Another "Community Conversations" workshop about WC's future tonight; have you gone to any; what do you think?

Tonight, the city will hold the final in Step 1 of its series of Community Conversations on Balancing the City's Future. And have any of you participated in these conversations? I have.

Wallnut Creek is holding these workshops because it is "projecting significant shortfalls for 2010-12." The information gathered during these workshops "will be used to help allocate resources to the areas the community values most."

The city is looking at six primary goals. They are:
--Strong neighborhoods and a sense of community
--Economic vitality
--Effective transportation and mobility
--Stewardship of the natural and built environment
--A safe community
--Culture, recreation and learning opportunities

At the workshop I attended, city staff broke participants into small groups, dedicated to one of the above goals. Participants in the small group were then invited to brainstorm their ideas about how the city can meet that particular goal.

I was in the economic vitality group, and participants first shared what they appreciate about Walnut Creek and then ideas for how they would define an economically vital community. Some of the responses for defining economic vitality included: no empty storefronts, good schools, a thriving downtown core, plenty of arts, culture and recreational opportunities, balance of local and chain businesses, affordable housing for people who work in Walnut Creek.

There was also mention of needing a city leadership that listens to its residents. This remark came from a resident who felt that city leaders didn't listen to residents during the initial debate about the Neiman Marcus project. Another participant, a local business leader, also raised the Neiman Marcus issue, by saying that the city needs to be free of outside influences. He was referring to the Michigan-based developer Taubman, which has funded petition drives and lawsuits to oppose the construction of a Neiman Marcus in Broadway Plaza.

If you don't make it tonight, you can still participate in Step 2 of these conversations. Step 2, to take place later this fall, is "dedicated to weighting the goals and their subgoals to determine whether some are more important at this time than others." More information for Step 2 is forthcoming.

You need to register for tonight's event by call ing (925) 256-3505 or by e-mailing community@walnut-creek.org.