The Public Safety Committee will meet Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont.  There are no broadcasts of the proceedings.  Interested individuals may attend the meeting and participate.  The meeting agenda includes:

2. Discussion of Managing Solicitors

3. Review of Piedmont Night Out Activities

4. Update on School Liaison Activities

5. Review of Public Safety Outreach at Harvest Festival

6. Update on Neighborhood Meetings

7 Discussion of Possible New Outreach Approaches

8 Discussion of EOC and City Emergency Plan Upgrades (Information Only) – Current information provided by Fire Dept.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What should you to do when solicitors come to your door!

Piedmont residents often complain about unwanted solicitors coming to their door. While many solicitors are working on behalf of reputable causes, others are misrepresenting themselves for personal gain, and a few have posed as solicitors to determine if residents are at home prior to breaking into homes. Residents should be aware of the following:

1. They should be cautious in opening their doors to persons they do not know.

2. Residents should not be reluctant to ask direct questions about the nature of the charity or purpose of the solicitation.

3. The Piedmont Police Department issues permits to persons selling goods or services of a non-charitable nature. (Charitable and political solicitors do not require a permit.)

4. Residents should ask the person to show a solicitor permit issued by the Piedmont Police Department. The solicitor is required to show their permit.

5. Posting a “No Solicitor” sign on the front door or other prominent location prohibits all solicitors (including charitable and political groups) from coming to that residence.

6. Residents are encouraged to contact the Piedmont Police Department at 420-3000 if they have concerns about solicitors.

Read latest crime report.

Information on hosting an Emergency Preparedness meeting in your neighborhood. On the link scroll down the page.

