PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, January 16, 2024
A Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, was held on January 16, 2024. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on January 11, 2024.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Cavenaugh called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
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, Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales, Planning and Building Director Kevin Jackson, Recreation Director Chelle Putzer, Finance Director Micheal Szczech, Communications Program Manager Echa Schneider, Senior Planner Pierce Macdonald, Parks and Project Manager Nancy Kent, and City Clerk Anna Brown
PUBLIC FORUM Public Comment received from:
Madeline Winard noted her residence is just outside the Piedmont district lines, expressed concern for her safety walking a long distance at night to get home, and asked for a parking permit within the Piedmont boundary. Mayor Cavenaugh directed Ms. Winard to email staff regarding her concerns.
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Minutes Approval of City Council Minutes for 12/18/2023 Linda Beach Courts
Renovation Project
Re-bidding
Authorization
Rejection of All Bids for the Linda Beach Courts Renovation Project and Authorize Re-Bidding of the Project
(0270-1050)
City Council Liaison
Assignments
Acceptance
Acceptance of City Council Liaison Assignments January 16, 2024, through December 31, 2024
(0085)
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 01-2024
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves Consent Calendar Items 1, 2, and 4.
Moved by Long, Seconded by McCarthy
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, Long, McCarthy, Ramsey
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Mayor Cavenaugh requested Consent Calendar Items 3 and 5 be removed for further discussion.
City Council Minutes
January 16, 2024
Piedmont Park Bridge
Replacement and
Authorization Rebidding
City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore introduced the item that addressed the acceptance of the withdrawal of a low bid by Bay Construction and rejection of all bids for the Piedmont Park Bridge replacement and authorization of re-bidding of the project.
Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales recapped the project background, noted emergency bridge repairs in 2023 resulting from a storm, replacement options, and the first-choice material of wood. He noted the permit process, soft cost concerns, and proposed solution for prefabricated material. He relayed that a truss style bridge was chosen because it has lower upfront and soft costs, lacks environmental permitting and follow-up, and is more durable with a longer life cycle. Mr. Gonzales reviewed the bridge design, associated costs with permits, prefabricated material life cycle, Park Commission review timeline and concerns, foundation replacement, and material maintenance.
There was Public Comment received from:
Robert Kelly, Ignacio Barandiaran, Ronna Kelly, and Sarah Royce expressed concern for the solution, approach, materials, costs, size, and environmental impacts and suggested replacing the bridge as is and reusing the existing foundation.
Resolution 02-2024
Resolved that the City Council accepts the withdrawal of a low bid by Bay Construction and the rejection of all bids for the Piedmont Park Bridge replacement and authorizes the re-bidding of the project.
Moved by Long, Seconded by Ramsey
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, Long, McCarthy, Ramsey
Noes: None
Abstain: None
(0745-0757)
Homeless Housing,
Assistance, and
Prevention Program
State Block Grant
Funding
Ms. Bayon Moore introduced the Informational Report on Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program State Block Grant Funding to Alameda County, reviewed the approach and the City’s work with partner agencies who meet annually for a point-in-time count to capture the unhoused population, allocation process, and Federal Block Grant Funding allocation of $76,000 to the City, of which $53,000 is available in an initial disbursement cycle. She noted the City’s proposal to use the funds to join up with Bay Area Community Services (BACS) as part of regional solution.
Senior Planner Pierce Macdonald responded to questions from Council and noted seven housing element programs that the agreement helps achieve.
There was no Public Comment received.
(0525)
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
Fiscal Year 2024-2025
City Council Special
Meeting Calendar
Ms. Bayon Moore introduced the item and relayed that staff is proposing a series of Special Meetings beginning in March for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 in preparation for the budget preparation and adoption on June 17.
There was no Public Comment received.
