Construction debris and removal dominate Council Agenda on July 20 –

The Piedmont City Council will meet Monday, July 20, beginning  with a Closed Session in the City Hall Conference Room at 7 p.m. for consultation with legal counsel on anticipated litigation. Any action taken will be reported in the following open meeting, expected to begin at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend the public meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue.

Agenda:

A public hearing on an appeal of a Planning Commission approval. Staff Report

Consideration of $339,745 purchase of Motorola radios for Police, Fire Department and Public Safety. Staff Report

Consideration of agreement with Green Halo on reporting of construction debris and removal according to California law regarding recycling.  Staff Report

First reading of City Code amendment on construction debris and removal. California law requires construction waste management plans for new construction or additions costing $50,000 or more. Staff Report

The Police and Fire Pension Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 22 at 4 p.m. in the Council Chambers was cancelled on July 16. A new date for the meeting has not been announced.

It is outrageous that the California Public Utilities Commission released its plan for changing electricity rates on Wednesday before the July 4th weekend, and approved it on Friday, giving no time for public comment, or even for public awareness of its action.  Current rates which reward energy conservation will be reversed, so low-usage customers will be paying higher rates while high-usage energy wasters will pay lower rates.  This would mean higher bills for about 75% of electricity customers in the coming years, while rate reductions would go to the top 5% of users.  That just ain’t right.

In addition, customers who have installed solar power will pay an additional surcharge “to keep the electric grid running.”  What about California’s goals for clean and sustainable energy?  These rate changes shove in the wrong direction.

Can Governor Brown reverse the CPUC’s bad decision?  Can the Democratic-majority legislature save us from this blunder?  Perhaps yes, if enough angry citizens let them know we aren’t gonna take this any more.

Bruce Joffe, Piedmont Resident

Editors’ Note: Opinions expressed are those of the author.

Mixed Commercial/ Muliple Family Residential development to be presented –

On Monday, July 6 at 5 p.m., the City Council will hold a joint work session meeting with the Planning Commission to learn about a development proposal for 29 Wildwood Avenue from the project team. The site is the long established Shell gas station at the corner of Wildwood and Grand Avenues, owned by City Gateline, LLC. The 10,478 square foot lot is primarily in Piedmont, but 789 square feet are within Oakland. Like the former PG&E site, which was not developed as affordable housing, this site meets the state and ABAG criteria for affordable housing.

29 Wildwood elevations

The Shell gas station would be demolished and replaced with a three story mixed use structure featuring retail space on the ground floor and two floors of three two-bedroom residential units on the upper floors. As proposed in concept drawings, staff notes that the project does not meet Piedmont’s parking requirements.

This unique pre-application presentation by a private owner on a planning matter at a joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission will not be broadcast or visually recorded. The special session will take place in the Police Department Emergency Operations Center (EOC), 403 Highland Avenue.

29 Wildwood floor plan

The public is invited to be present and comment on the proposed project.

Recent controversy centered on a City Council enacted zoning change allowing multiple family residences in the Commercial zone.  The change eliminated the long standing requirement permitting only commercial uses or single family residential dwellings in the Commercial zone.  The City Charter states zoning changes require Piedmont voter approval.

This is the first multiple family proposal under the new Commercial zoning change.

Photos of the parade –

Piedmont’s annual celebration of July 4 started early with the Recreation Department’s Pancake Breakfast in the Veterans’ Hall, beginning at 8 a.m. By 10 a.m. most marchers had arrived and the empty chairs that had lined sidewalks along the parade route for several days were soon occupied.

Floats were created by: Havens 2nd Grade, San Carlos Avenue Neighborhood, Ramona-Ronada Neighborhood Kids, Bellevue & See View Neighborhood, and Friends & Neighbors of July 4th

Current School Board members and Council members rode in cars, and nine former Mayors walked together in a group. The Piedmont Community Band volunteers, after only one rehearsal, had prepared a significant repertoire for its march down Highland Avenue.

