Toby the "Watchdog"

Welcome to Clayton Watch! 

A place where you can find the pulse of the city, the truth, letters and opinions from residents, city events, campaign statements, links to city hall, and so much more. With hundreds of articles to view, try our “Search Queries” feature to the right and enter a keyword or phrase. Want to dig deeper? Use the Labels feature at the bottom of each article to find related stories. And if you’re hunting for something specific, our "Popular Posts" feature to the right is another quick way to get there.

City Council Meeting Summary - Jeff Wan 2-3-26

City Council Correspondence: The excerpts below have been sourced from the website of council member Jeff Wan to share with the Clayton Watch Community. You can access council member Wan's website by following this link: https://www.jeffwanforclaytoncitycouncil.net

While we may not always agree with the opinions shared, we believe in facilitating a platform for respectful debates. Thank you for contributing to the ongoing conversation in the comments section. Please keep your comments clear, concise, and appropriate for the discussion. 

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Last night the Council was introduced to four new staff members, including a neew police officer, and three new administrative personel.  And while staff turnover is a normal circumstance, it is great to have a full compliment of staff to support the community.  There remains one role that is still open in the Public Works area.

- We also discussed the timeline of acitvities related to a sales tax measure, and the renewal of the LMD.  The discussion focused on what role the Council has, what role staff has, and when various activities will take place.  This included how and when ballot language would be drafted, when staff would hold informational town halls to inform about each measure, and the timing of each.  The Council gave its preference that staff hold two informational townhalls - one each before and after ballots were mailed to residents.

There was a question posed by a resident which I wanted to address.  The gist of the question was, given the City has a healthy reserve, why is it appropriate to seek a tax increase rather than spend down reserves?

At first glance, it may not make sense to hear that the City needs more tax revenue when it is maintaining a large reserve.  After all, reserves are like savings.  But savings alone do not keep a a household or a City financially healthy if ongoing operations exceed revenue.

Reserve spending may be appropriate in some circustnaces.  Things like emergency response, smoothing during short term economic downturns, one time investments for major equipment, or even costs to cover efforts during reorganization may be appropriate.  These are all one time in nature and time bound.

A city’s reserve works like a rainy-day fund. It exists to help during emergencies, economic downturns, or unexpected events where a large expenditure may be required.  Reserves are not designed to pay for routine, ongoing costs such as wages or maintenance.  Reserves are a fixed pool of money. Operating deficits repeat every year. If we spend reserves on routine services, it is choosing to spend down a limited asset to cover an unlimited problem. That math never works. It only postpones the moment when the money runs out.

At our December 2, 2025 meeting, staff presented a projection of the general fund if no new revenues were implemented:

And the gap will likely grow.  City revenue is largely based on property taxes.  Because the increase in property taxes is capped, inflation has been outpacing proprty taxes for several years.  This means that while our operational costs rise, our revenues are not able to rise at the same rate.  With a sales tax that puts us inline with neighboring cities, the projection looks quite a bit different:

There is also a fairness issue. Using yesterday’s savings to pay today’s bills pushes the cost of current services onto future residents. Rather than address the underlying cause of operational deficits, using reserves asks future generationsn to solve and pay for the the services that are being consumed today.  We as a Council are elected to make decisions and address issues that impact the City.  We know this is an issue, and it should be addressed.

Increasing tax revenue addresses the core problem. It brings ongoing revenue in line with ongoing costs. That balance protects essential services, preserves reserves for true emergencies, and helps ensure the city remains stable and resilient over the long term. In short, savings provide security, and in some cases can buy some time.  But only stable revenue buys sustainability.and keeps the City running.

Top Story

Rear-View Mirror: A Look Back at Clayton Watch

By the Clayton Watch Team

Every town has that moment when you realize someone needs to pay closer attention. For Clayton, that moment arrived in August 2024, and that’s when we founded Clayton Watch.

We didn’t start this site to be popular. We started it because too much of what was being said about Clayton didn’t match the record, didn’t match the meetings, and didn’t match what residents were living through in real time.

So we made a decision early on:

We weren’t going to “join the conversation.” We were going to document it, verify it, and follow it forward.

And that mission has shaped everything we’ve done since.

How It All Unfolded — The Road Behind Us

1) We Built the Civic Archive the Town Didn’t Have

Before Clayton Watch, public meetings were technically public, but for the average resident, following city business felt like a scavenger hunt with no map. You had to hunt through agendas, minutes, scattered videos, and vague summaries.

So we stepped in and built a consistent, searchable archive of:

•  City Council meetings and recaps
•  Budget & Audit and Financial Sustainability sessions
•  Special meetings, study sessions, and key workshops
•  Community letters, public comments, and resident concerns

Our goal was simple: make the civic record easy to find, easy to follow, and impossible to quietly rewrite.

When residents ask, “Did that really happen?” we want the answer to be: Yes, and here it is.

2) We Called Out Leadership Gaps When Leadership Was Missing

A major reason Clayton Watch grew so quickly is that residents could feel it: leadership was inconsistent and, at times, effectively non-existent.

During this period:

•  We documented concerns that Reina Schwartz was working remotely from Sacramento during parts of her tenure, at a time when residents expected visible, hands-on leadership.
•  We also documented community observations that Bret Prebula lacked the leadership presence and people skills needed to stabilize City Hall, rebuild trust, and communicate clearly with the public.
•  During that same time period, an annual $400 parcel tax was pushed by former City Manager Reina Schwartz, supported by council members Carl Wolfe, Peter Cloven and Holly Tillman, while the city had not reconciled its checkbook in over 18 months.

In plain terms: They didn't know our numbers, but still pushed for a tax.

We pushed back because the issue was never solvency, it was the lack of leadership and accountability.

Today, Clayton’s finances are guided by experienced professionals working with strong rigor and transparency. Our mission remains the same: track the record, demand accountability, and protect the facts.

