The annual call for city volunteers to serve on Piedmont commissions and committees is open until the deadline of March 29.

All residents have to do is fill out a simple form and sit for a brief interview with City Council ( City Volunteer Information). In particular are there any real estate gurus or prognosticators out there who are willing to serve on the Budget and Financial Planning Committee (two vacancies)? This influential committee conducts long-range projections of city revenues that form the basis for tax increases and bond initiatives and these projections consistently come up short by several millions of dollars due to spiky home prices and property taxes.

One committee residents cannot apply for is, for lack of a better name, the Climate Action
Committee. Rather than solicit volunteers, Council decided to have the City Administrator
select this committee to seek experts in energy technology/efficiency and residential
retrofitting to assist the city in developing a building electrification strategy. The two key words
in that charge are “residential” and “electrification”. As the city’s Climate Action Plan (CAP)
noted in 2018:

“Piedmont is a built-out city, which means energy efficiency gains will largely need to come
from upgrades to existing buildings. While California’s building code is moving towards zero-net
energy (ZNE) for new residential construction, this will only apply to the few Piedmont homes
either constructed on the City’s remaining empty lots or as a result of the demolition and
rebuilding of existing homes. … The combination of the age of Piedmont homes, their size, and
the low rates of new home construction mean Piedmont will have to aggressively pursue
energy efficiency upgrades for existing homes to meet its climate goals. The following
measures address building energy consumption through a strategy of first disclosing
information, then reducing electricity and natural gas consumption, and ultimately, fuel-
switching from natural gas to electricity.”

And where is Piedmont on meeting its climate goals? The goals are defined as reduction in
metric tons of CO2 since 2005 and as the figure below shows, Piedmont is making little or no
progress. The slight declines from 2018 to 2020 basically track the decrease in home heating
which has gone up in the ensuing years. The 2021 GHG inventory will be telling as that year had
the highest number of home heating days over the past decade. And for 2023, turning out to
be another cold year, the number of home heating days is 16% ahead of 2021. On top of that,
the State has lowered the GHG reduction targets to 50% by 2030 (24.5 Metric ton CO2 for
piedmont) and to ZERO by 2050. So try as Piedmont might, Sacramento has moved the targets
but doing so follows the science.

This state of affairs is why staff came forward this month with a proposal to establish a
committee to develop a building electrification strategy (several Bay area cities have already
done so). To underscore the City’s commitment to meeting its GHG reduction goals, the City
Administrator cited two recent achievements: the hiring of a full-time sustainability coordinator
and the building of an all-electric pool. On the first point the City Administrator is correct.
Alyssa Dykman, Sustainability Program Manager, has an advanced degree in
sustainability/environmental management, has made incredible gains in city sustainability
programs during her short tenure and is an excellent communicator – sign up to receive her
program newsletter: Sustainability Newsletter. The all-electric pool, while a great symbol for
the future, has little impact on reducing the City’s GHG, less than 1%. An all-electric pool will
save substantial operating costs over its lifetime.

The City Administrator should also have mentioned a third achievement – the adoption of the
Reach codes. First, they won an award! Reach codes are local building code requirements that
go beyond the California Building Code (CBC) to achieve higher levels of energy efficiency and
GHG reduction – cities can “reach” beyond the CBC – and Piedmont was one of the first cities to
develop these codes for home remodels, the bulk of construction in town. Secondly, the Reach
codes dovetail with the symbolism of the pool – home rebuilds/remodels need to be all-electric
if the City is going to meet its GHG targets. Reach codes only apply to building permits above
$50,000, which is why staff’s idea of a building electrification strategy for the whole city is
forward-thinking.

Some on Council critiqued how the Reach codes were brought forward, suggesting they were
done so stealthily by advocates who didn’t do sufficient community outreach. The Reach Codes
held multiple public meetings and hearings at City commissions, were discussed extensively on
local forums, and were vetted with the California Energy Commission. What staff and advocates for the Reach codes didn’t have was Zoom, a full-time City Communications Director and a
$750,000 consultant as other recent city initiatives have. With these new communication tools
now at the City’s disposal, no doubt a building electrification strategy will be well publicized and
vigorously discussed. But there’s no need to re-invent the wheel here – community surveys
have consistently shown that 66% of Piedmont support electrification. What is needed are
elected leaders who will back up community sentiment and the past proclamations of City
Council and get moving on implementing substantive change that will reduce Piedmont’s GHG.

