PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, April 7, 2025
A Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, was held on April 7, 2025. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on April 3, 2025.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Smegal Andersen called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:08 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 Captain Chris Monahan, Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales, Communications Program Manager Echa Schneider, and Deputy City Clerk Lisa Argue
PUBLIC FORUM There was no Public Comment received.
PRESENTATIONS Mayor Smegal Andersen read a proclamation in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week which was accepted by Victim/Witness Advocate Meuy Saechao.
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Minutes Approval of the Minutes for the City Council Meeting of 3/10/2025 and 3/17/25 with amendments.
2023-2024 Audited
Financial Statements
Acceptance of the 2023-2024 Audited Financial Statements (0100)
2024-2025 Annual
Sidewalk Repair
Program
Approval of the Award of a Contract for the 2024-2025 Annual Sidewalk Repair Program to Villalobos & Associates, Inc. in the amount of $299,012.
Approval of an Overall Construction Budget of $328,913, and a Finding that the Project is Categorically Exempt Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Section 15301)
(0045)
Job Classification
Update for the Police
Chief
Approval of a Resolution Updating the Job Classification for the Police Chief
(0582)
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 12-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts the Consent Calendar.
City Council Minutes
April 7, 2025
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Ramsey
Ayes: Andersen, Long, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: None
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
Public Hearing for the
Introduction and First
Reading of Ordinance
779 N.S.
Associate Planner Gopika Nair presented the introduction and first reading of Ordinance 779 N.S. adopting amendments to the zoning ordinance related to signs (CEQA Review: exempt under PRC Sec 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5)). She reviewed the background, sign ordinance update summary, study session summary from the September 9, 2024 Planning Commission meeting and October 7, 2024 City Council meeting, updated sign categories and provisions on signage posted by the City, new provisions for signage on private property, other sign code revisions on public property locations, and other sign ordinance revisions.
Ms. Nair highlighted the Planning Commission’s recommendation from the March 10, 2025 hearing and resulting sign ordinance revisions, special public events signage (Exhibit A), staff’s recommended action for the City Council, and next steps.
There was no Public Comment received.
The City Council requested changes for review at the second reading that included additional language on the application to stipulate that events are within the City parameters or linked to the Piedmont community, a name change to the tree lot noted in Exhibit A, Item No. 5, non-specific event dates, a five sign limit for noncommercial signs, explicit language for events on City property, and an application process defined in the special events signage program.
Resolution No. 13-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council found the ordinance exempt under CEQA, approved the list of special events authorized, and directed staff to proceed with comments by the Council.
Moved by Ramsey, Seconded by Plimier
Ayes: Andersen, Long, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: None
(0705)
Public Hearing for the
Introduction and First
Reading of Ordinance
780 N.S.
City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore noted that this item is time sensitive, a thirty-day period after the second reading exists for ordinance code changes to be effective, and members of the public will have an opportunity to comment at the April 21 City Council meeting.
Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales noted the pride staff takes to maintain vibrant public spaces in Piedmont and department safety and erosion goals. He relayed the shift in focus to the clean water permit violation, off-leash usage and ramification, enforcement and penalties, response timeline to the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board), and improvement implementation and follow-up.
Sustainability Program Manager Deniz Ergun presented the introduction and first reading of Ordinance No. 780 N.S., amending Section 3.4.2 and
3.4.4 of the Piedmont City Code to remove Linda Park (within fenced off- City Council Minutes
April 7, 2025
leash area) as designated off-leash area for dogs. She reviewed the City of Piedmont’s Clean Water program, Municipal Regional Permit 3.0 (MRP
3.0) requirements, erosion concerns at Linda’s Park’s off-lease area, the Linda Ave Park off-leash area observations, City’s initial response to the Water Board and Water Board’s request, and the City’s options to address the Water Board’s request that included permanent closure and hydroseeding of the Linda Park off-leash area, capital improvements, and maintaining status quo. She stated that staff recommended the first option and next steps.
Public Comment was received from:
Madeleine Davis, Lana Tillis, and Nick Goyhenetche advocated keeping the off-leash area open while making it better for the dogs and the environment and suggested landscaping solutions and opening another dog park across the street. David Weiner opposed keeping the off-leash area open.
The Council considered options one and two in a lengthy conversation and expressed support for permanently closing the Linda Park off-leash area (option one) and pursuing opportunities for the City to be good stewards to City park uses that serve the community’s needs, including off-leash dog uses.
Resolution No. 14-2025
RESOLVED, the City Council approved the recommendation by staff to permanently close and hydroseed the Linda Park off-leash area and pursue additional City park uses, including off-leash dog areas.
Moved by Ramsey, Seconded by Plimier
Ayes: Andersen, Long, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: None
(0705)
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Plimier announced two gardening classes offered to the community by StopWaste on April 12 and April 26 that are listed on Stopwaste.org
Councilmember Ramsey announced the installation of the new steel bridge (and shared a photo) and Arbor Day on April 24 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Community Hall.
Vice Mayor McCarthy attended the 100th year anniversary celebration of Community Hall and Exedra.
Mayor Andersen announced the Piedmont Food Fest on April 19 in Piedmont Park and encouraged volunteering, City Volunteer Appreciation Reception on April 22, Piedmont Pop-Up Putt-Putt & Picnic on April 27 in Piedmont Park, and Play Life a Girl+ event on May 4 at Witter Field.
Ms. Bayon Moore invited the public to the second Budget Study Session on April 21 at 4 p.m. at the Community Church.
ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Mayor Smegal Andersen adjourned the meeting at 8:43 p.m.