PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Special and Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, May 16, 2022 Special and Regular Sessions of the Piedmont City Council were held on May 16, 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 May 12, 2022.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Teddy Gray King called the meeting to order at 6:35 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, Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales, Finance Director Michael Szczech, Parks & Project Manager Nancy Kent, Deputy City Clerk Lisa Argue, and Assistant City Administrator / City Clerk John Tulloch
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Minutes Approval of Meeting Minutes for 05/02/2022
Resolution for WHEREAS, on October 4, 2021, pursuant to the requirements of Government Teleconference Code Section 54953(e)(1)(B), the City Council passed Resolution 77-2021, Meetings which made the required findings to authorize the use of streamlined notice requirements for teleconference meetings for the City Council and all Commissions, Committees, or advisory bodies of the City of Piedmont; and WHEREAS, the gubernatorial declaration of a State of Emergency regarding the COVID-19 pandemic remains in place, and COVID-19 continues to threaten the health and lives of Piedmont residents and there is scientific consensus that variants of COVID-19 are highly transmissible in indoor settings; and WHEREAS, AB 361 requires that every thirty (30) days, the City to reconsider the circumstances of the emergency and review whether it continues to directly impact the ability of the members to meet safely in person, and the circumstances described in Resolution 77-2021 continue to persist; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Piedmont does hereby resolve, declare, determine, and order as follows:
SECTION 1. The above recitals are correct and are material to this Resolution and are incorporated into this Resolution as findings of the City Council.
SECTION 2. The City Council desires to continue to meet by teleconference in accordance with Government Code Section 54953(e).
SECTION 3. The City Council has reconsidered the findings made in Resolution 77-2021, and finds that:
(i) The state of emergency continues to directly impact the ability of the members to meet safely in person; and
(ii) State or local officials continue to impose or recommend measures to promote social distancing.
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May 16, 2022
2 SECTION 4. The City Council reconfirms and incorporates the findings made in Resolution 77-2021 regarding the need for the Council and all Commissions, Committees, or advisory bodies of the City of Piedmont to meet by teleconference.
(0440)
2 nd Reading of Ord. 764 2nd Reading of Ordinance 764 N.S. – Adoption of Military Equipment Use N.S. – Adoption of Policy
Military Equipment Use (0705)
Policy
Volunteer Resolution Adoption of a Resolution Honoring Volunteers for 2019, 2020, and 2021 (0890)
These was no Public Testimony on these items.
Resolution No. 33-2022
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves the Consent Calendar as noted.
Moved by Cavenaugh, Seconded by McCarthy
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, King, Long, McCarthy
Noes: None
Absent: None
Street Tree Pruning Public Works Director briefed the Council on the City’s process for maintaining Contract Award street trees.
There was no Public Testimony on this matter.
Resolution No. 34-2022
RESOLVED, that the City Council awards the FY2021-2022 Street Tree Pruning Project to Arborworks, LLC in the Amount of $145,370.
Moved by Cavenaugh, Seconded by McCarthy
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, King, Long, McCarthy
Noes: None
Absent: None
(0045)
Animal Services Vehicle City Administrator Sara Lillevand and Police Chief Jeremy Bowers relayed Replacement the rationale behind the decision to purchase a non-electric vehicle for animal services.
There was no Public Testimony on this matter.
Resolution No. 35-2022
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves the purchase of a replacement Animal Services Vehicle in the Amount of $107,811.23.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, King, Long, McCarthy
Noes: None
Absent: None
(0045)
Pool Contractor Ms. Lillevand briefed the Council on the process for pre-qualification for Request for potential contractors for the Piedmont Community Pool project and the outreach Qualifications which will take place to market the RFQ to a broad and diverse audience.
Issuance
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3 There was no Public Testimony on this matter.
Resolution No. 36-2022
RESOLVED, that the City Council approved the Issuance of a Request for Qualifications for Pre-Qualification of Contractors for the Piedmont Community Pool Project.
Moved by Long, Seconded by Andersen
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, King, Long, McCarthy
Noes: None
Absent: None
(0270-1022)
PUBLIC FORUM Public Testimony was received from:
Dai Meagher requested an increase in allotted time for review of and public comment on the draft Housing Element.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS Mayor King presented a proclamation honoring the Piedmont Highlanders Robotics team for its participation in the 2022 FIRST robotics World Championships in Houston, Texas. Charlie Lambert thanked the Council for its recognition.
Mayor King presented a proclamation recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month in Piedmont. Sara Kaplan thanked the Council for the recognition.
Mayor King presented a proclamation recognizing the 40+ Women’s 3.5 Daytime Tennis Team for its first-place finish in the USTA Northern California Sectional Championships. Midori Antebi and Cathy Papahadjopoulos thanked the Council for the recognition.
Mayor King Presented a proclamation recognizing May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
Dearing Family Ms. Lillevand detailed the history of the Dearing family, who were the first Commemoration African American homeowners in Piedmont and were driven out of the city by community and government actions. She thanked the Council for its leadership in passing Resolution 60-2020, “A Resolution Unequivocally Rejecting Racism”, which directs the City’s actions to move forward to create a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive community in Piedmont.
