Rob Ewing, City Attorney Reply to Letter Below (PDF)

To: Mayor Renee Morgan, Vice Mayor Newell Arnerich, Councilmembers Karen Stepper, Robert Storer, and Mark Belotz
Town of Danville
510 La Gonda Way
Danville, CA 94526                                                                                       August 15, 2025

Subject: Reschedule September 9, 2025, Danville Town Council Study Session to 5:00 PM

Dear Mayor Morgan, Vice Mayor Arnerich, and Councilmembers,

On behalf of Danville Safety Advocates, we urge the Town Council to immediately reschedule the Study Session currently set for Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM the same day. Morning meetings at this hour effectively exclude the majority of working residents, parents, and students from participating in critical discussions that shape the future of our town.

The Brown Act was created to ensure that the people’s business is conducted openly and that the public has the opportunity to meaningfully participate before decisions are made. While the current schedule may satisfy the bare minimum legal requirement, holding a Study Session at 8:30 AM clearly violates the spirit of the Brown Act by making it practically impossible for most residents to attend. A meeting that is technically “open” but inaccessible to the community is not truly open in any meaningful sense.

Public input is not optional—it is the foundation of legitimate governance. Study Sessions are where policy priorities are shaped, and direction is set long before a final vote. Without robust public participation, these discussions risk taking place in an echo chamber, lacking the insight, accountability, and diversity of perspectives that make for sound decision-making.

By moving the September 9 meeting to 5:00 PM, the Council would honor both the letter and the spirit of the Brown Act, demonstrate its commitment to transparency, and ensure that residents—especially students—can be present, engaged, and heard. This small change will make a profound difference in the level of trust, legitimacy, and public confidence in the outcome of your deliberations.

We urge you to act now, announce the new time immediately, and give residents the opportunity to rearrange schedules so they can participate. The people of Danville deserve more than the appearance of access—they deserve genuine access. Anything less fails the test of open government.

Respectfully,
Danville Safety Advocates

CC: Tai Williams (Town Manager), Rob Ewing (City Attorney)