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Friday, May 8, 2026| What’s Doing in Lafayette?

News From the City Manager’s Corner

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

• Take the Food Scraps Survey
• Take the Clean Water Program Survey
• Celebrating 20 Years of the Lamorinda Spirit Van!
• Lafayette Participates in Amateur Radio Exercise
• Turn Your Passion for Sustainability into Local Action
• Help Us Spread the Word: City Seeks Consultant to Design ADU Prototype Plans
• Statewide Direct Primary Election Coming Up on June 2
• April Police Department Snapshot 
• Lafayette Artisan Walk This Saturday
• City Council Meeting Monday Night
• Art Exhibit Closing Reception
• Bike to Wherever Day on Thursday

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

Let’s Have a Dialogue About Food Scraps

We want to hear from you!

RecycleSmart and the City of Lafayette are currently conducting a survey to learn more about how households in Lafayette value, collect, and discard their food scraps. Help us reach 500 survey responses! For every survey response in the month of May, RecycleSmart will donate $2 to White Pony Express (up to $1,000) to help recover edible food from local grocery stores and restaurants throughout Contra Costa County to feed our community. And, after completing the survey, you’ll have the option to enter our raffle to win one of five $100 gift cards to Lafayette businesses. Open to Lafayette residents only. Survey should take about 5 to 10 minutes. Participate by May 31 at www.RecycleSmart.org/Survey.

Sorting Simplified Talk on Thursday

What belongs in the green organics cart? Which plastics can go in the blue recycle cart? Join us to find out on Thursday (May 14) at 10am at the Lafayette Community Garden (3932 Mt. Diablo Blvd.). Hear from RecycleSmart and Republic Services representatives about "what goes where" when sorting items into your organic, recycle and landfill carts!

Give Another 5 Minutes for the Environment - Take the Clean Water Program Survey

Contra Costa Clean Water Program (CCCWP) has also recently launched a survey to gather resident perspectives on local environmental priorities. The survey, which takes approximately five minutes to complete, is designed to provide CCCWP with a baseline assessment of what people who live in Contra Costa County understand about local infrastructure and climate change issues in our area. Responses from this survey will help inform future outreach to improve the connection between the environment, local stormwater infrastructure, and climate change resilience.

Whether you are a long-time homeowner, a newer renter, or a local business owner, your perspective is vital to establishing a data-informed foundation for our county's outreach efforts. The survey is available in both English and Spanish at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CCSurvey26

CCCWP is dedicated to protecting the quality of local creeks, the Delta, and the Bay through sustainable infrastructure and community engagement.

Help Us Celebrate 20 Years of the Lamorinda Spirit Van!

Lamorinda Spirit Van proudly celebrates 20 years of providing door-to-door transportation for older adults and adults with disabilities throughout Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda. To celebrate this milestone, Lamorinda Spirit will host a special 20th Anniversary Celebration on Wednesday, May 27 honoring the passengers, volunteers, drivers, donors, and community partners who have made the program possible over the past two decades. RSVP if you can join us for the celebration!

Since 2006, Spirit Van has helped thousands of residents maintain their independence by providing rides to medical appointments, grocery stores, social visits, lunches, and community events. What began as a small community service has grown into an essential resource powered by dedicated staff, volunteers, partner organizations, and generous community support. To learn more, watch this 3 minute video about the Spirit Van.

Lafayette Participates in Amateur Radio Exercise

A few weeks ago, volunteers, City staff, and Lafayette School District Staff joined more than 72 agencies across 9 states in an exercise using only auxiliary communications methods. During disasters, government agencies often rely on community members who are licensed Amateur and GMRS radio operators to volunteer to help provide communications. The scenarios for the exercise for was an 8.8 magnitude earthquake on the San Andreas fault that caused extensive damage and destroyed all normal communications methods (cell phones, internet service, etc.). Local damage information was gathered from community members, public works, and schools. Our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) then reported our status and resource needs to the county, who communicated with the State. All communications were done over GMRS and Amateur radios.

The Lamorinda communities and agencies all worked together on this. Thank you to our Public Works department for being actively involved, to the Lafayette School District that did an excellent job gathering detailed information from all schools then giving us a detailed report on their status during the exercise, and the Lamorinda Area Radio Interest Group who provided the necessary communications capabilities.

Turn Your Passion for Sustainability into Local Action

Are you passionate about sustainability, green energy, and recycling? The Environmental Task Force (ETF) advises the City Council on these and other topics that advance the City’s sustainability goals. Current efforts include composting food scraps, promoting the use of reusable foodware at local restaurants, and education about meaningful sustainable actions that individuals, households and businesses can take. We’re currently seeking more residents to join the Task Force, which meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7pm. Application Instructions | Application form PDF

Help Us Spread the Word: City Seeks Consultant to Design ADU Prototype Plans

If you are a property owner who recently built an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and you love your architect/designer, help us spread to word about an opportunity that will help encourage more ADU development in town! More information about our Request for Proposals to create Prototype ADU Plans is on our website at www.lovelafayette.org/adu.

