The Piedmont Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee will meet in the Emergency Operations Center, Police Department, 403 Highland Avenue at 6 pm on Tuesday, July 23.

The meeting is open to the public. The meeting will not be broadcast or recorded.  Minutes of the Committee meetings are not kept. 

Agenda:

Public Forum : This is an opportunity for members of the audience to speak on an item not on the agenda. The 10 minute period will be divided evenly between those wishing to address the Committee.

Regular Agenda

2. Update on the Committee’s Review of the Parcel Tax Pursuant to Resolution 120-14 (No staff report was released for this item.)
3. Consideration of Scheduling Future Meetings

Contact numbers:

12 Remaining Beneficiaries –

The Piedmont Police & Fire Pension Board will meet Wednesday, July 24 at 4:00 PM in the City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue. The meeting will not be broadcast, however it is open to the public. Minutes are kept of the meetings. 

This board will continue as long as there are retirees or dependents who are covered by the old plan established prior to Piedmont entering CalPERS. 

 Board membership of five individuals includes representatives from both the Police and Fire Departments and one appointed position, typically Piedmont’s mayor.  The Board meets quarterly and will continue as long as there are retirees or dependents who are covered by the discontinued plan.

For the last quarter, there were only 12 remaining beneficiaries of the Piedmont Police and Fire Pension fund.  See Finance Director’s Memo 719.

“The representatives of Osterweis Capital Management reported April 24, 2019 on the Police Trust Fund Report and Fire Pension Fund which was valued at $12,773,842, which is up 9.65% for the quarter. They reported that the Other Post Employment Benefits Trust was valued at $8,576,719, which is up 10.32% for the quarter.”

Agenda:

1. Approval of minutes for 4/24/2019  Pension Board minutes 2019-04-24 DRAFT 719

2. Acceptance of Participant Report, summarizing benefits paid in the 4th Quarter of FY 18/19 and current number of beneficiaries Finance Director’s Memo 719

3. Acceptance of the 2nd Quarter 2019 Report of Pension Fund Investments by Osterweis Capital Management

4. Acceptance of the 2nd Quarter 2019 Report of Other Post Employment Benefits Investments by Osterweis Capital Management

For further information, contact:

PG&E Warns EBMUD and Piedmont Customers of Planned Power Outages of 2 to 5 days –

PG&E may turn off electricity in designated areas when extreme fire danger conditions are forecasted (such as Red Flag Warnings, low humidity, high winds, and dry conditions). The specific areas and number of affected customers will depend on weather conditions and which circuits PG&E turns off for public safety. These precautions are called Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).

EBMUD has an action plan should we lose power. While PSPS is focused on high fire-threat areas, outages may affect any of our water facilities. Outages are expected to last up to two days; depending on weather conditions and power restoration efforts, however, some outages may last longer.

A PSPS event could force EBMUD to switch to backup generators and pumps to power pumping plants, water treatment plants and other key facilities to keep water flowing, maintain storage and fire flow, and keep water distribution lines pressurized. 

What can you do?

Before a PSPS event:

1. Make sure your contact information is updated with EBMUD a1nd your local energy company.
2. Store a minimum of two gallons of water per person per day, enough to last three to seven days, and don’t forget your pets. The more water you can store, the better.
3.  Identify your unique/critical water needs and plan ahead.
4. Clear property of excess, dead and highly flammable vegetation. Trim grass and vegetation at least 30 feet around your home.
5.  If you have a backup generator, test it and ensure it’s ready to operate safely.

If you are affected by a PSPS event:

1. Minimize water use during an event to leave as much water in the reservoirs as possible for firefighting.
2. Shut off irrigation.
3. Reduce indoor water use.
4. Stay tuned; there will be ongoing updates available through social media, news media and on EBMUD’s website.After a PSPS event:
   1. Restock your water supplies
   2. Prepare for the next PSPS event
   3. Reset your irrigation controller while resetting other electronics to prevent overwatering
   4. Check regularly for updates from EBMUD and PG&E

Community Band comes into view

Strike up the Band!

Piedmont celebrated Independence Day  with its traditional parade on Highland Avenue ending at Piedmont Park for a community picnic with musical entertainment.  The community participated with the Community Band, various community organizations, and a bagpipe band echoing the city’s Scottish traditions. Many, many, many, many antique and classic cars participated in the parade.

Parade viewers were entertained by their elected officials, parading dogs, UC Aggies’ large alumnae marching band, the balloon platoon, local musical groups, a steam engine, AC Transit’s miniature bus, scouts, candy throwers, Uncle Sam, and  others.

The weather was pleasant – not too hot or cold – just right. The parade and park activities were another successful July 4th celebration for Piedmont and the community at large.

