Walnut Creek City Council Special and Regular Meeting – August 18, 2026

The Walnut Creek City Council convened a special meeting at 4:00 PM for a closed session, followed by a regular meeting at 6:00 PM. The regular meeting included recognitions, presentations, a consent calendar, public communications, councilmember reports, and two major public hearings: a presentation on the Draft Electric Vehicle Strategic Plan and a public hearing on a user fee cost recovery policy. The council also heard an appeal of a Planning Commission decision to deny a conditional use permit for a short-term rental. All councilmembers were present.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously approved the consent calendar (items 2a–2e), which included:
  • Approval of July 21, 2026, city council minutes.
  • Acceptance of warrant registers and direct payroll transfers for multiple dates.
  • Authorization of a two-year Consultant Services Agreement with Folger Graphics for citywide printing services ($60,000 per fiscal year, not to exceed $120,000 total).
  • Acceptance of work for Contract 25-05 (2025 Trail Crossing Improvements) and Contract 25-04 (2025 Unsignalized Pedestrian Crossing Improvements), with authorization to file Notices of Completion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Several residents spoke about concerns regarding Flock license plate readers, citing privacy risks and potential abuse. Police Chief Ryan Hibbs addressed the council, stating that outside agencies cannot access Walnut Creek data without permission, that data is not shared with federal agencies, and that the system is audited weekly. He noted that the department has 37 license plate readers (35 fixed, 2 mobile) and that they are used only for criminal investigations. Councilmembers requested a future update on the program.
• Other public comments included a welcome to new Chamber of Commerce CEO Katie Burroughs, a report from the Kita City (Japan) delegation, and a request from the Walnut Creek Racket Club to upgrade outdated tennis court lighting.

Discussion Items

• Presentation of the Draft Electric Vehicle Strategic Plan: Sustainability Manager Candice Rankin Mumby and consultants from Black & Veatch presented the plan. The city has 175 fleet vehicles, of which 66 are subject to the Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) regulation. The plan recommends installing 14 DC fast-charging ports (4 at Heather Farm, 10 at the Lawrence Way corporate yard) and 24 Level 2 chargers. The total cost of ownership analysis suggests that transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) can be cost-competitive, especially with potential incentives. For public chargers, the city currently operates 40 ports (mostly downtown) with no user fees, costing $250,000 annually (60% electricity). The proposal is to contract with a third-party vendor for maintenance and operations, and to establish a cost-recovery target of 80–90%, with revenue reinvested into expanding the charging network.
• Public Hearing – Adoption of Resolution Approving the User Fee Cost Recovery Policy and FY27 Master Fee Schedule: Administrative Services Director Kirsten LaCasse presented the policy, which creates a consistent framework for fee decisions. The council had previously provided direction; the final version includes a resident discount definition and restores two Public Works fees. No public comments were received. The council unanimously adopted the resolution.
• Public Hearing – Appeal of Planning Commission Denial of Conditional Use Permit for Short-Term Rental at 635 Mandarin Lane: Assistant Planner Steven Cook presented the appeal. The property had been operating as an unhosted short-term rental without a permit since August 2025. The Planning Commission denied the conditional use permit on May 28, 2026, citing public health, safety, and welfare concerns due to complaints of noise, parking issues, and the applicant’s continued operation despite notices. The appellant, Hector Krauss, argued that the city lacks a specific short-term rental ordinance and that the bed-and-breakfast regulations do not apply. He also claimed due process violations. The council heard testimony from neighbor Lisa Blanco, who opposed the appeal. The city attorney and staff noted that the applicant had continued to advertise and operate the rental after being notified of violations. The council unanimously denied the appeal and upheld the Planning Commission’s decision.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (5-0).
• Electric Vehicle Strategic Plan: The council voted unanimously (5-0) to authorize staff to pursue a third-party vendor for EV charger maintenance and operations, establish a cost-recovery target of 80–90%, and redirect revenue to expand the city’s charging infrastructure. Staff was also directed to consider partnerships with neighboring cities.
• User Fee Cost Recovery Policy and FY27 Master Fee Schedule: Adopted unanimously (5-0) via Resolution No. 26-45, effective January 1, 2027.
• Short-Term Rental Appeal: Denied unanimously (5-0); the council adopted Resolution No. 26-46 upholding the Planning Commission’s denial. The city attorney indicated that enforcement actions, including fines and potential injunctions, would be taken if the property continues to operate illegally.
• Closed Session: The council met in closed session regarding real property negotiations (1352 Locust Street) and anticipated litigation under the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). No reportable actions were taken beyond providing direction to negotiators.
• Councilmember Reports: Included updates on the visit to the sister city (Kita City, Japan), upcoming events (cycling race, half marathon), and the retirement of the MCE CEO. The meeting was adjourned at 9:58 PM in memoriam of former Mayor Ed Skoog.