Meet Joel Liu, Candidate For Pleasanton City Council

PLEASANTON, CA — Learn more about Joel Liu, Energy and Environment Committee chairperson who is running to represent Pleasanton City Council District 3. Some questions have been removed to avoid redundancy.

1. Why are you running for Pleasanton City Council?

As a parent of two school age children, I care a lot about public safety and sustainability. As the chair of Committee on Energy and Environment, I have contributed to achieve the sustainability goal for our city. I want to expand my responsibility to better serve our community.

2. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your constituents?

I would list two: Housing & Fiscal Stability

3. How do you intend to address them?

Regarding housing, the responsibility of a city is zoning. We need to zone sufficient number of housing and variety of housing to meet the state mandate. 25 sites have been identified. We are waiting for EIR (Environmental Impact Report). After we receive the EIR, the new city council will plan for the next step. Among those sites, there are several sites which we may focus more on, for example, Stoneridge Mall area. Currently, the city has hired a consulting firm to do the framework. This can be an exciting opportunity to bring modern shops, more business, and variety of housing to our city. In the meantime, we need to consider other areas too so that we do not have very high density in one area.

With economic recession looming, having fiscal stability is super important. As a manager, I have managed multi-million-dollar projects & businesses, and large budgets. I will use my professional experience to make certain the city stays on a fiscally sustainable path.

4. What do you think the city can do to maintain water security?

We all want safe driving water, and as a city council member, making sure that Pleasanton residents get safe driving water is one of my priorities. We are facing PFAS issue, aging well, and severe drought. The current city council has made the decision to put the $46 million water project on hold. We will need to closely monitor the development of the new standard regarding PFAS, to work closely with our partner, Zone 7, and to rehabilitate the aging wells.

5. What can the city do to help its downtown and small businesses?

Work with downtown association, Chamber of Commerce, and all parties to find innovative solutions to create Pedestrian friendly commercial district; Due to the pandemic, we still have empty commercial spaces, I also want to retain existing business and attract new businesses; to improve the economic vitality, I would encourage special events that attract downtown visitors and provide opportunities for people to gather as a community; Reduce unnecessary government policies to become a more business friendly city.

6. What is your idea of responsible development?

We need to have a balanced approach and a long term plan.

7. What other issues are important to you?

Public Safety, Sustainability, Strengthening

8. If applicable, what is your political party?

Not applicable. City Council election is a nonpartisan election

9. How long have you lived in Pleasanton?

I started to work in Pleasanton in 2008, and a few years later, we settled down here. My family chose to call Pleasanton home for almost a decade.

10. If you didn’t grow up there, what brought you to the city?

My family chose to call Pleasanton home, because of its safety and great schools.

11. What experience do you have serving the community?

• Chair, Committee on Energy and the Environment , City of Pleasanton
• Member, Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of East Bay Community Energy (EBCE)
• Parent Member, School Site Council, Harvest Park Middle School
• Former Chairman of the Board, Chinese Institute of Engineers/USA - San Francisco Chapter

12. Of which accomplishments are you most proud?

I was recently honored to receive one of the 8 Volunteerism Awards from my employer among 90,000 global employees.

13. What is your education?

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University 15. Tell us about your family.My wife also has an engineering Ph.D. and works as an Engineering Director at a high-tech company. We have two children, one attending Amador Valley High School, and the other one attending Harvest Park Middle School. Both are competitive swimmers with Pleasanton Seahawks.

14. What is the best advice you ever received?

“If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together”.

15. Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My top priority is public safety. Without safety, anything else is not that meaningful any more. People move to Pleasanton for its safety and great schools; business value Pleasanton for its safety and business environment. Safety is often ranked #1 in surveys. I support initiatives that continue to provide the sufficient resources and equipment to law-enforcement, fire safety, and emergency services units to ensure the continued well-being of our community.

16. Please provide links to websites and social media.

Web: https://www.VoteJoelLiu.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VoteJoelLiu/