If you are a residential architect or member of a residential design and design/build firm and are interested in helping us create a collection of “permit-ready” pre-approved plans for ADUs, consider responding to this RFP. Questions about the RFP are due next Friday, May 15. Proposals are due by 3pm on May 29. Contact Assistant Planner Madison Church with any questions.

Statewide Direct Primary Election Coming Up on June 2

The County Elections Office is your one-stop-shop for information about candidates, measures and ways you can cast your ballot. Visit them at www.contracostavote.gov/election.

Here are some key dates to keep in mind: 

• May 4 - Ballot Boxes open for mail-in ballots
• May 18 - Voter Registration Deadline
• May 26 - Last Day to Request Vote by Mail Ballot
• June 2 - Election Day

In addition to the state and county offices, Lafayette voters will be asked about a number of Measures:

Measure A: Shall the measure amending the Contra Costa County General Plan and the County’s 65/35 Land Preservation Plan Ordinance to continue protections to the County’s non-urban, agricultural, and open space areas by extending the term of the County’s Urban Limit Line through December 31, 2051; adopting an updated Urban Limit Line map; requiring voter approval, except under limited circumstances, to expand the Urban Limit Line by more than 30 acres; and retaining the 65/35 Land Preservation Standard, be adopted?

Measure B: To help Contra Costa County address cuts in federal funding; support local services such as health care, supplemental food assistance, and other general county services; shall Contra Costa County adopt a five-eighths of one cent (0.625%) temporary general sales tax for 5 years, providing an estimated $150,000,000 annually, and subject to annual audits?

Measure G: To prepare students at Contra Costa, Diablo Valley, and Los Medanos Colleges for jobs and university transfer; update classrooms for science, nursing, and emergency response programs; meet earthquake, fire, and accessibility codes; repair outdated electrical, plumbing/ventilation systems; shall Contra Costa Community College District’s measure be adopted, authorizing $920,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, levying approximately $10 per $100,000 of assessed valuation, generating $57,000,000 annually while bonds are outstanding, with oversight, audits, no administrator salaries, and all funds used locally?

Measure H: Shall the Lafayette School District’s measure to continue funding for core academic programs including math, science, engineering, technology, reading, music, and arts; attract and retain highly qualified teachers; and maintain manageable class sizes in Lafayette elementary and middle schools, by replacing the expiring school parcel tax with $585 per parcel for 9 years, providing $5.1 million annually in locally controlled funding with an exemption for seniors, annual inflation adjustments, independent audits, and community oversight, be adopted?

April Police Department Snapshot 

 You can also look up events reported to the Police Department last week on this online Community Crime Map.

Meetings & Events 

City Council Meeting Monday Night

The City Council Meeting on Monday (May 11) starts at 6pm with a closed session. The open session starts at 7pm and includes:

• Memorial Day Recognition & presentation on the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center
• Presentation on the Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center (part of the Lafayette Civic Values: Lifelong Learning and the Arts series)
• Recognition of the 2026 Spring graduates of the Citizens Police Academy
• Update from MCE Clean Energy
• Annual presentation from the Capital Project Assessment Committee (CPAC) including the Proposed Capital Improvement Program (“5 Year CIP”) for 2027-2031.
• Adoption of the proposed Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Capital Improvement Program and updated 5-Year CIP
• Authorize use of State Gas Tax (SB-1) funds towards Lafayette’s 2027 Pavement Maintenance Project
• Administrative Updates to ensure enforceability of City requirements for EV parking and charging for new multifamily developments and hotels/motels.

Read the full agenda for the staff reports as well as information about how to participate in or watch the meeting.

Other Top Meetings This Week

• Finance Subcommittee– Monday, May 11 at 4pm
• Design Review Commission – cancelled
• Parks, Trails & Recreation Commission Trails Subcommittee – Tuesday, May 12 at 7pm
• Parks, Trails & Recreation Commission – Wednesday, May 13 at 7pm
• Environmental Task Force– cancelled

On Saturday: Stroll and Shop Downtown During the Lafayette Artisan Walk

Lafayette Chamber’s Lafayette Artisan Walk is Saturday, May 9, from 11am to 3pm in downtown Lafayette. This is a collaborative shopping event between Lafayette’s retail businesses and local artists. Find local artisan items that are perfect gifts for upcoming occasions, while also checking out some of Lafayette’s beautiful public and privately initiated art. Learn more and find a map of participating businesses at https://lafayettechamber.org/shop

The Public Art Committee invites you to “One Last Look,” a closing reception for its spring exhibitions featuring Hearing Shapes, Seeing Sounds by John Poole and Surface by Mary Stets Chabolla. Join us in the Community Hall Gallery at the Library on Monday, May 11, from 5 to 6:30pm to celebrate Poole’s sculptural exploration of sound, form, and storytelling, and Chabolla’s layered abstract paintings that explore texture, memory, and movement.

