City Council Minutes Page 1 of 8 May 6, 2025
CITY OF PLEASANTON
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
7:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Balch called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at the hour of 7:02 p.m. from the Council Chamber located at 200 Old Bernal Avenue.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Eicher, Gaidos, Nibert, Testa, Mayor Balch
Absent: None.
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Sodergren stated there was no reportable action.
AGENDA AMENDMENTS
Item 16b was added for the presentation of the Mayor's recognition award.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 10 was removed from the consent calendar for further discussion.
Mayor Balch opened public comment. The following individuals provided comment:
Todd Nelson, Vicki LaBarge.
Mayor Balch closed the public comment.
MOTION: It was m/s by Eicher/Testa to approve the consent calendar, except for item 10, as recommended. Motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Eicher, Gaidos, Nibert, Testa, Mayor Balch Noes: None
Absent: None
City Council
1. Ratify Commission and Committee appointments
Recommendation: Ratify Commission and Committee appointments.
City Manager
City Council Minutes Page 2 of 8 May 6, 2025
2. Approve meeting minutes of March 18, 2025
Recommendation: Approve meeting minutes of March 18, 2025.
Community Development
3. Actions of the Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission Recommendation: Actions of the Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission.
4. Adopt a resolution authorizing an application with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for allocation of $312,345 in Transportation Development Act Article 3 funds for the purchase of a mini street sweeper from Municipal Maintenance Equipment, Inc. and approve budget amendments in the TDA grant fund Recommendation:
1. Amend the FY 2024/25 Budget Appropriation for the TDA Grant Fund by decreasing the Annual Bicycle and Pedestrian-Related Improvements at Various Locations CIP No. 24543 by $493,513, including a reduction to the budgeted grant revenue.
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-016 authorizing an application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for $312,345 in TDA Article 3 funds.
3. Authorize the City Manager to appropriate $312,345 in TDA Article 3 funds to the Annual Bicycle and Pedestrian-related Improvements project, CIP No. 26543, for the purchase of a mini street sweeper, when the City is awarded requested funds in FY 2025/26, and enter into a purchase agreement/order with Municipal Maintenance Equipment, Inc. for the mini street sweeper.
Finance
5. Accept the monthly disbursement and investment report for March 2025 Recommendation: Accept claim disbursements in the amount of $17,837,431 and the investment report for the month of March 2025.
Fire
6. Adopt Ordinance No. 2293 designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones Recommendation: Adopt Ordinance No. 2293 designating Fire Hazard Severity City Council Minutes Page 3 of 8 May 6, 2025
Zones.
7. Adopt a resolution authorizing the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department to join Bay Cities Joint Powers Insurance Authority
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-017 authorizing the Livermore- Pleasanton Fire Department to join Bay Cities Joint Powers Insurance Authority.
Library and Recreation
8. Adopt a resolution authorizing the submittal of an application to the Alameda County Transportation Commission for Measure BB Funds for the Pleasanton Rides Door-to-Door senior transportation program
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-018 authorizing the submittal of an application to the Alameda County Transportation Commission for Measure BB Funds for the Pleasanton Rides Door-to-Door senior transportation program.
9. Approve the first amendment to the memorandum of understanding with the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) providing 35 percent of Pleasanton’s Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC), Measure BB funding to LAVTA for paratransit services annually to maintain the operation of American with Disabilities Act (ADA) transportation services for Pleasanton residents for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025/26 and 2026/27
Recommendation: Approve the first amendment to the memorandum of understanding with the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) providing 35 percent of Pleasanton’s Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC), Measure BB funding to LAVTA for paratransit services annually to maintain the operation of American with Disabilities Act (ADA) transportation services for Pleasanton residents for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025/26 and 2026/27.
Police
Item 10 was removed from Consent Calendar for further discussion.
Public Works
11. Approve plans and specifications, review bids, and award a construction contract to Sierra Nevada Construction, Inc. in the amount of $293,007 for the Annual Slurry Seal Project, CIP No. 25504, and approve budget amendments in the Gas Tax Fund
Recommendation:
1. Approve plans and specifications, review bids, and award a construction contract for the Annual Slurry Sealing of Various Streets Project, CIP No.
City Council Minutes Page 4 of 8 May 6, 2025
25504, to Sierra Nevada Construction, Inc., of Sparks, NV, for the low bid amount of $293,007.
