PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, February 3, 2025
A Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue was held on February 3, 2025. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on January 30, 2025.
CALL TO ORDER Vice Mayor McCarthy called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL Present: Vice Mayor Conna McCarthy, Councilmember Lorrel Plimier, and Councilmember Tom Ramsey
Absent: Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen and Councilmember Jennifer Long Staff: 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, Communications Program Manager Echa Schneider, Associate Planner Gopika Nair, and City Clerk Anna Brown
PUBLIC FORUM Public Comment was received from:
Elles Krieckhaus, Zach Dupree, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Julie Stein expressed concern about the delay in the pool construction and the effect it has had on the Water Polo team’s ability to practice and recruit new members.
PRESENTATIONS A proclamation in recognition of Black History Month was read aloud by Vice Mayor McCarthy and accepted by Samuel Bahala, member of the Piedmont High School Black Student Union/African Affinity Student Union.
Mr. Bahala read an original poem that called attention to this year’s Black History Month theme of African Americans and Labor.
Communications Program Manager Echa Schneider introduced the newly appointed Video Communications Specialist / TV Station Manager, Jeff Shaw.
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Minutes Approval of the Minutes for the City Council Meeting of 1/6/2025 and 1/21/2025
Approval of
Agreement for
Dispatch Equipment
Approval of an Agreement with Motorola Solutions Inc. in the Amount of $156,031 for the Purchase of a New AXS Dispatch Console for the Dispatch Supervisor Position and Two MCC7500E’s to Replace Existing MCC7500’s Covered by the East Bay Regional Communications System Authority (EBRCSA) System Upgrade Agreement (SUA)
(0045)
Phase 7 Sanitary
Sewer Project Design
Improvements
Approval of an Agreement with EKI Environment & Water, Inc. for Services to Design Improvements Associated with the Phase 7 Sanitary Sewer Project in the Amount of $805,147
(0045)
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February 3, 2025
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 06-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts the Consent Calendar.
Moved by Ramsey, Seconded by Plimier
Ayes: McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: Andersen, Long
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
Piedmont Police
Department Staffing
Study
Police Chief Jeremy Bowers and Richard Brady, Chair of Matrix Consulting Group, presented an overview of the Staffing Study by Matrix Inc. for the Piedmont Police Department. Mr. Brady reviewed the study objectives, four key issues, key findings for the operation division one, methodology related to patrol, key findings for operation division three and four, conclusions and recommendations for the operations division, investigations, training, complaints, dispatch, records, property/evidence, and information technology. Police Chief Bowers recapped the reason for the study and public concern for more officers, suggested the report be used as a tool and aid versus a road map, and highlighted areas worthy of exploration, specifically, the administrative sergeant position, opportunities to reclassify positions, the crime analyst position, and regional dispatching.
There was no Public Comment received.
This is an informational report with no action required. (0785-0370)
Piedmont Police
Department 2024
Annual Report
Police Chief Bowers presented the Piedmont Police Department 2024 Annual Report that included annual crime data from 2007 – 2024 for robbery, burglary, larceny, and vehicle theft, quarterly reported crime in 2024 for rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, and vehicle theft, and 2008 – 2024 yearly robbery, burglary, larceny, vehicle theft. Furthermore, he reported on automatic license plate reader (ALPR) incidents 2022- 2024, community engagement efforts, and partnerships with the school community.
There was no Public Comment received.
This is an informational report with no action required. (0785-0370)
First Reading of
Ordinance No. 778
N.S.
Planning and Building Director Kevin Jackson and Associate Planner Gopika Nair led the public hearing to introduce and conduct a first reading of Ordinance No. 778 N.S. adopting amendments to the zoning ordinance and consideration of a resolution adopting amendments to Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines related to Wireless Communication Facilities (WCF) and Correcting Section 3.04 City of Piedmont List of Streets (CEQA Review: exempt under CEQA Guidelines 15061 (b)(3), §15378, and Public Resources Code §21065). He noted that study sessions took place in 2024 and the Planning Commission’s unanimous recommendation for the City Council to have a first reading and adopt the standards.
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February 3, 2025
Associate Planner Nair presented a background on WCF, the challenges of regulating and impacts on the City, public engagement, current and effective regulations, a summary of code changes, a streamlined permit process, a summary of design standards and guidelines, stealth design in the right of way, concealment in a non-right of way, Chapter 8 inclusions, a technical correction recommended by staff to change Section 3.04 City of Piedmont List of Streets, a summary of the feedback from the City Council and Planning Commission on the proposed amendments, the recommendations for the City Council from the Planning Commission’s hearing, and corrections to the Council report.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution No. 07-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council Introduces Ordinance No. 778 N.S.
Adopting Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Adopts; and Resolution No. 07b-2025
WHEREAS, in 2019 when the Piedmont City Council adopted a comprehensive update to the City’s Design Guidelines, Chapter 8 was included as a placeholder for standards and guidelines for wireless communication facilities (WCF) that were yet to be drafted; and WHEREAS, the purpose of the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines is to implement design and appearance policies outlined in the General Plan and Chapter 17 of the Piedmont City Code; and
WHEREAS, division 17.46 of the Piedmont City Code requires a Wireless Communication Facilities permit for the construction of wireless communication facilities in Piedmont and requires that the facilities comply with the new Chapter 8, Wireless Communications Facilities, in the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, developing WCF design standards tailored to Piedmont involved extensive public engagement. From forum discussions in 2018 to booths at community events (2018-2019), City staff reached out to many residents of Piedmont. Online surveys, media announcements, and presentations further facilitated input. Residents overwhelmingly favored “stealth” designs integrating antennas seamlessly into existing structures or landscaping, with exposed elements being highly unpopular.