On Thursday: “Bike to Wherever Day” at Lafayette Plaza for

If you bike to BART, school, your workplace or wherever your bike takes you, stop by Lafayette’s energizer station on Thursday morning for some snacks, a drink, a tote bag, and some friendly faces. We’ll be at Lafayette Plaza from 7 to 9 am and would love to see you there! Visit 511 Contra Costa’s website for regional event details.

Burton Valley Firewise Event Next Saturday, May 16

If you live in the Burton Valley area (or just want to learn more about Firewise), come to the Firewise community event on Saturday, May 16 at 2pm at the Lafayette Community Center. Learn more about what it means to be part of a Firewise community and how you can get involved. City Staff and Emergency Preparedness Commissioners will share information about wildfire preparedness in Lafayette including Firewise and evacuation considerations. To sign up for information, please email burtonvalleyfirewise@gmail.com. Go to Lafayette’s Firewise webpage to learn more about the City’s Firewise communities.

Prior to their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19, you are invited to join the Creeks Committee
at 6:30 p.m. for a walk along the proposed West Reach Project. Meet near the sandbag station on Mt. Diablo Blvd at Risa Road (across the street from the Veterans Memorial Hall) to hear Commissioners describe the project along that section of Lafayette Creek. 

Connect with the Lafayette Police Department on Thursday, May 21 from 10 to 11am at The Rising Loafer (located between the Post Office and Trader Joe’s). Officers and Staff will be available to answer questions, listen to concerns, and have a great conversation over a cup of coffee.

Share a recent photo, selfie, sketch, painting or other artwork of the tower at the Lafayette Reservoir and post it on Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #lafayetterestower. We’ll randomly select 5 tagged images that are posted in May to receive a Bartbridge hat featuring the tower or a copy of the beautiful coffeetable book, “The Lafayette Reservoir: A Visual Celebration”. The randomly-selected winners will be announced on our Instagram and Facebook pages, as well as on our website on June 5. More details on our website.

May Happenings at the Library

Here are some highlights from the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation…

The Great Lafayette Read-In on May 16

Join us for a BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) read-in! Enjoy coffee, snacks, and community while sharing your love of reading. We’ll have a special storytime with Miss Bel and chat with Linda Grana of Reasonable Books. Learn more at LLLCF.org/greatread-in

Sweet Thursday - Mark Purdy on May 21

Mark Purdy who covered the 49ers for 31 years as a columnist, shares decades of memorable players and legendary catches with dynamic photographs and unforgettable stories. Register at tinyurl.com/sweet-May2026

Welcome to Medicare on May 28

This in-person introduction to Medicare offers up-to-date and unbiased information about plans and supplements, as well as an opportunity to have your questions answered by experts. No products or services are sold or endorsed. Register on the County Library Website.

Library Closure: All Contra Costa County Libraries will be closed on Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day.

Check out our Website: Want to learn more about library happenings? Visit our website LLLCF.org and stay updated on programs and events.

Spotlight

“There’s something for everyone at the Lafayette Library, including friendship.”– Susan H., Library Patron

Sharron and Susan both had a “penchant for arriving early” to author events, “with the hope of nabbing a seat in the front row.” After encountering each other at several library programs, they began chatting and found they had much in common, becoming fast friends who now regularly attend programs together. Every contribution from community members ensures patrons like Sharron and Susan have a space to connect, and that our neighbors across the Bay Area have access to enriching services and resources. Support your community – Visit LLLCF.org/donate

And, don’t forget about the Friends Corner Book Shop sale this Saturday. All Books will be 50% off.

Click on image to open PDF for a larger view.

Roadwork Projects

City Road Restriping Project

For the week of May 11, our contractor will resume nighttime work. For more details, read the Engineer’s Weekly Update on the Re-Striping project webpage.

City BART Bike Station/Pathway Project

This project is underway. For more information, visit the project webpage.

Overnight Road Closures Downtown for EBMUD Pipeline Replacement

Next week, EBMUD will continue to install the new water main on Moraga Road between Mt. Diablo Blvd and Moraga Blvd. during the night shift. EBMUD’s plan is to continue to work the night shift until the installation is past Moraga Blvd. (The section of the new water main between Moraga Blvd and Brook Street will be installed during normal construction hours). Drivers should expect delays of up to 10 minutes. For project details and updates, visit EBMUD’s project webpage.

PG&E Planning Roadwork on Brook Street This Month

The week of May 18, PG&E will be starting a new gas main replacement on Brook Street between Dewing Ave. and Moraga Road. They will be working weekdays between 8:30am and  4:30pm.

