The City of Pleasanton's government structure combines the leadership of elected officials with the managerial experience of an appointed City Manager. Known as a council-manager structure, the authority to set policy is held by elected City Council members, which includes the Mayor. The City Manager acts as the chief executive responsible for day-to-day operations, including overseeing the various city departments.

"The City of Pleasanton values its business community for the jobs they create for our residents and the goods and services they provide to the community," says Lisa Adamos, Economic Development Manager. "From starting to growing their business, we are here to assist them so that they have continued success and stay in Pleasanton."

As of this writing, Pleasanton has 14 city departments. They include City Attorney, City Clerk, City Manager, Community Development, Economic Development, Engineering, Finance, Fire, GIS, Housing, Human Resources, Library and Recreation, Operations Services, and Police. Below is a brief guide to the most important services Pleasanton provides to business owners based on information provided by the City of Pleasanton.

Business Dealings

"The City of Pleasanton staff are here to help," says Melinda M. Denis, Deputy Director of the Community Development Department. "We strongly encourage new business owners to come and speak with us early in the process before signing a lease. We can provide guidance regarding zoning, entitlement timelines, construction schedules, and more."

Those who run a business in Pleasanton or plan to start one will most likely interact with city officials via the Community Development Department, the Economic Development Department, or the Engineering Department, according to officials. The Community Development Department includes the Permit Center, Planning Division, Building and Safety Division, Traffic Engineering Division, and Code Enforcement.

The Permit Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. The staff there assist businesses with procedures and issues concerning planning, building, engineering, and business licenses. Anyone conducting business within the City of Pleasanton, including companies using a Pleasanton address for business mailing purposes, is required to have a business license on file. Applying for a business license is handled by the Permit Center, and is primarily an online process. The Permit Center is also how business owners submit development proposals to ensure compliance with Pleasanton policies and regulations.

Some business tasks required by the City can also be managed online. The City's Building and Safety Division uses an online building permit submission process called Accela Citizen Access. This allows residential and commercial customers to submit building permit applications at their convenience wherever they have Internet access. The system also allows users to view details of Building, Engineering, Fire, and Planning permits issued on or after May 24, 2011. Older permits can be viewed at the Permit Center.

The Planning Division's important work includes reviewing proposed development projects for conformance with the City's adopted policies and ordinances; Serves as the point of entry for development proposals and provides assistance to architects, designers, developers, builders, and residents navigating the development process. Processing of new development applications including the review of preliminary plans, holding hearings for the public's review and comment on the proposals and overseeing the implementation of the development to ensure that it is constructed in accordance with all city requirements.

The Building and Safety Services Division helps safeguard Pleasanton citizens against faulty or inadequate building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical installations and construction practices. The division provides guidance in compliance with state and local construction laws by reviewing building plans and conducting field inspections. It also reviews and inspects all private development structures and site work within property boundaries.

The Economic Development Department is another source of assistance for business owners. Staff members can help companies find locations for new or expanding businesses and connect them with resources and potential support from commercial groups such as the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce and Pleasanton Downtown Association. Overall, the department's staff works to attract new companies and assist in the retention and expansion of businesses in the community; grow Pleasanton jobs; serve as ombudsmen during the development process; enhance the city and Tri-Valley region's innovation ecosystem; and implement the City's Economic Development Strategic Plan.

"The Engineering Department designs and constructs public facilities and reviews public improvements constructed by private property development," according to officials. "The Landscape Architecture Division works with the public and other City departments on the construction of new park projects, renovation of existing parks, and other landscape replacement projects on City property." Business owners are most likely to encounter the Engineering Department when it works with the business community on public improvement projects. Encroachment permits, flood zone information, lot and tract maps, and bid packages can be obtained at the Engineering Department's office, where Engineers on Duty are available to answer questions and respond to issues related to the Engineering Division.

Many Departments Do Important Work

While each City of Pleasanton Department has an important role to play in city government, several are especially critical. They include the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, Library and Recreation, Operations Services, and the Police Department. As an emergency response and community service organization, the goal of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department is to limit the risk of fire; to limit injury and property damage associated with fire, explosions, hazardous materials incidents, storms, and other natural and technological emergencies; to prepare city forces for disaster response; and to better prepare the community for self help in the event of a major disaster. The Fire Department also conducts a number of fire prevention activities for businesses, including new construction and tenant improvement plan check and inspection and annual fire inspections. A commitment to emergency preparedness is another key focus of the department, which provides a wide range of services for the public.

The Library and Recreation Department is structured around the shared values of integrity, collaboration, customer service, inclusiveness, and innovation. The department oversees library services; senior services; the City's performing, literary, visual, cultural, and public art activities; environmental education; facility rentals; a variety of indoor and outdoor camps, classes, events, sports and aquatics for all ages; as well as cemetery, homeless, and paratransit services. Library services offer everything from traditional books and periodicals to e-books to programming activities for all ages. That may include reading time, virtual reality experiences, free legal help, college planning, and English language classes. Library cards are free to anyone who resides in, is employed in, or attends school in California. When it comes to recreation, the department manages the City's coordination of sports and aquatic-related activities, classes, camps, fields, leagues, and gyms. It also oversees Pleasanton's Gingerbread pre-school, paratransit, senior programs, and recreation activities for the Recreation Activities for the Developmentally Disabled, youth and teen services, environmental education, and more.

The Operations Services Department is responsible for maintaining the city's infrastructure as well as many quality-of-life services. It oversees a variety of areas related to the delivery and maintenance of utilities and public assets, from streets and storm drains to a dependable water supply as well as facility and fleet maintenance. The Environmental Services Division of this department offers a wealth of resources on protecting the City of Pleasanton's environment, such as the Clean Water Program. It also maintains the Sustainable Pleasanton web page that provides local resources with tips on reducing the use of energy and water, reducing waste, and supporting clean air and water.

The goal of Pleasanton's Police Department is to protect and maintain the city's high quality of life and prevent crime. The department is responsible for enhancing overall community safety and safeguarding the rights of individuals. Pleasanton's Police Department is organized into specialized units and teams, staffed by both sworn and civilian personnel, that manage calls for service and facilitate problem-solving throughout the community. The department's website has a wealth of information on the Pleasanton Police Department's divisions and programs, including crime prevention for businesses, online reporting of minor offenses, youth services, victims rights' and resources, and more.

For more information about each department, phone numbers, and email contacts, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/gov/depts/default.asp.

For more information about the Community Development Department and its divisions such as the Permit Center, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/gov/depts/cd/default.asp.

For more information about the Economic Development Department, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/gov/depts/ed/default.asp.

For more information about the Engineering Department, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/gov/depts/engineering/default.asp.

For more information about the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, please visit www.lpfire.org.

For more information about the Library and Recreation Department, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/gov/depts/os/default.asp.

For more information about the Operations Services Department, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/gov/depts/os/default.asp.

For more information about the Pleasanton Police Department, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/gov/depts/police/default.asp.