City Council Special Meeting 4pm/ Regular Meeting at 6 pm Tuesday, August 18, 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 September 1, 2026.
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AT 4:00 PM
Council Chamber, 1st Floor
1. OPENING AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
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.
All 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 items.
2. CLOSED SESSION
After an opportunity for public comment, the City Council reconvened in closed session in the 2nd Floor Conference Room pursuant to:
a.
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
(Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8)
Property: 1352 Locust Street, Walnut Creek (APN # 178-230-030) Agency negotiators: Dan Buckshi, City Manager; and Rich Payne, Public Works Director Negotiating parties: City of Walnut Creek and 5 Tacos & Beers by Los Moles Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment
b.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
(Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2))
Significant Exposure to Litigation - One case (CVRA Demand Letter)
3. ADJOURNMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - CLOSED SESSION at 5:28 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 - all Councilmembers were in attendance.
c.
RECOGNITION: Diablo Vista Chorus
d.
PRESENTATION: CenterRep Season Update
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
There were no public comments for items on the Consent Calendar.
Motion by Darling, second by Silva,
carried unanimously
, to APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR as follows:
YEAS:
Darling, DeVinney, Silva, Mayor Pro Tem Francois, Mayor Wilk. a.
APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES of July 21, 2026.
7.21.26 Minutes
b.
ACCEPTED WARRANT REGISTERS dated July 17, 2026 (3), July 24, 2026 (3), July 31, 2026 (3), and August 7, 2026 (4), and DIRECT PAYROLL TRANSFERS dated July 24, 2026 (2) and August 7, 2026 (2).
Warrant Registers
c.
AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER to execute a two-year Consultant Services Agreement with Folger Graphics in an amount not to exceed $60,000 per fiscal year and a two-year agreement amount not to exceed $120,000 for Citywide printing services. 2c Agenda Report
Attachment 1 Consultant Services Agreement
Attachment 2 Informal Analysis
d.
ACCEPTED WORK for Contract 25-05, the 2025 Trail Crossing Improvements project, as complete; and AUTHORIZED THE CITY CLERK to file a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder. 2d Agenda Report
e.
ACCEPTED WORK for Contract 25-04, the 2025 Unsignalized Pedestrian Crossing Improvements project, as complete; and AUTHORIZED THE CITY CLERK to file a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder. 2e Agenda Report
3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
In-person public comments were provided by Jan Warren; Glenn McBee; Tristan Placond; Josh Audibert; William Painter; Angela Ashley and Caitlin Burrows, Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce; and Kita City representative. Written comments were received, posted online as part of the meeting record, and provided at the meeting.
General Public Comments Prior to Packet Publication
General Public Comments After Packet Publication
4. COUNCILMEMBER AND STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES OR REQUESTS a.
Closed Session announcement - City Attorney Steve Mattas reported that the City Council met in Closed Session to discuss two items. Regarding the real property negotiations item, the City Council provided direction to its real property negotiators, but took no reportable action. Regarding the anticipated litigation item related to the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), there was no reportable action. b.
City Manager reports - none.
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.
The meeting was recessed briefly from 7:11 p.m. to 7:25 p.m.
5. CONSIDERATION
a.
PRESENTATION OF THE DRAFT ELECTRIC VEHICLE STRATEGIC PLAN Sustainability Manager Candice Rankin Mumby introduced the item. She reported that staff worked with a consultant (Black & Veatch) to develop an Electric Vehicle Strategic Plan to guide electrification of the City’s vehicle fleet and management of City-owned electric vehicle chargers. She presented the Electric Vehicle Strategic Plan for City Council review. Staff additionally seek direction on management of the City’s Public Electric Vehicle Charger Program. Public Works Manager Gina Eicher and Consultant Will Einstein, Black & Veatch, also presented on the item.
In-person comments were received from Jan Warren and Ellen Leng. Remote comments were received from Call-in User-3. Written comments were received, posted online as part of the meeting record, and provided at the meeting.
The City Council provided feedback on the draft Electric Vehicle Strategic Plan.
Motion by Darling, second by Mayor Pro Tem Francois,
carried unanimously
, to AUTHORIZE staff to pursue a third-party vendor to maintain and operate City-owned EV chargers, potentially in partnership with neighboring cities; ESTABLISH a cost-recovery target of approximately 80-90%; and REDIRECT resulting revenue toward expanding City-operated EV charging infrastructure.
