Monday, April 18 City Council meeting –
At 7:30 p.m. in the evening of Monday, April 18, 2016, I attended a Piedmont City Council meeting. The City Council meets on the first and third Monday of every month, to allocate city funds, and improve and maintain the infrastructure of the city.
There were several issues discussed in this meeting by various members of the Council as well as the community, but the most pressing issues were the option for Piedmont to switch over to Community Choice Energy, the repair and renovation of Hampton Park, the addition of bike lanes to parts of Grand Avenue, the renewal of Piedmont’s contract with Richmond Sanitary Services, and looking into improving Piedmont’s public pool facilities.
To start the meeting, Bruce Jensen from the Alameda County Planning Department, and Tom Kelly gave a presentation on the benefits of Piedmont switching over to Community Choice Energy (CCE) from PG&E. CCE offers the community a choice for clean energy at a competitive rate to that which PG&E offers. The benefit of switching to CCE, is that Piedmont can come closer to its goals of being environmentally friendly, while still providing energy at a reasonable price. CCE is an opt-out program, meaning that everyone is automatically signed up for it, unless they expressly indicate in writing that they would not like to participate in the program. One worry about CCE is that if too many people opt-out, it will not be economically viable, and would end up costing the consumers more. Based on the discussion, I think that Piedmont should switch over to CCE. At the very least, it gives people options and prevents PG&E from having a total monopoly. In the best case, if most people stay in the program, CCE provides cleaner energy for a lower price than what Piedmont currently offers.
The next matter addressed at the City Council meeting was the repair and renovation of Hampton Park. Currently, Hampton Park is shut down every winter due to flooding and water damage from poor drainage. The city has to repair it annually, just for it to be damaged again the following winter, leading to a cycle costing the city $25,000 a year. In 2008, funds were raised to make long term changes to the park, preventing the annual flood damage, but the improvements were delayed due to the recession and more pressing priorities.
It has been so long since the City Council has originally raised the funds for the Hampton Park restoration, that they are now at risk of losing that money, so this has become a major focus of the Council. The Council unanimously agreed to fund the restoration of the park, and went on to discuss the logistics of where activities would be held while Hampton Park is undergoing renovations.
The Council came to the agreement that Beach Field would be able to temporarily take the displaced activities from Hampton Park, and the Council unanimously approved opening Beach Field on Sundays to allow for more activities. City Clerk John Tulloch said that, “he’s glad the park is getting improvement” as he’s seen many people use it and take advantage of the great space.
After that, the repainting of Grand Avenue to add bike lanes was discussed. Oakland is currently trying to add bike lanes to Grand Avenue, and Piedmont would like to “piggy back” on their work and continue the bike lanes on the part of Grand which is in Piedmont. Oakland has generously offered to fund some of the painting of bike lanes on the part of Grand in Piedmont. The council unanimously agreed to fund the rest of the addition of bike lanes to Grand Ave in Piedmont, and Council member Tim Rood commented on how it was ideal timing as it would be repainted before the annual Bay Area Bike to Work Day on May 12th.
The Council then discussed the renewal of Piedmont’s contract with Richmond Sanitary Services (RSS). The Council members all agreed that RSS does a fantastic job of collecting Piedmont’s waste, and unanimously agreed to negotiate a renewal of their contract.
The final issue the Council addressed was the improvement of Piedmont’s public pool facilities. Council members King, and Rood were nominated to look into ways to improve the public pool facilities. Both Council members accepted the task, and a motion was unanimously passed to look into ways of improving the pool facility.
Reported by Stuart Ashford, Piedmont High School Senior
Chair and Vice Chair Elected, Minutes will be Timely by May, Hampton Park construction starts in June with completion by mid-October ‘16 or as late as mid-February ‘17
I sat in on the City of Piedmont Recreation Commission Agenda on April 20, 2016. The Recreation Commission is a group that meets monthly to discuss the issues pertaining to the Recreation Department of the City of Piedmont.
