On June 1 the Piedmont Park Commission meeting will start with a tour at 5 pm of the Japanese Tea House to view the recently renovated building and new deck.   The Commission will then go to City Hall for the completion of their agenda at the regularly scheduled time of 5:30 pm.   Some items on the agenda are the following:

• Update on the CIP Committee’s recommendations to City Council at the May 21, 2011 budget hearing. (See prior CIP narrative, spreadsheet and staff’s wish list for possible projects here.)
  
• Update on the Moraga Canyon Sports Fields Project
• Update on the possible use of goats for weed abatement in Piedmont open spaces.

• PUSD may look at mid-year cuts or additional deferrals
• MOU between PUSD and the Association of Piedmont Administrators (APSA) Approved
• Facilities Use and Fees – Witter Field, etc.
  
• Applications Solicited for Citizens’ Oversight Committee

And more – read the full report from June Monach Click to read more »

A reassuring message to the community from Piedmont Unified School District Superintendent concerning assault which occurred on school property. Click to read more »

Police Chief John Hunt announces an arrest of burglary suspects shortly before a resident returns home – with the help of an alert neighbor. Click to read more »

The following provides highlights from the May 21,2011 Piedmont City Council Budget Workshop (not intended to be a complete summary).  Due to a shortage of time at the workshop, the Administrative/KCOM budget was not presented and will be discussed on June 6th at the regular City Council meeting. All statements refer to Fiscal Year 2011-12, unless otherwise noted.

The FY 11-12 Proposed Budget will receive further Council consideration and provide an opportunity for the public to participate on June 6. Final approval is expected on June 20, 2011.

Revenues

Piedmont’s Property Tax and Parcel Tax revenue will continue to remain relatively constant, as has been the case throughout recent difficult years, generating approximately $9 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

After dropping in FY 08-09 and 09-10, the Real Property Transfer Tax has recovered in FY 10-11.  It is expected to remain steady at $2.5 million.

The total proposed budget is $21.6 million.  Proposed expenditures exceed revenues by $142,000. Click to read more »

The Piedmont Unified School District is seeking new members for openings on the Citizens’ Oversight Committee for the Seismic Safety Bond Program for Piedmont schools.  The position will start September, 2011. The deadline for submitting an application is July 14, 2011 at 4:30 p.m.

Links: Current Members, Charge and purpose of the Committee; Committee webpage.

Piedmont’s Centennial in 2007 opened our eyes to the rich history of our town.  Here is an opportunity to rediscover some stories of Piedmont 100 years ago.  You are invited to join retired City Clerk, Ann Swift, for a look at some of the historic homes near our city center.  In addition you will hear some  fascinating tales about early residents.  Meet at City Hall at 10 am on Saturday, June 11, for a stroll around some of Piedmont’s Centennial homes.   The book Cottages and Castles will be available for purchase, but the walk is free.  Please call Mary Ann Benson (510-595-4015) to reserve a space.

Piedmont’s Beach Elementary School parents will be fund raising to create a “green schoolyard” in conjunction with the completion of the schools seismic retrofitting in 2012.  Their tentative plans for the schoolyard include a shaded lunch area, shaded seating, murals, a water garden, a butterfly garden, a garden classroom, a garden arch, and plantings.  See pictures: Click to read more »

The alternative plans for Moraga Canyon can be reviewed on the city website:

http://www.ci.piedmont.ca.us/recreation/docs/mcsfp/2011-02-24_planning_comm/oraftik.pdf

http://www.ci.piedmont.ca.us/recreation/docs/mcsfp/2011-01-19_rec_comm/blackwell_alt.pdf

Another plan can be obtained from the Recreation Department – this is the EIR for Coaches Field which found no significant impacts from the development of regulation soccer and baseball fields and relocation of the Corporation Yard to Blair Park.  That plan was not implemented, but its design for Coaches Field shows how that site can be modified to accommodate the large soccer field/baseball field proposed for Blair Park.   Just like Blair Park, the Coaches EIR identified a need to get pedestrians safely across Moraga Avenue so traffic analyses currently being prepared for Blair Park can likely be used to complete the Coaches EIR.

Environmental impact, aesthetics and construction costs aside, Ms. Peters does identify two keys differences between the proposals that bear on the costs to the city of Moraga Canyon development.  One is underground infrastructure. The Blair proposal requires relocation of private and city sewer and water lines and the construction of underground storage vaults to store storm water runoff. The construction and operation costs of this infrastructure has not been determined (sic).   The Coaches proposal does not require this infrastructure. Likewise, the city takes on the liability of earthquake and other damage to this infrastructure and potentially to the private residences above Blair Park. The Coaches proposal has virtually none of this liability.

A special meeting for a final decision on the design for the Moraga Canyons Sports Fields project has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 14 in City Hall.

Editor’s Note: Councilman Keating’s comment is in response to a question regarding publication of alternative plans for Coaches Field and Blair Park.  Read original post and comments at: Opinion: Working Together on a Plan to Enlarge Coaches Field

Questions on the Budget submitted to the City Council by a resident:

1.  5 Year Cost Projections: Many cities do a five year cost projection.  Has Piedmont done such a projection?  If so, will costs exceed revenues in the next five years?

2.  General Fund Reserve: The City’s general fund reserve is quite low, compared to generally recognized reserve requirements for cities of its size.  How will the City build reserves back to a level that will ensure the City can handle a fiscal emergency?

3.  Employee Contributions to Pension Benefits: The costs for 3 percent at 60 for miscellaneous employees and 3 percent at 50 for public safety employees will likely rise sharply in the future.  Are the projected increases in these costs incorporated into the budget?  Are there plans for negotiating with employees to have them pay for the employee share of their California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) costs?  How much would the City save if all employees paid their share of PERS? Click to read more »