How should Sewer Fund money be used?  

In the 1980’s, Piedmont voters approved a special parcel tax to pay for sanitary sewer rehabilitation of Piedmont’s aging sewer system.  Voters were informed that the tax was needed specifically for updating the sanitary sewer system.  (Sewer Tax amounts can be found on property owner’s Alameda County property tax statement.)

Sewer tax revenues were and are deposited into Piedmont’s Sewer Fund. However, soon after establishing the Sewer Fund, Piedmont needed additional revenues to support City services. Items historically paid for with General Fund monies were reallocated to the Sewer Fund; for example street sweeping, some tree maintenance, staff salary and other ad hoc public works maintenance activities. Records of hours worked by public works employees and projects completed using Sewer Fund money were not kept.

Over the years, more money was taken from the Sewer Fund to pay for ongoing public works maintenance items, rather than primarily being reserved for costs associated with rehabilitation of the sanitary sewer main system, emergency repairs, and maintenance of sanitary sewer mains.

Transferring funds from the Sewer Fund to the General Fund to pay for ongoing City services has allowed General Fund monies to be freed up and available to pay for other items. In recent years these have included employee benefits, utility undergrounding payments ($2.5 million), special capital projects (Blair Park $800,000 and Civic Center Development plans), and increases to the General Fund Reserves.

The FY 2014-15 Budget proposal continues the practice of transfers from the Sewer Fund to the General Fund with a $780,000 allocation.

“The City reviewed the transfer from the Sewer Fund to the General Fund and made some adjustments based on actual costs. First, minor sewer maintenance were being charged to the General Fund for approximately $150,000 and reimbursed through the transfer. The City will begin charging these costs directly to the Sewer Fund in FY 2014-15. Second, after reviewing time spent by the Public Works Department, maintenance and fuel costs for vehicles, and administration costs; the transfer is estimated at $780,000. Staff will continue to refine the estimate as this is the first year using this process.”  Excerpted from the City Administrators report

In 2012, the City proposed a ballot measure consisting of a large increase in the Sewer Fund parcel tax to cover capital improvements to the sanitary sewer mains. At the time, no suggestion was made that the City should or could cease the heavy draw down on the Sewer Fund monies to pay for normal City services.  The increased sewer parcel tax was not approved by voters.  Yet, the City continues to consider the Sewer Fund a source of monies for regular ongoing maintenance items rather than primarily a fund to pay for EPA required sewer rehabilitation.

The recently presented FY 2014-15 Piedmont Budget Proposal states:

The City of Piedmont is in a financially sound and stable position. As was the case in Fiscal Year 2013-14, we are projecting a positive net income for FY 2014-15. This net income is estimated at $699,687 and will bring the projected ending General Fund  [Reserve] balance to $4,232,099, which is 19.1% of total expenditures, inclusive of debt service.

In addition to the above noted measures, the City continues to enjoy a strong and improving economy which is driving a robust real estate market, resulting in Real Property Transfer Taxes (RPTT) projected at $3,000,000 for FY 2013-14.

Overall, the proposed budget ensures no reduction in the range and quality of services which City of Piedmont staff provide to the community. Importantly, it also ensures our ability to continue to set aside funds for the maintenance of our city facilities and equipment replacement needs. Excerpts from the City Administrators report. 

The City Council’s Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee (BAFPC) optionally suggests increased taxation to accelerate sewer rehabilitation. Alternatively, the BAFPC suggested a temporary $1.2 to $1.4 million loan from the General Fund to the Sewer Fund in order to replace the remaining one-third of sewer lines ahead of schedule. (The most problematic lines have been replaced first-175,000 lineal feet of the total $269,000 feet.)  Nevertheless, the Council’s Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee (BAFPC) found the Sewer Fund has adequate funds to proceed on schedule to meet the requirements of the Environmental  Protection Agency (EPA) for rehabilitation of the old sanitary sewer mains.  

The BAFPC concluded:

“The net result of our analysis is that the Sewer Fund does not have an operating deficit problem or a long term revenue problem, but a short term capital need for the replacement of the remaining original sewer system.”

