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Pleasanton Engages-Pays Consultants

Original post made by Michael Austin , Pleasanton Meadows, on May 22, 2023

Pleasanton will engage consultants for many of the city's projects. Consultants' expenses for development (planning/permitting) are recovered through development fees. Engaging consultants are necessary due to lack of workforce, training, and expertise within the city employees (managers, rank & file) structure.

Most all other consultant expenses are paid from the general fund. Fiscal year to date, consultant fees total about $8 million. Total budgeted amount for fiscal year is around $10 million. With consultant costs and regular employee costs, salaries, benefits, and pension, make up 75 percent of the budget. Pleasanton pension debt is in the millions.

There is no formal structure of Pleasanton work force. Forbes lists four common structures for organizations. Functional and divisional structures are the most common structures. Pleasanton's work force is described for me as "the city is organized into departments. A lot happens within departments operationally, and many issues and projects are inter departmental in nature."

The current four vote majority city council members are not of, or having a special activity, purpose, or task, relating to the way in which has the best interest of Pleasanton.

Member Arkin is a scatter brain*, Arkin requires repeated assurances, (persistent clarification) with everything. Member Testa is deceitful*, in that she will work hard with a couple of people on a pet project while ignoring the harm she is orchestrating for all others. Member Brown is vindictive*, displays that characteristic with her angry outbursts. The fourth, newly arrived member of that council majority, Nibert, is a follower*. The one minority member vote on the council, Jack Balch, with pronounced courage, speaks and votes for the best interests of Pleasanton, now and long term.

The previous three vote majority on the Pleasanton city council, Arkin, Testa, and Brown Gerrymandered the current voting districts for Pleasanton. This Gerrymandered vote was against the recommendations of the expensive consultants the city council engaged. That fee $61,450 paid to the redistricting consultant Wagaman Strategies' is money Pleasanton now needs. This consultant engagement and council ignoring its recommendation was violation of public trust.

1* Forgetful, disorganized, unable to think clearly.
2* Misleading.
3* Criticism is both vindictive and personalized.
4* Follows the opinion or teachings of others.

Comments (2)

Posted by Michael Austin
a resident of Pleasanton Meadows
on May 22, 2023 at 6:47 pm

Michael Austin is a registered user.

CalPERS Debt is $164 Billion:
Public employee looking forward retirement pension?

"Through the years, CalPERS failure to meet its assumed rate of return has been the main driver of the systems unfunded liability."

Reason Foundation estimates CalPERS debt is now $164 Billion. This public debt roughly translates to over $4,000 in debt for every Californian.

Resolution:
1. Earn higher return.
2. Require public employees to pay more.
3. Reduce future benfits.


Posted by MsVic
a resident of Mission Park
on May 23, 2023 at 7:50 am

MsVic is a registered user.

I have had an ongoing email exchange with council member Arkin. I was told the city has a plan for water infrastructure. I specifically asked for the plan. There is no plan, the high paid consultants won’t have a recommendation till September. Watching the meetings I am shocked at how council member Brown speaks to council member Balch, she is rude and and her behavior is that of a bully. I have witnessed her shushing other council members. Appalling! I also found out recently Brown promised a past planning commission member that she would see to it that the skate park was enlarged, so whose pet project is it? Testa or Brown? Millions on consultants, millions on a skate park enhancement, millions on century house, but no clean water plan or action other than opening two previously closed wells to take care of our summer peak usage. PFAS for everyone (chemicals that never go away, even in our bodies). I am so disgusted with the 4 vote majority of this council. Recall time?


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