The following is an announcement from the League of Women Voters of Piedmont (LWVP):

~~~~ Deconstructing the Mid-terms ~~~~

LWVP Election Debrief

Piedmont Community Center

711 Highland Avenue 

Monday, November 17

7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Please join the League of Women Voters of Piedmont  for a lively discussion of the mid-term election and the impact it has on our state and country.

Our guest speakers include three respected political insiders: former White House correspondent and KRON 4 reporter, Terisa Estacio; veteran political reporter and KQED senior editor, John Myers; and Josh Richman, political reporter for the Bay Area News Group.

Join us for an insightful evening of conversion and analysis.

This event is free and open to the public.

Terisa Estacio John Myers Josh Richman

In addition to Piedmont School District athletic programs, the City of Piedmont’s Athletic Preservation Fund is designated as a potential recipient of funds.  

The Piedmont City Council will consider the allocation of $5,305 to support the newly organized  2014 Annual Piedmont Turkey Trot and approval of this years race at their November 3, 2014 meeting starting at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall.

There is an ongoing issue regarding the proceeds from the Annual Piedmont Turkey Trot and who should control the Piedmont Turkey Trot?

Until recently, Turkey Trot volunteers and runners were under the impression that money raised by the Annual Piedmont Turkey Trot held on Thanksgiving Day morning would benefit Piedmont High School athletic programs, including track and cross country.  

Turkey Trot organizer, resident Marilyn Weber has far exceeded revenue expectations by gaining community sponsors and increasing participation through area publicity. Approximately half of  the runners come from outside of Piedmont. The widely popular event had over 2,300 runners in 2013, raising more than $50,000.

According to available information, the Piedmont Unified School District historically provided seed money to allow purchase of the shirts and other materials necessary for the race.  Since shirt purchases and other actions need to occur well in advance of Thanksgiving Day, funds need to be readily available for organizers.  The School District evidently delayed providing the necessary seed money in 2013, hence the organizers moved ahead by soliciting donations. Later, the School District supplemented funding for the event.

Following the 2013 race, the School District asked to be reimbursed for their seed money and requested race proceeds plus accounting information related to the Turkey Trot. Reimbursement was made to the School District for the seed money plus a donation to the School District. Out of over $50,000 raised from the Turkey Trot approximately $30,000 was retained for future Turkey Trots, with the School district receiving approximately $20,000.

In December of 2013, Weber and other individuals decided to form a nonprofit corporation (Piedmont Turkey Trot C3628657) with the State of California and in the future incorporation as a nonprofit with the Federal Government.  The corporation filing indicates it is a nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation.  The stated purpose of this corporation is “to help children and adults learn the skills of running.”

Members of the Board of the Turkey Trot Corporation are listed as:  Edna Cooper, Pam Roure, Chris Smith, and Marilyn Weber.

The organization has stated on the 501(c)(3) form, it ‘s purpose as “fostering amateur sports competition.”  

On the standard application, the reason to use Piedmont services and streets is to hold “the Piedmont Turkey Trot.”

The organization’s application letter to the City states:

“The PTT Thanksgiving Day Race non-profit was formed to ensure the necessary structure was in place to continue a community event of this size that benefits youth sports in the community.  It is our intention to donate net proceeds from the 2014 Turkey Trot to the following beneficiaries; the PHS Cross Country Team, the PHS Track Team and the City of Piedmont’s Athletic Facilities Preservation Fund.” [emphasis added]

Turkey Trot publicity states:

“The Piedmont Turkey Trot is a nonprofit organization supporting local charities and organizations.”

School District athletic programs had previously been the sole beneficiary of Turkey Trot proceeds.

For approximately 13 years, the School District received funds from the Turkey Trot for athletic programs.  Volunteers, primarily parents, became concerned when the purpose of the Turkey Trot was changed to benefit “local charities and organizations” and there was a new organization incorporated without School District or volunteer knowledge and participation.

Approval of the application for the Turkey Trot is on the City Council agenda for November 3, 2014.  The staff report states:

“While the organizational structure of the race has changed, the stated purpose of the race and application of net proceeds will continue to benefit both school sports and the Community. For these reasons, it would, as a matter of policy, be appropriate for the City to continue its tradition of supporting the race in the same manner and level as in previous years.”

“For information purposes, the cost of this support is estimated as follows:

Fire Department:  $1,030.40
Police Department: $ 920.05
Public Works Department:  $3,355.36
For a total cost to the City of Piedmont: $5,305.81″

“Regarding the 2013 Turkey Trot, there have been extensive discussions between the Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD) and the race organizers as to the fate of net proceeds from that race. We are informed that both parties have been working diligently toward resolution of outstanding issues. While this is not relevant to the City’s authority to issue a Street/Sidewalk Use Permit, I am pleased to report that the race organizers and PUSD have both indicated that an understanding has been reached and consideration of the agreement will be added to the agenda of an already scheduled Special Meeting of the Board of Education on November 4, 2014. ”
By: John O. Tulloch, City Clerk

According to the Piedmont Unified School District’s Special Meeting agenda for November 4, 2014, there is no item on the agenda to discuss the Turkey Trot, unless it is covered under anticipated litigation during the Closed Session.

