The Walnut Creek City Council approved its budget which included 5 more police officers while also approving a $225k branding campaign for officer recruitment. Police staffing will now sit at 85 allocated positions.
Also during the meeting, two members of the Walnut Creek City Council suggest they begin looking at limiting zoom comments after back-to-back meetings where they have had antisemitic callers spew rhetoric the council did not agree with. They said if they want to speak like that in public, it should no longer be anonymous.
Antisemitic Callers Return
For the second straight meeting, the Walnut Creek city council was subjected to public comments by activists–at the last meeting, the council shut off public comments on a caller.
On zoom, “Scottie” returned stating: “I am the guy you shut down the last meeting. What you guys did was completely against the constitution and what it stands for. I want to remind you guys you took an oath. You swore to defend and uphold the constitution directly as it is. Just because I want to point out Jews are responsible for all the negative s—t in this world, that doesn’t mean you can shut me down. I want to ask Wilk how do you like those banners?”
Editors Note — Scottie was referring to banners that flew over a recent overpass in Lafayette targeting Wilk. Wilk issued a response on this website.
Darryl stated, “we are a worldwide peaceful and anonymous initiative who furthers the interest of white people through real life action. We seek to create a white racial consciousness by encouraging people to demonstrate their love for their folk through real life action. WLM activists do not reveal their identities publicly and anyone claiming to represent WLM non anonymously is an imposter. We welcome support from anyone of noble character. However, activism with us is only done anonymously and legally…. WLM is A-political, yet racial, yet action focused anonymous. We act, we do not talk. We are not concerned with the economic or even political landscape. However, our views regarding those two are if it helps the interest of white people, we are for it. If it does not, we are against it. When it comes to actual goals, we will fight for and will achieve one, by any means necessary ensure the physical, cultural or spiritual continuation of our people in all of the countries or continents that we have built.”
Thomas Bloxham a local attorney, spoke on hate speech and how it was protected even if they do not like it, thus its protected. He said the city Council cannot suppress speech, it does not like which he called settled law. He accused the city council of suppressing the speech of the zoom caller who expressed his views on a religious group.
“You can’t do that, even if you hate the speech,” stated Bloxham. “I do not share his views, but I support and defend his right to share his views in a public and government sanctioned forum. So must you. You are not the last elected officials here, somebody down the road is going to be elected is going to hate your speech.”
After public comments, Mayor Cindy Silva, who appeared shaken, stated she appreciated living in a community where they appreciate the contributions of everyone and colorblind to that.
Councilmember Cindy Darling stated “love is always stronger than hate”.
Councilmember Matt Francois suggests limiting public comments from zoom
Councilmember Matt Francois said he was sorry you had to experience that, “none of us should be discriminated against in this country based on our religion of all things because that is what this country was founded on. Those comments are not who we are as a community. Who we are as a community is a council that embraces diversity. Its one of our priorities, recognize Juneteenth and Pride and Jewish American history month. That is who we are as a community and I am disturbed by those comments.”
Francois continued by stating he was in favor of considering limiting public comments by zoom.
“If this is our future, I don’t want to be subject to that anymore,” stated Francois. “You want to come out of the shadows and stop being a coward. Make your comments in public. Not anonymously if you are going to spew that vile because I don’t want to hear it.”
Councilmember Kevin Wilk addressed the hate speech.
“I would like the people who have reached out the last couple of weeks. Its one reason why I stand up for everybody because antisemitism is probably the oldest form of bigotry and discrimination in the world. People don’t stop at one, they just move onto others as we certainly know. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us because it is divisive and one way to rebuke this is to stand up for one another as a community. Its why I stand up for LGBTQ, Asian, Latina, black and anyone in marginalized communities that are just showing pride in themselves.”
He continued.
“What I think is interesting is these people, these hate speech, these hate groups that are so prideful in what they say is their own race that they hide in the shadows, that they don’t show their face on zoom, that they use anonymous names, and all they do is hide because they know they will be rebuked, they will be fired, and they will be ostracized. So they stay hidden and I think we have to consider this as a city council to see if we want to allow this type of anonymity to call in rather than show up in the future. Its unfortunate but I think we need to have that conversation in the future.”
