Peter Cloven - Clayton City Council / Past Mayor

10/16/2024

I have always stood against negative campaign tactics through my words and actions. The ugly, ignorant hit piece against Holly Tillman - Clayton City Council was the impetus for this video. I am voting for and no other candidate for Clayton City Council.

08/30/2024

Claytonians! Come join your friends and neighbors in our 2nd Annual Day of Service. Clayton will join many other cities across our nation that remember the events of 9/11 by dedicating our time to the betterment of our local community.

We will meet at 8 am on Saturday morning, September 7th, for coffee and donuts. Bring your gloves, shovels, rakes, and/or painting gear as we select from service projects available at Mount Diablo Elementary, Diablo View Middle School, and the Dog Park (below DVMS). If any organization has a project that needs “hands”, please reach out to Peter Cloven or Holly Tillman at [email protected] or [email protected].

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 11, when Clayton, in conjunction with the CCC Fire Protect District, Clayton VFW Post 1525, will commemorate 9/11 at 11 am at the Clayton Fire Station. Last year’s remembrance was moving and worthy of attendance by all.

08/10/2024

My Fellow Claytonians,

After deep reflection, I have decided not to seek re-election to the Clayton City Council for professional and personal reasons. Trust me when I say this was not an easy decision. Simply put, I love and care deeply for the city of Clayton.

In 2017, the city council appointed me to serve on the Planning Commission. After serving and then being elected as its Chairperson, I learned the city process through long meetings on a wide range of issues. I then ran for city council with the rousing support of my family, many friends, neighbors, and residents.

I am eternally grateful to have been elected by you in 2020 to serve as your council member. Every decision I have made has been based on the data provided and with the lens of what is best for all of Clayton. It has been an honor to serve Clayton as councilmember, Vice Mayor, and Mayor.

Our city passed the “Do The Right Thing” initiative in 2012 under Mayor Hank Stratford. I have personally taken the character traits of that program to heart in all my efforts to represent our city with integrity, kindness and respect at the core of our interactions to bring civility back to the council chambers. “Do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do” is not just a slogan, or pithy words we tell our children, but values our elected officials should model to their constituents. In the end, character counts.

It has been my pleasure to work with our schools on the Do The Right Thing program, bring back Clayton Cleans Up, start Clayton’s Day of Service to honor 9/11, participate in planning, and march proudly as a council member in the Clayton Pride Parade.

I am proud to have introduced Climatec to our city with then-City Manager Reina Swartz. Climatec's efforts for infrastructure improvements (e.g., solar, EV, LED) will put Clayton on a path toward environmental sustainability, if residents continue to push future Councils to pursue them.

I have been a constant proponent of transparency on our fiscal challenges and refused to let politics prevent honest dialogue about the tough decisions that we will all face in the very near future.

It has been a joy to spend countless hours in support of our city staff. Over the years Clayton has been blessed with an array of amazing, dedicated staff who often felt underappreciated and/or undeservedly attacked. I am grateful for their efforts on behalf of the city. To those that have left, I am happy knowing that their talents are being welcomed and honored elsewhere.

I encourage all of you to stay engaged. Your voice matters. Listen to meetings, question council decisions, and most of all, vote. I have been a proponent of clean, positive campaigns without mentioning other candidates in a negative light and staying true to campaign pledges to do the same. As we come into this election cycle, think for yourself and don’t rely on the diatribe of misinformation from others disguised as “truth”.

Again, thank you all for the opportunity to represent you. I wish you all well and look forward to seeing you around town.

With Gratitude,

Peter Cloven

06/03/2024

The 3rd Annual Clayton Pride Parade was an unequivocal success! Thank you to the many volunteers, businesses, and donors who made this event happen. This parade was not a spectator event … but rather, it was an interactive event where participants, organizers, and the crowd all shared the pure joy and celebration of the day.

Personally, I have many gay friends and have been aware of the discrimination against the community for a very long time. When Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church (CVPC) decided to fly the rainbow flag in support of the LGTBQ+ community seven years ago, I took personal charge of replacing the flag every time it was vandalized, stolen, and even burned.

The Clayton City Council voted in 2020 to recognize June as the Month of Pride and fly the Rainbow Flag. As a Planning Commissioner at the time, I supported this action during public comment.

In 2021, I was thrilled to join a small group of residents in organizing the first Clayton Pride Parade as a newly elected council member. A year later, I had the honor of leading the first annual Clayton Pride Parade as the mayor of Clayton, with Vice Mayor Holly Tillman by my side. It's disheartening that neither the mayor nor vice mayor of Clayton has participated in the Clayton Pride Parade since. However, today, we were uplifted by the presence of 15 dignitaries from neighboring cities, including Concord, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, and Oakley. We were also joined by Congressman Mark Desaulnier and Supervisor Ken Carlson, who walked alongside us in the Clayton Pride Parade. This strong regional support underscores the significance of this event, not just for Clayton but for the entire Contra Costa County community.

