Mayor Clarkson Delivers First State of the City Address

Some of San Ramon's most influential people gathered for lunch at the Tuesday to see a familiar face in a new role.

Mayor Bill Clarkson, who's lived in San Ramon for 33 years, delivered his first State of the City address since winning the mayoral election last November.

He was relaxed delivering his speech that was sponsored by the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce, looking over his notes casually as he talked to audience. When a cell phone started chirping in the crowd, he cracked a joke.

The content of his speech matched many of for the office he now holds.

Transparency may have been the theme he hit the hardest. He told the audience he wanted to listen to as many voices as possible and begin town hall meetings and scheduled meetups at coffee shops to hear feedback and concerns from constituents.

"We want to be as transparent as possible," Clarkson said.

He also wants to set up a committee to keep people informed about San Ramon's never-ending issue — the status of the downtown project. In the Q&A portion of the address, it was said that the project is at the mercy of the economy and is still probably three to five years away.

One of the challenges Clarkson spoke on was the $4 million structural deficit the city faces.

"We have to address it," Clarkson said. "We can't keep kicking the can down the road like we have in the past."

He said the recent decision to do away with California redevelopment agencies will also be a challenge financially for the city.

Land use, one of the more controversial issues in the city, will also be a topic Clarkson said he will engage residents about.

Clarkson said that overall San Ramon is in good shape, thanks to a vibrant business community and an already-engaged community.

Sitting in the audience was the man who had given the State of the City Address for nearly the last decade, former Mayor H. Abram Wilson. At the end of the speech, Clarkson asked Wilson to stand.

"Your leadership and your commitment to the city is why we are here today," Clarkson told Wilson.

Clarkson will give another State of the City Address tonight at the San Ramon Community Center at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.