Town of
Spring 2017
Danville NEWSLETTER
Message from the Town Council The days are getting longer, the temperatures are trending up and we’re getting out and about more in our community. There’s so much to do in Danville! Attend the opening of our newest art exhibition at the beautiful Village Theatre & Art Gallery, enjoy the newly painted green bike lanes along Danville Boulevard or join with hundreds of Star Wars fans who will converge on the Danville Town Green for our second annual ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ event. Spring is also a time for prom and graduation. Did you know that you can rent our parks and facilities for your graduation event? Check out how easy it is to rent our facilities (page 11). Public Safety is one of our highest priorities in Danville, and our new Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program has helped us reduce crime. You can read about some of our success stories on page 8. You get our quarterly newsletter in your mailbox, but did you know that’s only one of many ways your Town government connects with the community? On pages 6 and 7, we outline the various ways in which we reach out. It’s going to be a great spring. We look forward to seeing you out and about and enjoying all the Town has to offer!
Danville Police officers meet with the community during National Night Out
INSIDE
How the Permit Process Works
Reaching Out: How the Town of Danville Communicates
What is the Social Host Law?
page 3
pages 6–7
page 9
Osage Station Park construction
Study Sessions for the 2017/18 Budget Kick-Off in May
The Danville Town Council is scheduled to review the draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2017/18 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) in May. The recommended budget is balanced, maintains healthy reserve levels, features fiscally sustainable 10-year forecasts, and includes fund transfers for needed capital projects. The Town’s approach to fiscal sustainability has resulted in balanced annual budgets with no unfunded future liabilities, employee costs or annual General Fund transfers to fund high priority capital projects. The Town’s largest source of revenue is property tax (projected to close at $12.25 million in 2016/17). The Town of Danville receives an average of only 7.5% of property tax collected. The second largest revenue source is sales tax, projected to total $5.4 million for 2016/17. These revenue sources help fund key services Danville citizens rely on. Municipal services address the highest priority needs and are delivered through a combination of Town personnel, contracted and privatized sources, and partnerships with other entities. In FY 2016/17, Police accounted for the largest share of spending (29.4%), followed by Maintenance (23.2%), Development Services (13.6%) and Recreation (12.6%). For more information about the Draft 2017/18 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program, please contact Finance Manager Lani Ha at (925) 314-3358 or lha@danville.ca.gov or visit danville.ca.gov/budget.
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Town Council Approves Marijuana Ordinance Following the approval of California Proposition 64 on November 8, 2016, recreational use of marijuana was legalized in the State of California. However, individual municipalities still retained regulatory authority governing the cultivation, processing, sale and delivery of the drug. In response to the new law, the Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance at their January 10, 2017 meeting making sales, delivery, processing and outdoor cultivation of marijuana illegal in Danville. As required by Proposition 64, residents would be allowed to have six indoor marijuana plants for personal use as long as regulations were followed. These regulations require that the property where the plants are being grown is the primary residence of the person growing the plants, that the plants are in a locked area not visible to the public and that all building codes be followed. City Attorney Rob Ewing said the ordinance applies the same strictures that already apply to medical marijuana sales and delivery in Town. For more information on the ordinance, contact City Attorney Rob Ewing at (925) 314-3383 or rewing@danville.ca.gov.
Project Submittal Valuation and Scope of Work Determined Pay Plan Check Fees
1st
10 Days
2nd
5 Days
3rd
5 Days
Plan Review
Note: plan review time frames may vary depending on complexity of project.
Outside Agencies: Fire Department, Health Department, Contra Costa Central Sanitary District, San Ramon Valley Unified School District
Prepare Permit for Issuance
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Issue Permit Pay Fees
Inspections
HOW THE PERMIT PROCESS WORKS Building projects in the Town of Danville must go through a state-mandated permit, review and inspection phase. This permit process is designed to protect the safety of owners and tenants. Fortunately, getting a permit is easy! It begins with the submittal of an application and associated construction drawings to the permit counter at the Danville Town Office. Once complete, the application goes into the permit system and the fee is calculated. For projects requiring a review process, a plan check fee is collected and the review time is provided (typically five to ten business days). In some situations, other public agencies will also be involved in the review or to collect separate fees. After all applicable agencies have completed their review, the building permit is ready to be issued. The permit fee is then collected and the inspection process begins. Building inspectors are assigned to conduct the inspections and guide your project through the process. Once a “final” inspection is obtained, the permit process is complete and a record of the permit is retained by the Town. For more information on permits, contact the Building Division at (925) 314-3330.
