A new report released by the 2024–2025 Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury has raised significant concerns about governance, transparency, and financial practices in the City of Clayton. The report, the result of an in-depth investigation into the operations of the Clayton City Council, cites troubling patterns of mismanagement, lack of transparency, and ongoing financial instability in one of Contra Costa County’s smallest cities. Among the most alarming findings is the extremely high turnover of senior staff, with 12 City Managers serving between 2019 and 2024—far exceeding other cities in the region. Similar turnover was also observed among Finance Directors and Community Development Directors, causing disruptions in city services and increased expenses from external contractors and recruitment firms. The Grand Jury also found that the City Council routinely failed to follow its own rules for placing items on meeting agendas, limiting both councilmember input and public awareness. A now-defunct agenda-setting committee violated the Brown Act, California’s law ensuring open government meetings. On the financial front, Clayton has operated with a budget deficit since 2021, relying heavily on reserve funds. Despite repeated warnings from multiple City Managers with public finance expertise, the Council has declined to pursue revenue-generating measures such as a parcel tax or sales tax increase. The Citizens Financial Sustainability Committee, intended to provide fiscal guidance, has struggled with direction, staffing, and transparency. Committee oversight was also a focal point in the report. The Grand Jury found that more than half of all committee meetings in 2024 were held as special meetings, reducing public notice to just 24 hours and eliminating comment periods. Additionally, meeting minutes are inconsistently posted, and committees failed to report back to the full Council as required by city policy.
Recommendations Include:
- Restoring real-time transparency for agenda item requests.
- Ensuring all committee meetings comply with the Brown Act and post accurate minutes.
- Investigating the root causes of senior staff turnover.
- Identifying and implementing new sources of city revenue by July 2026.
The Grand Jury has requested formal responses to its findings and recommendations from the Clayton City Council by the deadlines outlined in the report.
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW THE FULL REPORT
Recently moved to Clayton, definitely a “clicky” town. Makes sense the city leadership is just as sneaky and fake as most the town people.
You can always leave …..
Typical. Someone moves/lives somewhere and want to address clear problems and everyone says to “leave”. Part of the problem, 100%.
@jessica
Calling most of the “clicky” townspeople sneaky and fake, addresses what clear problem exactly? Nothing, that’s what. It’s an opinion someone has, that’s all…..and not 100% of the problem.
If you don’t like your neighbors why isn’t leaving an viable option?
ALF isn’t going to change the people who live in Clayton. ALF is either going to adapt or be unhappy living there.
Don’t conflate the people of Clayton with the City Government of Clayton.
Sure, If that’s what the residents of the city of Clayton want. Seems city leadership was making the calls behind closed doors. Its obvious none of the leadership want the citizens informed and educated. This is what happens when you elect friends or affable people over capable leadership.
Say it isn’t so! Government failing us again? Who could have guessed?! Hahaha!
Isn’t home rule wonderful Paul?
Concord doesn’t get to shallow up anything unless 2/3rds of the citizens of Clayton vote to dissolve and even then, Clayton would still be township under control of the County Board of Supervisors like the rest of unincorporated Contra Costa County.
What are the odds of the citizens of Clayton voluntarily giving up control to the County Board of Supervisors so they can flood the city with affordable housing? My guess is slim to none and Slim left town.
Not to mention the city council and mayors present and past whole heartily bring the pride parade to Clayton past 4 years stating the majority of Clayton residents want it. Yea what led to all to believe that, not true at all. Clayton has been ruined by the city council in more ways than mentioned.
Perhaps councilmembers focused too much on the parade and not enough on oversight and money. What is the trash restaurant’s name?
My response was to Jessica’s post, which is gone.
Clayton was ruined when it was incorporated in 1964.
Clayton isn’t the only local city that should have a Grand Jury investigation… hmmmm gives me an idea regarding stalling on work that needs to be done due to an immense fire hazard by the city of WC
That is a horrible idea why would you want to destroy Clayton?
** ****. This Trends piracy stuff is viral and destroying the very fibers of our society.
In other words..woke.
Quite the contrary actually, if you’ve been paying ANY attention. There have been a number for former council members trying to reign in frivolous spending and waste who have been pushed out. Focus up.
And what good could that do but make more work for night time thieves?
A town so sneaky they got investigated by grand jury.
As the BART board director who worked tirelessly to bring fare gate replacement to the front page, the 5 o’clock news, and all over social media for 8 years, I am disappointed that I wasn’t invited to the celebration. It’s so ironic that 2 of the Contra Costa elected officials in that ribbon cutting photo, County Supervisor Ken Carlson and Walnut Creek Councilman Wilk, are the same electeds who launched the first campaign event of my opponent in my 2020 BART re-election race. That opponent was running on a platform based solely on calling me a racist for working so hard to control the fare evasion at BART. So ironic!
Sorry, the above post was meant for the article about BART fare gates: https://www.claycord.com/2025/05/30/new-bart-fare-gates-celebrated-politicians-emerge-from-hibernation-to-stand-near-something-that-actually-works/
Kinda thing that should be sorted out
at the ballot box
not seating a jury.
there’s ‘effery about all over the place.
I must offer that increasing taxes is not the best way to cover a deficit. That’s how we got the taxpayer revolt known as Prop 13.
Paying sizeable recruitment fees to headhunters to get new managers and directors every few months, and paying severance, retirement, and other benefits to each manager as they are shown the door adds up very quickly.
Be transparent, open the doors to public comment, comply with all laws. Get your finances in order. Hire a competent bookkeeper to get the finances in order. If your property tax base is low, that means you likely have retirees that can volunteer to minimize salary costs at city offices and special events. These folks would love to help out instead of paying more of their fixed income to the city to so the next city manager can board his cat as part of his moving expenses.
Stop acting like those crummy HOA’s whose stories pack the internet.
You can do better, Clayton.