The legislative body of the City of Walnut Creek responsible for setting city policy, adopting ordinances, and overseeing municipal governance and priorities.
City Hall — Council Chamber, 1666 North Main Street, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
First and third Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m.
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Council Introduces Ordinance Raising Member Pay to $1,600/Month After 25-Year Freeze
Council unanimously introduced an ordinance raising monthly compensation from $650 to $1,600, effective December 2026 when the new council term begins, after no increase since 2002.
Why it matters: At $650/month, councilmembers earn about $6.50-$8/hour for 80-100 monthly hours of service; members say the low pay creates financial barriers that limit who can serve.
Walnut Creek
Measure OCity Council9d agoSeptember 1, 2026
Aquatics Center Under Construction, DUI Arrests Nearly Doubled, Bike Network Expanding
Staff leads presented progress on five strategic priorities covering economic development, sustainability, general plan, parks, and public safety, and launched a community survey for 2027-2028 priorities.
Why it matters: The Measure O aquatics and community center is on schedule for 2027 completion; the general plan update is entering community engagement; DUI arrests increased 82% year over year reflecting a proactive policing shift.
Council Directs Staff to Replace B&B Ordinance With Streamlined STR Permit
All five councilmembers supported allowing short-term rentals and replacing the current conditional-use-permit process with a simpler operator permit, sending the matter to Planning Commission for community input.
Why it matters: Only 3 of roughly 111 advertised short-term rentals operate legally today; the new framework could bring most into compliance while capturing an estimated $169K in annual transient occupancy tax revenue.
Walnut Creek
Recycle SmartCity Council9d agoSeptember 1, 2026
30% of Households Face Pickup Day Changes as New Trash Hauler Contract Starts in March
Councilmember Silva reported that about 20,000 of 68,000 households across six cities will see their trash pickup day change when new 10-year franchise agreements take effect in March.
Why it matters: Republic Services will begin enforcing $10 overage charges for overstuffed black carts using new truck-mounted technology, potentially affecting residents who have not right-sized their bins.
City Manager Warns New State Laws Could Pressure Walnut Creek Budget
City Manager Dan Buckshi reported 1,103 bills cleared the legislature with 926 awaiting the governor's signature by September 30, several of which could impose budgetary pressures on the city.
Why it matters: A detailed update from legislative consultant Townsend Public Affairs is expected in October once the governor acts on bills that may drive new costs and regulatory requirements for the city.
Walnut Creek
ACTIVE NetworkCity Council9d agoSeptember 1, 2026
Recreation Software Contract Corrected to Include Transaction Fees, Approved at $1.8M
Council approved a corrected five-year ACTIVE Network contract after staff disclosed a prior error that omitted pass-through transaction fees from the original authorization.
Why it matters: The corrected total of $1,798,358 includes net-zero transaction fees and hardware contingency; the system handles program registration, facility rentals, and supports the new resident discount policy.
Council Unanimously Denies Airbnb Operator's Appeal, Warns of Enforcement Action
Council denied the appeal of an unhosted short-term rental operator who continued listing the property on Airbnb despite the Planning Commission's denial and repeated city notices.
Why it matters: The case exposes gaps in Walnut Creek's short-term rental regulations; staff will bring a dedicated STR ordinance to Council in September.
Council Adopts New Fee Policy and Master Fee Schedule Effective January 2027
Council unanimously adopted a user fee cost recovery framework and updated FY27 Master Fee Schedule with the largest increases in building and planning fees.
Why it matters: The comprehensive fee study found large gaps between current fees and service costs in building and planning; new resident discounts and phased increases aim to balance cost recovery with affordability.
Walnut Creek
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