February 3rd, 2026 City Council Meeting
The Pleasanton City Council meeting held on February 3, 2026, focused on regional water supply feasibility, proposed tax measures to address the structural deficit, and a new policy framework for property rezoning.
Water Supply and Groundwater Feasibility
The Council received an update on Phase 1 of the Regional Groundwater Facilities Improvement Project, a partnership with Zone 7 Water Agency.
Feasibility Results: The study determined it is technically feasible to construct new joint groundwater wells in the Bernal subbasin.
Preferred Locations: Tennis Park and Hansen Park were identified as the best sites for production.
Water Quality: Modeling suggested that these wells could operate for at least 20 years without drawing in the local PFAS contaminant plume.
Cost: The total joint project cost is estimated at $42.3 million, though final cost-sharing terms with Zone 7 are still being negotiated.
Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Proposal
To address an ongoing structural budget deficit, staff recommended placing a TOT (hotel tax) increase on the November 2026 ballot.
Phased Increase: The proposed measure would increase the rate from 8% to 10% in 2027, and then to 12% in 2028.
Revenue Impact: Once fully implemented, the increase is projected to generate approximately $2.8 million in annual revenue.
Stakeholder Feedback: Hotel operators generally indicated they would not oppose the measure if implementation was gradual.
Action: The Council unanimously directed staff to proceed with developing the ballot measure language.
Development and Rezoning Policy
Staff sought direction to draft a formal policy for evaluating General Plan Amendments and rezoning requests, particularly for office-to-residential conversions.
The Goal: Create an "early review" workshop process so developers can receive a preliminary "yes" or "no" from the Council before spending significant money on full applications.
Community Benefit: This process allows the city to negotiate community benefits and amenities that are often lost under newer, restrictive state housing laws.
Action: The Council unanimously approved the development of this policy.
Public Comment and Community Concerns
Commissions: Several residents and commissioners raised concerns over suspended Civic Arts Commission meetings and a perceived lack of transparency regarding potential structural changes to city commissions.
Immigration (ICE): Members of the public and Council members discussed community anxiety regarding federal immigration enforcement. The Police Chief reiterated that the department does not participate in federal immigration enforcement.
Economic Vitality: There was a call to address long-term vacancies in downtown Pleasanton, with a workshop on Council priorities scheduled for March 17 to discuss these issues further.
Personnel and Announcements
Economic Development: Abraham Salinas was introduced as the city's new Economic Development Manager.
Fire Department: Several promotions were recognized, including Curtis Dickey to Deputy Chief.
Cultural Events: The City Manager highlighted upcoming celebrations for Lunar New Year (February 14) and Black History Month (February 28).
