Latest News

Friday, August 21, 2026| What’s Doing in Lafayette?

News From the City Manager’s Corner

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

• In Uncontested Election, Lafayette Appoints two Incumbents and one new Councilmember
• New Multi-Modal Mobility Advisory Committee Established
• Lafayette Recreation Fall Programs Starting
• Technical Issues Silence AM1670
• Call for Artists – Winter Exhibition Opportunities
• State Adopts “Zone 0” Defensible Space Regulations
• Downtown Spotlight: Lafayette, it’s time to sparkle!

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

In Uncontested Election, Lafayette Appoints two Incumbents and one new Councilmember

The Lafayette City Council appointed Jim Cervantes, Mario DiPrisco and Stella Wotherspoon to each serve an upcoming term on the Lafayette City Council after no other candidates filed to run for the offices.

The City Council met on August 20 and appointed the three qualified candidates:

• Jim Cervantes, incumbent — 4-year term 
• Stella Wotherspoon, incumbent — 4-year term 
• Mario DiPrisco — 2-year term 

Stay tuned for the City to announce the date of the swearing-in ceremony.

By cancelling the uncontested election, the City will save at least $48,000 in election expenses. This decision does not impact the ability for Lafayette voters to participate in the upcoming General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, which includes other important federal, state, regional and local issues. Voter registration and voting for the election are coordinated with Contra Costa County, and more information is available at www.contracostavote.gov

Lafayette Councilmember Susan Candell, who has served on the City Council since 2018 including serving as Mayor in 2021 and 2024, chose not to run for re-election.

Read the Notice of Appointment and Cancellation of Election.

New Multi-Modal Mobility Advisory Committee Established

Downtown Lafayette is at the center of several important and interconnected transportation initiatives - from improving traffic circulation and corridor safety to making it easier to access BART and creating better connections between neighborhoods and the heart of downtown. Earlier this month, the City Council appointed the seven members of the new Multi-Modal Mobility (M3) Advisory Committee. This Committee will bring these efforts together, providing a community perspective and helping ensure that individual projects work together as part of a larger vision for a safer, more connected and more accessible downtown.

The Committee is advisory only. Members will have an opportunity to weigh in early, when ideas and alternatives are still being shaped, and before recommendations are presented to City Commissions and the City Council for formal consideration.

Thank you to everyone who applied to serve on the committee – there were 14 candidates for the three at-large positions. We are grateful to have so many interested community members willing to commit their time to serving on the advisory committee.

The M3 Study is one of several concurrent efforts focused on improving how people move around downtown. Together, these studies and projects will help shape the Mt. Diablo Boulevard Corridor Multimodal Mobility Plan—a shared 20-year vision for how people walk, bike, drive, take transit, and otherwise move through our vibrant, mixed-use downtown corridor.

To keep informed, sign up for email notification about:

• News about the overall M3 Plan, and/or
• Multi-Modal Mobility (M3) Advisory Committee meetings

Lafayette Recreation Fall Programs Starting

Get ready for a fun-filled fall with Lafayette Recreation - Explore programs for all ages and interests, including onsite enrichment programs at local elementary schools, youth and adult community center classes, and senior programs. There’s something for everyone! Check out our Fall program offerings.

Technical Issues Silence AM1670

Due to technical issues, Lafayette Community Information & Emergency Radio AM 1670 is currently offline. We will provide another update when the station is back up and broadcasting. Thank you for your patience.

Call for Artists – Winter Exhibition Opportunities

The City of Lafayette Public Art Committee is seeking artists working in both 2-D and 3-D media for upcoming winter exhibitions in Lafayette’s public galleries. Artists working in painting, drawing, photography, collage, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, glass, and other media are encouraged to apply. We’re particularly interested in showcasing the work of local artists.

Have 6 to 8 works for a solo exhibition? Or work that would be well suited for our museum-quality display case? We’d love to see what you’re creating. Learn more and apply at www.lovelafayette.org/PublicArt (information is under “Exhibitions”). Application deadline is September 16.

State Adopts “Zone 0” Defensible Space Regulations

The new regulation adds to California’s growing list of wildfire resilience efforts and focuses on practical wildfire safety actions for the first five feet around homes and structures—an area where professional experience and research indicate that homes are most vulnerable to ignition from embers.

The policy applies to homes only in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA).

What the New Zone 0 Rules Require

The approved policy includes a phased-in implementation approach that prioritizes education and outreach over a 5-year period. While Zone 0 requirements will apply to new construction upon adoption of the regulation, existing homes and structures can implement actions in phases over time within different areas of Zone 0:

• PHASE 1 (Implemented within the first 3 years): Includes removing combustible items such as firewood, dead leaves and branches, mulch, and wood chips within 5 feet of the structure. Cleaning gutters, removing dead and dying plants, trimming trees according to regulations, and implementing or adjusting for allowable vegetation during this time period.
• PHASE 2 (Implemented within 5 years): Local jurisdictions will assign a timeline, within 5 years of the effective date of the regulations, for the creation of an under-eave safety zone, replacing combustible gates, and making any necessary adjustments to sheds and fencing.

