3 minute read
Open Space, Parks, and Fiscal Responsibility
www.DanvilleLivingCA.com @DanvilleLivingCA #DanvilleLivingCA
By Newell Arnerich, Resident since 1987
Fall in Danville, under the shadows of the majestic Mt. Diablo, is a time of beautiful colors and cool sunsets. It is when nature is ending its annual cycle and renewal is not far behind. Our community has renewed itself in many ways that form the foundations of what makes Danville special.
There are three very important assets of our great community: Open Space, Parks & Fiscal Responsibility. Together these three items make our community unique and better positioned than what most residents might realize. First, the Town of Danville has significantly more permanent open space that most communities. There are 18.08 square miles (11,571 acres) that makes up our community. Danville has planned, acquired, or facilitated the incorporation of permanent open space, which now is nearly 42% (4,920 acres including the recently added Elworthy, Podva and Magee ranches). We are surrounded by Mt. Diablo State Park (20,000 acres of open space) and the Las Trampas Regional Wilderness (5,342 acres of open space) providing us a natural beauty of permanent natural open space. It has taken a concerted effort by the Town to protect and enlarge our open space over the past few decades.
Secondly, our Parks play a crucial role in our community’s healthiness by providing a higher quality of life and added value to our properties. Danville has 278 acres of active park lands. In other terms of overall open space, we have over 110 acres per 1,000 residents. When we look at Danville, it is the natural beauty of our hills, general open space, parks, school parks and the space within developed communities such as trails, walkways and greenbelts that creates our distinguishing beauty.
The preservation of our natural resources, includes visual resources and outdoor recreation which provides for better public health and safety. The legacy to our children and grandchildren is that Danville made the right decisions to permanently preserve vast amounts of open space, develop active park lands and require development to maximize public/private open space, trails, and greenbelt areas. If we could look into the future to 2050 we would see nearly half (49%) of all of Danville in permanent open space and a very small population increase. Our surrounding communities will continue to expand greatly as their destinies were based on a different vision. Danville is built out, but done so with the right assets and a focus on a high quality residential rural environment.
Fiscal responsibility is Danville’s true measure of success. We do not have any unfunded liabilities in any category that financially cripple other communities and public agencies. We are one of the most cost-effective Towns (Cities) per capita and not by a little, but by over 100% and higher. This is no small feat given the poor record of other public agency’s performances. Danville has maintained for 24 years a ‘pay-as you go’ policy to providing government services. Just as importantly, Danville maintains a high level of fiscal responsibility with a very small share of property taxes at approximately 7.5% (92.5% of taxes go to other agencies). I am proud to live in a community that takes a responsible view in providing public services and living within its means while not burdening our children in the future with borrowing.
Our open space, park land and fiscal responsibility are what makes our community one of the best places to live and raise our families. It is also nice to know that we continue to be the safest community in California. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to making our community a wonderful place to live, work and play. See you around Town!
Newell Arnerich is a Danville Councilmember/six term Mayor, elected 1995. His community involvement started 30 years ago on Danville’s Design Review Board / Planning Commission. Danville’s financial health has been guided by Newell’s “pay as you go” fiscal policies keeping Danville fiscally strong. Graduate of Leadership San Ramon Valley, League of California Cities Mayors & Council Members Academy for Leadership and Advanced Leadership. Newell has published over 50 articles on governance, leadership and economic trends. He has guest lectured at Stanford University MBA International Classes, UC Berkeley and other institutions.
