Pleasanton residents will have the chance to share their opinions with the City Council on any and all police-related issues locally during a city-hosted community listening session Tuesday evening.
The council workshop, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. and be held remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, won't feature any formal city staff presentation or final action by the council, but rather serve as an opportunity for council members to just listen to public comment.
The meeting's brief agenda lists only the one item of business: "Community listening session to gather input regarding community policing in Pleasanton."
The council plans to implement its standard three-minutes-per-speaker limit on public comment Tuesday night, according to city staff.
Pleasanton is beginning the process of looking inward at its policing policies and practices -- compelled, like many cities across the state and country, to discuss police reform in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis on Memorial Day and the subsequent protests and calls to action that have gripped most of the nation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The council adopted a three-part action plan to guide the city's public review process after a discussion last week that came with 2-½ hours of citizen comment with speakers on all sides of the debate, from ardent police advocates to adamant police reformists and many in between.
Tuesday's community listening session is the first step in that public process, during which any topic related to the Pleasanton Police Department will be on the table for any speaker to bring up.
The action plan also calls for a review of existing PPD policies and procedures, and consideration of near- and long-term policy goals for community policing, in the weeks and months ahead.
The public listening session is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (July 21).
The council members will participate remotely via video conferencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated shelter-in-place health order.
Residents can watch live online via Tri-Valley Community Television or the city's YouTube page, on cable television on TCTV's Channel 29 or on Zoom via this link, or listen by phone at 669-900-6833 (Webinar ID: 918 1327 9386).
Citizen comments can be made by phone, Zoom or email. To submit a speaker card, visit the city website and sign up to speak by 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Comments
Amador Estates
on Jul 20, 2020 at 8:27 pm
on Jul 20, 2020 at 8:27 pm
Great. Can’t wait to hear a bunch of 18 year olds with no life experience who pay no property taxes, don’t own any businesses in town and in no way contribute to our community talk about their ideas they are regurgitating from other like minded morons about how they can improve a profession they have never done and have no frame of reference to have any kind of opinion in. I’m even more excited to hear Karla Brown entertain all these idiotic ideas. Don’t vote for her for mayor if you want to keep Pleasanton safe
Val Vista
on Jul 20, 2020 at 8:45 pm
on Jul 20, 2020 at 8:45 pm
I couldn't agree with GREAT more.
Pleasanton Meadows
on Jul 20, 2020 at 8:56 pm
on Jul 20, 2020 at 8:56 pm
I would want to hear from eighteen year old's with fathers killed in line of duty while protecting us.
Then, I would want to hear from the widows of those same officers killed while on active duty protecting us.
Amador Estates
on Jul 20, 2020 at 8:57 pm
on Jul 20, 2020 at 8:57 pm
Thanks Olorin...at least there are a couple sane people left in our community. Don’t give up the streets and we won’t have to try and take them back later, which is much harder if not impossible. We have a great safe town, let’s keep it that way, support law enforcement and dump any city council member or mayor candidate that doesn’t hold those values
Amador Estates
on Jul 20, 2020 at 8:58 pm
on Jul 20, 2020 at 8:58 pm
Michael Austin you are a patriot. I hope you make your voice heard with the council as well
Pleasanton Meadows
on Jul 20, 2020 at 9:17 pm
on Jul 20, 2020 at 9:17 pm
I have and will continue to do so.
Stay tuned in.
Birdland
on Jul 21, 2020 at 5:09 pm
on Jul 21, 2020 at 5:09 pm
The police in Pleasanton are awesome. I’ve lived here 40 years and am so happy to have such a great group of officers here in our town.
Downtown
on Jul 21, 2020 at 5:20 pm
on Jul 21, 2020 at 5:20 pm
@Great
I do not think Michael Austin meets the definition of a patriot....
What is the meaning of being a patriot?
noun. a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion. a person who regards himself or herself as a defender, especially of individual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government.
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jul 21, 2020 at 8:48 pm
on Jul 21, 2020 at 8:48 pm
Great, do you not agree with the 26th Amendment? 18 year old citizens are able to express themselves via the right to vote.
The people who are speaking about reforming (not abolishing) the police, are speaking very well. These young adults are not resorting to name-calling (unlike yourself). Have some dignity.
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jul 22, 2020 at 8:30 am
on Jul 22, 2020 at 8:30 am
I'm sure most, if not all of us agree with the 26th amendment. It is important to remember, however, that young adults do not have the breadth of important life experiences older adults have. Their opinions are often swayed by social media and their small social circles, rather than being based on their own knowledge and experience. Not that older adults are immune to this phenomenon (Fox news, facebook, etc), but it is important for our representatives to balance the opinions of young voters with their limited experience.
Downtown
on Jul 23, 2020 at 7:02 am
on Jul 23, 2020 at 7:02 am
Maybe if we try hard enough, we can become the Portland of the East Bay. Sounds like a great idea.. until you drive out all the revenue generating businesses and tax paying citizens. Then there's no one to pick up the tab. De-fund police = communism supported by George Soros
Amador Estates
on Jul 23, 2020 at 8:52 am
on Jul 23, 2020 at 8:52 am
I hope they serve milk & cookies and provide a warm snuggy during the session.