Monday, May 11, 2020 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81126595213

Join Mayor Robert McBain and City Administrator Sara Lillevand for a virtual town hall meeting on Monday, May 11th at 6:30 p.m. The Mayor and City Administrator will be discussing the effects of COVID-19 on Piedmonters and will take your questions.

The virtual town all will be on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81126595213  and will also be broadcast on KCOM and streamed on the City’s web site. Community members can submit questions through the Zoom platform for via email to publiccomment@piedmont.ca.gov.

Bond Measure on November 2020 Ballot ?

Community participation in setting priorities ?

The Piedmont Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee (BAFPC) has recently been charged by the Piedmont City Council with coming up with ways to fund Piedmont public projects. 

According to public comments, funding is possibly a bond measure for the November 3, 2020 Piedmont ballot.  The Council will need to make a decision on placing a bond measure on the November ballot no later than August. 

To date, there have been no public meetings or surveys to determine the list of desired projects which Piedmonters would favor. 

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have already been spent by the City Council on consultants and staff work proposing and planning special recreation projects.  Recreation projects have focused on a new Municipal Pool and Aquatic Center, Linda Beach Park play areas, and Coaches Field.  Other city facilities are also on a priority list. 

Very recently, 20th century Fire and Police facilities and readiness have been added to the Council list of possible projects needing funding sources. Public input has not been solicited on these projects. 

Infrastructure improvements to roadways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters and  undergrounding of overhead wires are not listed on the City Council priority list for funding.

Where is the money going to come from?

BAFPC to advise the City Council on funding sources.

For the first time, at-home citizens will be able to view and participate in the BAFPC deliberations and recommendations. Typically, the meetings have been held away from cameras with no minutes produced of the meetings.  The BAFPC Chair generally writes the Committee recommendations that are forwarded to the City Council. 

The Committee advises on tax levies, bond measures, financial planning, and budgetary matters. See items listed on the May 7, 2020 meeting agenda below.

Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee Thursday, May 7, 2020 7:00 p.m. Via Teleconference

Members of the public can participate in the meeting by:

Computer or smart phone: Click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88058053315

Telephone: Dial (669) 900-9128 and enter webinar/meeting number 880-5805-3315

Full meeting agenda and participation details click below:

 2020-05-07 Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee.

Back-up documentation and staff reports for the agenda have not been publicly disseminated. 

 Relevant prior staff report:

42020Consideration of Actions Related to the Planning Process for Possible City Facility Renovation Projects

The League of Women Voters of Piedmont will host a virtual Annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

The guest speaker, internationally renowned epidemiologist and Piedmont resident, Dr. George Rutherford will follow the business portion of the meeting at 4:00 pm. Dr. Rutherford has been in academic medicine and public health since 1995. His interests have largely focused on the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases of public health importance, now including COVID-19.

This online event is open to all. Participants may join for just the speaker portion of the meeting.  Join the Zoom meeting prior to 4 p.m. and listen in as the Board finishes its business portion of the meeting. 

If you do not already have the Zoom app, you will be prompted to download it.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/96364676996
Meeting ID: 963 6467 6996

For more information, visit the LWVPiedmont.org and click the LVWP 2020 Annual Meeting and Guest Speaker link.

Due to the COVID-19 orders, the Monday, 6:30 p.m., May 4 Special Council Meeting will be conducted via telephone and zoom. The public may participate in a limited manner as noted in the meeting announcement linked below.  The items on the May 4  agenda are labor negotiations concerning all Represented Labor Groups: Piedmont Firefighters Assn.; Piedmont Firefighters Assn., Fire Captains Unit; and Piedmont Police Officers Assn., plus potential litigation.

542020 council-current-agenda (1)

COVID -19  ORDERS RELAXED IN PIEDMONT

LANDSCAPING, CONSTRUCTION, PARKS, AND OFF LEASH AREAS

READ PIEDMONT’S NEW REQUIREMENTS > 2020-05-01 COVID-19 Shelter In Place Order Update

Go to https://piedmont.ca.gov/government/covid-19

Two Council seats are on the November 2020 Piedmont ballot.

Piedmont will hold a City Council election on November 3, 2020 at the California General Election (Presidential Election).

Candidacy Preparation

Mayor Robert “Bob” McBain having served two terms on the City Council will be “termed out” according to the Piedmont City Charter, and he cannot remain on the City Council or seek re-election.  His retirement  leaves an entirely open seat for a new council member. 

An additional seat is also up at the 2020 election.  Council member Jennifer Cavenaugh will have served one four year term and is eligible to seek a second four year Council term on November 3.

Citizens of Piedmont interested in serving on the Piedmont City Council can consider their qualifications, support, and willingness to serve for a four year term on the Piedmont City Council.

Serving as a member of the City Council is a volunteer position without compensation.  Only authorized expenses and travel are provided for the council members. Time spent on city matters varies tremendously by council members.  The time expended may average between 5 to 40 hours per week depending on current issues and council member efforts.

Usually, there are 2 to 3 scheduled public meetings per month with outside meetings adding considerably to council member schedules.  Council members also field resident inquiries and comments. 

Campaign election committees generally form prior to or during the summer of an election year.  Public facilities, including City owned addresses and property, may not be used for campaign purposes.

Candidate filings will begin in Piedmont City Hall July 2020 and end in August.  For detailed and specific information on candidacy requirements and dates, contact:

City Clerk John Tulloch at 510/420-3040.

Piedmont City Charter:

ARTICLE VIII. Elections SECTION 8.01 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS General Municipal elections for the election of officers and for such other purposes as the City Council may proscribe, shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in even numbered years. (Charter Amendment 11/04/2014)

Editors’ Note:  PCA does not support or oppose candidates for public office or ballot measures. 

Sue Smegal, former Piedmont Middle School teacher, two-term Board of Education member, and long-time volunteer in the schools and community, will be honored with this year’s Arthur Hecht Volunteer of the Year Award. The award is presented each year to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the community and to Piedmont’s youth through volunteer service over a period of many years. The Board of Education will present the award at its meeting on May 13th .

Read the full Press Release below:

Sue Smegal Honored 42020