We are not interested in personal attacks. We are interested in performance, accountability, and outcomes, because when leadership disappears, residents pay the price in confusion, drift, and poor follow-through.

And that’s the difference worth preserving.

3) We Challenged the Spin — From Papers to Politicians

When local narratives stopped matching the record, we stepped in.

We challenged the Clayton–Concord Pioneer when it drifted into:

•  One-sided political framing
•  Civic reporting without verification
•  Dramatic claims unsupported by evidence

The publication is now defunct. We didn’t celebrate its end, but we archived its final season for accuracy, because Clayton’s history deserves honesty, not nostalgia.

Misspeaks, Misuse, and a Town That said 'No'

We also documented candidates running for local office when campaign rhetoric crossed boundaries or contradicted facts.

Here are the moments the community needed to know about:

•  One candidate campaigned on outsourcing Clayton’s police services, an idea met with strong community resistance. The town responded immediately and with unity. The candidate later said he misspoke or was misunderstood, a reversal we preserved for the record.
•  Another candidate, holding a high-ranking state title, attempted to use her position to influence internal governance decisions at a local charter high school. Residents viewed it as a boundary failure and misuse of perceived prestige. Her title-driven pressure, applied without process, resulted in a lawsuit filed against her by the charter high school, which publicly rejected outside political interference in internal school governance. We documented it as a clear indicator of flawed judgment by this individual.
•  Another candidate, claimed Clayton was racist, that our police profile, and that residents were afraid to leave their homes at night triggered alarm, but collapsed under verification using actual crime statistics, public safety reports, and council video archives.
•  That candidate, who is now serving on the City Council, later scrubbed the unverified racial claims from her campaign website, raising the key question we preserved for the community:

Were the problems solved, or did they never exist in the first place?

Either way, the town’s resistance to misinformation defined the outcome, and her silence spoke louder than the original headline ever did.

Our mission has never been about personalities, it's about process, proof, and perserving the record accurately, especially when the narratives wobble under daylight.

4) We Elevated Neighborhood Parking Into the Olivia on Marsh Creek Conversation

From the beginning of the Olivia on Marsh Creek project, residents raised clear and consistent concerns about spillover parking migrating into surrounding neighborhoods. Those concerns were often minimized, fragmented, or addressed in isolation, rather than as a direct consequence of the project’s approved design.

So we got specific, and we stayed specific.

Clayton Watch documented and explained how parking tied directly to the Olivia project:

•  We clarified what the approved parking plan actually allowed versus what residents were experiencing in real time.
•  We examined the Parking Permit Program as a mitigation tool, explaining how it works, what it can and cannot solve, and why it should be discussed as part of the project’s impacts, not as a separate afterthought.
•  We pushed for resident-first solutions, emphasizing that surrounding neighborhoods should not be expected to absorb overflow while enforcement and mitigation lagged behind occupancy.

Our position was straightforward:

Neighborhoods should not have to “get used to it” when parking impacts are a foreseeable result of a project’s design and approvals.

Parking is not an abstract policy debate, it is a quality-of-life issue, and in the case of Olivia on Marsh Creek, it deserved real attention, real mitigation, and real follow-through.

5) We Took on “Weeds Gone Wild” Before Fire Season Took Over

We also documented what residents were seeing on the ground: vegetation overgrowth wasn’t just an eyesore, it was wildfire fuel.

Through “Weeds Gone Wild,” we:

•  kept attention on public parcels and rights-of-way,
•  amplified resident warnings,
•  and pushed back on feel-good claims of oversight that didn’t match visible reality.

This is exactly what we mean by watchdog work: Issues don’t go away just because someone stops talking about them.

6) We Documented the Post Office Cleanup Until It Happened

We also kept pressure on an issue that many people quietly noticed but few were tracking publicly: the decline of the Post Office area, overgrowth, dumping, and a general “this isn’t who we are” feel.

We documented it until it became impossible to ignore. And when the cleanup happened, we documented that too, because we’re not here just to critique. We’re here to show the arc of cause, pressure, and results.

7) Olivia on Marsh Creek: The Oversight Story That Defined Our Role

If there’s one topic that shows why Clayton Watch exists, it’s Olivia on Marsh Creek.

We documented something important early:

Olivia on Marsh Creek was never approved or designed as a 55-and-over senior housing project, and the approved parking plan ultimately needed a reality check.

That misconception circulated publicly, and we corrected it, because labels matter, and misinformation becomes “fact” if no one challenges it.

But the bigger issue wasn’t the label. The bigger issue was oversight.

We documented resident concerns that: 

•  Conditions of Approval were discussed, but enforcement wasn’t clearly verifiable, residents asking questions were sometimes treated like a problem,
•  PIRs and public requests were met with defensiveness rather than transparency,
•  and public confidence was being replaced by “trust us” messaging.

So we kept repeating the line Clayton needed to hear:

Approval is not oversight. Oversight is the job.

And we made sure that idea stayed in the public record.

8) We Challenged Misleading Local Media

As the issues grew, so did the spin, and we began documenting something else: the way local narratives were being shaped through a long-running local paper.

We publicly challenged the Clayton–Concord Pioneer when it drifted into:

•  one-sided framing,
•  misleading civic coverage,
•  and unsupported claims presented as reporting.

That publication is now defunct.

We didn’t celebrate its end, but we did preserve the truth of its final chapter, because Clayton’s media history deserves honesty, not nostalgia.

9) Civil Grand Jury Report 2505: The Spark, The Letters, and the Petition

When the Civil Grand Jury Report 2505 was released, many residents felt it read less like neutral fact-finding and more like a targeted narrative.

The complainant remained anonymous, as allowed, but the public roadmap did not.

So we responded the right way: through process, documentation, and formal advocacy.

