Council Adopts New Governance Rules, Tackles Encampment and Tax Debates

Danville's Town Council spent the bulk of its May 5 meeting overhauling its own rulebook to meet a looming state mandate for remote public participation, while also declaring an illegal encampment a public nuisance and fielding sharp public criticism of two separate sales tax proposals. In a lighter moment, the council honored both San Ramon Valley High School soccer teams for a once-in-a-generation dual state championship.

• Council adopts three governance resolutions, including SB 707 remote-participation rules effective July 1

  • Councilmember Stepper casts lone dissent over study session location

• Illegal encampment on flood-control land declared a public nuisance; owner has 10 days to act or town will clean up and pursue cost recovery

• Taxpayer advocates blast Measure B sales tax hike, citing 63% county spending growth and prior voter rejections

• Residents sound alarm on e-bike safety near schools, citing Bay Area child fatalities ahead of dedicated workshop

• SB 1408 transportation tax briefing draws public challenge to mayor's endorsement process

• MCE cuts electricity rates 14%, but council questions the agency's $400M reserve and staffing levels

• SRVHS Wolves men's and women's soccer teams honored for historic dual CIF Division II state championships

Governance Overhaul Brings SB 707 Compliance — and a 4-1 Split

The council's longest debate of the evening centered on three resolutions updating the town's governance guidelines, meeting procedures, and expense reimbursement policies — a multi-session effort culminating in a contentious discussion about where to hold study sessions.

The basics: SB 707, signed into law last year, requires all legislative bodies in California to support two-way remote public participation with closed captioning at meetings beginning July 1. The council's updated rules establish a technology disruption policy requiring a one-hour pause if remote access fails during a meeting.

Why it matters: The changes position Danville for compliance with the state mandate, but the debate exposed a philosophical divide over public accessibility versus the council's preference for informal settings.

Where things stand: Town Manager Tai Williams and City Attorney Rob Ewing walked the council through key changes: maintaining Robert's Rules of Order as the parliamentary authority; adding language about council members being mindful of their influence at community events; clarifying that council members should inform the town manager when requesting staff work; and syncing expense reimbursement to federal GSA rates. The council also decided against using town funds for alcohol at events.

The sharpest exchange came over study session locations. Councilmember Karen Stepper pushed forcefully for holding study sessions at the Town Meeting Hall, arguing its better equipment and public visibility made it the right choice.

"What's most important is where the people from the public that we are serving in these meetings are going to come," she said.

The remaining four members preferred the more informal Calabrigo Room at 500 Lagonda Way.

Decisions: Resolution No. 35-2026 (governance guidelines) passed 5-0. Resolution No. 36-2026 (rules of procedure and remote participation) passed 4-1, with Stepper voting no. Resolution No. 37-2026 (expense reimbursement) passed 5-0.

What's next: The remote participation and closed captioning requirements take effect July 1. Vice Chair Steve Freshman of the Senior Advisory Commission asked during public comment whether SB 707's technology disruption provisions would extend to commission meetings; Ewing clarified the rules apply only at the council level for now.

Pescadero Court Encampment Declared a Public Nuisance

The council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 34-2026, declaring conditions on a vacant 0.6-acre parcel at the end of Pescadero Court a public nuisance and authorizing the town to abate it if the property owner fails to act within 10 days.

The basics: The parcel — zoned P1 exclusively for flood control and drainage — was purchased by Esther Jean Donahy in 2013 for $5,000. A complaint received March 12 led to the discovery of a campsite with a tent and personal property.

Why it matters: The property sits in a flood control zone where habitation is prohibited. If the owner does not clear the remaining items, the town will pursue an abatement warrant and may recover cleanup costs through a lien — potentially exceeding the property's purchase price.

Where things stand: Code Enforcement Officer Willard Scram told the council that after a notice to abate was issued April 7 with a 10-day deadline, the tent was removed but personal belongings remained. Mail to the owner's P.O. box was being returned. Outside Counsel Amy Askin of Civica Law Group presented the legal framework for the abatement process. Vice Mayor Robert Storer asked about the 60- to 90-day storage period required for collected personal property. Councilmember Renee Morgan questioned due diligence given the returned mail, and Mayor Newell Arnerich confirmed that physical posting on the property satisfies notice requirements.

Decisions: Resolution No. 34-2026 passed 5-0. Cost recovery will return to the council at a future hearing.

Taxpayer Advocates Hammer Measure B Sales Tax

Two speakers used public comment to mount a detailed case against Contra Costa County's Measure B, a 0.625% sales tax increase on the June 2 ballot.

Why it matters: Danville voters rejected the predecessor Measure X at rates of 57.5% and 56% in prior elections. Opponents argue the county has a spending problem, not a revenue problem, and that the authorizing legislation — AB 1768 — illegitimately bypasses California's 2% cap on local sales taxes.

Where things stand: Denise Kahm, president pro tem of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, argued the healthcare funding shortfall used to justify the measure was overstated and largely cumulative rather than annual. She noted the East Bay Times editorialized against it.

Mike Arata followed with granular fiscal data: county spending has risen 63.4% while inflation increased only 18.4%; more than 3,000 county employees receive total compensation above $200,000; 17 union contracts expire June 30; and Measure B revenues are designated for general governmental purposes rather than earmarked healthcare. He called Measure B a repackaged version of Measure X under reversed branding.

No council action was taken. The Measure B vote is scheduled for June 2.

E-Bike Safety: Residents Cite Child Fatalities Ahead of Workshop

Two Danville residents living near Osage Park urged police enforcement against speeding e-bike riders, citing recent Bay Area child deaths and hospital data.

