Construction of an access ramp to the future temporary home of the Piedmont Avenue Branch Library has begun.

The ramp, leading from Echo Avenue,  will take patrons to the side of an old school trailer, the library’s new home.  The library move was planned to be completed by the end of September.  To meet that schedule, will require all renovations and improvements to be completed promptly.

Meanwhile, the Piedmont Avenue Branch Library is still open on 41^stStreet.  A “For Lease” sign was installed after the 30-day notice of intent to vacate.  The advertised rental rate returns the property to a market rate of $6,250 per month after three years of subsidized rent for the library, courtesy of the private owner.  > Click to read more…

Love Oakland is a group of activist artists, and gardeners who donate their time and skill in an effort to make “Oakland the most beautiful city in the world.” > Click to read more…

Part 2:  A Close-Up Look at Piedmont School Finances

• Part 1:  A $1 Million Problem – Temporary or Ongoing?
• Part 2:  Piedmont Parcel Tax Facts
• Part 3:  Piedmont Schools Face a Quandary
• Part 4:  PUSD Deficit – $1 million or potentially $2.5 million

The Piedmont School Parcel Tax initiated in 1985 has been renewed 7 times.  In 2000, twelve years ago, the tax generated $2.5 million (or $643 per home, if divided equally over Piedmont’s approximately 3885 parcels).  As of 2012, the levy averages $3,000, with a minimum of almost $2,000 and a maximum of $3,400. generating $9 million. School parcel taxes for K-12 education in the 3 next most heavily taxed cities in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties are less than $1,000 per household. > Click to read more…

 The following  announcement was received from the Piedmont League of Women Voters on proposed state tax measure to help school funding-

An advocacy  forum on Proposition 30 on the November ballot will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 19, from 7:30 – 9 p.m. at the Ellen Driscoll Theater, 325 Highland Avenue.  > Click to read more…

School District Mourns Death of Chris Stevens, Ambassador to Libya –

Piedmont High School graduate J. Christopher Stevens, class of 1978,  the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, was killed in the Sept. 11, 2012 bombing of the U.S. Embassy  in Benghazi. > Click to read more…

Budget Committee Sharpens its Pencils –

The Piedmont Unified School District has announced Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) meetings to examine and make recommendations on the district’s budget.   The first in a series of meeting will be held on Thursday, September 20, from 3:30 – 5:00 pm in the District Office Board Room, 760 Magnolia Avenue.    Members of the committee have not been announced.  The public is welcome to attend.  The meetings are not expected to be broadcast via KCOM. > Click to read more…

The following letter was sent to the City Council and PCA Editors:

We find it extraordinary the City would go to such dramatic lengths to alter the minutes for the September 4 comments by Mr. Grote [City Administrator] to Ryan Gilbert’s Open Forum comments concerning the misstatement of Council unanimously endorsing the Measure Y Parcel Tax. > Click to read more…

• September 18, Tuesday – City Council and Planning Commission joint meeting to consider Bike Plan and Wireless Communication Installations.

• September 19, Wednesday – Recreation Commission public hearings on Beach Playfield and Athletic Facilities Preservation Fund.

• September 19, Wednesday – League of Women Voters Forum on Proposition 30 (new proposed state taxes).

• September 20, Thursday – Piedmont Unified School District Budget Advisory Committee Meeting

Beach Playfield Restrictions, Athletic Facilities Preservation Fund, and More

The Recreation Commission will hold two public hearing on September 19 with the goal of taking action on two long-standing community issues.  The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue. The issues are:

Athletic Facilities Preservation Fund:

• Introduction/Status Report
• Recreation Program Surcharges
• Community Sports Groups Participation
• Public Testimony
• Commission Deliberation
• Commission Action/Recommendation

Prior PCA article.

Beach Playfield Restrictions and Enforcement.  (See Prior PCA article:  Beach Field Issues.)

• Staff Report
• Chairman’s Comments
• Public Testimony
• Commission Deliberation
• Commission Action

Also on the agenda are

• Beach Schoolmates Facility Report
• Piedmont Community Pool Update
  
• Harvest Festival – September 30, 2012
• PHS Girls Tennis Program – Facility Use Permit

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM-

At the Sept. 4th City Council meeting, I asked to make a comment during the Open Forum, a proceeding required by the California Brown Act. I expressed my belief, shared by one or more staff, that the proposed Parcel Tax (Measure Y) faced failure, primarily because enough residents lacked confidence in the Council’s ability to manage the City’s finances properly.

My perception was that the Council’s actions lacked both sufficient transparency and independent review in the underground fiasco, Blair Park and other matters, resulting in substantial financial losses to the City.

Before I could propose a partial remedy, namely that the City should immediately retain an outside advisor for all employee contracts rather than relying on the City Administrator, Councilman McBain interrupted to state that what I had to say was not “City Business”, but rather part of a political campaign, and thus should not be allowed.

The Mayor deferred to the City Attorney who opined that it certainly was within the scope of City Business and should therefore be allowed. Mr. McBain stated his sole motive was to seek “clarification”. The Council offered no substantive comment.

Mr. McBain, your stated wish not to infringe on the First Amendment is laudable. But you tried to use your position to do just that.

Piedmont citizens should be encouraged to address their concerns to the Council, without prior restraint, and without the patently partisan and astonishing attempt to deny public comment. Mr. McBain, what part of City finances do you think fails to constitute City Business?

Do you truly believe that any citizen, irrespective of political beliefs or streets on which they live, should be subject to an obstructionist request for “clarification”? Was this truly your motivation?

So, if you were contemplating apologizing, apologize to the citizens of Piedmont instead. You should do it. They deserve it.

Aaron Salloway, Piedmont Resident

Editors’ Note:  The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Piedmont Civic Association.