|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The City Council has formally confirmed former community development director Gerry Beaudin as Pleasanton’s next city manager.
Beaudin, who worked for the city of Pleasanton during 2015 to 2019 before leaving to elevate to assistant city manager in Alameda, will take the reins in late May after the council unanimously approved his employment contract during Tuesday night’s regular meeting.
“Pleasanton is a special place,” Beaudin told the Weekly after the council vote. “I am particularly excited about this opportunity because it will allow me to work with the City Council, city staff, and the community to ensure that the city of Pleasanton is addressing today’s needs and preparing for our future.”
“Starting next month, I am looking forward to delving into the established City Council priorities, refamiliarizing myself with the organization, and reconnecting base with friends and colleagues that I haven’t seen in a while,” added Beaudin, who was unable to attend the Pleasanton meeting because the Alameda City Council also had a meeting that night.
The Pleasanton council and a consultant firm had been recruiting for a new permanent city manager since longtime headman Nelson Fialho stepped down Nov. 30 in retirement from public employment after leading Pleasanton’s city administration for 17 years. Assistant city manager Brian Dolan has been working as interim city manager since December.
Beaudin was publicly confirmed as the council’s top candidate last week, coinciding with the release of the meeting agenda that included Beaudin’s proposed contract, which calls for an annual salary of $280,000 and a start date of May 23.
“The combination of Gerry’s experience and expertise in city governance, combined with his knowledge of Pleasanton, makes him incredibly well qualified to serve as our city manager as he collaborates with the council and community to ensure our outstanding quality of life,” Mayor Karla Brown said in the announcement on April 14.
Councilmember Kathy Narum added during comments at Tuesday’s meeting, “I would just like to welcome Gerry Beaudin as our new city manager, and I certainly look forward to his leadership and especially with his expertise in our land-use and planning given our (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) situation. I think it’s a great hire for us.”
Brown and Narum sat on the council subcommittee for the city manager search and contract negotiations.
Rising to the top during Pleasanton’s search process, Beaudin is already versed in the city government’s operations and local politics.
He led Pleasanton’s Community Development Department — responsible for planning, building permits, traffic engineering and code enforcement — for almost exactly four years.
During his tenure, the Planning Commission and City Council addressed a range of notable projects and policy debates, including the Downtown Specific Plan update, Johnson Drive Economic Development Zone and associated Costco debates, Workday headquarters expansion and the Irby Ranch neighborhood.
Since joining Alameda as assistant city manager — the city’s No. 2 administrative position — in August 2019, Beaudin led a variety of organizational initiatives, including Alameda’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan, a pilot mobile crisis response unit, and a new waste, recycling and compost franchise agreement.
His other experience during his 19-year career includes working as zoning administrator in the city of Mountain View, and before that worked in city planning with Los Altos, South San Francisco and his native Canada.
The council voted 5-0 to ratify Beaudin’s city manager contract as part of its consent calendar Tuesday night.
The four-page employment agreement calls for Beaudin to receive an annual salary of $280,000, along with benefits such as health, dental and retirement medical insurance standard to the city’s other management employees.
He will accrue vacation leave at a rate of 15 days per year, with a cap of 50 working days (400 hours), as well as 10 days of administrative leave annually and receiving five days of sick leave effective his first day on the job.
Beaudin can choose between a car allowance of $550 per month or using a vehicle furnished by the city — though he’ll be responsible for paying for his own gas in either case — and he will receive a city-issued cellphone and other technological equipment essential to his job. The city will pay for his professional membership dues in three organizations, the cost of attending professional conferences and an executive coach of his choosing.
He will be subject to an initial six-month performance review by the City Council and then annual evaluations every May thereafter.
Dolan is set to continue leading the city administration until Beaudin arrives May 23. Brown publicly commended Dolan for his leadership during his nearly five months as interim city manager.
Pleasanton commission set to vote on major redevelopment project off Dublin Canyon RoadApril 21, 2026 4:30 pm