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Pleasanton residents press council on ICE policy, surveillance vendor and parks; dispensary revenue idea raised
Summary
During public comment residents asked the council to clarify policies on federal immigration enforcement and the city’s contract with surveillance vendor Flock Safety, raised the need for park repairs to sand‑volleyball courts, and suggested exploring a licensed cannabis dispensary as an additional revenue source.
Pleasanton — Several residents used the council’s public‑comment period on Feb. 17 to press for clearer city policy on immigration enforcement and surveillance, to request repairs to neighborhood parks, and to suggest new revenue options.
Lori Carducci, a Pleasanton resident, urged the council to update and publish clearer guidance about how city staff and facilities would be handled if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts operations locally. “A year old statement is not a plan,” she said, asking for accessible, written protocols and a formal agenda item to review the issue and possible limits on the use of city property.
The police chief responded during the meeting that the department’s Flock Safety settings are configured to share data only with law‑enforcement agencies in California and not with federal agencies, and that auditing of data‑sharing is ongoing. City Manager said contracts and administrative protocols exist and staff will follow up with the council and the public.
In other public comment, Vicki Labarge urged the council to study whether licensing a single cannabis dispensary could help close budget gaps; she cited comparable cities and said a single dispensary could “conservatively generate $1 to $2,000,000 in tax revenue.” Several speakers — including Bhaskar Madhi and Anvay Nimbargi — asked the city to repair torn sand‑volleyball nets and replenish sand at neighborhood courts and to provide a timeline for work orders.
What’s next: Councilmembers acknowledged the concerns and staff accepted follow‑up tasks: Public Works will contact the residents who raised the parks issues; staff will follow up with the police department and provide more information on Flock Safety settings and contracts; and councilmembers suggested considering the immigration and vendor questions for a future agenda item or at an upcoming public‑safety forum.
