[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5981058,"mediaKeyId","5772452-e18799650326a79602598c3452748636","parentId",5772452,"title","Pleasanton council approves on-call communications consultant contract; staff says it'll fill project gaps, not replace position","audioSeconds",415,"startMs",9576000,"endMs",9991000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5772452-e18799650326a79602598c3452748636&start=9576&end=9991","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5772452-e18799650326a79602598c3452748636/thumbnail_9576000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5981058/Pleasanton/Alameda-County/California/Pleasanton-council-approves-on-call-communications-consultant-contract-staff-says-itll-fill-project-gaps-not-replace-position","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5981058-59c75074da4c18d20b0948c32ae14afa/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607301&Signature=aZxAb48AHMm2pc-AT1sHaN6LPRjEOADDjKJ7FBMEM2zX58-m3ov7MKVvSki2lfkhp8Vzrd8yKStOv262x3UHrzZM0Dls0J-mPLsxEmKoEV4rdHw~0tPxmplIufc2ciuWRCjSq9N6Sk46cO7SaH8rT31sx1A~4gALgLVMrZL~RSAzNl~GMHexmf8Dj4Ol85aCm0l4j5S5bolFJh0Jthg-AxiySrksfHKQYib62rQDINEEa8kLz9eooXllfcgBXf2pAslQpX-qjZsqpH1~2bAg6HZi9DqwOWuRyrNT3WPQ0WPH-RbyuRcOa2zD4lr5OmX21i1ZIhsEZjCS-JQnK3qJOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pleasanton, CA","date","2025-09-17T04:59:00Z","article","The Pleasanton City Council voted Sept. 16 to approve a three-year, on-call communications consultant contract to provide strategic communications, video and project support for large projects, staff said.

During council discussion, members noted the city had recently moved to eliminate a public-information staff position and asked whether hiring a consultant would re-create that role. City staff said the contract is intended to consolidate and streamline work the city has historically procured piecemeal (water communications, asset management outreach, capital projects, video and marketing), not to substitute for routine day-to-day public information duties.

Staff told the council the contract would be used on an \"as-needed/on-call\" basis and that much of the expected spending could be charged to enterprise and capital funds for water, sewer and CIP projects; staff estimated a smaller portion of costs would be borne by the general fund. The contract mirrors prior practice of using consultants for specialized projects but consolidates those engagements under a single on-call agreement for efficiency.

Council approved the item on a roll-call vote. Staff will use the contract for projects including water communications and upcoming sewer and capital outreach, asset-management education, and other high-level communications tasks that require scalable external resources.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9/16/25 - City Council Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a multi-year, on-call communications services contract to supply strategy and project support for capital, water, and economic-development communications. Staff said the contract consolidates piecemeal work historically done by outside vendors and is not intended to replace the recently eliminated staff position.","taxTitle","Pleasanton , Alameda County, California","taxId",2911,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5981063,"Resident asks Pleasanton to reopen North Arroyo Mocho trail; council agrees to consider request",8748,1284000,10032000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5772452-e18799650326a79602598c3452748636&start=1284&end=10032","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5772452-e18799650326a79602598c3452748636/thumbnail_1284000.jpg","/articles/5981063/Pleasanton/Alameda-County/California/Resident-asks-Pleasanton-to-reopen-North-Arroyo-Mocho-trail-council-agrees-to-consider-request","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5981063-46f9493c2f45086add60431ac6ce9262/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607301&Signature=ln3eQ8XSQQntbTndGqoc2Uewh5uFsvHu22C7Zx6qGi8pxiaxkkv8BXwl-IOw0tjIN6DNHQb104IRXZmHUlg6It-egIbsOFjA1bUVGNkUZYRYEulZPevMBkyqSqD8e-agKcnRWZDH3CPM9AUWAWvY0Bou0xj10XFEOwDXUbcLaWEp7HyPmddWjdZgDUH1gJaiGwJsJO5jy9ErbA3C~U3BuR4EUkU7kZfe9JzSTCdolvosfcDEZBChErKir5wMKJWNJJl8zvWZNp-Ak9AHzhm8gO7b2sJJ1i-TYVjhkfDkFG2NrKOLYwKBG3xDqCGUpqKe6kmgbLO3xQeQfdY6zRn8dA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident urged the Pleasanton City Council on Sept. 16 to reopen a closed section of the North Arroyo Mocho trail that once provided neighborhood pedestrian and bicycle access.

