PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, May 5, 2025
A Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, was held on May 5, 2025. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on May 1, 2025.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Smegal Andersen called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen, Vice Mayor Conna McCarthy, Councilmember Jennifer Long, and Councilmember Lorrel Plimier
Absent: Councilmember Tom Ramsey
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, Recreation Director Chelle Putzer, and City Clerk Anna Brown PUBLIC FORUM Public Comment was received from:
Daniel Sherman shared a public comment promoting Bike to School Day at Havens Elementary School.
PRESENTATIONS Mayor Smegal Andersen presented a proclamation to members of the Piedmont High School Asian Student Union for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.
Mayor Smegal Andersen presented a proclamation to a member of the Piedmont High School Jewish Student Union for Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM).
Mayor Smegal Andersen presented a proclamation to employees of the City of Piedmont for Public Service Recognition Week.
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Meeting Minutes Approval of the Minutes for the City Council Meetings of 4/7/2025 and 4/28/2025
Approval of Second
Reading of Ordinance
779 N.S.
Approval of the Second 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)) (0705)
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 18-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts Consent Calendar Items 1 and 2.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Plimier
Ayes: Andersen, Long, McCarthy, and Plimier
Abstain: None
City Council Minutes
May 5, 2025
Absent: Ramsey
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
Consideration of the
Civic Center Parking
Plan Modification
City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore reviewed the work priorities that included safety, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) inventory, visitors, and circulation. She thanked the Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD) for collaborating with the City. Furthermore, she asked the Council to affirm the goal of increasing parking spaces and noted the approach if the answer is yes, quantity and placement of time-limited parking, addition and enlargement of pick up and drop off zones that can be converted to parking during off peak times, and quantity and placement of general employee designated parking for City and PUSD staff.
Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales presented the background, maximum parking space configuration, areas of safety, ADA compliant parking spaces, four additional electric vehicle (EV) charging spaces, 10 public safety fleet spaces, and features of the proposed plan. He furthered the maximum parking configuration features using a sample chart.
The Council posed questions that staff addressed.
Public Comment was received from:
Patsie Kao, Daniel Roberts, Marcia Lane, PUSD Superintendent Dr.
Jennifer Hawn, and Daniel Sherman expressed concern for safety, convenience, traffic impacts, more data, the burden to Bonita Avenue, dropoff and pick-up locations, and traffic control volunteers and suggested a crossing plaza, and a middle island.
City Council held a robust discussion on the Civic Center Parking Plan.
Council posed additional questions to staff, PUSD Superintendent Dr.
Jennifer Hawn, PUSD Director of Facilities Pete Palmer, and Bonita Avenue resident, Marcia Lane.
Resolution 19-2025
Motion by Councilmember Plimier:
• Keep the drop off/pick up zone on Magnolia Avenue in front of Piedmont Middle School and Piedmont High School as a loading zone only, during school hours.
• Change five employee parking spaces on Bonita Avenue to two-hour time limited spaces.
• Replace undesignated spaces on Hillside Avenue with 10 employee parking spaces.
Amendment offered by Mayor Smegal Andersen:
• Change the employee parking space on Vista Avenue, near Mulberry’s Market, to a 30-minute parking space.
• Change two employee parking spaces near the preschool to short term parking for drop off/pick up during school hours only
Additional amendment offered by Councilmember Plimier:
Increase employee parking on Hillside Avenue by three additional spaces for a total of 13 employee spaces on Hillside Avenue.
Moved by Plimier, Seconded by Andersen
City Council Minutes
May 5, 2025
Ayes: Andersen, Long, McCarthy, and Plimier
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramsey
(0271, 0735)
Approval of Exception
to CalPERS Waiting
Period for a Retired
Annuitant and
Authorization for an
Employment
Agreement
Ms. Bayon Moore relayed a consideration of approval of an exception to the 180-Day California Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Waiting Period for a retired annuitant under Government Code section 7522.56 and 21224 and authorization to execute an employment agreement with Mike Szczech to fill a critical need in the Finance Department for the City of Piedmont while the City waits for the next Finance Director to assume the incoming role in early July.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 20-2025
WHEREAS, in compliance with Government Code section 7522.56 the City of Piedmont (the “City”) must provide CalPERS this certification resolution when hiring a retiree before 180 days has passed since his or her retirement date; and
WHEREAS, Mike Szczech, retired from the City in the position of Finance Director, effective January 24, 2025; and
WHEREAS, section 7522.56 requires that post-retirement employment commence no earlier than 180 days after the retirement date, which is July 22, 2025, without this certification resolution; and
WHEREAS, section 7522.56 provides that this exception to the 180-day wait period shall not apply if the retiree accepts any retirement-related incentive; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, the City, and Mike Szczech certify that Mike Szczech has not and will not receive a Golden Handshake or any other retirement-related incentive; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby appoints Mike Szczech as a retired annuitant for the critical need of providing interim Finance Director duties for the City under Government Code section 21224, effective May 6, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the entire employment agreement between Mike Szczech and the City has been reviewed by the City Council and is attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, no matters, issues, terms or conditions related to this employment and appointment have been or will be placed on a consent calendar; and
WHEREAS, the employment shall be limited to 960 hours per fiscal year for all CalPERS employers; and
WHEREAS, the compensation paid to retirees cannot be less than the minimum nor exceed the maximum monthly base salary paid to other employees performing comparable duties, divided by 173.333 to equal the hourly rate; and
City Council Minutes
May 5, 2025
WHEREAS, Mike Szczech will be performing comparable duties as the Finance Director; and
WHEREAS, the base salary for this position is $17,821 per month and the hourly equivalent is $102.81, and
WHEREAS, the hourly rate paid to Mike Szczech will be $102.81; and WHEREAS, Mike Szczech has not and will not receive from the City any other benefit, incentive, compensation in lieu of benefit or other form of compensation in addition to this hourly pay rate.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Piedmont does hereby resolve, declare, determine and order as follows:
1. The above recitals are correct and are incorporated into this resolution as findings of the City Council.
2. The nature of the appointment of Mike Szczech as described herein and detailed in the attached employment agreement (Exhibit A) as a retired annuitant or the critical need of providing interim Finance Director duties for the City beginning May 6, 2025.
3. The City Administrator is authorized to enter into the retired annuitant employment agreement with Mike Szczech
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Plimier
Ayes: Andersen, Long, McCarthy, and Plimier
Abstain: None
Absent: Ramsey
(0045)
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Plimier announced the Design and Sustainability Awards Gala hosted by the Planning Commission will be on May 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Community Hall and StopWaste is hosting a free gardening workshop on May 10 at 11:30 a.m.
Councilmember Long announced a wildfire evacuation exercise on June 14 and acknowledged the Recreation Department and contributors of the PopUp Putt-Putt & Picnic in the Park event and fourth annual Play Like A Girl+ event.
Ms. Bayon Moore noted that the annual budget will be presented at the next City Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Mayor Smegal Andersen adjourned the meeting at 9:34 p.m.