City budget right on track at mid year

As we headed into March, finance manager Kevin Mizuno gave the City Council the mid-year city budget results. Once again, the city’s financial health is stable.

Mid-year General Fund revenue was ahead of budget by 56.38 percent. Expenditures were at 50.29 percent, because many annual city expenses are incurred in the first months.

Because of the long history of balanced city budgets, the residents are not subjected to the various ballot measures other cities propose to pay for general government operations. Fiscal year 2017-’18 appears to promise similar positive outcomes.

This is exemplified through the leadership of city manager Gary Napper and the finance manager and staff, with critical oversight by the council’s Budget Committee of Vice-Mayor Keith Haydon and Councilwoman Tuija Catalano.

On the maintenance side, the Maintenance Department, through its role in public landscape care, has weathered this rainy season with little need for repairs due to proactive clearance of stormwater drains and V-ditches prior to the downpours. The recent storm drain renovations around the hillside of Mt. Diablo Elementary School, in partnership with the Mt. Diablo School District, have resulted in no further mudslides onto Clayton Road from this sloped common area. That’s a welcome relief to motorists and maintenance crews alike.

However, our friends and neighbors out on Morgan Territory Road were not as fortunate as the city of Clayton proper. A huge hill slide has rendered Morgan Territory Road impassable. Further, they have experienced loss of water and power. We need to keep them in thoughts and prayers, and, where possible, provide assistance.

On the legislative side, the City Council approved a temporary moratorium on the state-led effort to require the placement of “parolee” housing in Clayton. Our local moratorium lasts until September. Before then, city staff must thoroughly examine the issue and outline options for compliance with the new state law.

The City Council previously prohibited medical marijuana dispensaries or testing laboratories within city limits. However, the council has allowed the limited growing of the plant for personal use within the interior of individual residences. No outdoor cultivation of marijuana is allowed in Clayton, whether for medicinal, commercial or recreational purposes.

For medicinal use, the council permitted cannabis deliveries to the residences of those who have physician-approved prescriptions. The deliveries can only be from an authorized marijuana dispensary located outside of Clayton.

For Concord BART commuters: As part of the plaza improvements at the Concord station, BART must temporarily close some fee parking spaces and relocate some permit spaces in two phases. BART will post signs 72 hours in advance of removing/relocating spaces.

Phase I, now to October, will close off about 115 spaces in the fee lot north of the station, near Park and Grant streets. This will require the relocation of the carpool permit spaces. Follow the signs for the new carpool permit spaces, which will be south of the station in the lot nearest Oakland Street. This will be the new permanent carpool parking location.

Phase II, November 2017 to February 2018, will relocate about 57 permit (reserved) spaces from the current lot, between Prospect and Atlantic streets, to a nearby fee lot between Prospect and Laguna streets. There will be no loss of permit spaces. The relocated spaces will remain permit parking after construction, which will add 50+ new permit spaces.

BART notes that the plaza improvements will result in better lighting, easier access to the BART station and improved overall appearance.

And finally, Clayton Cleans Up will be 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 22. Please meet at the City Hall courtyard.

Send comments to the mayor at jdiaz@ci.clayton.ca.us.