Ms. Lillevand indicated that by commemorating the Dearing family adjacent to their residence, it would be meaningful and generate healthy community conversation and awareness, as well as provide a foundation for the City’s commitment to examining and owning the City’s history. Ms. Lillevand provided council with a revised recommendation that the Council direct the Park Commission to explore and make recommendations on opportunities to memorialize the Sidney Dearing family history at the triangle park area at the intersection of Magnolia and Wildwood Avenues, including outreach to the Dearing family.
Public Testimony was received from:
Lois Corrin, Meghan Bennett, Sheila Leunig, Rob Lautt, Susy Struble, and Andrea Ruiz-Esquide enthusiastically supported the initiative, engaging in City Council Minutes
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4 community conversation, and developing a comprehensive plan to memorialize the history of racism in Piedmont with consideration for the Dearing family’s viewpoint and the work being done by the State reparations task force.
The City Council thanked staff for the recommendation, noting that it had been originally suggested by former Vice Mayor Tim Rood. Councilmembers discussed various concepts on ways to create a comprehensive plan for diversity, equity, and inclusion; how to elevate the voices of those harmed; and work that Piedmont could do to move forward this important work. The City Council directed staff to return to Council with a discussion of proactive measures to promote an inclusive community.
Resolution No. 37-2022
RESOLVED, that the City Council directs the Park Commission to explore and make recommendations to the City Council on opportunities to memorialize the Sidney Dearing family history at the Triangle Park area at the intersection of Magnolia and Wildwood Avenues.
Moved by Long, Seconded by Cavenaugh
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, King, Long, McCarthy
Noes: None
Absent: None
(0745-0370)
Collaborative Gun Police Chief Jeremy Bowers reviewed the collaborative gun safety initiative Safety Efforts between Brady United Against Gun Violence, the Piedmont Unified School District, and the Piedmont Police Department (PPD). He noted his department’s commitment to raise community awareness of gun safety.
Steve Roland of Brady United Against Gun Violence, presented information on the history of the organization as well as statistics on gun violence in the United States and how it compares internationally. He provided information on the partnerships between Brady and local school districts to implement AB452, which requires students be educated about safe gun storage. He invited the Council to help amplify the gun safety message and support the program.
Randall Booker, Piedmont Unified School District Superintendent, remarked on the district’s shared interest in educating families on gun handling and storage with the intent to save lives, and to protect children and City residents. He announced that the district would begin communication campaigns on this topic this week.
The Council deliberated on safety education programs, PPD statistics for firearm registration, public outreach, gun storage ordinances, surrendered guns, gun cable locks available at the PPD, and Civil Restraining Orders.
There was no Public Testimony.
The City Council directed staff to agendize an item for a proclamation acknowledging National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 3. (0785-0370)
Appropriation for Ms. Lillevand reminded Council of its previous approval of the installation Electric Vehicle of four electric vehicle charging stations on Magnolia Avenue and the Charging Stations authorization provided to spend up to $75,000 to facilitate the installation. She indicated that, due to civil improvements required to meet American with City Council Minutes
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5 Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, staff is recommending an additional appropriation of $30,000 to complete the project.
Mr. Gonzales provided information on the necessity of the additional appropriation. He also indicated that, though construction will not take place for several months, there should be nor further cost escalation because the contracts would be let by East Bay Community Energy shortly.
There was no Public Testimony.
Resolution No. 38-2022
RESOLVED, that the City Council appropriates an additional $30,000 from the Facilities Maintenance Fund to fund the Electric Vehicle Charing Stations on Magnolia Avenue and associated civil improvements required to meet American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Cavenaugh
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, King, Long, McCarthy
Noes: None
Absent: None
(0088)
REPORTS AND Vice Mayor Cavenaugh announced May is Mental Health month, the 50th ANNOUNCEMENTS Anniversary of the signing of Title IX, which guarantees equal sporting opportunities for girls, and that Eileen Ruby is this year’s recipient of the Piedmont Unified School District’s Arthur Hecht Award.
Councilmember Andersen announced summer Recreation Department programming and employment opportunities. She also announced upcoming track meets for Piedmont Middle School and congratulated the boys’ volleyball team for completing the spring season.
Councilmember McCarthy announced the resignation of Park Commission Chair Amber Brumfiel, thanking her for work on the Commission. She also noted the presentation on the Housing Element process received by the Park Commission.
Councilmembers McCarthy, Anderson, and Long reported on the success of the Play Like a Girl+ event, complimented the Recreation Department for organizing the event, and noted the high level of community interest and participation in the event.
Mayor King announced the Council’s consideration of the proposed FY 2022-23 city budget, beginning with the workshop on Saturday, May 21st. She also announced that the City Council and Board of Education held a joint meeting to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.
Councilmember Long announced that the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve the draft Housing Element, which will come to the Council for consideration in June. She urged the public to review the document and share comments with the Council.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor King adjourned the meeting at 9:37 p.m.