Chamber's community vision sets road map for policy advocacy | Tim Talk | Tim Hunt | PleasantonWeekly.com |

Local Blogs

Tim Talk

By Tim Hunt

E-mail Tim Hunt

About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add...  (More)

View all posts from Tim Hunt

Chamber's community vision sets road map for policy advocacy

Uploaded: Aug 2, 2018
When retiring Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Raty reflects on his most recent tenure here, he quickly points to the community vision that the chamber has developed.

Chamber leaders and stakeholders put together the first vision for Pleasanton in 2008 after Raty returned to the helm following a stint leading the Hayward chamber. While he was in Hayward, he was exposed to the vision process that the Modesto chamber utilized, and he copied it for Hayward.

Upon returning to Pleasanton, he convened chamber leaders to start the process. He pointed out the Pleasanton that exists today did not happen by accident -- it was careful planning over many years.

The vision establishes measurable objectives across a variety of community attributes such as the economy, public safety, infrastructure and education. What's refreshing about the process is it doesn't involve bringing in expensive consultants. Instead, teams of chamber members interview the local experts in each area such as the city manager, the school superintendent, the police and fire chiefs, and leaders in the arts, health care and human services.

Through those interviews, the measurable goals were developed and became the roadmap in 2008 for chamber policy advocacy. The process was transparent with copies published and available to anyone. Those goals also served as the evaluation grid that the chamber's political action committee (the BACPAC) used to consider whether to endorse and actively support candidates.

When Scott and I had agreed to sit down, knowing that Weekly editor emeritus Jeb Bing already had interviewed him, we decided to focus on this area. I started with the political angle, but Scott quickly turned the conversation to the vision plans and process.

"The chamber's niche is to be a catalyst and convener around all areas of community excellence," he said.

The introduction of the Vision 2020 points out why the chamber cares and why the community should care -- business produces more than 60% of the local taxes in a community that is widely recognized as an excellent place to live, work and raise a family. The 2008 plan, "Vision 2015," included 45 measurable objectives. When it came time to update it, 37 of the 45 objectives were ranked as either full or partial achievement -- eight showed no progress.

That's a pretty good batting average.

With that vision, Raty and other business leaders set out to convince a majority of the Pleasanton City Council that every vote was not required to be 5-0. That view was the prevailing view and resulted in Councilman Matt Sullivan effectively exercising a veto over any action.

Once Mayor Jennifer Hosterman and council members Cheryl Cook-Kallio and Jerry Thorne agreed that it was OK to move important issues forward on 3-2 votes, that opened the door to critical improvements such as connecting Stoneridge Drive in east Pleasanton with Jack London Boulevard.

To keep issues on the table, the chamber holds monthly 2020 Forums to bring together diverse interests and stakeholders to understand issues and decide how to move forward.

The objectives can be big and can be relatively obscure such as updating the city zoning code (Part 1 done, Part 2 underway). Others are major such as the Downtown Specific Plan that is underway and the completion of the Fairgrounds Master Plan.

The Vision 2020 report also includes 13 measures to gauge the local economy -- all are back or above the pre-recession levels.

When it comes to infrastructure, there are primarily regional issues such as Highway 84, interstates 580 and 680, and BART to Livermore. It does list local infrastructure such as the long overdue second bridge at Bernal Avenue at the Arroyo de la Laguna to eliminate that bottleneck.

In the areas of arts, culture and recreation, it calls out the completed improvement at the dog park and Wayside and Delucci parks as well as the improvements to the Pioneer Cemetery. Still lacking are the comprehensive east side plan as it relates to housing, infrastructure and trails.

Concerning education, it identifies that Pleasanton students continue to achieve and ranking high nationally and statewide. That requires qualified educators and embedded ongoing professional training. It also calls for increased collaboration between the school district and Las Positas College, as well as local industry requirements. Of course, cutting edge STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts and math).

Key measurables in public safety measure Pleasanton remaining on the list of the safest cities of its size with public emergency response at four minutes or less and non-emergency response at 20 minutes. Scott noted that, even during the recession, Pleasanton residents and businesses could expect a uniformed response in those windows -- that's not the case in many cities, particularly on non-emergency calls.

For firefighters, it was a seven-minute or less response time.

One of the highlights for the 2020 Vision was when City Manager Nelson Fialho directed his staff to include some of those measurables in the City Council's two-year work plan -- the priority list for city staffers.

The financial support comes from the chamber's Circle of Influence, large companies who pay substantial dues that allow the chamber staff to focus on public policy instead of events and fundraisers. The 2020 Vision was backed by 21 organizations.
Democracy.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by stephensam, a resident of California Somerset,
on Aug 3, 2018 at 12:10 am

Vision is the important thing for every work. I think this is the best way to maintaining the road policy as well.
Regards
http://www.medscolony.com


Posted by roger, a resident of Amador Estates,
on Aug 4, 2018 at 4:24 am

Before proceeding any kind of more Web Link one must recognize the kitchen includes


Posted by fender, a resident of Canyon Oaks,
on Aug 4, 2018 at 4:25 am

one must recognize the kitchen includes http://shopbestdishwasher.wikidot.com several of the most odd-shaped


Posted by denis, a resident of Avignon,
on Aug 4, 2018 at 4:25 am

several of the most odd-shaped http://topdishwasherbrand.strikingly.com vessels in the world we are discussing


Posted by qualis, a resident of Birdland,
on Aug 4, 2018 at 4:26 am

vessels in the world we are discussing Web Link with all their stuff additionally


Posted by olive, a resident of Canyon Oaks,
on Aug 4, 2018 at 4:26 am

with all their stuff additionally Web Link use a great deal


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Aug 4, 2018 at 9:23 am

The above 6 posts are all about selling you something. Please Remove.


Posted by Robert parker, a resident of Embarcadero Oaks/Leland,
on Oct 4, 2018 at 5:01 am

It's really good to set goals and vision for your future. Future planning is necessary for everyone. It's really great to read your article. Thank you very much for sharing with us.
Regards: http://www.onlinepillsrx.com


Follow this blogger.
Sign up to be notified of new posts by this blogger.

Email:

SUBMIT

Post a comment

Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed.

Stay informed.

Get the day's top headlines from PleasantonWeekly.com sent to your inbox in the Express newsletter.

Transgender controversy played out at Dublin High track meet
By Tim Hunt | 25 comments | 3,065 views

How quickly will we electrify our homes?
By Sherry Listgarten | 13 comments | 2,907 views

Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC)
By Elizabeth LaScala | 0 comments | 692 views

 

2023 guide to summer camps

Looking for something for the kids to do this summer, learn something new and have fun? The Summer Camp Guide features local camps for all ages and interests.

Find Camps Here