PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, June 16, 2025
A Special and Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council in the City Hall Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, was held on June 16, 2025. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on June 12, 2025.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Smegal Andersen called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and no reportable action from the Closed Session.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen, Vice Mayor Conna McCarthy, Councilmember Lorrel Plimier, and Councilmember Tom Ramsey
Absent: Councilmember Jennifer Long
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, Recreation Director Chelle Putzer, Communications Program Manager Echa Schneider, Interim Finance Director Michael Szczech, and City Clerk Anna Brown
PUBLIC FORUM Public Comment was received from:
Dan Chandler relayed the importance of a public safety building and requested more updates on the Piedmont Community Pool project.
Susy Struble requested a review of the license plate reader policy considering recent immigration enforcement actions.
CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
Meeting Minutes Approval of the Minutes for the City Council meeting of 6/2/25.
Approval of the 2024
California Health and
Safety Code
Inspection Report
Resolution
Approval of a Resolution Accepting the 2024 California Health and Safety Code Mandated Inspections Report
(0480-0370)
Approval of the
Award of Contract for
the Linda Beach Tot
Lot Improvement
Project
Approval of the Award of a Contract for the Linda Beach Tot Lot Improvement Project to Norgo Engineering in the Amount of $123,950, Approval of an Overall Construction Budget of $136,345, and a Finding that the Project is Categorically Exempt Under the California Environmental Quality Act (Section 15301)
(0045)
Approval Civic Center
Parking Plan
Modification
Approval of Civic Center Parking Plan Modifications
(0735)
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 24-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts Consent Calendar Items 1 – 4.
City Council Minutes
June 16, 2025
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Plimier,
Ayes: Andersen, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: Long
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
Public Hearing of the
Proposed FY 2025-26
Budget and Levy’s
Public Hearing of Proposed Budget for 2025-26, Proposed Levy of the Municipal Services Special Tax, and Proposed Levy of the Special Municipal Sewer Tax and Consideration of the Proposed Operating and Other Funds Budgets, Schedule of Fees and Charges, and Appropriations (Gann) Limit
City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore provided remarks on modifications to the proposed budget from the first hearing on June 2 that included a modest change to expenditures. She noted that the proposal represents an overall budget that embraces the priorities discussed by the Council through the study session process: community pool project completion, police dispatch relocation project, Dearing Memorial project, and public safety building project. Interim Finance Director Michael Szczech and staff were present for questions. Council posed follow-up questions about street repaving costs and ratings and the Council Chambers AV upgrade.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 25-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts the Proposed 2025-26 Operating Budget in the amount of $41,533,357.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Ramsey
Ayes: Andersen, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: Long
(0165)
Resolution 26-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts the Proposed 2025-26 Other Funds Budget in the amount of $30,330,087.
Moved by Ramsey, Seconded by McCarthy
Ayes: Andersen, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: Long
(0165)
Resolution 27-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves the updated fees and charges as set forth in the Schedule of Fees and Charges on file in the Office of the City Clerk.
Moved by Plimier, Seconded by Ramsey
Ayes: Andersen, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: Long
(0165)
Resolution 28-2025
City Council Minutes
June 16, 2025
RESOLVED, that the population percentage increase for the County of Alameda be used for computing the 2025-26 appropriation limit for the City of Piedmont.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the use of growth in the California Per Capita Personal Income be used for computing the appropriation limit for the City of Piedmont for 2025-26.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that following public notice of the availability of the documentation used in the determination of the appropriation limit pursuant to Section 7910 of the Government Code and Article X111(B) of the California Constitution, as amended by Proposition 111 and SB 88, the City Council does hereby establish the appropriation limit for 2025-26 of $34,809,985.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Plimier
Ayes: Andersen, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: Long
(0165)
Resolution 29-2025
WHEREAS, the City Council, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 20B of the City Code, has held a public hearing relating to the need to assess the Municipal Services Special Tax for the 2025-26 tax year commencing July 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, after fully considering all of the information and materials before it, determines in accordance with Section 20B.2 of the City Code that the cost of providing the general municipal services for the 2025-26 tax year exceeds the amount of funds generated through other revenue and income for such services; and
WHEREAS, the City Council further determines that a general Municipal Services Special Tax must be levied for the 2025-26 tax year in order to provide the municipal services required by the residents of the City; and WHEREAS, after reviewing the financial and tax data available, the City Council determines that the amount to be raised by the Municipal Services Special Tax is estimated at $3,228,000 and that the tax should be set at the rates set forth hereafter.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that based upon the foregoing findings and determinations the City Council does hereby levy a general Municipal Services Special Tax in the estimated amount of $3,228,000 for the 2025-26 tax year pursuant to Chapter 20B of the City Code at the rates set forth hereafter:
Single Family Residence
0 to 4,999 sq. ft. $ 732
5,000 to 9,999 sq. ft. $ 823
10,000 to 14,999 sq. ft. $ 950
15,000 to 20,000 sq. ft. $ 1,084
Over 20,000 sq. ft. $ 1,237
