National award for finance manager
The city of Clayton’s Finance Department received the prestigious Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting in 2016.
Finance manager Kevin Mizuno earned this national award for his professionalism in elevating the city’s financial records and disclosures to national stature. The award, a first for Clayton, was presented at the March 21 City Council meeting.
The city’s CAFR is on the city’s website, ci.clayton.ca.us, under the “Finance Department” tab.
After several public meetings, the City Council approved an agreement to purchase four camera systems for use by the Police Department. The two sets of cameras will be located at the city’s four entry and exit points. This new technological tool for local law enforcement will consist of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), plus “event” cameras used when follow-up criminal investigations are necessary after an incident.
These cameras will not be monitored daily or by personnel and will not be used to issue traffic citations. The purpose of ALPRs, used increasingly by neighboring cities, is to assist the Police Department in detecting noted vehicles suspected in prior criminal activity and to further deter the criminal element from entering Clayton. The “event” cameras will assist the Police Department in its continuing efforts to keep the community safe from those with criminal or nefarious intent.
As I noted in a previous column, the County Connection public transportation service board sent four board members to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) conference in Washington, D.C. Although I did not attend, the represented board members reported positive feedback regarding our innovative public transportation services.
The County Connection trial of the electric trolley service in Walnut Creek was highlighted and recognized by receiving additional grants to fund four new electric buses. The new electric buses will be deployed throughout Contra Costa County to make further use of fuel-efficient public transportation vehicles.
As a reminder for commuters using Concord BART, the improvements to the plaza at the Concord BART Station forced the temporarily closure of some fee parking spaces and the relocation of some permit spaces. As noted before, this effort is being implemented in two phases. BART has posted signs regarding the removing and relocating of spaces.
Phase I (March-October) will require closing about 115 parking 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 posted 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-February 2018) will require the relocation of about 57 permit (reserved) parking spaces from the current lot, between Prospect and Atlantic street, 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.
Once again, beautification and good exercise merge with Clayton Cleans Up, held 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 22. Please meet at the City Hall courtyard. Our thanks to the Clayton Pioneer for its annual sponsorship of this worthwhile civic event.
Send comments to the mayor at jdiaz@ci.clayton.ca.us.