To accelerate the scheduled completion of sanitary sewer ahead of the EPA requirement, the BAFPC looks to additional funding or loans. Projecting future construction costs, it is anticipated there would be a cost saving by replacing the remaining older lines not in one early phase, but in three equal phases over the next 12 years.

A significant part of the Public Works Department’s budget comes from the Sewer Fund.  The BAFPC noted the $300,000 emergency repairs budget for the Sewer Fund without indicating if the tasks performed are emergency repairs or potential General Fund expenses.

It is unknown if the Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee considered the appropriateness of current drafts made on the Sewer Fund to cover Public Works Department expenses.  

The Council will consider the Sewer Fund at their May 19 meeting.

Read the Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committees Report to the City Council.

Read the City’s proposed budget for 2014-15.

To the Piedmont City Council:

        Move Piedmont’s election date to the November General Election date.  Alternatives presented in the staff report notwithstanding, none outweigh the value of increasing voter turnout in our local election.  The most recent election turnout supports this – an incumbent, two popular candidates and a measure guaranteed to save money and yet voter turnout was only 37%.  All good governance organizations support consolidating elections with the General Election so that turnout is enhanced. As to the concerns of PUSD, there is always access to the June primary ballot, as is currently being done with Measure H.

       I think the concerns about a November election raised by the City Clerk are fairly minor.  Placement on the ballot card and voter fatigue are offset by receiving the ballot through the mail. Indeed, most Piedmonters may have selected this option so that they can have a more informed reading of the ballot at home.  Getting precinct  results less rapidly, while creating more election-night drama, would have no effect on the outcome of an election.

       Finally, analysis of a VBM option should not be based on the statistics from the most recent election (as presented in the staff report) because of the exceptionally low turnout. Turnout statistics from a General Election would be more appropriate for this assessment.

                        Garrett Keating, former City Council Member

Editors’ Note:  The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Piedmont Civic Association.

Hello City Council:

      I see from the staff report that the cost estimate for the repaving of the Corp Yard has been reduced and Measure B funds no longer proposed to be used for the project.  Paving of the Corp Yard is now proposed to be funded totally by Measure F.  As the ballot statement for that measure indicates, this funding is really intended for transportation projects, not the repaving of municipal facilities.

On Monday, May 5, starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers and broadcast via the City website and cable 27, the Council will hear: a Crime Report from the Police Chief; an update on Piedmont’s Housing Element of the General Plan; implementation of the City’s Climate Action Plan; a recommended pavement contract; and opposition to legislation to restrict contract services for City work.

The Crime Report shows 39% decrease in reportable crimes from the same time period the prior year.  License Plate Readers have assisted in solving 5 crimes.

The Housing Element  required by the State continues to challenge Piedmont’s limited geographical area.  The report describes Piedmont income levels, age of residents, and available sites for increased density.

Implementation of the City’s Climate Action Plan contains the City’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas production 15% by 2020 based on analyses of 32 measures compared with 2005.

Read the entire May 5 Council agenda.

At the Council’s annual sit-down with City staff, Saturday, May 10,  9 a.m., the Council will review the City Administrator’s proposed 2014-15 Budget.  It has been the practice for the Council to hold the Budget Session in the Emergency Operation Center in the Police Department on Highland Avenue. The location provides a “round table” casual atmosphere leading to budget adoption. Nevertheless, these proceedings will not be recorded or broadcast for offsite viewing.

Those interested in hearing and learning first hand discussions and presentations on where City money might be spent, should attend the meeting.  There will be opportunities for the public to speak and ask questions.  In the past, coffee and donuts have been made available to attendees.

This year some of the items likely to be considered by the Council are:

• Hampton Field and tennis court reconstruction
• Roadway pavement, sidewalk and gutter improvements
• Employee benefits and salaries
• Staffing levels
• Piedmont pool maintenance and improvements
• Pedestrian and Bike Plan implementation
• Facility repair and maintenance
• Additional license plate readers
• Use of sewer fund monies and alternatives
• Reserve Funds
• Capital improvements
• Retirement costs
• Blair Park regular maintenance and improvements

Prior to adoption of the FY 2014-15 Budget, there will be two City Council public hearings.

