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HomeMy WebLinkAbout030326-07.1 TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT Memorandum From the desk of Tai J. Williams, Town Manager Date: March 3, 2026 To: Mayor and Town Council Subject: Town Manager’s Update – Month of February 2026 Overview This February, several independent assessments reaffirmed Danville’s standing as a leader in public safety, fiscal health, and organizational wellness. These benchmarks reflect the Town’s quiet dedication to excellence and our ongoing commitment to the quality of life our residents enjoy. Public Safety: California’s Safest City In the 2026 "State of Safety" report, Danville was ranked as the safest city in California. This finding is based on an analysis of FBI crime data and highlights Danville as one of only three cities in the state to record declines in both property and violent crime rates over the past year. While statewide surveys indicate that many Californians remain concerned about daily safety, Danville’s violent crime rate remains notably low at fewer than 1.5 incidents per 1,000 residents. Financial Stability: Aaa Credit Rating Moody’s Ratings has once again awarded the Town its highest possible credit rating of Aaa (Triple-A). This independent "gold standard" score reflects Danville’s exceptional financial health and our ability to meet all long-term fiscal commitments. Maintaining this top-tier rating is a direct result of our disciplined approach to budgeting and ensures the Town remains in the strongest possible financial position. Organizational Health: Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health The Town was recently named a 2026 recipient of the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, a national distinction awarded to employers for excellence in supporting employee well-being. Just 360 employees in the nation, across 21 industries, are Bell Seal recipients. This award highlights the Town’s ongoing work in integrating employee well-being into workplace culture, providing tailored benefits that meet the evolving needs of our workforce, and building trust with our employees that provides psychological safety, especially during times of uncertainty. Special Projects Advancing E-Bike Safety Consistent with Council’s direction, the Town has been implementing an E-Bike Safety Action Plan laying the groundwork for longer-term legislative change. In the meantime, a number of e-bike safety bills have been introduced in the 2026 legislative session in response to local municipal feedback (including Danville’s), rising injury trends, and findings from the Mineta study. Collectively, the proposed 2026 legislation strengthens California’s approach to e-bike safety by enhancing youth training requirements, increasing accountability for higher- powered and throttle-equipped devices through registration and visible identification, clarifying device classification standards (including defining the 750-watt limit as peak power), requiring improved equipment such as speedometers and lighting, expanding consumer disclosures and penalties for mislabeling, and reinforcing safe operating practices such as designated seating. The Town will collaborate with Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan’s office to advance her e-bike legislation, AB 1942. Exploring a Weekday Economic Development Initiative Based on Town Council direction at the 2026 Annual Planning and Goal Setting Workshop, staff is advancing a Downtown Boutique Conference Venues initiative to increase weekday visitation and economic activity by better leveraging existing downtown assets, including the Village Theatre, Community Center, Vets Hall/Senior Center and nearby restaurants and gathering spaces. The initiative aims to package and activate these assets to attract small conferences, professional retreats, and curated events consistent with Danville’s character, while strengthening local businesses and increasing facility utilization. Staff is preparing a Request for Proposals/Qualifications (RFP/Q), anticipated for release in mid to late March 2026, to retain consultant support to validate the concept and potential operating models. Sustaining Community Events As a follow-up to the discussion at the Annual Town Council Workshop regarding the Sustaining Community Events white paper, staff will further evaluate the fastest-growing cost driver—Meridian barricades—to determine whether installing permanent in- ground bollards could reduce recurring expenses. Staff will also develop a consistent cost-benefit evaluation framework for each event to better inform future decisions about scope, funding, and overall community value. The goal is to ensure events remain vibrant while financially sustainable through clearer cost transparency, defined roles, and appropriate cost-recovery approaches. This analysis will return to the Town Council for consideration at a future study session. Department Updates Administrative Services Information Technology • Completed an upgrade to the Cisco phone system to remediate identified software issues and strengthen security controls. • Upgraded the Town’s server backup system, including necessary software fixes. • Patched the remote support appliance in the data center to resolve a security vulnerability and enhance security. • Installed security patches and updates on all Town servers. Human Resources • Opened recruitment for a Program Coordinator in Sports and Aquatics. • Onboarded a new Maintenance Worker I. • Coordinated Work Zone Safety Training for Maintenance staff. Finance • Processed two biweekly payrolls, monthly pension payments, and processed and distributed 105 IRS Form 1095-Cs for tax year 2025. • Completed the Monthly Treasurer’s Report, including investment activity, interest earnings, and required reconciliations in accordance with Government Code. • Managed lease accounting activities and performed required amortization control checks and journal entries. • Initiated the FY 2026/27 budget development process. General Government Community Engagement, • Celebrated Government Communicator's Day with a proclamation from the Board of Supervisors and at Town-specific social media post with nearly 13,000 views. Economic Development & Community Events • Sales Tax - 3rd Quarter 2025 (July 1 – September 30): Cash receipts increased 11.8% compared to the same quarter last year, driven primarily by gains in the County Pool (+20.6%) and Food Service (+3.3%). The General Retail category declined, largely attributable to the performance of a single retailer, and Transportation revenues decreased due to lower receipts from gas stations. • Community Events team secured Council approval for the 2026 events calendar, including 3 new events. The overall number of event