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Feb 28 2020

SCHOOL and CITY: Update on Covid-19 Virus Communications and H1 Construction

City / School Liaison Committee Agenda
Wednesday, March 4, 2020,  5:30 p.m.

The meeting will be held in the Piedmont Unified School District Administration Office, 760 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, CA

The public is welcome to attend and participate.  The meeting will not be broadcast. 

Agenda:

Call to Order

Public Forum: This is an opportunity for members of the audience to speak on an item not on the agenda. The 10 minute period will be divided evenly between those wishing to address the Committee.

Regular Agenda
1. Update on Covid-19 Communications
2. Update on H1 Construction

Feb 28 2020

Have an Idea for a Capital Project in Piedmont?

CIP Review Committee Seeks Resident Proposals

The Capital Improvement Projects Review Committee (CIP) is soliciting proposals for new city projects which would enhance our community. Ideas submitted by individuals, community organizations and City Staff are all considered. If you have a great idea, the committee would like to hear from you.

Download the > Proposal Form & Instructions. 

Proposals are due no later than March 23th at 5:00 p.m.

All applicants/residents that have submitted proposals will be personally invited to attend the committee meeting to be scheduled in March/April.  At this meeting, applicants will be asked to briefly describe their projects to the CIP Review Committee. The CIP Review Committee will then determine which projects will require a site visit.

Completed forms should be returned to the Department of Public Works, 120 Vista Avenue.

If you have questions regarding the CIP process, please contact Nancy Kent Parks & Project Manager, via email at nkent@piedmont.ca.gov or phone at (510) 420-3064.

 

Feb 28 2020

Seeking a Favorite Piedmont Tree in a Public Space

Heritage Tree Nominations Open – Due March 16

The Park Commission is soliciting nominations of noteworthy trees in our public open spaces for the City’s third year of Heritage Tree Designation.

Individuals can nominate trees based on their aesthetic, educational or historic values. If you have a favorite tree or group of trees, the Park Commission would like to hear from you.

Download the > Proposal Form from the City’s website. Nominations are due no later than March 16, 2020.

All nominations for Heritage Trees will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the Park Commissioners and Public Works Staff.  The tree or group of trees selected for this year’s designation will be announced at the April 1, 2020 Park Commission meeting.

Completed forms should be returned to the Department of Public Works, 120 Vista Avenue. If you have questions regarding the Heritage Tree nominating process, please contact Nancy Kent Parks & Project Manager, at (510) 420-3064.

Feb 27 2020

SURVEY: Environmental Building Code Changes?

Survey deadline – End of February

The City of Piedmont is interested in resident opinions about possible changes to the local building code.

 The City has developed an online survey to hear what you have to say about the possibility of adopting reach codes, which would transition residents off of natural gas heating and increase the installation of solar panels. The survey should take 10-15 minutes, and responses are anonymous. Staff will be collecting survey responses through the end of February. 

As of January 1, 2020, new statewide standards codified by the California Energy Commission (CEC) for building energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions have gone into effect. The new standards include more stringent energy efficiency requirements and solar panel installation for new residential buildings. The CEC is encouraging local governments to adopt local ordinances – “Reach Codes” – in order to meet higher standards for energy efficiency, which help achieve increased savings of energy and money, further reduce emissions, and support jurisdictions in their efforts to meet their Climate Action goals.

Staff is researching ways to reduce natural gas use in buildings and to increase solar panel installations, both to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to increase residential resiliency to power outages and other effects of climate change.  Unless residents switch to electric appliances, the City will not meet its Climate Action Plan goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050.

Staff encourages residents and professionals to take the survey!  For more information, please watch this video.

The City will take community feedback into account as it develops its final reach code recommendations to go to the City Council. The City encourages any interested residents and/or building industry contractors to give their feedback.

For more information, please contact CivicSpark Climate Fellow Justin Szasz at jszasz@piedmont.ca.gov or Building Official Craig Griffin at cgriffin@piedmont.ca.gov.

Feb 24 2020

ELECTION: Piedmont Parcel Tax Vote March 3 Presidential Primary Election

Time to cast a vote on Piedmont parcel tax Measure T.

The Piedmont City Council has placed before Piedmont voters a parcel tax, Measure T, at the Tuesday, March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election to “essentially renew” Piedmont’s long standing parcel tax.  The current parcel tax expires June 30, 2021.

Approval of Measure T requires 2/3rds approval by those voting on the measure. Full text of Measure T proposed rates and ordinance are found at the end of each Alameda County Voter Information Guide.  Measure T is on the last page of ballots. 

