The Piedmont Police Department will begin accepting Text to 911 calls throughout Piedmont on August 31, 2020. 

Calling 911 is faster and more reliable in an emergency.  Text messages can take longer to send and receive.  Location accuracy varies by carrier and should not be relied upon.  You should include your location, street address including city in your text.

Text to–911 should only be used in an emergency when placing a call is not possible.

 Only use text 911 as a last resort.

“Call if you can; Text if you can’t.”

 No language interpretation currently exists.

Text messages can take longer to send/receive. 

READ INSTRUCTIONS HERE >PCA Text to 911 Flyer 8.27.20

Covid- 19 has brought a change to the usual Piedmont Harvest Festival, but there are many ways to have fun and participate in this years festival.  Click below for full details.

2020-08-24 Virtual Harvest Festival to Replace In Person Event for 2020

Piedmont voters will decide on November 3 two ballot measures taxing Piedmont properties.  Both measures were approved for the ballot and are supported by the Piedmont City Council.  There is official opposition to both ballot measures. The two measures will be located near the end of Piedmont ballots.

The arguments for and against the measures are linked below.

Each measure has an analysis by Piedmont’s attorney linked below.

Measure TT  increases the Real Property Transfer Tax (RPTT) on the sale of Piedmont residences to fund general City purposes.

Measure UU is a bond to fund the reconstruction of the Piedmont Municipal Pool and build new associated facilities.

Questions on the ballot >  Notice of Election – Measures

Measure TT – Transfer Tax Increase on Real Property Sales

• Full Text of Measure TT
• City Attorney’s Impartial Analysis of Measure TT
• Direct Argument In Favor of Measure TT
• Direct Argument Opposed to Measure TT
• Rebuttal to Argument In Favor of Measure TT
• Rebuttal to Argument Opposed to Measure TT

Measure UU – Pool Construction Bonds 

• Full Text of Measure UU
• City Attorney’s Impartial Analysis of Measure UU
• Tax Rate Statement for Measure UU
• Direct Argument In Favor of Measure UU
• Direct Argument Opposed to Measure UU
• Rebuttal to Argument In Favor of Measure UU
• Rebuttal to Argument Opposed to Measure UU

Piedmont Fire Department to Screen Award-Winning Documentary “Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future” on KCOM and Zoom on Monday, August 31st at 6:00 p.m.

The Piedmont Fire Department will host a screening of the award-winning documentary “Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future on KCOM and Zoom on Monday, August 31st at 6:00 p.m. followed by a panel discussion on wildfire preparation and disaster preparedness.

Wilder than Wild is a one-hour documentary that reveals how fire suppression and climate change have exposed western landscapes to large, high intensity wildfires. The film goes on to explore strategies that are being developed to help mitigate the impact of these fires

The City of Piedmont wants to build community awareness about mitigation strategies in this new age of wildfire. The screening is part of a larger effort by the City to engage the community in conversations about the future of wildfire, specifically in an urban setting. A panel featuring Kevin White, the film’s director/producer, and Fire Chief Bret Black will follow the screening.

Residents can view the screening by tuning to KCOM TV, Comcast channel 27 or AT&T channel 99. Residents can watch on the Zoom platform by clicking the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84429317342 

 READ the announcement > 2020-08-24 PFD to Screen Wilder than Wild Documentary on August 31st

Alameda County Issued Revised Shelter in Place Order – 

Piedmont to Consider Whether Pool Reopening is Practicable  – 

On Friday evening, August 21st, the Alameda County Health Official issued a revised Shelter in Place order, which, effective August 28th, allows the reopening of outdoor pools, permission for outdoor personal care services, and permission for outdoor tasting at wineries. A summary of the order is available on the County’s web site.

