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Friday, July 25, 2025 | What’s Doing in Lafayette?

News From the City Manager’s Corner

This week’s updates from City Manager, Niroop Srivatsa highlight: 

• Welcome Councilmember Stella Wotherspoon
• Take a Sneak Peak at Fall Recreation Classes – Registration Starts on August 3
• Plan to Join Us on August 5 for National Night Out
• Review of Final Mural Design at Upcoming Public Art Committee Meeting
• Roadwork Advisories:
  • St. Mary’s Road repaving (City)
  • Upper Happy Valley Road sewer replacement (Central San)
  • Reliez Valley Road (waterline replacement (EBMUD)

Welcome Councilmember Stella Wotherspoon

As mentioned last week, the City Council unanimously selected Stella Wotherspoon to fill the unexpected vacancy on the City Council. Wotherspoon will serve until the next regularly scheduled municipal election in November 2026.

In her application, Stella Wotherspoon said, “I came to Lafayette in 2012 with my family, drawn by the schools, the natural beauty, the walkable downtown, and the civic-minded, engaged community. I place high value on service to my community and have been a lifelong volunteer.”

Wotherspoon has served on the City’s Transportation and Circulation Commission (since 2019) with a focus on transportation network effectiveness and road safety. She has also served on the General Plan Advisory Committee (since 2021) and contributed to the Housing and Safety Element updates. In addition to her City service, she has served on community boards and committees:

• Measure H Citizens' Campaign Committee – Co-Chair 2024
• Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters - Board Member 2022 to present
• Lafayette Partners in Education - Board Member 2023-2024
• Acalanes High School’s School Advisory Council 2023-2024

Mayor Susan Candell said, "It was a pleasure to interview the outstanding candidates for City Council, but it was clear that Stella Wotherspoon was the most qualified based on her grasp of the current issues facing the city, as well as her deep understanding of how our government works here in Lafayette.  She is the only candidate that can hit the ground running, which is essential since there is no time for training as she is sworn in immediately upon this appointment.  She will truly be a welcome addition on our Council." 

Wotherspoon has a master's degree in Geography/Geospatial Information Systems from San Jose State University and has worked as a higher education capital campaign officer, product manager in software technology firms, and geospatial data analyst in the public sector. She enjoys hiking Lafayette’s many nature trails as well as going on walks in downtown Lafayette with her family.

Take a Sneak Peak at Fall Recreation Classes – Registration Starts Next Sunday, August 3

Can you believe how quickly summer went by? Kids are about to return to school, registration for Fall recreation classes will begin on Sunday, August 3 at noon. We have programs for all ages and interests. Watch for the Lafayette Recreation Fall Rec Guide in your mailbox soon, and in the meantime, check out our classes and create your wish list for easy registration at visit www.Lafayetterec.org or click on the image below.

Plan to Join Us on Tuesday, August 5 for National Night Out

The Lafayette Police Department will participate in the annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5 from 5 to 7 pm at the Lafayette Community Center – Pickle Ball Court Area (500 St. Mary’s Road, Lafayette). This community-building event brings residents and first responders together to strengthen neighborhood spirit and enhance public safety partnerships.

The City of Lafayette's Emergency Preparedness and Crime Prevention Commissions will have a booth providing information and resources on how to keep our community safe and resilient. Attendees can also enjoy a hands-on fingerprinting presentation and a drone demonstration. The event is free to attend. Please plan to stop by and say hello!

Review of Final Mural Design at Upcoming Public Art Committee Meeting

The Public Art Committee (PAC) invites you to attend its upcoming meeting on Wednesday, August 6 at 4pm in Conference Room 240 at the City Offices (3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd.).

At this meeting, the PAC will review the final mural design for the downtown mural project. The committee has worked closely with ABG Art Group, who collaborated with artist Rachel Perls through several thoughtful design iterations. The resulting proposal reflects valuable input from the property owners and the broader community.

Come learn more about the mural and see how community voices and artistic vision have come together in this exciting public art initiative.

City Meetings & Events  

City Council Meeting on July 28 Cancelled

Monday night’s meeting has been cancelled. The Public Hearing adopting amendments to Title 6 of the Lafayette Municipal Code has been continued to the August 11, 2025 City Council meeting. Meeting information is available at www.lovelafayette.org/calendar

Top Meeting This Week

Design Review Commission  – July 28 at 7pm

See the full meeting calendar. To receive email or text notifications when the meeting agendas are posted, please subscribe using the e-notifications tool on the City's website.

Save the Date! Closing Reception for Summer Exhibitions at the Lafayette Library

 Join the City of Lafayette’s Public Art Committee for a special artist reception on Monday, August 11 from 5 to 6:30pm celebrating the close of our 2025 summer exhibitions. This community event will bring together all three exhibiting artists and offer guests the opportunity to enjoy their work across the Library’s gallery spaces—accompanied by light refreshments and great conversation in the Community Hall.