The Draft Piedmont Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan is available for your review. Readers will be interested to learn many changes proposed for Piedmont.  The City and the commissions are continuing to solicit resident input on the plan prior to City Council consideration. Considerable effort and expense have gone into the preparation of the draft plan.  Review it now and provide your ideas to the Recreation and Park commissions at their meeting or send comments addressed to the Commissioners at tulloch@ci.piedmont.ca.us.

The joint meeting will be held Wednesday, May 7, at 5:30 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, in Piedmont.

The Piedmont Park and Recreation Commissions will hold a special joint meeting to hear about and discuss the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan process. This is also another opportunity for the public to find out more about the plan and to voice their opinions.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, May 7, at 5:30 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, in Piedmont. At the meeting, the City’s consultant will describe the planning process to date, outline the remaining steps before the plan is finalized and be available to answer questions from the Commissioners and members of the public.

In particular, the consultant’s presentation will highlight the list of ideas that was presented to the public in February and March for improving conditions for walking and biking in Piedmont. The ideas include three types of improvements: (1) physical on-street projects, (2) programs and activities and, (3) changes to City policies and practices. Some of the ideas are:

• Improvements to particularly busy or challenging crosswalks
• “Road diets” on the four-lane sections of Grand and Highland (removing one lane in each direction to slow down traffic and make room for a bike lanes and a center turn lane)
• Stronger enforcement of traffic laws
• Programs to promote traffic safety and to encourage walking and biking, especially among school kids
• A citywide network of bikeways, with bike lanes, “sharrows” (stencils on the street indicating that cyclists may use the full lane) and signage

Feedback on the ideas from the Park and Recreation Commissions will be added to the feedback received to date from the public and also from the Planning Commission. The feedback will be used to refine the list of ideas into a 10-year “work program” (2015‒2024) for implementing the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan.

“You are encouraged to attend the May 7^th meeting, or you may wish to watch the public hearing on KCOM, cable 27. Alternatively, if you want to watch the meeting live or later after the meeting, you can do so by logging on to the City’s website at www.ci.piedmont.ca.us: on the right hand side of the homepage under the “KCOM” heading, click on the “On-line Video” link, then scroll down under the “Sections on this Page” heading, click on the “Park Commission” link, then on the “May 7, 2014“, click on the “Video” or “In Progress” link and start watching!”

The PBMP (Pedestrian Bicycle Master Plan) is being funded entirely through a grant from the Alameda County Transportation Commission (CTC;www.alamedactc.org) and through the City’s existing funds for pedestrian and bicycle improvements (pass-through Measure B funds), also distributed by the Alameda CTC.

– 50 Year Partnership: Piedmont City Council and the Piedmont Beautification Foundation –

Every Piedmonter is familiar with the colorful Piedmont Beautification Foundation (PBF) brochures soliciting donations that typically arrive in the mail prior to Holiday Tree Lighting and in the Spring. But few residents know the history, purpose, partnership with the City Council or function of the Foundation.

Piedmont Resident and PBF Advisor Cameron Wolfe recalls that the Piedmont City Council and the Piedmont Garden Club jointly established the Foundation to raise funds for projects to “beautify” Piedmont.  From its inception on May 21, 1964, the Foundation, originated by the Piedmont Garden Club, has worked closely with the Park Commission, City staff, and City Council. 

One of the founding PBF members and a prime mover of multiple projects was Jean Brown Wolfe, Cameron Wolfe’s mother. During the 1970’s, she simultaneously served on the Park Commission and as President of both the Piedmont Beautification Foundation and the Piedmont Garden Club.

The Piedmont Garden Club continues to lead the Piedmont Beautification Foundation. The Piedmont Garden Club * is composed of approximately 65 active female members residing in or near Piedmont, who share an interest in gardening. Each member of the Garden Club is personally invited following a member’s proposal and membership review process.  The names of members are private.  The Piedmont Garden Club is part of a large, national organization,  Garden Club of America.   

The Foundation is composed of 8 voting trustees. Five are selected by and from the Garden Club membership and three trustees are selected and appointed by the Piedmont City Council. “Trustees from the City of Piedmont” have typically been Piedmont’s Mayor, Vice Mayor and Chair of the Park Commission. The current City Council appointed trustees are Mayor Margaret Fujioka, Vice Mayor Jeff Wieler and Park Commission Chair John Lenahan.

