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The Weekly Roundup, October 24, 2025

Post Date:10/24/2025 3:23 PM

The Weekly Roundup, October 24, 2025

Friday, October 24, 2025 | What’s Doing in Lafayette?

News From the City Manager’s Corner

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

Change to Buckeye Fields Proposed
Help Shape Lafayette’s Future Nature Park
Do you Have Experience in Finance? Consider Joining the New Measure H Oversight Committee
New California Building Code Goes into Effect January 1
City Council Meeting Monday Night

City Council to Consider Proposed Change to Buckeye Fields

On Monday night (October 27), the City Council will consider modifications to one of the infields at Buckeye Fields to bring it into compliance with the state’s gender-equity law--the Fair Play in Community Sports Act (AB 2404).

The full staff report (including FAQ) goes into more details, but here’s a summary if the topic is new to you:

Currently, the City’s most amenity‐rich athletic complex, Buckeye Fields, features two grass infields with permanent baseball mounds, making them unsuitable for regulation-level girls’ softball play. The staff report outlines three options that were considered by the Parks, Trails & Recreation (PTR) Commission:

remove the grass infield and install a 70/30 dirt mix infield ($12K–20K)
replace the entire infield with synthetic turf ($187K–221K); or
remove just the permanent pitching mound and retain the grass surface (<$5 K) as an interim fix.

At their August meeting, the PTR Commission approved Option 1 (the 70/30 dirt mix) as the most feasible within the City’s budgeted allocation and the most immediately effective path to compliance. Based on a request from Lafayette Little League, the Mayor placed a reconsideration of the item on the upcoming Council meeting agenda. Staff has recommended that the Council uphold the PTR Commission’s decision, approve the recommendation and direct the work to be completed ahead of the Spring 2026 baseball/softball season.

See the agenda link below for more information about how to participate in this meeting.

Join the Conversation: Help Shape Lafayette’s Future Nature Park

The City of Lafayette invites community members to participate in a public workshop for the Hamlin Nature Park this Wednesday, October 29 at 6pm in the Elderberry Room at the Lafayette Community Center (500 St. Mary’s Road).

The Hamlin Parkland Subcommittee, together with environmental consultants from WRA, Inc., will present draft trail concepts and amenity ideas for the 19-acre open space at 3333 Hamlin Road. Attendees will have an opportunity to review potential trail alignments, access points, and interpretive features, and to share their thoughts on how this new nature park can best serve the Lafayette community.

Hamlin Nature Park is envisioned as a place for residents to explore native habitats, connect with nature, and enjoy scenic views of Lafayette’s hillsides. Learn more about the project and its history at www.lovelafayette.org/hamlinnaturepark.

Do you Have Experience in Finance? Consider Joining the New Measure H Oversight Committee

The Measure H Oversight Committee is a new body created with the voter’s approval of the Measure H 1/2c Sales Tax. The Committee will review revenue and expenditures annually and make a report to the City Council and community with their finding regarding the use of expenditures to maintain City services, as well as proper accounting and reporting for the tax revenue and expenditures. This Committee will only meet on an as-needed basis a few times each year to review the budget and the comprehensive financial audit.

We’re looking for five Lafayette residents who have experience/background in at least one of the following areas to apply to serve on the Committee:

Professional work in the public or non-profit finance sector
Professional work in the private finance sector including banking
Experience running a local business
Degree in finance or economics
Professional work in accounting or auditing
Community leadership

If the Measure H Oversight Committee doesn’t suit your interests, perhaps one of these other Commissions and Committees might be a good fit for you:

Visit www.lovelafayette.org/volunteers or call the City Clerk’s Office for more information about becoming an advisory body member!

New California Building Code Goes into Effect January 1

The updated California Building Code will go into effect on January 1, 2026. In order for your project to be reviewed by the County under the current code, a building permit must be submitted to the County before January 1, 2026, so please make every effort to submit your building permit to Lafayette Planning for review as early as possible, such as October or November 2025.

As usual, all applicable building permits must be reviewed and approved by the City of Lafayette prior to submittal to the County. Planning staff are expecting a high volume of building permits to be submitted at the end of 2025 and cannot guarantee review in time for submittal to County prior to 2026. So, if you know you will be submitting a building permit in 2025 and would like it to be reviewed under the old code, please don’t wait until December to submit your building permit to Lafayette Planning for review. The City of Lafayette will close our administrative offices between Christmas and New Year’s Day and we cannot guarantee that staff will be reviewing permits during that time.