Town Partnership with Museum and Veteran Community Runs Deep The Town of Danville is very fortunate to have established long-standing partnerships with many of our local community organizations. Two entities that work extremely well with the Town are our local veterans groups, and the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Both have a rich, deep history, rooted in downtown Danville.
The Veterans Memorial Building is a central gathering spot for veterans and seniors alike. Built in 1925, the building Photo: Paige Green is home to local veterans groups including the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. In a joint effort between the Town and veterans, the building was renovated and expanded in April 2012 to include a Senior Center, classrooms and rental space.
Finalize Permit
The Museum of the San Ramon Valley, located in the restored Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, is a crown jewel of downtown. The Museum’s permanent collection includes artifacts and historical photos of the region, and its traveling exhibits feature unique collections from other museums. The Town collaborates with the museum on exhibitions and has come to rely on the museum to preserve and promote the history of our valley. For more information on the Town’s partnerships, contact Assistant to the Town Manager Nat Rojanasathira at (925) 314-3328 or nrojanasathira@danville.ca.gov.
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Camino Tassajara Project Completed
If you drive on Camino Tassajara, you have probably noticed the recent completion of the Camino Tassajara/Crow Canyon, Phase 2 Improvements Project. The majority of the work took place in the westbound lanes of Camino Tassajara from Sycamore Valley Road to the eastern Town limits. The project included pavement overlay, roadway base repair and replacement of striping. Another area of the project was removal of existing wireless vehicle detectors and installation of new inductance loop detectors at 20 signalized intersections in the area. The replacement of the vehicle detection system will provide a more efficient flow of traffic throughout the corridor, reducing travel time and greenhouse gas emissions. The Camino Tassajara/Crow Canyon, Phase 2 Improvements Project is a Town Capital Improvement Project that utilized funds from SAFETEA-LU, a federal grant program intended to improve transportation infrastructure. A follow-up project is set for this summer, which will include installation of high-visibility bicycle pavement markings along the Camino Tassajara corridor.
KEEPING THE STREET LIGHTS ON Danville has approximately 3,500 street lights, which are maintained either by the Town, PG&E, Contra Costa County or Caltrans.
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These collective maintenance efforts help ensure a safe, well-lit community. In an attempt to keep streets safe and street lights operational the Town conducts monthly inspections on the main arterial streets and the downtown, as well as quarterly inspections of residential areas by zones. Residents can assist with these efforts by reporting street light outages by calling (925) 314-3450 or through the Danville Connect mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
When reporting a street light issue, please include the three-to-five digit street light number that is located at about eye level on the pole as well as the nearest street address. Response time on street light outages is approximately two weeks of being reported. The Town has converted an increasing number of street lights to longer lasting LED fixtures that increase efficiency and minimize outages. These improvements, coupled with residents reporting outages or other issues, go a long way in keeping Danville streets safe.
Rose Street Parking Improvements
From fine dining to casual cafés, specialty boutiques and professional services for all of life’s needs, downtown Danville offers a unique shopping and dining experience which attracts thousands of visitors to downtown Danville. In an ongoing effort to support and maintain downtown Danville’s vibrant economic environment, the Town is moving forward with the construction of a new surface parking lot located at the northwest corner of Rose Street and East Linda Mesa Avenue. When completed, the parking lot will provide approximately 78 new public parking spaces that will serve the northeast area of the downtown. To construct the parking lot, the existing 2,700 square foot building at the site will be demolished. The parking lot project will include undergrounding of overhead utilities, landscaping and construction of bioretention facilities for stormwater management. Construction of the Rose Street Parking Lot Expansion project begins summer of 2017 and is expected to open in the fall. During construction activities, the existing 17-space off-street public parking area at the end of Rose Street will be temporarily closed. For more information on this project, contact Senior Civil Engineer Steven Jones at (925) 314-3339 or sjones@danville.ca.gov.
