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Friday, August 14, 2026| What’s Doing in Lafayette?

News From the City Manager’s Corner

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

• Give Feedback on Proposed ADU Designs for Lamorinda at Meeting Monday Night or via Online Survey
• Watch our Short Video about E-bike Classifications
• Keep Lafayette Streets Safe for Everyone: Slow Down and Don’t Drive Distracted
• Summer Camp was Awesome!
• Get Involved with our Various Boards, Commissions and Committees
• Digging or Planting Soon? Call 811 Before You Dig
• Emergency Water Supply Tips from EBMUD
• Shop, Stroll and Enjoy Live Music Downtown This Weekend!
• Planning Commission Meeting Monday
• Special Meeting Thursday to Discuss City Council Appointments
• New Art Exhibition, Embodied: Figurative Works in Clay and Paint

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

Give Feedback on Proposed ADU Designs for Lamorinda at Meeting Monday Night or via Online Survey

On Monday night the Planning Commission, along with members of the Design Review Commission, will review four draft Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) prototype plans ranging from 495 to 796 square feet, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options in Craftsman/Ranch and Mediterranean styles. Community members are invited to attend or watch the meeting and can expect a presentation of the draft designs followed by an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on architectural design, functionality, and how the plans can be adapted to different sites.

Your feedback at this meeting or via the online survey will help inform revisions before the plans are finalized as part of a set of 8 Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (PADU) plans that will be made available to homeowners free of charge in Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga. See the proposed PADU Design set. The pre-designed plans are expected to be available to the public in early Spring 2027.

Watch our Short Video about E-bike Classifications

This week, we posted a brief video of Youth Services Officer Blank talking about ebike classifications on our Youtube Channel or our Facebook Page to help parents choose the right e-bike for their kids. If you are on Facebook and want to help us spread this information about e-bikes, please like or share the video!

Here are three things parents need to know:

#1 There are 3 different classes of e-bike:

• Class one is pedal assist, can go up to 20 miles an hour with no throttle.
• Class two has a throttle and can be pedal assist. These also go up to 20 miles per hour.
• Class three go up to 28 miles per hour and have pedal assist or a throttle. Riders must be over the age of 16.

#2 All riders under age 18 must wear a helmet.

#3 E-motos are NOT e-bikes: They are off-road motorcycles and are not street-legal vehicles.

E-bikes are capable of going faster than regular bicycles, and increased speed increases the risk of danger, so don't let your children ride something that they are not physically or mentally ready to handle. We encourage you to visit a local bike shop to ask specific questions about what bike is right for your child. Read more at www.LoveLafayette.org/SlowDown

Keep Lafayette Streets Safe for Everyone: Slow Down and Don’t Drive Distracted

On Wednesday, officers from Orinda and Danville teamed up with the Lafayette Police Department to conduct a patrol saturation. The six officers made a total of 111 traffic stops and issued 100 citations. (A patrol saturation is a planned enforcement event that involves a large number of officers concentrated into a small geographic area.)

The main violations observed were speeding and distracted driving, so please slow down, put down your phone, stay alert and follow the rules of the road!

Summer Camp was Awesome!

Summer camp is officially in the books—and it has been a busy summer! More than 3,800 camp enrollments kept the fun going, with Camp Awesome connecting over 300+ campers to afternoon adventures ranging from robotics and cooking to archery, pickleball, sewing and even video game design. Fall programs are off to a flying start, with 500+ enrollments in the first 24 hours!

Our dedicated Parks Staff had just one day between the 10-week summer camp season and the start of school to transform the campus for after-school care. Daily care will be offered at Burton Valley and Lafayette Elementary School, with students also taking the bus from Burton Valley to after-school programs at the Community Center and LES. Talk about a quick turnaround!

Get Involved with our Various Boards, Commissions and Committees

We have a number of Boards, Commissions and Committees. These advisory bodies are made up of community members who provide input to the City Council and staff on a variety of issues, and participating is a great way to learn about local services, meet interesting people, and make a difference in your community! Even if you don't become a member, these meetings are open to the public. There are currently openings on the following:           

• Banner Advisory Committee
• Design Review Commission
• Emergency Preparedness Commission
• Environmental Task Force
• Planning Commission

Digging or Planting Soon? Call 811 Before You Dig

Stay safe in your yard by calling 811 before digging to avoid underground hazards and ensure safety. Hitting a buried utility line can cause significant harm. Electric lines, gas pipelines, water pipes, and telecommunication cables are all hidden underground. Striking one of these can result in power outages, gas leaks, water contamination, or even property damage. By calling 811, you protect yourself, your family, and your neighbors from these dangers.

