The Political Mailer “Featuring Holly Tillman” Has Arrived!

By Clayton Watch

We are pleased to announce some important news for the Clayton community. The Post Office has confirmed that the political mailer created by our consultants and supporters at Clayton Watch will soon be arriving in your mailbox.

This 6x11, double-sided postcard contains factual information supported by substantial evidence regarding Holly Tillman’s actions and statements over the past three and a half years. The content you will see and read reflects her own words.

After reviewing the postcard (both front and back), click here to see several videos featuring Holly in action. 

Many residents have expressed concerns about the divisions within our community, and the situation is indeed complex. However, the past actions of council members Holly Tillman and Peter Cloven are crucial to understanding the context. Peter opted not to seek reelection, fully aware that his lack of leadership and divisive behavior would come to light. The self-styled Mr. Nice Guy spent more time creating "Who I Am" videos than addressing the pressing issues facing our town.

It is time for the community to move on from Holly Tillman and free our city from her disruptive and polarizing conduct.

We must allow our city council and staff to focus on their work and let Clayton remain the safe and welcoming small town it has always been.

Warm regards,

The Clayton Watch Team

P.S. Please remember to cast your vote on or before Tuesday, November 5th.

Mount Diablo State Park Receives $2.6 Million for New Education Center

By Clayton Watch

The Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) has secured a significant boost for its educational efforts at Mount Diablo State Park. The California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) has awarded a $2.6 million grant to support the construction of the Mitchell Canyon Education Center.

Grant Approved

The new facility will replace an outdated trailer, providing a modern and accessible space for visitors and students. It will offer expanded educational programs, including nature walks, workshops, and exhibits, enhancing the overall park experience.

The project has garnered widespread support from the community, with contributions from local organizations, foundations, and elected officials. Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan secured a $1 million state allocation to help fund the center, recognizing its importance for serving the region's schools.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2025, bringing a much-needed upgrade to Mount Diablo State Park's educational infrastructure.

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California Scoops Up $95 Million for 15 Neighborhood Parks

By Clayton Watch

California just got a major cash infusion for some much-needed park upgrades! The state snagged a whopping $95 million in federal grants to spruce up 15 neighborhood parks. This is a big win for underserved communities that haven't had easy access to green spaces.

Mt. Diablo Summit

The money will go towards creating or renovating parks in areas where residents currently have limited outdoor recreation options. It's part of Governor Gavin Newsom's Outdoors for All initiative, which aims to make parks more accessible to everyone.

This investment is a major step towards addressing disparities in outdoor recreation opportunities. It's great news for anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of nature, like fresh air, exercise, and a little peace and quiet.

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A Worrying and Intentional Action? You Be the Judge

Shared Correspondence from the Community: We value the diverse perspectives of our readers and aim to encourage meaningful conversations. Occasionally, we may share excerpts from correspondence received from our followers or gathered from social media to promote civil discussions. 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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Dear Clayton Community,

Can Holly Tillman collaborate with individuals who hold differing political views? Do her supporters prioritize anything beyond their political alignment?

The ongoing election involves three available seats on the city council. Recently, a movement called #onlyHolly has emerged among her supporters, aiming to persuade the majority of Clayton's voters to back only Holly Tillman. Essentially, they are advocating for the election of just one candidate—her.

The individuals behind the #onlyHolly campaign have previously demonstrated a pattern of antagonism towards other City Council members and appear intent on altering the fundamental character of Clayton. How can we expect a functional city council if, in a race for three positions, we only elect one person?

It’s evident that her supporters are not interested in collaboration, but rather in aligning exclusively with those who share their political beliefs. This raises concerns about Holly and her supporters seeking a one-person rule in Clayton.

Over the past four years, Holly has shown little willingness to engage with her colleagues unless they are in complete agreement with her. Her initial move four years ago was to bypass a sitting vice mayor, breaking established protocol. More recently, she has publicly stated her refusal to participate in certain committees due to disagreements with her peers.

What would a government led by only Holly look like? Why does she permit her supporters to advocate for this approach, which clearly does not serve the best interests of Clayton?