We delivered:

•  letters to the Superior Court Judge,
•  letters to the Lead County Attorney,
•  letters to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, especially Supervisor Ken Carlson,
•  and a formal Petition to Correct or Amend the Public Record, supported by exhibits and primary documentation. (more on that to come later.)

We also documented what many residents recognized:

•  calls for investigation were being amplified by a small, organized circle of unhappy advocates,
•  the Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) contract drama and fallout was part of the public context,
•  and the report itself reflected an agenda that did not represent the full town.

Clayton Watch didn’t make it personal, but the timeline made it clear.

10) The Journalism Void Was Filled

When the Pioneer closed, Diablo Gazette stepped up its presence in Clayton and expanded independent coverage of local civic affairs.

We welcome that, because we’ve always believed:

A small town deserves more than one independent voice committed to the public record.

The View Behind Us

Looking back, we’re proud of what Clayton Watch has become, not because we “won arguments,” but because we built something more valuable:

•  A civic archive residents can actually follow
•  A timeline that makes spin harder and facts easier
•  A platform that keeps issues alive long enough for answers to appear
•  A public record that doesn’t evaporate when the headline cycle ends

We didn’t set out to win awards. We set out to make sure the record was accurate enough that awards could exist someday.

And that’s not just a win, that’s a legacy.

Respectfully submitted,

Clayton Watch
Political Action Committee and Members

Top Story

When Support Vanishes: Holly Tillman’s Leadership Claims Meet Public Silence

The City Council meeting, Tuesday, December 16, 2025, provided a clear, public measure of leadership support. When the moment arrived, Councilmember Holly Tillman was passed over, and only two speakers addressed the Council on her behalf. There was no visible demonstration of broader public backing, despite that day's social media commentary that amounted to little more than noise and did not translate into any meaningful, in-person support.

For positions as consequential as Vice Mayor or Mayor, these roles carry real responsibility: setting agendas, representing the City publicly, and speaking accurately on behalf of the entire community.

For these reasons, and in light of the record below, Clayton residents have sent a clear and unmistakable message.

Financial Narratives vs. Verified Facts: Holly Tillman’s Track Record

Over an extended period, Holly Tillman promoted a narrative that Clayton was in severe financial distress. These claims took hold before City staff completed the difficult work of correcting years of miscategorized revenues and expenses, and they continued even as audited Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports and public meetings revealed a clearer and more stable financial picture.

During this same period, Councilmember Tillman did not review or approve the City’s budget in two separate years. Despite this, she supported proposed tax increases, advocating for a sales tax increase in 2024 before the City’s financial position was fully understood, and previously promoting discussion of a proposed $400-per-household parcel tax in 2022 without a verified financial basis.

Leadership requires either command of the facts or the restraint to defer to verified data. When alarmist conclusions persist after the record changes, the result is not public understanding; it is public confusion.

Serious Allegations Without Evidence or Closure

Holly Tillman has publicly advanced claims that Clayton is a racist town, that residents are afraid to leave their homes, and that the police department engages in racial profiling. These are not casual remarks; they are serious allegations that can damage public trust, harm morale, and tarnish reputations.

Yet the public record reflects that Councilmember Tillman has not provided:

•  Specific incidents
•  Supporting evidence
•  Public findings
•  Clear clarifications or corrections

Leadership requires accountability for words used, particularly when those words accuse an entire community and its public servants of systemic wrongdoing without substantiation.

Calls for Investigations Without Resolution

For more than 15 months, Holly Tillman repeatedly called for investigations into Clayton’s governance and institutions. However, residents have not been presented with publicly documented outcomes, conclusions, or explanations when those calls produced no substantiated findings.

During this same period, she repeatedly characterized City Hall as toxic and hostile, at a time when the City and the remainder of the Council were working to stabilize operations, recruit competent leadership, and rebuild a professional staff environment. Rather than supporting those efforts, this rhetoric sowed discord and uncertainty.

When leaders call for investigations without follow-through or resolution, it fuels fear and division. Responsible leadership explains outcomes or acknowledges when claims do not bear out.

Additional Concerns: Firewise and Representation Responsibilities

Concerns about accuracy and follow-through also extend to how certain initiatives and engagements have been presented.

Councilmember Tillman has cited her involvement with the Firewise program as a significant leadership accomplishment. However, the Firewise program is initiated and administered by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, not by the City Council. While cities may support or cooperate with Fire District efforts, councilmembers do not initiate, certify, or control Firewise designation.

The public record does not indicate that these efforts led to the establishment of a recognized or operational Firewise program in Clayton. Presenting this as a City Council-driven achievement blurs lines of authority and risks overstating both involvement and results.

Similar concerns arise regarding Councilmember Tillman’s account of her participation in the League of California Cities conference in Long Beach. On October 15, 2024, the City Council unanimously designated Councilmember Holly Tillman as Clayton’s voting delegate to the League of California Cities Annual Conference in Long Beach, where delegates are responsible for representing their cities and voting at the General Assembly scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Friday, October 18. Councilmember Tillman departed Long Beach on Thursday evening and was therefore not present for the General Assembly the following morning, leaving Clayton without representation at the time attendance was taken.

At the time she left, there was no indication that a quorum would not be achieved or that the vote would not proceed. Given that the primary purpose of the designation was to represent the City and cast its vote, her early departure raises legitimate questions regarding accountability and the appropriate use of City resources.

Taken together, these episodes reflect a broader pattern: overstating involvement, blurring lines of authority, and revising the narrative after the fact.

The Civil Grand Jury Report: Why Holly Tillman’s Role Raises Questions

The recent Civil Grand Jury report adds another layer warranting scrutiny.