Sharon Pekarski, who described living in a 1,500-home neighborhood bounded by I-580, Santa Rita Road and the Arroyo Mocho, told the council staff closed a Zone 7 access road about eight years ago after a neighboring homeowner complained. She said the city's 2019 Trails Master Plan included the North Arroyo Mocho Trail and that the city's Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trails Committee (BPTC) supported opening the section from Creekview to Martin Avenue at a June meeting.

Pekarski said staff told the BPTC that despite the trail's inclusion in the master plan and its prior public use, additional mailed notices and community pop-ups were required. She said three adjacent homeowners objected and that the opening stalled; she asked the council to direct staff to reopen the gates, saying the change could be made at minimal cost.

Councilmember Eicher asked staff to bring the item back as a matter initiated by council; at the end of the meeting four councilmembers expressed support for placing the trail matter on a future agenda for further public discussion. City staff said a memo on this subject exists from recent work and that staff will circulate it and return with a public discussion item.","A resident told the council the North Arroyo Mocho access road has been closed for about eight years and urged staff to direct reopening; the council agreed to return the item to a future agenda for discussion.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5981068,"Pleasanton updates emergency operations plan, relocates EOC and readies community workshops",473,8269000,8742000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5772452-e18799650326a79602598c3452748636&start=8269&end=8742","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5772452-e18799650326a79602598c3452748636/thumbnail_8269000.jpg","/articles/5981068/Pleasanton/Alameda-County/California/Pleasanton-updates-emergency-operations-plan-relocates-EOC-and-readies-community-workshops","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5981068-6820e294b5b9fd1a72de650f0619c3f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607301&Signature=WJVHE1KjIAPwC7mPffrC6xUPFf4l0YWtqGzBRQXCGZ8PHNTS-h9mHUXwLOqtjqUGS4Qioi0ShqoXF3ztwlpqnzxh1aqNgR3ddTNCcdLhwzKdPtmGFLoLuf1fQ9BtDEl9flWaJcnqSwuHJ4T8mQvsNwsgWZcXjDHCfSHuBlRUNSvkcUEAurTSrlvdf5qeVWgwaPF5ig68mWMa1UM4irtdBEJxYPIV2l4urQjR875KD4AvJoRIFOU9cArBbgXeewgFZUldDGu2~mWwQyzh6m4p0Bf1ix-M4ozwWQKzH7l0tqlppDjpoiY2cSIw~Z4IG1kz6ts~CEFHBimpTy0pt9yHOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pleasanton staff gave the City Council an update Sept. 16 on emergency-management work including a revised emergency operations plan (EOP), employee safety work under Cal/OSHA requirements, relocation of the primary Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and community outreach plans.

Emergency Services Manager Leo Lopez said the city updated its EOP to clarify roles and decision paths during a disaster and moved the primary EOC from the police briefing room to the Remillard Room at the Operations Service Center to avoid disrupting police operations during activations. The police briefing room remains the city's secondary in-person EOC.

Lopez said the city has trained 196 staff through a Disaster Academy program (about 74% of full-time staff, excluding sworn public safety), held a functional exercise based on the Canyon Fire to test EOC assignments and tools, and ran evacuation drills at multiple city facilities to comply with site-specific emergency action plans.

Staff described ongoing coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and Alameda County Office of Emergency Services on alerting and warning protocols. The city also is improving communications with Pacific Gas & Electric about power outages and is developing preparedness outreach for local businesses with the PDA.

