Walnut Creek City Council Regular Meeting – September 1, 2026
Walnut Creek City Council Regular Meeting – September 1, 2026
The Walnut Creek City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The meeting included a proclamation for Emergency Preparedness Month, approval of the consent calendar (with one item pulled for discussion), public communications, councilmember and staff reports, policy direction on short-term rentals, an update on 2025-2026 city council priorities, and a public hearing to introduce an ordinance increasing councilmember compensation. All councilmembers (Mayor Kevin Wilk, Mayor Pro Tem Matt Francois, Councilmembers Cindy Darling, Craig DeVinney, and Cindy Silva) were present.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (5-0) consent calendar items 2a-2f and 2h, including:
- Approval of City Council minutes of August 18, 2026.
- Acceptance of warrant registers and direct payroll transfers.
- Adoption of Resolution No. 26-47 approving Final Map for Subdivision 9683 (2775-2885 Mitchell Drive, 2730-2880 Shadelands Drive, and portion of 2125 Oak Grove Road).
- Adoption of Resolution No. 26-48 amending the City's Conflict of Interest Code.
- Adoption of Resolution No. 26-49 approving the 2025-2026 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for FY 2026 and authorization to submit to HUD.
- Award of Contract 26-05 for pavement repair at various locations to Interstate Grading & Paving Inc. for $506,862 (plus $76,000 contingency, total $582,862).
- Acceptance of the June 2026 Investment and IRS Section 115 Pension Trust Statement Report.
- Item 2g (five-year agreement with ACTIVE Network, LLC for recreation management software services, not to exceed $1,798,358) was pulled by Councilmember Silva for questions. After staff explanation regarding transaction fees and hardware costs, a motion by Silva, second by Darling, carried unanimously (5-0) to authorize the agreement.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Communications (non-agenda items): One in-person comment from Jan Warren (Woodlands) about emergency response coordination between Con Fire and the city regarding a car fire near the Concord border. Councilmembers directed her to Chief of Police Ryan Hibbs for follow-up.
- Short-term rentals (Item 5a): Three in-person speakers:
- Lisa Blanco (Woodlands) expressed general opposition to short-term rentals in residential zones, but acknowledged the need for a better policy and urged neighbor input and owner-occupancy requirements.
- Pamela Trail (Woodlands) opposed short-term rentals, criticized insufficient public notice for previous meetings, and called for site-specific permits, background checks, and action against repeat violators (specifically referencing a prior case involving Hector Krauss).
- Jan Warren (Woodlands) supported a more reasonable process to increase compliance, suggested including TOT remittance in the listing, and noted that HOAs may have their own rules.
- Councilmember Compensation (Item 6a): No public comments.
Discussion Items
- Policy Direction on Regulation of Short-Term Rentals (Item 5a): Community Development Director Erika Vandenbrande presented. She reported that the city currently regulates short-term rentals (STRs) through its Bed and Breakfast Ordinance, requiring a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). As of a recent snapshot, there were 111 properties advertised (over 265 listings), but only 13 had business licenses and only 3 had CUPs. Potential additional Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue was estimated at under $169,000. Nearby jurisdictions vary: Brentwood, Concord, and Danville ban STRs under 31 days; others use administrative permits. Staff sought council direction on whether to allow STRs, and if so, whether to create a streamlined permit system. Councilmembers expressed general support for allowing STRs with a more streamlined operator permit (not CUP) and provided feedback for Planning Commission consideration:
- No special events allowed.
- Maximum rental duration of 30 days (supports relocations, traveling professionals).
- Hosted (owner-occupied) requirement debated; some favored it for safety, others noted it would preclude whole-house rentals and may not solve all nuisance issues.
- Consideration of six-month minimum owner residency, one STR per resident, and display of permit on listings.
- Direct remittance of TOT through platforms encouraged.
- ADUs built under state streamlined laws should not be used as STRs; pre-existing ADUs may be eligible.
- No density or location restrictions at this time.
- No formal action taken; staff will return with a draft ordinance for Planning Commission and community feedback.
- Update on 2025 and 2026 City Council Priorities (Item 5b): Assistant to the City Manager Joe Carozza introduced the update, followed by presentations from department leads:
- Economic Development and Downtown Vitality (Mike Nimon): Highlights included a healthcare marketing campaign, sponsorship of a startup event, deployment of $100,000 grant for outdoor dining pods (10 new pods, 4:1 private investment), two successful entertainment zone events attracting ~11,000 visitors, launch of a data dashboard, and completion of the Economic Development Action Plan.
- Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action (Candice Rankin Mumby): Reported energy efficiency outreach (MCE targeted email to 430 high-energy-use households), lighting upgrades at Lesher Center, Clay Arts Guild, and Library using on-bill financing; bike network expansion (3.2% increase, 0.5 mile in last year); Bike to Work Day with bike rodeo; support for Youth Ride Free program (13,000 youth in first month, up 15%); seven restaurants participating in Rethink Disposable program; second annual Repair Cafe (129 items, 70% fixed); gas-powered leaf blower ban averaging 150 reports/month, 85% of properties only one complaint.