For months before the Grand Jury’s involvement, Holly Tillman, often amplified through the Clayton Pioneer, helped shape a public narrative urging outside intervention and civil grand jury scrutiny. When a report later emerged that tracked many of the same themes, the public was entitled to ask how independence was preserved. The editor of the Clayton Pioneer has acknowledged that many emails received from former City staff were sent directly by Councilmember Tillman.

Even the highly incendiary framing of the Civil Grand Jury report itself, titled “Clayton: Small Town, Big Concerns,” raises legitimate concerns about narrative shaping. That title closely mirrored the storyline Councilmember Tillman had been publicly advancing for months prior.

The effect of that framing was not merely critical; it was reputational. Clayton has long been known as a small, close-knit, welcoming, and resilient community, defined by civic pride and neighborliness. The report’s title and surrounding narrative cast Clayton instead as fundamentally troubled and dysfunctional, creating a lasting and damaging public impression that many residents believe was disproportionate to the verified facts.

When a sitting councilmember actively promotes a narrative of systemic failure, urges outside intervention, and a grand jury report later adopts the same framing, the appearance problem is undeniable. At a minimum, the public is entitled to ask whether advocacy crossed into influence.

Leadership carries a duty not only to critique when warranted, but also to protect the community’s integrity and reputation by ensuring criticism is fair, factual, and proportionate.

What Councilmember Tillman has not clearly addressed is:

•  Whether she had any direct or indirect contact connected to the Civil Grand Jury  process
•  Whether her advocacy remained strictly public commentary or crossed into behind-the-scenes influence
•  Why was later-corrected financial information not treated with equal weight

This is not an attack on the Civil Grand Jury system. It is a transparency issue.

Quiet Removal of Prior Claims

At a later point, material appearing on Councilmember Tillman’s website reflecting racial and policing allegations was removed without explanation. If those allegations were accurate, residents deserve to know why they were removed. If they were overstated or unsupported, residents deserve a clear correction.

Leaders correct the record. Silent revisions undermine trust and leave the community without closure.

Transparency and Undisclosed Relationships

Questions also remain regarding Councilmember Tillman’s business relationship with Amy Heins-Shaikh of Wild Cat Consulting. Councilmember Tillman initially supported and voted for Ms. Heins-Shaikh’s appointment to the Planning Commission. It later became publicly known that Ms. Heins-Shaikh was a registered lobbyist in California, an affiliation that was not clearly disclosed during periods when Councilmember Tillman was actively running for City Council and later serving in that role.

It has also been documented that Councilmember Tillman’s photograph appeared on the Wild Cat Consulting website, identifying her as a client, and was later removed. Following public awareness of this relationship, Councilmember Tillman declined to support Ms. Heins-Shaikh’s reappointment to a second term on the Planning Commission, despite having supported her initial appointment.

As of today, the public record does not clearly reflect the nature of their financial or business relationship, including whether any compensation was exchanged or whether services were provided as an in-kind contribution, either of which would have required appropriate disclosure filings if they occurred.

Taken together, these unresolved issues raise substantial concerns regarding transparency, consistency, and judgment that warrant clarification.

For the Vice Mayor or Mayor, transparency is not optional.

Media Alignment and Narrative Amplification

There are unresolved questions regarding Councilmember Tillman’s relationship with the Clayton Pioneer during a period when highly critical narratives about Clayton’s finances, policing, and governance were repeatedly amplified.

This is not a critique of journalism. It is a question of role separation and transparency. When a councilmember’s public positions and a publication’s editorial direction appear to move in lockstep, particularly during sustained calls for investigations and civil grand jury involvement, the public deserves clarity.

Stewardship of Public Funds

Councilmember Tillman supported approximately $7,000 in Good Governance training for the City, presenting it as necessary to improve council operations. After the training, she publicly criticized it as ineffective and portrayed the Council as divided. 

Council voting records over the past several years have consistently reflected near-unanimous decisions, often 5-0 or 4-1. In those instances where votes were not unanimous, Councilmember Tillman most often cast the sole dissenting vote. The Council is not divided; it is functioning cohesively and aligned in addressing the consequences of prior poor leadership and financial mismanagement, while supporting the current staff’s efforts to correct longstanding errors and restore accurate financial oversight.

Leadership means standing behind decisions or transparently explaining when expectations are not met.

The Standard Clayton Deserves

The Vice Mayor and Mayor must:

•  Respect verified facts over narrative
•  Use language carefully and responsibly
•  Correct the record when claims change
•  Disclose relationships that raise reasonable questions
•  Protect the integrity of independent oversight
•  Treat taxpayer dollars with care
•  Unite the community rather than divide it

Based on the public record summarized above, Councilmember Holly Tillman has not yet met those standards.

Conclusion

Taken together, financial mischaracterizations, serious unsubstantiated allegations, prolonged calls for investigations without outcomes, overstated accomplishments, incomplete representation at official forums, unresolved questions surrounding the Civil Grand Jury report, quiet removal of prior claims, unresolved transparency issues, media-alignment concerns, and inconsistent positions regarding taxpayer-funded governance initiatives, the record raises legitimate doubts about Councilmember Tillman’s readiness for Clayton’s top leadership roles.

Until these matters are openly addressed and the record clearly clarified, elevating her to Vice Mayor or Mayor would be premature and inconsistent with the accountability Clayton residents should expect.

This is not about silencing dissent. It is about owning the record, respecting public resources, and earning trust.

Clayton deserves leadership that governs with integrity, speaks with precision, and places facts above narrative. Congratulations to Jeff Wan, Mayor and Rich Enea, Vice Mayor!

Respectfully submitted,

Clayton Watch Team

That’s a Wrap - By Mayor Kim Trupiano

Mayor Trupiano

City Council Correspondence: The excerpts below have been sourced from the Diablo Gazette to share with the Clayton Watch Community. You can access the article in the Diablo Gazette's website by following this link: https://www.diablogazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Diablo-Gazette-Dec-25-D.pdf

While we may not always agree with the opinions shared, we believe in facilitating a platform for respectful debates. Thank you for contributing to the ongoing conversation in the comments section. Remember to keep your comments respectful and concise.

