In light of recent events in Japan, residents are reminded that Piedmont’s Police and Fire Departments offer an email alert system for public safety announcements.  Residents who register with the City will receive notices regarding public safety situations, planned power outages, and street closures at the same time information is sent to the press.  To begin receiving dispatches, residents may send an email to publicsafetydispatches@ci.piedmont.ca.us.  This program is an initiative of the Piedmont Public Safety Committee.

A Letter Identifying Issues Common to Undergrounding and Blair Park Construction Administration

Dear Council Members,

City staff and the Council have failed to exercise proper due diligence in allowing a private group to control the planning process for the use of public land. The project proponents have sold the citizens of Piedmont a bill of goods, claiming their project is a “gift” and repeatedly claiming it will be built and maintained “at no cost to taxpayers,” yet public records clearly show the City has already spent hundreds of thousands toward the environmental review, Click to read more »

An Open Letter Submitted by the Piedmont Education Foundation and the Associated Parents Clubs of Piedmont

With spring upon us here in Piedmont, chilly gray images of picketing demonstrators in front of the Wisconsin capitol look particularly bleak.  Public unions, governments and taxpayers are warring over budget shortfalls and engaged in pitched battles.  Not so here.  While Piedmont’s education funding gap was not unique in this economic crisis, the capacity of our stakeholders to work together to find solutions is quite otherwise. Click to read more »

The Piedmont City Council should be honored by the  extensive campaigns to win their favor and vote.  Given the great polarization on the issue of whether or not to develop Blair Park, perhaps it is time to allow all citizens of Piedmont to express their preference on this consequential project in the privacy of the voting booth rather than leaving the decision to five people, the members of the City Council. Click to read more »

Property owners in the Piedmont Hills Underground Assessment District have been scratching their heads, wondering when their undergrounding project will be completed. The City contributed $2.1 million from the General Fund in 2009 and 2010 to make up the difference between the bid specifications and actual work needed.  The Council acted to pay the difference between what property owners committed to and real cost to  expeditiously complete the project.  However, the construction work which began nearly two years ago has yet to be completed. Telephone poles hung with AT&T and Comcast lines remain in place in the District.

A letter submitted on Mini-Roundabouts and impact on bicyclists

View proposed Roundabout and Mini-Roundabout

Click to read more »

Piedmont Civic Association Commentary on the Decision-making Process

The decision on the Blair Park proposal requires careful consideration by the Council as Piedmont’s fiduciaries. Piedmont residents have been unhappy because of  recent debacles costing almost $3 million of City funds.  To date, the Blair Park and Coaches Field proposals have cost the City over $200,000.  And no stable figures have been produced on the fiscal implications of the project for Piedmont taxpayers.

To satisfy the burden of due diligence and fulfill its “fiduciary responsibility” in considering this consequential proposal, the Council must examine all of the costs and independently assess liability risks in a long term plan.  The Council needs to know the risks and the costs before accepting a project in any form.

Piedmont property owners want to be protected from another risky liability situation as occurred in the Piedmont Hills Underground District bailouts, Crest Road collapse, and Hampton-Sea View litigation.

Letter to the City Administrator on Proposed Roundabouts for Blair Park/Moraga Canyon

Re: Conventional Roundabouts and Mini-Roundabouts

Dear Mr. Grote,

At the February 24th Planning Commission meeting for the Moraga Canyon Sports Field Project, PRFO Architect Clarence Mamuyac and traffic Engineer Michael Moule misrepresented their new “traffic calming” design solutions for Moraga Avenue-as a “Conventional Roundabout”.   All dialogue & PRFO slide show photos were only of “large” Conventional Roundabouts. Click to read more »

Piedmont Community Church Forum on “Piedmont Goes Green,” co-sponsored by PCC’s newly forming Green Team and Piedmont CONNECT.  Sunday March 13, 5:00-6:30 p.m., in the Chapel at PCC’s Christian Education Building (400 Highland Avenue, across Highland Way from Valero and up the steps).  CONNECT members will be presenting on topics that include: The Culture of Re-use, Planning for Zero-Waste Events, Sustainable Gardening, and our Electricity Monitoring Project. Interfaith Power and Light will also give a  presentation at the forum.

“Now’s the Time! Local Resources to Improve Your Home Energy Efficiency,” co-sponsored by the City of Piedmont, Piedmont CONNECT, and the League of Women Voters of Piedmont.  Tuesday March 29 at 7 p.m. at the Piedmont Veterans Hall – 401 Highland Avenue.  Could you use help acting on your intentions to lower your household’s energy use?  Come find out about three local resources that offer concrete ways to get started:  Energy Upgrade California in Alameda County (rebates, incentives and other resources for home energy efficiency improvements), California Youth Energy Services (simple energy audits and help switching out light bulbs and other basic steps), and Piedmont CONNECT’s electricity monitoring project (community members joining together to become more knowledgeable about our electricity use, collectively reducing our greenhouse gas emissions).

Highlights from the March 9, 2011 Board Meeting submitted by June Monach, Board of Education Trustee

Key Agenda Items:

• Board Votes 5-0 to Approve 3-Year Contract Agreement Between Teachers and School District
• Board Votes 5-0 to Approve Particular Kinds of Services (PKS) List for Employment Notification Process
• Board Votes 5-0 for Positive Certification of District’s Ability to Meet Financial Obligations 2010/11 – 2012/13 Click to read more »