Those interested in serving on a Climate Action committee should contact Alyssa Dykman, Sustainability Program Manager at sustainability@piedmont.ca.gov.

Garrett Keating, Former City Council Member

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

PUSD Names Dr. Jennifer Hawn as New Superintendent Piedmont, Calif. (March 8, 2023) –

After a nationwide search and extensive community engagement, the Piedmont Board of Education has selected Dr. Jennifer Hawn to serve as the District’s next Superintendent.  The appointment will be effective July 1, 2023.

Serving in public education for over 25 years, Dr. Hawn has dedicated herself to serving K-12 and college students in California. She has an extensive educational background, including broad experience as a teacher and administrator with the Beverly Hills Unified School District, an Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources with the Whittier City School District, a university instructor for Pepperdine University, and currently serves as Deputy Superintendent for Da Vinci Schools serving the Wiseburn Unified School District in Southern California.

“Dr. Hawn is an exceptionally well-rounded leader, with significant experience in the classroom and as an administrator, as well as district operations, including human resources and as chief academic officer,” said Board President Veronica Anderson Thigpen. “The Board was impressed by Jennifer’s in-depth knowledge about our district and by her passion for our new vision, mission and values. She is ready to work with the Board and community stakeholders to map the next phase of district priorities and build on PUSD’s stellar educational program. We are excited about her joining our team.”

“I am honored to be selected by the Piedmont Board and I’m looking forward to serving the Piedmont community, which demonstrates unparalleled dedication and support for ensuring the finest education for students,” Dr. Hawn said. “I am ready to collaborate with the Board, educators, families, and the Piedmont community to fulfill our vision of students who are ‘compassionate leaders and courageous problem-solvers, ready to take on challenges and make a difference in a complex and interconnected world.’ I am thrilled to lead this exemplary district in delivering a world-class education that ensures academic excellence, a sense of belonging, and opportunities for all of our students to thrive.”

Throughout her career, Dr. Hawn has led schools in the delivery of innovative educational programs. She has published work in educational journals including Principal Leadership and The High School Journal, and has presented at multiple conferences, including the California State Department of Education STEM conference. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Arizona State University, a Master of Arts in Teaching English from Loyola Marymount University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California.

In July 2022, the Board named Dr. Donald Evans as Interim Superintendent for the 2022-23 school year. The Board partnered with executive search firm Leadership Associates to conduct a nationwide search for its next superintendent. The search process included nearly 50 meetings with community stakeholders and a survey with more than 400 responses. Feedback from these efforts informed the development of a superintendent profile for recruiting. In all, 22 applicants applied for the position.

The Board selected six candidates for first-round interviews and brought back three for a second-round. Once the finalist was confirmed, two board members conducted a site visit to Da Vinci Schools in El Segundo and met with more than 30 people who work or engage with Dr. Hawn in her current role. Having grown up in Manhattan Beach in Southern California, Dr. Hawn looks forward to joining the East Bay where her husband Andrew grew up. Dr. Hawn has two grown children, and enjoys hiking, including the annual family hike up Mt. Whitney.

During the remainder of the 2022-23 school year, Dr. Hawn will work directly with Dr. Evans and District leadership on the transition prior to taking over on July 1, 2023. A welcome event will be planned for the spring to introduce Dr. Hawn to the community.

Superintendent 3-23Jennifer Hawn

 Application deadline 5pm on Wednesday, March 29th

The City of Piedmont is now accepting applications to fill upcoming vacancies on several Commissions and Committees. Applications can be completed online and are due by 5:00 p.m., March 29, 2023. Mandatory in-person interviews will be held the evening of Tuesday, April 4th.