The following determinations were made by the City Council:

  • Tax will be for a limited 4 year term allowing voter check on spending. 
  • Language remained the same as prior ballot measures to “Essentially keep the tax the same as current.”
  • Only developed parcels are to be taxed.  Empty vacant lots are not taxed. Empty parcels adjoining developed parcels are not taxed.
  • Tax to “single family” parcels is based on the square footage of the  parcels with larger parcels paying more.
  • No additional tax is added when two or more residences occupy a “single family” zoned parcel. 
  • Piedmont needs to pay for underfunded pension benefits and facility maintenance.
  • Approximately 300 properties straddle the border of Oakland and Piedmont.  If the house is on both sides of the border, the owner pays both Oakland & Piedmont Municipal Services Tax. 

Measure T is a Municipal Services Special Tax and the ballot measure stipulates that funds shall be used for these services:

  • police and fire protection,
  • street maintenance,
  • building regulations, 
  • library services,
  • recreation,
  • parks maintenance,
  • planning and public works

Tax measure proceeds will be deposited into the Piedmont General Fund. There is no differentiated record of how the Special Municipal Services Tax have been spent in prior years.

Piedmont was one of the first cities in California to go before voters following approval of Proposition 13  in 1978 limiting the taxing ability of school, cities, counties, and special districts to raise taxes beyond their 1978 level while allowing an annual 2% increase without gaining approval by 2/3rd of the voters.

Voters can go to their assigned polling location on Tuesday, March 3 and cast their ballot, or if having received a ballot in the mail can place their ballot in the Alameda County ballot box located in central Piedmont near the Wells Fargo Bank, or simply place their ballot in any regular mailbox.  Postage is not required on mailed ballots.

Editors Note:  PCA does not support or oppose ballot measures.

Feb 23 2020

Volunteers Needed for Piedmont Commissions and Committees

Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 25, 2020

The City Council of Piedmont is looking for talented Piedmont volunteers for vacancies on Piedmont commissions, committees, and appointed positions.

Interested Piedmonters may view the positions and Description of Duties, download the Application for Appointive Vacancy, and/or apply online on the City’s web site at https://piedmont.ca.gov.

Links to information and forms are below:

Notice of Appointive Vacancies 2020

Commission Description of Duties 2020-02-14

Commission Application 2020 (Fillable)

2020-02-14 Volunteers for Commissions

Applications are due to City Hall on or before the deadline of Wednesday, March 25th.

Interviews with the City Council for the volunteer positions will be scheduled for the evening of Monday, March 30, 2020 (CANCELLED). No appointments will be made without a Council interview.

Piedmonters with questions are invited to contact the City Clerk’s office at (510) 420-3040.

Feb 23 2020

How Will Piedmont Capital Dollars be Spent in the Next Budget?

The Capital Improvement Projects program will be considered by the CIP Committee.

CIP Review Committee Agenda, Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 7:00 p.m., City Hall Conference Room, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA

The CIP Review meetings are never broadcast.

AGENDA

Public Forum This is an opportunity for members of the audience to speak on an item not on the agenda. The 10 minute period will be divided evenly between those wishing to address the Committee.

Regular Agenda
1. Introduction of Committee Members and Election of Chair
2. Review of Proposed Work Schedule for the CIP Review Committee for Fiscal Year 2020-2021
3. Presentation of City Facilities and Proposed Civic Projects by City Administrator Sara Lillevand and Director of Public Works Chester Nakahara

Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the CIP Review Committee have not been made available for publication. 

Contact City Administrator Sara Lillevand at 510/420-3040 for additional information. 

Feb 23 2020

Is a Bond Measure in the Future for Piedmont Facilities?

Committee to consider ways to fund Piedmont facilities.

Extensive plans for the Piedmont Municipal Pool, Coaches Field, Linda Beach Park, and other facilities have been undertaken by the city. A method of funding the millions of dollars necessary to move the projects forward is under consideration at the:

Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee, Thursday, February 27, 2020, 7:00 p.m., Emergency Operations Center, 403 Highland Avenue, Piedmont, CA

The meetings are never broadcast and minutes are not kept of the meetings.  Members of the Committee do not file conflict of interest statements.

AGENDA:

Public Forum This is an opportunity for members of the audience to speak on an item not on the agenda. The 10 minute period will be divided evenly between those wishing to address the Committee.

Regular Agenda
1. Review of FY 2019-20 Mid-Year Fiscal Report
2. Discussion of Potential Financing Options for Improvement of City Facilities
3. Consideration of Scheduling Future Meetings

As of this publication, no materials related to an item on the agenda of the Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee meeting have been publicly made available. 

