PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting Minutes for Monday, April 18, 2022
A Special Session of the Piedmont City Council was held on April 18, 2022, in the City Hall Council Chambers at 120 Vista Avenue, 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 April 14, 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, Police Chief Jeremy Bowers, Fire Chief David Brannigan, Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales, Director of Planning and Building Kevin Jackson, Recreation Director Chelle Putzer, Finance Director Michael Szczech, Deputy City Clerk Lisa Argue, and Assistant City Administrator / City Clerk John Tulloch
MAYOR’S PRESENTATION Highlights of Mayor Teddy Gray King’s State of the City Address:
Mayor King opened her address with optimism, acknowledgments, and gratitude, noting historic infrastructure improvements, investments in City facilities, re-imagined policies, regional housing efforts, more walkable and bikeable streets, greenhouse gas emission reductions and climate crisis efforts.
Mayor King emphasized public safety, noting the leadership of Police Chief Jeremy Bowers and the entire Police Department in creating a three-year strategic plan, implementing a public safety camera program, updating the Automated License Plate Reader program, reviewing Police Department calls for service through an equity lens, as well as the success of the juvenile officer program. She thanked the Fire Department, led by Chief David Brannigan, for its efforts during COVID-19, especially securing testing in Piedmont five days a week. She noted the department’s excellent response time, mutual aid, dispatch team, and forthcoming modern technology. Mayor King extended an abundance of thanks and gratitude to everyone.
Mayor King recognized equitable programming provided by Recreation Director Chelle Putzer throughout the pandemic, the support provided by all Recreation department staff, especially Cora Wood, the partnership with the Piedmont Recreational Facilities Organization and programming enjoyed by her family.
Mayor King wished a speedy recovery to retired Public Works Director Chester Nakahara before recognizing Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales and Parks and Programs Manager Nancy Kent for adjusting the vision and care of open space to accommodate the drought and climate change. She noted traffic calming efforts throughout the City, the adoption of the Piedmont Safer Streets Plan, and generous contributions by the Piedmont Beautification Foundation.
Furthermore, Mayor King expressed pride in the City’s efforts to protect the environment by hiring Sustainability Coordinator Alyssa Dykman, introducing a composting and mulch program with the assistance of StopWaste, enacting City Council Minutes
April 18, 2022
2 environmentally progressive policies for new home construction and sales, procuring 100 percent of electricity through East Bay Community Energy, and installing electric vehicle charging stations in the center of town.
Mayor King noted that sound housing policy is sound environmental policy, fair housing policy is racial justice, and sound housing policy makes for equitable education. She then discussed regional housing mandates, projected economic, employment, and cultural amenity growth, and challenges related to meeting housing obligations. She thanked the community and staff for its involvement in the important issue of housing, specifically noting Senior Planner Pierce Macdonald and Planning & Building Director Kevin Jackson.
She also thanked Mark Enea at the Planning & Building front desk.
With great optimism and excitement, Mayor King expressed confidence in the City and community to maintain the beauty and distinctiveness of Piedmont as it grows, and her interest in fair, equitable, and collaborative growth.
Mayor King recognized the work of Finance Director Michael Szczech, City Attorney Michelle Kenyon, Human Resource Administrator Stacy Jennings, and City Administrator Sara Lillevand that led to a thorough review of all City relations and four-year labor agreements with all City employees.
Mayor King acknowledged a strong working relationship between the City and the Piedmont Unified School District throughout the pandemic. She then told the story of her mom, Teddy Vasquez, to illustrate the power of a community pool and a place where lives are transformed. She recounted the efforts of Councilmember Betsy Smegal Andersen, former Mayor Bob McBain, and former Recreation Chair Steve Roland to secure public support for the Measure UU bond which is financing construction of the new Piedmont Community Pool. She shared that the design phase is underway and that the Council had voted to support full electrification of the pool.
In closing, Mayor King recalled the events that led to the exile of Sidney Dearing and his family in 1924 and suggested the Park Commission as an appropriate venue for community conversation on how to best memorialize the Dearing family. She described Piedmont’s governing style, and expressed gratitude, excitement, and honor as Mayor of Piedmont.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor King adjourned the meeting at 6:42 p.m.