HomeMy WebLinkAbout031021-4.1 2020 Highlights and Outcomes for Town Council Workshop
2020 HIGHLIGHTS & OUTCOMES
The Annual Planning and Goal Setting Workshop provides an opportunity for the
Town Council to reflect on prior year highlights and outcomes that support the
Town’s mission to deliver superior municipal services that make people’s lives better.
OVERVIEW
The 2020 Annual Planning and Goal Setting Workshop was held on February 7. In
looking forward to the upcoming year, the Town Council was focused on
opportunities to grow and enhance community outreach and engagement and
continuing with efforts to influence regional, state and federal legislation impacting
Danville. Just weeks later, the Town’s focus along with that of the nation and the
world shifted as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and the first of many shelter in
place orders that altered our everyday lives. Subsequently, the pandemic took center
stage, occupying much of the Town’s efforts and focus.
On March 17, the Town declared a state of local emergency. In addition to dealing
with impacts resulting from immediate closure of local businesses and schools, the
Town was required to, in many ways, reinvent local service delivery while reducing
the size of the Town government and simultaneously meeting new safety protocols.
The balance of 2020 involved operating under changing health orders and dealing
with unprecedented civil and political unrest while making every effort to help
inform and reassure the community.
While dealing with the need to close public facilities in accordance with standing
health orders, essential services continued to be provided. This was accomplished
while reducing Town expenditures by $7.2 million over the last quarter of 2019/20
and the entirety of 2020/21. A major factor in achieving the necessary expenditure
reductions involved a 15% reduction in the Town’s workforce. This included several
retirements, including four employees with over thirty years of service to the Town.
The Town acted decisively to assist and support local businesses through providing
one on one concierge service to connect businesses with federal aid opportunities,
working closely with the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce and committing a
total of $825,000 to provide small business grants and assist restaurants and personal
service-related businesses, and taking a number of supporting policy actions.
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Owing in part to the swift and decisive actions taken to offset anticipated pandemic
driven revenue losses, the Town continued to maintain a strong fiscal position. The
2019/20 fiscal year ended on June 30, 2020, with a $3.3 million positive fund balance
and a General Fund (G.F.) Operating Reserve of $12.3 million (equivalent to 54% of
the total G.F. Budget or 38.3% of the total Operating Budget).
The Police Department maintained a constant state of readiness in the face of
threatened civil unrest following the killing of George Floyd and other events that
occurred through the summer and into the fall. Community safety remained as the
top community priority and the Danville Police Department continued their success
with combatting Part I crimes, closing the year with another record low. The Town
was once again named “Safest City in California” by Safewise.
Legislatively, the Town Council continued with advocacy efforts aimed at the
regional, state and federal levels, in the face of government efforts to require cities to
plan for and produce additional housing, especially for very low- and low-income
households.
Community outreach efforts continued to focus on online and in-person methods.
Social media channels, including Facebook, Facebook Live, Instagram, Twitter,
Nextdoor and Nixle continued to be utilized for communication, collectively allowing
the Town to maintain contact with the vast majority of Danville households.
Despite very low seasonal rainfall, Danville was largely spared from the impacts
resulting from a historically extreme fire season that saw vast areas of the state
ravaged by wildfires. Significant local disruptions resulting from the PG&E Public
Safety Power Shutoff Program were largely avoided as well.
The Town continued with plans to relocate the Town Offices and Police Department
to 500 La Gonda Way. Design was completed and construction commenced on the
new Police Department facilities, with occupancy planned by December 2021.
At the polls, Danville voters approved Measure Y in March, upholding approval of
the Magee Preserve project and dedication of over 380 acres of new public open space,
and elected three members to the Danville Town Council in November.
The annual Pavement Management project was combined with a major bicycle
facilities improvements project along the Diablo Road corridor, a heavily travelled
bicycle route. These and other efforts allowed the Town to maintain a Town-wide PCI
of 80+. The Town selected a site for a potential future skatepark at Diablo Vista Park,
and arts appreciation was broadened through the successful “Hearts around Hartz”
exhibit which cross promoted the arts with economic development downtown.
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2020
Legislative
• Declared a local state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic;
adhered to various COVID-19 related Health Orders issued by the Contra
Costa County Health Services Department and the State of California.