Lafayette Reservoir Closed to Vehicles Some Mornings

As part of EBMUD’s Lafayette Reservoir Tower Seismic Upgrade Project, the Lafayette Reservoir will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic from 6am to 2pm on the following dates:

• Saturday, May 16
• Monday, May 18
• Tuesday, May 19
• Wednesday, May 20

Pedestrians will be able to walk into the park when guided by crewmembers, but should expect a delay. Sign up for EBMUD alert email notifications and follow EBMUD’s social media channels to keep informed about additional temporary vehicular traffic closures over the next two months.

Community News & Events

Update on the Park Theater Renovation

Walt Disney once famously wrote “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them,” and that is certainly true when it comes to the rebirth of the Park Theater.  Courage, perseverance, and COMMUNITY are making the difference in the decades-old dream of reopening the Park, and now you can actually see it all happen by checking out the new time-lapse cameras, strategically situated on site. The cameras will shift in position as areas of work are completed and you will be able to follow it all the way up to the ribbon cutting! Watch the latest video.

As of this week, the interior demolition is complete and the Park’s new two-theater foundation should be done in the next 6 to 8 weeks. Laying of steel begins in July. Learn more on The Park Theater Trust website.

Contra Costa County Animal Services Events in May

Contra Costa County Animal Services (CCAS) is hosting a series of upcoming community events this May, including mobile dog adoption pop-ups (including in Lafayette tomorrow), a free vaccination and microchip clinic, and an Animal Services Officer Town Hall. These events offer great opportunities to meet adoptable pets, access essential services, and connect with Animal Services. Check out the schedule of CCAS May Events.

Lafayette Community Garden Open House Next Saturday, May 17

The Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center is celebrating its 15th year with a Community Open House on Sunday, May 17, from 11am to 2pm. The community garden is located across from the reservoir at 3932 Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette. All are invited and the event is free.

In addition to guided tours of the garden, there will be information on raising chickens, master gardening, raising bees, simple crafts, refreshments, an opportunity to walk a labyrinth and see the garden’s Miwok Village. Garden members will be on hand to answer gardening questions and showcase their use of vermiculture (worm composting), drip irrigation, ways of amending of beds, native plants and use of hinged covers and mesh enclosures as ways of protecting plants from critters. Questions? Send an email to info@lafayettecommunitygarden.org

East Bay Parks Wildfire Resilience Webinar

East Bay Parks will be holding a webinar on Wednesday, May 27 at noon, covering the work reducing wildfire risk and the capabilities to respond to a major event.  This is a highly valuable opportunity to learn the work they do in Briones and all their parks in the East Bay. Read more about the webinar.

Happening Next Month: Central San Open House and Celebration on June 13

Save the Date of Saturday, June 13 for, Central San’s 80th anniversary Open House. This all-ages event will feature tours of the treatment plant, free food and ice cream, big trucks, hands-on games and activities, educational exhibits, and much more. Central San (aka Central Contra Costa Sanitary District) provides wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal services; recycled water production and distribution; and household hazardous waste collection.

Looking for more upcoming happenings around town?

Visit the Chamber’s Community Events Calendar online.

Miscellaneous

Get Your Student’s Bus Pass Now for the New School Year: Registration is open. Spots are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Three Weeks Until Weed Abatement Deadline: Do your part to reduce fire risk by clearing dry grass, weeds, brush and accumulated debris from your property. Lafayette property owners need to cut weeds below 3” and remove dead vegetation by June 1. If you have questions about Contra Costa Fire’s Weed Abatement deadline, check out the FAQs or send an email.

Lafayette Vistas Spring Issue – Read our periodic print newsletter online at www.lovelafayette.org/vistas.

Coyote Pup-Rearing Season: It’s coyote pup-rearing season (March-August). Read tips from EBRPD about what to do if you encounter a coyote and how to easily report coyote sightings.

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.

Below Market Rate Homes for Sale: Housekeys will manage the lottery process for qualified buyers for the below-market-rate (BMR) condominiums units priced to be affordable at The Brant, a new condo development in downtown Lafayette. If you are interested in applying, create an online account with Housekeys or call Housekeys at 877-460-5397 to schedule an appointment.

Know Your Rights Regarding ICE: Access 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.

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 only listed here 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, which is updated monthly.

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 cultural observations and celebrations! The City Council has proclaimed May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month. May is also Haitian Heritage Month | Better Hearing and Speech Month | Foster Care Awareness Month.

May 10            Mother’s Day

May 15            International Day of Families

Photo for the Week

Thanks to volunteers Sandi and Todd who participated in the amateur radio exercise with us! To enhance the exercise, we participated “off the grid” via a trailer on generator power.

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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.

Learn more about Lafayette’s other digital publications and social media sites here.