The Foundation’s officers are selected by and from the Garden Club. Currently the five PBF officers are: President Michelle Winchester, a past Garden Club President; Vice President Patty Siskind, a current Piedmont Park Commissioner; Treasurer, Susan Hill, a former Piedmont Mayor; Recording Secretary, Barbara Thompson; and Corresponding Secretary, Patty Reed.

 In addition to the City Council and Garden Club appointed trustees, City staff members assist PBF as “City Advisors.” Currently, the City Advisors are Chester Nakahara, Public Works Director, Mark Feldkamp, Parks and Project Manager, and Dave Frankel, Public Works Superintendent.  City staff members work with PBF representatives reviewing proposals, making project suggestions, overseeing project construction, and providing input at PBF meetings. 

The Trustees and City Advisors along with numerous advisory members selected and invited by the Garden Club, primarily Garden Club members and/or their spouses, attend the PBF meetings. Advisors may make presentations and express their opinions, but may not vote. The advisors names can usually be found on PBF solicitation brochures.

The meetings of PBF are held “four times a year” in Piedmont homes.  The meetings are not open to the public. PBF meeting minutes, financial records, and by laws are not publicly disseminated.  The 2012 tax filing for PBF, as a non-profit organization, can be found on line. PBF’s mailing address is City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611. Unless withheld by the donor, donor names are released and published by various media outlets.

Having three PBF trustees appointed by the City Council (two Council members and the Chair of the Park Commission), a PBF representative on the Piedmont Capital Improvement Program Review Committee, and former trustees of PBF on the Park Commission has resulted in ready City Council approval of PBF proposals.  Once approved by the Council, projects receive continuing staff support, funding, and maintenance.

PBF has long been the primary driver of Piedmont civic improvement projects.  PBF initiates project ideas, provides seed money, partially funds projects and guides projects.  Robert Leefeldt, a former advisor to PBF and husband of former Garden Club member Mary Tom Leefeldt, for decades piloted numerous PBF projects.  Leefeldt’s projects included Community Center improvements and Civic Center landscaping, the first Dracena Park play structure, Excedra restoration, improvements in Crocker Park including the Bufano mother and cubs sculpture, the Cemetery Wall replanting, and many others.  His active PBF participation often involved landscape architect Richard Julin in the projects.

Recently, the City Council approved the Eagle Scout bridge project in Dracena Park and the development of the Ramona and Ronada Avenues triangle, both partially funded through PBF.

At the April 7, 2014 meeting, the City Council applauded PBF.

“The Council agreed that the Beautification Foundation has been an integral partner with the City in beautifying all areas of the City over the last several decades, its banner hanging request is consistent with past practice and the City’s 1998 banner policy and the Foundation’s request is appropriate as a means of recognizing the exceptional legacy and importance of this beneficial community organization.”

Special PBF projects, trees, and benches can be designated to pay tribute to individuals.  An endowment fund established to reserve funds for future City needs has reached $500,000 largely due to the support of matching funds provided by the Shapiro family in memory of Betty Shapiro, a past president of both the Piedmont Garden Club and Piedmont Beautification Foundation.

PBF trustees are active politically in ballot measures and civic decisions related to Piedmont.   PBF and the Garden Club are recognized in Piedmont’s General Plan and on the City’s website.

“The Piedmont Beautification Foundation and Piedmont Garden Club also contribute to park maintenance and conduct regular fund-raisers for park and landscape beautification.”

Piedmonters can view the many PBF participation projects signified by signs placed at the sites.

Piedmont Beautification Foundation sign.

City Press Release ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

City Recognizes Piedmont Beautification Foundation for 50 Years of Service 

At the City Council meeting of Monday, April 21, 2014, Mayor Margaret Fujioka issued a proclamation recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Piedmont Beautification Foundation and its contributions to beautifying Piedmont over the past half century.

“For the past 50 years, the Piedmont Beautification Foundation has greatly contributed to the enhancement of our parks, community facilities, and public spaces,” said Mayor Margaret Fujioka. “I look forward to working together on future civic projects in our city.”

