PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, January 6, 2025
A Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, was held on January 6, 2025. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on January 2, 2025.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Andersen called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen, Vice Mayor Conna McCarthy, Councilmember Jennifer Long, Councilmember Lorrel Plimier, and Councilmember Tom Ramsey
Staff Present: City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore, Deputy City Attorney Deepa Sharma, Planning and Building Director Kevin Jackson, Fire Chief Dave Brannigan, Police Chief Jeremy Bowers, Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales, Recreation Direction Chelle Putzer, Finance Director Michael Szczech, Communications Program Manager Echa Schneider, Associate Planner Gopika Nair, and City Clerk Anna Brown
PUBLIC FORUM Public Comment was received from:
Dimitiri Magganas spoke on the recent changes to the Oakland City Council and Oakland City Attorney’s office.
PRESENTATIONS Police Chief Jeremy Bowers introduced the newly promoted Support Services Commander Brandi Marin-Morris and Dispatch Supervisor Mercedes Bolds.
Recreation Director Chelle Putzer introduced new employee Recreation Coordinator JoNae Gonzales.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Minutes Approval of the Minutes for the City Council Meetings of 12/02/2024 City Council Liaison
Appointments
Appointment of City Council Liaisons from 01/07/2025 to 12/31/2025 (0085)
Agreement for Full
Business License Tax
Administration
Approve Recommendation to Authorize the City Administrator to Execute an Agreement for Full Business License Tax Administration, including Business Discovery, Collections, and Audit with Hinderliter De Llamas & Associates (HDL) for a Five-Year Term for a Total Agreement Amount Not-to-Exceed $190,000
(0045)
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution No. 1-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts the Consent Calendar.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Andersen, Long, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: Ramsey and Plimier (meeting minutes)
Absent: None
City Council Minutes
January 6, 2025
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
First Reading of
Ordinance No. 777
N.S. Adopting Zoning
Ordinance
Amendments for
ADUs and JADUs
Planning and Building Director Kevin Jackson and Associate Planner Gopika Nair introduced and presented the first reading of Ordinance No. 777 N.S. adopting zoning ordinance amendments related to accessary dwelling units (ADUs) and junior ADUs (JADUs and receipt of an informational report on AB 1332.
Planning and Building Director Jackson stated that the ordinance is dictated by State law. Associate Planner Nair presented the recommended action, recent California legislation, Planning Commission recommendation, and proposed revisions to the parking provisions and multi-family ADU provisions. Furthermore, the legalization of unpermitted ADUs and JADUs and current procedure followed by staff was reviewed, as well as changes under the proposed ordinance, a pre-approved ADU program, the process to submit ADU plans for pre-approval, the process for homeowners using preapproved plans, the City developed pre-approved ADU program, and next steps.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution No. 2-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council Introduces Ordinance No. 777 N.S.
Adopting Zoning Ordinance Amendments related to ADUs and JADUs. (CEQA Review: Exempt under PRC Sec 21080.17 and CEQA Guidelines 15282(h) and 15061(b)(3))
Moved by Ramsey, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Andersen, Long, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: None
(0705)
Police Department
Emergency Dispatch
Center Remodel
Project Update
Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales and Police Chief Bowers provided an update on the Police Department Emergency Dispatch Center Remodel Project by relaying the project funding prioritized in 2022, design plans in 2023, and Council review and bid award in 2024. He noted that the notice to proceed started in late June 2024 once the electrical switch gear was procured, the project is six months in, there is one month until the electrical equipment arrives, and the expected date of a fully operational dispatch center is June. Furthermore, he recapped the work that has taken place over the last six months and provided a construction update and timeline.
There was no Public Comment received.
This was an informational update and no action was required. (0785)
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Plimier announced that on Sunday, January 12 the League of Women Voters of Piedmont will host an event to meet the local league at the Piedmont Center for the Arts.
Councilmember Long thanked the Planning and Building Department for working together with her and expressed excitement to start working with the Recreation Department.
City Council Minutes
January 6, 2025
Mayor Andersen thanked City staff for attending the changeover event, welcomed Lorrel Plimier to the City Council, and announced the Martin Luther King Day event on January 20 at the Alan Harvey Theater and Pool Advisory Committee meeting on January 28 to discuss past pricing models.
ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Mayor Andersen adjourned the meeting at 7:18 p.m. in remembrance of Harvey Anderson.