Published sponsors for the 2014 Turkey Trot are:  Transports  ~  Highland  Partners ~ Piedmont Grocery ~ McCutcheon Construction ~ MB Jessee Painting J. Miller Flowers ~ Mulberry’s Market ~ Piedmont Post ~Village Market ~ Clif Bar

The meeting will be broadcast on KCOM Channel 27 and live streamed from the City website.

Read the staff report including application and information on Turkey Trot organization. 

Read reports published in The Piedmonter.

Read second report published in the The Piedmonter.

See other articles previously published on this site by searching “Turkey Trot.”

Road diets, designated routes to school, bike lanes, and the crosswalk at Wildwood Avenue and Grand Avenue will be considered. 

The Piedmont Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan will be considered by the Council on Monday, November 3, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers in Piedmont City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue.

One of Piedmont’s most comprehensive community based planning projects has resulted in an extensive Piedmont Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan (PBMP). Funding for the plan has come from an Alameda County Transportation Commission (CTC;www.alamedactc.org) grant and through the City’s existing funds for pedestrian and bicycle improvements (pass-through Measure B funds), also distributed by the Alameda CTC.

Great interest and participation by Piedmont’s many walkers, bikers, teachers, students, and residents have brought concerns and issues to the discussion.

On August 20, the Piedmont School Board was presented with the plan by planning consultant, Niko Letunic and Director of Planning Kate Black. Board President Andrea Swenson told the presenters that the School District would wait until the City completed their projects to improve sidewalk and street safety before further encouraging families to walk and bike to school.

At their October 13, 2014 meeting, the Piedmont Planning Commission considered the final draft plan.  Based on discussions at the meeting, the Commission recommended the Council approve the plan with specific additions and amendments.

Will “Road Diets” solve a perceived problem in Piedmont?

Road diets:

 The second paragraph on page 79 was amended to read: “While the PBMP includes general concept drawings for road diets (on pages 79 and 81), detailed design and traffic engineering drawings will need to be made before the projects are implemented, and shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission and Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The design for Highland Avenue could consider the possibility of landscaped islands and it will need to ensure the turn lane accommodates left-turning AC Transit buses at Oakland Avenue.”

Planned road diets would eliminate two lanes of through traffic on both Highland and Grand Avenues.  On Grand Avenue, increased congestion in the area around the ACE Hardware store with vehicles stacking up and blocking traffic, plus a possible elimination of one or more parking spaces are concerns.  On Highland Avenue, the island medians could create problems for large buses making turns and create traffic congestion around the Mulberry driveway entrance. Prior concern was expressed over a median in the middle of Highland Avenue impeding the Fourth of July parade activities and preventing homeowners from turning left to enter their driveways, creating multiple U-turns at the intersections.

According to the Federal Department of Transportation, “Road Diets” became increasingly popular in the 1990’s, “with installations occurring in both rural and urban states such as Iowa and Minnesota. A classic road diet typically involves converting an existing four-lane, undivided roadway segment to a three-lane segment consisting of two through lanes and a center, two-way left-turn lane.”

Hazardous crosswalk at Wildwood and Grand Avenues:

 Last paragraph on page 101 be amended to read: “Coordinate with Oakland staff on the funding, planning, design and implementation of bikeways connecting the two cities, and other roadway improvements of importance to both cities, including the intersection of Wildwood and Grand Avenues.”

Repeatedly mentioned in prior hearings, the crosswalk at Wildwood and Grand Avenues is long, hazardous creating pedestrian difficulties. The crosswalk is actually in Oakland and consequently Piedmont does not have control of the design. The new language requires Piedmont to work with Oakland to improve the crosswalks.

At the November 3 meeting –

The City’s consultant will make a presentation to the Council on the development process of the plan and the contents of the Draft PBMP, and will be available for questions. Members of the public are welcome to speak at the meeting. The City Council may choose to adopt the Draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration and October 13 version of the Draft PBMP, or may wish to make further modifications.

As with other Master Plans, if conditions change, adjustments can be made to meet changing needs and funding sources.

Read the staff report to the City Council.

Hard copies of the Draft Plan and draft CEQA Initial Study/Negative Declaration document are available for review between the hours of 8:30 am – 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday at the Public Works counter at City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611

The Draft Plan and Draft of the CEQA document can also be accessed at the following links:

Draft Piedmont Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan dated October 13, 2014

Appendices: Comments received through the two online surveys on the needs assessment and on the improvement options

Draft of the CEQA Initial Study/Negative Declaration

You are invited to attend the City Council meeting and express your opinion.  You may choose to write your opinion and address your comment to the entire Piedmont City Council, c/o City Clerk, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA  94611 or send an e-mail to jtulloch@ci.piedmont.ca.us. All comments submitted will become part of the public record and may be posted to the City’s web site.

To watch the public hearing on KCOM, cable channel 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 “City Council” link, then on the “October 13, 2014″ link, and click on the “Video” or “In Progress” link and start watching!

Planning staff contacts:

Janet Chang, Assistant Planner, 510-420-3094      janetchang@ci.piedmont.ca.us

