PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, February 5, 2024
A Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, was held on February 5, 2024. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on February 1, 2024.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Cavenaugh called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Jennifer Cavenaugh and Councilmembers Jennifer Long, Conna McCarthy, and Tom Ramsey
Absent: Vice Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen
Staff: City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore, Deputy City Attorney Deepa Sharma, Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales, Planning and Building Director Kevin Jackson, Finance Director Micheal Szczech, Police Chief Jeremy Bowers, 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:
Dr. Steve Sidney expressed a concern for safety from a chemical application in the City by East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD).
CEREMONIAL MATTERS Mayor Cavenaugh read a proclamation in recognition of Black History Month that was accepted by residents Nairobi Kim, President of Piedmont Black Youth Family Collective, and Robert Dorsey.
Mayor Cavenaugh read a proclamation in recognition of the Lunar New Year that was accepted by residents Della Chow and Catherine Zhang of the Piedmont Asian American Club.
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Minutes Approval of City Council Minutes for 1/16/2024
Linda Beach Courts
Off-Leash Area
Temporary Closure
Consideration of Approval of the Temporary Closure of the Linda Beach Off-Leash Area Until Staff Determines that Conditions Allow for a Safe Reopening
(0745-0627)
Approval of New Job
Classification for the
Community Service
Officer
Consideration of a Resolution Approving a New Job Classification for the Community Service Officer; and Side Letter Agreement Between the City of Piedmont and the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 – General Unit to Reclassify the Animal Control Officer Classification to Community Service Officer Classification
(0750)
There was no Public Comment received.
City Council Minutes
February 5, 2024
Resolution 04-2024
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves Consent Calendar Items 1, 2, and 4.
Moved by Long, Seconded by Ramsey
Ayes: Cavenaugh, Long, McCarthy, Ramsey
Noes: None
Absent: Andersen
Approval of the
Purchase of Two
Police Patrol Vehicles
Consideration of Approval of the Purchase of Two Police Patrol Vehicles with Associated Outfitting to Replace End of Life Vehicles Units and Authorize the City Administrator to Execute Related Documents Councilmember McCarthy removed the item from the consent calendar to amend the emergency request for the purchase of a third vehicle after a traffic collision resulted in the loss of one fleet vehicle.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 05-2024
RESOLVED, that the City Council Approves the Purchase of Three Police Patrol Vehicles with Associated Outfitting to Replace End of Life Vehicles Units and Authorize the City Administrator to Execute Related Documents.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Cavenaugh, Long, McCarthy, Ramsey
Noes: None
Absent: Andersen
(0370)
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
Sustainability
Program Staff
Introductions
Planning and Building Director Kevin Jackson introduced the new Sustainability Program Manager, Deniz Ergun, and Sustainability Service Corps Climate Action Fellow, Allysa Romeo.
There was no Public Comment received.
Informational Update
on Greenhouse Gas
Emission Reduction
Goals
Ms. Ergun provided an informational update on the implementation of programs intended to work toward achieving the City’s updated greenhouse gas emission reduction goals by first recapping the background. She relayed that the implementation programs build upon existing items already completed or in progress, prioritization criteria, and three focus items related to a building electrification strategy, electric vehicle adoption and stations, and community engagement.
Public Comment was received from:
Garrett Keating noted many aspects of the electrification process and suggested forming a committee to support resetting goals, offering the community resources to make the process easier and timely, and moving full speed ahead with electrification and code development discussions. (0459)
2023-24 ADU
Planning Permit
Application Fee
Schedule
Mr. Jackson noted the zoning ordinance changes adopted by the Council that enabled the use of preapproved accessory dwelling unit (ADU) plans and housing production incentives and relayed the consideration of a resolution amending the 2023-2024 fee schedule to remove the ADU City Council Minutes
February 5, 2024
Planning Permit Application fee for ADU permit applications received under Piedmont City code section 17.38.075, Pre-approved Plans Incentive.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 06-2024
WHEREAS, the 2023-2031 6th Cycle Housing Element was adopted by City Council on March 20, 2023, and found by the California Department of Housing and Community Development to be in substantial compliance with State housing element law on November 9, 2023; and WHEREAS Housing Element program 3.F directs the City to prepare incentives for rent-restricted accessory dwelling units (ADUs); and WHEREAS, on June 20, 2023, the City Council adopted the Schedule of Fees and Charges, which included a fee of $989 for all ADU planning permit applications; and
WHEREAS, on September 5, 2023, the City Council approved amendments to the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines and to the City Code, including a new section 17.38.075, which established a pre-approved plans incentive for rent restricted ADUs; and
WHEREAS, given the limited time and effort by Planning & Building Department staff to process planning permit applications for these preapproved plans, City staff recommends a fee waiver for planning permit applications reviewed pursuant to section 17.38.075. This waiver would not negatively impact Planning & Building Department revenue nor staffing capacity. The department would continue to recover the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service, and a fee waiver would remove a potential barrier to applicants interested in constructing rent-restricted ADUs; and
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 following text is added to notation #4 in the footnotes of the City of Piedmont Schedule of Fees and Charges related to Planning & Building:
1. For applications filed pursuant to PCC Section 17.38.075, the planning application fee is waived.
SECTION 2. The Finance Director is hereby directed to codify the fee waiver in the Schedule of Fees and Charges, Exhibit A.
Moved by Long, Seconded by Ramsey
Ayes: Cavenaugh, Long, McCarthy, Ramsey
Noes: None
Absent: Andersen
(0465)
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Long announced that on February 20 the City Council will consider the Planning Commission’s recommendations for the adoption of the General Plan amendments, zoning ordinance update, and environmental impact report for the implementation of the Housing Element, and on March 1 there will be a study session for the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan.
City Council Minutes
February 5, 2024
Councilmember McCarthy announced that the community service survey on disaster preparedness will be posted on the City’s website and available for six weeks and Arbor Day/Earth Day is on April 26 at Community Hall.
Councilmember Ramsey announced the start of the girls’ basketball clinics and summer camp counselor online applications through March 15.
Mayor Cavenaugh announced the upcoming election on March 5, encouraged registrations, and noted Measure F on the ballot. She directed interested community members who would like to serve on the Alameda County Transportation Commission Paratransit Advisory and Planning Committee to reach out to City staff and announced that Grand Jury applications are due on April 15 and the Food Fest is on April 20.
ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Mayor Cavenaugh adjourned the meeting at 7:11 p.m.