Municipal Tax Review Committee member responds to recent statements by Mayor John Chiang.

The several million dollars wasted by the City of Piedmont on the Piedmont Hills undergrounding debacle and city costs for the “gift” of Blair Park have consumed revenues equal to most of the $6 million collected by Piedmont’s parcel tax in 2009-2013. Yet Mayor John Chiang tells us that renewing the parcel tax (Measure Y on the November ballot) is essential “to maintain the excellent city services which assure the safety of our citizens and keep Piedmont an attractive place to live.”  > Click to read more…

School District Counting on Voter Support-

The Piedmont Unified School District supports the passage of both Proposition 30 and Proposition 38 because each would provide needed revenue to public schools.

Since the onset of the state‘s fiscal crisis in 2008, public schools statewide have experienced unprecedented funding reductions and apportionment deferrals totaling more than $20 billion. State funding to Piedmont has decreased from $5,837 per student in 2008 to $5,255 in 2012, for a reduction of $582/student and a cumulative loss of $7M in State funding since 2008. California public schools now rank 47th out of the 50 states in average per-pupil spending, and Piedmont receives even less than the California average.

The 2012-13 California state budget is predicated on voters approving Prop 30 on November 4. Failure of Proposition 30 will trigger automatic cuts to K-12 education throughout California. The effect on Piedmont will be an immediate reduction of an additional $1.1 million dollars annually from the state. Passage of Proposition 38, which is also on the November ballot, would direct billions of dollars to public schools, although we would still have the trigger cuts described above. If both measures pass, then the one with the most votes would go into effect. Voters will not be taxed twice.

Because the Piedmont Board of Education is committed to making policy and financial decisions to help the school district provide quality educational programs and services, we support both measures that provide funding for public education.

Andrea Swenson,

Trustee and Vice President, Piedmont Board of Education

Link:  BOARD RESOLUTION

Editors Note: The Piedmont Civic Association does not support or oppose candidates or ballot measures.

League of Women Voters program: Should California Kill the Death Penalty?

The League of Women Voters of Piedmont will host a program featuring Piedmont resident, Cliff Gardner, who will discuss Proposition 34, a measure on the November 6 California ballot.  The program will be held at 40 Highland Avenue in Piedmont on Wednesday, October 24, 2012, from 7-8:30 p.m. The public is invited.

Proposition 34, the SAFE California Act, would replace the death penalty in California with a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

With over 30 years of practice in criminal law, Cliff Gardner has extensive experience representing clients in post-conviction proceedings, specializing in death penalty appeals and habeas corpus. He has represented clients in many high profile cases, including Scott Peterson and one of the Menendez brothers. He has tried more than a dozen cases before the California Supreme Court and briefed and argued several in the United States Supreme Court. In 1999, he co-authored Proposition 36 – the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act, which was approved by 61 percent of California voters. An advocate of abolishing the death penalty, Mr. Gardner will talk about why this is an important proposition to pass.

The League of Women Voters of California is endorsing Proposition 34.

Editors Note:  The position taken is that of the League of Women Voters. The Piedmont Civic Association does not support or oppose ballot measures.

Resident urges focus on key issues-

Measure Y has attracted widespread attention, as well as yet more divisiveness in our City.

I do not believe that the most important issue is either the amount or history of the parcel tax.  Rather, the real issues are:

• What, if any, so-called essential services would be adversely impacted if Measure Y were defeated, and
• How has it come to pass that both the MTRC and BAC have opined that the current compensation and benefit levels for employees , even after the recent negotiations, are unsustainable and out of control?  > Click to read more…

Resident identifies Council’s misstatements –

I do not support the proposed parcel tax. The city’s official position statement, written by (Mayor John) Chiang and  (Councilman Jeff) Wieler, has material factual misstatements.