Kate Black, Director of Planning, 510-420-3063        kblack@ci.piedmont.ca.us

The City Council approved the first reading of the Piedmont Smoking Control Ordinance on October 20, 2014.  On Monday, November 3, at 7:30 p.m., the City Council will consider the second and final reading of Ordinance 715 N.S., controlling smoking of tobacco, including electronic smoking devices in places of employment, common areas of multiple dwellings, and public places with the exception of an outdoor area near the Piedmont Community Hall when it is being rented.

Read the ordinance here.

The Council meeting is open to the public. It will be broadcast on KCOM Channel 27 and live streamed from the City’s website.

The Alameda County Assessor’s Office is behind schedule for mailing property tax statements.

Although the first installment payment of the 2014-2015 property tax is due November 1, 2014, the Alameda County Assessor’s Office announced that the statements will not be mailed until October 31, 2014. Even if property owners receive their bills on November 1, they could only pay on time by credit card or electronic check, both of which carry a “convenience fee.”  The Assessor’s office “convenience fee” for paying by credit card is 2.5% –$1000 on a typical $40,000 bill.

The $3 “convenience fee” for electronic check payment is economical, but don’t forget to add the $3 to the payment due. To learn the amount due look up your parcel here.  Note, however, the online statements contain the statement  “this is not an official bill.”

Since property taxes are arriving late this year, property owners need not rush to pay their bills.  The 10% delinquent payment is not imposed until December 10, 2014, for the first installment of the tax statement.

Election Day is Nov. 4 !  Time to cast Vote-By-Mail ballots !

Voters who have registered for Vote-By-Mail ballots should have received their ballots by now.  Vote-By-Mail ballots must be received at the Registrar of Voters,  1225 Fallon Street, Oakland, Piedmont’s City Clerk, or a polling location no later than 8:00 p.m on Tuesday, November 4, Election Day.  Post marks are not sufficient. 

Voters may turn in Vote-By-Mail ballots to the Piedmont City Clerk’s Office, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, during regular business hours up to and including Election Day. Voters may also turn in Vote-By-Mail ballots to any polling place in Alameda County on Election Day. 

Early voting ballots are available for registered voters at the Registrar of Voters Office at 1225 Fallon Street in downtown Oakland. The office is open for early voting Monday through Friday and on Saturday, November 1st and Sunday, November 2nd from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

When long standing zoning restrictions are set aside, will Piedmonters be happy?

The draft Piedmont General Plan Housing Element has been written largely to satisfy the State, while avoiding law suits for noncompliance. 

Under the document, significant control of Piedmont zoning will potentially be removed from voters and placed in the hands of the City Council and the staff Council relies on.

The Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, October 30, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers to hold a public hearing on the state-mandated Draft Housing Element and consider recommendations to the Piedmont City Council.  The far-reaching draft document, intended to increase housing in Piedmont, has passed muster with State reviewers.

The Draft Housing Element, covering a planning period between 2015 and 2023, is voluminous and requires careful thought and consideration. Surprises are found throughout the document, such as a suggestion to require the City to approve applications within 30 days rather than the State required 60 days.  On some occasions, neighbors have found even 60 days are tight when responding to applications for major new construction next door.

The voter controlled Piedmont City Charter, a mainstay of zoning stability in Piedmont, is challenged in the Draft Housing Element by potential future independent reviewers looking for encumbrance to housing development within the City Charter.

Piedmont has approximately 4,000 residences and 11,000 residents.

Some California cities have balked at the State imposed requirements and delayed implementation or come up with stringent requirements for development to fend off undesired changes.  For example, some cities have required increased setbacks when building second units. In contrast, Piedmont has been less demanding of second unit applications, relaxing requirements, such as off-street parking and set backs.

Piedmont’s 20 year planning consultant, Barry Miller, has built a reputation within the planning community for using second units as a way to meet affordable housing needs.  Piedmont’s planning has been in line with his concepts.

Miller and the planning staff have accommodated the State including inviting officials to view first hand the limited opportunities for increased housing in Piedmont. As a built out city with no ability to expand, development potential is extremely limited in Piedmont.

 Few Piedmonters have reviewed the the Draft Housing Element.

The California State Law requires citizen participation when developing a Housing Element. The Planning Commission was designated by the City Council as the citizen body to review the Draft Housing Element.  At meetings where the draft was discussed there have been few participants. The “Town Hall Style” meeting, was held without public broadcast and recordings and was largely intended to spur on support for second units.

The City Council, circumventing the City Charter, has not placed recent zoning changes on a Piedmont ballot for voter validation and approval per the City Charter. Comprehensive public involvement in zoning changes could be achieved by placing the matters on a Piedmont ballot. The State law allows such an action.  The City has avoided allowing voters to act in fear of zoning change rejection.

Piedmont’s Housing Element is built on more second-units.  

Without taking money out of its own coffers, California, in an effort to increase affordable and low-income housing, passed  legislation requiring cities, even Charter Cities such as Piedmont, to allow second-units in single-family zones.  The Piedmont City Charter states that only the voters of Piedmont can change zoning, designating areas for housing as single-family or multiple family.

