“Maybe I’m missing something, but it seems that the Committee has missed the forest for the trees. The only questions I’m interested in hearing an answer to is whether anyone on the council asked “What happens if there is a cost overrun?“ and, if there is, “Who is going to pay for it?”.  The Council should never have approved a project for private benefit if there was a risk of the public having to pay for it  . . .”

Correspondence has been submitted to the Audit Sub-committee by Sanford H. (“Sandy”) Margolin (excerpted above), Neil Teixeira, Joe Hurwich, and Rick Schiller, members of the community who have followed the Sub-committee’s work and are displeased with the results of the investigation.  Rick Schiller points out a list of items omitted in the draft report and concludes the Committee’s work is a self-examination by two Council members and requires an independent audit to appropriately investigate the matter.  See all correspondence for 8.23.11 meeting. Click to read more »

On Wednesday, August 24 the Piedmont Unified School District begins the 2011-12 academic year.

Students attending Beach Elementary School will be transported via buses to Emeryville during the retrofit process of their school.   Beach Schoolmates will be held at the Havens Schoolmates facility during the one year construction period.

Big changes await students at Wildwood Elementary School where seismic upgrades are complete, along with new carpet, paint and flooring.  The Piedmont Educational Foundation has invited the community to celebrate the completion of  Wildwood  renovation work at an open house on Sunday, August 28 from 4 to 6pm .

City Administrator Responds to Requests for Additional Information

At the August 1 City Council meeting, a number of questions arose regarding the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) fund balances.  It was unclear to the Council, the CIP Review Committee, and members of the public, how much money was in the CIP fund and available for expenditure in FY 2011-12. The CIP list of projects, (p.3) provided by staff lacked information as to funding,  past  appropriations, or past expenditures for each project.  City Administrator Geoff Grote placed the CIP list on the Council August 1 agenda because the CIP appropriations had not been approved in June for the FY 20111-12 Budget.

Vice Mayor John Chiang requested that staff provide on-going Quarterly Reports on the CIP Fund indicating Fund balances – what money was taken out and what remained.  Council Member Keating noted the CIP items listed as deferred were informational, rather than approved appropriations.  The CIP Committee report noted:

“We found it difficult to follow the flow of dollars allocated to specific CIP projects, in particular the disposition of remaining funds upon completion or decision not to pursue a particular project. We recommend institution of clearer summary reporting by project, and can work with City finance staff to develop standard reports from existing sources to meet this need.” Click to read more »

Reduced Calendar for City Council, Park and Recreation Commission and City Committees

At its August 1 meeting the City Council decided that it would not be meeting on Monday, August 15.  Its next scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, September 5.  Similarly, the Park and Recreation Commissions are not meeting in August.  The next meeting of the Park Commission will be Wednesday, September 6 at 5:30pm.  The Recreation Commission met on July 20 and agreed to observe the traditional August recess.  They will next meet on Wednesday, September 21 at 7:30pm a few days before the September 25 Harvest Festival.  The Recreation Commission had also observed a June recess.

The Planning Commission met on August 8 for a lengthy meeting with a significant agenda.  The Civil Service Commission and some Committees meet “as required”.

 Piedmont Sports Hall of Fame is looking for great athletes, coaches, boosters . . .

The Piedmont Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF) announces that nominations for the Class of 2011-2012 are now open!

The public is invited to submit nominations for consideration between now and September 15, 2011. Former athletes, coaches, administrators and members of the community are eligible. Click to read more »

Shutting Down Mismanaged Program Costs Piedmont $146,000 – so far

The City of Piedmont has agreed to make a payment of $146,000, plus pay additional amounts in the future as needed, to shut down an organization located in Alameda County intended to provide programs to low-income residents.  The cost to fully resolve the debts and pending litigation of the Associated Community Action Program (ACAP) has not been estimated.  (Staff report of 5/2/11t; staff report of June 20, 2011, fn at p. 2.)  Piedmont’s obligation for these liabilities stems from its participation in a Joint Powers Agreement (with Alameda County and 11 other cities) creating the ACAP.

The demand for payment from Piedmont came after an Alameda County audit “confirmed the [ACAP] program has “grossly” mismanaged hundreds of thousands of dollars of grant monies and attributed the loss to lack of oversight by its governing board” according to an Oakland Tribune article.

An Alameda County audit reveals that the board only met twice in 2010, although it was required to meet at least once every 90 days.  The audit also reports that ACAP was not audited in 2010, despite the 2008 and 2009 audits showing “significant deficiencies in ACAP’s accounting controls.” Click to read more »

On Monday morning August 8, there was a delay of up to 10 minutes leaving Piedmont on westbound Moraga due to street paving work in progress.  There will be delays on other streets at certain hours until work is completed on Friday, August 19.

The following streets will have paving work this month:

• Moraga Avenue between Monticello and Pala Avenues
• Sea View Avenue between Mountain Avenue and Hampton Road
• Bonita Avenue between Oakland and Magnolia Avenues
• Hillside Avenue between Oakland and Magnolia Avenues
• Magnolia Avenue between Hillside and Highland Avenues

There will be posted traffic control signs, restrictions, and flagman. Drivers are urged to proceed slowly and carefully through these areas. Residents who live on these streets will be able drive to their homes ONLY when the traffic control personnel deem it to be safe for passage, or the construction activity has ended for the day. “No Parking” signs and restricted hours will be posted in the repaving zones. If vehicles are left on the street during the posted restricted times, the vehicle may be towed and impounded by the Piedmont Police Department. There will be large trucks and the equipment will generate considerable noise. Residents are asked to cooperate with all postings and instructions.

Final draft report released by Audit Subcommittee

The Piedmont City Council Audit Subcommittee will discuss a final draft report on utility under-grounding on Tuesday, August 23 at 7:30pm in the City Council Chambers.  The report extensively details contract administration and policy issues encountered by private utility under-grounding districts.  This meeting will also provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the draft. Click to read more »

On August 8, the Planning Commission devoted three hours to the hearing on the Linda Avenue townhouse project for the defunct PG&E substation site before voting to recommend that the City Council approve it and its Environmental Impact Report (EIR).  This was a milestone in a three year process that began with a March 28, 2008 application.  Click to read more »

Urging Fiscal Reform Prior to Parcel Tax Vote

At its August 3^rd  meeting, the Municipal Tax Review Committee (MTRC) voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council postpone a city-wide vote to approve the City’s parcel tax until the June 2012 election.  Currently, the parcel tax is scheduled for a vote in the February 2012 election.  The MTRC, in exchange for its support of the parcel tax, is offering to give the Council more time to act on its stern recommendations to control City expenditures and begin implementing them prior to the June vote.

A draft report, adopted unanimously by the Committee, spells out in stark terms the financial pitfalls facing the City and the urgent need to rein in expenses.  Click to read more »