City Council Meeting Summary - Jeff Wan 4-15-25

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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On Tuesday the Council met to discuss the results of the annual audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Unfortunately there was a scheduling miscommunication and the City's auditor was not in attendance. As a result, we tabled the discussion to a future meeting.

There was also a closed session with no reportable items.

Clayton Police Department - Press Release (E-Bikes)

E-Bikes - Education and Enforcement

E-Bike Safety for Young and Old

Over the last year, the Clayton Police Department has noticed a significant increase in the number of E-Bikes, motorized E-Scooters, and Electric off-highway motorcycles (dirt bike) operating in the City, the parks and on the trail system. After speaking with many of our law enforcement partners, we’ve learned that the proliferation of these vehicles is not isolated to Clayton. Many cities, throughout California, are dealing with the same issue and have experienced significant injury collisions and fatalities.

Some of these vehicles, classified as E-Bicycles are street legal and only have the same requirements as pedal bicycles. However, some vehicles sold as E-Bikes, (brands like Surron and Talaria), are actually classified as motorcycles. These require off-highway registration, insurance and a driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement to operate legally and can only be operated in legal off-highway vehicle areas.

Since June of 2024, the Clayton Police Department has made efforts to educate riders, parents and the public through hand-outs, social media posts and the schools. Despite these efforts, there has been a steady increase in the number of these vehicles, which has led to an increase in traffic complaints. These include riders traveling at unsafe speeds on trails, riding in parks and riding in and out of the street with no regard for other vehicles. In some circumstances, operators of E-Motorcycles have attempted to evade police contact.

Clayton is a wonderful community, and we want to ensure our trails, parks and roadways stay safe for everyone. We don’t want Clayton to be added to the list of communities with an injury collision or fatality because of an E-Bike or E-Motorcycle being operated unsafely.

Starting April 14, 2025, the Clayton Police Department, working in partnership with our local schools, will conduct a formal month-long educational campaign to make riders, parents and owners aware of the restrictions and responsibilities that come with the operation of these types of E-Vehicles. Warning citations may be issued to all observed violations.

Beginning May 12, 2025, in the interest of public safety, the Clayton Police Department will enter into a maximum citation enforcement period on E-Motorcycles, E-Scooters and E-Bikes in accordance with the California Vehicle Code and the Clayton Municipal Code.

Riders/Operators may be ticketed, arrested or have their vehicle impounded. Parents/Owners could potentially be ticketed or, in some cases, charged with more serious crimes under the California Vehicle Code and the Penal Code.

The purpose of this education and enforcement is to ensure public safety and prevent the type of tragedy that has befallen other communities.

In addition to the California Vehicle Code, the following Clayton Municipal Codes apply:

10.56.200 – Riding in Parks/Playgrounds & Schools

10.56.140 – Passengers

10.56.160 – Racing prohibited

10.56.170 – Trick riding

10.58.020 – Skateboards and similar devices

11.04.200 – Vehicles in parks

If you have questions or concerns about E-Scooters, E-Bikes, or E-Motorcycles education and enforcement, please contact Traffic Officer Mitch Stroski at

Mitchell.stroski@claytoncapolice.gov / 925-673-7350.

An Interesting Observation from Clayton Watch

Clayton, CA

Kris Loftus, our recently hired city manager, had his six-month evaluation this past Tuesday during the City Council meeting. Interestingly, there was no line of divisive speakers demanding that the city retain Kris. This stands in stark contrast to the six-month evaluation of our previous city manager, Bret Prebula. At that time, Prebula, despite his struggles in the role, organized citizens and employees to speak on his behalf.

The speakers included those who regularly criticized Jeff Wan, Jim Diaz, and Kim Trupiano, while strongly supporting Holly Tillman. They tried to pressure the city into giving Prebula a favorable review, even though his performance was widely regarded as inadequate. The reason for their support? Prebula shared the same divisive politics as Tillman and others in the group, and unfortunately, tribalism had a significant influence on decision-making.

Since Prebula’s departure, the city has seen marked improvements. Under Kris Loftus’s leadership, our finances have become far more transparent, and his leadership has been well-received by many. Kris is proving to be a manager who prioritizes effective governance and community collaboration. His first six months in office have shown his commitment to moving Clayton forward, and we’re hopeful for the positive changes he will continue to bring to the city.

We look forward to your comments. If you would like to get on our email list, send us a message.

