– BART continues to run Friday through Sunday October 13.-

You can receive timely BART strike information through BART notifications. With riders in limbo not knowing if a BART strike will occur Monday, BART has established a method for riders to be alerted to a strike.  Sign up for BART email alerts by clicking below: http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2013/news20130617.aspx

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The Governor’s 60-day cooling-off period came to an end at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, October 10.  At 11:45 pm Thursday, the unions emerged from negotiations to give a 72-hour strike notice. If no contract is agreed by Sunday evening, the unions will strike Monday morning. Both sides agreed to continue negotiating for an additional three days through 11:59 pm Sunday. All week BART unions spoke of a strike. Antonette Bryant, President of Amalgamated Transit Union 1555 (ATU) said, “The fact is our members are ready to go on strike, if we don’t get the deal that they are deserving.”

Last week, BART management offered pay increases of 10.25 %, new 4% employee pension contributions, and a four year contract.  The ATU and SEIU  unions were asking for a pay increase of 18.4% and a three year contract. Due to a blackout imposed by the mediators, current offers and counter offers have not been made public.

According to the Mercury News:
“Workers do not contribute toward their pensions and pay $92 a month toward health care regardless of how many dependents they have.

Workers have agreed to pay more toward their benefits, but say they deserve a raise because they have not received a meaningful pay increase in more than four years, even as BART’s rider and tax revenues have soared to record levels. But management says its needs to keep employee costs under control as it tries to buy rail cars and make billions of dollars of upgrades to expand service and keep the 40-year-old system running adequately.”

Updated 10/11/13

– The City Council considers mosquito abatement, City Administrator search, new Police management position, bonds to pay off the CalPERS side fund, February 4, 2014 City election, and ballot arguments regarding the bond measure. – 

The Monday, October 7 , City Council meeting will start at 7:30 pm in the City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue.

Regular Agenda:

– Oral presentation on Alameda County Mosquito Abatement

– Hearing on the criteria (education, experience, etc) for a new City Administrator.  The staff report includes advertised compensation for the new City Administrator including pension, health and welfare, etc.

You are invited to attend this meeting to express your thoughts on the experience, education, and qualities desired in the new City Administrator. The Council also encourages those who cannot attend the meeting to submit comments via email or in writing.

You may send email to jtulloch@ci.piedmont.ca.us or via U.S. Mail to the Piedmont City Council, c/o City Clerk, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611.

– Police Support Services Manager employment resolution –  This is a new position in the Police Department to assist in administrative matters as recommended by the Police Chief.

– Second reading of an Ordinance authorizing the issuance of bonds – Report describes the ballot measure to pay off the CalPERS side fund, a pension obligation.

– Resolution calling for the February 4, 2014 City election, the shared costs to be charged to candidates for City Council and School Board and the City CalPERS side fund bond measure

Nomination papers for prospective candidates for this election will be available from the City Clerk beginning October 14, 2013 and must be returned no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 8, 2013, unless an eligible incumbent fails to file, in which case the deadline is extended to November 12, 2013.

There are 3 seats up for election on the City Council and 2 seats on the Board of Education.

– Direct argument and rebuttal argument for the CalPERS refinance bond measure for the February 4 ballot

– The Consent Agenda at the beginning of the meeting includes escheatment of $2,588.16 in unclaimed funds and approval of November 28 street closures for the annual Turkey Trot fundraiser.

See the entire agenda.

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The public is welcome to attend the meeting in the Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue. This meeting will be televised live on KCOM-TV, Channel 27, the City’s government TV station and will be available through streaming video on the City’s web site www.ci.piedmont.ca.us.

– Hopes and ideas to shape up the landscape of long neglected Blair Park drew a number of speakers at the Piedmont Park  Commission meeting on October 2^nd. –

The Commission first heard presentations by Bob Birkeland, landscape architect of Restoration Design Group (RDG) and arborist Jim Clarke of HortScience, Inc., the two firms collaborating on a landscape design plan for Blair Park. Birkeland and Clarke outlined their initial assessments of the park’s potential, its constraints, and the condition of many of its trees.

Among their conclusions: 41 of the 54 Monterey pines bordering Moraga Ave. are in poor condition and should be removed.  Lack of irrigation in the park is the key limiting factor to existing trees and to establishing new, drought-tolerant species. (Birkeland explained that Cemetery Creek is diverted into a culvert buried 22 feet below the park’s landfill.) The coast live oaks and California bay tree should be pruned, ivy vines should be severed at the base of tree trunks, and blackberry and ivy will require repeated control.

Audience members then described their concepts for improving Blair Park and what the park means to them.   Scenic Avenue resident Morissa Sherman, who makes award-winning plum and blackberry jams from Blair Park, said she hopes the park’s fruit trees will be retained. She also described her love of watching the park’s wildlife, from red-tailed hawks to foxes.  Peggy Esposito, who has lived on Moraga Avenue for 35 years, said she chose to live there because it was near an undeveloped area and to her the park “is much more than a gateway to Piedmont.” She proposed creating a bio-swale for park irrigation. She also told the Commission the Monterey pines were planted in the early 1970’s by students working one summer for Piedmont and that the trees were not what the City had ordered but were planted anyhow.

Piedmont resident Sinan Sabuncuoglu said, “Blair Park gives us a chance for a new way of stewarding the environment – to preserve and restore the rich ecology.” He suggested “involving everyone in planning a Bay-friendly landscape” possibly with community gardens and a plan that evolves over time with amenities such as a par course, bike path, bocce ball and horseshoes.  Scenic Avenue resident and former Piedmont Mayor Al Peters noted that the park is “a major, welcoming entryway to the City” and he said the tall story poles that were erected two years ago for the sports fields proposed by Piedmont Recreation Facilities Organization, should be removed. He also commented on the live oaks on the park’s hillside that are being killed by overgrowing ivy vines and said “I want the City to properly maintain the oak forest.”

The Park Commissioners expressed their agreement with the speakers and support for maintaining the park.  Commissioner Nancy Kent said she sees the need to assess the trees on the hillside slope and would like to enhance the slope for wildlife.  Commissioner Patty Siskind said, “I think everyone wants to improve the park, and it will definitely be pursued.”  She and Commissioner Anian Tunney were  concerned about the cost and source of irrigation.  Birkeland said there are number of possibilities, such as having a water truck drive across the street from the Corporation Yard. Commissioner Mary Geong said she was glad to hear that Friends of Moraga Canyon is willing to raise funds to help pay for park improvements, as one speaker had indicated. Commission Chair John Lenahan concluded, “We need to maintain the park. We will have a different and hopefully better Blair Park.”

A proposed landscape improvement plan for Blair Park is scheduled to be presented by RDG and HortScience at the December 12, 2013 meeting of the Park Commission.

On Friday, Oct. 4 with heavy smoke in the air, the Piedmont High School (PHS) Football games were canceled. They have been rescheduled to Saturday, October 5. Both the JV game and Varsity game will be played at Witter Field. (Piedmont High School)

The JV game will begin at 4 pm and the Varsity Game will begin at 7 pm.

– Piedmont Police and Fire Department sent out the following advisory:

The City of Piedmont has received multiple phone calls reporting smoke and ashes in the air. This is the result of an 8 alarm brush fire in the area of Suisun City. Please call 911 ONLY if you see active flames or rising smoke in your area.  (10/4/2013 5:26:56 PM EST)

The Piedmont Police Department has produced flyers “Keeping Piedmont Safe: 10 Tips to Better Crime Prevention at Home.” Advice is offered about locks, landscaping, lighting, and alarm systems. Emphasis is placed on cooperating with neighbors to increase safety.

Video surveillance systems are recommended focused on approaches to the residence as well as interior vulnerable points. These systems can assist the Police Department in crime investigation following an incident in the neighborhood.

When no one is home, a radio, television or simulated barking dog can create the impression that occupants are present. When children are alone at home, they should not give that information to anyone at the door or on the phone.

The “Keeping Piedmont Safe: 10 Tips to Better Crime Prevention at Home” flyers are available at the Police Department.

– Not too late to participate in Piedmont educational discussion and strategic planning workshop on Saturday, October 5 –

All who want to attend the public workshop may do so.   It is not too late to attend and participate simply by arriving for the meeting.  All School Board Members are expected to be present. The School District has announced the meeting as an important opportunity for Piedmont Unified School District educators and the community to explore Piedmont’s educational themes for 2013 and beyond.

The workshop will be held in the Piedmont Middle School Multi-Purpose Room Saturday, October 5, 2013, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

– The Piedmont Public Safety Committee will meet Thursday, October 3, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue.  The Committee’s agenda includes:

2. Update on Neighborhood Watch Meetings

3. Code Red Implementation Status Report (new emergency notification)

4. Update on ALPR Installation (license plate readers)

5. Update on Piedmont School District Outreach (collaboration on safety)

6. Harvest Festival Event Recap (results of Committee’s participation)

7. Discussion on Distribution of PSC/Boy Scouting For Food Flyer

8. Discussion on Co-Sponsored PSC/Fire Department Disaster Preparedness Forum/Town Hall/Fire House Event ( proposed Town Hall meeting on disaster preparedness)

9. Update on Disaster Preparedness Training & Curriculum

The public is welcome to attend and participate in the meeting.  There has been no announcement regarding public broadcast of the meeting.

– Flu shots can be conveniently obtained in Piedmont. –

The Sutter Visiting Nurses Association and Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Committee (PADC) will offer three flu clinics in October at the Ellen Driscoll Playhouse, 325 Highland Avenue. You can walk over with friends, family or colleagues and get everyone inoculated before flu season begins. Two clinics are offered after school and one during a professional development day when students are not in school. Dates and times are as follows:

– What qualities would you want in a new City Administrator ? –

At 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 7, 2013, the Piedmont City Council will take public testimony on the experience, education, and qualities desired in the new City Administrator. This meeting will provide an opportunity to give input to the City Council on the traits you would like to see in a new City Administrator. This meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont.

City Administrator Geoffrey L. Grote announced in August that he will retire in February 2014 after 25 years in his position. The City issued a Request For Proposals for executive search firms in August and received proposals from five firms. After reviewing the proposals, at its meeting of September 16th, the City Council engaged the services of the firm of Peckham and McKenney to recruit a new City Administrator. The process of recruiting a new City Administrator, expected to take several months, begins with this upcoming meeting.

You are invited to attend this meeting to express your thoughts on the experience, education, and qualities desired in the new City Administrator. The Council also encourages those who cannot attend the meeting to submit comments via email or in writing.

You may send email to jtulloch@ci.piedmont.ca.us or via U.S. Mail to the Piedmont City Council, c/o City Clerk, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611.

The staff report for this matter will be available on the City web site Friday, October 4, 2013.

This meeting will be televised live on KCOM-TV, Channel 27, the City’s government TV station and will be available through streaming video on the City’s web site www.ci.piedmont.ca.us.

For further information, please contact City Clerk John O. Tulloch at 420-3040.

John O. Tulloch, City Clerk
Posted on October 2, 2013