This location at the corner of Rose Street and Linda Mesa Avenue has been purchased by the Town to provide additional parking
TRAFFIX Program Helps Relieve Traffic Congestion Approximately two thirds of all students attending school in Danville are driven to and from school by automobile. Student drop-off and pick-up is a leading source of traffic on our local streets. The Town of Danville, City of San Ramon, Contra Costa County, and San Ramon Valley Unified School District came together in 2009 to form TRAFFIX, which provides student transportation services to schools directly in the vicinity of those most congested areas. Now in its 9th successful year of service, TRAFFIX buses serve 11 schools throughout Danville and is successfully reducing traffic along Danville’s most congested roadways and intersections. The majority of the program’s funding comes from the 2004 Contra Costa Measure J ½-cent transportation sales tax, with a smaller portion coming from bus pass sales and from unincorporated Contra Costa County’s T-1 assessment service area. While there is always great demand for adding more bus service, future expansion would require securing long-term funding sources. For more information on TRAFFIX, visit www.ridetraffix.com or contact Program Manager Judy Lloyd at (925) 866-TRFX, or manager@RideTRAFFIX.com.
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Danville Online
NEXTDOOR: 57% of Danville households are on
Nextdoor. The Town uses this channel to communicate a wide variety of topics,
@DanvilleINFO
from policy to events to public safety.
The Town’s twitter feed reaches 2900
followers and is used for event notifications, street
www.facebook.com/danvilleca
closures, public
The Town maintains a Facebook
safety notifications
page with over 4500 followers.
and more.
Photos, video and information are posted daily to the page.
DANVILLE CONNECT This FREE app is a fantastic way to keep in touch with the Town. Report an issue, contact
TOWN OF DANVILLE WEBSITE
book Face
oor Nextd
www.danville.ca.gov A great online resource
er Twitt
for new & long-time
the Town Council or visit
residents. Need
our social media. Available
nville of Da Town
in the Apple App store or GooglePlay store. Over 2500 residents currently use the app.
t nnec e Co ll i v n Da
Nixle
are available on the Town’s website.
Web
communication, Nixle is an opt-in service that allows residents to receive text or e-mail alerts. Currently 1,500 residents are registered. Just text your zip code to 888777 to get registered.
projects going on around Town. Town sponsored and private projects are listed with short blog posts updating the progress. www.danvilleimprovements.com
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or Commissions? these and more
Used primarily for public safety
A one-stop shop highlighting the various
permitting? Council Recreation? All
NIXLE
DANVILLE IMPROVEMENTS WEBSITE
information on
Us Find s Call U
rs e Hou Offic
Reaching Out How the Town of Danville Communicates
Danville Offline: Non-Digital Communications Because people have different ways they like to receive their communication, the Town also provides information through a number of other ways: PUBLICATIONS: Besides this newsletter, the Town on a quarterly basis also puts out a Recreation Activity Guide, featuring classes and programs, and the Danville Senior Center puts out the Silver Streak, with information and activities for active seniors. INFORMATION KIOSKS: In downtown Danville there are three informational kiosks which share community information. For more information on the kiosks, contact the Danville Community Center at (925) 314-3400. TOWN COUNCIL OFFICE HOURS: During the Farmers Market held each Saturday at the Railroad Avenue parking lot, members are available from 9:00–11:00 a.m. to meet with residents to discuss issues facing the Town. REACH OUT DIRECTLY: If you have a question or issue to be addressed, you can find a staff phone directory on the Town website www.danville.ca.gov. If you’re unsure who to speak to, contact Public Information Coordinator Geoff Gillette at (925) 314-3336.
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7 Tips to Keep Your Youth and Teens Smartphone Safe Set expectations about smartphone and internet use and consider creating a contract.
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Be prepared to monitor your child’s social media accounts and set up random phone checks.
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Encourage your child not to accept friend requests from anyone they do not know personally.
