Pleasanton residents urge council to spare library, pool and Firehouse Arts from proposed budget cuts

Hundreds of residents packed a special Pleasanton City Council meeting on April 8 and used the public‑comment period to press the council to preserve core community services in the face of proposed budget reductions.

Speakers from multiple neighborhoods, parents, students and local nonprofit leaders described the library, the Dolores Bankston Aquatic Center (DBAC) and the Firehouse Arts Center as essential community assets. Gabby Welk, introduced herself as the executive director of the Pleasanton Downtown Association and outlined her organization’s near‑term priorities and downtown support work. Several parents and coaches for the Pleasanton Seahawks swim team offered to partner with the city to reduce pool operating costs; coach Joe Natina said the Seahawks would “purchase the covers for the pool” immediately if that would help keep the facility open.

Multiple students and parents warned that cutting library hours would harm students who rely on late‑evening access to study and use library computers. David Ellis and several high‑school speakers said the proposed reductions would remove critical study space and services for low‑income families. Library volunteers and commissioners described programs—such as Paws to Read and summer reading—that they said would be imperiled by proposed staff and hours cuts.

Museum on Main and other nonprofit leaders told the council that steep cuts to general‑fund grants or to operating subsidies could force staffing reductions and program eliminations. Tri Valley TV’s executive director reminded the council that the local public‑media partner provides live meeting coverage and emergency alerts and warned that eliminating the subsidy could raise the city’s transparency costs.

Several speakers asked the council to fund a feasibility study for a railroad quiet zone to reduce train horn noise in downtown Pleasanton and noted federal grant programs; others urged continued funding for school‑crossing guards and human‑services grants that support vulnerable residents.

Mayor Balch and council members repeatedly thanked speakers for their participation. The council did not take final votes on the budget that night; members directed staff to return to a continuation meeting April 10 with supplemental analyses and alternative options in response to public input.

Ending: The public comment period completed after roughly two and a half hours of speakers; council discussion of the draft reductions and staff presentation followed, and the meeting was continued to April 10 for further deliberation.