Danville council to talk transportation, Iron Horse Trail usage during study session

Town of Danville officials are set to meet and discuss a variety of transportation, community outreach and public recognition related issues on Tuesday morning, when the Danville Town Council gathers for a special study session.

Specifically, council members will hear a series of reports starting with an update of the Tri-Valley Transportation Council, followed by the Draft Iron Horse Trail Active Transportation Study, a staff report on community engagement efforts, review of Danville’s Flag Policy and preparations for the town’s 2020 Design Award.

To start off Tuesday’s study session, town staff will update the council on activities conducted by the Tri-Valley Transportation Council — a regional agency composed of elected officials designed to identify and develop transportation related projects — as well as the status of the group’s Nexus Study — a report identifying the purpose for collecting development impact fees for transportation projects.

The TVTC Technical Advisory Committee is also in the process of drafting a new list of projects for potential development in the region.

Council members are then set to review one of the region’s most popular hiking spots, and will receive a study analyzing the use of — and potential development of amenities around — the Iron Horse Trail.

One of the longest, contiguous multi-use trails in the Bay Area, the Iron Horse Trail traverses through the communities of Alamo, Concord, Danville, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

“The study includes analysis of existing conditions, a needs and safety analysis, a vision statement including identification of potential future uses, project implementation and treatment guidelines, potential projects within jurisdictional areas and a cost analysis of potential projects,” Transportation Manager Andrew Dillard said.

Town Manager Joseph Calabrigo will then review Danville’s efforts to communicate with members of the community about happenings in the town.

“Effectively engaging and communicating with residents and businesses is a high town priority. The Town strives to communicate and engage with residents through outreach efforts seeking to inform, educate and inspire people about the programs, projects and activities taking place in Danville,” Calabrigo said in a staff report.

Next up, the town will review its flag policies in anticipation of the opening of its new town offices.

According to a staff report by city attorney Robert Ewing, Danville’s unwritten practice has been to fly either the American flag, or the American flag plus the California State flag at town facilities equipped with one or more flagpoles.

With the inclusion of three flagpoles at Danville’s new town offices — which town staff say will primarily be used to fly the American, state and town flags — town staff desire feedback on the creation of a policy to display commemorative flags for special events.

“Because flags and the messages they convey are considered a form of speech, any policy addressing their display must conform with the First Amendment,” Ewing added. “Currently the only commemorative flag flown on any Town-owned flagpole is the POW/MIA flag flown at the Veterans Memorial Building. Any policy could address this flag as being a permanent fixture at this location.”

To close Tuesday’s meeting, town staff will discuss preparations that are being made for the town’s triennial Design Awards, which seeks to publicly recognize the buildings that best exemplify the outstanding architectural designs found in Danville.

The Danville Town Council is set to review these issues during its special study session meeting on Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. at the Danville Town Offices, 510 La Gonda Way.