In this particular meeting the issues addressed were: the election of Chair and Vice Chair, the approval of Recreation Commission Minutes, the Review of Recreation Commission Duties and Powers, an update on the Hampton Park Master Plan, an update about potential temporary changes to Beach Playfield use during Hampton construction, an update to the Aquatics Master Plan, a CIP update, and a consideration of Betty C. Howard Awards.
For the election of Chair, Betsy Andersen was nominated by herself and was supported by the rest of the Commission. As for the Vice Chair, Andersen nominated Brian Cain who was unanimously supported.
For the approval of Recreation Commission Minutes, the Commission seemed to be a month late in terms of having their minutes under control, but Director Sara Lillevand assured the Commission that they would be back on track by next month.
The next order of duty was to review the Recreation Commission Duties and Powers to remind all who are present about the function and role of this commission in our city. Director Lillevand explained that some of the roles were to: consider/recommend programs and facilities for the Recreation Department, and to take care of pertinent matters along with advising the Council on recreational matters.
The update on the Hampton Park Master Plan went as follows: the construction is planned to start in June and is completed in a single phase. Many of the decisions about the rehabilitation have come from the community and general public. Some huge private donations have made the project able to be completed in a single phase. The project is targeted to be completed by mid-October ‘16, but could go as late as mid-February ‘17. At this time, A student named David Monical asked a question about the upkeep of the tennis facilities at Hampton throughout the future to which Director Lillevand responded by saying there will be stricter upkeep of the courts in the future after the project.
The update on the Beach Playfield pertains to how the playfield will be used as overflow space while Hampton is under construction. The Commission was talking about having Beach field open to scheduling on Sundays to alleviate the demand for field space during the construction period. It was at this time that Calvin Polvorosa asked a question about how the construction at Hampton might increase the use of tennis courts around the City and how that was going to be addressed, to which Director Lillevand stated that the Commission had not looked into the issue, but will explore options about that issue in the future as the project progresses.
The Aquatic Master Plan update went over the recent changes to the plans for the pool area and how that was going to go. It was at this time that a student by the name of Liam Bonacum asked what the main issues were concerning the aquatic center right now, to which Lillevand responded by stating that pool space and time were the limiting factors for the present setup.
For the CIP Update, Director Lillevand listed some of the issues that were being addressed, including: an update to coaches playfield, Howard entrance to Beach field, sand volleyball setup below the bridge at Beach, an update, and addition of lights at Dracena Park, and an update to the Community Hall Master Plan.
The next order of business was the nomination of the Betty C. Howard awardS. This award is given to recognize the dedicated staff and volunteers who performed outstandingly over the previous year(s). This year’s employee nominee was Katrina Morris, a Schoolmates employee at Havens Elementary. The Commission unanimously agreed she should be honored based on the recommendation by Director Lillevand. John Morrison, former Piedmont Middle School Principal, was honored for his volunteer contributions.
After the meeting concluded, I spoke with Jeremy Flake from the audience to discuss his involvement with the issues at hand. He said that he was there to see if the update to Hampton would include the basketball courts. Since Director Lillevand stated that the courts will be replaced and/or refurbished, Flake had no need to address with the Commission.
By Calvin Polvorosa, Piedmont High School Senior
Editors’ Note: Opinions expressed are those of the author.
City of Piedmont Recreation Commission Meeting, April 20, 2016
The City of Piedmont’s Recreation Commission meets once a month to discuss, dispute and hear from the public on anything related to recreation in the City of Piedmont. The meeting began with a ten minute Public Forum. This public forum allows anyone in the audience to bring up a subject they would like to discuss that is not on the meeting agenda. Given the audience was limited to four other Piedmont High School Civics students, a former member of the Recreation Commission and myself, no one chose to speak during the Public Forum.
The first item on the agenda was the welcoming of the three new Recreation Commissioners: Glyn Burge, Jeff Dorman and Vincent Fisher. After the meeting, I asked Vincent Fisher why he chose to join the Commission and how long he planned to stay. He had just recently moved to Piedmont and was very active in the City Council of his previous town, so he wanted to get involved. He was appointed to a three year term as a Recreation Commissioner and is very excited for what the future held.
