Citizen asks why 2010 EIR Traffic Review was not made public during Moraga Canyon/Blair Park EIR hearings –

During the discussion of a risk management policy for major Piedmont projects at the April 1, 2013 Council meeting, Piedmont resident Rick Schiller criticized City staff for “withholding” a City-authorized 2010 traffic study report of Moraga Ave.  The report by WILTEC Engineers was procured by the City Administration at a critical point during the controversial Blair Park/Moraga Canyon sportsfield deliberation. > Click to read more…

Citizen letter to the City Council, as it continues to consider adopting a Risk Management Policy – 

Dear Piedmont City Council,

re: April 1, 2013 Risk Management Policy Agenda Item

City Policy of enforcing agreements: This aspect is not included in this policy report. As of June 2012, PRFO  [Piedmont Recreational Facilities Organization] owed the City $220,000 with $31,400 in additional legal costs directly incurred as a result of their project through November 2012. What is the City Policy in regards to enforcing arbitration clauses in signed agreements? > Click to read more…

Future City Projects May Get a Closer Look – 

The City Council will discuss adoption of a  Risk Management Policy for major Piedmont capital projects at its meeting on Monday, April 1.  The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue.

The City’s Public Works Director will present a revised version of his draft risk management policy, which he presented to the Council in January.   Since then, a Task Force on Civic Governance formed by the Piedmont League of Women Voters has developed  an alternative risk management policy for the City, which it submitted  to the Council for consideration. Both the April 1 Risk Management > Click to read more…

CONGRATULATIONS TO PIEDMONT’S NEW APPOINTEES!

At a special meeting on March 7, 2013, the City Council made appointments to fill
vacancies on commissions and committees. Drawing on the talents of 23
applicants for 13 vacancies, the Piedmont City Council made the following
appointments: > Click to read more…

StopWaste offers revised language to  coax reluctant cities to participate

At its Wednesday, February 27, 2013 meeting, the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (WMA) Board is expected to make a final decision on four changes to the Energy Council Joint Powers Authority (JPA) in the areas of:

• voting structure (the issue of weighted voting)
• liability and insurance,
• withdrawal notice reduced to 6 months (from 1 year)
• effective date (revised to April 12, 2013 (from   The approved version of the JPA would then be distributed to WMA member agencies (including Piedmont) with encouragement to all to join.

The current proposal for a “weighted” voting structure remains unchanged from a previous proposal voted down at the January WMA Board meeting.  The proposed withdrawal notice is reduced from one year to six months.  The revised effective date is proposed to be April 12, 2013.  The revised language on liability, voting structure, withdrawal and effective date is here.

> Click to read more…

Franchise Tax Board (FTB) changes rules going back 4 years and recommends taxpayers amend returns –

Business founders and early investors in high tech start-ups and other qualified small businesses (QSB) in California who sold the stock since January 1, 2008, taking a Qualified Small Business (QSB) exclusion, may soon receive a Notice of Proposed Assessment from the Franchise Tax Board for 50% of the capital gains they legally excluded under the California Tax Code.  (California Revenue and Taxation Code, § 18152.5, subds. (c)(2)(A), (e)(1)(A) & (e)(9)).  The FTB has retroactively disqualified all exclusions and deferrals for Qualified Small Businesses and recommends taxpayers amend their returns.  Not only will the taxes be retroactively charged, going back to 2008, but interest and penalties may be added. > Click to read more…

Do you know a deserving volunteer who has worked tirelessly for the Piedmont Schools?  The deadline for nominations is March 15, 2013.

NOMINATION PERIOD FOR 2013 ARTHUR HECHT

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD

This award is presented annually to individuals who have volunteered their efforts over a period of time and made a difference because of their involvement and commitment to Piedmont’s youth. > Click to read more…

Want to become more involved with your community?  Piedmont needs residents to serve on committees and commissions.

Application Filing Deadline: Friday, March, 1st

“I think the most critical change we can make in U.S. K-12 education is to create teacher feedback systems that are properly funded, high-quality, and trusted by teachers.  These measurement systems need to provide teachers with the tools to help support their professional development. The lessons from these efforts will help us improve teacher education programs. The countries that have better education systems than the United States provide more teacher feedback than we do today…”

—Bill Gates, 2013 Letter > Click to read more…

A connection between Piedmont’s future debt exposure and lack of voting power –

Participation in a regional Joint Powers Association of 15 members urged by StopWaste will again be looked at by the Council on Monday, February 4.  In an effort to address Council concerns regarding Piedmont’s liability for the debts of this new regional agency known as the “Energy Council”, Assistant Planner Kevin Jackson prepared a supplemental staff report.

The Energy Council will have the power to “incur debts, liabilities or obligations”.

The Staff report advises the Council of its further discussions on JPA language to attempt to shield the City of Piedmont from future liability for the debts of this new regional agency.  The staff report does not address the problem of future changes to the JPA agreement, which may be amended by a 2/3s vote of the membership at any time in the future.  The JPA states:

AMENDMENTS

This Agreement may be amended by the affirmative vote of the governing bodies of not less than two-thirds of all Agencies.

The City of Piedmont is 1 of 15 entities being solicited for the regional agency.  Piedmont will be entitled to 1 out of 15 (or more) votes.*   All member agencies, including Piedmont, will be governed by any 2/3s vote of the members regarding future debt obligations and contributions.  A solution to limit this future risk is not offered.

The JPA will be authorized to incur debt for any energy project or purpose “to support research, development, demonstration, innovation, and commercialization of sustainable energy technologies by public and private entities operating in Alameda County”, as well as “to acquire, construct, manage, maintain, operate and control any buildings, works, or improvements”.   These broad provisions would appear to authorize a wide range of energy-related projects, including the construction of energy-saving buildings, enterprises, or proof-of-concept power plant for which substantial debt may be required.

The supplemental staff report outlines the various purposes of the Energy Council, including seeking grants and setting forth “opt-in” ordinances for members to adopt.  Specific advantages to the City of Piedmont obtained by joining the JPA are not specified in the staff report.

The distinction between the new Energy JPA and a recently terminated JPA, which resulted in liabilities of approximately $200,000 to the City of Piedmont based on its single vote out of 14 members, has not been clarified.

The JPA provisions originally proposed by StopWaste included the power to “impose taxes or fees on residents, businesses, property owners or any other entity, public or private”.  This power was eliminated following objections from a number of the proposed member agencies.

*The City of Piedmont will have 1 vote.  The other 14 entities being solicited as members will also have at least 1 vote.  Piedmont’s voting power (1 of 15) will decrease if the regional agency adopts a “weighted” voting structure giving 2 votes to larger entities (e.g. Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, and the County of Alameda).  The final voting structure has not yet been determined.