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.