Don’t forget to fill out the Census – and support local restaurants

If you haven’t completed your Census 2020, right now is the time. The higher Clayton’s count, the more federal and state dollars are returned to our city.

Thanks to all who have responded; you have made Clayton No. 2 in the state for highest rate of returns. We trail Piedmont by less than 2 points statewide. Let’s show California that Clayton can be No. 1 statewide. Go to my2020census.gov to complete your response now.

Meanwhile, here we are in the heart of the summer and still stuck in the pandemic. Thank you to the conscientious mask-wearers who continue to help keep Clayton’s number low. We have many vulnerable people in our community, so your vigilance is much appreciated.
As you know, our beloved Concerts in the Grove and all of the Clayton Business and Community Association’s special events have been canceled for this year. We are all missing those great activities.

Some good news

So, how about some good news? We balanced Clayton’s 2020-’21 budget and, unlike many cities around us who are experiencing severe cutbacks, we are in good shape. That is largely due to the fact that we budget very conservatively and the economy-driven sales tax is our fourth source of income, behind vehicle license fees (keep buying those new cars), local property tax and franchise fees.

School is scheduled to start next month. The city will fund the additional crossing guard at Mt. Zion and Pine Hollow by the elementary school and add safety improvements near both of our schools, including flashing stop signs at the intersection of Pine Hollow and Mitchell Canyon and on old Marsh Creek at Center.

At the middle school, flashing warning lights on Marsh Creek Road on the approaches to the Diablo View Middle School intersection will soon alert and, we hope, slow drivers. We will modify the crosswalk pattern at that intersection to allow a full four-way, no-turn stop for cars and add diagonal crosswalks for the students. We hope these measures will slow the drivers on Marsh Creek and improve the safety of our children at the school.

We had planned to get these safety projects completed before school starts, but with the early return-to-school dates, it may be later in the fall. Our police officers will be diligent to make sure drivers pay attention.

Many of you in Oakhurst have seen the improvements to the play equipment at North Valley Park. We are all looking forward to the day when the COVID regulations allow us to open that for play.

Street paving

We will commence our every two year street paving program later this summer. This year, we are partnering with other cities to obtain improved prices on paving contracts. All streets are rated on a Pavement Condition Index (PCI), using a program prescribed for the Bay Area. We generally address the worst streets first. We are incorporating the most efficient techniques to maximize the surface of our neighborhood roads so what travel we can do is smoother.

If you are tired of cooking, please remember all our wonderful local restaurants and businesses that need our support. Let them cook dinner tonight. They have some great deals for us.

Julie Pierce is mayor of Clayton and chair of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority .She is a past president of the Association of Bay Area Governments and serves on the executive committee where she represents Contra Costa cities. Reach her at 925-673-7320 or Julie.p@ci.clayton.ca.us.