Feb 20 2020

Council Moves Ahead with ADU Design Rules Despite Resident Concerns

On Feb. 18, 2020 a three to one vote with Councilmember Jennifer Cavenaugh voting no, the new  (Accessory Dwelling Unit) ADU design rules were approved by the City Council. The Council discussion lacked clarity on many issues.  Landscaping in front of garage conversions, translucent windows, fencing, parking, and notice to neighbors were discussed.  Fire safety, driveway access for emergency vehicles, street impacts, enforcement of required landscaping, etc. were not discussed.

Knowledgeable Piedmonters repeatedly asked the Council to require ADU applicants to notify neighbors even with staff having sole authority to make the determination on approval or disapproval.  Required notice of an ADU applicant was rejected by City Attorney Michelle Kenyon as potentially troublesome and a questionable practice while she acknowledged State laws do not prohibit notice to neighbors by ADU applicants.

Some Piedmonters had desired notification to encourage cooperation between applicants and their neighbors, thus allowing opportunities to work out concerns.

The Council majority of McBain, Andersen, and Rood did not require notice.  Cavenaugh voted no.

Importance of adopting appropriate ordinances and requirements

State laws require applications to be acted upon by staff ministerially within 60 days from the date of a completed application.  Ministerially means there will be no public participation and only city staff can make the decision, which spotlights the need to have appropriate objective criteria for ADUs.

City Attorney Michelle Kenyon presented different information. 

Reversing the Planning Director’s no appeal admonition to the Planning Commission, Kenyon stated that although neighbors cannot appeal a Planning staff decisions,  the applicant could appeal a denied application to the City Council thereby opening up an entirely new avenue of consideration previously denied by the Planning Director.

There were numerous areas of  concern not reviewed.  The Council majority ultimately supported having the new ADU Design Guidelines approved rather than having none in place.  It is expected changes and additions will be made in the future. The issue of irreversible legal matters incurred from the time of new rule adoption and subsequent ADU approvals was not discussed.

According to Planning Director Kevin Jackson numerous ADU inquiries have been made since the beginning of the year.

Comments:

  1. Garrett Keating

    My recommendation for story poles was somewhat facetious but given that the city won’t alert neighbors with a simple 3 x 5 postcard, what’s a neighborhood to do?

    This requirement to not notify neighbors of ADU applications comes from City Attorney Kenyon and not planning staff. Kenyon said there is no legal prohibition to notify neighbors but in her opinion it would be “Draconian” to do so. Instead she implied the community would be better served through direct neighbor to neighbor communication. That position is logically flawed – such dialogue is best established through notification and without that requirement many of these neighbor to neighbor exchanges won’t happen and if they do, it will be after the fact.

    More likely her position is self-serving – City Hall doesn’t want to take the phone calls from neighbors about these projects. Recall Maxwellton. No doubt it will be frustrating to have to deal with irate neighbors who aren’t aware of the ministerial ADU process, but that comes with the job. City Hall prides itself on customer service, but maybe it should think more about public service when it comes to ADUs.

    Thanks to Councilwoman Cavenaugh and Planning Commissioner Levine for pushing for public notice.

  2. Rick Schiller

    A thanks to both Councilmember Jen Cavanaugh and Planning Commission Chair Jonathan Levine for their efforts to bring a wider community involvement to this important issue and resident notification.

    My takeaway is based on the comment by City Attorney Kenyon near the end of the ADU Council discussion last night when Jen’s request for minimal resident notification was shot down. City Attorney Kenyon replied that the City is now in compliance. Is Piedmont the last out of compliance City? Highly doubtful. The State ADU Housing Guidelines, assuming the recently passed series of ADU legislations, is only a month away. (City Planner Mike Henn presented this information to Council last night.) Being out of compliance might bring a State letter, but Piedmont is far away from being sued by the State and would have everything in place to immediately pass ordinances to be in compliance once the compliance criteria are known.

    I would like to have more resident notification and involvement with a Town Hall type meeting for the new ADU ordinances and guidelines. Council indicated they will treat the new Chapter 17 modifications and ADU Design Guidelines as living documents that can be amended as needed. Hopefully this will be done with the same swiftness as the very recent ADU implementations have been.

Feb 20 2020

OPINION: Time to Renew the Parcel Tax in Piedmont

 

 Newcomers may not know it, but when Prop 13 wiped out the local tax base years ago, Piedmont and other cities voted in parcel taxes, based on lot size, to make up the difference. The parcel tax raises $2.2M, about 10% of the annual budget. Technically it’s called the Municipal Services Special Tax and the ballot measure stipulates that it shall be used for these services:
  • police and fire protection,
  • street maintenance,
  • building regulations, 
  • library services,
  • recreation,
  • parks maintenance,
  • planning and public works
So, don’t tune out the March Primary election waiting for anybody in November.
Vote for Measure T. 
Garrett Keating, Former Piedmont City Council Member
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