At a high level, the policy involves two distinct areas within the first five feet of a structure (see images below for more information):

• A low-combustibility zone extending out from an area immediately next to the home, or the area under eaves, to the remaining portion of the five feet that comprises Zone 0—or roughly an area of four feet depending on a structure’s eave size.
• A non-combustible immediate “safety zone” directly next to the home and under eaves. This zone width flexes with the width of the eave. For example, if the structure has one-foot eaves, the safety zone is one foot in width. If the structure has two-foot eaves, the safety zone is two feet in width.

This nested approach is designed to protect the most vulnerable parts of a structure—such as the base of the wall, windows, decks, and eaves—while still allowing for flexibility based on the attributes of the home or structure.

Vegetation and Landscaping Are Allowed, With Conditions

• No combustible materials (like bark mulch, dead leaves, wood chips, or firewood) are allowed within Zone 0, including on roofs and in gutters. Dead and dying vegetation is not allowed and the area should be regularly cleaned.
• Then, the “safety zone,” or a vegetation-free buffer, is required:
  • Within 1 foot of structures or out to the edge of the eave (or “drip line”);
  • Where the eaves are shallow, a safety zone of 1 foot is still required. Vegetation is not allowed within two feet of windows, doors, and vents, and within five feet of attached decks or similar deck-like features.

    Well-maintained herbaceous plants and flowers are allowed outside these buffers within Zone 0, with the following conditions:

• Smaller non-woody plants, such as bulbs, poppies, petunias, and succulents are allowed in spaced groupings;
• Low ground covers, such as moss, beach strawberries, and creeping thyme are allowed per requirements;
• Grass or lawn is allowed but must be maintained per requirements;
• Potted plants in easily movable non-combustible containers are allowed.

Trees Are Allowed, With Conditions

• Trees are allowed, but must be maintained.
• Branches should be ten feet from chimneys per existing statute. Branches should also be trimmed five feet above roofs and trimmed so that they are not under eaves.
• Dead wood and lower branches or “ladder fuels” that could carry fire upward should be removed. Limbs should be removed from the bottom six feet for large trees, or from the lower third of the tree for smaller trees.

Fences, Gates, and Structures in Zone 0

• A five-foot non-combustible section is required where fences attach to a home, to be completed in Phase 2. Examples could include replacing the combustible gate with a non-combustible metal gate.
• No new combustible fences or gates should be built within Zone 0, but repairs can be made to existing fences.
• Any sheds and outbuildings within Zone 0 must have non-combustible exterior roofs and walls.

For more information, read the full press release from the California Board of Forestry & Fire Protection.

Downtown Spotlight: Lafayette, It’s Time to Sparkle!

This weekend, visit Ware Design Jewelers, a Lafayette institution for more than 30 years. On August 19, Ware Design celebrated its grand reopening under new owner Melissa Watson, who apprenticed with former owner Stephen Ware for 10 years.

Next store, find a curated selection of books and personalized recommendations at Reasonable Books. Looking for your next read? Consider The Speed of Light by Elizabeth Rosner, the featured author for Reasonable Books’ Book Club Night & Reunion on Tuesday, September 22 at the Town Hall Theatre.

When it's time for a bite, grab a crepe, omelet, or sandwich at The Rising Loafer Cafe and Bakery, or enjoy hummus, shawarma, falafel and other Mediterranean favorites at Kabob Burger Mediterranean Deli.

Meetings & Events

City Administrative Offices Closed Midday Wednesday for Training

All City Administrative Offices will be closed on Wednesday, August 26 from 9:30am to 2:30pm so staff can attend an all-hands training.

No Public Meetings This Week

• Design Review Commission – cancelled
• Crime Prevention Commission – cancelled

Now on Display - Embodied: Figurative Works in Clay and Paint

The City of Lafayette’s fall exhibition, Embodied: Figurative Works in Clay and Paint, features 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 24.
• Utility Work on Topper Lane & School Street - ongoing
• BART Bike Station/Pathway Project – ongoing

Other Utility Work:

• EBMUD Pipeline Replacement Downtown – EBMUD is complete; Restoration will start on Mt. Diablo Blvd. in early September. 
• PG&E Brook Street Gas Line Replacement – Ongoing, with lane closures possible on Brook St. between 9am to 2:30pm. PGE is expecting to complete services by the end of next week.
• EBMUD Lafayette Reservoir Construction – Ongoing; see August update below.
• Caltrans – weeknight closure of a lane eastbound Highway 24 near the El Nido Ranch Road underpass through October 1.

Community News & Events

Steel Magnolias at Town Hall Theatre

Town Hall Theatre Co. opens its 2026/27 Main Stage Season with  Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling, a beloved American classic celebrating resilience, friendship, and the strength found in community on Sept 12. For more than three decades, Steel Magnolias has touched audiences with its honest portrayal of love, loss, and resilience. Rich with humor and heart, the play continues to resonate across generations, celebrating the extraordinary strength found in ordinary people.