An informed voter should consider all candidates and aim to fill every seat. However, it seems that she and her supporters are more focused on advancing her political ambitions than on the welfare of our city.

It is essential for us as a community to reflect on the reasons that brought us together in the first place. Personally, my motivation was not rooted in progressive ideologies or a so-called woke agenda.

We should cherish the spirit of Clayton as a quaint rural community nestled near the breathtaking Mount Diablo, where we can cultivate friendships, appreciate our parks and trails, and put aside our political disagreements. 

Signed,

Concerned Citizen of Clayton
Resident for over 21+ years

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Answers to Candidate Questionnaire

By Clayton Watch

Dear Clayton Community,

The Clayton Watch Team is thrilled to share with you the answers to the Candidate Questionnaire that was sent out to four candidates vying for three spots on the city council this year: Rich Enea Sr, Maria Shulman, Mayor Jim Diaz, and council member Holly Tillman.

Recognizing the challenges and costs candidates face in reaching voters in Clayton, the Clayton Watch Team has stepped in to assist by providing a platform for them to share their answers to important campaign questions submitted by the community.

We reached out to each candidate via email inviting them to participate in our Candidate Questionnnaire. (The letter has been provided below for your review.)

Three candidates took the opportunity to respond: Rich Enea Sr, Maria Shulman, and Mayor Jim Diaz. Unfortunately, Councilmember Holly Tillman sent us a message that she would not be participating.

You can access their candidate questionnaires and responses by clicking here.

Currently, Clayton Watch is averaging 1,200 views a day and growing.

Thank you for your support!
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August 26, 2024

Dear Clayton City Council Candidate,

On behalf of a partnership between Clayton Watch and the community, we extend an invitation for you to engage in our City Council Candidate Questionnaire, as well as a potential live Candidates Forum planned for late September. Further details regarding the live forum will be provided at a later date.

In the meantime, we would greatly appreciate your participation in our Candidate Questionnaire, which involves responding to five significant questions posed by the community. (See attached)

Kindly email your completed questionnaire to claytonwatch94517@gmail.com by Saturday, August 31st, at 4:00 p.m. Your responses will be publicly accessible through various local media outlets, including Claytonwatch.org.

Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at Claytonwatch94517@gmail.com. If you prefer a phone call instead of an email response, please provide your contact information and indicate the most convenient time for us to call.

Thank you in advance for your participation,

Clayton Watch
Political Action Committee
FPPC ID #1471612

Attachment: Candidate Questionnaire.docx. This is a fillable Microsoft Word document. Upon completing the questions, please save this form and submit it to claytonwatch94517@gmail.com by Saturday, August 31st, at 4:00 p.m.

Hello Clayton! It's That Time Again—City Council Elections Are Here!

By Clayton Watch

The Clayton Watch Team is thrilled to share that there are four candidates vying for three spots on the city council this year: Rich Enea Sr, Maria Shulman, Councilmember Holly Tillman, and Mayor Jim Diaz.

Recognizing the challenges and costs candidates face in reaching voters in Clayton, the Clayton Watch Team has stepped in to assist by providing a platform for them to share their campaign messages on our website. We reached out to each candidate via email to request their statements for posting. 

Three candidates took the opportunity to respond: Rich Enea Sr, Maria Shulman, and Mayor Jim Diaz. Unfortunately, Councilmember Holly Tillman was a no show. 

To read their candidate statements, click here.

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Fourth Clayton Post Office Update - Things Are Improving - Thanks to Mayor Diaz!

By Clayton Watch

We received another update from Mayor Diaz yesterday on the Clayton Post Office. He continues to work with Acting Post Master, Jim Mahan, to address all the deferred maintenance issues that have been ongoing for years.

Here is a partial list:

1. The weeds have been removed.
2. The building and sidewalks have been pressure washed.
3. The floor inside the post office has been cleaned.
4. The parking lot that is used for postal vehicles has been resurfaced and re-striped.
5. The building is being painted.

Next up:

- the replacement of the bark in the planter boxes.
- hiring a permanent on-site maintenance person next month.

A big think you to Mayor Diaz and Acting Post Master Jim Mahan for their hard work to address all these important issues. Stop by the post office and see for yourself. This is what leadership looks like.