City Council Minutes
June 16, 2025
Commercial Properties
0 to 10,000 sq. ft. $ 1,237
Over 10,000 sq. ft. $ 1,856
Multi-Family Residence per unit $ 507
Parcels Divided by Tax Code Area Line $ 750
Moved by Ramsey, Seconded by McCarthy
Ayes: Andersen, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: Long
(0165)
Resolution 30-2025
WHEREAS, the City Council, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 20E.4 of the Piedmont Municipal Code, has held a public hearing relating to the need to assess the Special Municipal Sewer Tax for the 2025-26 tax year commencing July 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, after fully considering all of the information and materials before it, determines in accordance with Section 20E.2 of the City Code that the maximum amount to be raised by the Special Municipal Sewer Tax is $3,215,000; and
WHEREAS, under the provisions of Section 20E.3, the tax for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, shall be set forth hereafter; and WHEREAS, that based upon the foregoing findings and determinations, the City Council does hereby levy a Special Municipal Sewer Tax with an estimated revenue of $3,215,000 for the 2025-26 tax year pursuant to Chapter 20E of the Piedmont Municipal Code at the rates set forth hereafter.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED, that based upon the foregoing findings and determinations the City Council does hereby levy a Special Municipal Sewer Tax with an estimated revenue of $3,215,000 for the 2025-26 tax year pursuant to Chapter 20E of the City Code at the rates set forth hereafter:
Single Family Residence
0 to 4,999 sq. ft. $ 715
5,000 to 9,999 sq. ft. $ 816
10,000 to 14,999 sq. ft. $ 941
15,000 to 20,000 sq. ft. $ 1,097
Over 20,000 sq. ft. $ 1,293
Commercial Properties
0 to 10,000 sq. ft. $ 1,293
Over 10,000 sq. ft. $ 1,783
Multi-Family Residence per unit $ 595
Parcels Divided by Tax Code Area Line $ 715
Moved by Plimier, Seconded by Ramsey
Ayes: Andersen, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: Long
(0165)
City Council Minutes
June 16, 2025
2023 Greenhouse
Gas Emissions
Inventory Report and
Climate Action Plan
2.0 Implementation
Status
Planning & Building Director Kevin Jackson introduced Sustainability Program Manager Deniz Ergun, who in turn introduced Sustainability Clerk Andrew Kaplowitz. Mr. Kaplowitz presented the report on the 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and the implantation status of Piedmont’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2.0. He reviewed the City’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions goals, key CAP 2.0 implementation accomplishments for fiscal year 2024-25, and Climate Action by the numbers. Furthermore, he outlined emissions statistics since 2005, and an overview of emissions Citywide in the areas of transportation and mobile sources, building energy, municipal emissions, employee commute, and vehicle fleet. Additionally, he noted the emissions percentages in the areas of residential natural gas, transportation and mobile sources, waste and wastewater, and total electricity. Mr. Kaplowitz relayed the Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) Business-As-Usual forecast, recommendations Citywide and for the municipal, and next steps for the Sustainability Division.
Staff addressed questions from Council.
There was no Public Comment received.
Council provided comments.
The item was informational only and required no action from Council. (0459)
Consideration of
Amendment to a
Consulting Services
Agreement
Consideration of Amendment to Consulting Services Agreement with ClientFirst Technology Consulting with Revised Exhibits A & B in an Amount Not to Exceed $242,500; Authorization to the City Administrator to Execute Contract Amendment
Tom Jakobsen, Partner of Client First Technology Consulting, presented an update of information technology (IT) projects completed in fiscal year 2024-25 and major projects in the process, the ClientFirst contract for fiscal year 2025-26, and the Computer Courage IT support contract extension.
Council posed questions about how privacy will be addressed in a potential Artificial Intelligence Technology (AI) policy, test uses for AI technology, and the IT Master Plan.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 31-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council authorizes an amendment to the consulting services agreement with ClientFirst Technology Consulting for ongoing delivery of strategic IT services in an amount not to exceed $242,500 with revised Exhibits A & B and authorizes the City Administrator to execute a contract amendment as described.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Plimier
Ayes: Andersen, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: Long
(0045)
City Council Minutes
June 16, 2025
Consideration of a
Twelve-Month
Extension for
Information
Technology Support
Services
City Administrator Bayon Moore provided a summary of the services and benefits provided by the contract with Computer Courage for IT support services. Mr. Adam Schwartz, Founder and CEO of Computer Courage, was present to respond to questions.
There were no comments or questions from Council.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution 32-2025
RESOLVED, that the City Council approves the Seventh Amendment to the City’s contract with Computer Courage for Information Technology (IT) Support Services, which extends the agreement by twelve months at an annual cost of $383,750 and authorizes the City Administrator to execute an amendment in substantially the same form as presented.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Ramsey
Ayes: Andersen, McCarthy, Plimier, and Ramsey
Abstain: None
Absent: Long
(0045)
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Plimier announced a household hazardous waste event hosted by StopWaste on June 29 in Oakland and noted stopwaste.org/hhwoakland to register for an appointment.
Councilmember Ramsey noted that multiple proposals have been received for the work related to the Sustainable Park Management Plan and a presentation to the Council is planned for August by Public Works.
Vice Chair McCarthy noted that mailers have been sent for the Piedmont Beautification Foundation fundraiser.
Mayor Smegal Andersen acknowledged a great job by the community during the wildfire evacuation exercise, the at-home exercise and an opportunity to share feedback on the City website, and staff for their work on the exercise. Additionally, she recognized City Administrator Bayon Moore and department heads for their great work and relayed there will be no City Council meeting on July 21.
ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Mayor Smegal Andersen adjourned the meeting at 7:57 p.m.