As this is the first guidance issued by Alameda County for the reopening of pools, the City will spend the next two weeks determining whether the conditions imposed by the order can be applied in a way that makes sense to reopen the Piedmont Community Pool. Staff had previously developed reopening frameworks based upon guidance from other health jurisdictions. The City understands the importance of the pool to the community and will examine whether reopening under the requirements imposed by the order is practicable. It is likely that a decision on whether to reopen the Piedmont Community Pool will be considered by the City Council at its meeting of September 8th. –

August 22, 2020 – Press Release

Contact: John O. Tulloch     (510) 420-3041     jtulloch@piedmont.ca.gov

Most Dangerous Particulates Are Not the Obvious Eye Irritants –

Obvious smoke irritation to eyes, etc. is from the less dangerous larger pollution particles.

See current outdoor EPA AQI graph from central Piedmont monitor here.

Click the link below and then click on individual City Council and School Board candidates’ names to read their statements to be printed in the official 2020 Election Voter Information Guide.

https://piedmont.ca.gov/services___departments/city_clerk/elections/november_3_2020_general_municipal_election/2020_candidate_list

Voluntary Electricity Conservation to Reduce Blackouts

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) issued a statewide Flex Alert, a call for voluntary electricity conservation through Wednesday, August 19, 3-10 p.m. each day.

ISO suggests simple actions to reduce energy consumption:

• Set your thermostat to 78° or higher between 3 and 10 P.M.
• Do not use major electric appliances between 3 and 10 P.M.
• Turn off unnecessary lights and electric appliances

The California Independent System Operator.manages 80% of California’s electric flow.  High temperatures have resulted in spikes related to air-conditioning demand.

Check the ISO current power outlook here.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is highlighting ways Californians can conserve energy this week to avoid temporary energy service interruptions. Cal OES is also encouraging all Californians to take steps now to prepare themselves and their families should a temporary service disruption occur.

“Weeds, grass, vines, leaves, brush, diseased or dead trees, combustible growth, debris, or rubbish….

The second reading of the proposed stricter Piedmont Fire Code ordinance includes and broadens enforcement to all privately-held Piedmont property with expansive new regulations designed for Piedmont’s approximately 20% high fire hazard area.

“Standards for vegetation management described herein shall be applicable to and within private property located within the City bounds..”  Ordinance language

A second reading of the proposed ordinance for vegetation controls on all Piedmont private properties will be considered on:

Monday, August 17, 2020, 6:00 p.m., by the Piedmont City Council.

 California state law requires property owners in specific high fire hazard, wildland-urban border areas to maintain a 30 feet of open space cleared of vegetable fuel surrounding their homes, barns, garages and other structures. Most of Piedmont is not in the state defined high fire hazard zone, however the 30 foot distance will also be required by the ordinance of all Piedmont residential properties. See link in staff report below. 

The vast majority of Piedmont dwellings do not have a 30 foot open space perimeter between their homes, so it is not possible to have 30 feet of defensible space as specified in the ordinance. The City policy of allowing reductions in distances between neighboring structures presents a fire safety threat unaddressed in the ordinance. 

“In many cases in Piedmont, dwellings are situated less than 8 feet apart, and fires can easily spread from house to house and are more readily spread upslope in the direction of prevailing winds.”  Ordinance language

Landscaping, plant choices, site planning, fencing, and safety are regularly considered by the Planning and Park Commissions and Public Safety Committee. Piedmont’s applicable Commissions and Committee have not been asked to consider the ordinance.  

Removal is required of hazardous vegetation or combustible materials including, but not limited to weeds, grass, vines, leaves, brush, diseased or dead trees, combustible growth, debris, or rubbish capable of being ignited and endangering property. 

Currently, the Fire Department notifies property owners of identified fire safety threats. The proposed ordinance will subject violators to penalty fines. Decisions regarding compliance are made by the Fire Code Official, who will have “discretion in their enforcement, so as to be reasonable in their implementation.”  Exceptions are not noted within the ordinance.

,,,,,,,,,

3. Penalties. Violations of this section shall be subject to penalties. Penalty amount may be established by resolution of the City Council. If penalty amounts have not been established by resolution of the City Council, violations of this section shall be punishable by fine in the amounts specified in Government Code section 51185.”

Items included in the proposed new ordinance:

“B. Vegetation management requirements.

