PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Special and Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, March 21, 2022 Special and Regular Sessions of the Piedmont City Council were held on March 21, 2022, both in person and via teleconference, in accordance with the provisions of Government Code 54953. In accordance with Government Code Section 54957(b), the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on March 17, 2022.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Teddy Gray King called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Teddy Gray King, Vice Mayor Jennifer Cavenaugh, and Councilmembers Betsy Smegal Andersen, Jennifer Long, and Conna McCarthy Staff: City Administrator Sara Lillevand, City Attorney Michelle Marchetta Kenyon, Fire Chief David Brannigan, Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales, Director of Planning and Building Kevin Jackson, Recreation Director Chelle Putzer, Special Assistant Paul Benoit, Sustainability Program Manager Alyssa Dykman, Finance Director Michael Szczech, Deputy City Clerk Lisa Argue, and Assistant City Administrator / City Clerk John Tulloch
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Meeting Minutes Approval of Meeting Minutes for 03/07/2022 There was no Public Testimony.
Resolution No. 19-2022
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves the 03/07/2022 Meeting Minutes.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Andersen
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, King, Long, McCarthy
Noes: None
Absent: None
Audit Report Vice Mayor Cavenaugh and Mayor King complimented the Finance Department staff for their excellent work on the year financial statements.
There was no Public Testimony.
Resolution No. 20-2022
RESOLVED, that the City Council accepts the City’s Independent Auditor’s Reports for the fiscal year 2020-2021.
Moved by Cavenaugh, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, King, Long, McCarthy
Noes: None
Absent: None
(0100)
PUBLIC FORUM Public Testimony was received from:
Hope Salzer requested that the City Council consider declaring a Climate Emergency.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS Recreation Director Chelle Putzer introduced newly hired Recreation Coordinator Akil Danjuma followed by Mr. Danjuma sharing his vision for recreation programming.
City Council Minutes
March 21, 2022
2 REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
2022 Arbor Day
Celebration Verbal
Update
Park Commission Chair Patty Dunlap provided an update on the upcoming 2022 Arbor Day celebration, which has been expanded to a weeklong event this year.
Public Testimony was received from:
Hope Salzer shared her enthusiasm for the 2022 Arbor Day celebration and dedication and creativity of the Recreation and Parks Commission. (0225)
Piedmont Community
Pool Schematic Design
Process
City Administrator Sara Lillevand summarized the conceptual design process for the Piedmont Community Pool. She detailed the process which had been used to develop cost estimates for the construction of the design and that the estimated cost was approximately $6,000,000 greater than the available funds.
She noted that construction costs are projected to increase in the Bay Area at a rate of more than 1 percent per month for the foreseeable future. She noted that these increased cost estimates necessitated changes to the design, and that the design team prioritized keeping water space and reducing the size of building.
Clarence Mamuyac and Marco Esposito reviewed the 2016 Master Plan and subsequent design phases, the new plan improvements with an increase in green space, an additional seat terrace, retaining wall reductions, and simplified perimeter, as well as retained project elements related to the water and pool and building footprints and the elimination of the multipurpose rooms on the second level of the building. He further shared the revised floor plans on the pool deck and roof deck/tennis court levels, sketches, an additional pavilion, and non-slip surface safety measures.
Public Testimony was received from:
Helen Gerken, Reid Settlemier, John Savage, Hope Salzer, Rik Krumins, and Sophia Ware supported the revised design as well as accelerating the design phase of the process. Speakers also supported maintaining the 25-yard recreation pool lap lane length. Speakers also suggested tapping into private fundraising to fund additional costs, as well as electrification of the pool.
Alice Sung suggested moving the entry wing closer to Magnolia Avenue and moving the L shaped wing away from the tennis courts.
Garrett Keating asked questions regarding the possibility of electrification of the facility.
The City Council deliberated on the matter at length, discussing project cost drivers and cost escalation risk management processes. The Council discussed possible changes to the proposed design to increase usability of the pool as well as the possibility of preparing the building for the addition of a second floor at a later date.
Mr. Mamuyac noted budget constraints to prepare the building for a projected second floor addition and agreed to meet with the structural engineering team to identify requirements to accommodate a second floor and prepare a memorandum to share with the City Council. Mr. Mamuyac also agreed to City Council Minutes
March 21, 2022
3 bring back costs and programing considerations related to 20 vs 25-yard lane length in the recreation pool.
Despite the high costs related to the Piedmont Community Pool design plan, the City Council expressed pleasure with the new pool design proposal and supported prioritizing the aquatic needs of the community.
Resolution No. 21-22
RESOLVED, that the City Council directs staff to advance a modified schematic design for the Piedmont Community Pool project into design development stage; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that staff is further directed to attempt to maintain the 25 yard length of the lap lanes in the recreation pool and to explore private & grant funding sources for the Piedmont Community Pool project.
Moved by Andersen, Seconded by McCarthy
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, King, Long, McCarthy
Noes: None
Absent: None
(0270-1022)
Energy Use Report for
the Piedmont
Community Pool
Schematic Design
Ms. Lillevand provided a brief overview of the high-level findings of the Guttmann and Blaevoet Consulting Engineers Energy Report including the schematic design package, zero carbon emissions feasibility, related projected costs, and payback periods.
Sustainability Program Manager Alyssa Dykman presented an overview of the City’s Climate Action 2.0, specifically the goals relative to greenhouse gas emissions and how they relate to the Community Pool.
Mr. Mamuyac and Ted Tiffany presented the energy report for the proposed conceptual design, noting that electrifying the facility would cost approximately an additional $600,000 over traditional gas heating.
The City Council asked a series of questions on the prospect of electrification of the facility.
Public Testimony was received from:
Reid Settlemier supported using natural gas energy.
Margaret Ovenden, Hope Salzer, Alice Sung, and Garrett Keating supported using electric energy and funding opportunities.
After hearing public testimony, Ms. Lillevand stated that the Council will consider whether the pool will be electrified at its regular meeting on April 4, 2022. The Council invited community members to attend the April 4, 2022 City Council meeting and provide comment on the item prior to the Council making a decision.
(0270-1022)
Mayor King left the meeting at 10:20 p.m. due to illness and Vice Mayor Jennifer Cavenaugh chaired the remainder of the meeting.
City Council Minutes
March 21, 2022
4 COVID-19 Report Fire Chief David Brannigan provided an update on the effects of the COVID19 emergency on the City of Piedmont, including case rates and hospitalization statistics. He also discussed testing statistics and opportunities in Piedmont.
The Council thanked staff and the community for reacting to the changing landscape and sadness for lost friends and family members along the way.
There was no Public Testimony.
(0440)
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Andersen announced an upcoming Pool Advisory Committee meeting and Recreation Department programming.
Councilmember Long announced an upcoming Housing Element community workshop hosted by the Planning Department and the release of the draft 2023-2031Housing Element in early April.
Vice Mayor Cavenaugh announced an upcoming inclusive community housing event, the Piedmont Food Fest, and the 3
rd Annual Art Walk.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Vice Mayor Cavenaugh adjourned the meeting at 10:33 p.m.