“Can American Democracy Survive?”

An International Perspective” Fireside Chat with Dr. Fiona Hill, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution; formerly US National Security Council Official Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. Pacific (Zoom, YouTube streaming)

Please join the League of Women Voters of Piedmont on Wednesday, March 30th, 2022, at 4pm for a fireside chat with Dr. Fiona Hill. She will speak about the current state of American democracy, from both domestic and international points of view.

What is likely to happen in Ukraine? Is the crisis likely to spill over into other neighboring countries?

Learn what the current situation means for the international security order we have known since the end of the Cold War and what the implications are for our own democracy.

Dr. Fiona Hill is the Robert Bosch Senior Fellow at the Center on the United States and Europe in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution and member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Her most recent book, There is Nothing for You Here, draws on her personal journey out of poverty, as well as her unique perspectives asan historian and policy maker, to show how we can return hope to our forgotten places.

From 2017 to 2019, Dr. Hill served as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for European and Russian affairs on the National Security Council. From 2006 to 2009, she served as national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council. She has researched and published extensively on issues related to Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, regional conflicts, energy, and strategic issues.

Coauthor of Mr. Putin: Operative in the Kremlin and The Siberian Curse: How Communist Planners Left Russia Out in the Cold, Hill  holds a master’s degree in Soviet studies and a doctorate in history from Harvard University and a master’s in Russian and modern history from St. Andrews University in Scotland.

This event is part of the Piedmont League’s 2022 Defending Democracy Speaker Series and is co-sponsored by local Leagues in Oakland, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; Solano County, CA; Portland, OR; Gunnison Valley, CO; Pueblo, CO, Pike’s Peak Region, CO; and Collier County, FL.

This talk will be held live on Zoom and YouTube and will include an audience question and answer session. Please visit the Piedmont website (lwvpiedmont.org) to learn more about the series and register for this event. Once you have registered, you will receive the Zoom link by email.

The event is free and open to the public.

The Council heard from City staff, the City attorney, residents, non-residents, the Recreation Department, representatives from arts groups, and performers addressing an Agreement with the Piedmont Center for the Arts, a local non-profit organization, regarding the City owned property at 801 Magnolia Avenue.

Between 7:30 p.m. and almost midnight on Monday, March 7, 2022, there was a lively discussion of the proposed Agreement with the Piedmont Center for the Arts organization for their continued use of the City facility across from Piedmont High School.

Issues discussed were:

• Length of Agreement  – 5 years – Accepted
• High fees Arts Center might charge for usage of their time – Undetermined
• Lack of review by Recreation Commission – True
• Problematic process and insufficient information to community 
• Excessive number of dates and times reserved for Arts Center group
• Control over City facility by external group – To be reviewed
• $200,000 + in Arts Center current reserves derived from fees
• 90 day deadline for Arts Center to advise the City of non-use of their allotted time slots – Accepted
  
• City review of Agreement and usage after  18 months – Accepted
• City review of Agreement on an annual basis – Accepted
• End to sub-leases of the property – Accepted
• Adequate opportunities for other groups to use the facility 
• Revenue not captured by the City
• Compromises by all involved to reach Agreement
•  Desire to continue the successful activities of the Arts Center 
•  A provision for potential use of the property for housing – Accepted

Council members expressed sincere appreciate to the many volunteers from the Piedmont Center for the Arts in establishing a successful and regionally recognized arts venue in Piedmont.

Three Council members supported the Agreement not wanting to delay the matter further and approved the staff proposed Agreements with minor changes.   Those approving were King, Andersen and McCarthy.

Two Council members voted no desiring additional information, a more transparent process, shorter term to the Agreement, and guaranteed equitable access for the entire community; these were Council members Cavenaugh and Long.

Since the lease with the Arts Center will end, sub-tenant, The Piedmont Post, was given an extension of 60 days from time of notice to vacate the Arts Center building. The City will use the space for expanded recreational programs and Recreation Department staff needs.

See prior article on the proposed Agreement. 

Council to Consider Use of 801 Magnolia Avenue –

Staff Recommendation:

a. Approve a Facility Use Agreement between the City of Piedmont and the
Piedmont Center for the Arts (PCA) for use of the Main Hall at 801 Magnolia,Avenue (Main Hall);
b. Authorize the City Administrator to provide written notice of termination of the 2011 Lease Agreement between the City and Piedmont Center for the Arts on March 25, 2022; and
c. Establish user fees for community use of the Main Hall as set forth in the fee schedule listed in this staff report.