City Council Minutes
January 16, 2024
The item was informational and required no additional action. (0165)
Piedmont’s Measure F
Resolution
Ms. Bayon Moore introduced a resolution in support of the City of Piedmont’s Measure F. She relayed that after several public discussions, the City Council acted in November 2023 by renewing the City Services Tax and Measure F designation. She reviewed the proposed Service Tax increase of 20 percent and 12-year term intended to preserve existing service levels and augment and strengthen public safety and noted the prepared educational materials and a series of upcoming education sessions.
She reviewed the revenue source percentage of the General Fund budget and monthly increase yield that will afford for 911 dispatch operator staff and modern technology applications.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 03-2024
WHEREAS, at the regular City Council meeting of November 20, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution 72a-2023, placing a measure to renew Piedmont’s Municipal Services Parcel Tax on the ballot for the Special Municipal Election of March 5, 2024, subsequently designated as Measure F; and
WHEREAS, Measure F is a continuation of Piedmont’s Municipal Services Parcel Tax (“City Services Tax”). The City Services Tax funds critical city services. It is a yearly assessment on improved lots based upon type of use and, in most cases, parcel size; and
WHEREAS, the City Services Tax has been in existence for more than four decades. It was first approved by voters in 1981, again in 1984, and every four years since that time; and
WHEREAS, the City Services Tax was last approved by Piedmont voters in 2020 and is set to expire on June 30, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City Services Tax funds core City services, including police, fire and paramedic services, the maintenance of parks, greenspaces, stormwater infrastructure, streets, and public facilities, in addition to planning, library, recreation and other community services; and WHEREAS, the Piedmont Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee evaluated the City’s 10-year financial projections and maintenance needs, concluding that long-term stable funding is essential for core City services. The proposed 12-year term allows for sound and fiscally responsible planning, as well as voter approval; and
WHEREAS, the City Services Tax will contribute 7% of General Fund revenues in Fiscal Year 2023/24, and without the renewal of this measure, service level cuts across departments will be required; and WHEREAS, Measure F amounts to an estimated increase of $12-21 per month for most property owners; and
WHEREAS, the 20% rate increase proposed by Measure F would bring in an additional $545,000 in revenue for Fiscal Year 2025/26, and would allow the City to improve 911 capabilities, increase critical dispatch staffing City Council Minutes
January 16, 2024
support for Police and Fire emergency response, and invest in technology, such as expanded Automated License Plate Readers, to enhance City services and public safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Piedmont does hereby endorse Measure F.
Moved by Andersen, Seconded by McCarthy
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, Long, McCarthy, Ramsey
Noes: None
Abstain: None
(0435)
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Long announced a City Council Study Session for the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan on January 22 at 6 p.m. in Community Hall and a Special Meeting of the Piedmont Planning Commission on January 29 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers to consider a recommendation regarding the General Plan Amendment Zoning Ordinance revisions and environmental review related to the implementation of the Housing Element. She reminded the community that all Planning and Building Permit applications must be submitted using the City’s eTrackit portal found on the City’s website.
Councilmember McCarthy stated that the Walter Hood presentation is on the City website and updates are forthcoming, Arbor Day and Earth Day are on April 26 at Community Hall, tree planting is planned for the Dracena Reforestation Project and funds are raised by the Piedmont Beautification Foundation; Heritage Tree nominations are available on the City website, Linda Beach Park remains closed for safety issues, Crocker Park Pathway project is going to bid, and the Sequoia at the Bellevue Circle has been removed.
Councilmember Ramsey announced a partnership between the City and USA Pickleball to host a demonstration day on January 24 to launch the new quiet equipment certification category at the Linda Beach pickleball courts, and a Schoolmates kids’ night out for grades K-5 this Friday.
Vice Mayor Andersen thanked everyone involved in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.
Mayor Cavenaugh shared a certificate of special congressional recognition from Congresswoman Barbara Lee presented to the City of Piedmont in recognition of the 27th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.
Additionally, she announced the Piedmont Asian American Club Lunar New Year’s Eve event on February 9 and the Readmont book choice and April event hosted by the Piedmont High School English and Library departments.
ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Mayor Cavenaugh adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m. in memory of Penelope “Penny” Knowland Robb.