Serving on a Commission or Committee helps keep Piedmont moving forward. Piedmont is a city of volunteers of residents who serve on one of the City’s 13 volunteer Commissions, Boards, and Committees. The Piedmont residents entrusted to serve on these bodies act as the City’s eyes and ears, listening to community input, identifying and studying percolating issues, and making recommendations to the City Council for action. Many of the programs that Piedmonters enjoy today were initiated and/or first reviewed by Commissions, including pickleball at City courts, Heritage Trees, annual Planning Commission design awards, and the Map Your Neighborhood program.

Apply Online by March 29th

To apply, submit an online application by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29th. When applying, you’ll be asked to provide contact and basic background information (education, occupation), select which body or bodies you would like to apply to serve on, then provide brief written answers to three questions:

• What experience do you have related to this appointment?

• Why are you seeking this appointment?

• What will you bring to this Commission or Committee?

The application also asks whether you have previously attended or watched a meeting of the body you’re applying to serve on. Archived meeting videos are available streaming on the City’s website.

Interviews on Tuesday, April 4th

To be considered for appointment, applicants must attend an in-person interview at City offices in the evening of Tuesday, April 4th. Interviews will be conducted by the City Council and will last roughly 5 minutes each. The interview schedule will be provided to applicants on Friday, March 31st.

Applicants needed for vacancies on seven bodies

This year, there are vacancies to fill on seven Commissions and Committees, as well as two additional appointed volunteer positions. For most bodies, members are appointed to 3-year terms, with a limit of two consecutive terms.

Commission/Committee Duties and additional information provided in link below:

2023-03-06 City Seeking Volunteers to Serve on Commissions and Committees

Piedmonter and Architect Donald Chandler has offered several recommendations to the City in a series of 3 prepared statements:

1/17/2023 – Agenda Item #10 –
Consideration of an RFP for the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan

I would like to recommend an addition to the Scope of Work of the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan –
namely to add new Police and Fire Departments and related buildings to the list of activities which
should be included in the Project Area. Assuming that we don’t have a comprehensive Master Plan or a
complete evaluation of the structural integrity of our Essential Services Buildings – and these are two big assumptions but if you will bear with me on that – wouldn’t it be prudent to include these two Essential Services in the RFP Scope of Work in the event that the Master Planning process may identify Moraga Canyon as the best location for these activities.?

Moraga Canyon may turn out to be the most accessible site in the case of a major emergency like a wildfire or an earthquake. I don’t know the answer to that issue, but a comprehensive Master Plan would explore that option in addition to, of course, other sites including the City Center with all its pedestrian and vehicular traffic issues. It would also balance out the issues of routine vs major emergency response times and other City requirements during a major emergency.

My personal opinion is that we may very soon have too many activities in our small City Center – with
the added traffic from the new Community Pool, continued discussions about new housing units per the Housing Element and the large number of parking spaces devoted to City and School employees. If that is a finding of the Master Plan exercise, then it may be best to relocate some of the City Center
functions. Isn’t it a good idea to have a placeholder in the Specific Plan for some of those functions?

Regarding the priorities of use in the Specific Plan, there is some mention that housing is of the highest priority in order to satisfy the Housing Element submittal. That housing is for future residents, and I do not in any way discount or diminish their importance to the City – but how can we know the priorities for Moraga Canyon – the one last major parcel in Piedmont – without a Master Plan that examines all the City’s needs – and the needs of all it’s residents – current and future?
Thank you, Council Members and Staff for your consideration of this proposal.
Donald Chandler AIA

____________________________________

2/6/2023  Open Forum – Piedmont City Council Meeting

I would like to expand on some of the issues which I raised in my call to you on January 17th. As you may recall, I discussed the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan and the need for a City Master Plan and the urgency that I feel to develop a plan to improve the Essential Services Buildings which are of course an integral part of the Master Plan.

In researching past City Council minutes, I found references on April 20th and July 6 th of 2020 indicating some urgency to proceed with further studies of the ESB ‘s structural and operational capacities. The April 20 th minutes contained an extensive discussion including comments from the Police Chief and Fire Chief about the deficiencies in their departments. The Fire Chief had an comprehensive list of deficiencies or inadequacies, one of which was, and I’m quoting here “seismic features such that an earthquake would cause significant structural damage to the Fire Station.” In the same meeting, City Staff stated that, quote “ high quality public safety services are a core function of the city .“  I think we can all agree with that statement.

