Council Extends City Attorney's 31-Year Tenure, Residents Push for Pickleball

Danville's Town Council wrapped a brisk September session by renewing its longest-serving legal officer, hearing residents sound alarms on burglaries and court access, and previewing waste collection changes that will touch every household starting next spring.

• Council unanimously extends City Attorney Rob Ewing's contract with a 3% raise, capping 31 years of service
• Two residents press for expanded pickleball courts, citing 4-to-1 demand over tennis at Osage
• Multi-city burglary investigation underway after September 1 break-ins hit Danville businesses
• New RecycleSmart contract brings free extra recycling and green waste cans, possible collection day changes starting March 2027
• E-bike safety training signed into law; wildfire liability reform punted to next session

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Council Renews City Attorney for 32nd Year

The Town Council voted unanimously to extend City Attorney Rob Ewing's employment agreement by one year — through Aug. 1, 2027 — and approve a 3% salary increase, continuing one of the longest legal tenures in the Tri-Valley.

Why it matters: Ewing has served as Danville's City Attorney for 31 years, providing institutional continuity through decades of growth and policy shifts. The defined contribution pension structure means the raise carries no future unfunded liability risk for the Town.

Where things stand: Town Manager Ty Williams presented the item following the council's closed-session performance evaluation. Mayor Newell Arnerich walked through the compensation details on the record, as required by the Brown Act.

"The attorney salary be increased by 3%, which equates to an additional $8,502 in annual salary and $3,060 in our pension contribution for a total increase of $11,562," said Mayor Arnerich.

Councilmember Karen Stepper signaled the council intends to conduct more rigorous evaluations of its direct hires going forward, while affirming satisfaction with Ewing's work: "We are very pleased with Rob."

Decisions: Resolution No. 76-2026 was adopted 5-0 by roll call vote (For: Arnerich, Belotz, Morgan, Stepper, Storer; Against: none; Absent: none). No public comment was received.

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Pickleball Demand Outpaces Courts by 4-to-1

Two residents used the public comment period to make a pointed case for more pickleball courts, presenting usage data that paints a stark picture of unmet demand at Danville's only public courts.

Why it matters: Pickleball has surged in popularity nationwide, and Danville's two courts at Osage Station Park appear badly undersized for the community's appetite. Residents say a previous proposal went nowhere.

Where things stand: Andrea Joseph Nichols cited a study conducted by player Peter Destofano, who tracked morning usage at Osage during the first three weeks of May.

"On the average, there were 20 people around there for pickleball and like between four and five for tennis," Nichols told the council, urging action after an earlier proposal produced no results.

Kathy Vickery echoed the call, saying she would welcome courts anywhere in Danville — not just at Osage.

Mayor Arnerich acknowledged the council is considering the issue and said some new potential sites have emerged, though he offered no timeline.

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Burglary Spree Rattles Small Businesses

Why it matters: A coordinated string of break-ins on Sept. 1 hit small businesses at Crossroads and the 100 block of Harts Avenue, part of a wider pattern that struck four cities over two nights.

Where things stand: Resident Stephanie Tado asked the council what was being done to support affected business owners. Mayor Arnerich confirmed a multi-agency investigation is active.

"There were four cities had the same thing happen over two nights, all within about an hour of an event. All the police departments are working together and they have several leads," Mayor Arnerich said, adding that a public statement will come as the case develops.

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Free Extra Cans, New Trucks, Possible Schedule Changes

Councilmember Renee Morgan and Mayor Arnerich reported on a new RecycleSmart collection contract that takes effect in March 2027 and will affect every household in the service area spanning Danville, Diablo, Blackhawk, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Rossmoor, Lafayette, and surrounding unincorporated areas.

The basics: RecycleSmart, the regional solid waste authority, has finalized a contract that replaces its aging truck fleet and redesigns collection routes with fewer households per route — a move intended to reduce missed pickups.

