PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, April 21, 2025
A Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, was held on April 21, 2025. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on April 17, 2025.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Smegal Andersen called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and noted no reportable action on the closed sessions of 4/14/25 and 4/15/25.
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 Deputy City Clerk Lisa Argue
PUBLIC FORUM Public Comment was received from:
Anian Tunney expressed concern for large, industrial real estate signs.
PRESENTATIONS Mayor Smegel Andersen read a proclamation recognizing the Piedmont High School Boys Soccer Team which was accepted by Coach Ben Russell.
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Approval of
Ordinance No. 780
N.S.
Approval 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-leash area) as a Designated Off-Leash Area for Dogs
(0705)
Approval of Award of
Contract to Terra
Landscape
Approval of Award of a Contract for Professional Landscape Maintenance Services to Terra Landscape in the Amount of $423,075.72 for Fiscal Year 2025/2026, and a Finding that the Project is Categorically Exempt Under the California Environmental Quality Act (Section 15301) (0045)
Approval of Alerting
System Purchase and
Installation at the Fire
Station
Approval of the Purchase of US Digital Design, Honeywell G2 Fire Station Alerting System and Associated Installation in the Amount of $229,141.45 and Authorization of the City Administrator to Execute Related Agreements (0045)
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 15-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts Items 2 and 3 of the Consent Calendar.
City Council Minutes
April 21, 2025
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Andersen, Long, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Mayor Smegal Andersen pulled Agenda Item 1 for further discussion.
Public Comment was received from:
David Hsu, Phillip Peak, Helen Fahey, Michael Henn, Garrett Keating, Nick Goyhenetch, and Lana Tillis spoke in opposition to the closure and encouraged the Council to consider more options and increase transparency, offered solutions, and noted impacts to the community by closing the park.
Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales provided clarification and addressed questions from the Council. He noted informal and written communication with the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) that included the City’s remedial efforts and the Water Board’s request for a plan to remedy the topography and land usage.
Furthermore, he indicated that the off-leash use is inappropriate in this park area and confirmed that the Park Commission will be included in the park sustainability study scope to identify possible locations for a fenced, offleash dog area as part of the park system. He went on to relay challenges with the adjacent park, construction best management practices (BMPs) that are temporary and do not provide a permanent solution, estimated costs, the implications of an indefinite park closure, and noncompliance risks by opening the park without improvements. Mr. Gonzeles thought that all remedial options have been exhausted for this park to be compliant with the Water Board’s request, confirmed feedback received by experts that indicated this off-leash area is not compatible for this use and all parks should be evaluated for appropriateness, and provided the timing and sequencing of the park sustainability study and prioritization of a new fenced in, off-leach location.
Deputy City Attorney Deepa Sharma thought the Council is not overreacting by taking the matter seriously and noted the areas of exposure, daily fines, and strict liability violations under Federal law.
The Council acknowledged the desire for and value of community space and the duty to decide how to best move forward, noted a continued focus on the matter, and invited public participation in the process.
Resolution 16-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts Item 1 of the Consent Calendar.
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:
Consideration of the
Civic Center Parking
Plan Modification
City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore introduced the item and Mr.
Gonzales, who presented for consideration the Civic Center Parking Plan modifications, background, maximum parking space configuration, and usages including a proposed pick-up and drop-off area at the Aquatics Center and pre-existing parking locations for Public Safety and at Piedmont High School (PHS), Millenium High School (MHS), and Piedmont Middle City Council Minutes
April 21, 2025
School (PMS). Members of the Council expressed support. Additional existing areas at Havens Elementary School on Highland Avenue, Vista Avenue, and Oakland Avenue prompted safety and congestion concerns from the Council and suggestions to simplify, consolidate, multi-use, and dual use spaces. Mr. Gonzales reviewed the permanent diagonal parking spaces at Highland at Sheridan, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible parking in the Civic Center areas, and options for time-limited parking. Discussion ensued between staff and Council about the allocation of time-limited parking spaces for visitors at points of interest.
Public Comment was received from:
Marcia Lane and Patsie Kao suggested multi-use options, reconfiguring the available space on the 300 block of Bonita and Hillside Avenues and offered further discussion to explore increased efficiencies. Students of PHS, Cary Ward and Aman Jajodia, expressed concern for congestion at PHS and suggested time gaps for allowed parking and school hours, an increased drop off zone size in front of Havens Elementary on Highland Avenue, using Bonita Avenue for ADA accommodations, and long-term parking hours for school students and staff. Owen Blanford and Oliver Greenbaum suggested options for parking around the pool to accommodate school-aged swimmers and ideas to increase parking density.
City staff clarified that more data is forthcoming, and Council expressed interest in exploring if Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD) can absorb some parking, the swimming schedule, an expansion in the Civic Center for employee parking, prioritizing space versus assigning amounts, and time limited spaces and enforcement at the pool and schools, 801 Magnolia Avenue, and City and PUSD staff parking.
This was an informational item, so no action took place. (0271, 0735)
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Plimier announced that the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan Draft is posted on the City’s website for public review and related public study sessions on April 28 and 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the PHS library and the Design and Sustainability Awards Gala on May 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Community Hall.
Councilmember Ramsey announced a naming contest for two owls that live in Piedmont Park that will be announced on April 24 at 4 p.m. at Piedmont Community Hall.
Councilmember Long announced Arbor Day on April 24 and an opportunity to learn about wildfire safety from Fire Chief Dave Brannigan, the Piedmont Pop-Up Putt-Putt & Picnic in the Park on April 27 at 12 p.m. in the Community Hall parking lot, and the Play Life a Girl+ event on May 4 at 10 a.m. at Witter Field and registrations on Community Pass will qualify for a t-shirt.
Vice Mayor McCarthy attended the League of California Cities dinner with Fire Chief Brannigan regarding hazard mitigation and a policy committee meeting for the Alameda County Transportation Commission.
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April 21, 2025
Mayor Smegel Andersen attended the Piedmont Food Fest on April 19 in Piedmont Park and thanked City staff and announced the City Volunteer Appreciation Reception on April 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Community Hall.
ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Mayor Smegal Andersen adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m. in memory of Pope Francis.