PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, March 17, 2025
A Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue was held on March 17, 2025. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on March 13, 2025.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Smegal Andersen called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen, Vice Mayor Conna McCarthy, Councilmember Jennifer Long, Councilmember Lorrel Plimier, Councilmember Tom Ramsey
Absent: None
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, and City Clerk Anna Brown
PUBLIC FORUM There was no Public Comment received.
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Minutes Approval of the Minutes for the City Council Meeting of 3/3/2025 Approval of a Third
Amendment to the
City’s Agreement with
Coastland Engineering
LLP
Approval of a Third Amendment to the City’s Agreement with Coastland Engineering LLP to Increase the Contract Not-To-Exceed Amount by $994,615 for City Engineering Services, and Approval of an Amended Overall Contract Amount of $1,838,497
Approval of a MOU
for Handling Critical
Incidents
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with Alameda County Sheriff’s Office for Handling Critical Incidents
2024 Military
Equipment Annual
Report and Approval
of the Renewal of
Ordinance 764 N.S.
Military Equipment Annual Report for 2024 and Approval of the Renewal of Ordinance 764 N.S. Adopting a Military Use Equipment Policy as Required by State Law
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 10-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts the Consent Calendar.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Andersen, Long, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: None
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
City Council Minutes
March 17, 2025
Consideration of
Appointment to
Planning Commission
City Administrator Bayon Moore announced that a vacancy for the role of Alternate Planning Commissioner still existed following appointments made on March 10 and indicated that the candidate names before the City Council have been vetted for ongoing interest in appointment.
Mayor Smegal Andersen led the Council in the consideration of the appointment of an Alternate Planning Commissioner to make a recommendation.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution No. 11-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council appoints Michael Beuselinck as Alternate Planning Commissioner for a three-year term beginning April 1, 2025 and ending March 31, 2028.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Ramsey
Ayes: Andersen, Long, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Staffing
Recommendation for
the Piedmont Planning
and Building
Department
Planning and Building Director Kevin Jackson and Allyson Brekke of Matrix Consulting Group presented staffing recommendations included in a Draft Development Review Staffing and Organizational Assessment Report prepared by Matrix Consulting Group for the Piedmont Planning and Building Department. Ms. Brekke reviewed the benefits of the studies, process for implementing recommendations, matrix methodology, key findings, and staffing recommendations for the fiscal year 2025-26 cost recovery.
There was no Public Comment received.
Council provided direction to staff to “stay the course” and requested a cost analysis for the staff recommendation of converting four parttime positions to two full time positions for the roles of building inspector and permit technician.
No further action was required.
Consideration of
Public Parking
Modifications at the
Civic Center
City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore introduced parking challenges, construction activity, striping opportunities in the Civic Center area while schools are closed, and a parking resource allocation for the Council’s consideration. Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales presented background, previous actions, the pool project completion, existing conditions and configuration, maximum parking space configuration and features, a sample parking allocation, engagement efforts, safety considerations for Bonita Avenue, and key considerations.
Police Chief Jeremy Bowers and City Engineer John Wanger were present and responded to questions from Council.
Public Comment was received from:
City Council Minutes
March 17, 2025
Patsie Kao, Lewis Seiden, Marcia Lane, John Kao, expressed safety concerns for Bonita Avenue specifically students walking to school, the impacts from congestion, a one-way driving direction, diagonal parking, maximum number of spaces, and costs. Additionally, Jon Sakol expressed concern about the absence of a parking allocation specifically for the pool.
In response to staff’s request for direction, Council asked for an enlarged drawing and more details for Bonita Avenue, and information on using the grassy area for parking, partnering with the Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD), and optimizing drop off spaces and traffic flow at the schools. In addition, the Council asked for consideration for pick up and drop off areas at the pool, theater and 801 Magnolia, safety data on parking styles and driving direction, and more bike racks. In conclusion, it was noted that the matter will appear on a future agenda, likely in May.
No further action was required
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Plimier announced a League of Women Voters of Piedmont event regarding public health on March 30 at 3:30 p.m. at 801 Magnolia.
Councilmember Ramsey announced Arbor Earth Day on April 24 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Community Hall and the steel bridge installation on Thursday at 10 a.m.
Councilmember Long announced a webinar by East Bay Mud on March 19 at 6 p.m. regarding wildfires ready, building resilience, and community safety and a local hazard mitigation plan event on March 26 from 5:30- 7:30 p.m. at Piedmont Community Hall. In addition, she announced the 100th Anniversary celebration of Community Hall and Exedra on April 4 from 6-7:30 p.m. and the Bunny Blast egg hunt on April 13 from 9:30 -11 a.m.
Mayor Andersen announced the Piedmont Food Fest on April 19 in Piedmont Park.
Vice Mayor McCarthy shared an Irish blessing.
ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Mayor Smegal Andersen adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.