Studies were undertaken and then In the July 6th meeting, Staff reported that Glass Architects had
developed a cost estimate of $33-51 million for the potential combined Essential Services Building. At
the same meeting there was extensive discussion about funding both the Community Pool and the ESB’s and, for reasons you all know much better than I, the result of that meeting was to proceed only with the Pool Bond Measure on the November 2020 ballot.

We all recognize the impact of the COVID emergency on all City and other activities, but we also know
that there was some urgency up until mid-2020 to investigate and proceed further with what we can call the ESB project. Two and one-half years have passed. If we all agree with that earlier statement that “ high quality public safety services are a core function of the city”, then one must ask the question: How does the City reestablish that URGENCY exhibited in 2020 to move the ESB and Master Plan processes forward?

I submit these observations and questions for your consideration.
Thank you very much for your time and for your service to the City

Donald Chandler AIA, Piedmont Resident

____________________

2/21/2023 – Open Forum – Piedmont City Council Meeting

I appreciate the comments in the Council Meeting of February 7, that reinforced the need to
renew the process of investigation and determination of the proper solution for upgrading the
Essential Services Buildings (ESB) and their inclusion in a revised Piedmont Master Plan. The
very preliminary costs for that project, as included in various City meeting notes, ranged from
$33 million to well over $ 80 million. That range of estimates is understandable, given the
general scope of work completed at the time – almost 3 years ago.

With a project of that scope in our near future, one must ask the question – do we want to
replicate the project management model used on the Community Pool on the ESB project or
for that matter any project moving forward?

The management process on the Pool resulted in, 1) a major scope change/redesign before
construction bids were even solicited, 2) then when bid, only two bids were received and both were
over the City’s budget , 3) a rebid process 4) in the rebid, all bidders except 1 were over budget. And
even the low bid could not meet the City’s budget if not for the generosity and understanding of PRFO
and many Piedmont residents and their contributions. The Pool design process was, unfortunately, not
uncommon and generally follows this pattern: Design – Estimate – Over budget – Redesign – Re-
estimate, Over budget, etc., etc. Basically, the weakness of this process is that it is iterative and it tends
not to be collaborative.

Let’s look at an alternative process. It is one where the design team, the project management team and
the estimating team all have equal weight and input into the project from the very early stages. It is
critical that design and estimating teams must go forward simultaneously if this process is to be
successful in reducing the design time ( saving money ) and meeting an established budget. This
management model is not new. It is a model used by many major corporations and also municipalities
which have a significant building programs. The goals of this process are to reduce design time and fees and minimizing those iterative design exercises experienced on the Community Pool.

What is key is that it is a top-down process – it must be initiated and empowered by the Client/Owner if it is to be successful.

I realize this is a very abbreviated description of a complex process, but I do hope the Council will give
some consideration to revising the City’s project management system going forward.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration of this proposal.

(Notes for a phone call to the Open Forum – Piedmont City Council Meeting of 2/21/2023 –

Donald Chandler AIA )

After an extensive recruitment process, the City Council has selected Rosanna Bayon Moore to serve as Piedmont’s next City Administrator. The Council will vote to confirm Ms. Bayon Moore’s appointment at their regular meeting on Tuesday, February 21st.

Ms. Bayon Moore currently serves as Assistant City Manager for the City of Antioch, CA, a role she began in 2020 after nine years as City Manager for the City of Brawley in Imperial County, CA.

Key accomplishments in these roles include successful delivery of a new fire station and Emergency Operations Center, strengthening partnerships and alignment with local school districts, advancing affordable housing projects with support from the State of California’s Strategic Growth Council, and developing a community crisis intervention program.

Previously, she served as Regional Affairs Officer for the Southern California Association of Governments, where she established a subregional hub for major transportation and regional planning initiatives.

She is well versed in building and development, having managed land acquisition, permitting, and entitlement processes at multiple civil engineering firms.