This season’s exhibitions feature three distinct voices exploring themes of memory, transformation, and resilience:

• Aaron Argandona – Echoes of Innovation: Past Creations Rediscovered (in the Homework Center) Intricate ink drawings breathe new life into forgotten inventions.
• Marianne McCraney – This Side Up: Watercolors About the Pandemic (in the Community Hall) Photorealistic paintings of delivered packages reflect on isolation and adaptation.
• Alice Lasky – POETRY.ART.CLAY (in the Display Case) Ceramic works blend poetry and form to explore emotional and personal change.

Exhibitions remain on view through August 24. Don’t miss this chance to meet the artists and celebrate another inspiring summer of public art in Lafayette.

Updates on Major Roadwork Projects

Please drive with caution and obey all traffic control signs and instructions from flaggers in construction zones.

City Road Paving on St. Mary’s Road

Next week, our contractor will continue work on St. Mary’s Road adjusting manholes and gas valves to the new pavement grade. During this work, a lane closure will be in place. Please plan for a 5-minute delay in your travel time. We expect roadwork on St. Mary’s Road should wrap up in mid-September. Please check our website for the Project Update for full details.

Central San’s Sewer Replacement Work on Upper Happy Valley Road

Next week, Central San’s contractor will continue work on Upper Happy Valley Road with traffic detoured via Happy Valley Road, Mt Diablo Blvd. and El Nido. Please refer to message boards in the area for the most up to date information. For more details about Central San’s Lafayette Sewer Renovation Project, Phase 15, visit www.centralsan.org/construction-zones or email Chris Carpenter with Central San.

EBMUD Roadwork on Reliez Valley Road & Vaughn Road

Next week on Reliez Valley Road, EBMUD crews will be flushing the new pipes along Reliez Valley Road with large volumes of water to ensure water is clean and safe; They also plan to do roadwork on Vaughn Rad, and possibly Johnson Road / Shangri-La.  Reliez Valley Road will continue to be closed to through-traffic on weekdays and drivers will continue to be detoured onto Withers Avenue and Taylor Boulevard. Expect some delays. For more information about the project visit the Reliez Valley Road Pipeline Replacement Project webpage or contact EMBUD Community Affairs at 510-287-2053.

Other Community News & Events

Contra Costa Health Officers Urge Families to Prioritize Immunizations in Back-to-School Preparations

As children and families across the Bay Area prepare for the upcoming school year, Contra Costa Health (CCH) joins Bay Area health officials in urging everyone to make sure their back-to-school checklist starts with getting their child vaccinated. Vaccines are safe, effective and a routine part of preventive health care. They protect against serious diseases such as measles, pertussis (also known as whooping cough) and polio. Read more about immunizations.

Recreate Tonight and Sunday!

All Ages Recreation Downtown is hosting two opportunities for you to play downtown this weekend:

• Tonight: Plaza Nights (Friday): All Ages Play from 4 to 8pm at Lafayette Plaza, including lawn games, crafts, activity tables
• Sunday: Lamorinda Arts Council Art Workshop, All Day Lawn Games: A free, fun, family-friendly day this Sunday, July 27. Stop by between 11am and 6pm in the parklet at the Oak Bridge Parking Lot at 3501 Golden Gate Way (corner of 1st Street)

News from the Lafayette Chamber

• Watch this Morning’s "Coffee" with Mayor Susan Candell: If you missed the virtual “Coffee” you can watch the recording on the Lafayette Chamber's YouTube Channel. 
• Lafayette Chamber Mixer and Vendor Fair on Wednesday: Meet local business owners/managers at an evening of networking, community connection, and local business discovery on Wednesday, July 30 from 5 to 7 pm. Free for Chamber Members; $20 Guest Fee for non-members. Register in advance at lafayettechamber.org/mixer

Last Week of Summer SWELL

Tweens and Teens (12-18 years old) can hang out, make crafts, eat free food, and listen to music at Summer SWELL weekdays 11:30am to 3pm at the library. The last day is Friday, August 1. Learn about all library programs – including special summer programs for kids - by subscribing to LLLCF’s weekly program newsletter.