Bill Walcutt

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Parking Permit Program Update - Holly Tillman Has Finally Reappeared After 8 Weeks of Silence

By Clayton Watch

So, after we dropped an update about the Parking Permit Program on Next Door and Clayton Watch yesterday, Holly Tillman finally popped back up after being MIA for about 8 weeks. It seems like she’s putting the blame for the radio silence on Jeff Wan. You’d think if she noticed he hadn’t responded, she would’ve reached out to him. Maybe it’s just campaign season that got her to finally check in... after 11:30 p.m.

To read our prior correspondence with Jeff Wan and Holly Tillman, click on the following link. https://www.claytonwatch.org/search/label/Parking%20Permit

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Letecia “Holly” Tillman Mon, Aug 19, 11:30 PM (9 hours ago) to Jeff, William, me

Good evening, All.

Jeff, thank you for responding. I recall you wanted to take the lead and take the first attempt of a draft proposal and share with me for feedback. After we agree on a draft we would then bring back to council.

I completely agree with your explanation regarding our priority of finding a permanent city manager. That’s such a vital first priority to finalize so Clayton can be managed efficiently.

I hope we can work to have a functioning council that supports our new city manager — the Clayton residents and staff deserve stability in City Hall.

Holly

Holly Tillman
Council Member
City of Clayton
925-673-7321
925-302-6261 (cell)
hollyt@claytonca.gov

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Parking Permit Program Update - After a Few Weeks, We Finally Heard Back From Council Member Jeff Wan, but Still No Word From Holly Tillman.

By Clayton Watch

To read our prior correspondence with Jeff Wan and Holly Tillman, click on the following link. https://www.claytonwatch.org/search/label/Parking%20Permit

Hi, Bill -

I've pulled Jim Diaz off of this email thread so as to not create a communication with a majority of the Council.

The Council and City have been focusing quite a bit on finding and onboarding a permanent City Manager. While Adam Politzer as our Interim City Manager has been doing excellent work, as a retiree his time is limited and he is not able to continue with the City past a certain point. It has been my primary goal to find a permanent replacement.

There will likely be a period of time after we hire a permanent replacement to properly onboard the individual. After that point we'll be able to take up the issue of a parking permit program again.

Thank you for your patience.

-Jeff Wan

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Good News - The Largest Housing Bond in California History is Axed Before it Even Reaches Voters!

By Clayton Watch

$20 Billion Housing Bond Pulled From Ballots - Leaving Advocates ‘Heartbroken’

A $10 billion affordable housing bond in California will not appear on the November ballot, causing concern among housing advocates about the future of funding after the state slashed over a billion dollars from related programs. 

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Berkeley) introduced AB 1657, which was set to be the largest housing bond in decades, receiving strong backing from housing advocates and city officials throughout California. This bond would have allowed for general obligation bonds to fund affordable rental housing for low-income families and supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness, among other initiatives. 

However, the Legislature had to prioritize other bonds and faced limitations on new borrowing due to a significant budget deficit. As a result, two measures aimed at allocating $10 billion each for K-12 school renovations and climate change preparedness secured spots on the November ballot, while AB 1657 was ultimately sidelined in the appropriations committee last week. 

In November, voters in the Bay Area will also decide on a measure to simplify the process for local governments to pass bonds and taxes that support affordable housing and infrastructure. Currently, such measures require a two-thirds supermajority, or 66% approval from residents, to pass. Proposition 5 aims to reduce that requirement to 55%. Stay tuned - more to follow.

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Attention Clayton Homeowners - Caution Regarding the Bay Area Affordable Housing Bond!

By Clayton Watch

Clayton Homeowners Don’t Be Fooled 

The Bay Area Affordable Housing Bond, known as Regional Measure 4, is set to appear on the ballot in November 2024, proposing a $20 billion investment aimed at the creation and preservation of affordable housing across the nine-county area. 

For a detailed overview, you can access the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) report here: https://mtc.ca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-07/BAHFA_Bond_Report.pdf 

To finance this bond, an estimated “property tax” of $19 per $100,000 in assessed value would be required. This means that homeowners with properties valued at $1 million could face an annual property tax increase of approximately $190 to support this measure. 

