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Friday, December 19, 2025 | What’s Doing in Lafayette?

Edited 4:55pm (typo corrected)

News From the City Manager’s Corner

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

• Register for Tiny Tots Preschool
• Need a Last-Minute Gift? Give them the Experience of Shopping Locally!
• Single-Use Plastics: A Growing Problem Lafayette Can Help Solve
• Upcoming Programs for Seniors
• E-bike and E-scooter Injuries on the Rise
• Be Prepared for Wet Weather
• Quiz Time! Departmental Accomplishments by the Numbers
• Lafayette Planning Commission Recommends Updates to Building Design Standards
• New California Building & Fire Codes Go into Effect January 1
• Drop off Donations of Non-Perishable Foods on Monday
• Volunteer for the 2026 Contra Costa Homeless Point in Time Count
• Year-End Office Closure

If you have feedback for us about these topics, send an email to lafayettelistens@lovelafayette.org.

Register for Tiny Tots Preschool

Registration is open for the upcoming 2026–2027 School Year. We offer programs for children ages 2.4 to 3.5 years and 3.6 to 5+ years (Pre-Kindergarten). Our credentialed lead teachers are highly qualified in early childhood education and share a genuine love for teaching and children. Tiny Tots has proudly served the community for over 36 years, fostering lifelong learners and friendships. Visit www.lovelafayette.org/tinytots for more details. 

Need a Last-Minute Gift? Give them the Experience of Shopping Locally!

You can still purchase a Lafayette Shop Local eCard that can be redeemed at the following local businesses:

• Batch and Brine
• Catherine's Goldsmithing Designs, Inc.
• Elizabeth Hair Design
• First Mile Cycle Works
• Five Little Monkeys
• Gillham Fitness
• Hank & Frank Bicycles
• Harper Greer
• Headlands Brewing
• Lafayette Acupuncture & Functional Medicine
• Lafayette Car Wash
• Lafayette Park Hotel – including the Spa & the Park Bistro
• Lamorinda Music
• Locanda Positano
• Millie's American Kitchen
• One Stop Shoe Care
• Pillar Cowork
• Reasonable Books
• SanctuaireMD
• Sharp Bicycle
• Skin Soup Spa
• Swad Indian Cuisine
• The Rising Loafer Cafe and Bakery
• Wax A Peel
• Whimsy Kidz
• Zoonie's Candy, Gelato, Toy and Novelty Shop

More information on the program is available on our website.

Single-Use Plastics: A Growing Problem Lafayette Can Help Solve

If you’ve walked the Lafayette-Moraga Trail or downtown after a busy weekend, you’ve likely seen the growing problem: take-out cups, lids, utensils, and wrappers. Across California, single-use food packaging is now one of the largest sources of pollution. A Bay Area study found 67% of litter comes from take-out food and drink—most of it plastic.

Because fewer than 9% of plastics are recycled, much of this waste ends up in landfills or the environment, where it breaks into microplastics that contaminate soil, water, wildlife, and even human bodies.

To address this, the state passed SB 54, requiring major reductions in single-use packaging and shifting responsibility onto producers. Many Bay Area cities now require reusable or truly compostable foodware for dine-in service and limit disposables to “upon request.”

Lafayette is exploring similar solutions. The Environmental Task Force (ETF) aims to raise awareness among local restaurants about practical ways to reduce unnecessary waste. To learn more, visit the EFT’s webpage. Take a survey and provide us with your input. 

Upcoming Programs for Seniors

Lafayette Senior Services has launched its Winter 2026 programming with a focus on community wellness, safety, and social connection. Below are some of the upcoming programs & services:

• Health & Wellness: Offerings include evidence-based safety and mobility classes, such as the On The Move Fall Prevention Exercise class beginning on Jan. 5 and A Matter of Balance course starting in early April. Get some steps in with the Wednesday Bird Walk group or the Res Walk group that meets up three times a week. Join in on low-impact movement with the Front of Body Opening Movement class or Ba Duan Jin.
• Social & Interest Groups: Regular social activities include the Men's Senior Social Group, meeting the first and third Thursday of every month starting January 15. Weekly Tea Dancing also takes place on Wednesdays from 11:30am to 1:30pm at the Community Center. As The Page Turns Book Club meets on Zoom the third Tuesday of each month.
• Educational Resources: The AARP Smart Driver 4-hour refresher course, scheduled for Jan. 14, will help seniors refine defensive driving skills and potentially lower insurance premiums. Join us for a presentation on what you need to know about Advance Health Care Directives and Powers of Attorney with Contra Costa Senior Legal Services on March 4.
• Support Services: Free legal and HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) counseling remain available by appointment for assistance with Medicare and long-term care or simple legal issues. To set an appointment, call HICAP at (925) 655-1393 or Contra Costa Senior Legal Services at (925) 609-7900. Seniors can also access free one-to-one counseling through Contra Costa Health Services Senior Peer Counseling for help coping with life changes. Set up an appointment by calling them at (925) 521-5653.
• SWELL Center: The Senior Wellness (SWELL) Center in partnership with Lamorinda Village, offers drop-in hours for games, coffee, and social interaction at the Lafayette Library. Drop by Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays (holidays excluded) from 10am to Noon. Wednesdays will be for Mah Jong (Chinese and American sets available, but no instruction provided).

For the 2026 calendar year, annual senior membership is available for $15 per person, while seniors aged 90 and older receive free membership. To register for specific classes, visit www.lafayetterec.org or contact us at seniors@lovelafayette.org or (925) 284-5050. 

E-bike and E-scooter Injuries on the Rise

Electric bicycles (e-bikes) and e-scooters are increasingly popular modes of transportation and recreation, especially in the Bay Area, but their popularity is leading to serious and sometimes fatal injuries. Over the past year, the John Muir Health Trauma Center has treated double the number of injuries to e-bike and e-scooter riders, as well as pedestrians hit by them, compared to the previous year. The types of neurological and orthopedic injuries sustained are much closer to those often associated with motorcycle accidents than to those on non-motorized bicycles.

The most prominent age groups suffering these injuries are seniors and teenagers, primarily teenage boys. What John Muir Health’s Trauma Center is seeing mirrors trends from around the country. According to the American College of Surgeons:

• More than 20,000 people are injured while riding e-bikes annually with approximately 3,000 requiring hospitalization, and this is likely underreported.
• Head injuries occur most frequently, and only a third of injured patients were wearing helmets.

Read more from the John Muir Health Trauma Center about how to safely operate an e-bike or scooter as well as their list of safety resources for riders.

Be Prepared for Wet Weather

Here are some steps you can take before a major storm:

• Keep creeks, drainage ditches and culverts on your property clear of debris. Rake up leaves and dispose of them in your greenwaste bin. 

• Keep driveway culverts (pipes located under a driveway) clear of debris. This is responsibility of the property owner. If a driveway leading to your home has a pipe under it, the City does not maintain the pipe or remove debris from the pipe. Many driveway culverts are older, were installed using corrugated metal pipe, and may have crushed ends or rusted out bottoms. If you need to replace your driveway culvert, you are responsible for hiring a contractor to complete the work and the work will require an encroachment permit.

• Pay close attention to weather forecasts and conditions.

• During storms with heavy rain and strong winds, be prepared for power outages. Remember to keep your mobile phone charged.

• Make sure to have an emergency kit for everyone in your household with food, clothing, and essential supplies for at least 3 days.

• During heavy storms, avoid areas that are prone to flooding. Do not attempt to cross a section of road or trail that has water running over it.

• Review your flood insurance policy to understand what coverage it provides. Visit FloodSmart.gov to learn more about how to get started.

• Sandbag Stations - During the rainy season, the City offers do-it-yourself sandbag station) at the corner of Mt Diablo Boulevard at Village Center Drive (across from the Veterans Memorial Building) as well as at the corner of Camino Diablo and Loveland Drive (near the Corporation Yard). Read more about the Lafayette Sandbag Stations.  

