Submitted On:
May 21, 2024, 11:07AM PDT
City Council Workshop and
Regular Meeting - Submit your
written public comment
City of Pleasanton
Full Name First Name: Lisa
Email (this entry is disclosable
if included)
City Council Meeting Date May 21, 2024
Meeting Type Workshop at 5 PM
Agenda Item Number 1
Comments Good evening Mayor and Council members. I am writing to express my concern related to the elimination of school crossing guards as part of the proposed budget cuts.
My son attends Vintage Hills Elementary School and nearly every morning I witness cars driving up the wrong side of the road to bypass school traffic. These cars use the intersection to cut back into the school drop off line. This intersection is where a large number of students (including my son) cross the street every day. I have witnessed cars nearly hitting children and this is WITH the aid of a crossing guard. Imagine the danger these children will be in without a crossing guard. I have even had to request Pleasanton PD come out and enforce this issue in the past.
By removing crossing guards from schools, you are putting out children in great danger of being struck by a vehicle and being injured or worse. It is not a matter of IF someone will be injured or killed but a matter of WHEN.
Please reconsidered eliminating this program as it is essential to our children's safety.
Thank You!!
Lisa
Submitted On:
May 21, 2024, 10:44AM PDT
City Council Workshop and
Regular Meeting - Submit your
written public comment
City of Pleasanton
Full Name First Name: Pam
Last Name: Fiala
Email (this entry is disclosable
if included) [email protected]
City Council Meeting Date May 21, 2024
Meeting Type Workshop at 5 PM
Agenda Item Number Special Mt
Comments To Mayor Karla Brown, Vice Mayor Julie Testa, and City Council Members Valerie Arkin, Jack Balch, and Jeff Niebert
From David and Pam Fiala, Pleasanton Residents & Crossing Guards Re Proposed budget cuts — Crossing guard
We understand the severity of the budget issues and would like to voice our concerns about the elimination of the Pleasanton Crossing Guard Program.
As you have gathered public comment through surveys and meetings, we, as well as many other residents, have noted that public safety ranks number one for importance. The safety of our children is the key role the crossing guards serve and funding for this program should not be eliminated. The City of Pleasanton promotes green strategies which includes students walking and biking to school. The guards provide public safety every school day to thousands of kids throughout Pleasanton as well as to the local neighbors who regularly cross busy streets. Long ago, crossing guards were students but unfortunately, times have changed and electric cars which make no noise, speeding cars, and distracted drivers have created unsafe conditions for guards, as well as kids, who are traveling to school by walking, biking, and scootering.
During this school year, at least one guard was hit by a distracted driver in Pleasanton and sent to the hospital with serious injuries.
No one wants to see a student hit by a car!
A second role the crossing guards play is that of a community ambassador greeting all and keeping their eyes out for any suspicious situations. As ambassadors we are dealing with very young children that are learning to be independent as well as learning the safe way to traverse busy intersections. The guards teach the children to not cross until the speeding cars have passed and to be alert for cars that are making right hand turns through stop lights without stopping. The crossing guards teach the kids how to be social and greet people, express thanks and be respectful of others, key attributes of the City of Pleasanton’s Community of Character model.
Lastly, these guards are local residents, many are seniors who are working and making an income which assists in their ability to pay their bills while living in this expensive community.
As you make the difficult decision to cut services please remember that public safety is the residents’ number one priority and that each crossing guard works to support keeping Pleasanton residents safe.
Perhaps city staff could work with the school district staff to create an equal partnership in funding the program. We recognize that the school district is also facing budget challenges so it is not realistic for them to fund this program exclusively.
Thank you for your support.
1 Responses to City Council Agenda Items – May 21, 2024
Workshop
Receive a report outlining a contingency menu of potential service reductions that would be discussed further as part of addressing the forecasted structural budget deficit
1. I s it accurate that the City doesn’t charge for credit card processing fees or doesn’t pass them along to the buyer? If so, how much is the City paying for processing fees? A. The City currently does not charge for credit card processing fees. The annual costs are about $441K including $233K for the General Fund and $208K for non- General Funds mainly related to the water and sewer programs. Staff is planning to incorporate credit card fees into the master fee schedule as part of the citywide fee update in FY 2024/25.
2. I understand the city’s not looking to the transient occupancy tax, but what is the analysis or discussion related to if we could (aka, how much rate increase, how much revenues, etc.)
A. If the transient occupancy tax rate is increased by 4% from 8% to 12%, we expect to generate about $2M in additional revenues.
3. Is the City not charging for field usage currently?
A. The City is not currently charging for field use fees. Field use fees are included in the current fee study and will be brought forward to City Council for consideration in the fall.
4. Regarding Item E, is the permit center cost neutral? A. The permit center is not full cost recovery. Planning does not operate with full cost recovery as to fees vs staff time.