This community feedback, along with recent project approvals, forms the foundation for these new standards; and
WHEREAS, to prepare the draft standards and guidelines for WCF, staff has conducted research on telecom facilities, engaged with and received input from the community, closely followed Federal court rulings, and collaborated with experts and advisors on WCF matters; and WHEREAS, the draft amendments to the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines for a new Chapter 8 Wireless Communications Facilities were presented and discussed at two Planning Commission and one City Council study sessions on March 11, 2024, September 2024, and October 21, 2024, respectively, and an opportunity for public comment was provided at those study sessions; and
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WHEREAS, the Planning Commission convened a public hearing on the draft amendments to the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines on January 13, 2025, and provided an opportunity for public and Commissioner comments at that time; and
WHEREAS, the new Chapter 8, Wireless Communication Facilities, is consistent with the proposed amendments to division 17.46 Wireless Communications Facilities of the Piedmont City Code;
WHEREAS, The City provides a list of streets in the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines at Section 3.04. The sole purpose of this list is to establish which streets require street yard setbacks on properties that front them. This list explicitly excludes public alleys and private roadways; WHEREAS, the proposed technical correction recommended by staff to Chapter 3.04, City of Piedmont List of Streets, removes “Red Rock Road” from the list of streets. This entry was determined to be in error because Red Rock Road is not bound by the property lines of abutting lots from which a street yard setback would be required. It is located across two Cityowned parcels totaling approximately 12.8 acres in area and basically serves as a driveway to the City’s Corporation Yard and parking lots for Coaches Field; and
WHEREAS, following the Planning Commission’s recommendation, and after further consultation with the City Attorney, staff made minor amendments to the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines as described in the Council Agenda Report posted on January 30, 2025; WHEREAS, City Council approval of the new Chapter 8, Wireless Communication Facilities, and amended Chapter 3.04, City of Piedmont List of Streets, is required before they become effective; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, after reviewing the revised document, staff report, and all documents and public testimony received, the City Council of the City of Piedmont does hereby resolve, declare, determine and order as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council finds that:
1. The facts set forth in the recitals in this Resolution are true and correct and herby incorporated by this reference;
2. The recitals constitute findings in this matter and, together with the staff report and other written reports, public testimony and other information contained in the records are an adequate and appropriate evidentiary basis for the actions taken in this Resolution;
3. The provisions in this Resolution, as adopted, are consistent with General Plan Policies 1.3, Harmonious Development, and 35.8, Telecommunication Services; Piedmont City Code division 17.46 Wireless Communication Facilities; and applicable Federal and State laws; and
4. This Resolution will not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience or welfare.
SECTION 2. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15378 and Public Resources Code §21065, the proposed amendments to the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines, including the elimination of Red Rock Road from the list of streets, is not a “project” because their adoption is not an activity that has City Council Minutes
February 3, 2025
the potential for a direct physical change or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Accordingly, the proposed amendments to Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines, including the change to the list of streets, are not subject to CEQA. Even if the proposed amendments to the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines, including the change to the list of streets, were considered to be a “project” subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3) CEQA does not apply as there is no possibility that this project will have a significant impact on the physical environment. The proposed amendments to the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines merely amend existing provisions in the current Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines to allow the City to be more responsive to changes in Federal and State laws related to local authority over wireless facilities. And the change to the list of streets merely corrects a technical error made in relation to listing a street as a public-right-of-way when it is not. The proposed amendments to the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines, including the change to the list of streets, do not directly or indirectly authorize or approve any actual changes in the physical environment. All applications for any new wireless communications facility or change to an existing wireless communications facility would be subject to additional environmental review on a case-by-case basis.
SECTION 3. The amendments to the Piedmont Design Standards and Guidelines specific to wireless communication facilities and list of streets, identified as Exhibit A to this resolution on file with the City Clerk, are adopted.
SECTION 4. All portions of this resolution are severable. If an individual component of this Resolution is adjudged by a court to be invalid and unenforceable, then the remaining portions will continue in effect.
Moved by Ramsey, Seconded by Plimier
Ayes: McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: Andersen, Long
(0705)
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Plimier announced that the Planning Commission will host an open house on February 12 in Piedmont Community Hall regarding the objective design standards for new one to four residential developments.
Councilmember Ramsey announced that the open registration for the Piedmont Recreation Department (PRD) summer camp programs will be two weeks earlier than last year and the next PRD meeting will be on March 9. Furthermore, he noted an opportunity for on-line participation following two Tot Lot outreach events and recognized Communications Program Manager Echa Schneider, the Park Commission, and Parks and Project Manager Nancy Kent for a thoughtful and inclusive survey.
Vice Mayor McCarthy reported on the most recent Alameda County Transportation Commission meeting activity and announced her appointment to the Policy Committee. Furthermore, she noted that the most recent League of California Cities Policy Committee for Environmental Quality focused on water ways and fire.
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ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Vice Mayor McCarthy adjourned the meeting at 8:09 p.m.