PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, May 20, 2024
A Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, was held on May 20, 2024. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on May 16, 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, Vice Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen, and Councilmembers Jennifer Long and Conna McCarthy
Absent: Councilmember Tom Ramsey
Staff Present: City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore, City Attorney Michelle Marchetta Kenyon, Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales, Planning & Building Director Kevin Jackson, Communications Program Manager Echa Schneider, Senior Planner Pierce Macdonald, Assistant Planner Joshua Muller, Parks & Project Manager Nancy Kent, and City Clerk Anna Brown PUBLIC FORUM Public Comment was received from:
Deborah Leland asked the City Council to prioritize the inclusion of housing in the planning process for City land in the Civic Center and suggested hiring a consultant.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS Mayor Cavenaugh presented a proclamation in recognition of the Highlander Robotics Team 8033. Vaughn Khouri, 8033 Team Captain, recognized the team effort, opportunities to excel in leadership and technical fields, and accomplishments by the team.
Mayor Cavenaugh presented a proclamation in recognition of the Piedmont High School Track Team and declared May 20, 2024, PHS Track Team Day.
A team representative reviewed the team composition and path to success and congratulated the students. Breah Bell, Sprint Captain, expressed confidence the team will do great things moving forward.
Mayor Cavenaugh presented a proclamation in recognition of the Piedmont High School Swim Team and declared May 20, 2024, PHS Swim Team Day.
Tom and Taylor Rolefson, high school seniors, recognized the team’s great season and accomplishments.
Samah Itani, AC Transit Transportation Planner, presented the Board Policy 501 Update for bus stop guidelines and reviewed the policy overview for existing bus stop policies and guidance, the reason for the policy update, internal and external stakeholder engagement, guiding principles, and timeline and next steps.
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Minutes Approval of the Minutes for the Special and Regular City Council Meetings of 4/29/2024 and 05/06/24
City Council Minutes
May 20, 2024
Adoption of a
Resolution
Designating Projects
for SB-1 Road
Maintenance and
Budget Modification
Approval of a Resolution Designating Projects for Senate Bill 1 (SB-1) Road Maintenance Project for Fiscal Year 2024-25 and Authorization for the Finance Director to Modify the Budget to Reflect Anticipated SB-1 Revenues (Recommended CEQA Action: Exempt Under CEQA Guideline Section15301)
(1000)
Resolution for
Dracena Park ADA
Pathway Project
Approval of a Resolution Accepting Improvements for the Dracena Park ADA Pathway Project
(0745-0410)
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 24-2024
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves Items 1 – 3 of the Consent Calendar as presented.
Resolution 24a-2024 (Item 2)
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (Chapter 5, Statutes of 2017) was passed by the Legislature and Signed into law by the Governor in April 2017 to address the significant multi-modal transportation funding shortfalls statewide; and WHEREAS, SB 1 includes accountability and transparency provisions that will ensure the residents of the City of Piedmont are aware of the projects proposed for funding in our community and which projects have been completed each fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, the City must adopt by resolution a list of projects proposed to receive fiscal year funding from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA), created by SB 1, which must include a description and the location of each proposed project, a proposed schedule for the project’s completion, and the estimated useful life of the improvement; and WHEREAS, the City will receive an estimated $288,144 in RMRA funding in Fiscal Year 2024-25 from SB 1; and
WHEREAS, this is the 8th year in which the City is receiving SB 1 funding which will enable the City to continue essential road maintenance and rehabilitation projects, safety improvements, repairing and replacing aging bridges, and increasing access and mobility options for the traveling public that would not have otherwise been possible without SB 1; and WHEREAS, the City has undergone a public process to ensure public input into the City’s community transportation priorities and project list; and WHEREAS, the City used a Pavement Management System to develop the SB 1 project list to ensure revenues are being used on the most high-priority and cost-effective projects that also meet the community’s priorities for transportation investment; and
WHEREAS, the funding from SB 1 will help the City maintain and rehabilitate numerous roadways, and add active transportation infrastructure throughout the City this year and dozens of similar projects into the future; and
WHEREAS, the 2023 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment found that City of Piedmont streets and roads are in “Lower Risk” condition and this revenue will help increase the overall quality of the road system and over the next decade will bring streets and roads into a “good “condition; and
City Council Minutes
May 20, 2024
WHEREAS, the SB 1 project list and overall investment in local streets and roads infrastructure with a focus on basic maintenance and safety, complete streets infrastructure, and cutting-edge technology, materials and practices will have significant positive co-benefits statewide; and WHEREAS, designating the SB 1 project list is exempt under CEQA Guideline Section 15301 as this action concerns the maintenance and repair of existing streets and roads, “involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.”
