Mayor's award goes to Swift, Deborah McKeehan Mayor's award goes to Swift, Deborah McKeehan (November 19, 2004)

Community organizations applaud Pico's 12 years of service
by Jeb Bing

Breaking with tradition again, Mayor Tom Pico gave this year's Mayor's Award for exemplary community service to two former city officials Monday - former City Manager Deborah McKeehan and retired City Planning Director Brian Swift.

It was the first time in the 33-year history of the award program that the coveted plaque has gone to a city employee. Last year, Pico became the first mayor to give the award to an organization instead of individuals, naming the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council as the recipient.

In presenting the 2004 award to McKeehan and Swift, Pico said he was "bestowing it on a couple of individuals who have made a significant impact on the city of Pleasanton."

Both technically are still on the payroll. McKeehan stepped down Oct. 12 after 14 years on the job, and was succeeded by her Deputy City Manager, Nelson Fialho. However, she agreed to continue as a consultant until Dec. 3, when she will officially leave City Hall.

Swift, who retired last month after 30 years in city planning, and for a brief time assistant and acting city attorney, has agreed to continue serving as a planning consultant as needed to complete work on the city's General Plan update, scheduled for late next year.

Pico presented the awards at the close of a festive Mayor's Award Dinner in the Pleasanton Senior Center, which is held each year to acknowledge the contributions of volunteers to officially recognized community organizations, city commissions and the City Council. More than 250 attended this year's event, which also marked the close of Pico's 12 years of service on the council.

As Pico thanked the crowd and introduced his wife Karen, saying she "is the one person who made it all possible to serve all these years," the couple received a standing ovation. Pico officially leaves office at the council meeting Dec. 7, turning the gavel over to newly elected Mayor Jennifer Hosterman.

In presenting the Mayor's Award to Swift, Pico cited his long hours of work to prepare planning documents that Greenbriar Homes needed to acquire the 510-acre Bernal property for $126 million from the city of San Francisco, which had owned the land since the mid-1930s. The transaction gave Greenbriar permits to build 581 houses and apartments on part of the land, and turned title for 318 acres of the property over to the city of Pleasanton, without charge, for public uses.

"I truly believe that we would not today be the recipients of the 318 acres of the Bernal property had it not been for the countless hours that you worked to try to meet the ridiculous deadlines and plans that were set for us," Pico told Swift. "While I know there are a lot of other people on the staff who worked hard, too, I want to give you this award in recognition of your years of exemplary service to the city."

Swift, 58, who joined the city staff as a Planning Department intern in 1975 shortly after receiving his law degree from UC Davis, told those at the dinner that he probably had some involvement as a planner in the construction and zoning of the homes they now live in.

"It's been wonderful being able to work in the city where you grew up," Swift added. "I never expected to get anything like this award, or to have a job and get paid for something that I really enjoyed, which was working for the city and watching it grow with all of the good people that we've had on the many commissions I have worked with over the years."

"I'm sure you're all going to make this city even bigger and better with many more great things to come in the future," he added, with his wife Karen, a third-grade teacher at Walnut Grove Elementary School, and daughters Lily, Holly and Rose at his side.

In recognizing Deborah McKeehan for her 14 years as City Manager, Pico praised her for the many hours and long days she spent at City Hall.

"There were times when we would almost have to force her to get out of the office and go home to take care of her family," Pico said. "I am convinced that we would not have this great community of character, we would not have all the great amenities that we have, and we would not have the strong financial stability that we have as a city if it wasn't for Deborah Acosta McKeehan and her wonderful years of service."

Besides current, former and newly elected council members, the dinner also honored those serving on the Alameda County Housing Commission, Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District, Altamont Landfill Committee, Assisted Living Facility subcommittees, Bernal Block Party Committee, Blairgowrie Sister City Organization, Civic Arts Commission and the Economic Vitality Committee.

Others recognized at the dinner were members of the Golf Course Committee, Pleasanton Housing Authority, Housing Commission, Human Services Commission, Kottinger Place Redevelopment Task Force, Library Commission, and the Livermore Airport Master Plan Update Advisory Committee.

Also recognized were members of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Pleasanton Energy Committee, South Livermore Valley Agricultural Land Trust, Tri-Valley Community Television Board, Trails Ad hoc Committee, Tulancingo Sister City Organization, Veterans Memorial Building Commission, Wheels Accessible Advisory Committee, Youth Commission and the Youth Master Plan Implementation Committee.

Others at the dinner who were recognized included former city treasurers, former members of city commissions, former mayors, and special guests of the mayor, including representatives of the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce, Pleasanton Downtown Association, the Fairgrounds and the Cultural Arts Council.

City Attorney Michael Roush served as the master of ceremonies, with the city's poet laureate Kirk Ridgeway reading original poems and narratives. Music was provided by the Spencer Chan quartet with entertainment by dancers from the Dance Xpressons Studio in Pleasanton.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.