The City and the Piedmont Beautification Foundation have partnered on many projects over the past 50 years, including the Piedmont Park Overlook and Steps, the Ramona/Ronada Triangle, the Tea House Deck, the Hall Fenway, and numerous others.

The proclamation declares April 27, 2014 as Piedmont Beautification Day in recognition of the Foundation’s service to the Piedmont Community.

Whereas, in May, 1964, eight far-sighted individuals, three representatives of the City of Piedmont and five representatives of the Piedmont Garden Club, came together to form an organization to be known as the Piedmont Beautification Foundation; and

Whereas, this non-profit corporation was formed exclusively for aesthetic, artistic, civic and charitable purposes; and

Whereas, the Foundation provides organization and leadership from among the residents of the City of Piedmont for the purpose of raising funds for planting, improving, beautifying and maintaining the parks, community facilities, schools and other future civic projects of the City of Piedmont; and

Whereas, for 50 years the City of Piedmont and the Piedmont Beautification Foundation have enjoyed a constructive public/private partnership that has benefited our residents and created beautiful gathering spaces that foster a strong sense of community; and

Whereas, the City thanks and congratulates the Foundation for 50 years of exemplary work for the benefit of the residents of Piedmont;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Margaret Fujioka, Mayor of the City of Piedmont, in recognition of its service and dedication to the City, proclaim April 27, 2014 as Piedmont Beautification Foundation Day.

The PBF list of projects in Piedmont contains numerous and wide ranging projects.