NOW, THEREFORE IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, ORDERED AND
FOUND by the City Council of the City of Piedmont, State of California, as follows:
1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporated by reference herein.
2. The designation of the project list in Section 3 is exempt under CEQA Guideline Section 15301 as this action concerns the maintenance and repair of existing streets and roads.
3. The Council designates the list of newly proposed projects to be funded in-part or solely with Fiscal Year 2024-25 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account revenues:
City Council Minutes
May 20, 2024
Resolution No. 24b-2024 (Item 3)
WHEREAS, at the December 18, 2023, City Council meeting, the City Council approved an overall budget for the Dracena Park ADA Pathway Project (Project) and authorized the award of the construction project to MCE Corporation; and
WHEREAS, the Project has been inspected and determined to have been completed in accordance with the contract requirements; and WHEREAS, based upon the foregoing, staff recommends acceptance of the Project on behalf of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF PIEDMONT AS FOLLOWS:
1. The improvements associated with the Dracena Park ADA Pathway Project are hereby accepted.
2. The Public Works Director is authorized to release the Performance and Labor and 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.
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.
Moved by Long, Seconded by McCarthy
Ayes: Andersen, Cavenaugh, Long, McCarthy
Noes: None
Absent: Ramsey
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
City Council Minutes
May 20, 2024
Receipt of the Park
Commission’s 2024
Annual Report
Park Commission Chair Tom Smegal recognized the hard work and professionalism of City staff and reviewed select areas of the Park Commission’s 2024 Annual Report, expressed the Commission’s support and requested the Council’s consideration for funding a consultant to further develop sustainability and stewardship framework for Piedmont’s parks, noted plantings, and discussed the benefits of volunteering in City parks and procedures.
There was no Public Comment received.
There was no Council action required.
(0317-0730)
Receipt of the 2023
Annual Progress
Report to HCD for the
6th Cycle Housing
Element
Senior Planner Pierce Macdonald and Assistant Planner Joshua Muller presented the 2023 Annual Progress Report (APR) to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) regarding the implementation of the 6th Cycle (2023-2031) Housing
Element, background, housing programs, housing production – APR measurement metrics, APR data, and approved and permitted units, and conclusions.
There was Public Comment received from:
Ellen Greenberg urged the Council to take a broader view of the amenities and benefits to the community by adding housing at all income levels. (0775)
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Long reminded the community that the Moraga Specific Plan is underway and public engagement will take place at the end of the year.
Councilmember McCarthy announced new native plantings and a water efficient drip irrigation system in front of the Piedmont Fire Department and Veterans Hall made possible by a donation from the Piedmont Garden Club. Additionally, she reported on the Crocker Park pathway improvement project.
Vice Mayor Andersen announced that a recording of the State of the City address is available on KCOM-TV or the City’s website, proposed budget input is welcomed by the public at City Council meetings or the Budget Advisory Committee meeting on May 28 at 6 p.m., and the start of construction at the police department and changes to visiting guidelines.
ADJOURNMENT Mayor Cavenaugh adjourned the meeting at 7:04 p.m. to a Closed Session in the Conference Room which adjourned at 8:30 p.m. with no reportable action.