City Meetings & Events

City Council Meeting

The City Council meeting on Monday night starts early with a closed session at 6pm. The open session starts at 7pm and includes:

Introduction of new Senior Engineer, Laurie Sucgang
Update by Assistant Chief Chris Bachman, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (aka Contra Costa Fire)
Approval of the public art proposal for Binary Wall / Datum Line (consisting of three cast bronze panels) by Clay Jensen for the Blue Oak residential project at 950 Hough Avenue.
Fund allocation to complete the fabrication and installation of Dandelion Seeds by Kinematics Lab, the previously-approved public art sculptural installation at the south entrance of the Lafayette BART station that will serve at the centerpiece of the City’s gateway to downtown.
Direct Staff to proceed with removal of one existing grass infield at Buckeye Fields and replacement with a 70/30 infield mix in time for use during the Spring 2026 baseball/softball season. (Mentioned above)

See the full agenda for the staff reports as well as information about how to participate in or watch the meeting. Information is also available at www.lovelafayette.org/calendar

Other Top Meetings This Week

Design Review Commission - Oct. 27 at 7pm
Crime Prevention Commission - Oct. 28 at 6pm
Hamlin Parkland Workshop - Oct. 29 at 6pm (mentioned above)

More information is available at www.lovelafayette.org/calendar

Lafayette Chamber Events Downtown Tonight and Saturday

Trick or Treat Street – 4 to 6pm tonight. This event is free and recommended for children 9 and under.
Witch Way to Mocktails – Saturday, October 25: Wear witch hats, witch costumes or Halloween costumes and sample signature mocktails at participating Lafayette retail stores from 11am to 3pm. Enter to win one of two gift baskets, no purchase necessary.

Spooky Walk this Weekend

Join the Lafayette Youth Commission for some spooky fun on the trail behind the Community Center this Saturday (October 25) and Sunday (October 26). Pre-registration required, so get your tickets in advance. Choose from:

Not Too Scary 5 to 6:30pm
VERY Scary 7:30 to 9 pm (recommended for ages 7 and up)

Daylight Savings Time Ends Next Weekend

Daylight Savings Time Ends at 2am on Sunday, November 2. Changing your clocks is also a good time to test your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Be sure to change replaceable batteries if needed. Smoke alarms save lives! Working smoke detectors alert you more quickly in the event of a fire and provide you and your loved ones more time to escape safely.

Roadwork Projects

Continuing projects are wrapping up!

Central San Work in Roadway on Moraga Road & Nemea Lane continues through October 31. Motorists are advised to use St. Mary's Road to avoid delays. Lane closures will take place between 9am and 2:30 weekdays. Residents with questions about construction impacts or general project information should call Chris Carpenter at Central San at (925) 229-7200.

EBMUD Roadwork in Reliez Valley neighborhood – continues with crews working on Kim Rd. There may be minor lane closures on Reliez Valley Road at times, so expect some travel delays. Since EBMUD’s upcoming work on this project is on private streets, we’ll pause these updates until the work has more significant impacts to through traffic.
Central San’s Sewer Replacement Work – continues with finishing touches. They plan to do lane striping early next week (possibly Monday) on Upper Happy Valley, Moraga Blvd and Monroe Ave.

Slow for the cone zone! Please drive with caution and obey all traffic control signs and instructions in construction zones.

Other Community News & Events

Events Happening at Town Hall Theatre

Crying Uncle - Saturday, October 25 at 7pm - Use FLASH20 for $20 tickets at https://www.townhalltheatre.com/crying-uncle. Widely recognized as one of the most exciting young bands in acoustic music, Crying Uncle has captivated audiences across the U.S. and abroad with their adventurous mix of bluegrass, Dawg (David Grisman music), jazz, and modern originals. Opening the evening, The DulciMates. Deborah “DJ” Hamouris and Buffalo create music using two mountain dulcimers and two voices, producing four-part harmonies.

The Peter Pan Foundation’s Halloween Cabaret And Cabernet on Sunday October 26 at 7pm - Sip on wine and festive drinks, then enjoy a dazzling open-mic style evening with boo-tiful performances from members of the PPF family! Costumes are encouraged for all performers and audience members! Lobby opens at 6pm for drinks and pre-show mingle - Show starts at 7pm. Get tickets at ticketstripe.com/HallowCab25. For questions, please contact ppfmagic@peterpanfoundation.org.

You can be a part of the magic and help Town Hall Theatre reach their fundraising goal of $200,000 by July 2026 by giving a one-time or monthly contribution.

Deadline for the County’s 48th Annual Humanitarian of the Year Nominations is Next Friday

Each year, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors’ Humanitarian of the Year award recognizes a high school student and an adult who bring people together, act for justice, and inspire others to make positive changes, whether through community work, advocacy, mentorship, or everyday acts of kindness. Read more on the nominations process at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ceremony webpage. All nominations are due by October 31st.

