After the new east span of the Bay Bridge opens to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, September 3 at 5:00 a.m., the adjacent bike and pedestrian path will open at noon.  The 15 1/2 foot wide lane provides separate areas for pedestrians and bicyclists.   The bicycle speed limit will be 15 miles per hour with bicycle mounted Highway Patrol officers patrolling the bike/pedestrian lane.

Access to and from Yerba Buena Island is not expected to be ready until demolition on that end of the old span is complete.  The permanent East Bay access will lead from the Bay Trail and Shellmound Street in Emeryville along Burma Road and onto the bridge.  Temporarily, bike and pedestrian access will be on a wooden connector through the construction zone . The permanent connector will not be completed until 2015.

Stay Safe as the School Year Kicks Off –

Classes resumed for kindergarten through grade 12 on Wednesday, August 21 at all Piedmont schools.  Crossing guards are in place to assist students crossing some of the busiest intersections.  Parents should remind students to look both ways – and look both ways again when crossing the street, even when a crossing guard is present. Motorists are reminded to reduce their speed in a school zone to 15 MPH whenever students are present.

The City provides School Crossing Guards at several key intersections under a contract approved by the City Council with All City Management Services. Any problems with crossing guard performance should be reported to the Watch Commander at the Piedmont Police Department, (510) 420-3000.

Piedmont’s KCOM-TV, Channel 27 will be off-air Monday, August 26 and Tuesday, August 27, 2013 while installing upgrades to the digital broadcast equipment. The City Council, Planning Commission, School Board and other programming on Channel 27 will not be broadcast during this time.  However, streaming video of meetings will be available via the internet at the City’s web site www.ci.piedmont.ca.us/video . Programming is expected to resume on Channel 27 no later than Wednesday, August 28, 2013.

A $15,000 contract for landscape design improvements to Blair Park is up for approval by the Piedmont City Council on Monday, August 19.  Public Works Director Chester Nakahara is recommending the contract be awarded to Restoration Design Group (RDG) of Berkeley, in partnership with HortScience, Inc., a horticulture, arboriculture and urban forestry firm. 

Improving Blair Park’s landscape is part of a 2012 settlement agreement between Friends of Moraga Canyon (FOMC) and the City in a lawsuit filed by FOMC against the City’s Environmental Impact Report for construction of a sports field in the park. The settlement called for the City to retain a professional landscape architect “who has experience in creating and/or implementing plans for natural open space parks similar to Blair Park.”

After extensive review, RDG/HortScience were rated the most qualified by City staff and by an FOMC subcommittee, which reviewed proposals from three local firms. According to Nakahara, “Restoration Design Group possesses extensive experience in natural open space restoration, and combines that with a distinct qualitative character that will be brought to their approach in designing a plan suitable for the unique conditions of Blair Park.”

During the 12-week project, RDG and HortScience will assess the health of every tree in Blair Park, recommend risk abatement, such as pruning, and tree preservation. They will conduct a survey of existing pathways and trees and recommend proposed site improvements, plant species, pathway design, erosion control measures, and provide a preliminary cost estimate of the recommended improvements.  RDG will present its plan at a public hearing of the Piedmont Parks Commission on October 2, 2013.

In its proposal letter, RDG stated, “The landscape improvement plan will focus on ‘low impact’ changes to the open space.  However, if the City is interested, the plan could lead to a bolder, more long‐term vision for the site.  Blair Park is at the headwaters of the Glen Echo Creek (sometimes referred to as Cemetery Creek) watershed.  The creek flows below the park in a storm drain.  The landscape improvement plan could set a long term vision to daylight the creek through the site.  The addition of a water feature would greatly benefit birds and create an even more tranquil, soothing setting for park users.  The proposed low impact landscape improvement plan could design the site to accommodate and even stimulate future large scale improvements.”

RDG concluded, “We understand that Blair Park has had competing proposals in the recent past, and we intend to design a project that will help heal relations and reinforce the decision to keep Blair Park in a natural condition.”

Staff report

Santa Cruz’s Predictive Policing Results Inspire other Cities –

To call attention to their efficient new policing method of crime prevention, Santa Cruz held a “Predictive Policing Day” this week. Crime in Santa Cruz had increased by 30% when their Police Department lost 20% of its personnel in 2011.  After the first year using Predictive Policing, Santa Cruz Police reported a 19% reduction in burglaries and added predictions of bike thefts, battery, assault and prowling in late 2012. PCA reported on the new science of sophisticated algorithmic based Predictive Policing June 1.

San Francisco’s KGO reported on it Wednesday:

“…the software program has police in cities across the world calling Santa Cruz to inquire about how it works.

‘The software provides us analytics [that] take a look at where crimes are occurring, and [we put] officers in the places where we think they have the best opportunity to mitigate crime or problems,’ says Santa Cruz Police Chief Steve Clark.”

The algorithm was developed over six years by a team composed of University of California mathematics and anthropology professors from two campuses working with police and criminologists.  It incorporates the latest sociological studies of criminal behavior.