Proposed Use Agreement:

Under the proposed Facility Use Agreement, the City would manage the use of the Main Hall under the auspices of the Recreation Department, which manages other City facilities and event spaces. The Department of Public Works will manage maintenance of the building. The Agreement specifies that the City will reserve for itself the annual use of the Main Hall on all weekday mornings, two weekday evenings each week, and sixteen weekends. In turn, Piedmont Center for the Arts [PCA]  would have access to program the space for art related use on weekday afternoons, two weekday evenings each week, and up to thirty-six weekends each year. Hours not scheduled for use by PCA will be released for City use. The proposed agreement designates and assures at minimum, 2,492 hours (45% of the useable time) each year for City use of the Main Hall.

Key Provisions:

Approved Use: PCA use is limited to arts programming only
User Fee: PCA will pay a monthly user fee of $1,000 with an annual Consumer Price
Index (CPI) increase.
Calendar: Annually, PCA will be provided right of first refusal for 36 weekends,
weekday afternoons and two evenings per week within which to schedule
arts related events and programs. This allocation is intended to provide
flexibility for advance scheduling. It is expected that PCA will not utilize
all of this time and there are systems in place to allow for unscheduled
time to be released back to the City for broader community use.
Term: Six years
Termination: The proposed agreement allows the City to terminate the use agreement immediately if the Main Hall is needed for City operations due to an
emergency or unforeseen circumstance as well as with one year notice if
statutory requirements necessitate City use of the facility or if City facility
renovations require relocation of City Staff to 801 Magnolia Ave.
Parking: One parking place in the driveway located on Bonita Avenue will be
reserved for the Main Hall user group at any given time.

In the event Council approves the Facility Use Agreement, the next step would be for the City to formally provide notice to PCA that the current month-to-month tenancy is to be terminated with 30 days’ notice. In order to allow the Recreation Department time to organize implementation of this significant transition, Staff recommends issuing a notice of termination of the existing lease agreement on March 25, 2022, and upon expiration of the 30-day period, the proposed Facility Use Agreement would take effect on April 25, 2022.

User Fees:
Staff further recommends Council approval of a fee schedule for the Main Hall so that
community users can begin accessing the space as soon as possible. The fees as proposed are intended to provide relatively low-cost access to the Main Hall for meetings and small events and to serve needs not met by Community Hall or the Veterans Memorial Building. If approved these fees will also be incorporated in the annual review process for Recreation Department facilities undertaken during the approval of the annual budget.

Proposed Fees

• PUSD [Piedmont Unified School District] sponsored event with onsite supervision No Charge
• Piedmont Community Based Organization $30/hr
• Community Based Organization (CBO) $50/hr
• Private Rental Resident $80/hr
• Private Rental Non-resident $125/hr
As with the City’s other rental facilities, all uses will be subject to capacity and compatibility constraints. As a reminder, 801 Magnolia Avenue is a relatively small space without any kitchen facilities.

Community members are invited to attend the meeting virtually via Zoom or by coming to the City Council chambers. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. 

• Meeting Agenda (Including Participation Details)

• Agenda Report  Lease and Diagram of Spaces at 801 Magnolia Avenue.

Community members can provide comment on this topic by sending email to citycouncil@piedmont.ca.gov. If you have questions about the report, please email City Administrator Sara Lillevand. 

Now is the time !

by March 21, 2022

to volunteer for City of Piedmont Committees and Commissions –

Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee, Civil Service Commission, Park Commission, Planning Commission, Public Safety Committee, Recreation Commission,  Mosquito Abatement Representative

Information  is linked below:

Residents wishing to apply must take one of the following two actions on or before the posted deadline of Monday, March 21, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Postmarks will not be accepted for paper applications.

1) Apply online OR

2) Complete and return the paper application form A link to the electronic application and a downloadable application for paper submission are available on the city’s website at https://piedmont.ca.gov or from the office of the City Clerk, Piedmont City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, or by telephone at (510) 420-3040.

All applicants must be available for an interview with the City Council the evening of Monday, March 28, 2022, at which time appointments may be made.

Read links below:

PCA Commission Application 2022

PCA Commission Description of Duties 2022-02-28

PCA2022-02-28 Volunteers for Commissions-Committees

PCA Notice of Appointive Vacancies 2022

Special Planning Commission Agenda Tuesday, March 1, 2022 5:30 p.m. Via Teleconference *

COVID-19 NOTICE * In a continuing effort to reduce the public health effects of COVID-19, the Planning Commission meeting will not be physically open to the public and Planning Commissioners will be teleconferencing into the meeting via ZOOM Teleconference, pursuant to the provisions of Government Code 54953.