• Continued to ensure the ongoing fiscal health of the Town by adopting a
balanced 2020/21 operating budget, reducing expenditures and fund transfers
without drawing down Town reserve funds; maintained strong reserves and
sustainable ten-year forecasts.
• Moved all public meetings to a remote (ZOOM) format while adhering to the
revised Brown Act requirements.
• Adopted an Outdoor Flagpole Display Policy; and approved the display of the
Rainbow Flag during the month of June.
• Authorized street closures for temporary outdoor restaurant seating within
public rights of way for the duration of the pandemic.
• Approved an $80,000 no interest pandemic relief loan to support the Danville
Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Adopted an urgency ordinance establishing a temporary cap on commission,
fees and costs charged by third-party food delivery services on local
restaurants within the Town during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Worked with Tri-Valley Cities Coalition, Contra Costa Mayors Conference and
state legislators to advocate for changes to housing legislation in a manner that
lessens their impacts to Danville.
• Concluded the year with the 39th Annual Mayoral Installation and Community
Service Awards.
• Successfully recruited for, interviewed and filled several Commission, Board
and position vacancies.
Administration & Finance • Implemented cost savings measures to reduce operating expenses by $7.2
million to offset estimated COVID-related revenue losses.
• Planned and implemented various re-organization plans to mitigate staffing
reductions necessitated by the pandemic.
• Created a COVID-19 working group to interpret and apply requirements
contained in the various COVID-19 related Health Orders issued by Contra
Costa Health Services (CCHS) and the State of California and adapted Town
services, procedures and employee working conditions to COVID protocols
and guidelines.
• Completed the 2019/20 CAFR; realized a positive $3.3 million General Fund
balance.
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• Received Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recognition for
excellence in financial reporting, 19 years in a row.
• Maintained numerous highly successful interagency partnerships to better
serve and support the community.
Economic Development
• Continued implementation of the Community Marketing and Branding Plan,
including publication of the Live Locally Guide, marketing material and
rebranding of the Town’s quarterly newsletter.
• Created, launched and administered Phases 1 and 2 of the $525,000 Forward
Focus Grant Program to support local businesses through the pandemic.
• Provided Business Assistance Programs to support the first and second phases
of Cares Act funding and other federally sponsored pandemic relief programs
for businesses.
• Coordinated review and issuance of street closures for temporary outdoor
restaurant seating within public rights of way for the duration of the pandemic.
• Supported the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce through various staffing
changes and assisted with selection of a new president and CEO.
Police and Emergency Services • Closed 2020 with another all-time low in reported Part I crimes.
• Received the distinction of “Safest City in California” with a population of
50,000 or less in 2019 for the third year in a row by Safewise, an independent
review website.
• Launched the 10-8 program, a weekly livestreamed event that allows for
engagement and interaction with residents via Facebook and YouTube to
replace in person engagement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Upgraded Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology through Flock
Safety, reducing the overall cost and increasing the technical performance of
the program, while increasing coverage from 13 locations to 23 Town-wide.
The change will realize a 30% reduction in annual costs resulting in an
estimated savings of $150,000 over the next five years.
• Monitored Contra Costa Health Department Health Orders to assist with
community education and undertake enforcement activities when warranted.
• Monitored and responded to incidents of threatened civil unrest or staged
protests.
• Continued the Disaster Preparedness Program to increase readiness efforts
aimed at preparing for and responding to any natural or man-made disasters
or emergencies that could befall the Town.
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Community Outreach
• Continuously updated and refreshed the Town website to provide messages
and information regarding COVID-19, health orders issued by County Health
Services, status of Town services and facilities, and other community updates.
• Continued social media efforts, including the use of Nextdoor, Twitter,
Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
• Continued promoting Nixle as the Town’s emergency communications system,
resulting in continued increase in year-over-year subscribers to alerts.
Sustainability
• Continued membership and became a “Deep Green Champion” with MCE
Clean Energy, a Community Choice Energy program, providing ratepayers
with greater choices for renewable energy options.
