Kristina Lawson Selected As New Walnut Creek Mayor, Promises To Move The City Forward

Kristina Lawson was unanimously selected Tuesday night as Walnut Creek's mayor for the next year.

The City Council voted unanimously to have Lawson serve as mayor in 2014, Walnut Creek's 100th year as a city.

The council also unanimously selected Bob Simmons to serve as mayor pro tem.

More than 100 people packed the council chambers as well as a wine and dessert reception in the City Hall lobby afterward.

Lawson acknowledged the challenges that lay ahead, including the projected budget deficits the city is facing the rest of this decade.

She said one of her two goals for 2014 is to have the council work collectively to solve the city's problems.

"I know that if we work together and with our city staff, our city will continue to make great progress," she said.

As part of that effort, Lawson is planning to hold five council policy meetings during the next year.

Each two-hour session will be on a different topic. They will include demographics, in particular how the city deals with an aging population. Other topics will be urban agriculture, traffic and driving habits, infrastructure and how Walnut Creek can be a regional leader.

"We are setting an example for the rest of the East Bay," Lawson said.

The other goal of the new mayor is to "reconnect" with city employees. Every month she plans to spend a day working alongside city workers.

"I want to show them how much we value the work they do," said Lawson.

Her first stint will be Dec. 17 when she joins the city's street sweepers and maintenance crews.

Lawson, an attorney who has been on the council for three years, also thanked the many family members she had in attendance, especially her husband who she said has been a "sounding board" on many issues as well as the person who has held down the fort when she's been away at meetings.

Outgoing Mayor Cindy Silva also thanked her family, in particular her husband who she said has dined alone on many a night.

Silva also listed the city's achievements in 2013.

"We have many, many reasons to celebrate this past year," she said.

Among them was the 2013 Community Service Day in September in which 1,400 people volunteered on 61 projects throughout the city.

Silva also mentioned the new businesses that have moved into the downtown core as well as other areas of the city.

She also pointed out the three new residential/commercial projects currently under construction in the western half of town.

She said the city spent $2.5 million on road work this past year as well as installed electronic parking meters.

She noted the anti-smoking law the council approved in October, even though Councilman Justin Wedel has begun a petition drive to overturn parts of it.

"This is particularly important for residents of apartments and condominiums," Silva said.

For the future, Silva said the city has begun working on an ordinance that would in effect ban plastic carry-out bags at businesses. Wedel has a petition drive on that issue, too.

Silva added the city is helping coordinate a $1.2 million project to build an all-abilities children's playground at Heather Farm Park.

However, Silva noted the council has just approved a 10-year financial plan that projects multi-million dollar deficits for each of the next eight years.

"A shortfall of this magnitude will affect every department and every program we offer," she said.

Nonetheless, Silva said she expects the city and its leaders will pull together to solve the problem.

"As the old saying goes, we can raise the bridge, lower the water or give up," she said.

Lawson also touched on the city's ability to solve its current challenges.

She said the main reason Walnut Creek incorporated in 1914 was to get Main Street paved so cars would stop getting stuck in the mud.

She said the city has grown from 500 residents then to 65,000 residents now by overcoming challenges and welcoming progress.

She expects the same spirit to continue.

"We have a lot going on here in Walnut Creek. 2014 is really going to be a remarkable year for the city," she said.