- General Plan Update (Erika Vandenbrande): Community outreach at festivals and upcoming farmers markets; existing conditions reports being drafted; workshop scheduled for September 24 at Civic Park Community Center.
- Park and Recreation Facilities (Rich Payne): Completed Measure O projects: Tice Valley ballfield lighting, Heather Farm synthetic turf, Arbolado and Rudgear basketball court resurfacing; Civic Park playground equipment delayed but work slated for fall; Aquatics and Community Center (premier project) excavation underway, concrete expected within month, toes in water by 2027; pedestrian/bike projects including trail crossing enhancements, Broadway-Newell Safe Routes to School (design), North Broadway road diet, Parkside cycle track, Oakland Boulevard improvements, Treat Boulevard coordination (construction late 2027), Walker Avenue-San Miguel sidewalk (nearly done); Clark Keating site reuse: Parks and Recreation Commission recommended Option 2 (master plan update focused on that area, using General Plan outreach data) to expedite, with further discussion in October.
- Public Safety and Social Wellness (Chief Ryan Hibbs): RFP for new CAD/RMS; evaluating in-car cameras; social media engagement increased (Instagram +7,000, Facebook 35,000 followers); Coffee with a Cop (Sept 8 at Nordstrom) and National Night Out (400 attendees at Broadway Plaza); no established encampments; Business Watch program (4 events, 3 CPTED evaluations); Neighborhood Watch restarting; overall traffic collisions down 11% compared to last year; DUI arrests up (89 year-to-date vs 49 same period 2025); participated in joint e-bike enforcement operation (9 agencies, 45 officers, 194 contacts, 56 citations, 137 warnings/education, 1 arrest for drug possession, 1 tow); next e-bike operation planned Sept 17; Community Warning System training completed; continued partnership with Public Works on traffic safety.
- Councilmember and Staff Reports (Item 4): City Manager Dan Buckshi provided a legislative update (1,846 bills introduced, 1,103 approved, 177 signed into law, 926 awaiting governor action by Sept 30). Councilmembers reported on AB 1234 activities including DRAA, Bedford Gallery, Center Rep, Recycle Smart (68,000 single-family households, 30% will have pickup day change in March 2027; over-stuffed bin fees starting November), Kita City youth delegation, Eagle Scout courts of honor, Rossmoor board meeting, ribbon cuttings, MCE updates, and Chamber events.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar (except 2g): Approved unanimously (5-0).
- Item 2g (ACTIVE Network contract): Approved unanimously (5-0) after separate discussion.
- Short-term rentals (Item 5a): Council provided policy direction: allow STRs, develop a streamlined operator permit (not CUP), no special events, 30-day max rental, consider hosted requirement, ADU restrictions, and direct TOT remittance. No formal vote; staff to return with draft ordinance for Planning Commission and public outreach.
- Councilmember Compensation (Item 6a): Introduced and waived reading of an ordinance increasing compensation from $650/month to $1,600/month, effective December 2, 2026 (with errata). Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Francois, second by Silva, carried unanimously (5-0). Final adoption will occur at a subsequent meeting.
Meeting Transcript
I'm Kevin Wilk, 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 the 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 communications 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 and city of residence for the record. You will have two minutes to address the city council. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54953.4, SP 707. Members of the public may also participate remotely via Zoom. If you are participating via Zoom and would like to make a public comment, please use the raise hand feature or press star nine if you're calling by phone during the agenda item on which you wish to comment. Again, 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's website for public review and are included in the meeting record, but will not be separately read into the record. All right. Well, good evening. And if you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible for liberty and justice for all. And City Clerk Susie Martinez, would you call the roll, please? Councilmember Darling. I'm here. Councilmember Devine. Here. Councilmember Silva. Here. Mayor Pro Tem Francois. Here. Mayor Welk. Here. All right. So the first item is a proclamation for emergency preparedness month. And I would like to invite recently retired CERT member Don Prosnitz to receive the proclamation. Additionally I would like to take a moment to recognize Don with a certificate of recognition in honor of his retirement after 16 years of service to Walnut Creek CERT and our community. And since completing his cert training in 2010, Don has been a leader in building and strengthening the emergency communications group. He helped establish critical radio infrastructure, secured grants to modernize our emergency communications capabilities, developed training and use throughout, that's used throughout Contra Costa County and led our volunteers in regional and statewide emergency preparedness exercises. Through his expertise, leadership, and generous commitment to mentoring others, Don has helped ensure that Walnut Creek is better prepared to communicate and respond when disaster strikes. Don, thank you for 16 years of dedicated service and for the lasting impact you've made on our community. Now finally don't believe any of that. All I can say is it's been a privilege to serve this city for so long, a city that has uh returned so much to my family, uh to myself and my family.
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