It’s time to take a stand. Say “no” to new taxes! 

Ensure your opinion is voiced in the November 2024 election.

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Trouble in Dodge

Shared Correspondence from the Community: We value the diverse perspectives of our readers and aim to encourage meaningful conversations. Occasionally, we may share excerpts from correspondence received from our followers or gathered from social media to promote civil discussions. 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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Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 7:23:50 AM

To: stephaniecb@claytonca.gov <stephaniecb@claytonca.gov>; jeff.wan@claytonca.gov <jeff.wan@claytonca.gov>; kimt@claytonca.gov <kimt@claytonca.gov>; jdiaz@claytonca.gov <jdiaz@claytonca.gov>; malathy.subramanian@bbklaw.com <malathy.subramanian@bbklaw.com>; peterc@claytonca.gov <peterc@claytonca.gov>; apolitzer@claytonca.gov <apolitzer@claytonca.gov>; hollyt@claytonca.gov <hollyt@claytonca.gov>

Subject: City Council Meeting "Abruptly Halted: Last Tuesday Night

The City Council meeting took a troubling turn last Tuesday night (7/16/24) when one of the public speakers began to make serious allegations against 3 city council members, naming them by name. He ended by labeling these council members and calling them "homophobic".

A second speaker addressed the council and made many more accusations and because he couldn't name names as the sergeant at arms would have stopped him, he began to pause and look directly at council members or persons in the audience, even leveling a veiled threat! You can learn much more by going to Clayton Watch.

The behavior exhibited not only undermines the integrity of our meetings but also casts a dark shadow on the respectful dialogue the city council strives to maintain.

The second public speaker's address to the council went off course with statements meant to harass council members as well as other members of the public who were present in the room, as he took pause and gave glaring stares at each of the individuals. He couldn't name names or the sergeant at arms would have called him on it to require him to stop.

As this second citizen left the podium, he walked the long way around to specifically harass one of the other members of the public, inciting a violent response by bending over to get right in the face of this Clayton citizen. I was sitting right behind him and witnessed this whole thing. You can view these speakers by starting at 0:56:00:00, and 1:10:34:00 at the following link: claytonca.gov/government/city-council/city-council-meeting-07-16-24/.

Hoyer Hall

This speaker who was intentionally inciting the public was removed from the council meeting chambers, and reportedly has also had to be removed from other locations around the area.

Thanks to the city council calling a 10 minute recess to deal with this outburst and the swift response of law enforcement in addressing this situation, order was restored and the city council meeting resumed after this person was removed.

I hope our city council can take decisive action to prevent similar incidents from happening. Our community deserves a safe and dignified forum to discuss critical issues, free from disparagement and intimidation through name calling or labeling.

Such conduct is totally unacceptable and must not be tolerated at any setting, and particularly within the halls of our council where civility and respect should be the norm.

It is essential to reassess our security arrangements to ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees.

Sincerely,

Concerned Clayton Resident

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Tillman and Wan Not Responding on Details for Parking Permit Program

By Clayton Watch

Councilmembers Jeff Wan and Holly Tillman,

I sent both of you an email three weeks ago about the Parking Permit Program and you have not responded. If you did respond and it ended up in my spam folder, I apologize.

As I said before, the citizens of Stranahan and surrounding neighborhoods are anxiously awaiting to hear the details of the proposed parking permit program that you will be presenting to the city council for action and approval. However, they are becoming extremely frustrated with your silence. This is very unfortunate, because they were very encouraged after you held a community outreach meeting in April that a parking permit proposal would be forthcoming.

I am not sure why there has been no action, but I know you are very busy Holly and will be even more busy with your re-election campaign. If this is the case, and you do not have the time to serve on the committee, please ask the Mayor to replace you so we can move this forward.

I look forward to your response.

Bill Walcutt

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2nd Post Office Update

By Clayton Watch

I received a call from Mayor Dias yesterday with an update on the ongoing post office maintenance issues.

He and City Manager, Adam Politzer, will be working with all parties involved to find a permanent solution so we are not “circling back” with the same maintenance issues every year.

