PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Special and Regular Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, September 5, 2023 A Special Closed Session of the Piedmont City Council in the Emergency Operations Center, 403 Highlands Avenue at 4:30 p.m., and a Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, was held on September 5, 2023. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agendas for these meetings were posted for public inspection on August 31, 2023.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Cavenaugh called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and no reportable action from the Closed Session.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Jennifer Cavenaugh, Vice Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen and Councilmembers Jennifer Long, Conna McCarthy, and Tom Ramsey Staff: City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore, City Attorney Michelle Marchetta Kenyon, Director of Planning and Building Kevin Jackson, Recreation Director Chelle Putzer, Recreation Supervisor Liam Kelly, Recreation Supervisor Eva Phalen, Communications Program Manager Echa Schneider, Deputy City Clerk Lisa Argue, and Interim City Clerk Sheri Hartz CEREMONIAL ITEMS Mayor Cavenaugh recognized the Teen Sidekick program and participants and read a proclamation to announce Teen Sidekick Day on September 5, 2023. Recreation Supervisor Eva Phalen reviewed the Teen Sidekick programming and volunteer hours, thanked the volunteers, and read aloud a testimonial. Ella Pucket, Sidekick volunteer shared her experience as a Sidekick and encouraged participation.
PUBLIC FORUM Public Testimony was received from:
Damian Menscher suggested the Council delegate park utilization to the Parks Commission for a more a holistic approach.
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Minutes Approval of City Council Minutes for 08/07/2023 Piedmont Community
Pool Project
Construction Budget
Amendment
Approval of an Amendment to the Authorized Total Construction Budget for the Piedmont Community Pool Project to Add $421,550 For the Cost of Competition Lighting, Scoreboard and Timing System with Funding Raised by the Piedmont Recreational Facilities Organization (PRFO) Dracena Park ADA
Access
Approval of a Design for ADA Access to Dracena Park’s Off-Leash Area There was no Public Testimony.
Street Tree Pruning
Project
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF PIEDMONT AS FOLLOWS:
1. The improvements associated with the FY2022-2023 Street Tree Pruning Project are hereby accepted.
2. The Public Works Director is authorized to release the Performance and Labor & Material surety posted with this project; and to hold the Maintenance Bond for a period of one year from the date of this resolution, at which time the Public Works Director is authorized to release said bond if the improvements remain in good condition and there are no issues to be resolved.
City Council Minutes
September 5, 2023
3. The Public Works Director is directed to file a Notice of Completion concerning the Project with the Alameda County Clerk’s Office within ten (10) days of the date of this Resolution.
There was no Public Testimony.
Resolution 55-2023
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves the Consent Calendar Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Andersen
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, McCarthy, Long, Ramsey
Noes: None
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
1st Reading of
Ordinance 769
PUBLIC HEARING Introduction and 1st Reading of Ordinance 769 adding division 17.67 to Chapter 17 of the Piedmont Municipal Code for Ministerial Design Review Permits, amending Division 17.38 and Section
17.64.020 pertaining to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units, and adding provisions for the use of Pre-approved Plans, amending various sections of the Piedmont Municipal Code to update references to Piedmont’s Design Guidelines and Standards and clarifying application requirements, and amendments to implement objective standards for Multifamily and Mixed-use Commercial and Residential Buildings; and Consideration of amendments and adoption of the City of Piedmont Design Guidelines (to be renamed “City of Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines) (recommended CEQA action: exempt under Public Resources Code section 21080.17, CEQA Guidelines sections 15282(h), 15301 and 15303)
The item was introduced by City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore and then turned over to Senior Planner Pierce Macdonald to present the City Code and Design Guidelines draft amendments to implement Multifamily Objective Design Standards (MODS) and Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) incentive programs. She reviewed the items for Council’s consideration, background, Piedmont MODS, ADU incentives, public engagement, program objectives, Ordinance 769, resolution adopting Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines, staff recommendations, public outreach activities, and next steps.
Mayor Cavenaugh opened the public hearing at 7:00 p.m.
There was no Public Testimony.
Mayor Cavenaugh closed the public hearing at 7:00 p.m.
The Council acknowledged the work done by staff on this matter, the importance of the objective design guidelines, and secured grant funding.
Resolution 56A-2023
RESOLVED, that the City Council finds the proposed actions exempt from CEQA guidelines.
Moved by Ramsey, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, McCarthy, Long, Ramsey
Noes: None
(0705)
City Council Minutes
September 5, 2023
Resolution 56B-2023
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves the first reading and introduction of Ordinance No. 769, adding Divisions as cited, amending section(s) of the Code to update references, and clarifying application requirements, as amended by staff.
Moved by Ramsey, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, McCarthy, Long, Ramsey
Noes: None
(0705)
Resolution 56C-2023
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves the adoption the City of Piedmont’s Design Standards and Guidelines as amended by staff.
Moved by Ramsey, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, McCarthy, Long, Ramsey
Noes: None
(0705)
Linda Beach Tennis
Court Use and
Restriping
Consideration of Future Use and Restriping of Linda Beach Tennis Courts (Recommended CEQA Action: Exempt Under Sections 15301, 15323, 15601(b)(3))
Ms. Bayon Moore noted extensive study and discussion for the future use of the Linda Beach Tennis Courts by the Recreation Department, Subcommittee, and residents. She reviewed the structure and desired outcomes of the working group, good neighbor policies, and staff recommendations from the agenda report.
Recreation Director Chelle Putzer provided a chronology of events, data and results from the Linda Beach Tennis Court use trial period.
Public Testimony was received from:
Lester Ellis, Jeff Trowbridge, Gary Robinson, Frannie Lahey Teare, Jeff Nguyen, Joe Phillips, Lisa Tuck, Teddy King, Rick Schiller, Mary Purcell, Wilfred Tang, Amy Lyons, and Austin Goddard supported pickleball programming. Amy Valleri suggested a compromise.
Lisa Neville, Kara Christenson, Bruce Jaffe, Kurt Fleischer, Julie Nevis, and Brian Kotlyar opposed the proposal, asked for Council to reconsider the location, and suggested adjusted hours, physical mitigation efforts on the court walls, a sound study, the latest and best practices, and crafting a proposal with residents.
Resolution 57-2023
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves staff’s full recommendation as presented to dedicate and restripe Linda Beach Tennis Courts for pickleball play, with the amendment under “Hours” to remove “*During Daylight Savings Time, play shall be extended by one hour to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday” and instead accommodate Daylight Savings Time by shifting hours allotted.
Moved by Ramsey, Seconded by Andersen
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, McCarthy, Long, Ramsey
Noes: None
(0745-0625)
City Council Minutes
September 5, 2023
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Vice Mayor Andersen announced the League of Women Voters upcoming morning presentation and afternoon Town Hall on September 13 and Harvest Festival on September 24.
Councilmember McCarthy announced Coffees, Cops, and Cars on September 23 and a quarterly public safety report presentation on September 18.
Councilmember Ramsey encouraged residents to keep an eye out for COPS on the Block visiting neighborhoods throughout the city.
Mayor Cavenaugh announced the Movie in the Park on September 22, Week of Wellness at the high school Wellness Center starting September 20, Piedmont Ed Foundation Parent Reception on September 19, and Piedmont Art Walk on October 1 and thanked staff for assisting with the Welcome to Piedmont event.
ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Major Cavenaugh adjourned the meeting at 9:07 p.m.