Regular Agenda:

1. Approval of Park Commission Minutes for June 2, 2021

2. Update on EBMUD Pipeline Replacement Project on Manor Drive

3. Update on Highland-Guilford Steps and Handrail Project and Adjacent Mature Coast Live Oak

4. Update on Drought Response in Parks and Open Spaces

5. Update on Regulation of Glyphosate Products in the City of Piedmont

6. Update on Heritage Tree Signage in the Parks

7. Update on “Walking the Perimeter of Piedmont” – A Self -Guided Walking Tour

8. Monthly Maintenance Report: Park, Open Space, and Street Tree Update for the Months of June and July 2021 Announcements, old business a

READ the full Agenda and ways to participate, staff reports, and minutes by clicking the link below:

Final Publish Park Agenda 2021-08-04

The draft version of the Piedmont Safer Streets (PSS) plan, an update to the 2014 Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, is now available for public review. Let us know what you think, especially about Chapter 4 – Recommended Projects, and Chapter 5 – Prioritization and Implementation. The deadline for public comments is Monday, August 23, 2021. Appendices noting all written public comments received prior to July 1, 2021 is also available for your review.

Submit written comments by August 23, 2021 via email to saferstreets@piedmont.ca.gov or U.S. Mail:  Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611.

Please consider providing your feedback so the city can move forward with prioritizing and implementing future projects. For more information or any questions, please contact Associate Planner Gopika Nair at saferstreets@piedmont.ca.gov or visit www.piedmontsaferstreets.org to view all past discussions and documents leading up to the issuance of the draft plan.

$691,230  plus $252,619 ($943,849) for housing consultants – 

Piedmont city staff recommends that the City Council approve a $252,619 Agreement  for services related to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the City’s 6th Housing Element Update covering the period 2023 through 2031.  The  Piedmont City Council, unlike numerous similar Bay Area cities, has acceded to the suggested new housing to be built in Piedmont.  City expenditures are being made now in an effort to expedite the construction of 587 new housing units.  Piedmont currently has approximately 4,000 housing units. 

The consultant recommended by staff for approval by the City Council is Rincon Consultants, Inc. (Rincon).  An Optional Task (see Exhibit A in the report) is a Study of Piedmont Sewer Capacity.

Read the report & agreement here.

On May 3, 2021, the City Council approved an earlier consultant agreement addressing the 587 new housing unit allocation in the amount of $691,230 with Lisa Wise Consulting, Inc. (LWC), to provide for professional services to update the Housing Element and prepare for the additional Piedmont housing units. 

The consultant agreement will be considered by the City Council on Monday, August 2.  Participation and timing details can be found on the City Council Agenda linked here.

Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee

Wednesday, August 4, 2021 3:00 p.m. Via Teleconference –

Regular Agenda – 

1. Overview of Aquatics Bond Project

a. Review of Current Market Conditions

b. Recommended Bond Structure

c. Review of Bond Issuance Timetable

2. Consideration of a Recommendation to City Council on Whether to Pursue a Negotiated or a Competitive Method of Bond Sale Announcements,

Supporting staff reports were not distributed with the Agenda. 7/30/2021

Click link below for Agenda Schedule and Participation details:

2021-08-04 Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee Agenda

Masking Even for Vaccinated Individuals

California Department of Public Health and CDC on Masking by Vaccinated people

Note: This guidance is effective July 28, 2021 and supersedes all prior face coverings guidance.

With the emergence of the more contagious Delta variant in California which now accounts for over 80% of cases sequenced, cases and hospitalizations of COVID-19 are rising throughout the state, especially amongst those that remain unvaccinated.

To achieve universal masking in indoor public settings, we are recommending that fully vaccinated people also mask in indoor public settings across California. This adds an extra precautionary measure for all to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, especially in communities currently seeing the highest transmission rates. Local health jurisdictions may be more restrictive than this guidance.

Masks are required for all individuals in the following indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status:

• On public transit[1] (examples: airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-shares) and in transportation hubs (examples: airport, bus terminal, marina, train station, seaport or other port, subway station, or any other area that provides transportation)

• Indoors in K-12 schools[2], childcare[3]

• Emergency shelters[4] and cooling centers[5]

Masks are required for all individuals, in the following indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status (and surgical masks are recommended):

• Healthcare settings[6]

• State and local correctional facilities and detention centers[7]

• Homeless shelters[8]

• Long Term Care Settings[9] & Adult and Senior Care Facilities[10]

Additionally, masks are required* for unvaccinated individuals in indoor public settings and businesses (examples: retail, restaurants, theaters, family entertainment centers, meetings, state and local government offices serving the public).

Read the complete California Department of Public Health July 28, 2021 order here.

