PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting Minutes for Monday, December 19, 2022
A Special Session of the Piedmont City Council was held December 19, 2022, in the Community Hall, 711 Highland Avenue, Piedmont, CA, 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 December 15, 2020.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor King called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Teddy Gray King, Vice Mayor Jennifer Cavenaugh and Councilmembers Betsy Smegal Andersen, Conna McCarthy, Jennifer Long, and Tom Ramsey
Absent: None
Staff: City Administrator Sara Lillevand, City Attorney Michelle Marchetta Kenyon, Police Chief Jeremy Bowers, Fire Chief Dave Brannigan, Planning & Building Director Kevin Jackson, Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales, Recreation Director Chelle Putzer, Deputy City Clerk Lisa Argue, and Assistant City Administrator / City Clerk John Tulloch
CONSENT CALENDAR
Resolution for
Teleconference
Meetings
WHEREAS, on October 4, 2021, pursuant to the requirements of Government Code Section 54953(e)(1)(B), the City Council passed Resolution 77-2021, 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:
City Council Minutes
December 19, 2022
2 (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.
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)
Election Result
Certification
WHEREAS, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters has provided the official canvass of the regular municipal election held November 8, 2022, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council now finds and declares that the whole number of ballots cast and numbers of votes received are as set forth in the attached canvass, that Betsy Smegal Andersen, Tom Ramsey, and Jennifer Long have been elected to the Piedmont City Council and that Ruchi Medhekar and Lindsay Thomasson have been elected to the Board of Education.
(0435)
There was no Public Testimony on the matter.
Resolution No. 80-2022
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves the Consent Calendar as noted.
Moved by Cavenaugh, Seconded by Andersen
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, King, Long, McCarthy
Noes: None
Absent: None
CEREMONIAL ITEM:
Comments by and Appreciation
of Outgoing Mayor
Councilmember McCarthy thanked Mayor King for her leadership since 2005, recapped her contributions during her tenure on the City Council and Recreation Department Commission, and as Environmental Task Force Chair. She noted their common interest in positively impacting others through government service, and roots of political engagement, improved economic and educational opportunities, equity, and inclusion.
Mayor King expressed her appreciation for City volunteers, staff, her colleagues, and those in attendance. She indicated that serving on the City Council was the privilege of a lifetime.
Members of Council and staff thanked Mayor King for her service and support to the City and staff.
There was no Public Testimony on the matter.
SPECIAL SESSION The Council considered the following items of special business:
Swearing in of New
Board of Education
Members
In accordance with the results of the November 8, 2022 General Municipal Election, Assistant City Administrator / City Clerk John Tulloch administered the oath of office to newly elected Board of Education Members Lindsay Thomasson and Ruchi Medhekar.
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3 There was no Public Testimony on the matter.
Comments by New
Board of Education
Members
Ms. Medhekar noted her family’s background with the Constitution and thanked the community for the opportunity to make it more special, noted her focus on turning the community into the world that we want to see and doing her best for the students. Additionally, she thanked all those who supported her along the campaign journey. Ms. Thomasson echoed Ms. Medhekar’s comments, expressed gratitude for the support they received during campaign, and noted and outlined opportunities that are ahead and her excitement for community collaboration.
Swearing In In accordance with the results of the November 8, 2022 General Municipal Election, Mr. Tulloch administered the oath of office to newly elected City Councilmembers Betsy Smegal Andersen, Jennifer Long, and Tom Ramsey.
There was no Public Testimony on the matter.
Election of Mayor Vice Mayor Cavenaugh requested nominations for Mayor of the City of Piedmont.
There was no Public Testimony on this matter.
Resolution No. 81-2022
RESOLVED, the City Council elects Jennifer Cavenaugh to serve as Mayor of the City of Piedmont.
Moved by Andersen, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, Long, McCarthy, Ramsey
Noes: None
Absent: None
Election of Vice Mayor Mayor Cavenaugh requested nominations for Vice Mayor of the City of Piedmont.
Resolution No. 82-2022
RESOLVED, that the City Council elects Betsy Smegal Andersen to serve as Vice Mayor of the City of Piedmont.
Moved by Long, Seconded by McCarthy
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, Long, McCarthy, Ramsey
Noes: None
Absent: None
Comments by New City
Council Members
Vice Mayor Andersen thanked the community, staff, her colleagues, campaign team, mentors, and family, school board members, and Mayor King for their support and leadership and welcomed the newly elected Councilmembers and Board of Education members. Councilmember Long thanked her family, friends, supporters, and colleagues, staff, and the community for their support.
She expressed excitement to serve the Piedmont community. Councilmember Ramsey recognized the high bar set by the most recent City Council, expressed his excitement to join the team and thanks for their support, mentorship, and encouragement, and shared his commitment to work hard together with the Council, staff, and community.
There was no Public Testimony on this matter.
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December 19, 2022
4 Comments by New
Mayor
Mayor Cavenaugh recognized her mother’s values of family and community and shared her own mission to be a role model for girls. She noted the percentage of women in local and State government and school board leadership, relayed her gratitude for community support and former and outgoing school board members, welcomed the newly elected, and relayed excitement to work together to serve the community. In closing, she thanked her colleagues, staff, and family, and noted future City plans.
There was no Public Testimony on this matter.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Cavenaugh adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m.