|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Negotiators for Alameda County and the nonprofit fair association have agreed to three significant changes in their long-term contract for the fairgrounds in Pleasanton, according to a public text message by Supervisor David Haubert sent early Friday morning.
The two entities have been negotiating changes to their agreement for a few months and discussed it publicly at the supervisors’ meeting Sept. 22. The contract automatically renewed Sept. 30 and has 21 years to run.
Haubert named three areas that would be changed once the language is finalized and approved by both entities. Changes such as those being negotiated are allowed at any time by mutual agreement.
Fair association CEO Jerome Hoban wrote in an email, “The ongoing negotiations are generally a private matter until an agreement is made public and approved by both Boards.”
“I am surprised the Supervisor would speak publicly about it,” Hoban added. “I will not comment on the open negotiations other than to say we are past Sept. 30 and we are still negotiating in good faith as we earlier espoused.”
Haubert’s message cited three areas of agreement with final language pending:
1. The fair has used its own construction team for decades and has not obtained building permits and routine inspections. Haubert said the new agreement would require permits, inspections and adherence to state and local building codes. Any facilities that are not up to code will be updated. The 267 acres and the facilities are owned by the county.
2. An informal ad-hoc committee will be formalized and meet quarterly. Haubert wrote that it would include budget approvals and revisions, updates on projects and a long-term vision for the property. The county approves the annual budget and approval is required for any long-term lease of real property.
3. Association board meetings will be open to the public with the agenda posted 72 hours in advance including topics to be discussed in any closed session. Agenda, minutes and audio recordings of the meetings will be posted to the fair association website. This is similar to what public agencies are required to do by state open meeting laws.
“I would like to thank county staff, Association staff, members of the community, my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors and everyone who have participated so far in this process. And I look forward to many more enjoyable years at the Alameda County Fair,” Haubert wrote.
The fair has undergone a profound change since horse racing ended on March 25, 2025, ending a more than 100-year tradition at the track. That closure followed the end of racing at Golden Gate Fields in Albany so there is no horse racing left in Northern California. The fairgrounds has daily racing through its off-track facility off Valley Avenue.
Haubert’s text opened, “I consider the Alameda County Fair to be one of the best fair experiences in the state and one of Alameda County’s most valuable assets. This is thanks to the hard work of the Alameda County Agricultural Fair Association and its volunteer board.”
The association board consists of 21 members, 10 of which are appointed by the supervisors (two each). The other 11 are elected by the board similar to the operation of most non-profit boards. They serve four-year terms.
Hoban wrote in his email, “The current practice of the Association is to post agendas publicly and to the website, distribute minutes of the meeting to the County Clerk, provide for public comment at its meetings and host a website for the public with activities on the property … The licensing of event space and operations does not require County approval.”