Caldecott Tunnel Overnight Bore Closures Maintenance Work Nightly July 28 to 31

Caltrans has scheduled overnight closures of the Caldecott Tunnel on westbound SR-24 for routine inspections and maintenance, Monday, July 28 through Thursday, July 31, from 10pm to 4:30am each night. At least one bore each in each direction will remain open during nightly work. For more information about D4 Projects, visit: Caltrans D4 Current Projects

Talk about Prohibition in Lamorinda This Thursday

Join the Lafayette Historical Society for a presentation by Leslie Crenna on local temperance leaders, law enforcement, and the saloons, resorts, moonshiners, and “blind pigs” they shut down. The presentation will be held at the Lafayette Library in the Don Tatzin Community Hall (3491 Mount Diablo Blvd) on July 31. Doors open at 6:30pm. Presentation and questions: 7 to 8:30 pm. For more information or to share your family's stories and photos, contact lesliecrenna@gmail.com.

Diablo Women's Chorale Seeks New Members – Auditions begin in August

Auditions for the Diablo Women's Chorale (DWC) Fall 2025 season begin on Monday, August 4, and full rehearsals begin on Monday, August 11, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 3051 Putnam Blvd in Pleasant Hill. For more information and the registration form, please visit www.diablowomenschorale.org/singers-wanted.

Call For Artists: “For The Love Of Art” Fall Exhibition at the Orinda Library Art Gallery

The Lamorinda Art Council invites all local and regional artists who make 2-D and 3-D artwork by August 14. Learn more on the LAC website.

Take the Contra Costa Television Survey

Help CCTV serve you better by taking a brief survey about where you get your local news and what information you need from the County.  Contra Costa Television broadcasts special events, government meetings, and produced shows on channels Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse 99, and Astound 32 & 1027. Learn more on CCTV’s website.

Looking for more upcoming happenings around town?

Visit the Chamber’s Community Events Calendar online.

Miscellaneous

Reminder to Businesses: On April 1, 2025, the sales tax rate in Lafayette increased to 9.25%. Resources for businesses that collect sales tax are available on the City’s website at www.lovelafayette.org/MeasureH including:

• District Taxes, what is taxable, and other information
• Current tax rate lookup tool
• Contact information for the CDTFA Oakland Office
• Background on the voter-approved sales tax increase to fund City services (Measure H)

Small Actions Matter! It’s not too late to take the Plastic-Free July Pledge: The Environmental Task Force encourages everyone to participate in Plastic Free July. Download a pledgecard at www.plasticfreejuly.org (or create your own!) and then post a selfie on social media including #PlasticFreePledge and #LoveLafayette and tagging @PlasticFreeJuly and @LoveLafayette

Know Your Rights Regarding ICE: Read resources compiled on Stand Together Contra Costa’s website and the County’s Employment & Human Services Department website.

Lamorinda School Bus Passes: School Starts Aug. 12 for public schools in Lafayette - Register online at www.lamorindaschoolbus.org to purchase a bus pass for your student.

Unlock up to $15,000 in Rebates for Building a New ADU: Lafayette homeowners who obtain permits and finish construction of an ADU between July 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 may be eligible for a rebate through the ADU Accelerator Program.

Last Call! East Bay Regional Park District Survey Closes July 31: Take their survey at www.ebparks.org/district-plan.

Curious about Development Around Town? Information on major planning projects can be found on the Major Development Projects webpage.  You can navigate the map or scroll through the list of projects in the sidebar. Projects are populated to the page after submission of a complete application and the project is heading into the review process.  If you are interested in large and small project applications submitted to the Planning Department, visit the Planning Applications Received webpage.

Sign up to receive City notifications: Sign up for meeting agendas and Lafayette’s publications at bit.ly/LafayetteNotifications. Also, find out how to follow us on social media at https://www.lovelafayette.org/connect

Contact Us: To contact a City Department or Staff member, refer to our online Staff Directory. For information on contacting an individual City Council member, see the City Council webpage. You may also email the entire City Council at cityhall@lovelafayette.org. Comments regarding a City Council agenda item should be sent to cityhall@lovelafayette.org  by noon on the day of the public meeting.  Comments received by noon on the day of the meeting will be included as part of the agenda packet, while those received after the deadline will be distributed to the Council on the following business day.

Cultural Observations and Celebrations

Celebrate our diversity by learning more about these upcoming cultural observations and celebrations!

The City Council has passed a proclamation honoring the 75th Anniversary of Lamorinda Arts Council.

Photo for the Week

What activities have you enjoyed locally this summer? Share your photos of fun summertime things to do with us via email to socialmedia@lovelafayette.org or on Facebook and Instagram at @lovelafayette

Quote for the Week

Fresh air is as good for the mind as for the body. Nature always seems trying to talk to us as if she had some great secret to tell. And so she has.

 –John Lubbock

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The Weekly Roundup is prepared for the Lafayette Community, City Council and Staff. If you have thoughts about this week’s Roundup, a contribution for a future edition or a photo to be considered for the “Photo of the Week”, please email the City of Lafayette's Communications Analyst/Public Information Officer, Suzanne Iarla.

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