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By Mayor Kim Trupiano
Kim Trupiano Mayor, Clayton (kimT@claytonca.gov)

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since I became Mayor in the City of Clayton. It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve the community I love so much. I want to thank everyone for all of their support, feedback, advice, and engagement this year. You helped make this year’s accomplishments that much sweeter.

I started off the year with quite a checklist of goals that I wanted to accomplish, and I am happy to say that the majority of my list has been completed as I end my term. None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the support and hard work of our City staff, my fellow Councilmembers, and the support of the community.

Here are just some of the highlights from this past year:

• Approval of the City’s first two-year budget for 2025-2026/2026-2027

• Sixth Housing Element completed and submitted to HCD for final approval and certification

• Completion of our two-year, $2 million Climatec project: LED lighting, solar array, EV charging, HVAC, and irrigation controls.

• Successful City-sponsored events like Concerts in the Grove, 4th of July Parade, Classic Car Show, and Hispanic Heritage Day.

• A renewed collaboration with Clayton Business & Community Association (CBCA)

• Passage of Geological Hazard Abatement District assessment

• City Council Good Governance Training

• Hosted the Contra Costa County Mayor’s Conference in April

• Recognized the Unsung Heroes in our community each month

• Do The Right Thing Year: a yearround recognition, honoring students from Mt. Diablo Elementary (MDE) and Diablo View Middle Schools

• A continued partnership with the Parent Faculty Clubs (PFC) from both local schools

• Hosted two “Coffee with the Mayor” events to connect with the community

Let’s Talk Business Attention Dog Owners:

Clayton Station Shopping Center is welcoming a new business called Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming. If you haven’t been to their website yet, you must check it out, woofgangbakery. com. They hope to be open early next year. Keep an eye out for other announcements from the shopping center in 2026.

I want to congratulate Nick Maamari, the owner of La Veranda Café in Clayton, for opening his second restaurant in our downtowncalled Vinny’s Taqueria, named after his first grandson. Vinny’s had a soft opening in early November and will be announcing their grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony soon. What a nice addition to our downtown, and we wish them all the best.

In addition to Vinny’s, consider other dining options this holiday season like Moresi’s Chophouse, Enye Latin Table and La Veranda Cafe.

I also want to congratulate Cup O’ Jo for celebrating 20 years in business and the Village Market for 35 years in business. What a testament to the dedication and hard work of our business community.

Make It to Clayton for the Holidays!

Be sure to join us on Saturday, December 6, at 5:00 p.m., as the City of Clayton and the CBCA put on another exciting “Holidays in the Grove” program at The Grove Park in our downtown. Festivities include the performances by the CVCHS marching band, the MDE second-grade choir, the Merrie Olde Carolers, hot cider and donuts, Santa and Mrs. Claus including photos with Santa, and of course, the spectacular tree lighting.

The traditional Lighting of the Menorah will take place from December 14 to December 22, at the Corral Plaza in downtown Clayton. Thank you, Claude Heifetz, for organizing a beautiful ceremony all eight nights every year.

Ode to Mayor Kim Trupiano (Short, Sweet, and Beautiful)

I want to conclude my last Mayor’s column with a wonderful poem from the CVCHS Senior Class of 2025:

“Oh, Mayor Kim Trupiano, you’re simply the best,
With wit and charm, you pass every test.
Short and beautiful, you’re quick on your feet,
Fixing problems with smiles, no task you can’t beat.
From potholes to speeches, you’ve got it all,
You handle each challenge, standing tall.
With a twinkle in your eye, and laughter so sweet,
You make every town meeting an unforgettable treat.
You balance the budget with a flick of your wrist,
And no one can top your “Mayor’s list!”
So here’s to you, Kim, who leads with grace,
Making our town a much better place.”

Thank you, Class of 2025 (CVCHS)

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season and remember, we’re stronger together!

City Council Meeting Summary - Jeff Wan 12-2-25

Jeff Wan

City Council Correspondence: The excerpts below have been sourced from the website of council member Jeff Wan to share with the Clayton Watch Community. You can access council member Wan's website by following this link: https://www.jeffwanforclaytoncitycouncil.net

While we may not always agree with the opinions shared, we believe in facilitating a platform for respectful debates. Thank you for contributing to the ongoing conversation in the comments section. Remember to keep your comments respectful and concise.

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Last night the Council met and discussed a couple of significant items:

- We continued discussion on the adoption of a City flag. The Council felt it could be a worthwhile effort in order to bring together community. Ultimately the cost should be minimal, and it would be an opportunity to encourage civic engagement. Various ideas were discussed, including involving residents in both the creation and selection process, with specific mention of including our local high school and other students. The process could include holding a contest, providing various themes, inviting artists, etc. The Council formed an Ad-Hoc Committee (5-0) consisting of Mayor Trupiano and Councilmember Diaz. The Ad-Hoc Committee will work together to formulate an overall process and bring it back to the Council for discussion.

- We had our fourth session on future revenue options. There was a report out from the Financial Sustainability Committee regarding their recommendations. The Committee recommended that the City pursue a renewal of the assessment for the Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) on the November 2026 ballot, include a small market adjustment to the base rate, and preserve the 10 year sunset. The Committee also recommended that the City consider a 1% sales tax on the November 2026 ballot as well. This idea was advanced in order to preserve the City's ability to levy this tax should the the County or State attempt to preempt this in the future. Clayton has the lowest sales tax rate in the County, including being lower than our Concord neighbors. Assuming market conditions hold, a sales tax would shore up the projected budget shortfalls in the future.

The Council gave direction (5-0) to staff to pursue both the renewal of the LMD, and the 1% sales tax. The specifics of each will be discussed and solidified at a future meeting.

