating to City Council advisory bodies.
No formal action was taken as a result of this workshop.
4. ADJOURNMENT OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
________________________________________
Suzie Martinez, MMC
City Clerk of the City of Walnut Creek
Approved:
_______________________________________
Cindy Darling
2024-25 Mayor of the City of Walnut Creek