Standards for vegetation management described herein shall be applicable to and within private property located within the City bounds, unless stricter requirements apply under section 8.14.050 due to being located in a designated very high fire hazard zone, and failure to maintain property in accordance with such standards shall subject the responsible person to fine and/or abatement in accordance with chapter 1 or chapter 6 of this code.

1. Developed parcels.

For any parcel developed with a dwelling unit, or developed with any other structure or structures required to obtain a building permit prior to construction, each responsible person for such parcel shall ensure that vegetation on Attachment A the parcel is maintained in accordance with the requirements below. Each responsible person shall:

a. Cut down, remove, or reduce any hazardous vegetation or combustible material. Hazardous vegetation or combustible materials include, but are not limited to weeds, grass, vines, leaves, brush, diseased or dead trees, combustible growth, debris, or rubbish capable of being ignited and endangering property.

[The following has been noted as impossible in most of Piedmont.]

b. Maintain a defensible space of at least 30 feet from the perimeter of each building or structure located on a parcel. The size of the defensible space area may be increased or decreased by the fire code official based on site-specific analysis of local conditions, which include, but are not limited to, considerations of: the size of the property, whether the property is located on a steep slope, whether property located in an exposed windswept location, the fire risk that the vegetation surrounding the property poses, the proximity of adjacent structures and risk to such adjacent structures, and whether the vegetation surrounding the property is regularly maintained or pruned. A responsible person is not required to manage vegetation located beyond the property line of the subject parcel.

c. Maintain any space that is within 3 feet from a roadway clear of any flammable vegetation, and maintain a 15-foot vertical clearance, free of vegetation, above roadways including streets, driveways and rights-of-way.

d. Remove or trim any vegetation that is deemed by the Fire Marshal to impede emergency vehicle access.

e. Remove all portions of trees within 10 feet of functioning chimneys or stovepipe outlets.

f. Maintain the roof and gutters free of leaves, needles, or other dead/dying wood.

g. Remove brush and tree limbs that are within six feet of the ground from mature trees.

h. Remove flammable vegetation and limbs from trees that may pose a fire and/or safety hazard to the home or property.

i. Install a spark arrestor on functioning chimneys or stovepipe outlets.

2. Vacant parcels.

For any vacant parcel in the city, each responsible person for such parcel shall ensure that vegetation on the parcel is maintained in accordance with the requirements below. Each responsible person shall:

a. For parcels with an acreage that is 0.5 acres or less, the responsible person shall clear the entire lot of flammable vegetation and maintain it to a height of 6 inches or less.

b. For parcels with an acreage that is greater than 0.5 acres, clear the area that is one hundred feet along the perimeter of the property line of flammable vegetation and maintain such vegetation to a height of 6 inches or less. A responsible person is not required to manage vegetation located beyond the property line.

c. Maintain any space that is within 3 feet from a roadway clear of any flammable vegetation, and maintain a 15 foot vertical clearance, free of vegetation above roadways including streets, driveways and rights-of-way.

d. Remove flammable vegetation and limbs from trees that may pose a fire and/or safety hazard from the property.

e. Remove brush and tree limbs that are within six feet of the ground from mature trees.

…….

“8.14.060 Definitions. In this division:

Defensible Space means the area adjacent to a structure or dwelling where wildfire prevention or protection practices are implemented to provide defense from an approaching wildfire or to minimize the spread of a structure fire to wildlands or surrounding areas, as provided in Government Code section 51177(a).

Flammable vegetation means: (1) vegetation, brush, or grasses, which is dry, dead, or dying and which is over six inches in height; or (2) vegetation which has a high resin or sap content including but not limited to Arborvitae, California Bay, Cedar, Cypress, Douglas Fir, Eucalyptus, Fir, Juniper, Palm, Pine, Spruce, Yew, California buckwheat, California sagebrush, Chamise or greasewood, Laurel sumac, Manzanita, Pampas grass, Rosemary, Scotch broom, Spanish Broom, Sugar bush, and Toyon and which is over six inches in height.

Responsible person means any natural person or a corporate entity that is the owner, occupant, lessor, lessee, manager, licensee, or other person having physical or legal control over a structure or parcel of land.

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To READ the proposed Piedmont ordinance and staff report, click below: