City of Walnut Creek
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View the Updated Safety Element
The Safety Element Update was adopted by City Council at the May 5, 2026. To view the meeting, click here. To view the resolution, click here. This update removes the Safety Element from Chapter Six of the 2025 General Plan. The Safety Element is available in the link below.
What is the Safety Element?
California State law requires local governments to have a General Plan, a blueprint to meet the community’s long-term vision for the future. The General Plan contains several chapters or “elements,” covering different topics. The City's Safety Element incorporates safety considerations in the planning and decision-making process. It includes policies related to future development that will minimize the risk of personal injury, loss of life, property damage, and environmental damage associated with natural and human-made hazards. The Safety Element addresses the City’s natural hazards and human activities that may pose a threat to public safety within the following topic areas:
- Geologic and Seismic Hazards
- Flood Hazards
- Fire Hazards
- Hazardous Materials
- Climate Change
How is the Safety Element Implemented?
The Safety Element sets goals, objectives, policies, and programs that direct decision-making around hazard mitigation planning, disaster preparedness, and emergency response, in addition to climate change adaptation and resilience. It provides policy direction that supports laws and regulations related to safety hazards, mitigation efforts, and resilience strategies in alignment with the guiding principles established by General Plan 2025, which serves as a guide for long-term development in the City.
What Did the Update Process Look Like?
The Safety Element Update kicked off alongside the Housing Element Update in 2022. In the early stages of the update process, the City held two community workshops seeking community input on housing and safety needs in the city.
- The first workshop (watch a recording of the workshop here or click here to view the presentation) was held on March 21, 2022, where we introduced the elements, presented a community profile, and conducted live polling on housing and safety needs, challenges, and issues.
- The second workshop, held on April 20, 2022 (watch a recording of the workshop here or click here to view the presentation) covered the initial results of a community survey and conducted live polling to seek input on potential policies and programs.
Following assessment of the city's hazard conditions and potential evacuation scenarios, a public draft of the Safety Element Update was available for comment from February 9, 2026 to March 11, 2026.
At the March 26, 2026 Planning Commission meeting, commissioners recommended the City Council adopt the Safety Element and Initial Study/Negative Declaration. To watch the meeting, click here.
Contact
Allison Rustick, Associate Planner