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Pleasanton council backs downtown BID restructuring, sets public hearing
Summary
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.
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.
