City Council Special Meeting 5pm (Closed Session)/ Regular Meeting at 6 pm Tuesday, March 17, 2026
CITY HALL
1666 N. MAIN STREET, WALNUT CREEK
CouncilMembers:
Darling
DeVinney
Silva
mAYOR pRO tEM Francois
mayor Wilk
Meeting minutes were approved by the City Council at the regular meeting held on April 7, 2026.
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AT 5:00 PM
Council Chamber, 1st Floor
1. OPENING AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
Councilmember Silva was absent due to a planned vacation; all other Councilmembers were in attendance.
Mayor Wilk reported that under California law, public comments at special meetings are limited to subjects on the agenda only. No public comments were received for the Closed Session item.
2. CLOSED SESSION
After an opportunity for public comment, the City Council reconvened into Closed Session in the 2nd Floor Conference Room pursuant to:
a.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
(Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1))
Chuluunbat v. City of Walnut Creek, et al. Case No. C20-00716
3. ADJOURNMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - CLOSED SESSION at 5:40 p.m. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AT 6:00 PM
Council Chamber, 1st Floor
1. OPENING
Consider and take action on any request from a Councilmember to participate in a meeting remotely due to emergency circumstances pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(f)(1). Receive notice that a Councilmember is participating in the meeting due to just cause circumstances pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(f)(1) - none. a.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
b.
ROLL CALL - Councilmember Silva was absent due to a planned vacation; all other Councilmembers were in attendance. c.
PROCLAMATION: International Transgender Day of Visibility d.
PROCLAMATION: Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month
e.
PRESENTATION: 2025 Year in Review (Annual Report)
2025 Year in Review
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
No public comments were received for items on the Consent Calendar.
Motion by Darling, second by Mayor Pro Tem Francois,
carried unanimously
, to APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR as follows:
YEAS:
Darling, DeVinney, Mayor Pro Tem Francois, Mayor Wilk. a.
APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES of March 3, 2026.
Minutes
b.
ACCEPTED WARRANT REGISTERS dated February 27, 2026 (2) and March 6, 2026 (2), and DIRECT PAYROLL TRANSFERS dated March 6, 2026 (2).
Warrant Registers
c.
ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 2255 rezoning the two-acre parcel located at 2717 N. Main Street, 1530 Second Avenue & 1510 Second Avenue from Service Commercial (SC) to a new Planned Development District (P-D) for the Porsche Walnut Creek Dealership Project. (Introduced 3/3/26) 2c Ordinance with Exhibits
d.
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 26-09 requesting the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District maintain the City's Stormwater Utility Area (SUA) fee at $35 per Equivalent Runoff Unit (ERU) for FY 2027 and requesting the maintenance of the City's Stormwater Utility Area fee. 2d Agenda Report
Attachment Draft Resolution
e.
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 26-10 authorizing the City to submit a Prohousing Incentive Program application to the State's Housing and Community Development Department; and APPROVED APPROPRIATION for an amount up to $1,000,000 within the Grant Fund (Fund 166) to support the City's affordable housing and preservation efforts. 2e Agenda Report
Attachment 1 Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 Draft PIP Application
f.
AWARDED CONTRACT 20-28, the Walker Avenue Pedestrian Improvement project to FJ&I Engineering, for a contract price of $209,780, with contingency not-to-exceed $41,956, for an authorized total contract amount of $251,736. 2f Agenda Report
Attachment 1 Project Location
Attachment 2 Bid Evaluation
g.
AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER to enter into Master Consultant Agreement and Task Order No. 1 with Griffin Structures to provide Construction Project Management Services for the New Aquatic and Community Center at Heather Farm Park Phase 2 Project for a not-to-exceed amount of $1,416,690. 2g Agenda Report
Attachment 1 Master Consultant Services Agreement
Attachment 2 Task Order 1 with Exhibit A
h.
AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER to enter into Utility Service Agreements with Pacific Gas & Electric, AT&T, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, and the Contra Costa Water District for the New Aquatic and Community Center at Heather Farm Park Phase 2 for a not-to-exceed amount of $750,000. 2h Agenda Report
i.
AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER to execute a Consultant Service Agreement with Sanbell to provide Civil Engineering Design Services for the Newell Avenue and Broadway Safe Routes to School project for an amount of $258,242. 2i Agenda Report
Attachment 1 Draft Agreement
Attachment 2 Newell Ave Layout
Attachment 3 Sanbell Proposal
j.
ACCEPTED WORK for Contract 24-06, the Hofmann Sound System Replacement project, as complete; and AUTHORIZED THE CITY CLERK to file a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder. 2j Agenda Report
k.
ACCEPTED WORK for Contract 25-06, the North Locust Garage Concrete Repairs project, as complete; and AUTHORIZED THE CITY CLERK to file a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder. 2k Agenda Report
l.
ACCEPTED the December 2025 Investment and Internal Revenue Service Section 115 Pension Trust Report. 2l Agenda Report
Attachment 1 Investment Detail Report
Attachment 2 Supplementary Info by Investment Type
Attachment 3 WC Section 115 Pension Trust Statement
Attachment 4 WC Section 115 Pension Trust Economic Overview
3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Public comments were received from: Gian Panetta, Club Waka (provided a handout); and Alia Issa. Written public comments were received, provided to the City Council and posted online as part of the meeting record.