 The Foundation is celebrating its 50th anniversary April 27.

~~~~~~~~~~~ OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ~~~~~~~~~~~~

PARTY IN THE PARK WITH PBF!!!!!!!

Celebrate 50 years of community collaboration.

Sunday, April 27, 2014 ~ 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 Piedmont Community Center in Piedmont Main Park 

Refreshments, commemorative items, flower show, displays and music. 

Contact the Piedmont Beautification Foundation,  Send correspondence and donations to Piedmont City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611

*”B. Specific Purpose. The Piedmont Garden Club shall stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, horticulture, flower arranging, and related photography; encourage and assist in community beautification; and protect and conserve our natural heritage.”

Blair Park has long been the stepchild among Piedmont parks and public areas, ignoring pedestrians, dogs, and regular maintenance.

Beautification projects are found in most of our parks and street medians, particularly in central Piedmont, but the most visible Piedmont park, seen by thousands of passersby daily, remains in a neglected state. Piedmont public areas are generally regularly maintained and enjoy swept walkways, weed abatement, and regular tree trimming, while Blair Park has received little attention despite its prominence at an entrance to Piedmont on Moraga Avenue.

For decades weeds have grown uncontrollably, with ivy invading native species. Trees, ill-maintained, have been left to fall apart and present potential hazards to park users and passing vehicular traffic. There are no sidewalks within or bordering Blair Park.  Pedestrians or joggers going to and from upper Moraga Avenue are forced to either dodge traffic, stumble over uneven surfaces, or slog through mud within the park during wet weather. Students residing in the area have no sidewalks upon which to walk.

There is no fence between busy Moraga Avenue and the off-leash dog area in the park to keep dogs or children from running into the roadway.  

Piedmont is currently considering a comprehensive bike and pedestrian plan; the proposed plan offers little to increase pedestrian safety in and next to Blair Park.  The Park Commission, when reviewing the recently approved plan for Blair Park, expressed concern over safe access to the park.

During consideration of a sports complex proposal, many people expressed a love of the natural, open beauty found in the park. Numerous people residing in the Moraga Avenue area requested a well-maintained park with sidewalk access.

Why has Blair Park been neglected for decades?

The answer goes to what propels many park and public projects developed in Piedmont.  Prior to the recently failed proposal to build the imposing sports complex in the park, no organized group had pushed for park maintenance and improvements in Blair Park.  

Many special projects are found throughout Piedmont parks and public spaces that have reaped the benefits of both public and private funding. Friends of Moraga Canyon settled a law suit with Piedmont over Blair Park issues by requiring $15,000 be spent on a plan to maintain and improve the park. In January, 2014, the City Council accepted Phase I of the Blair Park Landscape Improvement Plan by consultant Restoration Design Group and authorized completion of construction documents for solicitation of bids from contractors.  A land survey noting the boundaries of the park is not available. The plan, while approved by the City Council, has yet to be funded.

Piedmont is entitled to receive approximately $500,000 in East Bay Regional Park District bond funds.  The funds originate from the approval in 2008 of Bond Measure WW.

To date, the Council has made no decision on how to spend the $500,000 available to Piedmont; however, the Council moved toward using the funds to renovate Hampton Field.

In 2011 the City Council expressed an interest in using the WW bond money to add lights to Coaches Field.  With the Coaches Field /Blair Park sports project no longer under Council consideration, the bond funds are being considered for another project.

Some previously mentioned uses for all or part of the $500,000 bond funds are: improvements to the Piedmont pool, a senior center in the Arts Center, Hampton Field renovation, implementation of the Blair Park improvement plan, access to Blair Park, and expansion of Coaches Field.

Hampton Field renovation design moves forward.

The Hampton Field Master Plan was approved by the Council in 2008. Drainage has been a problem at Hampton Field since the original construction in the late 1980’s, causing sand drifts onto the tennis courts and large open cracks in the court surface that present hazardous conditions for players. The grass playfield, used primarily for softball and youth soccer, becomes wet and soggy during rainy weather, requiring the field to be frequently closed to play.  Sod replacement has been an ongoing maintenance expense of approximately $25,000 per year. During heavy rains, sand and gravel are dumped onto a nearby street creating maintenance problems and a safety hazard.

At the March 3, 2014 City Council meeting, the Council voted to spend $135,238 toward construction drawings for implementation of the Master Plan for Hampton Field.  The project had been set aside during the economic downturn and emphasis on the Moraga Avenue/Blair Park sports complex.

Primary to the Hampton Field discussion was the staffs’ position that the project had already been approved and was not a new project. The current budget includes funding for the construction drawings. Public Works Director Chester Nakahara informed the Council that current estimates to complete the project  are approximately $2 million.

Hampton Field tennis courts showing cracks in 2011.

Council member Tim Rood inquired about compliance with the Council’s recently approved Risk Management Policy requiring assessment of proposed projects costing over $300,000.  Staff and some Council members indicated the Policy was not applicable because the project had already been approved. Nakahara indicated the Policy would be applied prior to final approval by the Council.

Rood questioned if the construction design contract had been reviewed by the City Attorney.  Mayor Margaret Fujioka explained that all contracts are and have been reviewed by a City Attorney for indemnification over the last 6 years.

Rood also wanted to know if the construction documents would allow phased implementation based on available funds.  Nakahara stated they would, but discouraged the approach stating the entire project needed to be implemented and a piecemeal approach would cost more and delay needed improvements.

Rood asked about the geo-technical soil testing. Harris indicated the projected depth of construction work to be 3 to 4 feet. Hampton Field was part of the Piedmont Hills Underground Utility District where rock discovered after construction work began cost Piedmonters rather than the District beneficiaries over $2 million.

