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Uploaded: Thursday, February 21, 2013, 7:50 AM
Updated: Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 7:04 AM
Thorne says Pleasanton in good shape, getting better
In first 'State of City' address, mayor cites major gains
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by Jeb Bing
Pleasanton Weekly Staff
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 | Pleasanton Mayor Jerry Thorne, in his first "State of the City" address since his election last November, told a sell-out crowd of city, civic and business leaders Tuesday that 2013 is already turning out to be better in terms of municipal revenue, new businesses, retail expansion and housing gains than last year, and "everything is just getting better."
"I'm confident that 2013 will be just as great as 2012, if not better, and that Pleasanton will continue to master the challenges ahead while being true to the unique spirit of our community," Thorne said at a luncheon presentation hosted by the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce.
"Chief among them, a commitment to actively engage with our civic partners, while upholding the transparency that strengthens us as community," he added. "This lasting commitment continues to enhance our reputation as a vibrant, forward-thinking community."
Accomplishments last year, as cited by Thorne, included a decision by Workday to stay in Pleasanton and acquire a nearby office center to meet its expansion requirements. The company, which also plans to create 4,000 high-tech jobs in Pleasanton, was being seriously wooed by San Ramon but agreed with Pleasanton leaders that staying here made more sense.
Other gains last year included the decision by the University of San Francisco to relocate its San Ramon branch campus to Pleasanton, a move by Mercedes Benz to add a 72,000-square-foot showroom, and the construction of the Gateway Shopping Center on Bernal Avenue, where Safeway opened its new Lifestyle supermarket. With CVS Pharmacy about to finish construction on its new building, that shopping center is 100% filled, Thorne said.
Plans are under way, too, to add an additional 350,000 square feet of retail space at Stoneridge Shopping Center, he said.
"Let's talk about downtown Pleasanton," Thorne said. "The vacancy rate is only 6%, a real accomplishment in this economy and a testament to the economic value of our historic downtown."
He also announced that a "national retailer" will move into the now-vacant Domus store on Main Street, although the name of the firm remains a secret until the leasing papers are signed.
Pleasanton's economy is also rebounding from the recent recession. The unemployment rate for the city stands at 4.8%, well under the state's 9.8% rate and the current national rate of 7.9%. That, coupled with a 7% increase in home values during 2012 and still climbing, "makes Pleasanton a desirable place to live" and do business, Thorne said.
In fact, the combined assessed value of the city's commercial and residential properties was just over $12 billion in 2012, resulting in property tax revenues coming in at approximately $50 million.
Development activity is improving, with building permit revenues up 24% from last year and plan check revenues up 75%. Most of the activity is from the ongoing construction of the Stoneridge Creek retirement community on Staples Ranch and Pleasanton Gateway Plaza, as well as Clorox's relocation to Pleasanton and the Safeway Corporate expansion at the former Farmers Insurance Building off Dublin Canyon Boulevard.
Pleasanton ended fiscal year 2012 with business licenses up by 6% over fiscal year 2011, he added.
"Pleasanton is in great financial shape, a position envied by communities around the Bay," Thorne said. "Our conservative fiscal policies and comprehensive budgeting approach enable Pleasanton to deliver the high quality of services our residents deserve."
As for 2013 priorities, Torne said they include more sports fields on Bernal Community Park and careful planning and design reviews of housing projects being planned.
Among these, South Bay Development Corporation is proposing 210 apartment units and 88 single family homes near the new Pleasanton Gateway Shopping Center; E.S. Ring Corporation is planning 345 apartments and approximately 38,000 square feet of neighborhood retail space at the corner of the Valley/Bernal/Stanley; the Nearon Company is planning an upscale 168-unit transit-oriented project in the Hacienda Business Park and the California Center is planning a 205-unit transit-oriented development and approximately 7,500 square feet of neighborhood retail.
With regard to city finances, Thorne said the city has a AA rating by Standard and Poor's with assets exceeding liabi8lities as of last June 30 by $872.4 million.
The city is debt-free except for approximately $25 million in outstanding bonds that were used to finance Callippe Preserve golf course, and Thorne plans to find a way to pay those off while he is mayor.Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by William Tell, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 8:56 am I'm a little worried about the future of Pleasanton with affordable housing coming in. Pleasanton used to be more or less segregated by virtue of economics - e.g., it's just too expensive for the undesireables to live here.
Now, thanks to Governor Brown, affordable housing is being pushed down our throats. We're going to need more police to counteract this.
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Posted by Scott Walsh, a resident of the Pleasanton Valley neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 9:12 am No mention of the Drug problem or increase in crime. Some "investment" needed there, just sayin'.
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Posted by Fredo, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 9:22 am William Tell,
You are right on the money. That's the consequences of people voting left-wing loons like Moonbeam Brown and the idiots in the state legislature into office.