Apparently, Adam has experience dealing with the post office in other cities where he has worked. I gave the Mayor the property owner information and he is being copied on all correspondence from Congressman DeSaulnier’s office. I will keep you posted on the progress.

Thanks,

Bill Walcutt

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3rd POST OFFICE UPDATE:

The landscaping at the post office is finally getting a spring clean up.

I received a progress report on the post office from Mayor Dias yesterday. Here is a recap:

1) Mayor Dias called the property owner and confirmed that the post office is responsible for maintaining the landscaping and the facility.

2) The post office hired a maintenance crew on Monday to start removing all the weeds and cleaning up the unsightly mess. After all the weeds are removed and plants trimmed, they will be putting in new bark--probably next week.

3) Mayor Dias talked to the Acting Post Master, Jim Mahan, and he confirmed they now have a budget to provide ongoing maintenance. Prior to all the community outrage, they had no budget for maintenance. Apparently, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier worked his magic in DC and and secured funding for ongoing maintenance.

4) Acting Post Master, Jim Mahan, has only been in this position for a short time and was trying to do his best without any funding. He said after my letter to Congressman Mark DeSaulnier and all the phone calls and emails from the community the funding was approved.

5) Mayor Dias will be following up on all the other cleaning issues inside the post office with Mr. Mahan. He said Mr. Mahan is enthusiastic about an opportunity to rectify the unsightly conditions at the post office.

A big thank you to all involved and the community members who called and emailed Congressman DeSaulnier. It made a huge difference.

Thanks,

Bill Walcutt

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Response from Congressman DeSaulnie's Staff - Regarding Clayton Post Office

By Clayton Watch

First Response

Here is the response from Congressman DeSaulnie's staff. I will also post their response when they "circle back" to me with more information. Shanelle's contact information is listed below. Please feel free to contact her and chime in..

"Hello Mr. Walcutt, Hope you are having a great day. Thank you for reaching out to our office. We will reach out to our Postal Congressional Liaison with regards to the Clayton Post Office and circle back with you soon. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact myself at (925) 698-1613 cell or my colleague Kaylee Deland at (925) 933-2660.

Warmest regards,

Shanelle" Shanelle Scales-Preston
District Director

Office of Congressman DeSaulnier (CA-10)
3100 Oak Road, Suite #110
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
shanelle.scales@mail.house.gov

Tel: (925) 933-2660
Cell: (925) 698-1613
Fax: (925) 933-2677

Second Response

Here is the second response from Congressman DeSaulnier’s office. I ask them to work with Mayor Dias and the City Manager on a permanent solution.

Hi Mr. Walcutt,

I’ve passed these concerns along to our liaison at USPS and will be sure to reach out to you once I have a response. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions in the meantime.

Best,

Kaylee DeLand
Senior Outreach Coordinator
3100 Oak Road Suite #110
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Tel: 925-933-2660 Fax: 925-933-2677

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Parking Permit Program - Waiting for an Update from Jeff and Holly

By Clayton Watch

Councilmembers Jeff Wan and Holly Tillman,

The citizens of Stranahan and surrounding neighborhoods are anxiously awaiting to hear the details of the proposed parking permit program that you will be presenting to the city council for action and approval. We will be happy to review it and provide feedback before it goes to the council.

Please let us know what you are recommending and when we can expect this item to be put on the city council's agenda for approval.

I look forward to your response.

Bill Walcutt

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Congressman Mark DeSaulnier - Post Office Maintenance

By Clayton Watch 

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier,

Clayton needs your assistance. The Clayton Post Office is an eye sore and is in a constant state of neglect. It appears there is no ongoing maintenance program to maintain the landscaping and control the weeds. Every year. for the past 15 years, the weeds are allowed to grow unchecked, destroy the plants, the bark, and become a fire hazard, until someone complains. This has gone on far to long and needs to be addressed. We need a permanent solution not a reaction.

Clayton Post Office

Moreover, the post office is a federal facility and they should be setting an example for the community, It should not be the leading candidate for the "ugly facility award". How can we expect our businesses and our residents to maintain their properties and be "FireWise" "FireSafe" when the post office is a maintenance nightmare with a flourishing hazardous weed garden. See the attached picture.