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Discuss the importance of not disclosing personal information online.
Link your child’s account to yours so you can monitor what downloads and purchases are being made.
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Create phone-free times during the day (like dinner) and collect phones and other devices each night.
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Research and educate yourself on age-appropriate apps by utilizing parent websites such as CommonSenseMedia.org.
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ALPRs Aiding in Arrests At the end of 2016, the Town of Danville brought online the Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program. Consisting of cameras placed at strategic locations throughout Danville, the system helps police identify, locate and apprehend suspects. Since coming online in November, it has helped in several arrests including: On Thanksgiving Day a person with a $250,000 felony warrant drove past an ALPR camera coming into Town. Officers were able to locate the person and arrest him. A suspect stole a guitar from a store in Town. The victims were able to get a partial license plate number from the suspect’s vehicle. Officers used that information to find the suspect’s vehicle in the ALPR system which led to an arrest and recovery of the stolen property. Police Chief Steve Simpkins said he is very pleased with the department’s crime reduction efforts and is happy to have the new system in place. “We’ve seen a 25% reduction in property crime in 2016, compared to 2015,” Simpkins said. “We’re hoping that the continued
increase in patrols, community outreach, ALPRs and other efforts will further reduce crime in Danville.” For more information, contact Lieutenant Allan Shields at (925) 314-3702 or ashields@danville.ca.gov.
Prom and Grad Season Safety The spring and early summer months are a time of great excitement for our youth, with end of school dances and graduations on the horizon. These are also times when teens are vulnerable, as many of these events can also have an alcohol component.
The Danville Police Department encourages parents to engage with their children on the topic of alcohol, and staying safe during prom and graduation parties. Talking is key, when it comes to keeping awareness high. Be the parent and not the friend. Ask questions about where they are going and who they will be with. Call the parents hosting a party and ask what the supervision will be like and how they plan to handle kids caught drinking. For parents hosting, it is equally important to realize the liability you assume by allowing alcohol. Some parents believe that by providing a “controlled environment” for kids to drink, they are keeping kids safer. Unfortunately, not only is this untrue, it’s illegal. Let’s keep alcohol out of prom and graduation parties and make for a safe start to summer! High School students are educated on the dangers of drinking and driving each year during the ‘Every 15 Minutes’ event
WHAT IS THE SOCIAL HOST LAW? A Town of Danville ordinance relating to the consumption of alcohol by people age 20 and under at social gatherings and the liability of those who own or rent the place where the party occurs
Parents, relatives, adult siblings, or friends are considered liable if a violation is determined.
There must be a minimum of five people at the location under the age of 21.
The location can be public or private. Examples are private homes, rented public buildings, and rented hotel rooms (liability rests with any adults present or the adults who rented the location).
Each juvenile/young adult in possession of, or consuming, alcohol is considered a separate violation of this law.
Juveniles under the age of 18 are subject to a citation to appear with a parent or guardian at the Danville Juvenile Diversion Program in addition to the criminal citation for possession and/or consumption of alcohol.
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Violation of the Social Host Law carries a monetary fine (current California law allows up to $1,000) and is considered either an infraction or misdemeanor offense.
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Calling All Jedi! Time to dust off your lightsabers, the Town of Danville invites all those who are strong in the Force to celebrate the Second Annual May the Fourth Be With You event. Jedi, Sith, Stormtroopers and Wookiees alike will converge on the Danville Town Green, 420 Front Street, on Thursday, May 4th, 2017. Send your young Star Wars fans on a scavenger hunt through downtown Danville businesses, bring them to the Town Green in the afternoon for rigorous Jedi Training or check out two showings of the new Star Wars film at the Village Theatre & Art Gallery. Dress up as your favorite Star Wars characters, practice your levitation and force-push and come be a part of this fun, new Danville tradition! Space is limited for this event so be sure to pre-register. For more information call (925) 314-3400 or visit www.danville.ca.gov.
LATEST EXHIBITION TO BE ‘PLEASING TO THE PALETTE’ Foodies rejoice! The Town of Danville’s 7th Annual Juried Exhibition, ‘Pleasing to the Palette,’ is an epicure’s delight!