City Commissions Will Not Meet in July

There will be a lull in City Commission meetings throughout the month of July with no meetings of the Park, Planning or Recreation Commissions.  In addition, the standard July 15, 2019, City Council meeting will not be held.

Scheduled July meetings of the Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee and the Police and Fire Pension Board have not been cancelled.

The City Charter revision (Charter Amendment Measure BB) approved by Piedmont voters at the November 2018 election eliminated the requirement that the City Council meet twice a month.

Measure A = $2,763 Uniform per year tax for all parcels

Measure B = Adds an additional tax based on building Square Footage for up to $3,192 more per year. 

To view the actual proposed tax on your home or property go to the staff report and read the chart seen below.

The Piedmont School Board will act on June 26, 2019 to place on the November Ballot two new school parcel taxes. Measure A will be a uniform parcel cost of $2,763 per parcel.  Measure B is based on square footage of building space.  If both measures pass, the smallest square foot building homeowner would pay $2,763 per year, and the largest square foot of building would pay $6,675 per year.

The staff recommendation is for 2 Measures on the November 2019 Ballot.  Given the recent poll results and Piedmont’s current educational needs, District staff recommends that the Board of Education consider asking voters to support the renewal of its existing parcel tax to maintain current programs at the $2,763 flat rate (“Measure A”) and in a separate measure (“Measure B”) asking voters for an additional amount ($0.25 per building square foot) to ensure that Piedmont schools will be better able to attract and retain highly qualified teachers and educational support staff.

Renewing the existing parcel tax (“Measure A”) would secure $10.8 million in revenues. Measure A is a continuation, no tax increase measure. We [District Staff] would also recommend an 8-year “duration” of the tax to provide a stable ongoing source of revenue to the District and fulfill the description as a pure continuation of what is in place today.

To view what you would pay if Measure A and/or B pass, see below:

# of parcels	Square Feet of improved property	% of parcels	Measure A $2,763	Measure B @ 0.25 per sq/ft	A+B (total tax)
104	0/vacant	2.6%	$2,763	$0	$2,763
25	557-1,000	0.6%	$2,763	$139 – $250	$2,902 – $3,013
1098	1,001-2,000	27.9%	$2,763	$250 – $500	$3,013 – $3,263
1528	2,001-3,000	38.8%	$2,763	$500 – $750	$3,263 – $3,874
707	3,001-4,000	17.9%	$2,763	$750 – $1,000	$3,874 – $3,763
267	4,001-5,000	6.7%	$2,763	$1,000 – $1,250	$3,763 – $4,013
99	5,001-6,000	2.5%	$2,763	$1,250 – $1,500	$4,013 – $4,263
38	6,001-7,000	1.0%	$2,763	$1,500 – $1,750	$4,263 – $4,513
19	7,001-8,000	0.5%	$2,763	$1,750 – $2,000	$4,513 – $4,763
19	8,001-9,000	0.5%	$2,763	$2,000 – $2,250	$4,763 – $5,013
8	9,001-10,000	0.2%	$2,763	$2,250 – $2,500	$5,013 – $5,263
21	10,001-15,650	0.3%	$2,763	$2,500 – $3,912	$5,263 – $6,675
1	25,635 (apartment)	<0.1%	$2,763	$6,409	$9,172

VI_F_UpdatedBackgroundSchoolSupportTax_0 with chart

Additionally, we [District Staff] recommend that a second measure (“Measure B”) be placed on the ballot. [See above chart.] This second measure would be set at $0.25 per building square foot and would also have an 8-year duration. Passage of Measure B would result in an additional $2.6 million to the Piedmont schools. Importantly, the entire community would share the burden of an increased tax (although larger properties would pay more and smaller properties less – $139 per year for the smallest residential parcel). An added benefit is that if this tax were challenged from a legal standpoint, only the supplemental tax would be at legal risk.

If both measures pass, the smallest square foot homeowner would pay $2,763 per year, and the largest square foot building owner would pay $9,172 per year.

Together [Measure A and B], both measures would raise $13.4 million.

II. RECOMMENDATION: REVIEW AND ACTION After convening the second of two (2) public hearings—June 12, 2019 and June 26, 2019, District staff recommends that the Board adopt the two subsequent Board Resolutions (Measure A & B) that authorize both the renewal of a qualified special tax and a second qualified special tax for voter approval on November 5, 2019.

VI.F. Approve Resolution 19-2018-19 “Proposing a Qualified Special Tax and Establishing Specification of the Election Order Measure A”

At 8:40 p.m. the Board is requested to approve the attached Resolution 19-2018-19 “Proposing a Qualified Special Tax and Establishing Specifications of the Election Order Measure A”.