Los Angeles experimented with Predictive Policing in just one precinct—Foothill—for six months. At the end of the trial, the Police Department reported that burglaries in the Foothill precinct decreased 36 percent while crime rose across Los Angeles over the same period.

Grote to retire after 25 years of service to Piedmont – 

It was January 30, 1989, when Geoffrey L. Grote became Piedmont’s City Administrator. Grote was raised in Pleasant Hill, graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton and received his Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.  Before coming to Piedmont, Grote was city manager of Ojai, California  where he initiated several major projects including the Ojai Arcade and the remodeling and expansion of Ojai’s City Hall. Prior to that he had been  Assistant to the City Administrator and Assistant City Attorney in San Luis Obispo. He was founding member and President of the Santa Barbara Area Joint Powers Insurance Authority.

At the October 1989 Piedmont Civic Association Annual meeting, Grote, as the recently hired City Administrator, spoke to the group on taxes, zoning, safety, planning, libraries, utility undergrounding, trees, playfields, and views.  Most of these issues continue to be of great interest to Piedmonters.

Grote was hired by the City Council in 1989 at a salary of $72,000 plus benefits including a car allowance.  He was chosen from among 100 applicants.

When Grote retires at the end of January 2014, he will have served as City Administrator for 25 years.  Both in Piedmont and elsewhere, the position of City Administrator or City Manager is known for frequent turn overs. His longevity speaks to his ability to work with City Councils, the public, and Piedmont employees.

Numerous City municipal service taxes were passed during Grote’s tenure with only one defeat.  The recent sewer tax proposal was defeated in 2012 followed by voter approval of another municipal service tax. 

During recent years Grote was faced with more than the usual budget balancing, public safety and planning issues. Retirements required hiring a new Police Chief, Fire Chief, City Attorney, Public Works Director, Finance Director, and City Clerk.

Vexing to the City administration, citizens and Council was the City’s assumption of risk for the private Piedmont Hills Underground Utility District resulting in a $2.5 million dollar burden on all taxpayers.  The matter remains in legal limbo as the City attempts to recover payment from the project designers and engineers.

Many say the most divisive issue to confront Piedmont in recent years was the proposal by Piedmont Recreational Facilities Organization (PRFO) to develop an extensive sports complex for soccer and other grass-based sports in Blair Park bordering Moraga Avenue.  Although the project proposal was ultimately withdrawn by PRFO and a cancellation of Council approval, it cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and diverted hundreds of hours of City staff time. 

Pension liabilities, changes in personnel, funding, planning, public safety – all were prominent in Grote’s responsibilities. Grote has been acclaimed for his willingness to sit down with citizens, improvements to City facilities and pleasant demeanor.  New residents and visitors to Piedmont frequently remark on how beautifully maintained they find the City. Considering Grote’s knowledge of the City and its employees, the next City Administrator will have large shoes to fill.

At the City Council meeting of August 5, the following statements were made:

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to the Mayor and Council, the residents of Piedmont, and the dedicated City staff for their support and assistance these almost 25 years that I have served as City Administrator,” said Grote.

“These years have been with filled with joys and disappointments, but what I will remember most vividly are the extraordinary people that I have come to know in Piedmont, residents and staff, who have worked so hard to preserve and improve this beautiful community. It has been a privilege to have been a part of that work”

“Piedmont has benefitted from Geoff’s leadership over the nearly quarter century he has served the City,” said Mayor John Chiang. “His efforts to maintain high service levels, excellent public facilities, and make Piedmont a better place for its residents will not soon be forgotten.”

Mr. Grote will remain with the City until the end of January 2014 and, according to a City press release, the recruitment process for a new City Administrator has commenced.  As an “at will” employee, Grote’s agreement with the City required him to provide 6 months of notice prior to retirement or leaving his position, hence the August 5 announcement.  Grote’s replacement could occur prior to his designated retirement date. Alternatively, there is an option of a temporary extension of his employment agreement. 

BART trains will run on Monday, August 12.

If BART management and unions do not reach agreement on new contracts by 11:59 pm Sunday night August 11, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Curtis Karnow’s injunction will prevent a strike through October 1o.  (Contracts expired at the end of June.) 

At a Sunday morning hearing the parties learned that, as expected, Governor Jerry Brown was granted, if necessary, the injunction he requested for a 60-day cooling-off period between the BART bargaining parties. Under the injunction, BART employee unions cannot strike; nor can BART lock out employees during the 60-day cooling-off period.  It is hoped that during the two month period,  the bargaining parties can reach an agreement and prevent a strike in October.

Judge Curtis E.A. Karnow said he will sign the order after paperwork is submitted, the radio station said. The order, in the form of an injunction, would last through Oct. 10, the judge said.

It would take effect at midnight tonight if the two sides don’t reach a contract agreement before then. Talks were set to resume today at 1 p.m., KCBS reported.

Information and details on BART negotiations. 