To maximize public safety while still maintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can participate in the meeting in several ways: See instructions for participation on the Tuesday, March 1, 2022 Agenda linked at the end of this article. 

Regular Agenda

Staff reports were not distributed for this meeting.

1. Approval of minutes for the December 13, 2021, regular meeting of the Planning Commission.

2. Scoping Session on the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Housing Element Update Staff and Rincon Consultants will conduct a public scoping session to receive comments on the scope and contents of the EIR being prepared for the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update and associated amendments to the General Plan.

3. Presentation on the Piedmont Community Pool Project. The design team from ELS Architecture and Urban Design will provide a verbal update and slideshow on the activities related to the development of a design for the Piedmont Community Pool.

4. Update on Housing Policy Presentation. Staff and Commissioners will provide a verbal update on the activities of staff, the Housing Advisory Committee and City’s housing consultants related to the development of fair housing policy. Adjourn

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (510) 420-3040. Notification at least two business days preceding the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II] In accordance with G.C. Sec. 54954.2 (a) this notice and agenda were posted on the City Hall bulletin board and also in the Piedmont Police Department on February 15, 2022.

Click Agenda below for details on participation and viewing:

PCA Plan Com 3 2022<

In an effort to improve customer service, the Departments of Planning & Building and Public Works are implementing a pilot program which will change counter service hours, effective February 28, 2022.

Counter service includes unscheduled inquiries at the counter as well as by phone and email. This is a pilot program, which will be effective into the fall of 2022.

Starting February 28th, the new hours will be:

Monday through Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Closed

The Planning & Building Department and the Department of Public Works are focused on providing the highest levels of customer service to the Piedmont community, but the past two years have placed unprecedented strain and demands on the departments. The result is a backlog of building permit applications.

Planning and Building Director Kevin Jackson states:

“Customer Service is about more than just being open and available to the public. It is also a function of how quickly we can efficiently process permit applications and approval,” said Planning & Building Director Kevin Jackson.

“In order to improve customer service overall while maintaining our high standard for responding to inquiries, the Planning & Building and Public Works Departments will remain open for unscheduled service during the lunch hour Monday through Thursday and devoting ourselves entirely to permit processing on Fridays. These hours are consistent with those provided by other cities in the Bay Area. We’re also seeking to hire two part-time staff to accelerate building permit review.”

This change in counter service hours is being made in conjunction with technology upgrades, available later this year, which will allow residents to submit permit and project applications, service requests, as well as pay business license taxes online. With this forthcoming system, project plans will be submitted, reviewed, and approved in digital, rather than paper format.

In addition, community members will no longer have to carve out time during the workday and make a trip to City Hall to engage with staff, review documents, ask for a pothole to be fixed, or request other services.

“Once the technology upgrades are fully implemented, we will be better placed to determine if the changes to counter service hours should end or continue,” Mr. Jackson added. “The operational changes forced upon us by the COVID pandemic affected services greatly and made technological upgrades more urgent. Thankfully, the City Council has been proactive in approving technological advances in all departments, ushering our ability to serve the community even farther into the twenty-first century. In the coming months and years the interim changes and long-term improvements will merge into a greatly enhanced customer service experience.”

CONTACT:

Piedmont Planning & Building Department 120 Vista Avenue Piedmont, CA 94611 Phone: (510) 420-3050 Fax: (510) 658-3167 Planning Email: ondutyplanner@piedmont.ca.gov
Building Email:
buildingpermits@piedmont.ca.gov
Current Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PCA 2022-02-15 Public Works-Planning & Building Counter Hours to Change

The Piedmont Civic Association congratulates Jennifer Long as Piedmont’s newest councilmember and thanks all 11 candidates who were willing to offer their skills to the City in this volunteer position.

At a special meeting on February 7, 2022, the Piedmont City Council selected Jennifer Long to fill the vacancy on the Council created by the resignation of Councilmember Tim Rood from among eleven applicants for the position. Ms. Long will be sworn in at the City Council meeting on February 22, 2022, and her term will run until the results of the General Municipal Election of November 8, 2022 are certified, which likely will take place at a Council meeting in December, 2022.  John O. Tulloch City Clerk

City Press Release: 2022-02-08 Long Appointed to City Council. 

