Title
Adopt a Resolution Honoring Council Member Peter Ballew
Body
RESOLUTION THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LEANDRO
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX
RESOLUTION HONORING COUNCIL MEMBER PETER BALLEW AND PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGING HIS TWO TERMS ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND NUMEROUS PUBLIC SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WHEREAS, Council Member Ballew has been a resident of San Leandro since 1961, after his parents purchased a home on Monterey Boulevard, where they raised their family; and
WHEREAS, Council Member Ballew attended San Leandro public schools throughout his childhood, including: James Monroe Elementary school, Bancroft Junior High School, and San Leandro High School; and
WHEREAS, Council Member Ballew attended San Jose State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with major course work in Social Sciences; and
WHEREAS, Council Member Ballew pursued a career in law enforcement and was recruited to serve as a police officer in the San Leandro Police Department beginning in 1981 as a Reserve Police Officer and in 1984 as a Full Time Police Officer; and
WHEREAS, while working full time, he completed a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Cal State Hayward; and
WHEREAS, he rose through the ranks of the Police Department serving in numerous roles including DARE Officer, Terrorism Liaison Officer, Detective, Sergeant, and Lieutenant, before eventually retiring at the rank of Captain; and
WHEREAS, following his retirement from service with the Police Department, he successfully ran for City Council in 2016 and was elected by the residents of San Leandro to serve in the District 6 Council seat, and was later re-elected in 2020; and
WHEREAS, Pete contributed to the community in countless other ways over the years, including through service in the following roles:
• Board Member of Fairmont Hospital Foundation;
• Treasurer and Vice President of the San Leandro Boys and Girls Club Board;
• Commissioner of the Personnel Relations Board;
• President of the San Leandro Scholarship Foundation
• President of San Leandro Community Counseling
• President of the San Leandro Kiwanis Club; and
• Head Freshman Football Coach at San Leandro High School; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure on the City Council, Council Member Ballew also represented San Leandro on numerous intergovernmental agencies, including the Alameda County Housing Authority’s Housing Commission, the East Bay Dischargers Authority, and the San Leandro Improvement Association Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, while serving on the City Council, he held to his platform of “Common sense in government,” he championed numerous important causes for the community, including enhanced neighborhood flood control protection measures, protecting residents against the dangers of smoking and vaping, improving the visual appearance of neighborhoods, the construction of new housing, and expanding economic development opportunities for all San Leandrans; and
WHEREAS, while serving on the City Council he strove to support and elevate staff so that they could reach their full potential, and was responsible for introduction of the 7th City Council Goal to recognize and support city employees, and remained steadfast in his belief in and support of members of our San Leandro Police Department and Alameda County Fire Departments; and
WHEREAS, Council Member Ballew was a strong advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and introduced the concept of the “89-2”, later amended to the “89,938” as a metaphor for inclusively representing the values of ALL San Leandrans from the dais.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Mayor Juan Gonzalez III, on behalf of the City Council, hereby recognize and honor Council Member Pete Ballew for his unwavering support to our community. I further invite all members of the San Leandro community to utilize this recognition as an opportunity to reflect on his influence, flexibility, knowledge, and tireless public service.
Passed and adopted this 16th day of December 2024, by the following vote:
AYES: ()
NOES: ()
ABSENT: ()
ATTEST:
Kelly B. Clancy, CMC
City Clerk