Celebrating a Greener, Brighter Future for Clayton!

As Seen on NBC Bay Area News!

Clayton’s sustainability efforts were recently highlighted on NBC Bay Area in a feature story titled “Clayton Goes Green.”

The segment showcases the City’s commitment to energy savings, modernization, and a greener future.

Watch the full NBC video here:

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/video/news/local/clayton-goes-green/3984376/

We are thrilled to announce a major milestone in Clayton's journey toward sustainability and innovation! The City of Clayton is proud to unveil the completion of our Comprehensive Infrastructure Renewal and General Fund Savings Program, a groundbreaking $2 million energy modernization initiative that’s setting us on the path to a net-zero energy future.

This exciting program includes:

• Solar structures harnessing clean, renewable energy

• LED lighting upgrades for greater efficiency

• HVAC system improvements to reduce energy consumption

• EV charging stations to support green transportation

• Smart irrigation controls to conserve water

Thanks to these efforts, Clayton will save an estimated $4.7 million in utility and operational costs over the lifetime of the project, all while reducing our environmental footprint.

A special thank you to our City Council and City Staff for their hard work, vision, and dedication in bringing this transformative project to life. Without their leadership, this milestone would not be possible.

A Lot Has Changed at City Hall — In a Good Way

If you missed the State of the City meeting, you may want to set aside some time to watch the recording. The presentation, led by Mayor Kim Trupiano, along with reports from each department head, including the Chief of Police and City Manager Kris Lofthus, provided a clear and impressive look at what’s been happening behind the scenes. Click here to watch this impressive presentation.

- The progress is real.

- The teamwork is genuine.

- And the direction is encouraging.

The leadership team currently in place has a level of organization, awareness, and problem-solving that is a night-and-day difference from the past. They not only outlined where the city stands today, but also where improvements are needed, and many of those improvements are already underway.

We encourage everyone to watch the recorded video of the meeting and see for yourself. We believe you’ll walk away with the same feeling many of us had that evening: A renewed sense of confidence and pride in the place we call home.

Clayton is on the right track — and it shows.

Civil Grand Jury Report - Update

Clayton Watch Fighting to Amend Civil Grand Jury Report on City of Clayton

by David King, Diablo Gazette (October 2025)

Petition filed with the Superior Court of Californina,
Contra Costa County

Last June the Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury released its scathing Report 2505, “Clayton: Small City, big Concerns,” characterizing Clayton City Council of gross dysfunction and operating at near financial ruin and offered a series of procedural recommendations. 

The council responded mostly with disagreement with almost all of its findings, citing the report was filled with errors, guided by misinformation, and rejected the recommendations. So, that was the end of it right? 

Not so fast. 

While the Council is ready to move on, Diablo Gazette received a copy of a 56-page petition submitted by the Political Action Committee, Clayton Watch, submitted to the Contra Costa County Superior Court of California, datestamped on Oct. 23, asking for the court to amend the record.

According to Gary Hood, a founding member of Clayton Watch, Clayton Watch feels the Grand Jury Report maligns Clayton and that damage needs to be mitigated with the facts. 

With the report as is, the concern is should Clayton have future recruiting needs to fill key government and law enforcement positions, the report can dissuade top candidates, as well as be weaponized in future political campaigns to misinform voters. 

The first challenge was to confirm that Clayton Watch even had standing to challenge the Grand Jury Report, which it claims it does for being a duly registered civic organization acting on matters of community concern, government transparency, and accountability. 

The petition was submitted after several written requests to simply review the report and correct misstatements with verified facts, but those requests were at first unanswered, then eventually rejected. 

There is no precedent for such action. Further complicating a formal review is that the Jurors who conducted the investigation are protected by anonymity, and have all been replaced with a new set of Jurors.

The petition cites several problems with the original report, notwithstanding its prejudicial title. Supported by exhibits, the petition identifies six additional specific factual and procedural deficiencies in the report. 

The report misstates the general fund revenues, expenditures and balances by relying on unaudited figures. The exhibit provides the audited figures which Hood says dispels the Jury’s findings.

The report criticizes the City for not taking action for revenue enhancement; the exhibit verifies actions that were taken. 

Citing extreme turnover in City manager positions, the petition points out that it is overstating that turnover by counting interim assignments. 

Regarding Brown Act violations, the petition accuses the Civil Grand Jury of not understanding the functions and procedures of special committees and that no Brown Act violations occurred. 

Speaking of procedures, the petition charges that it was the Grand Jury that failed its legal obligations by not providing the Council and any other affected agencies with a copy of the report prior to publication as required by Penal Code 933(f). 

Since the original Report cannot be changed, the petition asks that an amendment be filed with the provided factual remedies and suggestions presented. 

Copies of the petition were sent to the presiding Judge, Hon. Terri Mockler, Matt Malone, Chief Counsel and Public Information Officer, County Supervisor Ken Carlson, Clayton City councilmembers, President of the Grand Jurors Association and others.

Now waiting for the Superior Court’s response, Hood seems to be swimming in uncharted waters. 

Ironically, The Civil Grand Jury Association, a statewide organization that trains and educates Civil Grand Jurors, met in San Luis Obispo on October 26 and 27. The theme of the conference, “Civil Grand Jury, the Cornerstone of Transparency and Accountibility”.

Perhaps Clayton Watch’s efforts will be a training tool in the future. To read the entire petition and its exhibits, click here.

Click here to watch this impressive presentation.

City Council Meeting Summary - Jeff Wan 10-23-25

Jeff Wan

City Council Correspondence: The excerpts below have been sourced from the website of council member Jeff Wan to share with the Clayton Watch Community. You can access council member Wan's website by following this link: https://www.jeffwanforclaytoncitycouncil.net

While we may not always agree with the opinions shared, we believe in facilitating a platform for respectful debates. Thank you for contributing to the ongoing conversation in the comments section. Remember to keep your comments respectful and concise.