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City Council Meeting Summary - Jeff Wan 4-1-25

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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Meeting Summary

On Tuesday the Council met and discussed several significant items:

- We received a report from the Financial Sustainability Committee. While the Committee did not approve of the report given by its chair, it did share information regarding the activities of the Committee. Ultimately a request was made of the Council to clarify the purpose of the Committee. Council referred back to the original formation goals of the Committee. For example - to identify areas of additional evaluation for financial savings or revenue generation. Identifying areas however, is not the same as performing detailed analysis in place of City staff.


The Council recommended that the Committee participate in the budget process that will occur over the next couple of months, provide any recommendations they may have, and report out both to the Budget and Audit Committee and to the public. After this budget cycle, the Council will evaluate whether there is a need to continue this Committee.

- We received a report from HdL, the service provider that assists the City's business license processing and administration. When we first engaged HdL (discussed at our 9.19.23 meeting), City staff represented that the City had approximately 1100 active businesses in the City. Extrapolating from there, HdL estimated that through their efforts they could discover an additional 900 businesses and therefore expand the pool of licensed businesses. If this were possible, it would increase City revenues.

After review, it turns out the information that prior City leadership (no longer employed with the City) overstated the actual number of businesses in the City. The actual number is closer to 500. HdL gave a presentation on their work in processing renewals, and the effort to discover any additional businesses that may be operating within the City that would need a license.

- We approved the annual report on military equipment use. There have been no new acquisitions of military equipment, no use of military equipment, and no complaints regarding military equipment in the annual reporting period. This report is required annually.

- We approved the streets selected for the 2026 Clayton Neighborhood Street Rehabilitation project. After much discussion, the Council decided to prioritize streets that were in poor condition, and also certain streets that were higher use areas. In addition, the Council after receiving lower cost projections for Mountaire Pkwy including approval of grant funding, decided to include that section of street that we previously discussed at our 2.4.25 meeting. The streets included in the 2026 project are: Main St., Mountaire Pkwy, Marsh Creek Rd., Herriman Dr., N. Mitchell Canyon Rd., Eagle Peak Ave., and El Portal Dr.

The GHAD Board also met to discuss the level of outreach desired by the Board regarding the upcoming mail ballot to GHAD residents asking to increase assessments. The Board determined that one recorded virtual presentation and Q&A, an informational packet to be included with the ballot, and posting information on the GHAD's website hosted by the City was sufficient.

Clayton City Council - From the Desk of Kim Trupiano 4-1-25

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/2025/03/Diablo-Gazette-APR-25-16pg-D1.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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Clayton Community Library Celebrates 30 Years 

Clayton Library

Thank you Joyce Atkinson, Jeanne Boyd (posthumously) and Diana Bauer for dreaming big and making the hope of a library in Clayton a reality over 30 years ago. These women, with the help of the Clayton Branch of the AAUW (American Association of University Women) decide in 1989 that the Clayton community needed to build a library. They formed a steering committee made up of many organizations across the community and in July of that year formed the Clayton Community Library Foundation, created to raise money for the project.

Over the next five years fundraising takes place, including book sales, crab feeds, and a multitude of grant applications resulting in one large grant of $2.8 million from Prop 85 in 1991. A groundbreaking ceremony happened on March 12, 1994, and later that year, the City approved $542,000 for book collection. After all of the demanding work, extraordinary vision and determination, on March 4, 1995, the Clayton Community Library opens its doors.

It is because of the efforts of these three women and lots of other volunteers and donors who supported the library then and continue to do so today, that we celebrate 30 Years of the Clayton Community Library this month.

Today the library is testament to the community and visited by thousands of people a year who will find, besides a vast assortment of books and publications, a variety of activities and classes including Tai Chi, Chair Yoga and Meditation, Story Time for children, Art Classes and Teen events, Book Clubs and so much more.

To coincide with the 30th Anniversary of the library, the City will be embarking on a refresh project later this year that will include new paint, carpeting, improved lighting, furniture and other design elements and CCLF is hoping to have some celebratory events throughout the year to commemorate the anniversary. Also, save the date for the next Book Sale, on May 17 and 18 (May 16 for members only).

The Clayton Community Library stands as a testament to the strength, commitment and caring that so many of our residents perform day in and day out to make our community a better place. Thank you Joyce, Jeanne and Diana for being shining examples of that.

Other City News

Each month the City is awarding an Unsung Hero Award to someone making a significant difference in our community. We honored Linda Pinder for the month of January and Paul Jordan for the month of February. For March, we will be honoring Joyce Atkinson, Jeanne Boyd (posthumously) and Diana Bauer. If you have suggestions about future Unsung Heroes, please feel free to contact me at 925.673.7324 or kimt@claytonca. gov.