Four ways to weigh in this week, from Walnut Creek 2050 to a Pleasant Hill forum

Four public meetings this week take comment on what Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill do next. Two are in Walnut Creek, two in Pleasant Hill, and one of them you can attend from the couch.

Walnut Creek 2050, Thursday, Sept. 24

The city's first community workshop for the Walnut Creek 2050 general plan update runs 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Park Community Center Assembly Hall, 1375 Civic Drive. It is a drop-in open house, so there is no set start time to catch. Attendees can comment on a draft vision and set of guiding values, flag issues and opportunities, and mark up an interactive map with ideas about housing, jobs, recreation and places to gather. Food is provided, with children's activities and raffle prizes.

The general plan is the long-range blueprint for land use, housing, transportation, public services, safety and sustainability, so this is the document behind a lot of later arguments. If Thursday does not work, the city says a virtual open house and online questionnaire will be posted for a limited time after Sept. 24 at WalnutCreek2050.org, which also takes email signups for project updates.

Tenant rights, Saturday, Sept. 26

The city is running a tenant rights workshop from 10 a.m. to noon on Zoom, covering rent increases and AB 1482, the state's Tenant Protection Act. It is open to tenants and property owners, and the city says it is the first in a series. Registration is required, online or by calling 925-732-3919.

Gas-powered yard equipment, Tuesday, Sept. 22

Pleasant Hill's Planning Commission holds a study session at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane, on a proposed ordinance restricting gas-powered landscaping equipment. The city's general plan and climate action plan both direct it to write such restrictions, and this session is for the commission to react to the options before anything is drafted for adoption. Comments can be made in person, or to associate planner Andrew Shiflet at (925) 671-5211.

City Council candidates, Wednesday, Sept. 23

The Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce hosts a moderated forum for candidates in the two City Council races on the November ballot, 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 100 Gregory Lane. Doors open at 5:40 p.m. Mayor Zac Shess faces Jason Seto, and Councilmember Sue Noack faces Quy Tran, according to the chamber's event listing. Questions can be submitted to the chamber in advance or in person before the forum starts. The forum will also stream on the city's YouTube channel and be recorded for local access television.