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The Village Theatre and Art Gallery invites connoisseurs of art and food to enter the juried exhibition to show off your non-edible, delectable delights. As far back as the 15th century, European artists have chosen to depict food in paintings, not simply for its aesthetic value but rather for its symbolic references. Now’s your chance to showcase food that is pleasing to your palate while simultaneously pleasing to your painters’ palette. Artists may submit their work for the exhibition. Deadline is May 5, 2017.
The exhibition dates are set for June 30– August 18, 2017. The Artists’ Opening Reception is scheduled for Friday, June 30, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more details on submission guidelines for this exhibition, visit www.villagetheatreartgallery.com.
How to Choose a Summer Camp for Your Child What is your child interested in or what do they want to learn more about?
Check your vacation schedule and find a time that matches your calendar.
Is your child ready for a full-day of camp or half-day? Do you need extended camp hours?
Consider the location. What is the best place in proximity to what matters most?
Traditional vs Enrichment? Are you looking for a more traditional camp (i.e. camp songs, field trips, arts & crafts, games, etc.) or an enrichment camp that teaches a specific subject?
Does your child have friends that would want to go to camp with them?
Will the cost fit your budget? Danville’s Summer Camps often are a better “bang for your buck” than other, privately-run, camps.
Hold Your Event in Danville
Create memories to last a lifetime! The Town of Danville has multiple locations to host an unforgettable special event. Enjoy the flexibility of bringing in the caterer, florist, or event coordinator of your preference! The Danville Community Center and Oak Hill Park Community Center both feature large indoor banquet facilities perfect for wedding receptions and family gatherings. The Community Hall at the Veterans Memorial Building is a convenient option for bar/ bat mitzvahs, class reunions, and other celebrations all right in the heart of historic downtown Danville. Or for performances, seminars or corporate events, rent out the beautiful Village Theatre & Art Gallery. For those outdoor gatherings, there are plenty of choices from the group picnic and BBQ areas in our local parks to the bocce courts at Sycamore Valley Park. Residents enjoy a discounted rate for facility rentals. To learn about renting one of our great facilities, go to www.danville.ca.gov/rentals/.
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Presorted Standard US Postage Paid Town of Danville 510 La Gonda Way Danville, CA 94526-1740
Danville, CA Permit 71
Postal Customer
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Upcoming Special Events EARTH DAY
Saturday, April 22 • 12:00–4:00 pm Downtown Danville Enjoy a family fun day of activities on the Danville Town Green.
LEND A HAND DAY
Saturday, April 29 • 8:00 am–3:00 pm An opportunity for residents to give back to those in need in their community.
MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU
Thursday, May 4 • Various Times Downtown Danville Fire up your lightsaber as the Town of Danville hosts a day to celebrate all things Star Wars. Registration required.
DANVILLE DEVIL MOUNTAIN RUN
Sunday, May 7 • 8:00–10:30 am Historic Downtown A family event for competitive runners, walking enthusiasts, and families to strut their stuff in a 5k, 10k, or Kid’s fun run.
THE JAZZ ROOM— JAZZ CONCERT SERIES
Sunday, May 7 • 5:00 pm Village Theatre
danville.ca.gov
OPENING RECEPTION FOR RECYCLE ABILITIES ART EXHIBITION
Thursday, May 18 • 6:00–8:00 pm Village Theatre Art Gallery
DOG DAY IN DANVILLE
Sunday, May 21 • 10:00 am–4:00 pm 425 Hartz Avenue Danville’s Doggie Day offers fun for you and your four-legged friend in Downtown Danville. www.facebook.com/mollyspup
MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY
Monday, May 29 • 10:30 am Oak Hill Park www.vnvdv.com
DANVILLE SUMMERFEST
Saturday and Sunday, June 17 & 18 10:00 am–5:00 pm Historic Downtown Danville This classic event offers fun, food, and entertainment for the whole family. More than 200 artists will display their paintings, photography, ceramics, glassware, jewelry, and more. www.danvilleareachamber.com