Pleasanton · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Pleasanton public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Sustainability Awards Program
Pleasanton is planning a new awards program to recognize residents, businesses, schools, and green building projects for their environmental efforts. The Commission will help shape the categories and criteria, and winners would be honored by the City Council during Earth Week.
Citywide standards for private outdoor sports courts and canopies
The city proposed reserving three of six Muirwood courts for $6-7.50/hour to manage demand and raise revenue. Dozens of players said it would destroy the open-play community and double wait times, so the council sent it back to Parks and Rec for more research and input.
Arroyo Mocho Trail north-bank gate reopening
Neighbors of Pleasanton Meadows strongly oppose reopening gates on the north bank of the Arroyo Mocho, citing safety, privacy, homelessness concerns, and a dangerous 30-degree slope. The council clarified the decision isn't final and directed residents to the Bike/Ped Committee this fall.
LPFD contract extension with VA Medical Center
A six-month extension would keep the fire department providing emergency and fire protection services to the Livermore VA Medical Center through April 30, 2027.
Sewer rate increase (Prop 218)
A Prop 218 notice for a sewer rate increase is in mailboxes; a resident formally protested the plan, citing an ~80% first-year jump for single-family homes and no cap. The hearing is November 17.
Affordable rental housing at 4780 Chabot Drive
A proposed 100% affordable, up to 142-unit family rental project near BART would be the city's first directly supported affordable family housing development. Council supports the concept but must still decide on ~$8.4M in fee relief and a $10.3M inclusionary fee transfer, with the term sheet coming back later.
Clara Lane tentative map extension dispute (Parcel Map 9455)
Subdivider Rakesh Jain says his three-lot Clara Lane project is fully financed and ready, but staff says the 2007 tentative map expires October 26 and no further extension is legal. A neighbor urged denial, asking for updated environmental review.
Caltrans safety grant applications ($5.86M)
The city is seeking $5.86M in Caltrans grants for signal upgrades, pedestrian crossings, and an Owens Drive protected bikeway. A bike/ped committee veteran criticized the process but the applications went forward.
Street resurfacing and reconstruction (CIP No. 27503)
A $242,784 task authorization with Sanbell-Bay Area was on the agenda for the annual street resurfacing program — part of the ongoing effort to fix worn roads.
Commercial Vacancy Reduction Strategies
Councilmember Testa wants a workshop on carrot-and-stick strategies to fill commercial vacancies, especially downtown, possibly touching the active ground floor use rules. Council backed a workshop that also includes updates from the economic development team.
Citywide Emergency Preparedness
The council and chiefs recounted the response to the Little Fire — 1,007 acres, 6,000+ evacuated, homes within 30 feet of flames, no structures lost. Residents overwhelmingly thanked responders; the mayor urged signing up for AC Alert and making emergency plans.
Emergency Generator Replacement Project
The city locked in a $2.75 million contract with Telstar Instruments to replace emergency generators, keeping critical facilities powered during outages.
Asset Management Plan and CIP Strategy FY 2027-2032
The city catalogued 206,000 assets worth $4.8 billion and found only $28 million in poor/failed condition — way better than the $900 million deferred-maintenance fear. Staff will rank projects by risk and bring a funded and unfunded CIP list to council in March for adoption by July 1, 2027.
Public Works Staffing Vacancies
A state-mandated public hearing on how many positions the city has unfilled and how it is recruiting and retaining workers. Vacancies affect how quickly residents get services.
CalCities Resolution on Local Control of Housing
The council directed its voting delegate to back a League of California Cities resolution to form a working group on restoring local control over housing and land use, against state mandates.
West Las Positas Boulevard Reconstruction Costs and Delays
A resident flagged the fifth contract extension and roughly half a million more dollars for the long-running West Las Positas project. The new city engineer said design is $6 million over budget and value engineering is underway, with construction hoped for spring 2027.
Water Revenue Bonds for Water System Improvements
The city is borrowing up to $16.5 million through water revenue bonds to pay for improvements to its water system. Because it's a revenue bond, repayment comes from the water enterprise's revenues, not general taxes.
Commercial Burglaries Targeting 24 Businesses
A crime spree on September 10 hit 24 Pleasanton businesses, and the police chief and city manager told the public an active regional investigation is underway. A resident even pitched a witness-reward program.
Cluster mailboxes in the historic district
Residents said USPS plans to install cluster box units in sidewalk medians in the historic district without adequate notice, raising security and accessibility concerns. Staff said the Postal Service controls this and the city had no record of approving it.
Ground squirrels at Bernal Community Park
Residents near Oak Vista Way reported ongoing property, foundation, and vehicle damage from ground squirrels in Bernal Community Park. Staff said state law limits poison controls and that the city is exploring non-poison options and planning a community meeting with the HOA.
Wheels bus route changes affecting students
Multiple speakers said recent Wheels route changes force Parkside-area students to walk up to a mile-plus to bus stops and leave buses overcrowded. Staff explained routes are set by the LAVTA joint powers authority, which is evaluating the changes as a pilot; the next board meeting is September 14.
Housing Element Program 7.6.8 rezoning of church sites
The state-required program rezones small portions of two church properties for up to 10 units each. Neighbors opposed over traffic, safety, and neighborhood character, but the council approved it 4-1 to avoid jeopardizing housing element certification.
Arroyo Lago Residential Project Annexation
The largest item on the agenda: annexing 130.98 acres from unincorporated Alameda County and approving a planned development of 28 single-family homes on 128.5 acres, with environmental review certification and a development agreement. This would add homes to Pleasanton's edge and reshape the city's boundary.
PFAS investigation legal costs at fire facilities
The council quietly authorized up to $1 million for legal work related to the regional water board's PFAS investigation of fire department facilities.
Commission restructuring ordinance
The ordinance trims advisory commissions to quarterly meetings and modifies membership rules — a consequence of budget shortfalls after the failed sales tax measure. Councilmember Testa stressed the council accepted, not recommended, the cuts, and emphasized commissioners stay engaged between meetings.
Denial of 231 Old Bernal Avenue redevelopment
The council denied a four-unit residential building across from City Hall for violating downtown standards, but several members worried state housing law could allow a much denser, no-parking project on the site instead. They urged the applicant to return with a design that fits the downtown.
Cybersecurity and SCADA technology investments
The council spent big on protecting city systems: nearly $935,000 for Darktrace cybersecurity services and about $290,000 to replace aging water-system SCADA servers.
Landscape Maintenance District Funding and Assessments
Decades-old LMDs created before Prop 218 can't keep up with costs. Property owners in Ponderosa-Del Prado and Bonde Ranch approved new assessment districts by weighted ballot, and the council confirmed annual assessments for three other districts.
Telecommunications Coverage in East Pleasanton
The city rewrote its rules for cell towers, small cells, and modifications to existing wireless facilities, plus new application fees. This shapes where 5G and macro tower equipment can go and how much applicants pay.
Potential ICE use of former FCI Dublin prison
A new federal environmental assessment found the closed FCI Dublin prison unsafe and uninhabitable, opening the door to a transfer or demolition. Five residents urged the council to formally oppose any ICE detention facility there; the council didn't have enough votes to agendize a resolution.
ALPR Camera Data Practices
Mike Katz-Lacabe told the council that a records request suggests Pleasanton police are sharing license plate reader data with Border Patrol in violation of California's SB 34. The police chief's response was that he wasn't aware of it, and staff agreed to look into the claim.
Ground Squirrel Infestation Near Bernal Community Park
Oak Vista Way and Bernal Park neighbors described a worsening ground squirrel and gopher infestation burrowing under homes and damaging park landscaping, urging the city to fund a coordinated control program. Staff offered to connect residents with follow-up.
Transient Occupancy Tax increase on November ballot
The council is asking voters to raise the hotel tax from 8% to 12% in two steps starting July 2027. At the full rate it brings in about $2.8 million a year — roughly a third of the city's $7-8 million structural deficit — and the cost falls mostly on visitors, not residents.
Gas station rebrand at 4191 First Street
The council reversed the Zoning Administrator's denial and let the 76 station and Circle K rebrand to Shell and FastFill, after the applicant made remarks and two residents commented.
Halloween street closure on Second Street
Vice Mayor Gaidos says thousands of trick-or-treaters pack Second Street every Halloween and cars driving through are 'terrifying' — a public safety issue. The Council agreed to study adding a city-sanctioned closure and will bring back a cost analysis (prior events have cost roughly $9,000-$20,000).
Stalled home development near Foothill High
Two developers building six homes near Foothill High say they've been stuck for three months in a dispute between the city's engineer and their geotechnical engineer. The city manager offered to meet with them and help untangle the review.
Water meter replacement project approved
The city is spending up to $12.8 million to replace failing water meters — 2,200 are dead right now and about 300 fail every month, which means lost water and lost revenue. A December 2027 state deadline and a June 2028 Zone 7 settlement deadline make speed essential.
Rodent infestation at vacant Merit property
A 40-year Foothill Knolls resident says rats and squirrels from the long-vacant Merit property are destroying homes — one $12,000 attic repair — and neither the city nor the county will act because the land isn't annexed yet. Staff offered to connect him with vector control and get him answers on timing.
Gas station signage guidelines update
The Shell rebrand fight exposed a real gap: the city's sign rules are subjective, and this is the second gas station in two years to test them at the First and Ray gateway. The council approved the project but also directed staff to prepare gas-station-specific signage guidelines.
First-Wednesday Main Street closures
Testa wants more first-Wednesday Main Street closures, saying the events bring downtown vitality, but the request failed for lack of majority support. A related suggestion from Vic's Diner about moving closure barriers to allow parking access was referred to staff.
Public meeting disruption policy (SB 707)
A state law now requires cities to keep a two-way remote participation option and to recess and try to restore service if a meeting's remote access is disrupted. The council adopted the policy unanimously by the July 1 deadline.
Solid waste rate adjustment FY 2026/27
Garbage, recycling, and organics rates go up 2.23% for the fiscal year, as required by the franchise agreement with Pleasanton Garbage Service.
El Charro Road precise alignment study
The council approved $925,411 to engineer the exact route of the long-planned El Charro Road, funded from the Tri-Valley transportation fee reserve. Testa dissented, citing the ~$120 million road price tag with no full funding plan and no developer commitments.
City Manager Departure
Gerry Beaudin's last meeting as city manager — he's headed to the City of Alameda after leading Pleasanton through budget challenges, the first strategic plan, and major infrastructure work. Joseph Calabrigo, Danville's longtime town manager, takes over as interim on June 8 at $25,000 a month.
Safe Streets and Roads for All grant application
The city adopted a safety plan and is applying for a $25 million federal grant, with Santa Rita Road and West Las Positas as priority corridors. Cyclists testified that Pleasanton has among the worst bike-collision numbers in the region and want protected bike lanes, not just painted ones.
Mid-term budget update and water capital program
The city's budget tops $265 million, but the general fund is balanced only with about $6 million in one-time money, and structural deficits are projected through 2035. Councilmembers stressed the city's problems are not solved and a $44 million annual infrastructure gap looms.
Single-Use Plastics at Farmers Market and Restaurants
A resident described massive single-use plastic produce bags at the farmers market that local garbage service can't compost or recycle. Councilmembers agreed to share StopWaste information and revisit a stalled takeout-plastics ordinance.
Water Rate Affordability for Fixed-Income Households
A retiree noted the water bill increase is driven mostly by the fixed connection charge, hitting small households and fixed-income seniors hardest. Staff pointed him to existing discount programs and agreed to follow up.
Amador Theater property transfer to school district
The city was scheduled to hand over the Amador Theater property at 1155 Santa Rita Road to the Pleasanton Unified School District. This settles a long-running property matter between the two agencies.
Police Contract and Crime Statistics
The council was scheduled to approve a new three-year labor contract with the Pleasanton Police Officers' Association running through May 2029. Police compensation and staffing terms directly affect the city budget and public safety services.