Once again, the City of Pleasanton has been recognized for the quality of life it offers residents. In 2025, the U.S. Social Progress Map ranked Pleasanton as second in the nation for quality of life. The U.S. Social Progress Map is a data insight tool that offers exclusive analysis of social and environmental performance across the United States for the 50 states, the 500 largest cities, and more than 32,000 neighborhoods. Additionally, last year Pleasanton was also deemed California’s cleanest city by landscaping industry website LawnStarter, which looked at 300 of the largest American cities in terms of dirt. Many residents will not be surprised by these recognitions, which reflect the collective impact of services provided by the city. The benefits of living and working in Pleasanton include excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, well-maintained parks, and solid infrastructure. Recently the City of Pleasanton’s General Manager, Gerry Beaudin, shared a public overview of city accomplishments in 2025, as well as a partial list of plans for 2026.

Accomplishments During 2025

According to Beaudin, a major focus in 2025 was strengthening Pleasanton’s economy and improving the customer experience for residents, property owners, and businesses navigating planning and permitting. The city formed a new Community and Economic Development Department to bring planning, permitting, housing, and economic development functions together. “Through this work, the city streamlined processes, helping make it easier to invest, build, and do business in Pleasanton.”

Public safety and emergency preparedness were key areas of progress in 2025. The Pleasanton Police Department launched its Real-Time Information Center, improving coordination between city departments and contributing to faster and more effective responses to incidents. Nearly 200 city staff were trained in emergency response, new evacuation plans were created for city facilities, and the city hosted its second community preparedness workshop.

Significant investments were also made in city infrastructure and public spaces, Beaudin says. Public Works completed nearly $30 million in capital improvements, including the Bernal Avenue water main project, Hopyard Road repaving, the long-awaited Lions Wayside Park renovation, and important upgrades at the Library. The city also finalized long-range water and sewer system plans and achieved 99% compliance with new state recycling and organics requirements.

At the same time, the community also saw new recreation and engagement opportunities, including the launch of Zippy, the Library’s new mobile library vehicle; new pickleball courts and picnic areas; and a new Public Art Map to help residents explore art throughout Pleasanton. Moreover, the city’s 2025 Pavement Management Program is wrapping up, with nearly two million square feet of roadway resurfacing and preventative maintenance completed over the year.

The Pavement Management Program was funded through a combination of Measure B and Measure BB transportation sales tax revenues, SB 1 (Road Repair and Accountability Act) gas tax funds, and local gas tax funding. These voter-approved and state transportation dollars allow the city to proactively maintain streets, reduce long-term costs, and preserve Pleasanton’s infrastructure.

“By prioritizing preventative maintenance and leveraging dedicated transportation funding, the City of Pleasanton continues to invest in safe, well-maintained streets while maximizing every dollar for the community,” Beaudin notes.

Plans for 2026

“After several years of planning and groundwork, 2026 will be a year of moving forward with major initiatives across the organization,” according to Beaudin. “While much of the past several years focused on building plans and data to guide future decisions, the city continued to deliver significant, on-the-ground improvements in 2025. Major projects were completed across water infrastructure, transportation, parks, and public facilities–demonstrating that planning and implementation moved forward together. Key focus areas in 2026 will include continued progress on economic development initiatives, advancing public facilities and infrastructure planning, and finalizing solutions to access new groundwater supplies. At the same time, we are taking a disciplined approach to funding, using our Asset Management Plan and financial forecasting to guide investment decisions and ensure that services remain sustainable over time.”

Pleasanton’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, which is also known as ONE Pleasanton Strategic Plan, was adopted in 2023 and outlines five key goals and 47 strategies designed to guide the city’s future. Recently, the city launched the ONE Pleasanton Strategic Plan Dashboard, a quarterly report that provides a clear and transparent look at how the city’s long-term priorities are moving forward. The fiscal 2025/2026 second quarter dashboard highlights strong momentum, with 66% of strategies currently on track and 13% already completed. Progress will be updated quarterly throughout the life of the plan to keep the community informed and engaged. Residents are encouraged to explore the dashboard and stay connected to the work shaping Pleasanton’s future. The next dashboard will be published in March 2026.

“The ONE Pleasanton Strategic Plan Dashboard helps the community track our progress, and reinforces our commitment to transparency and accountability as we move from planning into implementation,” Beaudin notes.

City officials continue to explore ways to support residents. Beginning February 1, Pleasanton will launch a new 30% Utility Discount Program for income-qualified water customers. This new program replaces the City’s previous senior and low-income water discount programs. To be eligible, residents must already be enrolled in PG&E’s California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program, which provides a monthly discount on energy bills for qualifying households. Because enrollment in CARE can take time, residents are encouraged to apply as soon as possible so they are prepared when the city’s application period opens.

All current Pleasanton utility discount recipients must reapply for the new water and sewer discount program. The first application window for the Pleasanton program runs from February 1 through February 17, 2026, and CARE enrollment is required before applying. This month the City of Pleasanton will host an in-person Utility Discount Application Assistance Day to help customers with the application process. Residents can get assistance on Wednesday, January 28 from 8 am to 7 pm at 3333 Busch Road in Pleasanton. Residents must bring their Pleasanton Utility account information, proof of residency, and proof of enrollment in the PG&E CARE Program. The name and address on a resident’s Pleasanton Utility bill must match the name and address of the PG&E bill.

City events such as Pleasanton’s Cultural Celebration Series help pull together the community, “inviting residents and visitors to experience the rich cultural traditions that make Pleasanton unique,” officials say. These free, family-friendly events celebrate a variety of cultures and heritage months. They include Día de los Muertos, Diwali, Native American Heritage Month, Lunar New Year, AAPI Heritage Month, and more.

Such celebrations often include live performances, storytelling, hands-on crafts, and interactive activities, offering “an opportunity for residents and visitors of all ages to connect, learn, and celebrate the beauty of our diverse community.” The first such event of 2026 will be the Lunar New Year Celebration, which will be held on Saturday, February 14 from 1 to 3 pm at the Pleasanton Senior Center. The next will be the Black History Month Celebration, scheduled for Saturday, February 28 from 1 to 3 pm at the Pleasanton Library.

Over the years, the City of Pleasanton has often been recognized for the quality of life it provides its residents. What has been less recognized, perhaps, is the ongoing work that accomplishment demands. “Pleasanton continues to provide a high quality of life, but doing so requires thoughtful prioritization, operational efficiency, and long-term planning–especially in a challenging fiscal environment,” according to Beaudin. “The city remains focused on delivering essential services, investing in infrastructure, and supporting a strong local economy. As we look ahead, residents can expect the same approach that guided our work in 2025–using careful planning to support real, visible improvements that strengthen services and infrastructure today while preparing for the future. The recognitions we’ve received are a reminder that quality of life doesn’t happen by accident. It is something we work toward every day in partnership with our residents, businesses, and community organizations.”

For more information about the ONE Pleasanton Strategic Plan or to download the quarterly dashboard, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/our-government/city-manager/strategic-plan.

For more information about the City of Pleasanton’s new 30% Utility Discount Program, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/assets/our-government/public-works/utility-billing/Pleasanton_Utility_Discount_Program_Flyer.pdf.

For more information about Pleasanton’s Cultural Celebration Series, please visit www.firehousearts.org/programs/cultural-celebration.