Pleasanton’s Community Development Department will be renamed and restructured to include economic development functions starting July 1, staff told the Planning Commission on June 25. The change follows the city council’s budget action on June 17 and is intended to coordinate land-use review, permitting and business outreach.

The move matters because city staff said the merged department will pair planning expertise with dedicated business-facing capacity to reduce uncertainty for prospective projects and align zoning and processes with the Economic Development Strategic Plan adopted by the council in August 2023. “This item tonight … is really to give some additional information to the planning commission,” Ellen Clark, Community Development Director, told commissioners.

City staff said the reorganization will keep Lisa Adamos in her current role as Economic Development Manager and create a new Economic and Business Development Manager role that will be filled by Melinda (last name not provided), who will work with planning while a new planning manager is recruited. Clark said the goal is to improve “process changes and improvements” such as a concierge-style permitting approach, expedited pathways for target projects, and better marketing materials for brokers and property owners.

The presentation highlighted several implemented and planned programs tied to the strategic plan’s five priorities: capacity building, business retention/attraction, local revenue growth, entrepreneurship and a major-projects accelerator. Staff showed new business-attraction brochures, a “Why Pleasanton” web page and a proposed retail-development program that could include market-targeting and expedited permitting for specific tenant improvements. Clark said staff is also working with the Pleasanton Downtown Association on a business improvement district renewal and continuing partnerships with Visit Tri-Valley and regional startup supports such as EyeGate and the Daybreak Labs incubator in Livermore.

Commissioners asked about who will handle planning work and when the changes will take effect. Clark said Melinda will transition into the new economic/business development role while the city hires a new planning manager, and that staff expects the restructuring to phase in over several months rather than as an immediate “flip the switch.”

Commissioners and staff discussed closer coordination between the Planning Commission and the Economic Vitality Committee (EVC). Clark said the EVC is a council-appointed body that meets bimonthly and advises the council on economic programs; she and Melinda suggested future joint briefings or targeted meetings to reduce overlap and align recommendations. Commissioner comments at the meeting emphasized streamlining interdepartmental work, improving turnaround for applicants and preserving the city’s planning standards while making processes more predictable for businesses.

Staff emphasized this presentation was informational; Clark said the department will bring specific policy items and process proposals back to the Planning Commission as work items are scheduled. The commission and staff expect additional follow-up after the city council’s July 15 work session, when council will review a longer list of proposed initiatives and priorities.

A consent-item motion to approve the June 25 consent calendar passed unanimously earlier in the meeting.

What’s next: Clark and Melinda said the department will return to the commission with targeted proposals — including a streamlined staff-report format for routine items — and that recruitment for the vacant planning-manager role is under way.