January 19, 2024
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From housing to budgets, new mayors hope for more constituent involvement DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent
Local incoming mayors are all looking to work closely with residents on key issues, with Pleasant Hill’s new mayor even declaring “Come Together” as his theme for 2024. However, Clayton Mayor Jim Diaz got off to a rough start last month after a divided council vote to elect him. Now, Diaz tells The Pioneer he wants to foster “a betterinformed community” and sees the town’s upcoming 60th anniversary celebration as a community rallying point. As the new mayors of Concord, Pleasant Hill and Clayton set their agendas, much of what was the focus a year ago is being recirculated. BIRSAN: LOOKING FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE
Concord Mayor Edi Birsan identified cleaning the roads and working on homeless issues as a couple of primary goals again for 2024. Along with improvement with these persistent challenges, add affordable housing
and maintaining the stable quality of life that residents have come to expect. From a civility standpoint, he hopes for more respect among individuals. “Some things are driving us apart that we need counter. We need to get back to having civil conversation with each other and working on things that are common,” he said. “I know we can respect each other,” added Birsan, who has lived in Concord since 1983 with his high school sweetheart and wife of 50 years. He has served on the council since 2012 and was previously mayor in 2017. While bothered by a decline in civil discourse over the last decade and increasing situations that are driving the community apart, Birsan noted examples that reflect how the communi-
The way forward, Birsan believes, is the avoidance of ID politics that have caused stratification nationally and locally as people have become entrenched on the extremes rather finding common ground in the middle. “Hope won’t make it happen,” he said. “People working together will make it happen.” DIAZ: KEEPING RESIDENTS INFORMED AND INVOLVED
EDI BIRSAN CONCORD MAYOR
JIM DIAZ CLAYTON MAYOR
MATT RINN PLEASANT HILL MAYOR
ty is coming together. He pointed to the raising of the Pride flag becoming the rule for Concord, not an exception, and increased attendance at the Pride Picnic as well as participation in the Clayton Pride Parade.
He also cited the first Juneteenth Celebration and growing Latino festivities, plus substantial representation from minorities, including residents of the Asian and Indian communities, appointed to city panels.
“We have made advances in diversity in the last seven years,” said Birsan. “And, I see it continuing.” In the year ahead, he also wants the Historical Society and arts group to become more active in the community.
BEV BRITTON & JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
Clayton next in line to receive new pails
Tamara Steiner
For over six decades swimmers and families have taken BEV BRITTON lessons, competed in meets and socialized at Springwood The Pioneer Swim Club on Concord Blvd. The local club is in danger of losing its swim team and pool if it can’t pay off a loan by If your New Year’s resolu- March 2025.
See COMPOST, page 7
Next issue, Feb. 16, Deadline, Feb. 5
See Mayors, page 5
Springwood Swim Team faces financial challenges to keep team, community pool, City Swim Meet
Kitchen composting a sign of the times – and the law
tions include reducing your carbon footprint, a new composting law will be right up your alley. Senate Bill 1383 requires residents to compost organic waste like food scraps, plant trimmings and food-soiled paper. Called a “climate super pollutant,” organic waste emits 20% of the state’s methane – a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Republic Services will deliver food composting pails to all Clayton residents the week of Jan. 22-26. In Concord, single-family homes received the pails from Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery (MDRR) last September. Sarah Davis, community relations
Progress with technology and closer examination of the budget to better serve the needs of the rural bedroom community top Diaz’s goals for Clayton in 2024. Updating the community’s resources translates into serving the community more efficiently, he said. And, achieving a balanced budget will further
Springwood Swim Club has been an integral part of the local recreation swimming scene since the 1960s, but the very existence of the team and its pool on Concord Boulevard are now at serious risk of closure. At issue is the repayment of a $150,000 loan taken out in 2018 to repair SPW’s deteriorating pool. The club gave back $20,000 that wasn’t spent initially and has made interest payments and brought the principal balance down to $90,000 since then. Now, without even having a head coach on board for this
summer season starting in a couple months, the parent owned and operated club is facing a March 2025 deadline to pay off the remaining loan balance. If it isn’t paid by then, not only will the team go away but the pool and property will be subject to sale. “With the high cost of PG&E, water and maintenance, we are having a tough time paying off this loan. Quite frankly, I’m not sure if we can make it past this upcoming season with this loan hindering us,” said new Springwood Swim Club president Melanie Bang. Losing the entire 2020 season due to the pandemic further complicated the situation.
PART OF CONCORD’S SUMMER SWIMMING FABRIC
A few years after the Concord Jaycees started the Concord Swimming Championships (popularly called the City Meet) in 1967, Springwood took over operations and it is the team’s largest fundraiser to this day. In the early 1970s the club moved the meet from Concord Community Pool on Cowell Road to its home pool at the corner of Thornwood Drive and Concord Blvd. In 1996 the meet moved back to Concord Community Pool with much more parking and space for participants and
See Springwood, pg 5
Dynamic changes in Clayton as new businesses and Flora Square revamp come to Town Center VINCE MARTELLACCI Correspondent
Clayton has struggled for years looking for different ways to create a vibrant, “Sonoma-like” Town Center in this out-of-the way suburb. While the business landscape has evolved over its 150 year history, during the last two years, it’s gotten a bit of an overhaul and may be closer to realizing the dream. Several new businesses came to town, and a few establishments went through some changes. Restaurants have gone and new ones have come. Cup O’ Jo coffee shop got some competition, with Sip ’N Sweet offering both coffee and ice cream since last spring. Newly opened Odyssey VRLounge adds a sorely needed entertainment option while Clayton Yoga’s move downtown from Clayton Station fills the physical fitness hole left by Snap Fitness’ move to the corner of Kirker Pass and Clayton
Rd. two years ago. Odyssey VR Lounge opened in November in Village Oaks Building in space vacated by retiring realtor Lynne French. The virtual reality arcade, sandwiched between Ed’s Mudville Grill and Sip ’N Sweet – is reimagining that building as a destination for Clayton’s younger crowd. Odyssey offers virtual escape rooms, family bundles and events, and more than 70 VR gaming experiences. CHANGES AT FLORA SQUARE In May, JOR Fine Art Gallery celebrated its first year in Flora Square. The two-story building across from the bocce courts at Oak and Center Streets is expected to be revamped under new ownership, potentially renamed Tamara Steiner Rhine House, which harkens Flora Square, renamed Rhine House for one of Clayton’s founders, Jacob Rhine, is headback to one of Clayton’s ing for a new life as the upstairs offices are slated to become apartments and the corner founders, Jacob Rhine.
See Businesses, pg 4
unit which has never been occupied will become a new restaurant. Skipolini owner Kent Ipsen is in the process of buying and renovating the 20 year old building at the corner of Oak and Center in Clayton.
Postal Customer ECRWSS PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA 94517 PERMIT 190