300% Increase in New Covid Cases in US

Newest Covid 19 advisory from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

June 19–July 23, 2021, COVID-19 cases increased approximately 300% nationally, followed by increases in hospitalizations and deaths, driven by the highly transmissible B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant* of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

CDC recommends all unvaccinated persons wear masks in public indoor settings. Based on emerging evidence on the Delta variant (2), CDC also recommends that fully vaccinated persons wear masks in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission. Fully vaccinated persons might consider wearing a mask in public indoor settings, regardless of transmission level, if they or someone in their household is immuno compromised or is at increased risk for severe disease, or if someone in their household is unvaccinated (including children aged <12 years who are currently ineligible for vaccination).  July 27, 2021

Read the complete CDC July 27, 2021 report here

July 29, 2021 – According to the Washington Post, internal CDC analysis indicates that vaccinated people infected with the delta version, even if they are asymptomatic,  carry high viral loads.  They are able to transmit the virus to others, including unvaccinated children.   This CDC report may be made public at some point, but nevertheless was the basis for the CDC’s July 27 reversal of its advise on masking of vaccinated people.  Read the article here.

Pfizer’s Vaccine Effectiveness Declines to 84% after Six Months

Some Piedmonters were fully vaccinated more than 6 months ago.

The effectiveness of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine steadily declines over time, dropping to about 84% for vaccinated people about four to six months after getting their second dose, according to CEO Albert Bourla.

The comments, made on Wednesday on CNBC’s “The Exchange,” are based on the findings of a new company-funded study that has yet to be peer reviewed. It comes as the drug-maker clashes with U.S. health officials over the need for a third Covid vaccine dose to boost immunity protection.

The study found the vaccine’s effectiveness was strongest, at 96.2%, between one week and two months after receiving the second dose. It declined an average of 6% every two months, according to the study, which signed up more than 44,000 people across the U.S. and other countries.

CNBC July 28 20213:36 PM EDT

Piedmonters have long advocated undergrounding of wires as a primary interest to improve community appearance and energy reliability. Now they wonder if this major non-urban undergrounding project will delay urban projects.

Multiple Year Undergrounding 10,000 Miles of PG&E Power Lines in Highest Fire-Threat Area .

Undergrounding also reduces Public Safety Power Shutoffs during dry, windy conditions and requires less vegetation management.

City of Piedmont
Public Safety Committee Agenda
Thursday, July 22, 2021

5:30 p.m.
Via Teleconference

COVID 19 ADVISORY NOTICE

Consistent with Executive Orders No. N-25-20 and No. N-29-20 from the Executive Department of the State of California and the Alameda County Health Official’s Shelter in Place Order, the Public Safety Committee meeting will not be physically open to the public and committee members will be teleconferencing into the meeting via ZOOM Teleconference.To maximize public safety while still maintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can participate in the meeting in several ways:
 Computer or smart phone: Click https://piedmont-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/83460292749
 Telephone: Dial (669) 900-9128 and enter webinar/meeting number 834-6029-2749
To participate in the meeting by providing public comment, members of the public may use the ZOOM platform to make live, verbal public comments. To speak to the committee, click the “Raise Your Hand” button when the item on which you would like to comment is called. If you are connected to the meeting by phone, please dial *9. When it is your turn to speak, the City Clerk will call your name and unmute your line, at which point you will have three minutes to address the Committee. After the allotted time, you will then be re-muted. Instructions of how to “Raise Your Hand” is available at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/205566129%0D-Raise-Hand-In-Webinar

Any member of the public who needs accommodations should email the City Clerk at
cityclerk@piedmont.ca.gov or call (510) 420-3040 who will make their best efforts to provide reasonable accommodations to provide as much accessibility as possible while also maintaining public safety in accordance with the City procedure for resolving reasonable accommodation requests. Information about reasonable accommodations is available on the City website at https://piedmont.ca.gov.

Call to Order  – Roll Call

Public Forum This is an opportunity for members of the audience to speak on an item not on the agenda. The 10 minute period will be divided evenly between those wishing to address the Committee.

Regular Agenda
1. Approval of Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes for 5/27/2021
2. Update on PPD Strategic Plan
3. Update on Racial Identity Profiling Act (RIPA)
4. Update on Data Analysis of PPD Calls for Service
5. Update on ALPR & Public Safety Cameras
6. Update on Community Policing Events

7. Update on School Liaison Activities
8. Update on COVID-19 and Discussion on Related Public Safety Initiatives

Announcements, old business and consideration of future agenda items

Adjourn

Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Public Safety Committee are available for public inspection in the Police Department during normal business hours.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (510) 420-3040. Notification at least two business days preceding the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II]. 

The draft Piedmont Safer Streets Plan is now available for public review and comment. The City would love to hear what you think. Please send the city your comments in writing to SaferStreets@piedmont.ca.gov through Sunday, August 22, 2021.

City staff and the project consultant will give a presentation on the contents of the plan at this month’s meeting of the Piedmont Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC). The meeting is this THURSDAY, JULY 22, at 5:30 pm. You may find the meeting agenda here.

For questions about the Piedmont Safer Streets project or about the PBAC, contact Gopika Nair (City of Piedmont), at SaferStreets@Piedmont.ca.gov or at (510) 420-3054.