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At our last meeting, the Council discussed several signficant items:

- We approved a new job description for a Community Services Coordinator. Given the volume of community events and the level of effort needed to facilitate these events, as well as contemplating new events, staff recommended repurposing an existing unfill role to perform these duties. The role would serve as point on logistics for community events and be on site during events as needed.

- We continued our discussoin around the City's financnes. In our previous meetings, the Council established some aspirational goals around maintaining infrastrucure (roads, sidewalks, etc.) and compensation. Based on those goals, the City would need to increase revenue so this meeting we also continued our discussion around various potential revenue options.

Now that staff has done the dilligence in determining the need, and the dilligence in determining what options are available, it will be up to Council to decide on which of the options move forward with. The simple question of more taxes, less services, or both remains the same, however now we equipped to make informed decisions. There were a few follow up questions to get more detail, and staff will return at our next meeting.

- We gave feedback on updating the City's logo. The current logo is sometimes difficult to see in various forms of media. We provided feedback on ways it could be improved and staff will come back with updates.

Clayton’s Second Annual Hispanic Heritage Day – A Huge Hit

By Kim Trupiano 

Mayor, Clayton 

We had a beautiful day at The Grove on Saturday, September 20. The park seemed to come alive with the energy and excitement of so many wonderful people who gathered to honor and celebrate Hispanic culture. There was an undeniable sense of community as families, neighbors, and friends spent the afternoon enjoying each other’s company, dancing and singing along with Mariachi Mexicanismo, who graced the stage throughout the afternoon, along with Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl, featuring dances from Jalisco, Hidalgo, Veracruz and Nayarit.

Naturally, no celebration would be complete without incredible food and Ranchero Catering made that happen in a big way! From street tacos to tortas to quesadilla, each bite was a reminder of the rich and diverse flavors that define Hispanic culinary traditions. The food brought people together and brought back memories of family gatherings and home-cooked meals.

We want to thank Sound Events, who provided the sound system and staging and a special thank you to the Royal Ladies Car Club of Contra Costa County and Kodiciados 925 Truck Club for coming out on Saturday. It meant a lot to us to have you all there.

A Heartfelt Thank You goes out to all of our generous sponsors who without their support this event would not be possible: Globe & Anchor Wealth Management & Financial Planning, CEMEX, Oakhurst Country Club, Enye Latin Table, IMC Payment Systems, Ponderosa Homes and Ed’s Mudville Grill.

I extend my deepest gratitude to our City staff, particularly our Maintenance team, Clayton Police Department and Janessa Torres, for all of the hard work and dedication in making this event extra special.

Also, thank you to Councilmember Jim Diaz and Frank Gavidia, Chair of our Financial Sustainability Committee, who put so much hard work into making this event a real success.

As we close out another celebration, I’m already looking forward to next year’s Hispanic Heritage Day Event and if this year’s event is any indication, I know we can expect more joy, community spirit, and unforgettable performances.

Let’s continue to celebrate the richness of our shared heritage, support one another, and make memories that will last for years to come. I am excited to see what next year’s celebration will bring. It is truly an honor to serve as your Mayor.

Other City News

The switch has been flipped and City is now generating renewable energy for our Maintenance shop, City Hall and Library buildings. In addition, the EV Charging Station will be activated soon, so be sure to check our City website and social media sites for additional details. We are planning a ribbon cutting to celebrate the conclusion of this two-year Climatec project and we hope to have a date soon. Congratulations to everyone who has been involved in this project, which will help the City control its energy costs while protecting the environment.

Upcoming Events:

- Clayton Theatre Company celebrates its 14th season with “Tootsie” the musical, running Oct. 17-19, 23-26 at Endeavor Hall 6008 Center St. in Clayton.

- Clayton Community Library Foundation Fall Book Sale, October 17 (members only), 18 and 19, at Hoyer Hall.

- The next Clayton City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Hoyer Hall.

- State of the City Town Hall, Wednesday, November 5, at 6 pm at Hoyer Hall.

- Holidays in the Grove, Saturday, December 6 at 5:00 p.m. Sponsored by the City of Clayton in partnership with Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA). Enjoy marching bands, singers, tree lighting and Santa’s arrival.

Community Member Raises Concerns

Community Member Raises Concerns Over Missed Cal Cities Vote By Holly Tillman

Shared Correspondence from the Community

The following statement was submitted as public comment by a member of the Clayton community for the City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 16th.

Clayton Watch regularly shares excerpts of letters, emails, and posts received from residents and community forums to promote transparency and civic engagement.

Please note: The opinions expressed below are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Clayton Watch.

The letter raises concerns that Councilmember Holly Tillman misled both the Council and the public regarding her participation in the 2024 League of California Cities Annual Conference.

UPDATE: Councilmember Holly Tillman was not selected to represent Clayton at the 2025 League of California Cities Annual Conference.

We invite readers to join the conversation by submitting respectful and concise comments that contribute to a constructive community dialogue.

       Click Image Above to Enlarge

Clayton is on the move!

Kim Trupiano Mayor, Clayton (kimT@claytonca.gov)

Mayor Trupiano

Staffing 

By the time you read this, Clayton’s City Hall will be fully staffed with an unrivaled team of experienced employees that are committed to the community, to each other and to being results oriented. 

Thank you to our City Manager, Kris Lofthus, who has been hard 

at work building this outstanding team, by rightsizing the staff’s roles and responsibilities, vetting through hundreds of applicants and finding the best employees to support our City. 

