A Few Minutes With Walnut Creek Mayor Kevin Wilk
Mayor Kevin Wilk (center left) presents a proclamation to dispatcher Zachary Riquelme (center right) at the April 7, 2026, City Council meeting, in recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. Mayor Wilk is flanked by (l-r) Councilmember Matt Francois, Councilmember Craig DeVinney, Councilmember Cindy Darling, and Counclmember Cindy Silva. [Photo courtesy of City of Walnut Creek]
Attending a Walnut Creek City Council meeting is an opportunity to experience Democracy in action and to catch a glimpse of the intricate and multi-layered work of local government. Meetings are open to the public, held the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, 6pm, in the Council Chamber, City Hall, 1666 North Main Street.
Agendas are posted on the City’s website, and there is time at every meeting for the public to speak before the Council and share ideas and opinions about agenda and non-agenda items that affect their lives and livelihoods.
City Council is made up of five councilmembers; facilitating council leadership this year is Mayor Kevin Wilk. Mayor Wilk was first elected to Walnut Creek City Council in November, 2016, then re-elected in 2020 and 2024. He served his first term as mayor in 2021.
Walnut Creek Mayor Kevin Wilk joined Walnut Creek Chamber Board Chair Angela Ashley for a wide-ranging fireside chat at the recent State of the City luncheon held at the Shadelands Art Center and available for viewing on Walnut Creek TV.
Mayor Wilk firmly believes in open communications and engagement. He recently partnered with the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce for a compelling and wide-ranging fireside chat with Chamber Board Chair Angela Ashley during the 2026 State of the City luncheon (timestamp 5:20-52:40).
New this year is the online Mayor’s Minute, brief and lively video updates, posted two to three times per month, about what’s happening in Walnut Creek, covering news and events related to the City, business, and the Arts. The Shadelands Scene had a opportunity to talk with Mayor Wilk about life in Walnut Creek and Shadelands.
The Scene: What issues affecting life in Walnut Creek is City Council discussing this term?
Mayor Wilk: We have five strategic priorities we regularly discuss and take action on, which can be found on the City’s website.
Public safety is always a top issue. People want to feel safe – and we do recognize Walnut Creek as a safe place. That’s why residents and visitors shop here, dine here, recreate here, and work here.
We’re focusing on proactive policing, crime prevention, investing in technology, updating safety plans for natural disasters, and community-based responses to mental health crises and programs for homeless and vulnerable populations.
We continue to partner with Contra Costa Health Services to enhance the "Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime" countywide mobile crisis response program, reducing the need for law enforcement in mental health emergencies.
Walnut Creek Police Chief Ryan Hibbs (front row, left), Crime Prevention Specialist Kira Raman (front row, third from left), and WCPD sworn personnel meet with local store managers and employees at their places of business to build relationships and open lines of communication. [Photo courtesy of Walnut Creek Police Department]
The Walnut Creek Police Department, led by Police Chief Ryan Hibbs, recently launched the Walnut Creek Business Watch program to enhance partnerships between local businesses and law enforcement by offering resources, safety tips, and open and direct lines of communication. All businesses in Walnut Creek should look into Business Watch – it’s a powerful program with potential to stem property crime and ensure public safety.
The Scene: Describe some of the construction we see going on at Heather Farm Park and elsewhere around the City.
Mayor Wilk: Walnut Creek’s infrastructure – especially focused on recreational sites – is another priority. Right now, Heather Farm Park is a big project as we construct our new swim and community centers. These improvements are funded by Measure O, which was passed by Walnut Creek voters in 2022, adding a ½% sales tax in Walnut Creek to help pay for city-enhancing services, programs, public safety, and facilities construction. The revenue ensures funding for police staffing, emergency services, park upgrades, homeless services, and public facilities like the Lesher Center and the community facilities at Heather Farm.
Artist’s rendering of the planned Aquatic and Community Center at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek, funded by Measure O. [Image courtesy of City of Walnut Creek]
We chose to do this as a sales tax because so many people from outside the city come to Walnut Creek and take advantage of our services and facilities – and we want them to come here, of course. With the sales tax, our visitors are helping pay for the things that we need in Walnut Creek and that they use in Walnut Creek, such as our community facilities and public safety resources.
One of Walnut Creek’s economic development incentive programs offers $10,000 to restaurants that want to build outdoor dining areas. [Photo courtesy of City of Walnut Creek]
We’re also now seeing more outdoor dining pods. We have a grant program that we put into place last year and just expanded through June granting $10,000 to any restaurant that wants to build outdoor dining. Seven restaurants have opted to use the grant, and we have three more grants remaining. One silver lining to the pandemic was all the outdoor activity that sprung up because we had to stay outdoors – it looked like European dining in Walnut Creek. We like to see to that exuberance, where people enjoy going downtown with options for indoor and outdoor dining.
The Scene: How do you see Shadelands Walnut Creek in the context of the greater Walnut Creek economy and quality of life?
Mayor Wilk: It’s great to see that Shadelands, after years of slow decline in occupancy, is now a place where businesses want to set up shop – where businesses want to expand, and where customers and clients and visitors want to go – where they want to shop, and dine, and live, and take their kids to sports activities. The medical facilities and services now in Shadelands, of course, are outstanding. Viamonte and The Orchards and the SportsMall have changed the face of Shadelands for the good. Diablo Ballet and Meals on Wheels Diablo Region have moved their headquarters to Shadelands, and Summa Academy is the fifth school to open in Shadelands. This is remarkable growth and great news — for the economy and for consumers, given the variety of businesses that are coming to Shadelands.
Mayor Wilk (r) was on hand to congratulate Meals on Wheels Diablo Region on its continuing success and welcome Executive Director David Linnell (l) and his team to Shadelands Walnut Creek at the nonprofit’s April 29 open house and ribbon cutting. [BlueGoo Photography]
Mitchell Drive Townhomes will provide 422 multi-family market rate and affordable homes in Shadelands, at the current site of Walnut Creek Executive Park. {Artist’s rendering courtesy of Signature Development Group]
We have the vacant parcel next to Joybound zoned for senior living, and with recent project approval, Mitchell Drive Townhomes will be coming to Shadelands in the next few years, adding market rate and affordable multi-family housing. Shadelands has grown and expanded from what it was as strictly an office park, to what it is now with all of the above, and more. It has become a huge economic driver, drawing from a wide radius for its medical facilities and services, for its arts and educational opportunities, for its sports venues, and even for its taprooms at Calicraft and Mike Hess. This all adds to the vibrancy and quality of life for Shadelands, and for Walnut Creek.
I go to conferences around the state and around the country and it amazes me how many people have heard of Walnut Creek. Our downtown, our amenities, our businesses and medical resources, our recreational choices. Our lifestyle and opportunities are a huge part of our reputation, and we strive to continue that energy and positivity. My goal is to help our residents continue to enjoy where they live. When they do, then I’m doing my job as mayor.
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Want to connect with Walnut Creek City Council?
• Call City Hall at 925.943.5899
• Engage with Council members at the downtown Walnut Creek Farmers’ Market, Sundays, 9am to 1pm
• Email Mayor Wilk directly at [email protected]
• Follow Mayor Wilk on Facebook; Instagram; LinkedIn
• Visit City of Walnut Creek website
• Follow City of Walnut Creek on Facebook