Walnut Creek Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025 Budget
The total recommended FY24 and FY25 Operating Budget projects revenue across all funds to be $184.53 million in FY24 and $146.63 million in FY25. Total expenditures in all funds are budgeted at $183.37 million in FY24, and $158.89 million in FY25 — see budget
FY25 General Fund revenue is projected to be $103.35 million and FY25 expenditures to be $102.7 million. After required contributions to reserves, FY24 is projected to have a contribution to fund balance of approximately $710,000, and FY25 has a projected contribution to fund balance of $90,000
Some items in the budget include:
- Homeless Services: The FY24 and FY25 budget includes continuation of the full-time CORE Homeless Outreach Team
- Library Hours: Funding of 12 extra open library hours per week at the Walnut Creek and Ygnacio Valley library branches is included in the proposed Operating Budget.
- Public Safety: Public safety funding enhancements in the proposed Operating Budget include the continued funding of 5 police officers, the addition of a Crime Prevention Specialist, and Police Services Supervisors over Dispatch and Records. Funding for a city-wide effort to upgrade and integrate security cameras, Animal Control services and crossing guard services is also included in the proposed budget
- Staffing: A total of 388.50 FTE positions are recommended in FY24 and 386.50 in FY25, across all city funds.
- New Positions: A total of 8.50 FTE are proposed to be added in FY24 across all funds, which brings the total authorized positions in FY24 to 388.5 FTE
Mayor Pro Tem Loella Haskew called it a “very thoughtful and realistic budget” which picks up items that needs to be attended to while being able to afford to do.
Councilmember Cindy Darling called public safety as “job 1”, but there is a lot of balance in the budget along with the dreams of the community center and pool which only improves Heather Farms.
“The budget does a really good job at moving the city forward,” stated Darling.
Councilmember Kevin Wilk pointed out he didn’t understand the concept of less police makes for a safer community while also noting with less officers they do not have a homeless outreach team, a school resource program—noting an officer took away a loaded gun on a campus. He encouraged to get the appropriate number of police officers.
Mayor Cindy Silva said the budget reflects the priorities of the community that the council emulates and reflects priorities they want to work on. She said it also reflects the symbiotic nature of how a city works.
Council Agrees to $225k Contract for Recruiting Program
The item was pulled out of Consent Calendar for discussion in which Mayor Cindy Silva asked Walnut Creek Police Chief Jamie Knox clarifying questions as the police department brought forward a contract with Epic Recruiting to create a personalized and comprehensive recruiting program for the police department—including branding, a series of videos, and online marketing campaign.
A breakdown of the quote includes:
- Brand Development – $100k
- Recruitment Website – $50k
- Online Marketing Campaign – $75k
Chief Knox highlighted in the past they would get 1,000 applications for each open position and now they are at 100 applications if they were lucky.
“This is a common trend not only in the region, but nationally,” stated Knox.
Mayor Silva asked what is the solution the service provider Epic Solutions would make Walnut Creek unique.
Sgt. Scott Moorhouse explained is they are sole source, which means they could offer the website for recruitment, but also provide video production and 3-days of onsite production. Additionally, they would provide additional services as stated in their bid.
Knox was also asked about staffing levels which he said they are authorized for 80 officers positions with 74 positions filled—they are down 6 officers. He added they don’t count trainees, which they have 1 set to graduate in July. They also have 4 trainees going into the next academy. However, 8-9 officers could retire at some point within the next year.
The Police Department will use available funds in the Fiscal Year 2023 operating budget for this one-time expenditure of $225,000, due to salary savings from current vacant police officer positions.
According to Epic Recruitment, their clients include several law enforcement agencies which include the Berkeley Police, Concord Police, Fairfield Police, Hayward Police, Richmond Police, and Tracy Police.
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