PROS Commission reviews capital budget and 10-year CIP amid funding limits; commissioners press for Civic Park and Clark planning

The Walnut Creek PROS Commission on Feb. 3 reviewed the proposed 2026–27 parks capital budget and the draft 10-year Capital Investment Program (CIP), and members discussed priorities and funding constraints.

Alex Wong, senior civil engineer, explained the difference between the two documents and said the two-year capital budget allocates funds for projects while the CIP is a longer-range planning tool. He told the commission the capital budget includes two major categories: asset management and discretionary projects. He described asset-management items as data-driven maintenance of existing facilities under the Municipal Maintenance Plan (MMP).

Staff listed specific budget items for 2026–27: parks infrastructure repairs ($400,000), open-space infrastructure repairs ($150,000), and median upgrades ($200,000). Wong identified the Heather Farm Park Aquatic and Community Center as the single large discretionary project in the next cycle and listed the $77,000,000 figure as the bulk of the capital budget for that cycle. He said funding sources include the general fund, in-lieu parkland dedication fees, the Measure O sales-tax measure, a $3,000,000 donation from the Walnut Creek Aquatics Group, and other financing.

Why it matters: Staff warned that a decline in new residential development has reduced in-lieu parkland fee reserves and constrained discretionary spending. Commissioners said that constraint requires the commission to be strategic in recommending priorities to City Council.

Commission discussion and priorities Commissioners debated how to prioritize limited funds and when to align the commission’s recommendations with council priorities. Commissioner Garland asked whether discussing the capital budget before Council’s Feb. 11 priority-setting could be premature; staff replied scheduling makes early commission input necessary because the budget must be in draft by April. Garland and others asked staff to note items they want emphasized to council.

Specific priority items discussed included: - Moving Clark Pool house repurposing planning earlier in the CIP so planning can begin sooner after the new aquatic facility opens. Several commissioners supported advancing Clark planning from a later phase into an earlier CIP window. - Moving the Civic Park master plan higher in the CIP schedule to address downtown open-space needs as residential density increases. - Creek restoration and nature-lake maintenance as higher-priority items; commissioners and a public commenter urged dedicated planning and funding for creek work. - Pickleball: commissioners noted no funding for new pickleball courts in the current capital budget; staff said management and executive leadership continue to evaluate locations and options. - Bocce courts, Alvarado and Old Oak park planning: commissioners recalled prior allocations diverted to other projects; staff said designs and planning remain on file but construction was deferred when synthetic turf and other priorities required funding.

Staff and finance context Public Works Director Rich Payne and staff explained that many of the line items shown are non-discretionary maintenance needs and that new projects require designated funding. Payne said Measure O was approved as a half-cent transactions and use tax that staff estimate will generate about $12.5 million per year for projects earmarked by the measure. He also described how grants and matching funds (for example, CDBG or other grant programs) are handled: matching funds sometimes come from general fund or park-in-lieu reserves depending on project and grant rules.

What’s next: staff will incorporate commission feedback into the package presented to City Council and return with refinements. Commissioners asked staff to prepare a short list of recommended priorities (including Civic Park, Clark planning, creek-restoration planning and grant-seeking) that can be forwarded to Council.