Each California city is required to define the conditions for allowing second units within single family zones.  Piedmont has done this.  If an application comes to the Planning Department meeting all conditions for a second unit, then the Planning Department is required to approve the second unit application under a “ministerial act;” neighbors are not notified and the Planning Commission has no jurisdiction over the application.

If a second unit application cannot meet ALL criteria for “ministerial” approval, the Planning Commission has the responsibility to consider the matter; neighbors are notified; and all conditions regarding the application are considered, such as safety, variances, privacy, light and air, etc.

As housing in Piedmont changes, the question remains:  Will the implementation measures proposed for the 2015- 2023 time period please Piedmonters?

Some of the proposed policies will reduce public involvement and make it easier for development.  The City Council previously rezoned the Commercial Zone to allow “mixed use,” a combination of commercial use and apartments on the same property.   Despite the City Charter, no attempt was made to place the matter before voters.

Piedmont’s City Attorney opposed the established description of single family and multi-family housing in the Commercial Zone, concluding single family and multi-family housing were synonymous. Yet language approved by voters had defined single family and multi-family zoning as separate and different.  The preemptive action by the Council overstepped City Charter language that requires Piedmont voters to consider zoning changes.

The Draft Housing Element policies presented are often onerous to property owners and possibly punitive to nearby properties.  From fees to variances, Piedmonters will find their city changing.   The future will show if the General Plan Housing Element will be used as a rigid requirement or as a working document meeting current needs and desires of the residents of Piedmont.

The related Initial Study and Negative Declaration pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act will be heard at the Planning Commission meeting of November 10, 2014.

Read the Oct. 1, 2014 “Clean” version of the proposed plan here.  Chapters noted below.

• Title/Table of Contents
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Evaluation of the 2007-2014 Housing Element
• Chapter 3: Demographics and Housing Needs
• Chapter 4: Analysis of Housing Capacity
• Chapter 5: Constraints to Housing Production
• Chapter 6: Goals, Policies, and Actions (Clean Version)
• Chapter 7: Five-Year Action Plan

Read comments from the California Department of Housing and Community Development  and Piedmont’s responses as incorporated into the Housing Element.

Timeline for final approval of Housing Element:

• October 30, 2014 – Planning Commission Hearing
• December 1, 2014 – City Council Hearing
• January 31, 2015 – Final Housing Element due to State Department of Housing and Community Development

The Planning Commission meeting is on Thursday, October 30, 2014, starting at 5 p.m. It will be televised on KCOM Channel 27 and live streamed on the City website. The meeting is open to the public and interested individuals may address the Planning Commission.

The Director of Planning, Kate Black has requested the following:

Send comments to me at kblack@ci.piedmont.ca.us, * send
them via US mail to Planning Commission, c/o Kate Black, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611, or drop them off at City Hall.

Kate Black, Planning Director, City of Piedmont, 120 Vista Avenue
Piedmont, CA 94611 – 510-420-3063

“To insure full compliance with the Brown Act, we ask that you not reply to all, but reply only to me. Thank you.” *< This statement comes from Kate Black, Director of Planning.

*Editors’ Note: Correspondence sent to the Planning Director needs to specify that it is for ALL Commissioners or Council members to ensure the correspondence is not exempt from the Brown Act or the Public Records Act. 

The following is a press release of October 24, 2014 –

Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Scam

The Piedmont Police Department would like to warn the citizens of Piedmont about a phone scam in which the perpetrators portray themselves as employees for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

On October 23, 2014, the unknown suspect(s), who portrayed themselves as Alameda County Sheriff’s Office deputies, contacted two different Piedmont residents by phone and demanded a transfer of cash which they claimed was owed to the agency. The suspect(s) informed the victims that they had missed jury duty and there was an outstanding warrant for their arrest. The suspect(s) then told the victims to place the amount owed for the warrant onto a prepaid card known as a “Vanilla” card to avoid being arrested.

Please note the following:

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office never asks for a credit card number over the phone or requests the use of a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer.

No law enforcement agency will call you and propose an immediate money transfer to avoid arrest.

Anyone who receives these type of calls is advised to contact their local law enforcement agency.

Anyone with information and/or inquiries related to this specific Piedmont case should contact:

Detective Willie Wright at (510) 420-3013.

–  The application deadline has been extended to October 31, 2014 –

The voter approved committee to oversee and advise on future school parcel tax rates requires three members to represent property owners in Piedmont.  It is unknown how many, if any, resident property owners have already applied, but the Piedmont Unified School District Board of Trustees has extended the application deadline to solicit applications for membership on the School Support Tax Sub-committee for Measure A, the school parcel tax based at $2,406 per parcel.

According to Superintendent Constance Hubbard:

The deadline for applications for the School Support Tax Advisory Subcommittee has been extended.  Applications are due by October 31, 2014.

Applications may be downloaded below or from the District website, and obtained by contacting the Superintendent’s office. Membership on this committee is open to property owners living in Piedmont who are not employed by the School District.

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION FORM  Due by October 31.

CLICK HERE FOR SUBCOMMITTEE CHARTER