One should also note that the city is in contract negotiations with its municipal workers. During Mayor Thorn's address the top brass of the Livermore/Pleasanton Fire Department and the City of Pleasanton staff were front and center. When Mayor Thorn was making comments about fiscal responsibility and needing to hold the line on expenses, the fire bosses were looking none to happy. (Comment removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff for containing unverified or personal information.)
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Posted by Chemist, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 9:40 am With Thorne as Mayor, and Sullivan, etc. gone, things are definitely looking better. Let's get Miller on the Council, and things will continue on their upward path.
Chemist
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Posted by wait a minute, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 10:32 am It sounds like Thorne is taking credit for the work of the past leaders like Hosterman, Sullivan and McGovern.
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Posted by William Tell, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 22, 2013 at 9:46 am @ wait a minute
Pleasanton has thrived *despite* Mayor Hosterman and Matt Sullivan, not because of them. They would raise union wages across the board, doubling city employee wages and mandating all new business in Pleasanton had to be union-only, green and all that other liberal BS. Plus we got low-income housing mandates on their watch, because they didn't have the cojones to stand up to the state. Now, if Pleasanton could just prohibit certain people from staying in town after sundown - like we used to do back in the 40s in California farm towns, it would be a better place to live.
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Posted by Steve, a resident of the Parkside neighborhood, on Feb 22, 2013 at 9:56 am People in Pleasanton need to wake up. The liberal loons have installed communist unions throughout the state with Gov Moonbeam as their Grand Dictator. Right under our noses known communists hear in Pleasanton are taking over Castlewood Country Club. The choice is yours. Freedom or Communist Dictatorship.
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Posted by Frucht, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 25, 2013 at 5:59 pm Go Thorne! Go!
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Posted by Arnold, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 25, 2013 at 8:51 pm I agree with Jerry that things appear to be getting better but I also believe that this recovery, assuming we can call it that, is very fragile. The pension and retiree medical benefit unfunded liabilities still loom large. While Pleasanton is in a very enviable financial position due mainly to the tax base, which many cities are envious of, that doesn't mean the unfunded pension/healthcare liability issue is solved.
For those that believe the city has addressed the issue you will be disappointed. Have they done more than most cities? Probably. But the also have the financial means to do more than most cities. Have they done all that they should as a fiscally conservative city? Absolutely not.
While Pleasanton has been paying down their pension debt they have done so at the expense of retiree medical benefits; taking 7.8 million from retireee medical benefits to pay down the police pension fund by 7.8 million dollars without receiving any real concessions from the Police department. They have essentially used one credit card to pay the debt on another. They pay 7.5% interest on both credit cards.
Today, the "CalPensions" article, "As economy recovers, CalPERS may lift rate lid" is reporting that pension costs/rates will increase dramatically if the CalPERS Board adopts the recommedations of management. That means the pension cost to the city of Peasanton, to cover the cost of past services, will increase dramatically to come closer to reflecting the real cost of the public employee pensions. And it only means the new CalPERS rates will come CLOSER to representing the true cost of a very abused CalPERS pension system.
The new rates, if the corrupt CalPERS Board approves them, will hit city budgets extremely hard in abtwo to three years. That is the same time frame that the severely underfunded and, somewhat abused Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) is expected to ask for a 14% increase in school district pension contributions (as a percentage of payroll) which the PUSD can't afford, based on their constant claim of needing a parcel tax, absent a large increase in local taxes.
While the current city staff & council provided a nice pension presentation at recent council meetings, even including the impacts of the new GASBy reporting requirements, there is still so much that needs to be done that hasn't been done.
Here is the Calpension article that explans what calPERS is contemplating and how that will impact the General Funds of Pleasanton and every other city in the state (the average cost numbers do not apply to pleasanton which has much higher pension costs): Web Link
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Posted by Kathleen Ruegsegger, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on Feb 25, 2013 at 9:04 pm
Kathleen Ruegsegger is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com How about a reality check from Moody's then? Web Link
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Posted by Kathleen Ruegsegger, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on Feb 25, 2013 at 9:43 pm
Kathleen Ruegsegger is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com Just the facts about Moody's. Tough to look completely rosy under the circumstances.
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Posted by Arnold, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 25, 2013 at 10:09 pm Glub,
Maybe you shoud read the article regarding what CalPERS management is recommending. The pension system as a whole is in big trouble. The numbers sighted in the article have more to do with state pension funding levels than they do with local pension funding levels. The local CalPERS plans: County-City-Special District plans are in significantly worse shape than the state plans.
School District plans are also in terrible shape and that should be a concern for everyone. In the meantime, tax payer rates for the Zone 7 water district, the DSRSD, PG&E, garbage service, and anything to do with Alameda County services are increasing dramatically as a result of out-of-control Pension Plans and lifetime medical benefits for people that retire in thei fifties (pensions & retiree medical plans "GONE WILD").
Pensions and life-time retiree medical benefits are driving costs well beyond the rate of inflation. I hope city staff takes a hard look at what CalPERS is proposing: Web Link
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