Simply dial 811 a few days before you plan to dig so local utility companies can come out to locate and mark their underground facilities. It’s a free call. Visit www.california811.org to learn more.

Emergency Water Supply Tips from EBMUD

Thursday morning's 3.8-magnitude earthquake reminds us that emergencies can happen at any time, and it pays to be prepared. Here’s a preparedness message from EBMUD…

When disaster strikes, clean water is essential. Every East Bay resident should have an emergency water supply stored at home. EBMUD prepares for emergencies and prioritizes reliability, but a major earthquake or other emergency could impact water service for days or more. A supply of emergency water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene can help you get through the immediate aftermath of a disaster so you can focus on other needs.

We recommend two gallons of water per person per day, for seven days. But some is better than none. For a family of four, about 30 gallons of emergency water is a good place to start. Take action now to be better prepared for the unexpected. Learn more at www.ebmud.com/waterstorage.

Emergency Water Supply Guidelines

• Store 2 gallons per person, per day for 3-7 days. Plus extra for pets.
• Store tap water in clean, food-grade plastic containers
• Seal containers tightly and keep in a cool, dark place
• Reserve stored water for drinking and food prep
• Replace stored tap water every 6 months

Shop, Stroll and Enjoy Live Music Downtown This Weekend!

Shop local! The Lafayette Chamber's Sidewalk Sale returns on Saturday from 11am to 3pm. Discover special deals, local favorites, and unique finds. Participating businesses, an event map, and additional details are available online at https://lafayettechamber.org/shop.

Add some live music to your weekend plans:  On Friday evening, Lafayette Public House welcomes Ticket to the Limit for an evening of harmony-heavy Beatles, Eagles, and ’70 hits from 5 to 7:30pm.

On Saturday, Local Vines' new Corkscrew Stage comes alive with Generations in Jazz along with Rossmoor Big Band members from 7 to 9pm.

On Sunday afternoon, Headlands Brewery's Live Music Sundays runs from 1 to 4pm.

Meetings & Events

Planning Commission Meeting Monday

The Planning Commission Meeting on Monday (August 17) starts at 7pm and includes:

• Presentation on the draft PADU prototype designs (mentioned above)
• Request for a Land Use Permit to allow the School for Independent Learners (aka Tilden Preparatory School) to operate at 3435 Mount Diablo Boulevard. Tilden Preparatory School, currently has campuses in Albany and Walnut Creek, and would relocate its Walnut Creek campus to this location; They plan to offer one-on-one teaching of 15 middle and high school students (20 students maximum). No changes to the site or building are being proposed.
• Request for hillside development and other related permits to construct a 1,993 sq. ft. two-story single-family residence, remove 20 trees, and provide parking in the side yard setback at a vacant lot in the Hillside Overlay District at 1716 Reliez Valley Road

Read the full agenda for more details and information about how you can participate and provide comments.

Special Meeting Thursday to Discuss City Council Appointments

At the end of the nomination period, three candidates have qualified to run for a seat on the City Council:

• Candidates for 4-year term (2 seats): James Cervantes and Stella Wotherspoon
• Candidates for 2-year term (1 seat): Mario DiPrisco

On Thursday, August 13, 2026, City Clerk Joanne Robbins certified that there are not more candidates than offices to be elected. Read the full notice at www.lovelafayette.org/election.

The City Council will hold a special meeting on Thursday, August 20 at 5pm at the Main City Offices, Conference Room 240 (3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd)  to consider whether to appoint the candidates or proceed with the election. If candidates are appointed, they shall take office in December and serve exactly as if elected at a municipal election for the office.

Refer to the agenda for information on how you can participate in or watch the meeting.

Other Top Meetings This Week

• Transportation & Circulation Commission  - cancelled
• Creeks Committee – Wednesday, August 19

New Art Exhibition, Embodied: Figurative Works in Clay and Paint

The City of Lafayette’s fall exhibition, Embodied: Figurative Works in Clay and Paint, brings together five Bay Area artists exploring the human form through painting and ceramics. The exhibition considers the figure as more than representation—through color, gesture, texture, weight, and surface, the artists explore ideas of presence, connection, reflection, and lived experience. Together, the works offer different perspectives on what it means to experience and understand the world through the body.

Paintings by Suzun Almquist, Amber DeSilva, Marianne McCraney, and Ruth Stanton are on view at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center’s Community Hall Gallery and Homework Center Gallery, as well as the Town Hall Theatre Lobby Gallery. Ceramic works by Donna Arganbright are featured in the Library’s Public Art Display Case. Stop by and experience the exhibition at these Lafayette locations through October 26.

Roadwork Projects

Ongoing City-led Projects:

• Paving work continues on 28 residential streets, including a new retaining wall on Springhill Road. Read the Road Paving Update online for details on the work planned for the week of August 17.
• Utility Work on Topper Lane & School Street - ongoing
• BART Bike Station/Pathway Project – ongoing

Other Utility Work:

With school back in session, work hours have been shortened to 9am to 2:30pm for both PG&E and EBMUD projects around Moraga Road and Brook Street.

• EBMUD Pipeline Replacement Downtown – EBMUD Crews will shift to daytime work to complete various punch list items throughout the neighborhood, including removing all equipment from the area.
• PG&E Brook Street Gas Line Replacement – Ongoing, with lane closures possible on Brook St.
• EBMUD Lafayette Reservoir Construction – ongoing
• Caltrans – weeknight closure of a lane eastbound Highway 24 near the El Nido Ranch Road underpass through October 1.

Community News & Events

2026 East Bay Thrift Store Crawl

Sorry about the typo in last week’s mention! The East Bay Thrift Crawl is actually continuing through August 18! Visit participating thrift stores and spend $10 or more to receive your Crawl Brochure and first sticker. Then, visit the remaining participating locations, collect a sticker, and complete your brochure for a chance to win the Grand Prize Bundle—11 gift cards worth $25 each, one from every participating organization! You can start the crawl in downtown Lafayette at the Giving Partners Thrift Shop (3521 Golden Gate Way).

County Annual TRUTH Act Community Forum on August 25

During the regular Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, the County will hold their annual TRUTH Act Community Forum and present Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office 2025 data on responses to ICE Requests for Notification for serious and/or violent offenders currently in custody, in compliance with state law.

The annual forum has been held since 2017 in accordance with California's Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds (TRUTH) Act, which requires local jurisdictions to hold a public forum and report on certain interactions with federal immigration authorities. You can also visit the Sheriff Transparency Portal to view various data points.

Reminder! Lamorinda Idol Finale on Sunday August 16

Lamorinda Arts Council’s Lamorinda Idol finale is this Sunday, August 16 at the Orinda Theatre.

Teens: Take Part in the 2026 Congressional App Challenge

The competition is open to all middle and high school students living or attending school in California’s 10th Congressional district. Students are invited to submit an original application (app) for mobile, tablet, or computing device to Congressman DeSaulnier’s office. Students may participate as individuals or in teams of up to four. Submissions must include a registration form, application, demonstration video, and exit questionnaire. To register and submit these materials, students can visit https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/. 

The competition is open through 9am on October 26. The winning app will be chosen by a panel of local judges and will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building and featured on the House of Representatives’ website. Winners will also be invited to the #HouseofCode reception in Washington, D.C.

Looking for more upcoming happenings around town?

Visit the Chamber’s Community Events Calendar online.

Miscellaneous

Lamorinda Arts Alliance Presentation: As part of the ongoing Lafayette Civic Values: Lifelong Learning and the Arts series, the LAA made a presentation to the City Council on Monday night. If you missed it, watch the presentation (opens in YouTube).

Recycling Sorting Simplified: Is there uncertainty in your home about which items should go in the recycling, organics or landfill bin? To solve this common conundrum, residents can text “Hello Recycling Bin” to 925-940-5795 for on-demand sorting information from RecycleSmart.

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.

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!

17        Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)

19        Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)

Photo for the Week

Some of our hardworking team members paused to take a photo outside the main City Offices at 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd. for #CityHallSelfieDay. Check out our Facebook page or LinkedIn profile for more selfies!

Quote for the Week

Success is not a destination—Remember, success is a journey, not a destination. Have faith in your ability. You will do just fine.

 — Bruce Lee

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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.