Wednesday, May 16, 2012
City Council aims for June 19 passage of two-year budget.
Walnut Creek city leaders are making sure everything is shipshape as they try to bring the 2012-14 budget into port by June 19. There's another City Council meeting June 5 at which the public will have an opportunity to comment on budget priorities. The council is aiming for final passage on June 19. The city's tentative budget projects expenditures of $67.4 million in fiscal year 2012-13, and $68.0 million in 2013-14. A chart accompanying the budget plan takes note that the city peaked with 391.5 staff members in 2006-08, falling to 363.51 in 2009-10, 339.25 in 2012-13 and a projected 340.5 in 2012-14. Many members of the public, including representatives of arts and recreation programs, advocated for their activities at a long budget …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Tentative two-year budget, fully assembled, goes to Walnut Creek City Council for discussion Tuesday.
The City Council gets a look at a fully assembled, tentative two-year budget at its meeting Tuesday. The council begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday with a closed session to discuss labor negotiations and performance evaluations of top managers. It is due to open the public session at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 1666 N. Main St. The budget document accompanying the council agenda proposes that the police department fill two vacant positions — a lieutenant in 2012-13 and a police officer position in 2013-14. This unfreezes a sixth lieutenant position; the department has 76 sworn officers. The moves should improve consistency in detective work and service to crime victims, and potentially enable an officer to work with school staff on the Character Counts …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Poll: What changes, if any, do you think should be made to the park?
City Council members are looking over a proposal to renovate Civic Park. The proposal, an amendment to the park’s master plan, includes the construction of a permanent location for the holiday season ice rink as well as a redesign of the pathways through the park. “We’re taking a look at how we can make improvements, to provide a place for the ice rink and look at how we can improve the park,” said Steve Waymire, city engineer and engineering services manager, who presented the proposal at Tuesday night’s meeting. Nearly everyone was supportive of a permanent home for the ice rink. “It’s been a very successful location, so I was very pleased to support keeping it there,” said Mayor Bob Simmons. “I think when we ultimately amend the city …
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1375 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek, CA
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Despite objections from downtown bars and restaurants, the council unanimously approved the much-debated proposal
The City Council unanimously approved a nuisance-based ordinance for alcohol establishments Tuesday night that they said will provide clarity and consistency for dealing with downtown bars and restaurants. The 39-page law doesn't change the basic guidelines and restrictions overseeing establishments that serve alcohol, but it provides what City Attorney Brian Wenter described as a more streamlined and "cleaned up" set of rules. "We have tools at our disposal now, but they are not as effective as the tools we are proposing," said Wenter. The ordinance sets up a process for city officials to deal with establishments that have repeated violations or problems. Under it, businesses would be subject to restrictions, such as curtailing of hours …
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Walnut Creek planning for several months of construction at Boundary Oak in 2013.
The city of Walnut Creek is making plans for an overhaul of the clubhouse of Boundary Oak Golf Course. The city is hoping to do the construction in 2013, City Manager Ken Nordhoff said at a City Council budget planning retreat Friday at the golf course. The city anticipates an interruption of the restaurant and banquet business at the clubhouse for no more than six months, said Barry Gordon, director of arts, recreation and community service. City Council members expressed general support for the renovations, estimated at $1.0 to $1.8 million in staff documents. The clubhouse opened in 1969. "I'm for the most improvements we can afford," said Council member Gary Skrel, who qualified his remarks by noting that he was an avid golfer. "The …
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3800 Valley Vista Rd, Walnut Creek, CA
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Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Heated discussion focuses on penciling in a specific amount as Walnut Creek awaits report on ballfield priorities.
A City Council discussion of 2012-14 budget priorities grew heated for a minute Tuesday night in an exchange of opinions on funding for an all-weather field at Heather Farm Park. "We're just delaying a decision," said Mayor Pro Tem Kish Rajan. "We make decisions in the budget process. I'm baffled as to what we're waiting for." Rajan was responding to a suggestion by Council member Cindy Silva. With the results of a consultant's analysis of the city's ballfields expected in six to eight weeks, Silva suggested the city hold off designating an amount for an all-weather field — and instead budget a dollar figure for recreation capital projects and specify the projects at a later date. The field, tentatively planned for Field 5 and/or Field 6, …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Walnut Creek council discusses capital projects, reserve funds.
In a budget workshop Tuesday, City Council members —mindful of projections that sales tax revenues will rise more than last year's predictions — asked city staff to develop proposals for increasing infrastructure spending. A couple of council members suggested staff prepare some options for the city to increase the assumed $1.75 million (with no projected increase from current levels) the city would put into the capital improvement projects for 2012-13. Council member Gary Skrel suggested the staff prepare different scenarios showing what an extra investment would mean in terms of improvements. Council member Kristina Lawson agreed, citing the problem of chronic underfunding cited in last year's report the Community Blue Ribbon Task Force …
Special 4 p.m. session focuses on preparation of 2012-14 Walnut Creek budget.
The Walnut Creek City Council has scheduled a special meeting for 4 p.m. today (Tuesday, April 17), followed by its regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. Both meetings are in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 1666 N. Main St. The early special session is directed at the preparations for the fiscal years 2012-14 budget process, including a discussion of recommendations from the Community Blue Ribbon Task Force. The fiscal years 2012-14 budget is due to be adopted by June 30. The regular meeting incorporates a public hearing on the city's proposed Climate Action Plan. At the end of the regular meeting, the council has scheduled a closed session to meet with labor negotiators concerning contract talks with the Police Officers Association and …
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Proposed alcohol ordinance is due to go before Walnut Creek Planning Commission April 12.
A representative of downtown Walnut Creek bars and restaurants finds the city's proposed "deemed approved" ordinance for regulating alcohol-serving establishments "vague, ambiguous and overbroad in its application." A memo came from Hayward lawyer Guy Louie after several meetings with the Walnut Creek Hospitality Group. The city's proposed law is due to go to the Planning Commission April 12 and, if approved, to the City Council. The current rules have been there for a 20-year successful run at Masses Sports Bar and Grill on North Main Street by her family, said Manager Melisa Barrett, as quoted in the hospitality group's memo issued from Louie's office. Barrett is "perplexed by the planning commission's decision to intervene at this time …
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
City of Walnut Creek gets creative with revenue-generating ideas.
At a budget workshop Tuesday, the City Council kicked around a few ideas for generating revenue to help close a potential $2.3 million budget gap for 2012-13. Assistant City Manager Lorie Tinfow presented to the council ideas of erecting a standalone kiosk, perhaps at the Liberty Bell Plaza (near Il Fornaio on Broadway), and advertising at city parking garages, bus shelters and the downtown trolley. Piggybacking on those ideas, Mayor Bob Simmons suggested the city explore the idea of advertising on the city website to generate revenue. With all the ideas, Simmons said, staff should prepare an analysis of costs and benefits, and "look at the impact visually and how the people might react." Council members showed interest in the ideas …
SR
9:09 am on Saturday, May 19, 2012
I dont buy all the budget problems talk. If we are in such bad shape why is the arts budget going up this year AND next year. more ›