Your staff have been very helpful in the past, sending in resources to correct the problem after it gets out of control, but this is not the answer. We can't just keep reacting, we need a permanent solution--Please Help.

I look forward to your response,

Bill Walcutt

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Preserving the Small-Town Charm

By Clayton Watch

Our core purpose is preserving the small-town charm we all know and love. But Sacramento has a very different vision, wanting to pave over open spaces and transform every little town into crowded urban centers. They demand we all "do our fair share" to look the same in their eyes.

Some local leaders claimed to oppose this overreach. Yet they avoid concrete actions to push back, like working with groups like Our Neighborhood Voices. Now Clayton scrambles to rezone areas by January 2024, risking more Fulcrum and Olivia-style projects forced on us by officials and allies.

In the past, critical zoning changes happened quietly, officials saying "it'll never actually be built." Until one day, it's unavoidably real and permanent.

We have a strong suggestion: Zone 1,000+ apartments in Clayton Station and the church land next door. Give developers incentives to build there, within city limits and near jobs and shops. Clayton Station is already 25% vacant and for sale. Its parking lot is a mess. With 10-15 story buildings and garages, these ideal spots could meet housing needs for years. Pursue 100% low-income housing here if needed.

Clayton won't satisfy bureaucrats fixated on agendas beyond local control. But we can focus growth responsibly, zoning where building is realistic and cost-effective. That's how you get apartments built - not forcing them into neighborhoods.

Even some locals claim they want "diversity" yet oppose market forces. If you can't afford Clayton, don't worry - they have "crazy ideas" to make it happen.

Housing costs so much simply because far more people want to live here than we have homes. Too many high earners bid up prices over $1 million. Cramming in apartments won't work. We need large builders who can profit.

Let's stop the madness and division. Council, focus on realistic zoning for major apartment projects. That's how to fix this. We're wasting time otherwise.

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The City of Clayton has Finally Turned the Corner - Lack of leadership Was the Problem

By Clayton Watch

The previous city managers, Reina Schwartz and Brett Prebula were simply not up to the task, as reliable confidential sources have informed me.

In case you’re wondering, these sources do not currently work for the City of Clayton nor are they on the City Council.

By all accounts, Reina and Bret created a significant mess at City Hall, failing to provide the professional, competent oversight that a city requires. Additionally, certain council members like Holly Tillman, Peter Cloven, and tabloid newspaper owner Tamara Steiner have also proven themselves ill-equipped to handle the complexities of local governance, repeatedly demonstrating poor judgment and decision-making when discussing staff turnover.

Contrary to the claims made by Council Member Holly Tillman of meddling or harassment from select council members with the staff, the real root of the problem was simply a lack of experience and qualified leadership at the highest levels of Clayton's government.

Study after study has shown that when employees, including those in key administrative roles, do not receive the proper guidance, training and oversight from capable leaders, it inevitably leads to disorganization, inefficiency, job turnover, and the kind of chaos that Clayton residents have endured over the past couple of years.

But now, the tides have turned, as the city has brought aboard a true professional by the name of Adam Politizer, who is poised to right the ship, restore order, and public trust in the management of our community affairs.

With this new leadership in place, Clayton's future is looking brighter than it has in years. The arrival of a new, capable leader in City Hall has been a welcome change for the community, as Adam has managed to accomplish more in just a few short weeks than anyone could have ever imagined.

In contrast, Councilperson Holly Tillman has been stirring up unnecessary drama, falsely claiming that the city staff are overworked and that the council is interfering with their duties. It is evident that the previous issues plaguing the city workforce were not due to being overworked, as Holly Tillman would have the public believe, but rather stemmed from mismanagement.

This has become glaringly obvious in the short time the New Leader/ Interim City Manager Adam Politizer has been in office, as he has already managed to get the city back on the right track. Tillman's attempts to deflect blame and stir up controversy appear to be nothing more than political posturing, likely driven by her own agenda rather than a genuine concern for the wellbeing of city employees and the community.