Bayon Moore holds a Masters of Public Administration with an emphasis in urban policy and advanced management techniques from the Columbia University School of International & Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley.

“I am thrilled to welcome Ms. Bayon Moore to Piedmont,” said Mayor Jen Cavenaugh. “Among a wealth of exceptional applicants, Bayon Moore stood out for her depth of executive experience, collaborative leadership style, and deep appreciation for Piedmont’s core values of fiscal responsibility, community engagement, and high-quality service delivery. I am confident she is the right person to build on current City Administrator Sara Lillevand’s success. The entire City Council is looking forward to working with Bayon Moore as we continue to make progress on our goals for the city.”

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Piedmont’s next City Administrator,” said Bayon Moore. “I was drawn to Piedmont’s engaged community, the Council’s vision for welcoming and belonging, and the City’s commitment to fostering both community safety and healthy living as centerpieces for quality of life.”

Bayon Moore continued, “Local government work is never carried out by a single person. The achievements I am most proud of have all been team efforts, made possible by a shared commitment to delivering results at a high level. I am excited to partner with Piedmont’s exceptional City staff, City Council, and dedicated community as we navigate the road ahead.”

After City Administrator Sara Lillevand announced her intention to retire last August, the City Council retained an experienced recruiting firm with a track record of successful executive leadership placements in local governments across California to conduct the search for her successor. The recruitment garnered 42 applications.

Bayon Moore was selected for the position after several rounds of screening and interviews with the City Council and the City’s leadership team.

“I’m grateful to know I’m leaving the City in excellent hands,” said City Administrator Sara Lillevand. “Bayon Moore’s experience leveraging state and federal resources to meet local challenges and successfully bringing new facilities online will be vital as we begin implementation of the Housing Element, complete construction of our new community pool, and plan for the future of our essential services buildings.”

Ms. Bayon Moore is expected to begin her term as City Administrator in early April 2023, following Lillevand’s retirement.

2023-02-16 City Council Selects Rosanna Bayon Moore as Next City Administrator

City of Piedmont Press Release – February 17, 223

The City of Piedmont received written comments on its proposed Housing Element from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on Thursday, February 16th, following the conclusion of the State’s 90-day review period.

As expected, State reviewers requested a number of technical revisions to Piedmont’s Draft Housing Element, primarily asking for specific additional analysis to support a number of findings and proposals in the document.

Additionally, reviewers requested that the City adjust or clarify implementation timelines for several proposed programs. Reviewers did not identify major structural issues or call for significant redirection of the City’s plans.

“I am gratified that HCD broadly supports the City’s plan to accommodate more housing,” said City Administrator Sara Lillevand. “Developing this plan over the past two years was a tremendous collective effort on the part of Planning staff, consultants, the Housing Advisory Committee, Planning Commission, City Council – and most important, the more than 1,000 community members who participated in this process. While we have some additional technical work to do before final adoption, the State’s letter confirms that we are on the right path and nearing the end of the road.”

Planning staff have been in regular communication with State officials since first submitting the City’s draft for review on November 18, 2022, holding multiple meetings to answer questions about how the proposed Housing Element addresses each of more than 100 specific requirements.

A list of these requirements and how Piedmont has addressed them is available for download at PiedmontIsHome.org, along with a copy of the HCD comment letter.

The State’s requests for technical amendments to Piedmont’s Draft Housing Element are consistent with those received by nearly every city in the region.

The volume and complexity of State laws related to housing has grown substantially in recent years, making preparation and compliance significantly more complex than for previous Housing Elements.

Next steps for adoption Planning staff and consultants are carefully reviewing each of the State’s comments and will work with HCD to complete the requested revisions, then bring proposed updates to City Council for approval.  Staff anticipate bringing the revised Housing Element to City Council for adoption in March.

Planning & Building Director Kevin Jackson will provide a verbal update on the receipt of the State’s comments and status of the Housing Element at the February 21, 2023 City Council meeting.

Implementation already underway

If the City Council adopts the Housing Element by May 31, 2023, the City will have three years to implement a substantial number of the proposed programs and regulatory changes outlined in the document.