More information about storm preparedness is available at www.lovelafayette.org/ready

Quiz Time! Departmental Accomplishments by the Numbers

Do you know how many tons of roadway asphalt was used this past year, the number of City Council meetings held or which of our social media platforms has seen the most growth in followers? Take this quick quiz to find out!

These numbers and more are included in the City Manager’s recent presentation on staff’s day-to-day work. The answers are provided at the end of the quiz, but here’s the answer key.

Lafayette Planning Commission Recommends Updates to Building Design Standards

On Monday night, the Planning Commission recommended proposed updates to the City’s Objective Design Standards (ODS). The City Council will consider the changes at their January 12 meeting. ODS governs the building form, design, site layout, etc. for new multi-family, commercial, and mixed-used residential development. For more information, visit the ODS webpage.

New California Building & Fire Codes Go into Effect January 1

The 2025 California Building Code (CBC) will become effective on January 1, 2026. Please note the following timeline for implementation:

• January 1, 2026 Building Code is effective.
• Projects that require planning approval and building permits, and receive planning approval between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025, will be provided a one-month grace period to apply for building permits under the 2022 CBC so as to facilitate continuity of building code requirements for these projects. Applicants with valid planning approval issued within this time period can apply for building permits under the 2022 CBC until January 31, 2026. Note: "Planning Approval" is defined as projects that have met all requirements and conditions of the Current Planning Division necessary as preconditions to applying for building permits required for completion of the project.
• All building permit applications submitted after January 31, 2026, will be subject to the 2025 CBC. 

Costa County Fire Protection District has adopted the 2025 California Fire Code Ordinance with local amendments as well as the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code with local amendments to strengthen wildfire protection in high-risk areas with a focus on improving building resistance to flame, heat, and ember intrusion to reduce wildfire risk. The Fire Code and WUI Code goes into effect on January 1. Watch the recent presentation to the County Board of Supervisors about the code changes.

Drop off Donations of Non-Perishable Foods on Monday

Want to support families in need? We have a food donation bin at our main offices supporting the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Please note, the Food Bank cannot accept glass containers, food one year past its ‘best by’ date, open or partially-used products, alcohol, food without nutrition labels, or any frozen/refrigerated foods. See the Food Bank Grocery Wish List.

Volunteer for the 2026 Contra Costa Homeless Point in Time Count

Volunteers are needed to be part of a one-day, county-wide project to count unsheltered people in Contra Costa. The Point in Time (PIT) Count is a snapshot of the number of families and individuals experiencing homelessness in Contra Costa on ONE night. Volunteers work in pairs and either drive or capture data on an iPhone-based app. You need to be available between 5:30 am and 9 am on Thursday Jan. 29 and also complete an IN PERSON volunteer training the week of January 12, 2026. Learn more and then register at https://arcg.is/a0jya. Questions? Email PITcount@cchealth.org or call/text 925-464-0152.

Year-End Office Closure

City Administrative Offices will be closed starting on Wednesday, December 24 and reopening on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Police Services: Emergency and law enforcement services will remain available at all times. 

• In case of a life-threatening emergency, dial 9-1-1.
• For the 24-hour non-emergency police dispatch, dial 925-284-5010.

Public Works Emergency: To report flooding or fallen trees in the public right-of-way, call non-emergency police dispatch at 925-284-5010. (Our online reporting system is for non-emergencies only and not monitored during the break.)

Recreation Camps and Classes: Staff will be onsite running programs, monitoring communication and available remotely to assist with any registration need or facility issue, outside of holidays as noted on the City website calendar. Leave Recreation Staff a message at 925-284-2232 or email recreation@lovelafayette.org

Republic Services Bin Pick Up: If your Trash/Recycling/Compost service falls on Thursday or Friday, your pickup will be delayed by one day during the week of Christmas and the week of New Year's Day.

Happy Holidays and best wishes for the new year!

Meetings & Events 

There are no City meetings scheduled next week.

Other Community News & Events

Candidates for State and County Offices in the June Election Can Begin Collecting Signatures

Candidates interested in running for State and County offices that will appear on the June 2, 2026 Primary Election can obtain forms from the Contra Costa County Elections Office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez for circulating petitions to secure Signatures-In-Lieu for all or part of the filing fee. This is an optional filing process to assist candidates who wish to collect signatures to offset the filing fee to run for office and runs through February 4.   

