NO. 159
Community newsletter of the City of Walnut Creek
FALL 2012
Special report inside “A Community Connected: The 2012-14 Budget Story” illustrates how the City provides services on behalf of the community, and highlights some of the financial challenges we face going forward. You’ll find this special report inside the Nutshell.
Calling volunteers Community Service Day is set for Saturday, Oct. 6. Last year, more than 1,000 people gave a half day to work on one of 42 projects. This year, more than 50 projects are waiting for eager volunteers. A list of projects and sign-up information starts on Page 5.
City Hall counters to close on Fridays The following public counters will be closed on Fridays starting in September: Business License; Community Development (Planning and Building); Public Services (Engineering and Traffic); and non-emergency Police Services. The change reflects the impact of staff reductions over time and will give existing staff the ability to still provide excellent customer service Monday through Thursday while fulfilling other necessary duties on Fridays. More information, including exact start date, will be posted at City Hall and on our website.
11,703 and counting Naomi Rotramel of Davey Trees measures a tree as part of an inventory currently under way thanks to a grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Trees on public streets, in parks, and in the Open Space areas around ranger homes and picnic areas are among those being counted. The inventory notes the tree’s location, species, size, age and condition, as well as other factors. Having this information readily available will help the City proactively take care of its trees.
Need to feed the meter? Phone it in!
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aying for parking at Walnut Creek’s meters used to mean searching for coins to feed the meter. Then, the City added a pay-bycredit card option. Now here comes Option 3: Pay by phone. The program is being tested at meters on Locust Street. Customers using the service can: • pay for parking from their phone • receive a text reminder when time is almost up • add time without returning to the meter (subject to time limits) To get started, download the app at
www.walnut-creek.org In a Nutshell ◆ Fall 2012
www.paybyphone.com or call the phone number posted on participating meters. There is no cost to the City for this service; however, customers pay a 25-cent per transaction fee to PayByPhone. While the service is new to Walnut Creek, it’s already in place in more than 30 cities in the United States, including Sacramento and San Francisco. Just look for the PayByPhone sticker on the side of a parking meter.