• Converted eight Town facilities, including the Town Offices, Library and
Community Center, Maintenance Services Center, Veterans Memorial
Building, Oak Hill Park Community Center, Town Meeting Hall and Village
Theatre to MCE 100% renewable Deep Green Service.
• Continued a reduction in electricity usage through operation of photovoltaic
arrays at four separate Town facilities.
Capital Improvement Program
• Completed the construction of the 2018/19 Pavement Rehabilitation project.
• Completed the construction of 3.6 lane miles of on-street bicycle facilities on
Diablo Road from downtown Danville to Green Valley Road.
• Completed the construction of the new children’s play area at Hap Magee
Ranch Park with a project cost of $785,000.
• Completed design and started construction on the $900,000 San Ramon Creek
pedestrian bridge connecting Diablo Road and the Riverwalk development to
the Town Green.
• Completed design work and awarded a contract for construction of the new
Police Services Building at 500 La Gonda Way.
• Completed replacement of all Railroad Avenue Parking Lot lights with LEDs.
• Completed the design of the $2.76 million Sycamore Valley Park and Ride
Expansion Project, which will add 122 new public parking spaces and bicycle
parking to serve commuters and users of the Iron Horse Trail.
• Continued the design work for the $6 million project to replace the La Gonda
Way bridge at Danville Boulevard.
• Completed design work to replace the gazebo at Hap Magee Ranch Park.
• Completed installation of bicycle video detection cameras at seven
intersections (total of 12 cameras).
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• Completed installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) at ten
locations.
• Completed replacement of traffic signal battery back-up systems at eight
intersections.
• Completed the replacement of the artificial turf sports field at Diablo Vista
Park.
Development Services
• Developed and rolled out the new Garden Cottage Program, featuring free
permit-ready Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) plans for community use, to
facilitate the production of affordable and family friendly housing.
• Adapted service delivery to provide increased ability for customers to apply
for and receive various permits and entitlements online and remotely.
• Initiated development of the first Town-wide Bicycle Master Plan.
• Continued with various Transportation programs, including: Street Smarts
traffic safety education program, Neighborhood Traffic Management Program
and participation in Danville’s TRAFFIX Student Transportation Program.
• Continued lead role with advocacy on regional transportation issues.
• Completed research and selection of new manufacturer for new signal traffic
controllers Town-wide, ensuring that they are compliant with the Advance
Transportation Controller (ATC) standards.
Maintenance Services
• Completed annual renovation of the turf in the large dog park at Hap Magee
Ranch Park (rated one of the best dog parks in the area by Diablo Magazine).
• Completed the annual creek cleaning project, which helps protect the
community and prevent damage to public and private property.
• Converted four additional landscape areas to the automated underground
irrigation management system (UgMO), doubling the total number of sites.
• Undertook landscape renovation projects on Camino Tassajara, Crow Canyon
Road, Danville South Park and Diablo Vista Park to replace turf areas with
aesthetically pleasing and more drought tolerant materials.
• Awarded new landscape maintenance contracts for Roadsides - Lighting and
Landscape Assessment Districts Zone A and B.
• Upgraded the filters in every air conditioning unit at all Town buildings to
filters with higher efficacy ratings that are capable of trapping smaller particles,
including viruses.
Recreation, Arts, and Community Services
• Completed the Town Green and Arts District Concept Master Plan with
approval by the Parks, Recreation & Arts Commission, and the Town Council.
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• Adapted recreation and enrichment programming and activities to a largely
virtual format.
• Succeeded in furthering integration of arts into the community through the
Hearts Around Hartz exhibit, which was displayed throughout the downtown.
• Continued to work with the Arts Advisory Board and Parks, Recreation and
Arts Commission to prioritize and begin implementation of recommendations
in the Parks, Recreation and Arts Strategic Plan.
• Completed a feasibility study to explore potential locations for the multi-use
scooter and skate park and identified Diablo Vista Park as the preferred
location.
• Continued work with the Danville Youth Council on communications strategy
and social media use, hosting a Tri-Valley Youth Advisory Council
Roundtable, and staging the Danville Amazing Race for Teens.
• Provided a variety of virtual arts opportunities through the Jazz Room Series
and Comedy with Liz Grant.
Attachments: A – Notes from 2020 Planning and Goal Setting Workshop