PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, June 2, 2025
A Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, was held on June 2, 2025. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on May 29, 2025.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Andersen called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and no reportable action from the May 30, 2025 Closed Session.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen, Vice Mayor Conna McCarthy, Councilmember Jennifer Long, Councilmember Lorrel Plimier, and 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, Recreation Director Chelle Putzer, Communications Program Manager Echa Schneider, Interim Finance Director Michael Szczech, and City Clerk Anna Brown
PUBLIC FORUM There was no Public Comment received.
PRESENTATIONS Mayor Andersen read a proclamation recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month that was accepted by Ella Hughes, President of Piedmont High School’s Gender Sexuality Alliance.
Mayor Andersen read a proclamation recognizing June 6 as Gun Violence Awareness Day that was accepted by Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson.
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Meeting Minutes Approval of the Minutes for the City Council meeting of 5/19/2025 with an amendment to Mayor Andersen’s name.
Approval of Piedmont
Park Pedestrian
Bridge Project
Improvements
Approval of the Acceptance of Improvements for the Piedmont Park Pedestrian Bridge Replacement Project
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 23-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts Consent Calendar Items 1 and 2.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Andersen, Long, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: None
City Council Minutes
June 2, 2025
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
Public Hearing of the
Proposed FY 2025-26
Budget
This item was a public hearing of the proposed fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 budget, and included the potential addition of full-time personnel, a proposed levy for the Municipal Services Tax, and a proposed levy for the Special Municipal Sewer Tax. City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore stated this is the first public hearing and a second will follow on June 19.
She added that the proposed workplan overview can be found on the City website and reflects input received from two budget sessions in April and two Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee meetings. She reviewed the five pillars as defined by the Council: financial stability, community wellness and inclusion, City infrastructure, effective government, and environmental stewardship.
Interim Finance Director Michael Szczech presented the proposed budget for FY 2025-26 by first providing an update of the 2024-25 fiscal year, relaying that revenue is projected to exceed the annual budget excluding pass-thru items and noting major variances and lower than expected budget expenditures and transfers out, and recapped the General Fund. He outlined the proposed General Fund overview, revenue recap and a two percent increase, revenue sources, property related tax categories and taxes, Transfer Tax history, volatility of transfer tax year over year percent change, City services taxes recap, and other revenue. Furthermore, he reviewed the expenditure recap, and costs for personnel, operating, and nondepartmental. Other funds he highlighted included the street related funds, FY 2024-25 proposed purchase plan, Equipment Replacement Fund, fiveyear projection for the Sewer Fund, Facilities Maintenance Fund, five-year Capital Improvement Program, Facilities Capital Fund, and Community Pool Project funding sources.
Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee Chair Frank Ryan provided additional comments, noted the Committee’s support for the proposal and Municipal Services Tax, and expressed concern for Facilities Capital funding sources.
City Council held a robust discussion on the proposed budget and posed questions to City Administrator Bayon Moore, Public Works Director Gonzales, Fire Chief Brannigan, Police Chief Bowers, and Communications Program Manager Schneider, including impacts from resource challenges.
Public Comment was received from:
Nellie Thornton, Allistair Thornton, and Georgina Russell provided public comments, requesting money be added to the budget for an additional crossing guard at the intersection of Requa Place and Wildwood Avenue.
John Tulloch provided public comments, acknowledged staff’s work, voiced support for the upgrade to the City’s broadcasting system, and commended Council for continuing to invest in information technology.
The item was informational only and required no formal action from the Council. The next public hearing, and the budget adoption will be held on June 16.
(0165)
City Council Minutes
June 2, 2025
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Long announced a wildfire evacuation exercise on June 14 at 9 a.m. and a meeting at the fire house at 10 a.m., Cop on the Block locations and dates posted on the City website, the start of the Recreation Department’s summer camp, and the July 4 Parade “Traditions Thrive in 2025” at 11 a.m.
Councilmember Plimier announced that the June 9 Planning Commission is canceled, reported on the review timeline of the draft Moraga Canyon Specific Plan, and shared the hours of operation to access the compost hub in the Corporation Yard.
Vice Chair McCarthy announced the June 12 task force meeting at 4 p.m. in City Hall comprised of members of the school board, community, and City Council to discuss facility uses.
Mayor Andersen thanked City Clerk Anna Brown and Deputy City Clerk Lisa Argue for their work to produce the many proclamations to honor local youth, as well as the Council for presenting, and congratulated students and families graduating this week.
ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Mayor Andersen adjourned the meeting at 8:53 p.m.