A second annual community workshop on personal emergency preparedness was announced for Sept. 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at council chambers; staff encouraged residents to sign up for county alert systems (AC Alert), Genesis Protect mapping, and local Nixle alerts.

Lopez said exercises generate after-action reports and improvement plans; the city used the recent fire-season exercise to form a work plan to address identified gaps. The council and staff also discussed how to maintain timely, vetted public information during incidents to limit the spread of misinformation.","City staff briefed council on updates to Pleasanton's emergency operations plan, an Injury and Illness Prevention Program, a new primary emergency operations center location and exercises; a community preparedness workshop was scheduled for Sept. 23.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5981072,"Pleasanton begins overhaul of utility-bill discount program; council favors income-based approach",4229,4024000,8253000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5772452-e18799650326a79602598c3452748636&start=4024&end=8253","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5772452-e18799650326a79602598c3452748636/thumbnail_4024000.jpg","/articles/5981072/Pleasanton/Alameda-County/California/Pleasanton-begins-overhaul-of-utility-bill-discount-program-council-favors-income-based-approach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5981072-413a46cf1f2675623de7bda5eb49bbb6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607301&Signature=ZOs6g8QxxWDdeOb7FLBkzwgv7dNrgeUwuXEXTG7E-AhxeZaOxdGRaxtqTNmVjqNkw-W1odWBxWD~APiGe7GqMGz0alfgc5NGlVAMjOHwNdZGUIq3caQhraQ4Dq7Q36lOEfxHYPYMAi39v2yUIg6ZKhygZ2jexqCykrkfmCT4fkN9Q7lf5aJk8TtE1ieu6pA3I8Bkn2ss1-cs~IRb11X4-y-Vb-3Phq650NQwaY9QgZcMFOGUNtLcpt8zPXG6vrCJhJ1zLSrhWwTU~KNt3rpuW5mFNhJtAkV2MbQij0hgPBuDeXGqowB9yk2MkXBgOMwpWqI1QSnrOWe7fTB4wtV6-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pleasanton city staff presented a draft recommendation Sept. 16 to revise the utility billing discount program, and council gave direction to shape a final proposal for adoption in time for Jan. 1 rate changes.

Public Works Director Soo Chin Yong told the council the program currently provides two discounts: a low-income discount (30%) tied to customers enrolled in PG&E's CARE program and a senior discount (20%) for customers 65 and older. The city's data show about 3,200 senior customer accounts and about 225 enrolled under the CARE-based low-income program. The discount program is funded from the city general fund; staff said the FY 2025'26 budget includes $425,000 for the program.

Staff recommended moving toward an income-based model rather than an age-only senior discount, and to align the usage cap with the water rate study. Currently customers are ineligible for the discount if they exceed 30 hundred cubic feet (CCF) of water per billing cycle; staff proposed lowering the threshold to 24 CCF (the city average), as a conservation incentive.

Councilmembers and staff debated several variables: whether to convert the age-based senior discount into an income-qualified benefit; what area median income (AMI) threshold to use (staff flagged options including 80%, 100% and 120% AMI); whether to cap the program budget at the existing $425,000 or increase general fund support; and whether discounts should apply to the full city bill (including Zone 7 charges) or to city fixed charges only. Staff confirmed the program's cost is paid from the general fund (enterprise funds cannot be used for subsidies) and noted that expanding eligibility would increase fiscal exposure.

Multiple councilmembers backed an income-based program and supported lowering the consumption limit to 24 CCF. The dais also expressed interest in preserving some targeted assistance for long-term residents and asked staff to analyze whether a residency or account-age requirement for a senior supplement would be lawful and practical. Councilmembers asked staff to return in October with modeled costs for alternative AMI thresholds and with scenarios for a one-program (income-based) option and a two-program structure (income-based plus a residency- or age-targeted senior enhancement).