The nomination period for the June 2 election opens February 9, 2026. For further information on this Primary Election and key dates, go to www.contracostavote.gov or contact the County Elections Office at (925) 335-7800 or via email at candidate.services@vote.cccounty.us.

“Upon a Midnight Clear” – A Choral Holiday Concert This Sunday, Dec. 21

On Sunday, Sufism Reoriented will host Upon a Midnight Clear, a choral holiday concert filled with songs and stories Celebrating the Light. This festive evening will also feature warm drinks, sweet treats, and a living nativity scene with live animals. Doors will be open from 4:30 to 7pm—come when you can and stay as long as you like. All are welcome to this free event at the Sanctuary of Sufism Reoriented (11 White Horse Court off Boulevard Way in Walnut Creek). Guest parking is available on site. To help avoid bottlenecks, please follow the monitors’ directions and continue moving until they guide you into a space. Overflow parking is located one block away at 1326 Boulevard Way. Walking or carpooling is encouraged.

Upcoming Business Classes at Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, East Bay

• Entrepreneurial Mindset, starting Jan. 12
• New Year, New Strategies, starting Jan. 13

Save the Date! Friends Corner Book Shop is having a half-price sale on Jan. 10  

On Saturday, January 10, every book in the shop will be 50% off.  Shop hours are 10am to 4pm. Proceeds support the collection, programs, and services of the Lafayette Library. More details at https://www.lllcf.org/friends-book-shop

January Programs at the Lafayette Library 

Visit the Lafayette Library and Learning Center in the New Year for new and captivating programs. Award-winning filmmaker Connie Field will visit the Lafayette Library on January 14 to discuss her newest film, Democracy Noir. On January 23, three acclaimed scientists, Dr. Saul Perlmutter, Dr. John Campbell, and Dr. Rob MacCoun, will discuss their latest book, Third Millennium Thinking- Creating Sense in a World of Nonsense. Purchase your tickets at LLLCF.org. Get the inside scoop on all library programs by subscribing to their weekly program newsletter.

Looking for more upcoming happenings around town?

Visit the Chamber’s Community Events Calendar online.

Miscellaneous

Register for Winter/Spring Recreation Programs: We have something for all ages and interests. See the 2026 Winter/Spring Rec Guide then register online. If you need help registering for a class or program, send an email to recreation@lovelafayette.org or call us at 925-284-2232.

Holiday Safety Tips: Here are a few simple steps to keep your home, mail, and vehicles secure this holiday season:

• If traveling, ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your home, pause mail and newspaper delivery, and ensure windows, doors, cameras, and outdoor lighting are all functioning properly.
• To prevent package and mail theft, track deliveries closely, avoid leaving packages on your porch, and consider using signature-required delivery or a locking mailbox.
• When out shopping, don’t leave valuables visible in your vehicle, always lock your doors, and park in well-lit areas.

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.

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.

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!

Dec. 14 to 22               Hanukkah (Jewish)

Starting Dec. 16           Las Posadas (Christian/Mexico)

Starting Dec. 21          Yule (Pagan)

Dec. 24                       Christmas Eve (Christian)  - Start of City’s Year End Office Closure

Dec. 25                        Christmas (Christian)

Dec. 26                       Kwanzaa

Photo for the Week

As part of the renovation of the Park Theater, earlier this month Jim Rizzo (of NeonWorks in Berkeley) carefully removed all of the original, rare, Novial glass neon tubing from the iconic Park Theater tower for safekeeping and its ultimate restoration. Rizzo will repair the tubing when possible and create new tubing to replace broken or missing sections in order to bring the Art Deco neon marquee and tower back to its original glory. The City has designated the much-loved tower as Public Art because of its commanding presence in the heart of Lafayette’s downtown and in recognition of the art form that neon represents. Photo by Craig Isaacs, BlueGoo Photography

Quote for the Week

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.

 — Jane Howard

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