The Resolution calls for an election on November 5, 2019 to extend the authorization of the Board to levy the current School Support Tax as permitted in Measure A for eight years starting on July 1, 2020.  The new Measure “A” is a renewal of the current School Support Tax—a uniform flat tax on all parcels.  The new Measure “A” will continue to provide an exemption for churches, public utilities, and those eligible for Social Security Supplemental Income.  The new Measure “A” also continues to permit an inflation growth rate of up to two (2) percent per year.

Attachments:

VI_F_UpdatedBackgroundSchoolSupportTax_0

VI_F_UpdatedResolution19201819MeasureA_0

 At 9:00 p.m. ~

VI.G. Approve Resolution 20-2018-19 “Proposing a Qualified Special Tax and Establishing Specification of the Election Order Measure B” 

The Board is requested to approve the attached Resolution 20-2018-19 “Proposing a Qualified Special Tax and Establishing Specifications of the Election Order Measure B”.

The Resolution calls for an election on November 5, 2019 to authorize the Board to levy a new School Support Tax as permitted in Measure “B”  for eight years starting on July 1, 2020.  The new Measure “B” is a uniform tax applied at $0.25 per square foot of building improvements.  The new Measure “B” will continue to provide an exemption for churches, public utilities, and those eligible for Social Security Supplemental Income.  The new Measure “B” does not include an inflation growth rate.

VI_G_Resolution20201819MeasureBParcelTax_0

READ the above linked reports for further details.

The meeting will be held in Piedmont City Hall, broadcast on Cable Channel 27 and the Piedmont website under School Board. 

 

WARNING ABOUT FIREWORKS!

As we approach the Fourth of July, it is tempting use fireworks. If you hadn’t heard, all forms of fireworks are prohibited in Piedmont. An average of seven people are killed in firework-related accidents every year in California– don’t let this terrible tragedy happen in your neighborhood.

The Piedmont Fire and Police Departments wish to reiterate that ALL fireworks are illegal in the City of Piedmont. “Safe and Sane” are also prohibited and pose a dangerous fire hazard.

Modifying or launching fireworks into the air can be enforced as misdemeanors or even felonies. Those caught with fireworks can be fined from $1,000 to $10,000 and in certain cases, face imprisonment.

You can help keep our community safe by:
• Not using any type of fireworks
• Calling the police to report use of fireworks by others
• Reducing fuel sources – keep grass and vegetation maintained at your home

Piedmont Police and Fire Departments will have officers working on the 4th of July, dedicated to enforcement. Please report illegal fireworks by calling (510)420-3000

All residents are encouraged to surrender fireworks. If you have fireworks, please come to the fire station and turn them in to the firefighters. You will be reprieved from citation for fireworks surrendered at the fire station.

There are free fireworks displays at both the Berkeley Marina and the San Francisco Wharf on July 4th at 9:00pm!

June 22nd Dial  1 + 510 + phone number…

The Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee will meet in the Emergency Operations Center, Police Department, 403 Highland Avenue at 7 pm on  Tuesday, June 25.  The meeting is open to the public. The meeting will not be broadcast or visually recorded. Minutes of the meetings are not kept.

Background, backup agenda information has not been made available to this media outlet or the public in general. Results of the Committee’s recommendations are transmitted to the City Council via a letter from the Committee Chair.  

No minutes have been on the Committee agendas verifying Committee approval. The City website states: “Meetings of the Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee are recorded for the purposes of creating minutes. Audio files for meetings are available from the City Clerk’s office at (510) 420-3040.”

Agenda June 25, 2019

The Budget Advisory Committee reviews and provides comment and recommendations on Capital Projects over $250,000, annual budget, five year projections of the City’s annual budget proposal, parcel taxes, proposed funding and expenditures from several long term funds, and the proposed mid-year budget.

The committee members per Council policy are exempted from and thus not required to provide conflict of interest statements to the City, hence public review is not available.

Committee member names as listed on the City 6/21/19 website are provided below.  Contact numbers for the Committee members are not publicly listed.

Roster 

Council Liaison: Robert McBain – rmcbain@piedmont.ca.gov – (VM) 420-3048
Staff Liaison: Michael Szczech – mszczech@piedmont.ca.gov – (W) 420-3045

Cathie Geddeis

Bill Hosler

Deborah Leland

Christina Paul

Maya Rath

Michael Reese

Frank Ryan

Chris Kwei (Alternate)

For further information, contact Staff Liaison and Finance Director: Michael Szczech – mszczech@piedmont.ca.gov – (W) 420-3045