Staff said it would market the eventual program and return to council with estimated enrollment and cost impacts, with an initial six-month implementation review suggested so the council could adjust funding if enrollment exceeded budgeted levels.","City staff presented options to update senior and low-income utility bill discounts, citing rising rates and costs. Council directed staff to return with final proposals that would emphasize income-based eligibility, lower the consumption cap and model budget impacts.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5981077,"Pleasanton council backs downtown BID restructuring, sets public hearing",2399,1606000,4005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5772452-e18799650326a79602598c3452748636&start=1606&end=4005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5772452-e18799650326a79602598c3452748636/thumbnail_1606000.jpg","/articles/5981077/Pleasanton/Alameda-County/California/Pleasanton-council-backs-downtown-BID-restructuring-sets-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5981077-9bb0c28a7213f91634b4863ce929dd65/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607301&Signature=l1ApFF0xrxT1OFXbPDyM2PciXM1YDGWP8~JWzNFGHQDihdE-0rgCPg6focWjngq8g8HRiMh1oGv8~VveNycU0dHuGZmXf0elBLCaSv81OKraavJr0Bw9lBeY65PicIv93AGYjbYuGCDBjfnpCn2TriaLHyUvMb312YBO~m6ITWOO0zNG4MaZe9mZG-wTjYN7n8yzbYMnUP~y6627o35U1WlGAJl9~vtu-Ct8DS3odMI~2rKrANQ8E4LK0ZJb0WPlSpV5~itM0ibCameZWAVd7xK6SUTgvWaeXFh95vq3G1wZoX-R0DiaGShCnyutDzyVJKdextcZcfmchIAuMrtb4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pleasanton City Council voted unanimously Sept. 16 to accept a proposed restructuring of the Downtown Pleasanton Business Improvement District (PBID) assessment and to proceed with the public hearing process to levy assessments for 2026.

The council approved the PBID advisory board's recommended Option 2, which would revise the current assessment schedule and add an annual escalator tied to the consumer price index. Staff and the Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA) told the council the change is designed to restore buying power lost to inflation since the current assessment structure was set in 1996 and to expand funds available for events, business support, downtown beautification and recruitment efforts.

The PDA's annual report and budget, presented by Economic Development Manager Lisa Adamos and PDA Executive Director Gabrielle Welk, showed how the district's base assessment has remained at an estimated $80,000 and that Option 2 would raise estimated 2026 revenues to about $140,000. City staff said the final city match amount and a new agreement with the PDA would be returned to council later in the year.

Supporters at the meeting included multiple downtown business owners who told the council the PDA's recent events have noticeably increased foot traffic and sales. Multiple small-business speakers said modest increases in the PBID assessment would be worth the expanded marketing and event work the PDA has been delivering.

Councilmembers said they viewed the move as a partnership between downtown businesses and the PDA, with the city's ongoing in-kind support and sponsorships continuing to supplement the PBID funding. The council directed staff to proceed with the statutory steps for changing the assessment and set a public hearing for Nov. 4, 2025, consistent with the annual levy process under the Parking and Business Improvement Area Law of 1989.

The motion to approve staff's recommendation was made and seconded on the floor and passed on a roll-call vote with all members voting aye.

The PDA will mail notices to all downtown businesses with the proposed changes and public hearing dates. The council also asked the PDA and staff to continue outreach to businesses before the ordinance is introduced Oct. 7.","Pleasanton City Council approved the Downtown Pleasanton Business Improvement District advisory board's recommendation (Option 2) to restructure assessments and include an annual CPI escalator, and set a public hearing for the levy of 2026 assessments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pleasanton council approves on-call communications consultant contract; staff says it'll fill project gaps, not replace position

Resident asks Pleasanton to reopen North Arroyo Mocho trail; council agrees to consider request

Pleasanton updates emergency operations plan, relocates EOC and readies community workshops

Pleasanton begins overhaul of utility-bill discount program; council favors income-based approach

Pleasanton council backs downtown BID restructuring, sets public hearing