The second agenda item was the vote for the new Chair and Vice Chair of the Recreation Commission, the Chair going to Betsy Andersen and the Vice Chair going to Brian Cain.
After a few more short agenda items that seemed to be more due diligence than anything, the meeting arrived at its biggest agenda item, an update on the Hampton Park Master Plan. This update was led greatly by the Recreation Director, Sara Lillevand, with a few clarifying questions asked by members of the Commission and audience members like myself.
The Hampton Park Plan has been a massive work in progress for about ten years and is just now beginning to come to fruition. My older brother actually attended a meeting six years ago that included discussion about the project for this same assignment. The construction is planned to begin in June of this year and be completed in a single phase. The project is hoped to be wrapped up by mid October but could continue as late as mid February. The Hampton Field Renovation is the result of a massive community push for better field space in Piedmont, and has been funded partially by donations.
The following agenda item pertained to potential changes to the Beach Playfield usage restrictions. Starting this summer these changes, if made, would be entirely temporary and solely for the purpose of not displacing the users of Hampton Field while it is under construction.
Agenda item number seven brought up future changes to Piedmont’s Aquatics. No plans have been drafted as of yet, but the Recreation Commission recognizes the Piedmont Community Pool is where they need to shift their attention next. This seems to be the start of yet another ten year process just like the Hampton Field Project.
Although it was not seen at this meeting, there is a lot of public disagreement when plans like the Hampton Field or Piedmont Aquatics are brought up. While it is important for the public to shape their community, in my opinion it would be much better for the public to let the City Council make decisions in a timely manner. This way things would get done much quicker and lead to a better Piedmont.
by Rhys Daniel, Piedmont High School Senior
Editors’ Note: Opinions expressed are those of the author.
The Piedmont Recreation Commission will meet on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue. Members of the audience to speak to items on and off of the agenda. The meeting will be broadcast on Cable Channel 27 and live streamed on the City website under “videos.”
Agenda:
- Welcome – New Recreation Commissioners: Glyn Burge, Jeff Dorman, Vincent Fisher
- Election of Chair and Vice Chair
- Approval of Recreation Commission Minutes – February 24, 2016
- Review of Recreation Commission Duties and Powers – Piedmont City Code Sec. 25.7
- Update – Hampton Park Master Plan
- Update – Potential Temporary Changes to Beach Playfield Use Restrictions during Hampton Construction
- Update – Aquatics Master Plan
- CIP Update
- Consideration of Betty C. Howard Awards
Recreation Commission Packet including draft minutes of February 24, 2016 meeting.
The entire Hampton Field project will move forward, if the Council approves Hampton Park Improvements Budget of $1,978,760.
City Administrator Paul Benoit in his April 18, 2016 staff report asks the City Council to approve a budget of $1,978,760 for Hampton Park Improvements and authorize him to sign a construction contract in the amount $1,573,435.50 with low bidder Suarez and Munoz to complete the plan for the park. (See plan of park facilities here.)
The City Council approved the Hampton Park Improvements Master Plan on June 2, 2008. The project was then sidelined due to budgetary constraints. On March 3, 2014, the Council awarded a $134,238 contract to William Harris, Harris Design for plans for phasing the project or, alternatively, completing the entire project at one time. Read the City Administrator’s Report here.
The focus has been on refurbishment of the hardscape surfaces for tennis, basketball and handball as well as drainage improvements (Phase I). Hazardous conditions on the tennis courts, significant maintenance of the play field during and following wet weather, soil wash out onto nearby roadways, and other issues have been a concern. Measure WW, East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) Local Grant Funds, in the amount $507,325 were previously approved for the project. To complete the entire project, Phase I and II, the estimated cost is $1,978,761. The City will add $1,471,435 using various pots of City money and donations.