Why it matters: A dedicated e-bike safety working session is scheduled for the following Tuesday at 5 p.m. Mayor Newell Arnerich noted he serves on a statewide committee of 50 cities that recently issued e-bike policy recommendations.

Where things stand: Public commentor Bryan Hughes described children riding e-bikes at 15–20 mph through areas used by walkers and dog owners, and suggested police presence at park exits after school as a deterrent. Chuck, a 45-year Danville resident, cited a San Ramon Valley Times front-page article listing three Bay Area child fatalities from e-bikes — ages 4, 13, and 16 — and quoted a John Muir Medical Center physician who compared e-bike injuries to motorcycle trauma.

"We have a very specific meeting coming up just on this subject matter," Arnerich told both speakers, directing them to the upcoming working session.

SB 1408 Briefing Draws Fire Over Mayor's Endorsement

Staff briefed the council on SB 1408, a bill by Senator Jesse Arreguín that would authorize the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) to impose or extend a transactions and use tax of up to 1%, effective until Jan. 1, 2045. The bill itself does not impose a tax but provides the legal authority for a future voter-approved measure.

Why it matters: Danville voters rejected the last two CCTA tax measures. Any resulting ballot measure would require two-thirds voter approval — a higher bar than Measure B's simple majority.

Where things stand: Staff member Cat Bravo explained the enabling framework and showed that Danville's current sales tax rate is 8.75%. Town Manager Tai Williams noted SB 1408 includes a statutory exemption from the 2% local cap.

Councilmember Karen Stepper expressed concern about the legislature's power to carve exemptions.

"The concern had to do with this fact that the legislature can just exempt anything from being a tax for our voters, essentially," she said.

Councilmember Renee Morgan offered a broader critique:

"California continuously talks about an affordability issue, and then we keep taxing, too. So it's kind of like one or the other."

Mayor Newell Arnerich emphasized that CCTA's new executive director is taking a grassroots approach and that any measure would need a two-thirds vote:

"This requires a two-thirds voter approval should the voters want to renew, unlike Measure X and Measure B."

The other side: During public comment, Mike Arada challenged the mayor's timeline, arguing a letter of support was sent within four days without full council review and that the bill deliberately circumvents the Revenue and Taxation Code.

No vote was taken; the item was informational only.

MCE Cuts Rates, but Council Presses on Reserves

Councilmember Mark Belotz, who serves on the MCE board, reported that the clean energy agency approved a 14% reduction in electricity generation rates.

"MCE approved a 14% reduction in its electricity generation rates, which is expected to save the average customer approximately $14 a month," he said.

MCE also doubled its low-income MCE Cares program from $5 million to $10 million, expanded EV rebates to $3,500, and launched a comprehensive governance assessment.

But council members were skeptical. Mayor Newell Arnerich questioned MCE's $400 million-plus reserve fund and its 107–118 staff:

"They have as much staff as we do and they just buy contracts."

Vice Mayor Robert Storer criticized the executive director's salary benchmarking against BART and PG&E.

School District Braces for Enrollment Decline

Vice Mayor Robert Storer reported on liaison meetings with the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, which operates a $460 million budget serving about 28,000 students. The district will lose 700 students next August, part of a longer trend that could reduce enrollment from a peak of 34,000 to approximately 24,000. Each departing student represents roughly $12,000 in lost state funding, requiring $7 million to $12 million in annual budget cuts. The decline is driven by statewide negative birth rates, not district-specific factors. Board member Danny Hillman is departing for the private sector.

Minor Items

• Consent calendar (Items 6.1–6.5) approved unanimously 5-0, including Resolution No. 31-2026 initiating the FY 2026/27 landscaping and lighting assessment (public hearing set for June 3), Resolution No. 32-2026 awarding a Zone D park maintenance contract, and Resolution No. 33-2026 transferring unclaimed funds to the General Fund.

• Town Manager monthly report deferred to the next meeting.

• Senior Advisory Commission: Vice Chair Steve Freshman reported the commission unanimously added senior safety as a multifaceted priority — encompassing community safety, home safety, cybersecurity, e-bike safety, health awareness, and emergency preparedness — after receiving briefings on senior homelessness and food insecurity from the Area Agency on Aging and White Pony Express. The commission mourned the loss of Commissioner Hendra.

• Maintenance department report: Assistant Town Manager Dave Casteel reported a 21.7% reduction in park water usage (July–February, year over year), though water bills continue to rise due to East Bay MUD rate increases. Progress continues on the Camino Tassajara landscape master plan replacing non-functional turf under AB 1572, with 90 trees and 800 plants already installed. Other highlights: new Danville South Park playground, Oak Hill Park pond biological treatment, Village Theater recarpeting, a police department gate remote improving response times, 122 trees pruned for traffic signal visibility, and the town's first permanent art installation — bronze acorns placed downtown.

• Outdoor gym proposal: Resident Stephanie Farry proposed an outdoor gym along the Iron Horse Trail. Mayor Arnerich noted the land is owned by Contra Costa County/East Bay Regional Parks but that the management corridor committee is exploring new concepts.

• SRVHS soccer proclamations: Both the men's team (coached by Don Busbohm) and women's team (coached by Mark Jones) received proclamations for winning the 2026 CIF Division II State Championship, NorCal Regional Title, and NSC Championship in the same year — a feat Mayor Arnerich calculated at 1.6 billion-to-1 odds.

• AAPI Heritage Month: Council proclaimed May 2026 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, with Margaret Liang of APAPA Tri-Valley introducing new chapter leadership: Board Chair Marilyn Lucy and Board President Nathan Tran.

• Council requested a Ross sister city flag for display and recognized National Small Business Week.

• Meeting adjourned in memory of Admiral Robert Tiernan.