Friends Corner Book Shop is Having a Half-Price Sale!

Saturday, November 1, every book in the shop will be 50% off. Shop hours are 10am to 4pm. Proceeds from the Friends Corner Book Shop supports the collection, programs, and services of the Lafayette Library.

Debrief and Destress on Election Night: Wajahat Ali at the Lafayette Library

In moments of political uncertainty, how do we remain unified? Join acclaimed speaker and writer, Wajahat Ali, at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center for a timely conversation on the fragility of democracy, his work fighting racism and extremism, and how ordinary citizens can resist authoritarianism. Ali is highly regarded among peers like Heather Cox Richardson and Katie Couric and will be in conversation with local journalist and political spokesperson Gil Duran on November 4. Learn more about this event on the Foundation’s website.

Be the first to know about all library programs by subscribing to their weekly program newsletter. The Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation provides more than $1million in annual funding for the Library. Support your library and its enriching programs.

Get your Tickets Now for Lafayette Chamber's 46^th Annual Community Thanksgiving Breakfast

Join the Chamber for this annual event filled with inspiration and gratitude that highlights the power of design, compassion, and community collaboration. Hear a presentation by Sunflower Hill on Designing Dignity – Inclusive Housing for Neurodivergent Communities

Explore the transformative vision behind Sunflower Hill at 949 Moraga Road, Lafayette's upcoming Permanent Supportive Housing project —a pioneering development designed to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Representatives from Sunflower Hill, a visionary 501(c)(3) nonprofit co-developing affordable and inclusive housing since 2012, will share how thoughtful architecture, supportive services, and genuine community partnership can redefine what home means for everyone.

Businesses, organizations, residents and community leaders are invited on Tuesday, November 18 for breakfast at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center from 7 to 8:30am. Please note: this year we are meeting on Tuesday morning! Please use this Registration link Cost is $45. More information is at lafayettechamber.org/breakfast

Mapping Prejudice Project Needs Volunteers!

The Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is seeking volunteers, ages 16 and up, to assist with the Mapping Prejudice Project, a community initiative to identify and map racially restrictive covenants in local property records. In partnership with the University of Minnesota’s Mapping Prejudice program, the project supports California’s AB 1466, which requires the removal of discriminatory language from property deeds. Volunteers can participate remotely, helping review records to uncover and document this history of housing discrimination. The effort aims not only to comply with the law but also to promote education, awareness, and community healing around the legacy of racial exclusion in housing. Watch the training video. If you have questions, email volunteers@cr.cccounty.us

Looking for more upcoming happenings around town?

Visit the Chamber’s Community Events Calendar online.

Miscellaneous

Watch this Morning’s "Coffee" with Mayor Susan Candell: If you missed this morning’s webinar hosted by the Lafayette Chamber, you can watch the recording on the Chamber's YouTube Channel.

See Results and Photos from the Res Run for Education: Last Sunday, along with the Chamber, we welcomed more than 2,000 people to downtown Lafayette. You can check out the race results, school fundraiser challenge winners and see photos from the event on the Chamber’s Lafayette Reservoir Run for Education webpage.

Know Your Rights Regarding ICE: Read resources compiled by the County’s Employment & Human Services Department and Stand Together Contra Costa. Stand Together Contra Costa’s Rapid Response hotline is 925-900-5151.

Is Your Neighborhood Firewise? Every year millions of homes across the United States are at risk of being impacted by a wildfire. The primary threats to these homes are embers—burning pieces of wood and/or vegetation that are carried away from the main fire by wind—and small flames from surface fire carried directly to the home. Learn the steps you and your neighbors can take to help protect your property from wildfire by joining Firewise. Refer to our new interactive map to see if your neighborhood is already participating!

Reduced ADU Development Impact Fees: The City has temporarily reduced the development impact fees charged for new Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) by 50% through 2026. And, if you finish construction by September 30, 2026, you may be eligible for a rebate through the ADU Accelerator Program. Learn more about all the current incentives.

Discover Lafayette Artists on Instagram: Follow and like our new account @LoveLafayetteArtists and use the hashtag #LoveLafayetteArtists in your Instagram posts about local art and artists!

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 proclaimed September 15 to October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month and the month of October as Global Diversity Awareness Month.

31 Halloween

Photo for the Week

The City of Lafayette stands firm in our commitment to being a welcoming, inclusive, tolerant, and safe community for all. You can download your own United Against Hate poster at www.lovelafayette.org/deib

Quote for the Week

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.

- Mark Twain

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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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