2. Authorize the City Manager to enter into the construction contract with Sierra Nevada Construction, Inc.
3. Authorize the Director of Public Works to approve and execute contract change orders for a project contingency amount not to exceed $29,301 (approximately 10 percent of the contract).
4. Approve budget amendments in the Gas Tax Fund (Fund 160), transferring $400,000 from the Annual Slurry Sealing of Various Streets Project, (CIP No. 25504), to the Annual Street Resurfacing & Reconstruction Project, (CIP No. 25503).
12. Approve a professional services agreement with Wood Rodgers, Inc. for design and construction management services for the not-to-exceed amount of $406,768 (inclusive of a 15 percent contingency) for the Emergency Power Improvements Utility System, CIP No. 21162, and appropriate $272,000 from Fund 421 Water Replacement CIP
Recommendation:
1. Approve a professional services agreement with Wood Rodgers, Inc. for design and construction management services for a not-to-exceed amount of $406,768 for the Emergency Power Improvements Utility System, CIP No. 21162.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the professional services agreement.
3. Appropriate $272,000 from Fund 421 Water Replacement CIP to the Emergency Power Improvements Utility System, CIP No. 21162.
13. Accept public improvements performed by Golden State Construction & Utility, Inc. for the Bernal Avenue 18-Inch Water Main (F-4 Line) and Turnout No. 1 Improvements, CIP No. 24172 and authorize the return of the remaining funding to the fund balance
Recommendation:
1. Accept the construction of the project as complete and authorize the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion.
2. Authorize the release of the retention in the amount of $86,175.15 to Golden State Construction & Utility, Inc. 30 days after the recordation of the Notice of Completion.
3. Authorize the return of the project’s remaining balance of $233,343 to the Water Replacement CIP (Fund 421) reserve balance.
14. Approve a professional services agreement with Carlson Management, Inc. for staff augmentation and construction management services for the not-to-exceed City Council Minutes Page 5 of 8 May 6, 2025
amount of $282,500
Recommendation: Approve a professional services agreement with Carlson Management, Inc. for on-call construction management, resident engineering and inspection services for the not-to-exceed amount of $282,500.
MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
15. Oath of Office for new Commission and Committee Members Mayor Balch introduced the new members to the City's commission and committees. The City Clerk administered the oath of office.
16. Presentation of a Proclamation recognizing May 2025 as Older Americans Month Councilmember Testa presented the proclamation.
Item 16b: Presentation of Mayor's recognition award to recipient James Paxson.
17. Public Comment regarding items not listed on the agenda – Speakers are limited to 3 minutes.
Mayor Balch opened public comment. The following individuals provided comment:
Jeanette Moore, Mary Velisano, Samir Rajguru, Sara Walsh, Rishabh Praveen, Shivansh Bansal, Diane Catalano Rodriguez, Sergey Starkov, Michael Weber, Cameron Gallup and Sunnyn Meson, Aanya Shenoi, Asim Ruhela, Jim Lehrman, Jake Nguyen, Joshua Dai, Anika Nicolas, Omid Sarabi, Kriti Raj, Rajeev Bansal, Jaya Bansal, Linda Kelly, Ernest Zhang, Gabriel Thompson, Bhagya Arora.
Mayor Balch closed the public comment.
Mayor Balch called a recess at 9:00 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 9:10 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OTHER MATTERS
18. Continued from April 15, 2025 - Review of the Zoning Administrator's approval of a Sign Design Review Application (P24-0731) to install new monument, wall, canopy, and pump signage as part of a rebranding for the Gulf gas station located at 4212 First Street
Recommendation: Review of the Zoning Administrator's approval of a Sign Design Review Application (P24-0731) to install new monument, wall, canopy, and pump signage as part of a rebranding for the Gulf gas station located at 4212 First Street.
Presentation by Eric Luchini, Senior Planner.
City Council Minutes Page 6 of 8 May 6, 2025
Project applicant Guy Houston provided comments.
Mayor Balch opened public comment. The following individuals provided comment: Bill Wheeler, Doug Miller, Debbie Wallace, Linda Kelly.
Mayor Balch closed the public comment.