We now have a new Police Chief, Jeremy Crone, a new Administrative Services Director, Dennis Bozanich, a new City Clerk/Assistant to the City Manager, Leticia Miguel, a new Administrative Clerk, Sklyer Aitken, a new Community Development Technician, Jason McKinely and a Community Services Leader, Janessa Torres and joining us on September 2nd, we will welcome our first Public Works Director/City Engineer and a new Senior Planner. These exceptional employees are ready to serve the needs of the residents of Clayton. 

Finances 

Over the last two years, many of us on City Council, along with City staff, have done the hard work of scrubbing the financial data, scrutinizing expense and revenue data, engaging the services of UBS to manage our investment account, implementing an accurate and updated Master Fee Schedule, making quality appointments to the Financial Sustainability Committee, attending monthly (sometimes bi-weekly) Budget & Audit committee meetings, tasked with reviewing budget projections, contract analysis, updating the City’s investment policy and bringing those recommendations back to the Council at large. 

In August, we held Part One of a multi-part series on revenue generating ideas and will be taking a deeper dive to determine the City’s needs and estimate what level of services we as a community can afford and supports, as it relates to major things like roads and paving, sidewalk repair and ADA improvements, special district funding, landscaping and maintenance and future staffing needs. 

City Projects 

At the end of this year, the City is embarking on Phase I of a three-part library refresh project with Contra Costa County Library and the Clayton Community Library Foundation. Phase I will include all new paint and carpeting, for both the library and Hoyer Hall, as well as some new furniture. We know this is the most cherished building in the community and our collective goal is to make even more inviting to the public. 

As one project begins, another is coming to a close this month and that project is in partnership with Climatec. The Climatec project was launched in 2023 and once completed will include all new irrigation controls, new HVAC systems, new interior and exterior LED lighting, a solar array panel that will provide energy to City Hall and the library, as well as a new two-vehicle EV charging station in the library parking lot. We hope to announce a “flip the switch” date and ribbon cutting soon. 

Housing Element 

After many years and even more meetings with our consultant and the Housing and Community Development Department (HCD), I am excited to share that both the Planning Commission and the City Council have approved the final version of the City’s Sixth Housing Element and we are awaiting final certification from HCD in the next 60 days. Thank you again to our City Manager for all of his work in getting us over the finish line. 

On the Horizon 

We will shortly be launching the 311 app, which will provide the community with an easy method for reporting issues they see needing attention throughout the City including but not limited to sidewalk repair, potholes, irrigation problems, graffiti and more. 

We are also reviewing new rental facility software for our city-owned buildings and parks, in order to make reservations and payments easy and seamless for the community. 

Save the Date 

Hispanic Heritage Day Event on September 20th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, at The Grove, to include food, music, dancing and lots of fun! 

Holidays in The Grove, in partnership with the CBCA, Saturday, December 6, at 5:00 pm at The Grove Park, downtown. 

Thank you to all who attended, volunteered, sponsored, performed and participated in our 18th Annual Concerts in the Grove. It was an outstanding season and we could not have been successful without everyone who made it happen. Here’s to season 19 in 2026! 

I will be hosting a State of the City Town Hall meeting November 5 at 6:00 p.m. in Hoyer Hall, with updates from myself, our City Manager, Kris Lofthus, and each of our department heads. It will also provide you, the community, with an opportunity to ask us questions, and field your concerns so we can understand what’s important to you now and for our City’s future. 

If you would like to reach me, you may contact me at kimt@claytonca.gov or at 925.673.7324. Remember, we are stronger together!

City Council Meeting Summary - Jeff Wan 8-19-25

Jeff Wan

City Council Correspondence: The excerpts below have been sourced from the website of council member Jeff Wan to share with the Clayton Watch Community. You can access council member Wan's website by following this link: https://www.jeffwanforclaytoncitycouncil.net

While we may not always agree with the opinions shared, we believe in facilitating a platform for respectful debates. Thank you for contributing to the ongoing conversation in the comments section. Remember to keep your comments respectful and concise.

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At our meeting on Tuesday, we discussed several significant items:

- We approved a resolution allowing an additional ADU on properties, increasing the total number allowed from four, to five, contingent on meeting other criteria like lot size and lot coverage. This was done based on feedback received from CA Housing and Community Development (HCD). While the City approved its Housing Element Update (HEU) timely as required by law back in January of 2023, HCD did not approve it even though it met all statutory requirements including planning for zoning for housing at all income levels. Further, the City actually enacted the new zoning in January of 2024.

Based on communication from HCD, the City has received feedback that if this new resolution allowing an additional ADU, then HCD would approve the City's HEU. As such, the Council voted 5-0 in favor of this action. After HCD approved the HEU I will have more to say about the overall process.

- We appointed Brian Mayhew to the Financial Sustainability Committee. He is a long time Clayton resident and has over 30 years of municipal finance experience including most recently retiring as CFO at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission after serving for more than 20 years.

- We made several appointments to the Trails and Landscape Committee (TLC). The TLC is an 11 member body of which 10 of the 11 members' terms are currently expired. The TLC requires six members for a quorum. We appointed 8 of the 9 individuals who applied, the 9th person is currently serving and their term is not yet expired.

- We appointed Sheila Driscoll as the City's representative to the Contra Costa County Advisory Council on Aging. Ms. Driscoll has served in a volunteer capacity in many organizations in the community and will be a great addition to the Advisory Council.

- We agreed to modify the City's franchise agreement with Republic Services. When originally drafted, the agreement called for certain increased in rates based on CPI changes. It was later discovered that the timing of CPI change information was not in alignment with the dates drafted in the agreement. The only modifications to the agreement were to bring these dates in line for ease of administration.

- We updated the job classification of the Assistant City Manager/Administrative Services Director to just be Administrative Services Director and made updates to the City's Salary schedule to reflect the change. This action was requested by staff to better align the organizational structure to the needs of the City.

- We had a discussion with no action taken regarding closing the City's long term budget deficit. I will comment on this item in a separate thread.