Why Clayton? Clayton is the smallest city in Contra Costa County. It has a historical reputation for being very conservative and somewhat exclusive. My experience with the Pride Flag at CVPC was consistent with that reputation. Clayton Pride was born out of the theory that a Pride Parade is not just for the people of San Francisco, but rather, it is necessary in the suburbs where the LGTBQ+ population most need to feel safe to "just be themselves."

I am especially gratified this year that 6 congregations from local Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopal, and Congregational churches met for an ecumenical church service in the Grove before the parade to celebrate the message of a God who loves all their rainbow-hued children. This is contrary to the message that the media and many churches themselves portray to their congregants.

There have been so many Claytonians, both adults and students, who have personally expressed their gratitude to me for our efforts in putting together the Clayton Pride Parade. For the adults, they have experienced hatred and discrimination. For the kids, they have experienced prejudice and bullying. Clayton Pride is a day that allows them to know that they are welcomed and accepted just the way they are. It is the ultimate expression of Inclusion, which is one of the character traits we value in Clayton's Do the Right Thing Program, along with Kindness, Respect, Courage, Integrity, Responsibility, and Self-Discipline. This is not about politics, it is about doing what is right, because it is the right thing to do.

With Gratitude,
Peter Cloven
Clayton City Councilmember

04/20/2024

Clayton Cleans Up was an amazing success with and over 300 participants! Thank you to sponsors Republic Services, Clayton Business and Community Association, and the Concord Clayton Pioneer. I am so grateful for the many friends and residents who volunteered to help make this event an amazing example of who we are as a community.

04/16/2024

Tonight's city council meeting has one action item regarding the addition of one new member to the Financial Sustainability Committee. I introduced the concept of this committee to the Council for it's unanimous approval back on 10/18/2022. The committee has sat fallow with only two appointed members (no quorum) since. For more information on the purpose of this committee and its charge to be the "trusted voice" to advise Clayton, I have attached the following brief video from the 10/18/2022 meeting. Please contact me if you have any questions or come to the meeting tonight and comment accordingly. With Gratitude, Peter

04/14/2024

Clayton Cleans Up is this Saturday, April 20th! Come, join your neighbors, get a free t-shirt & celebrate together with a free BBQ for participants at noon!

A special thanks to JuJu Yoshi for this years logo design & our sponsors, Republic Services, Clayton Business and Community Association, and the Concord Clayton Pioneer.

04/05/2024

CLAYTON CLEANS UP is here on Saturday, April 20th. Mark you Calendars and join your neighbors and friends for a day of community spirit. Let's celebrate Earth Day by sprucing up our town in preparation for the CBCA Art & Wine Festival the following weekend. The first 200 participants get a t-shirt & a volunteer BBQ hosted by Republic Services lunch is free to all participants afterwards!

Community groups - I've you'd like a table in the city courtyard, please reach out to me at [email protected] to reserve your spot!

A special thanks goes out to Clayton high school junior JuJu Yoshi for designing this year's logo, and to our sponsors - Republic Services, Clayton Business and Community Association and the Concord Clayton Pioneer for sponsoring this years event!

Clayton Cleans Up returns to Clayton Sat., April 20, 2024.

03/09/2024

Claytonians!! Mark your calendars for Clayton Cleans Up on Saturday morning April 20, 2024. Grab your family and friends and come join our community at City Hall at 9 am! T-shirts are available for the first 200 participants. A community BBQ will be hosted at noon at City Hall.

A special thank you goes out to our sponsors Republic Services, CBCA, and the Clayton Pioneer who make this event happen!

Another special thank you goes out to a very talented local artist, JuJu Yoshi for the design of the logo. This Clayton high school student has a very bright future ahead!

10/26/2023

Urgent Action Needed: Addressing Clayton's Financial Challenges!

Our city is facing a workforce shortage (identified by MRG Consulting) and a daunting annual maintenance workload deficit of 5,500 hours (outlined by a consultant- former Interim City Manager Ron Bernal). Despite being aware of these issues for over two years, our council has failed to take decisive action.

We need to have an open conversation about our long-term financial challenges and engage the community for input. Strategic planning and unbiased moderation are essential to ensure progress and accountability. That was brought by our City Manager, but the council continues to delay. Together, let's advocate for substantive budget discussions and make decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of our needs.

Your input is crucial! Join the conversation about what matters most to you and help shape the future of Clayton, our beloved small town.

10/19/2023

Hello Clayton! Attached is a video summary of our city council meeting last night. Please reach out to me if you have any questions. With Gratitude, Peter

10/15/2023

At the last city council meeting, we heard of Clayton's serious challenges with staffing and funding of our maintenance department. This article provides a clear picture of those challenges. Please call me with any questions.

Clayton's Maintenance Problems Are Growing And It's Getting Expensive

The city of Clayton has hit a snag with its yearly infrastructure and outdoor maintenance. A consultant identified 5,500 hours of work that needs to be done to keep Clayton in good order. To get a handle on all of the work that needs to be done and actually get the work started, the price tag could....