The Year in Review

Financial Update:

• Approved an updated Investment Policy that reinvests into higher yield products while continuing to provide continued liquidity and flexibility in the City’s investment portfolio
• Approval of a new Master Fee Schedule that is now reflective of the true cost of recovery for the City with built in annual CPI increases
• We will be reviewing the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Audit at the December 19th meeting and will hold a planning session in February to outline our priorities for the five year plan

Environmental Update

• The City received a 1% loan from the California Energy Commission for $2 million with Climatec to improve infrastructure, add solar panels and EV charging stations and improved lighting and irrigation throughout the City
• Completed a comprehensive review of the needs of the GHAD (Geological Hazard Abatement District) and will be discussing a new Plan of Control on December 19th
• Negotiated and approved a new agreement with Republic Services to include state mandated composting
• The City is in discussion with the East Bay Regional Park District for the development of a new park at Irish Canyon called Clayton Ranch Regional Preserve

Quality of Life Update

• Approved the scope of work for Downtown Pedestrian Improvements Projects throughout the Downtown and added an additional crosswalk to the project at Center and Morris Streets
• Approved draft City of Clayton Local Roadway Safety Plan
• Approved City Sponsored Special Events Policy including final list of City Sponsored events: Concerts in the Grove, the City’s 60th Anniversary, 4th of July Parade and Classic Car Show

Staffing and City Hall Technology Improvements

• We hired a new City Manager, Bret Prebula, and he in turn hired two new executives to join the team, his Executive Assistant Amy Walcker and a new Finance Director, Prapti Aryal
• Patrick Nehma joined the team earlier in the year to oversee business licenses, facility rentals and address code enforcement issues
• Approval of a new resource for reporting maintenance needs or other non-emergency issues to the City staff called 311
• Approval of software to outsource business license administration to make staff work more efficient
• Approval of security equipment for City Hall as recommended by the Police Department
• Approval of much needed equipment for the Maintenance Team
• Promotion of our Maintenance Supervisor to Maintenance Superintendent, Jim Warburton
• Approval of Rep’d, a video response communication tool to answer the community’s most pressing questions with immediacy
• Approved a Standby Pay Policy and Program for the Maintenance staff

Community Engagement:

• Hosted the 16th Annual Concerts in the Grove music series for 10 shows over the summer
• Hosted the 4th of July parade and festivities
• Hosted the annual downtown Classic Car Show
• Hosted a National Night Out Celebration at Clayton Community Park
• Partnered with the CBCA for Holidays in the Grove – Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

It was a very busy year and we look forward to more improvements in 2024. If you have questions about any of these topics, please contact me at kimt@claytonca.gov.