Why it matters: Under the new terms, residents will be eligible for two free blue (recycling) cans and two free green (organic/food waste) cans. Only the black (landfill) can incurs a charge. However, roughly 25–30% of residents may see their collection day change as routes are redrawn.

"As of the new contract, we all are eligible to get two blue and two green for free. We are trying to encourage people," said Mayor Arnerich.

Councilmember Morgan noted the contract also brings brand-new trucks and updated labels on cans to reflect revised sorting rules. She highlighted fall reuse and cleanup days and reminded residents they can schedule up to three additional pickups per year. Both council members noted Danville maintains some of the most competitive waste collection rates in the Bay Area and encouraged schools and community groups to get involved in recycling education.

What's next: New routes and schedules will roll out starting March 2027. Residents should watch for notifications about potential collection day changes.

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E-Bike Safety Laws Signed; Wildfire Reform Stalls

Management Analyst Cat Bravo delivered the monthly legislative update, covering the end of a state session that sent more than 1,043 bills to the Governor, who has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto.

Why it matters: Two bills backed by the Tri-Valley Cities Coalition were signed into law: AB 1569 (Davies) requires a standardized e-bike safety training program for grades 7–12, and AB 1614 (Dixon) requires e-bike riders on Class 1 bikeways to use proper seats. Both address safety issues that Danville residents have raised, including in this very meeting.

Meanwhile, Governor Newsom's wildfire liability reform package drew strong opposition and did not advance.

"The governor's initial proposal received significant opposition from local governments and key stakeholders. Lawmakers quickly introduced a more scaled-back version in SB 492," Bravo reported, noting the bill failed to move and is expected to return next session.

Also signed: SB 922 (Laird) affirms local agencies' authority to recover street maintenance costs through fees charged to waste haulers — a potential revenue tool for Danville's road budget.

One bill that did not make it: AB 1632 (Johnson), which would have removed notarization requirements for trespass authorization letters, failed to receive a concurrence vote before the deadline.

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Heritage Commission Grows Danville's Historic Inventory

Heritage Resource Commission Chair Wade Luckhardt presented the semi-annual report, highlighting two new additions to the Town's historic survey: Wood Ranch Barn on Camino Tassajara and Elliott House at 146 Diablo Road, both now town-designated heritage resources.

"We added Wood Ranch Barn, which is out on Camino Tassajara — anybody who's driven out that way has seen that barn. We added Elliott House at 146 Diablo to the survey as a town-designated heritage resource," Luckhardt said.

A new historic plaque was installed at the Grange Hall on Diablo Road, and language for a plaque at Elliott House is being prepared. The commission continues expanding its historic walking tour app.

What's next: An upcoming project involves working with the property owner at 300 Diablo Road on a renovation that would add two residential units and qualify the property as a historic site. Mayor Arnerich noted that additional buildings on Harts Avenue are in negotiations and may come before the council.

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Cameo Neighborhood Asks for Speed Bumps

Resident Deanne Andres from the Cameo neighborhood raised concerns about speeding from school traffic, e-bikes, construction workers, and delivery drivers. She noted a previous unsuccessful attempt to install speed bumps.

Mayor Arnerich directed her to the Town's Neighborhood Transportation Management Program, a resident-led initiative that requires approximately 75% neighborhood support before traffic-calming measures can be installed.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar approved 4-0 (Vice Mayor Storer absent, arriving late due to traffic): September 1 meeting minutes, Register of Demands, and July 2026 Treasurer's Report.
• Councilmember Mark Belotz commended Councilmember Stepper and the Exchange Club for the 25th-anniversary 9/11 commemoration event, which drew record attendance, and promoted the Sept. 20 Danville d'Elegance car show (10 a.m.–4 p.m. downtown) benefiting Parkinson's research.
• Mayor Arnerich reported on a visit from a friendship city delegation from New Ross, Ireland, tied to the Eugene O'Neill Festival and the "Two Cities One Festival" program. The American cast will travel to New Ross in October.
• A public commenter promoted a local communication games business.