Does texting 911 work in emergency situations? Will anyone receive a 911 text?

There can be circumstances when a victim does not want to speak because of the proximity of an assailant. In such a case, texting might be an attractive alternative, but does it work? On May 14, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon theoretically began enabling 911 texts to route to a local police department. However, each emergency call center has to decide how and when to allow Text-to-911.

Unfortunately, the carriers have been promoting their text 911 capability as though it connects with emergency personnel. It is not available in Piedmont or anywhere else in Alameda county, according to the Piedmont Police Department. And KTVU reports it won’t be available in the Bay Area for awhile.

“We’re up and ready to go, but we have some technological issues to deal with,” says Menlo Park Police Commander Dave Bertini.

The Highway Patrol confirmed to KTVU that the California Office of Emergency Services has yet to put together a plan for using 911 texts.

So what happens if you try to text 911?

“What happens is you get a text back that says make a voice call to 911. Text to 911 is not available,” Bertini said.

Although texting has replaced phone calls in the daily lives of many people, there are disadvantages to texting 911, even when it is possible. Texts could take longer to travel through the network than a 911 call from the same phone. Substantial delivery delays are a possibility in heavy demand periods or locations. Unlike 911 calls, they are not prioritized over other texts.

Will the text be understandable? The user’s slang may not be familiar to the police recipient. Most important, emergency call centers will receive only a general geo-location from a texter’s phone, not the usable address that is automatic with 911 phone calls. So, police response won’t be possible unless the address is part of the text.

The Piedmont City Council has a full and important agenda at their meeting on Monday, June 2, starting at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue.

Click on items below to read staff reports.

Budget Approval Hearing; 

Staff report on budget.

Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee Report: 

Police Officer Body Cameras:

Use of WW Funds of over $500,000 for parks, senior facility, pool or other recreation purposes

Emergency Tree Removal in Blair Park 

Additional Sewer Tax 

Election Date change to State General Election Date: 

Full agenda 

The City and School appointed liaisons, two representatives from the City Council and two from the School Board, will confer on issues of joint interest on Wednesday, June 4, 2014, 4:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room, 120 Vista Avenue.

The meeting is open to the public, but is not expected to be broadcast or recorded.

Listed on the agenda are:

1. Discussion of Litter Issues in Piedmont Park

2. Review of Crossing Guard Program

3. Discussion of Safety Training Coordination between Schooolmates and PUSD staff

4. Discussion of Joint Efforts to Increase Participation in the City’s Emergency Notification System

5. Discussion of School District Landscaping Needs

6. Discussion of Enforcement of Use Restrictions on School Property

7. Update on Results of the June 2, 2014 Election

8. Schedule of Future Meetings – Agenda Topics

No meeting materials have been made available.

 

Monday,  June 2 – 7:30 p.m. City Council Chambers-

Piedmont’s Fire Chief Warren (Bud) McLaren has issued a press release.

The Piedmont Fire Department reminds residents that the 2014 Fire Season has been declared and that creating and maintaining Defensible Space is critical for the protection of their homes.

“This year we are preparing for the increased fire risk due to lack of rainfall and resulting drought conditions.” said Fire Chief Bud McLaren.

Piedmont Fire inspectors will be educating residents and evaluating properties to make sure they are in compliance with Piedmont’s city ordnance for fire hazard abatement.

Here are some tips that can help homes survive wildfires:

• Maintain a Defensible Space around all structures.

• Clear all needles and leaves from roofs, eaves and rain gutters.

• Trim branches 6 feet from the ground.

• Landscape with fire resistant and drought tolerant plants.

• Trim branches away from roofs, and 10 feet from the chimney.

• Keep wood piles and flammable materials 30 feet from the home.

• Use fire resistant building materials.

For more information on preparing for Fire Season and Defensible Space contact:

Piedmont Fire Department or visit the Fire Station at:

Piedmont Fire Department

120 Vista Avenue

Piedmont, Ca 94611

510-420-3030

Any day from 8:00 am through 6:00 pm

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.

What do you do when an unexpected person comes to your door?

Do not open your door unless you can identify the person.

Although Piedmont’s crime rate is low,  from time to time the Piedmont Police Department reminds Piedmonters to call when suspicious activities are occurring in their neighborhood. Solicitors have been known to either not have a permit or be casing your home.

Seniors may be vulnerable to those pretending to be PG&E or utility workers. Residents should not open their doors until individuals are identified through verification.

According to the Police Department, hundreds of solicitation permits are issued each year to various qualifying organizations.  The permits cost $20 and are valid for a year.  Some organizations are exempt from permits under the City Code.

Asking a solicitor what organization they represent is insufficient to verify their status.  The only way to know that a solicitor has the proper permits is to ask the Police Department to stop the individual and ask for their identification and certification.

Given the large number of outstanding solicitation permits and current Police Department procedures, it is important that residents contact the Police at 420-3000 or 911 whenever irregular activities are observed and request the department to check out the activities including those of solicitors. 

The Piedmont Police Department advocates as deterrents to crime the 3 L’s.

LOCKS

LIGHTS

LANDSCAPING

For further information on crime prevention, contact the Police Department at 420-3000 for a copy of their latest information or to schedule a neighborhood meeting with a Police Department representative.  The Department provides information on line regarding 9-1-1 calls.

Read the latest Piedmont Crime Report showing a 39% decrease in crimes during the same time period the prior year.

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.

– Moraga Avenue is reopened after debris removal. –

Shortly before noon on Friday morning, April 18, a landslide carried trees onto power lines and required the closure of Moraga Avenue at Maxwelton Road. By 8 p.m. Friday night, eight hours after the street blockage, the debris had been removed and the road had been reopened. PG&E, their tree contractor, Piedmont crews and a geotechnical engineer were involved in the effort to reopen the road and restore power to neighbors.  The highly trafficked arterial is the major connection between Highway 13, Montclair, Piedmont and Grand Avenue. The cause of the slide remained uncertain, but it may have been the result of a leaky irrigation pipe.

CBS report

City of Piedmont report

Coincidentally, two years ago in mid-April another nearby landslide downed power lines and closed Moraga Avenue between the eastern city limit with Oakland and Maxwelton Road.  Read about the April, 2012 Moraga Avenue landslide.