MOTION 1: It was m/s by Testa/Nibert to approve the staff recommendation with a modification to the condition of approval that the fascia of the canopy background color be a white, gray or tan background with the "disc" logo be modified. The motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Nibert, Testa
Noes: Councilmembers Eicher, Gaidos, Mayor Balch
Absent: None
MOTION 2: It was m/s by Balch/Eicher to accept the staff recommendation with a revised monument sign in white. Motion failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmember Eicher, Mayor Balch
Noes: Councilmembers Gaidos, Nibert, Testa
Absent: None
MOTION 3a: It was m/s by Gaidos/Eicher to approve the monument signage modification with white background. Motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Eicher, Gaidos, Nibert, Testa, Mayor Balch Noes: None
Absent: None
MOTION 3b: It was m/s by Gaidos/Eicher to continue review of the canopy design to a future Council meeting within the next 90 days after the monument sign modification work is completed. Motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Eicher, Gaidos, Nibert, Testa, Mayor Balch Noes: None
Absent: None
MOTION 3c: It was m/s by Gaidos/Eicher to approve all other remaining elements of the application excluding the monument sign and canopy as they were addressed in the previous motions. Motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Eicher, Gaidos, Nibert, Testa, Mayor Balch Noes: None
Absent: None
Mayor Balch called a recess at 10:22 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 10:28 p.m.
City Council Minutes Page 7 of 8 May 6, 2025
The City Council amended the agenda regarding items 10 and 20.
MOTION: It was m/s by Balch/Gaidos to continue Item 10 "Receive annual Military Equipment Use Report for 2024; introduce an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2279 to amend the Pleasanton Police Department's Military Equipment Use Policy to add equipment to the Policy's military equipment inventory; and adopt a resolution accepting the annual Military Equipment Use Report for 2024 determining that the Police Department's use of military equipment in 2024 complied with the standards of approval and renewing the Military Use Policy" to the May 20, 2025, City Council regular meeting.
Motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Eicher, Gaidos, Nibert, Testa, Mayor Balch Noes: None
Absent: None
MOTION: It was m/s by Balch/Gaidos to continue Item 20 "Receive an update on the Police Department’s operations, services and activities" to the June 3, 2025, regular City Council meeting. Motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Eicher, Gaidos, Nibert, Testa, Mayor Balch Noes: None
Absent: None
19. Receive the Water and Recycled Water Cost of Service Study and Rate Design Analysis, approve a rate structure that includes uniform consumption-based variable rates and full fixed charge recovery of Zone 7 fixed costs, and approve changes to customer discount programs based on low-income eligibility Recommendation:
1. Receive the water and recycled water cost of service study and rate design analysis.
2. Approve rate structure, including uniform consumption-based variable charges for all customer classes and full fixed charge recovery of Zone 7 fixed costs.
3. Accept staff recommendations to discontinue the senior discount program and to continue to offer the discount program to qualified low-income customers with less than 30 CCF bi-monthly usage.
Presentation by Water Resource Economics.
Mayor Balch opened public comment. The following individuals provided comment:
Jamie Yee, Vicki LaBarge.
Mayor Balch closed the public comment.
Mayor Balch called a recess at 12:17 a.m. and reconvened at 12:25 a.m.
City Council Minutes Page 8 of 8 May 6, 2025
MOTION: It was m/s by Gaidos/Nibert to approve the recommended uniform variable charge for all customers at 100% of Zone 7 fixed costs recovered on fixed charge, with further analysis about a senior discount program and low income discount program when the item is next brought to the City Council. Motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Eicher, Gaidos, Nibert, Testa, Mayor Balch Noes: None
Absent: None
20. Receive an update on the Police Department’s operations, services and activities Item continued to the City Council meeting on June 3, 2025.
10. Receive annual Military Equipment Use Report for 2024; introduce an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2279 to amend the Pleasanton Police Department's Military Equipment Use Policy to add equipment to the Policy's military equipment inventory; and adopt a resolution accepting the annual Military Equipment Use Report for 2024 determining that the Police Department's use of military equipment in 2024 complied with the standards of approval and renewing the Military Use Policy
Item continued to the City Council meeting on May 20, 2025.
MATTERS INITIATED BY COUNCIL
By majority consensus, Mayor Balch requested an estimate of how much it would cost to update a sign ordinance.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmembers reported on regional and local meetings attended.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Balch adjourned the meeting at 12:50 a.m.
______________________
Jocelyn Kwong, City Clerk