days proposed is more than any in the past 20 years. • The Economic Development team launched a Council-approved update to the Business Promotion Grant Program, allowing grants for individual businesses and smaller events. • With the first event of the year March 15, the Town will launch a "Dog Friendly Danville" initiative promoting dog-friendly businesses Development Services Capital Improvements & Engineering • RRFB @ Railroad Avenue & School Street: Added second side to the existing of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) to improve visibility for approaching vehicles at the School Street intersection. • A-330 - Storm Drain Master Plan - SRVB: The next phase will focus on repairing 1,000 LF of storm drain pipeline beneath San Ramon Valley Boulevard, beginning with line flushing scheduled during Spring Break to minimize traffic impacts. • B-628 & 629 - Town Studio Maker Space & Town Green Pavilion: Final outside agency comments are expected by March 6. Bid publication is scheduled for March 30, with bid opening on April 28. • C-055 - Diablo Road Trail: Tree removal to clear the future trail alignment will begin March 9. Staff is coordinating closely with Contra Costa County Public Works, which is leading installation of the new traffic signal at Blackhawk Road and Mt. Diablo Scenic, also scheduled to begin March 9. Cattle fencing has been installed, and design of the HAWK signal is currently underway. • C-610 – Slurry Seal: Award of contract is scheduled for the March 3 Town Council meeting. Following award, the project will move into submittals, with construction anticipated to begin this summer. • C-305 – Iron Horse Trail RRFBs: Installation at Linda Mesa/IHT has been completed. Upcoming locations include Stone Valley/Monte Sereno and IHT/Prospect, pending Contra Costa County Signal Maintenance scheduling. • C-607 – Iron Horse Trail Crossing Improvements: Raised crosswalk installations at IHT/Paraiso, Greenbrook, and El Capitan Drives were awarded on February 17 and the project has moved into the submittal phase. • C-635 - Sycamore Valley Road: Final bid documents (100%) are under review, with advertisement anticipated in March. The fiber optic component, originally bundled with the roadway project to avoid reopening the pavement, has been separated into a standalone project due to delays in the $850,000 federal earmark associated with the government shutdown. To maintain efficiency, core conduit infrastructure will still be installed as part of the roadway project to minimize future pavement disruption when fiber is constructed in a subsequent phase. Private Development Proposals • The Lanes (Former Bowling Alley Site): The 49-unit townhome development, including two ADUs, has received full entitlements. The developer has applied for demolition permits. • The Village (SB 330 Project): The 200-unit apartment project was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission on February 24. Blake Griggs is the developer. • Community Presbyterian Church (222 West El Pintado): The proposal includes 49 townhomes, 19 ADUs, and a major church expansion. A resubmittal was received in mid-February and is currently under staff review. Permit Processing & Plan Review Summary of permitting activities in the Building, Engineering, and Planning Divisions. Emergency Preparedness & Response • American Red Cross Agreement: The Town finalized and signed an agreement with the American Red Cross to designate two local facilities as emergency shelter sites. • EOC Training: On February 18–19, staff attended training at the County Emergency Operations Center focused on Situation Awareness and development of a Common Operating Picture during incidents. • Front Street Project Appeal: The Front Street slide repair appeal remains under review by CalOES and FEMA. • Alternate EOC Location: Discussions are underway regarding a potential alternate Emergency Operations Center location, depending on incident type and resource needs. The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (SRVFPD) has expressed interest in partnering. • EOC Tour: Staff hosted a tour of Danville’s Emergency Operations Center for the City of Oakley, which is planning construction of a new EOC/Library facility. • CCC/PAC Meeting: Staff participated in the Contra Costa County / Police Advisory Committee meeting on February 27, 2026. Maintenance Services Maintenance Services made strong progress across several priority projects this month. • Work advanced on the Camino Tassajara Landscape Master Plan, including completion of the site survey and a detailed field review with the project landscape architect. • Danville South Park playground replacement project was completed just one month after construction began. • Village Theatre carpeting was replaced, enhancing the facility’s appearance. • Prepared for the reopening of the sports fields and dog park following the seasonal moratorium and renovation period. • Coordinated with Finance closely on budget management, with particular attention to the transition from LLAD 1983-1 to the recently approved LLAD 2025-1 to ensure a smooth financial and operational shift. • Utility costs continue to be monitored and managed: Police Services Activity – Month of January 2026 • Calls for Service: 2,787 • Citations Issued: 813 • Crime Reports: 109 • Traffic Collision Reports: 21 • Traffic Warnings: 343 vehicle stops coded as warnings • Arrests: 39 total, including 8 DUI arrests • Volunteers in Police Service (VIPs): 253 hours donated Recreation, Arts & Community Services • Spring Sports Registration: Registration opened in early February, with Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening bocce leagues already at capacity. • February 7 - Village Theatre Performance: Pete Floyd, a Pink Floyd tribute band, performed to a sold-out audience, with 242 tickets sold. • February 14 - Prospect Park Plaza Activation: Musician Paul Stefani performed for downtown visitors, and children participated in a Valentine’s Day–themed craft. Approximately 15 participants joined the craft and enjoyed the live music. • February 11 - Senior Center Excursion: The Danville Senior Center hosted a trip to San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre to see The Notebook, The Musical, with 26 seniors participating in a day of entertainment and social connection. • February 17 - Family Breakfast: The Youth and Senior program areas partnered to host a sold-out Family Breakfast featuring safety presentations by the Danville Police Department and San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, along with crafts and photo opportunities with a fire truck and police vehicle. Closing Note That’s it for now. As always, I’m happy to provide further information or context on any of these updates.