Good afternoon.

I'm Cindy Darling, Mayor of the City of Walnut Creek, and welcome to the Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 special meeting of the Walnut Creek City Council.

The special meeting is being called for the purpose of holding a closed session related to the following: a conference with legal counsel on anticipated litigation.

Does any member of the public wish to comment on a closed session item?

As a reminder, each speaker will only have two minutes to make their comments.

Seeing no speakers, the city council will reconvene in closed session.

Thank you.

Good evening.

I'm Cindy Darling, mayor of the city of Walnut Creek.

And welcome to the regular meeting of the Walnut Creek City Council.

The City Council is conducting this meeting from the City Council Chamber.

This meeting is being video streamed and can be viewed live or later on the city's website.

As some attendees may be participating in their first Walnut Creek City Council meeting, I wanted to welcome everyone and talk briefly about the public comment process.

For each agenda item, there will be an opportunity for public comment on that item.

Thus, if you desire to speak to an item on the agenda this evening, please hold your comments until the city council considers that item.

Additionally, we have a section on the agenda titled Public Communications, which is for public comments for items not on the agenda.

Any comments during public communication should not relate to an item that is on the agenda this evening.

Consistent with section 9.5 of the city council handbook.

30 minutes will be initially allocated for public communication for items not on the agenda.

Additional time for public communications for items not on the agenda will be provided at the end of the open session portion of the meeting if necessary.

If you desire to provide a public comment, please complete a speaker identification card and line up behind the lectern at the appropriate time.

Wait your turn, and then when you approach the lectern, please state your name, City of Residence for the record.

You will have two minutes to address the City Council.

Please keep in mind that this is a city business meeting.

The City Council has adopted rules of decorum to ensure that meetings are conducted efficiently and effectively, and that all members of the public have a full, fair, and equal opportunity to be heard.

The City Council Handbook outlines decorum expected in the council chamber and can be found on our website.

All remarks should be addressed to the City Council.

Please do not use threatening, profane, or abusive language, which disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the council meeting.

Again, each speaker will have two minutes to make your remarks.

Written comments submitted and received up to two hours before the meeting have been posted to the city website for public review and are included in the meeting record, but will not be separately read into the record.

Good evening.

I am Cindy Darling, Mayor of the City of Walnut Creek, and welcome to the Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 meeting of the Walnut Creek City Council.

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic or which it stands.

One nation under our individual with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Clerk, could you please call the roll?

Councilmember Davini?

Here.

Councilmember Francois?

Here.

Councilmember Silva?

Here.

Mayor Pro Temwell.

And Mayor Darling.

Here.

And now tonight, we're going to pause at the beginning of our program tonight to recognize the passing of Gwen Regalia.

Her family is here, and we have some people to remember Gwen.

We have a proclamation, and I'm actually, I don't normally read the whole proclamation, but it is quite the story, and I wanted to cover it.

So Gwen Whiteford Regalia was born in Ross, California and spent her formative years in both Southern and Northern California, graduating from UC Berkeley and dedicating her early career to educating young minds as an elementary school teacher.

Gwen and her beloved husband, Ed Regalia, moved to Walnut Creek in October 1958, where they raised their four children and became pillars of the community.

Gwen devoted over 30 years to public service in Walnut Creek, beginning with her tenure with the Walnut Creek School District Board from 1978 to 87, including board president in 82 and 84.

She continued her legacy of leadership on the City Council from 1987 to 2008, five terms as mayor, 91, 96, 99, 2003, and 2008.

During her time in office, Gwen was instrumental in shaping the cultural and physical landscape of Walnut Creek, championing major capital projects such as the Lesser Center for the Arts, the Shade Lands Art Center, and the Iron Horse Trail Bridge over Ignacio Valley Boulevard or Road, whatever that is.

As a council member, she served on many committee assignments, including City County Relations Committee, TransPAC, Central Contracta Transit Authority, Pleasant Hill BART, Joint Policy Committee founding member, MTC, Bay Area Air Quality Board, she was across the Mayor's Conference and BCDC Commission.

Her regional leadership extended beyond Walnut Creek as she served on the executive board of ABAG from 1991 to 2008, including serving as president from 2002 and 2003.

Her leadership contributed to the construction of two gyms, five parks, seven ball fields, and she played a vital role in preserving 305 acres of open space, ensuring the natural beauty of Walnut Creek endures for future generations.

Gwen and Ed were deeply committed to the educational equity with Ed founding the Kennedy King Memorial Scholarship and Gwen serving as board president from 1972 to 74, helping underrepresented students achieve their college dreams.

Gwen fostered international goodwill through the Walnut Creek Sister Cities program, hosting visitors from Nochetto, Italy and Shea Folk Hungary, and leading a group to Shiafolk in 1994.

She demonstrated a lifelong commitment to civic engagement and the advancement of women and leadership through her active participation in numerous organizations, including over nearly half a decade as a member of the American Association of University Women, as well as her involvement in the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, the California Elected Women's Association, and the National Women's Political Caucus.