People lined the parade route

Piedmont’s Community Band

Rare vintage cars dominated the entries

Piedmont Former Mayors

Zenith New Orleans Parade Band

Fire Department Vehicles

Ramona-Ronada Float

Stewart Tartan Pipes and Drums

Bellevue and Sea View Float – Gruber Family and Friends

Bruce Wolfe as Uncle Sam

On Monday, July 6, the Council will consider a full release of all claims against the engineering firm Robert Gray and Associates in exchange for $500,000.

Michelle Kenyon, Piedmont’s City Attorney recommends that the City Council authorize the settlement agreement with Robert Gray and Associates (RGA) in the amount $500,000. The City’s lawsuit originated in 2011 in connection with the Piedmont Hills Undergrounding project.

Agreement with RGA by the City Council is not the final step, as it would still have to be approved by the Superior Court of Contra Costa County.

Read the full report here

The City’s litigation against the additional engineering firm, Harris and Associates will continue.

Survey focuses on user satisfaction with Piedmont Recreation Department programs.

The Piedmont Recreation Department (PRD) has released a 75 page report on community satisfaction with the programs and facilities. Families with school age children represented approximately 700 of the 994 respondents. More than 25% of the respondents are not residents of Piedmont.  The report notes that many non-residents feel PRD should “serve the whole community, not just Piedmont.” The survey method did not prevent multiple responses from the same household.

Many new programs were suggested for adults, including seniors, to address a perceived lack: field trips, a community garden, passive recreation, book clubs, Senior Day, Bocce. However, 22% of respondents felt no additional programs are necessary.

Preschool programs are very popular with users.

Virtually all (94%) users of the PRD preschool programs are somewhat or very satisfied with the programs.

The Community Pool was the only PRD facility addressed by the survey.

The Piedmont Community Pool currently has over 200 pass holders, providing 57% of the pool revenue. According to Figure 4 of the report, 83% of current pass holders are “somewhat likely” or “very likely” to renew their passes, higher than a number of private Bay Area clubs. A sizable majority (68%) of Community Pool users who responded to the survey are satisfied with it.

Read the complete report here.

Piedmont students are required to have current immunizations on file with PUSD prior to August 17.

On Tuesday, June 30, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the California legislature Bill 277, mandating vaccinations for all schoolchildren regardless of their parents’ personal or religious beliefs.

In explaining his support, Brown wrote, “After carefully reviewing the materials and arguments that have been presented, I have decided to sign this bill. The science is clear that vaccines dramatically protect children against a number of infectious and dangerous diseases. While it’s true that no medical interventions are without risk, the evidence shows that immunization powerfully benefits and protects the community.”

While the personal and religious beliefs exemption has been eliminated, a physician may exempt a child with a family medical history related to a particular vaccine.

Time for Immunizations Between Summer Fun and Vacations?

The Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD) is reviewing the immunization records of all students this month. By July 15 parents should receive a letter notifying them if their students lack any required immunizations.  Documentation any missing current immunizations will be required prior to August 17. Students who are not up to date will not receive their class schedules and can not attend school until their immunization records are complete and up to date.

PUSD nurses, Joan Edelstein or Tola Williams can be reached at 594-2751 or by email (jedelstein@piedmont.k12.ca.us or awilliams@piedmont.k12.ca.us).

The Piedmont Unified School District’s Board of Education unanimously endorsed SB 277 (Resolution 15-2014-15) on June 10, 2015.  SB277 is intended to increase vaccination rates in schools and protect community immunity against sometimes deadly diseases by eliminating the personal belief exemption (PBE) from school immunization requirements.

On Thursday, June 25, California legislature passed Senate Bill 277, which mandates vaccinations for all schoolchildren regardless of their parents’ personal or religious beliefs, on a 46-to-30 vote. On Monday, June 29 the Senate will again vote its approval of the bill in its final form and send it to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature.

Deadlines are approaching to plan your

4th of July Block Party!

Get together with your neighbors to plan a street party or organize a  parade group or float for this year’s parade.  The Parade will start at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 4th at Highland Avenue and Park Way and end at Piedmont Park for an afternoon of celebration and entertainment by Big Bang Beat from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Applications to close part of a block are due before 5 p.m. on Monday, June 29 at the City Hall City Clerk’s office. Street barricades will be delivered on Thursday, July 2.

Block Party Street Closure Application