The community can take comfort in knowing that with competent leadership now in place, the days of mismanagement and inefficiency are swiftly coming to an end. Consolidation is Underway In a move to streamline operations and improve efficiency, our city's new interim City Manager Adam Politizer announced at the recent city council meeting that a consolidation of staff at City Hall was necessary based on the small size and current state of our city. With a relatively small staff of only around 26 employees, the City Manager determined that consolidating certain administrative duties would make far more sense for a city of our size, allowing the city to operate in a more streamlined and cost-effective manner.

By consolidating several positions and leveraging outside expertise where appropriate, the city anticipates savings of approximately $20,000 per year - a significant sum that can be reinvested into other priorities and initiatives that better serve our city.

Overall, this strategic move to eliminate redundant staffing and embrace more efficient service delivery model is a “home run” in my opinion. It is a prudent decision that will reduce operational costs and help improve the city's bottom line without compromising the quality of essential services provided to residents.

With the City of Clayton being 98% built out, I am hopeful that we can do the same with our Community Development Director position. This unnecessary full-time and costly position should be outsourced immediately. The current in-house role simply does not warrant the significant investment required to maintain it as an internal function.

Brighter days are surely ahead, stay tuned. Go get ‘em Adam!

UPDATE. . . It looks like my wish might come true. It appears that the community development director and code enforcement positions will be outsourced. You can check out next week’s council agenda at https://claytonca.gov/fc/agendas/council/
2024/060424.pdf. Check out item e. Have a great weekend.

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City Managers View Point - Not a Legal Opinion - What Laws Are You Referring To?

Shared Correspondence from the Community: We value the diverse perspectives of our readers and aim to encourage meaningful conversations. Occasionally, we may share excerpts from correspondence received from our followers or gathered from social media to promote civil discussions. 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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Dear Interim City Manager Adam Politzer,

Thank you for taking the time to address this important matter in your busy schedule. Your dedication and commitment to resolving this issue are truly appreciated.

I want to warmly welcome you as a valuable addition to our team at City Hall. Your experience is highly valued, and I am confident that your presence will have a positive impact. I particularly resonated with your statement during the recent city council meeting, where you emphasized the importance of city managers remaining in the background.

In my view, the previous two city managers lacked the necessary management skills, which unfortunately reflected poorly on the staff and city. However, I am genuinely excited to have you on board, as I believe your years of knowledge and expertise will greatly assist us in overcoming the challenges we currently face.

Regarding your email response, I want to let you know that I respect your view. However, I must reiterate that according to the Brown Act, the League of California Cities/Your Role as a Local Elected Official - reopening public comment is not solely within the Mayor's discretion, and is not as straightforward as you mention in your email. It requires a collective decision and cannot be done unilaterally. Any Council Member may move to suspend the rules if necessary to accomplish a matter that would otherwise violate the rules. The motion requires a second, and a majority vote is required for passage. No such motion was made or a vote taken.

My primary concern lies in the recurrence of this issue, as it resurfaced during our most recent city council gathering. Reopening public comment improperly raises significant concerns regarding fairness and equal access, as it may mislead certain residents, both in person and online, into thinking they have already been allowed to voice their opinions, with some of them leaving the meeting after they speak. Arbitrarily reopening public comment at a later time could benefit one side and undermine public trust and accountability.

It's a little challenging to summarize, but during the Clayton City Council meeting on April 16, 2024, Mayor Diaz and the council did not seek guidance or input from the city attorney. Surprisingly, she willingly interrupted the discussion when public comment had been closed by the Mayor.

In my view, the City Attorney acts as a parliamentary advisor for the City, providing advice and clarifying situations based on Roberts Rules of Order, and California Open Meeting Laws. While the Mayor has the final say on parliamentary procedure, the Council can question and challenge those decisions.

Many cities establish rules of procedure to ensure the effective and fair conduct of City Council meetings, which helps promote public confidence. If our city does not have such documented procedures, I would strongly recommend creating them.

For reference, I would like to know what law(s) you are referring to that gives the Mayor discretionary authority to reopen public comment - as it would be helpful to know this in the future.

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this whenever you have a moment.

Best regards,

Gary Hood

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