RIP, I guess: Citizens for Walnut Creek, the town's notable slow-growth advocates

Citizens for a Better Walnut Creek was a political group that, in the 1980s helped establish building heights limits in Walnut Creek. It also created the group, Residents and Advocates for More Parking and Reduced Traffic (RAMPART), that unsuccessfully tried to block the recent proposed Neiman Marcus department store in Broadway Plaza.

The Contra Costa Times reports that the group, “best known for spurring slow growth measures in the 1980s and 1990s, has officially closed its political campaign account with Walnut Creek — and, by extension, with the state.”

The group has told the Times that is no longer has dues-paying members but that the “core group is still there” and is ready to “mobilize if needed.” This is according to co-founder Ed Skoog, also a former mayor.

For example, the group had some money “sitting there for a long time” and decided to donate $600 to the Lindsay Wildlife Museum.

Citizens for a Better Walnut Creek, formed in 1984, is “perhaps best known for bringing about Measure A in 1985,” the Times Elisabeth Nardi reports. “Measure A placed limits on building heights in Walnut Creek, basically freezing heights at then-existing levels.”

The Times adds:

While Citizens for a Better Walnut Creek have legally disbanded, don't count them out. "We are still alive," said Skoog. "We are not going gung-ho on anything in particular right now, but as issues come, you will see our flag flying."

Making it through? Highlights of Walnut Creek’s budget reflects economic challenges, successes

The City Council is expected to adopt its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the 2009 fiscal year (which ended June 30) at itsTuesday night meeting.

The 188-page document highlights the challenges the city faced last year, and will continue to face this year. It also notes ideas for tackling those challenges, as well as some successes that might surprise some residents, particularly on the question of that “damn library” and whether investing in arts and recreation is good for the city.

I tried to pick through all its pages, but since I’m not a budget and finance person I may have missed some interesting little details. Feel free to pore through this document yourself and add or dispute what I found to be highlights. Basically:

THE BOTTOM LINE:
The reports says:

Almost all City revenues have declined substantially since the adoption of the 2008-10 operating Budget in June 2008. Sales tax revenue in fiscal year 2008-2009 was $18.5 million, a decrease of 8 percent over the amount received in the prior year primarily due to the slowdown in auto and retail markets. Together with declines in property tax revenue and fees and charges collected by the city for services, total revenues were approximately $4 million below initial projections for 2008-09 and are expected to finish $9 million below initial projections for 2009-10.

Total Revenues: "$82 million, of which $27 million were derived from Governmental Activities, $2 million were derived from Business-type Activities and $53 million from General Revenues Existing reserves were used to cover an additional $1 million of expenditures."

Total Expenses: "$83 million, of which Governmental Activities incurred $81 million and Business-type Activities incurred $2 million (see tables 2 and 5 for additional information)."

SOME SURPRISING, OR NOT SO SURPRISING, HIGHLIGHTS

That “Damn Library.” Sorry, library supporters, I’m not taking any position on the library when I refer to it this way. I’m just honoring readers, for whom referring to it this way, has become something of a Crazy inside joke.

Anyway, the news about this budgeted $42 million project. Despite concerns, controversies, etc., the city expects to complete its new library on time and within budget. The city has so far spent around $23 million, and has $17 million left to spend.

Surprise No. 2: Arts and recreation are good, very good, for Walnut Creek: In a year when revenues declined in most areas (sales, property tax, state revenues, including vehicle license fees, and city license and permit fees), one sector proved to be a money-maker: Arts and recreation.

Sure, the city’s spending on arts and recreation increased $324,000, or 2 percent, from the previous year. This was due to increased salaries and benefit and other costs. And the city had to pour money into arts and recreation because more people were taking Civic Arts and recreation classes and going to see shows at the Lesher Center.

Notably, ticket sales at the Lesher Center, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, continued strong, bucking the trend of other performing arts organizations hurting in tough economic Times. Charges for tickets and fees for classes and other programs increased $249,000 from the prior year.

Not such a surprise: The other money maker. Increased parking rates at meters also helped bring in an additional $233,000 (5%) from the previous year.

GOING FORWARD

In 2010 and beyond, the goals include:

• Continuing to enhance the vitality of downtown
• Oversee a comprehensive cost allocation, fees and charges study
• Adopt the Locust Street / Mount Diablo Boulevard Area Specific Plan
• Complete review of the BART Transit Center Village and Neiman Marcus projects
•  Implement parking pay stations in the downtown
• Finishing that new library and parking garage.
• Do reconstruction on Geary Road.
• Work on a retaining wall for Rudgear Road Retaining Wall
• Conduct a needs assessment for Heather Farm Swim Center

Maybe the economy is getting better? December retail sales surge

I keep hearing that the economy is getting better...

I've also been wondering how Walnut Creek's retail scene did this holiday season.  Don't have any specifics on how Walnut Creek itself did, but here's a report from the Washington Post that says that retailers enjoyed a better-than-expected holiday season "as rising consumer confidence" and last-minute shopping sprees pushed sales higher in December. 


The Post cites a report from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), a trade group that found that, in looking at three dozen of the country's biggest chains, sales at established stores increased an average of 2.8 percent in December from a year ago. And sales for the last two months of the year jumped 1.8 percent, compared with a record 5.6 percent drop in 2008--marking the strongest holiday performance in three years. The ICSC had forecast only a 1 percent increase.

Several retailers with locations in Walnut Creek enjoyed a better-than-expected season. Macy's sales rose 1 percent in December, helped by strong online sales. Nordstrom Inc. is also in this list, with a key sales figure rising 7.4 percent.


Oh, and even though it hasn't come to Walnut Creek yet, Dallas-based retailer Neiman Marcus saw sales rise 4.5 percent in December, says Business Week.