The Council (except Keating) who are mostly attorneys, the City Administrator and City Attorney have been less than forthright about things the past few years. They previously spread misinformation and scare tactics on the proposed and defeated sewer tax. The deceptions and the arrogance that leads to this behavior needs to stop.  > Click to read more…

Funding for City and School athletic fields –

At its meeting on Monday, October 15, the City Council will consider contributions to the Athletic Facilities Preservation Fund (AFPF) from community sports organizations.  The  Council established the fund on July 16, 2012 for the purpose of financing future athletic field renovation, maintenance or replacement.  [See related article on the Piedmont Patch]

AFPF funding will come from a $25 per player, per season, surcharge on participants in  City sponsored Recreation Department sports programs.  Surcharge fees received for programs held on City property will be held in the AFPF, while fees collected for programs held on Piedmont Unified School District property will be forwarded to the School District.

The Piedmont soccer, baseball, softball and lacrosse youth sports program leaders are anticipated to make a presentation to the City Council outlining a program in which these groups will also donate to the AFPF.

The matter of payment by the Piedmont community sports clubs  to the AFPF for use of city athletic fields was considered by the Recreation Commission on September 19, 2012. At that meeting, the sports clubs’ proposal was unanimously approved by the Commission:

Resolved, that the Recreation Commission recommends to the City Council that it accept the community sports clubs’ offer to contribute an amount equal to $25 per roster member per sport to the City’s and School District’s Athletic Facilities Preservation Funds, with the exact amount of said contribution to be allocated to each of the funds to be jointly determined by the City Council and the sports clubs; and,

Resolved Further, that the Commission recommends that the City Council address how athletic facility replacement projects will be proposed and prioritized.

Public testimony and comment is encouraged. Written comments should be directed to the Piedmont City Council c/o City Clerk, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611 or by email to jtulloch@ci.piedmont.ca.us.

The City Council meeting will be held at 7:30pm in the City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue.  The meeting will be televised live on KCOM Channel 27 and will also be available through streaming video on the City Web Site: http://www.ci.piedmont.ca.us under on-line video.

For further information, contact City Recreation Director Mark Delventhal at 420-3073 or City Clerk John Tulloch at 420-3041.

Member of  League of Women Voters Undergrounding Task Force hopes Measure Y defeat will force  sense of urgency-

I believe strongly in the power of government and ungrudgingly accept my tax burden.  So why am I, a 27-year Piedmont resident, opposing Measure Y?  Reluctantly I have concluded that this is the only way for Piedmonters to send a strong message that they want the City Council to make urgently needed reforms.  > Click to read more…

Piedmont resident urges a “slimmed down” City parcel tax –

While I supported the Parcel Tax Renewal for the past 30 years,  this year I am urging my friends to vote “NO” on Measure Y.

My objections to the Measure Y tax are twofold:  > Click to read more…

Piedmont Native’s Green Business Plan Honored –

Molly Morse, who grew up in Piedmont, is the 2012 winner of the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge, the world’s largest annual award for sustainable entrepreneurship.  Morse received €500,000 ($630,000) to develop her promising green business.  Her company, Mango Materials, uses bacteria to turn methane gas into affordable biodegradable plastic.

A Piedmont High School grad, Morse‘s interest in science began during her early school years at Havens Elementary School. At Cornell University,  she majored in Civil Engineering, and then earned a Master of Science degree at Stanford University in Design Construction Integration (DCI).  Her interests led her to research the anaerobic degradation of bio-composites for the building industry.

Two other finalists, Daan Weddepohl of Amsterdam and Nick Gerritsen from New Zealand, won $125,000 (€100,000) each for their CO2-reducing projects.

 Resident Believes Parcel Tax is Not the Problem-

Employee benefit liabilities and costly missteps recently made by city officials are cause for community concern, but the [City] parcel tax is not the culprit.

The parcel tax contributes to the revenue that enables the city to provide above-average municipal services. A decade ago it did allow generous (competitive) compensation packages for city employees. The parcel tax, however, is not a slush fund. Nor is it onerous, amounting to about five percent of annual property taxes for most households. The school tax is five times that amount.  > Click to read more…