Very low income housing units top the list –

At the Council meeting on August 5, the Council approved an agreement with Barry J. Miller in the amount of $34,780 for preparation of an update to the City’s Housing Element of the General Plan.  The planning costs for compliance with the state law continue to rise.  State laws require all cities to update their General Plan Housing Element every 7 years. Piedmont’s element needs to be updated in 2014.

Allocation of housing is based on State and regional determination of projected needs. This process is ongoing as population growth in the State and out-of-state migration results in increasing numbers of California residents. The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) apportions specific new housing and jobs requirements for each city and county within its nine county Bay Area jurisdiction. 

Piedmont has struggled to meet ABAG’s requirements in the past because of the lack of available sites for new businesses and housing. As a fully built-out city with no opportunity to expand borders or annex properties, the City faces a dilemma every time the housing needs are allocated. Piedmont has argued against the allocation by demonstrating the problems associated with providing the housing units, specifically pointing to the City’s Charter, limited land area, costs, and zoning restrictions.  After a protracted process of negotiations and revised drafts, Piedmont achieved State certification of its Housing Element in 2011. (Read consultant Miller’s recitation of the months of rejections and revisions.) The Housing Element is the only part of a city’s general plan that is subject to State certification.

The Piedmont staff report states:

“As the Council is aware, one of the goals of the Housing Element is to define how the City has planned for its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) – the amount of new housing units the City must show the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) it can accommodate.

Under the existing Housing Element, the City was required to accommodate 40 new units, but the new RHNA allocation for the 2015-2022 Housing Element is 60 new units broken down by income category as follows:

Very Low Income  –  24 units
0-50%*
Low Income –  14 units
51-80%*
Moderate Income – 15 units
81-120%*
Above Moderate Income –  7 units
120%+*

*The income levels are expressed as percentages of Alameda County median income”

As a primarily single family residential city, Piedmont has long attempted to maintain its character through zoning and planning. Piedmont has addressed prior allocations through encouraging second units and infill of vacant lots.  New second units in Piedmont have frequently avoided parking requirements by agreeing to provide the units to very low income individuals for a ten year period.  A question has been raised about what happens to Piedmont meeting low income housing needs when the original ten-year period for the units has elapsed. Voter approval of zoning changes would be necessary to significantly increase Piedmont housing units.

To some, increased population is beneficial and indicates the desirability of the State’s strong economy. Advocates of infill and densification hope open space will be spared if people are housed in existing urban areas.

Opponents of infill and densification have described the imposition of housing unit allocations in urban areas as “the Manhattanization of California” changing the character of cities.

Compliance with State laws require a General Plan Housing Element that includes how a city will provide for the increases in housing units.   As of January 1, 2008, an amendment to the State Housing Element Law, mandates that cities strengthen provisions to respond to the housing needs of the homeless by identifying a zone or zones where emergency shelters are a permitted use without a conditional use permit.

For now, there is no penalty for not providing the prescribed number of units.  Piedmont currently has an approved Housing Element meeting all State requirements.  

Read the staff report.

At the August 5 City Council meeting, Geoffrey Grote Piedmont’s long time City Administrator announced he would retire effective February 2014.   Grote came to Piedmont almost 25 years ago and has steered Piedmont through many events and changes.

More information on Grote and his retirement will be published when available.

Through the efforts of Piedmont City Planner Kate Black, the City has won a highly competitive grant of $102,000 from the Alameda County Transportation Commission (CTC) to fund the City’s proposed Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, including a Safe Routes to School component.

At the Monday, August 5 City Council meeting, the Council will be asked to approve a $120,000 consulting contract to hire Niko Letunic of Eisen-Letunic to develop the City’s first pedestrian/bicycle master plan. The $18,000 shortfall in the contract will be paid for by local “pass through” funds from the City’s existing Measure B bike/pedestrian funds, with no money anticipated coming from the city’s General Fund.  The contract with Leutunic is contingent upon an agreement with the CTC. 

If approved by the Council and agreement with the CTC, during the next year, Leutunic will examine existing conditions and issues related to biking and walking in Piedmont, assess the barriers, challenges and opportunities. He will assess and analyze concerns and needs of pedestrians and cyclists in Piedmont, and based on the assessment, develop a designated citywide network of bicycle routes and prioritized capital or physical improvements to the City’s pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. He will recommend policy decisions the City can make to improve non-motorized transportation and identify the top priorities and an implementation strategy. Throughout the process, there will be numerous opportunities for Piedmont residents to participate in the plan’s development through public hearings and workshops.

According to Black, the Alameda CTC received 29 applications for pedestrian and bicycle projects, requesting a combined $18.2 million in funding. After reviewing and scoring the applications, the CTC awarded only $3.7 million (20% of the total amount requested) toward only eight projects, including the Piedmont plan. Black said, “The City’s application was greatly bolstered by the 120 thoughtful letters of support submitted by Piedmont residents and organizations, including 55 written by Piedmont Middle School students.”

Staff report