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Walnut Creek staff present 2025–26 priorities; Aquatic Foundation pledges $3M and council approves consent items
Summary
City staff updated council on five strategic priorities — economic development, sustainability, general plan, parks and public safety — and highlighted a $3 million fundraising commitment from the Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation (first installment $100,000). Council approved multiple consent items, accepted a rehabilitation project as complete, and accepted the priorities update.
Walnut Creek city staff on Feb. 17 gave the City Council a multipart update on the five strategic priorities adopted for 2025–26, covering economic development, environmental sustainability, the general plan update, parks and recreation facilities, and public safety.
At the meeting the Walnut Creek Aquatic Foundation’s Jim King said the foundation agreed in a memorandum of understanding to raise $3,000,000 for the new community aquatic center and presented a symbolic check representing a first installment of $100,000. King said the foundation had raised roughly $900,000 in cash and pledges to date and was pursuing additional pledges to reach its target.
“...we have agreed to raise $3,000,000 toward the cost ... and initially have now forwarded our first installment payment on that of a $100,000,” King said during his presentation.
Public works and parks updates were led by Rich Payne, who said phase 1 of the new aquatics and community center is complete and phase 2 is moving forward with a groundbreaking scheduled for the next day at Heather Farm. Payne said phase 3 (work on the existing Clark Pool site) would come later and that the project team intends to replant twice as many trees as those removed.
Assistant City Manager Charles Ching introduced staff leads for each priority: Mike Neiman (economic development), Candice Rankin Mumbi (sustainability), Erica Vandenbrand (general plan), Rich Payne (parks and facilities), and Chief Ryan Hibbs (public safety). Highlights included plans for a public-facing data/dashboard tool for economic development; a gas-powered leaf-blower ban the council adopted in November that will take effect April 1; an EV strategic plan and an upcoming Level 3 fleet charger at Heather Farm; and work to implement forthcoming Bay Area Air District guidance on gas water heaters (Rule 96).
Chief Ryan Hibbs reported public-safety metrics including use of automated license plate readers (over 8,000,000 reads since August 2025) and said the department had been awarded $1,000,000 toward a body-worn camera upgrade. He said the A3 co-response model has reduced police responses to mental-health crises by about 40% in Walnut Creek since inception, while A3 field responses in the city increased 47% from 2024 to 2025.
On routine business the council approved the consent calendar (items 2a–2e and 2g) and later approved item 2f (Newell Avenue improvement project funded by Transportation Development Act Article 3 funds) and accepted the Wiggett Lane rehabilitation project as complete. Council also moved to accept the staff update on the strategic priorities and approved it by roll call.
Council members asked clarifying questions during each presentation, including whether Class 4 protected bikeway improvements extend to South California (staff confirmed the Class 4 portion goes to South California and that the underpass section is not Class 4). Several council members asked staff to return with more-detailed timelines and maps for bike and pedestrian projects.
The council did not change policy tonight; staff will return with additional details and proposed next steps on several priorities and projects in coming weeks and months.