Funding Sources for the $1,978,761 Hampton Park Project:
- EBRPD Measure WW Funds: $ 507,325
- Private Donations & Commitments $ 303,254
- City Athletic Facility Preservation Fund: $ 200,000
- Harris Engineers Settlement: $ 417,000 (undergrounding)
- City Facilities Maintenance Fund: $ 275,591
- City General Fund: $ 275,591
City Sources = $1,168,182
Private Donations & Commitments = $ 303,254
EBRPD Measure WW Funds = $ 507,325
Read the City Administrator’s April 18, 2016 Report here.
Read the City Administrator’s January 4, 2016 Report here.
Agreement with Harris Design [separate from Harris Associates] in the amount of $134,238 was previously approved and expended by the City.
Read about Piedmont’s Risk Management Policy & Procedures for Major Capital Improvement Projects
The Council meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast live via Cable Channel 27 and live streamed on the City website – “videos.” The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue.
Join the Piedmont Unified School District for a Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Information Night –
April 20th from 7:00-8:30 pm
at Havens Elementary School
on Highland Avenue
The District will be sharing information about a typical kindergarten day, key dates, as well as other pertinent information. Presentations will be made by the Parent Clubs and Schoolmates, Piedmont’s Recreation Department student daycare program.
Following the presentations, presenters will answer questions from the audience.
The Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Review Committee will meet in the City Hall Conference Room on Tuesday, April 5 at 6 p.m. The meeting will not be broadcast or recorded, but is open to the public.
The CIP Review Committee is composed of seven members, 4 appointed by the City Council, chairs of both the Recreation and Park Commission, plus the current President of the Piedmont Beautification Foundation, a private organization benefiting Piedmont. The City Council recently appointed Michael Henn to the Committee.
The Committee makes recommendations to the City Council on Piedmont’s major improvement projects. Citizens may propose projects on a Proposal Form, < available here or from City Hall. Project proposals for this cycle closed March 25. Many past projects have originated from the City staff and the Piedmont Beautification Foundation.
April 5 CIP agenda:
- Update on recreation projects
- Review of Citizen Proposals for CIP
- Review of preliminary CIP wish lists and project budgets
Supporting information and lists of proposals have not been publicly provided. Information will be made available at the meeting along with staff presentations on the various proposals. Final approval of projects is dependent on available funding and will be acted upon by the City Council by June with consideration of the annual City Budget.
Recreation Commission works to improve and create new programs for Piedmont.
When I was first assigned this project, [which required me to attend a Piedmont government meeting], I didn’t have the highest expectations for how relevant it would all feel to me. I chose the first meeting that could fit around my schedule, March 16, 2016, and I got ready to deal with a night of bureaucracy that would have no real impact on my life. Fortunately, I was completely wrong with my assumptions.
The subject matter discussed at the Recreation Commission meeting struck a chord with me, as I realized how much of my life growing up in Piedmont was centered around it. Topics such as summer programs for kids, field space for sports, and the annual Harvest Festival were all brought up and, became some of the main focuses of the night. For anyone interested in attending one of these meetings, they meet every third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber.
The first item on the night’s agenda was a Public Forum where anyone in attendance was allowed to bring up an issue that they feel is relevant to the community. The Commission members were very welcoming and when I went up to the podium to make my point, I never felt out of place just because I was in high school.
I brought up the issue of the lack of field space for many of Piedmont’s sports teams, rugby in particular. Sara Lillevand, Recreation Director and Steve Mills, Commissioner, both responded to my question with enthusiasm and cooperation, as they put forth ideas like better lines of communication between all of Piedmont’s club sports teams and the Commission itself. While my plight wasn’t solved then and there, I felt as if a step was being taken in the right direction and progress was happening before my eyes.
A topic that was presented that I instantly felt gravitated towards was the summer program “Every Superhero Needs A Sidekick”. The program matches children dealing with mental disabilities to a high school C.I.T (Counselor in Training) who would spend time with them and make sure they’re having fun with their summer.