Vice Mayor Jeff Weiler noted there is $2 million in the City’s General Fund Reserves available to fund the project. Council member Bob McBain emphasized the need to correct the drainage problems in the outfield and the drifting of gravel and sand onto the street.  Council member Teddy King favored the project based on her Recreation Commission experience.

The approved Hampton Field Master Plan calls for the softball field to be constructed with an artificial turf infield and a natural turf outfield. When Rood asked where this hybrid plan might be viewed at an existing park, William Harris of Harris Design stated the previous Recreation Director favored this design, but he did not know where this concept could be viewed. He indicated that changing the plan from a hybrid design to all artificial or all natural turf was a legal question.

Student observer Nick Docter asked if there was a possibility of expanding the grass play area at Hampton to meet identified needs. The staff response was that expansion was not a part of this project.

According to Mayor Fujioka, public hearings will be held on the one time expenditure of the WW bond funds; the cost of the Hampton project is needed at the time of the hearings.  The funds must be expended by 2018.

No mention was made of using the $500,000 for any alternative projects and no plans appear to be available for other projects, except the approved renovation plans for Blair Park.

The vote approving the contract for Hampton Field construction documents was 4 to 1 with Rood voting no.

City Council Report March 2014

by Ann Chandler, Piedmont League of Women Voters Council Observer

As we greet a new City Administrator, a new mayor, and a new Council in March 2014, we should take a moment to look back at two years of important work by the previous City Council. In November 2011, Council member John Chiang created a matrix of suggestions made by the City Council Audit Subcommittee (which had looked at the utilities undergrounding project that had gone $2 million over budget), The League of Women Voters Task Force on Governance (originally formed following the same utilities undergrounding fiasco), and the Municipal Tax Review Committee (which had concluded that the municipal services parcel tax was important but that there were many policy improvements the Council should make before asking voters to renew the parcel tax). Altogether, there were over 30 suggestions in these 3 reports, many of them overlapping.

In February 2012, John Chiang was elected mayor and the next month the City Council appointed a Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee (5 residents) to look at the city’s annual budget, its 5-year projections, and its funding for long-term capital projects, equipment replacement, and facilities maintenance/replacement. The committee also reviews any new commitments in excess of $250,000 in one fiscal year, comments on the Finance Director’s Mid-Year report to the Council in January, and meets again April through June each year as the budget is being finalized for the fiscal year starting in July. As approved, the committee will end on June 30, 2015 unless extended.

In April 2012, the Council rescinded its 2011 approval of the Blair Park project, which ended the suit against the City brought by Friends of Moraga Canyon. (The litigation which the City brought against two engineering companies involved in the Piedmont Hills Utilities Undergrounding is still pending.)

One of the strongest themes in the Municipal Tax Review Committee’s suggestions, taken up by the Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee, was a need to gain control over personnel costs, particularly the cost of fringe benefits. The first step in that direction occurred in June 2012 when the Council approved a new “Tier 2” of miscellaneous employees hired after August 3, 2012. We now have 3 Tiers of miscellaneous employees, and 3 Tiers of safety employees, meaning 6 different retirement and benefit packages. Control of personnel costs is still a large issue.

In July 2012, an Athletics Facilities Preservation Fund was established. It charges sports clubs (but not school teams) for use of city and school sports facilities. The income from this fund alone is not enough to maintain or replace athletic facilities, but creation of the fund was one step toward addressing the subject of athletic facilities preservation.

In December 2012, the City contracted with Janae Novotny, a lawyer specializing in public employee negotiations, to represent the city in all labor negotiations beginning in January, 2013. A year later the city completed four-year contracts with all bargaining groups. There were raises for the first time in four years, but also increased deductions for benefits.

In January 2013, the city started development of a long-term Facilities Maintenance Program identifying needs, cost estimates, and potential funding sources. In June the document received final approval.

It is a 5-year plan looking at what needs to be done in fiscal years 2013-2017 to sewers, sidewalks, streets, buildings, parks, fields, etc. Although flexible, the plan gives a priority to each project within each facility, and a suggested time table. The exception to this is the Aquatics Facility. Although there is a list of things that need to be done, there are no cost estimates, no potential funding sources, and no timetable, leaving one to wonder what is next for the pool.

It was also in January 2013 that the first draft of a Risk Management Policy for Major Capital Projects came before the Council. The League of Women Voters Task Force on Governance was one of the groups that had recommended this, and the Task Force and League board members made comments and written suggestions on several drafts of this policy during 2013. In January 2014, Piedmont adopted a Risk Management Policy for Major Capital Projects.

One of the suggestions of the Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee was that the city refinance the PERS Side Fund at a lower interest rate. Piedmont’s charter requires a vote of the people to do that. In the February 4, 2014 municipal election, the electorate gave the City Council overwhelming approval (82.6%) to refinance the Side Fund. Final discretion as to whether and when to do such a refinancing rests with the newly elected City Council.

In many ways it seems that an effort has been made to get Piedmont’s fiscal and legal house in order before proceeding with any large, creative new projects. This work has been started but not completed.

Controlling personnel costs is a long-range project, very much influenced by trends in the rest of the Bay Area and the state. But over the past two years, Mayor Chiang and City Administrator Geof Grote, both of whom left their positions in February, took these important steps to put Piedmont on the right path.

Reprinted from the Piedmont League of Women Voters bulletin,“The Voter”, with permission

Editors’ Note:  The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Piedmont Civic Association.