DATES: Previews September 10 and 11 at 7pm. Performances September 12 through October 3: Fridays and Saturdays 7pm, Sundays 2pm. Special Senior matinee October 1 at 11am.

TICKETS:  $25. Previews “Pay-What-You-Can” starting at $2. Opening Night pre-show reception $25. Special Senior Matinee Oct 1: $10. For more information, visit townhalltheatre.com/steel-magnolias or contact: boxoffice@townhalltheatre.com 

Town Hall Theatre is Contra Costa County's oldest theatre company and a vibrant home for professional theatre, arts education, and community engagement. Town Hall Theatre is located at 3535 School Street in downtown Lafayette.

News and Announcements from the Lafayette Chamber

Last day to take the survey to shape future transportation in Contra Costa County! 

CCTA, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, delivers countywide transportation improvements. CCTA’s work includes smarter highways and signals, street repairs, bike/pedestrian overcrossings, and safer and easier ways to get to school.  This summer, CCTA is partnering with Lafayette Chamber to listen to people who live, work, go to school, and travel throughout the county. Take the CCTA Summer Listening Survey and you can enter to win one of five $100 Visa gift cards. Learn more at CCTA.ca.org/community/listening

Lafayette Chamber Young Professionals at Lafayette Public House

Lafayette Chamber Young Professionals (YoPros) is a network of early and emerging professionals, as well as those changing careers or starting a new business. YoPros provides a welcoming environment to build meaningful relationships, grow professionally, and engage with Lafayette’s business community. Lafayette Chamber Young Professionals will meet on Thursday, August 27 from 9 to 10am at Lafayette Public House, 50 Lafayette Circle. Registration required online at https://lafayettechamber.org/yopros.  Guests are welcome to attend their first meeting for free and then may join the Lafayette Chamber or pay a $20 guest fee per event.

Lafayette Res Run for Education – Early Bird Gets the (Gummy) Worm!

The first 100 students who register from each school will receive a voucher for ¼ lb of bulk candy from Zoonie’s Candy Toy and Gelato at packet pickup! Races on October 18 include 5k, 10k and 2 mile courses. The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the City of Lafayette are proud co-sponsors of the Lafayette Res Run for Education. Last year, this annual event brought together nearly 2,200 runners and raised $37,611 for our local public schools and Chamber services and programs. Register now at https://lafayettechamber.org/resrun/

We’re One Month Away from the 2026 Lafayette Art & Wine Festival

The Lafayette Art & Wine Festival is Saturday, September 19, 10am to 7pm and Sunday, September 20, 10am to 6pm in Downtown Lafayette along Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette Circle and La Fiesta Square and will feature the beautiful downtown, local artists, local food and drink and local entertainment including Random Nature, The Ripplers, Other People’s Money and full lineup on the Community Stage! Check out the music schedule at https://lafayettefestival.com.

Lafayette Reservoir Tower Status Update for August from EBMUD
EBMUD crews began shortening the Lafayette Reservoir Tower in early July. The work began with the removal of the existing operating house, followed by the removal of 13 concrete rings from the tower stem. Visitors will notice a significant change in the appearance of the outlet tower as the structure has been shortened by approximately 40 feet. The tower remains surrounded by scaffolding and protective construction materials as crews continue working on the new operating house and associated infrastructure.

As the seasonal environmental work window closes later in the Fall of 2026, crews will pause work on the tower components and return during the next permitted work window in the Spring of 2027 to install the new underwater slide gates and electric motor operators. The overall Tower Safety Upgrade Project remains on schedule for completion in the Fall of 2027.

There are no planned vehicular closures associated with the Tower Safety Upgrade Project. Intermittent traffic flagging will continue at the park entrance to manage heavy equipment, construction vehicles, and debris transport. Visitors should expect changing conditions and localized delays while driving and walking inside the park. Project Resources: EBMUD Project Webpage | Lafayette Reservoir & Water System Projects Overview | Sign up for EBMUD Alerts

Looking for more upcoming happenings around town?

Visit the Chamber’s Community Events Calendar online.

Miscellaneous

Slow Down Lafayette! Traffic safety continues to be a top priority in the City of Lafayette, with the goal of reducing injuries to pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers/passengers. Have you seen our lawn signs around various schools reminding drivers to drive safely? Speed is the most critical factor that affects the severity of injuries, so do your part and obey the speed limit. For more information and safety tips, visit www.lovelafayette.org/slowdown

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!

Aug. 26           Women’s Equality Day

Sept 7              Labor Day – City Administrative Offices will be closed

Photo for the Week

Lafayette Recreation offers programs for all ages and interests. Adult classes include arts & crafts (like Petrykivka Ukrainian Painting pictured above), dance, fitness, sports, yoga, music, baking, game, conversational Mandarin, and more!

Quote for the Week

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
—  Lao Tzu

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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.