Danville Town Council Race Centers On Crime, Housing

DANVILLE, CA — Four candidates are running for three at-large seats on the Danville Town Council. Danville and Livermore are the only two Tri-Valley cities this year without a local ballot question.

Town Council candidates include Newell Arnerich, a seven-term incumbent who has been on the Town Council since 1995; Mark Belotz, a member of the Design Review Board, the Heritage Resource Commission, and Historic Design Review Committee; Julia Gillette, a real estate broker, deputy commissioner with the California Department of Real Estate, EPA lead regulator, and more; and Renee Morgan, a Town Council member since 2012 who sits on numerous local boards and committees.

Unlike many other Tri-Valley council races this year, the four candidates, incumbents and non-incumbents alike, seem mostly content with the state of their town, and are committed to maintaining Danville’s high quality of life, governance, and public safety. In candidates’ forums and public statements, candidates often praised the fact that Danville has been named California’s safest and most cost-effective city several years in a row, and boasts a thriving downtown, safe, bike-friendly streets, and 167 acres of parkland.

When asked in a Patch questionnaire the major challenges facing the city, all of the candidates cited the Housing Element requirement to build 2241 new units of housing over the next 10 years, and increasing crime, despite its overall safety. When asked about the housing requirement in a candidates forum hosted by Danville-San Ramon, all candidates said that they would work hard to maintain the delicate balance between fulfilling the housing requirement, and preserving open space and Danville’s quiet, small-town character and charm.

Julia Gillette floated the idea of creating a city charter the way that some other cities have, which would give Danville increased discretion over its building. Renee Morgan suggested that to deal with the state’s “unrealistic” mandate, Danville needs to involve its residents in choosing appropriate sites. She also noted the town’s existing initiatives that have already built affordable housing in areas that are already built-up.

Newell Arnerich noted that the town’s Housing Element that requires 15% of everything built in Danville to be affordable, and facilitated large housing developments that feature discreet affordable housing mixed in with the rest of the development.

Mark Belotz praised the town’s initiatives to let residents choose online the areas they feel should host future housing, and to include affordable housing into any new developments.

At the Danville-San Ramon forum, moderators asked candidates about a recent uptick in crime, which has included bank burglaries and home burglaries, and whether the town’s partnership with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office is working out. All candidates said that despite a recent uptick, they are pleased with that partnership, which is helping to maintain an “imaginary forcefield around Danville.” Arnerich and Morgan noted the police’s investment in law enforcement technology like automated license plate readers and drones. Arnerich noted that while police departments solve an average of 11% of crimes, Danville solves 60% of its crimes.

Candidates were also asked how to maintain and improve the downtown and small businesses, which many noted is one of Danville’s top attractions. Candidates all advocated the continuation of community events like the Scarecrow Stroll and Oktoberfest, and praised the Chamber of Commerce for all it does to help small businesses. Candidates also noted the lack of chain stores, which contributes to the unique local character.

See here for the full forum, here for Patch’s candidate profiles, and here for a wider voting guide. This KQED guide also provides links to candidate websites, and brief statements on the most important issues facing the town.