Public Comments After Packet Publication
Handout at Meeting
4. COUNCILMEMBER AND STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES OR REQUESTS a.
Closed Session announcement - none.
b.
City Manager reports - City Manager Dan Buckshi acknowledged Deputy City Clerk Ellena Branson for having achieved her Certified Municipal Clerk designation. c.
City Councilmember reports on AB1234 Activities, Councilmember assignments and various activities and upcoming events.
Councilmembers announced upcoming events, reported on meetings and other local events attended since the last meeting, and made comments on issues of concern.
5. CONSIDERATION
a.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONSULTANT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN, INC. TO PREPARE THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE AND THE ASSOCIATED ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR A NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $3,160,705 Principal Planner Crystal De Castro provided the staff presentation. She reported that staff is requesting the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Consultant Services Agreement with Alta Planning + Design, Inc. (formerly Raimi + Associates) to prepare the City’s General Plan Update and associated Programmatic Environmental Impact Report. This project implements Council’s 2025-2026 priorities and follows a competitive selection process.
Eric Yurgovich
Purcell at Alta Planning + Design discussed the project team; project phases for years 2026-2029; and the outreach and engagement approach.
No public comments were received.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Francois, second by Darling,
carried unanimously
, to ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-11 authorizing the City Manager to execute a consultant services agreement with Alta Planning + Design, Inc., to prepare the 2050 General Plan Update and the associated environmental impact document in an amount not to exceed $3,160,705 for a four-year term, with an option to extend for 12 more months.
YEAS:
Darling, DeVinney, Mayor Pro Tem Francois, Mayor Wilk. 5a Agenda Report
Attachment 1 Draft Resolution
Attachment 2 Draft Consultant Services Agreement with Exhibits A and B b.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS APPROVING THE DOWNTOWN WALNUT CREEK BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND DOWNTOWN WALNUT CREEK SOUTH BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ASSESSMENT REPORTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, INTENT TO LEVY ASSESSMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027, AND SETTING PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR APRIL 7, 2026 Economic Development Manager Mike Nimon provided the staff presentation. He reported that the Downtown Walnut Creek Business Improvement District (BID) and the Downtown Walnut Creek South Business Improvement District (SBID) generates assessment fees for funding beautification, marketing, promotional events, advocacy and special projects in the downtown area which require an annual review by City Council. Every year, City Council must hold two meetings. At this first meeting, the City Council was presented the BID and SBID’s Annual Assessment Reports, asked to adopt resolutions of intent to levy assessments and set the public hearing date. Economic Development Manager Nimon reported that the second meeting is the public hearing to complete the two-step process.
Kathy Hemmenway, Walnut Creek Downtown Executive Director, presented the Downtown Walnut Creek Business Improvement District and Downtown Walnut Creek South Business Improvement District Annual Reports for 2025-2026.
No public comments were received.
Motion by Darling, second by DeVinney,
carried unanimously
, to ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-12 approving the Downtown Walnut Creek Business Improvement District Annual Assessment Report for Fiscal Years 2026, Intent to Levy the Annual Assessments for the Downtown Walnut Creek Business Improvement District for Fiscal Year 2027, and setting a Public Hearing for April 7, 2026; and to ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-13 Approving the Downtown Walnut Creek South Business Improvement District Annual Assessment Report for Fiscal Years 2026; Intent to Levy the Annual Assessments for the Downtown Walnut Creek Business Improvement District for Fiscal Year 2027, and Setting a Public Hearing for April 7, 2026.
YEAS:
Darling, DeVinney, Mayor Pro Tem Francois, Mayor Wilk. 5b Agenda Report
Attachment 1 Draft Resolution Approving the Downtown Walnut Creek BID Annual Assessment Report for Fiscal Years 2026 and Intent to Levy Annual Assessments Attachment 2 Draft Resolution Approving the Downtown Walnut Creek SBID Annual Assessment Report for Fiscal Years 2026 and Intent to Levy the Annual Assessments Attachment 3 Walnut Creek Downtown BID Annual Assessment Report for FY2026 Attachment 4 Walnut Creek Downtown SBID Annual Assessment Report for FY2026 Attachment 5 Walnut Creek Downtown FY2026 501(C)(6) Financials Attachment 6 Walnut Creek Downtown FY2026 501(C)(3) Financials The meeting was recessed from 7:48 p.m. to 7:56 p.m.
c.
2025 HOUSING ELEMENT ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT
Housing Manager Stefanie Brynen provided the staff presentation. She reported that the City of Walnut Creek is required to submit the 2025 Annual Progress Report (APR) for the Housing Element of the General Plan to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. The APR provides a summary of the City’s progress in implementing Housing Element goals, policies, and programs. Upon Council action, staff will submit the report by April 1 deadline.
No public comments were received.
Motion by DeVinney, second by Darling,
carried unanimously
, to APPROVE the 2025 Annual Progress Report and DIRECTION to city staff to submit to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.
YEAS:
Darling, DeVinney, Mayor Pro Tem Francois, Mayor Wilk. 5c Agenda Report
Attachment 2025 Housing Element APR
6. ADJOURNMENT OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL at 8:10 p.m. ________________________________________
Suzie Martinez, MMC
City Clerk of the City of Walnut Creek
Approved:
_______________________________________
Kevin Wilk
2025-26 Mayor of the City of Walnut Creek