Long, an attorney, resides on Crocker Avenue, where she lives and works. 

Long’s application:   Long, Jennifer – Application 2022

Selection of the New City Council Member to Fill the Vacancy has Citizens Confused

The Resignation of former Council member Tim Rood makes way for a replacement City Council Member outside of the normal election process.  Citizens reading the public posting could not tell how to participate or observe the February 7, 2022. 4pm City Council meeting focused on the Council member replacement.  The agenda does not notice a virtual/teleconferenced meeting.  See Agenda and Staff report linked below:

2.  Staff report on reasons to hold virtual/teleconferenced meetings > 2.7.2022

SECTION 4. The City Council reconfirms and incorporates the findings made in Resolution 77-2021 regarding the need for the Council and all Commissions, Committees, or advisory bodies of the City of Piedmont to meet by teleconference.

3.  Interviews of candidates

4.  Consideration of Appointment of Candidate to Vacant City Council Seat. > council-special-agenda 2.7.2022  

Council selection process thwarts public viewing and participation.

Per the California Brown Act (Sunshine law), Council candidate interviews and their actual applications seeking appointment to public office are required to be open and available to the public. The City is not following their own meeting procedures on COVID safety for virtual meetings.  The City has also not publicly disseminated the written applications.

The City has decided to hold the interviews and selection process in the Piedmont Police Department Emergency Operation Center (EOC) on Highland Avenue rather than in the Council Chambers wherein cameras can readily record and broadcast proceedings.  Only COVID compliant individuals can physically enter the Police Department to potentially observe and participate in the Council selection process. 

Candidate interviews had originally been scheduled “virtually” and would have been held in the Council Chambers allowing at home viewing through Zoom of the interview sessions and the Council selection process.

For years, the EOC and Council Conference Room have been selectively used for meetings where video recordings were not produced.  Some past noteworthy meetings held away from camera access have been the Piedmont Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee, interviews of candidates for commission appointments, and the City Department Budget presentations. 

Persons interested in participating in the interview process may enter the Police Department EOC on Highland Avenue at their own risk and observe the interviews and the selection process Monday, February 7, 2022 at 4 p.m.

City of Piedmont 2022 City Council Vacancy Applicant List:

Robert Dickinson

Connie Herrick

Deborah Leland

Jennifer Long

Hugh Louch

Thomas MacBride

Richard Raushenbush

Steve Roland

Andrea Ruiz-Esquide

Billy Rusteen

Ruchi Shrivastava Medhekar

Agenda council-special-agenda 2.7.2022

Staff report continuing virtual meetings.2.7.2022

Editors’ Note:  On February 7, 2022, at the Special Council meeting held away from broadcast capability in the Police Department EOC, Jennifer Long was selected by the City Council to fill the Tim Rood vacancy. Once the City Clerk releases information about Jennifer Long, it will be published on this site.

Natural Gas Green?  Piedmont says NO, California says NO

Europe says YES –

European Union Commission Classifies Natural Gas as Green Power, while the CA Grid Estimates $30.5 billion for New Electric Transmission Lines to End Use of Natural Gas  –

In 2020 (the latest data year), California’s in-state created electricity was generated by coal (.17%), by natural gas (48.35%), by oil (.02%), by nuclear (8.53%), by large hydro (9.40%). California also gets electricity from other states.  California’s imported (from out of state) electricity was powered by coal (8.76%), by natural gas (10.68%), by nuclear (11:21%), by large hydro (18.78%), and 17.% was generated by “unspecified ” or unnamed sources.

California’s intended switch from natural gas and other fuels to clean power will require $30.5 billion for electric transmission lines and substations by 2040 in preparation for hooking up solar, wind and geothermal plants, according to a report by the state’s grid operator, California Independent System Operator (CAISO).  New connections would be needed to more than 2 gigawatts of new, onshore wind power in California, 12 gigawatts of wind turbines in other western states that could supply California, 53 gigawatts of large-scale solar plants, and 37 gigawatts of batteries plugged into the grid by 2040.  $8.1 billion of the projected budget would be required just to connect 10 gigawatts of future coastline offshore wind turbines.

The report shows the challenge California faces to end greenhouse gas electricity grid emissions by 2045.  The most recent data is for 2020 when renewables contributed a third to California’s electricity power, including contributions from neighboring states.

Read CA power generation sources here

Read January 31, 2022 Transmission Outlook here.