When I asked Director Sara Lillevand how she felt about the program, she responded with nothing but enthusiasm and gratitude towards the high school C.I.T’s. “They’re going to be doing great work over there and have a tremendous impact on our tight knit community.” Hearing about programs like this inspired me and created a reaction that I never thought could come from attending a government related meeting.
As the meeting progressed, I was also able to take note of the efforts and true labors of love many of the people in the recreation department do for the youth of Piedmont. For example, this year the Recreation Department was able to get a record number of seven Middle School basketball teams organized so everyone would be able to get a chance to play. Passing by this may not seem like a big deal, but the fact that every Middle Schooler who wants to play now can is absolutely huge in the grand scheme. On top of this, events like the Harvest Festival and Movies in the Park, which can tend to be taken for granted, are constantly being discussed and debated upon on how to improve their quality for the citizens of Piedmont.
By the end of the meeting, I had felt like I had grown a new appreciation for the Recreation Commission and the governing body of Piedmont in general as well. They work in the background of our lives and have a significant impact on it, whether we are aware of it or not. The night ended on a somber note, however, as Commissioners Stephen Mills, Nick Levinson, and Kim Hebert all stepped down from their positions. They had been there for many years, but they left knowing that the Recreation Commission was in good hands with the other very capable Commission members.
Mason Willrich, Piedmont High School Senior
Editors’ Note: Opinions expressed are those of the author.
At a special meeting on March 22, 2016, the City Council interviewed applicants and made appointments to fill vacancies on commissions and committees. Drawing on the talents of twenty five applicants for seventeen vacancies, the Piedmont City Council made the following appointments:
Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee
Nick Levinson – August Moretti – John Chiang (Alternate)
CIP Review Committee
Michael Henn
Civil Service Commission
Carolyn Collins & Kathleen Winters
Park Commission
Betsy Goodman – Jim Horner – Brian Mahany
Planning Commission
Eric Behrens & Tony Theophilos
Aradhana Jajodia (Alternate)
Public Safety Committee
Lori Elefant & Lynne Wright
Recreation Commission
Glyn Burge – Jeffrey Dorman – Vincent Fisher
Each of these appointments is for a three year term. Commission and Committee members are eligible to serve no more than two consecutive terms in office. All of the appointments are to volunteer positions.
Do you have a project for Piedmont?
CIP Committee Seeks Resident Proposals and Participation
Deadline for proposals: March. 25th – 5:00 p.m. City Hall
The Capital Improvement Projects Review Committee (CIP) is soliciting proposals for new city projects which would enhance our community. Ideas submitted by individuals, community organizations and City Staff are all considered. If you have a great idea, the committee would like to hear from you. Projects can range from sidewalk improvements to plantings to facility renovations or additions to undergrounding of utilities to parks.
Download the > Proposal Form. Proposals are due no later than March 25th at 5:00 p.m. City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue.
All applicants/residents that have submitted proposals will be personally invited to attend the CIP Meeting to be scheduled in April. The meeting is open to the public. This meeting will not be broadcast nor recorded. At this meeting, applicants will be asked to briefly describe their projects to the CIP Committee. The CIP Committee will then determine which projects will require a site visit.
The CIP Site Visit Tour will be scheduled for a Saturday in April. The tour will commence at City Hall at 9:00 am and then will proceed to CIP tour stops located throughout the City. At each of the tour stops, the CIP Committee will see the locations for proposed projects first hand.
At the undetermined date, a noon working lunch will be provided at City Hall for Committee members, city staff, and interested citizens.
At this working lunch the CIP Review Committee will attempt to compose their list of 2016-2017 CIP projects that they recommend as a part of this year’s budget process. The CIP chair in conjunction with CIP Review Committee members will be asked to prepare a list of recommended projects and narrative that will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration in the budget process.
Completed forms should be returned to the Department of Public Works, 120 Vista Avenue. If you have questions regarding the CIP process, please contact Nancy Kent Parks & Project Manager, at (510) 420-3064.
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