Some of this work has already begun:

• The City is currently soliciting proposals for a consulting firm to lead the preparation of the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan, one of the core elements of the City’s plan to accommodate 587 new homes by 2031. Piedmont’s Moraga Canyon area was one of two sites in the region to be selected this year as a study subject by the James R. Boyce Affordable Housing Competition Studio at UC Berkeley.

• Staff have begun discussions with affordable housing organizations about possible future developments.

• The City has already established a new incentive for affordable ADUs and made it easier to convert existing spaces into new housing.

For more information about the Housing Element update, visit PiedmontIsHome.org, or subscribe to the City’s Housing Update email newsletter to receive news directly.

With questions, email PiedmontIsHome@piedmont.ca.gov.

2023-02-17 City Receives Housing Element Comments from State Reviewers

Starting March 1, 2023, the City of Piedmont will discontinue remote participation for most
Commission and all Committee meetings. Community members will still be able to comment
remotely via Zoom for City Council and Planning Commission meetings. Park Commission and
Recreation Commission meetings will continue to be broadcast live on KCOM and streamed on the
City website.

This format change was prompted by changes to State regulations governing public meetings,
which had been relaxed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to support remote participate
for members of legislative bodies. Governor Newsom has announced his intention to rescind the
COVID-19 State of Emergency at the end of February 2023, at which point members of City
Councils, Boards, Commissions, and Committees statewide will be required to attend meetings in
person, with limited exceptions.

At their January 17, 2023, the City Council was briefed on changes to teleconference regulations
and was asked to give direction to staff on whether to continue providing remote participation
options for community members at Council, Commission, and Committee meetings.

After a detailed discussion, the Council chose to continue offering remote public comment for City
Council and Planning Commission meetings only, due to low remote participation for other bodies
and the strain on staff resources required to support hybrid meetings. Each remote or hybrid
meeting requires an additional staff member, working overtime, to manage the logistics and
operations of the virtual meeting.

More information is available in the agenda report, minutes, and meeting video for the January 17th City Council meeting.

City Press Release – February 14, 2023

The City of Piedmont expects to receive written comments on the Draft Housing Element from the
California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) this week, following the
conclusion of the State’s 90-day review period.

Since the City submitted the Draft Housing Element for review on November 18, 2022, HCD
officials have been studying the document to assess how it addresses each item on the State’s list of
more than 100 specific requirements. Planning staff have been in active communication with State
officials during this period, holding multiple meetings to answer questions about the City’s plan
and taking the City’s reviewer on personal tour of the city to showcase the sites listed in the sites
inventory. An analysis of how the City’s proposed Housing Element addresses each of the State’s
requirements is available at PiedmontIsHome.org.

The City expects that HCD’s written comments will request some technical revisions to the Draft
Housing Element, as has been the case for most every other city. Planning staff will work with
HCD to develop any necessary amendments, then bring the proposed updates to City Council for
approval. Staff anticipate bringing the Housing Element to City Council for adoption in late
February or March.

Planning & Building Director Kevin Jackson will provide a verbal update on the status of the
Housing Element at the February 21, 2023 City Council meeting.

After adoption, City will have three years to implement new Housing Programs
If City Council adopts the Housing Element by May 31, 2023, the City will have three years to
implement a substantial number of the proposed programs and regulatory changes outlined in the
document. Some of this work has already begun – the City is currently soliciting proposals for a
consulting firm to lead the preparation of the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan, one of the core
elements of the City’s plan to accommodate 587 new homes by 2031.

For more information about the Housing Element update, visit PiedmontIsHome.org. With questions, email PiedmontIsHome@piedmont.ca.gov.

City of Piedmont Press Release – February 13, 2023

Recreation Commission Meeting February. 15 7:30 pm

Item 5 on the Recreation Commission Agenda is Consideration of an Exclusive Pickleball Trial at the Beach Tennis Courts for a Five-Month Period
from February 27, 2023 to July 31, 2023 and Parameters for the Trial

Item 5 on the Agenda.

The Recreation Commission will consider whether or not to go forward with the trial of dedicated Pickleball at Linda.  Read the meeting agenda and participation particulars  here.