YEAS:
Darling, DeVinney, Silva, Mayor Pro Tem Francois, Mayor Wilk. 5a Agenda Report
Attachment Electric Vehicle Strategic Plan
Public Comments Received After Publication
6. PUBLIC HEARING
a.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING THE USER FEE COST RECOVERY POLICY AND AUTHORIZING UPDATES TO THE FY27 MASTER FEE SCHEDULE Administrative Services Director Kirsten LaCasse provided teh staff presentation. She reported that the City recently completed a comprehensive user fee study to evaluate the cost of providing fee-supported services, assess existing cost recovery levels, and develop recommendations for a User Fee Cost Recovery Policy (Policy) and updates to the City’s Master Fee Schedule. On June 2, 2026, the City Council reviewed the study findings and provided initial policy direction regarding the City’s cost recovery framework and proposed fee recommendations. On July 21, 2026, the City Council reviewed the draft Policy, proposed Master Fee Schedule updates, and provided additional direction to refine the documents. This report presented the revised draft Policy and proposed Master Fee Schedule updates for consideration and adoption, and requested that the Council conduct a public hearing for the proposed Master Fee Schedule.
An Addendum was presented outlining revisions to Attachment 3, the Proposed FY27 Master Fee Schedule, pages 41-43 (adding back two missing fees for Public Works that were in the original FY26 and FY27 Adopted Master Fee Schedule, and adjusting language from Actual Costs to Pass Through).
No public comments were received.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Francois, second by Darling,
carried unanimously
, to ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-45 approving the User Fee Cost Recovery Policy, and adjusting fees and charges for various municipal services and activities per the FY27 Master Fee Schedule.
YEAS:
Darling, DeVinney, Silva, Mayor Pro Tem Francois, Mayor Wilk. 6a Agenda Report
Attachment 1 Draft Resolution with Exhibit A
Attachment 2 FY27 Master Fee Schedule
Addendum
b.
APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S DENIAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (RESOLUTION NO. 4014) TO ALLOW THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SHORT-TERM RENTAL WITHIN AN EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 635 MANDARIN LANE (APPLICATION NO. Y25-086) Assistant Planner Steven Cook provided the staff presentation. He reported that on May 28, 2026, the Planning Commission held a public hearing and voted to deny the Conditional Use Permit for the establishment of an unhosted short-term rental at 635 Mandarin Lane (the "Project"), finding the existing operations did not satisfy the required Conditional Use Permit and Bed and Breakfast Inn findings. The Commission directed staff to prepare a resolution memorializing its action. Resolution No. 4014, denying the Conditional Use Permit for the Project was subsequently adopted at the Planning Commission’s June 11, 2026, meeting. On June 4, 2026, Hector Krauss, the applicant for the Project (the "Appellant"), timely filed an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision. Pursuant to Walnut Creek Municipal Code Section 10-2.4.102, the City Council is the designated hearing body for appeals of Planning Commission decisions and therefore considered the Appellant’s appeal of Resolution No. 4014 de novo; meaning the matter was considered anew based on the record and information presented at the appeal hearing.
Applicant/Appellant Hector Krauss provided his presentation.
In-person comments were received from Lisa Blanco. Written comments were received, posted online as part of the meeting record, and provided at the meeting.
Applicant/Appellant Hector Krauss provided a rebuttal.
Motion by Mayor Wilk, second by Silva,
carried unanimously
, to DENY the appeal and ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-46 upholding the Planning Commission's decision to deny the Conditional Use Permit and related actions for the proposed unhosted short-term rental within an existing single-family residence located at 635 Mandaring Lane pursuant to Planning Commission Resolution No. 4014.
YEAS:
Darling, DeVinney, Silva, Mayor Pro Tem Francois, Mayor Wilk. 6b Agenda Report
Attachment 1 Draft Resolution with Exhibit A
Attachment 2 Appeal
Attachment 3 Notice of Planning Commission Decision
Attachment 4 Planning Commission Agenda Report
Attachment 5 Vicinity Map and Aerial Images
Attachment 6 Business Operating Plan
Attachment 7 Site and Floor Plan
Attachment 8 Bed and Breakfast Inn Ordinance
Attachment 9 City Staff Correspondence with Applicant
Attachment 10 Public Comments in Advance of Packet Publication Public Comments Received After Publication
7. ADJOURNMENT OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL in memoriam of Ed Skoog at 9:58 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