PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, March 2, 2026
A Special and Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council was held Monday, March 2, 2026, in the City Hall Council Chambers at 120 Vista Avenue. In accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was posted for public inspection on February 26, 2026.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Andersen called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance, and noted no reportable action from the Closed Session held at 4:45 p.m.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen, Councilmember Jennifer Long, Councilmember Lorrel Plimier, and Councilmember Tom Ramsey
Absent: Vice Mayor Conna McCarthy
Staff: City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore, City Attorney Deepa Sharma, Communications Program Manager Echa Schneider, Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales, Fire Chief Dave Brannigan, Recreation Director Chelle Putzer, Planning and Building Director Kevin Jackson, Assistant Planner Lamis Chabbani, Parks and Project Manager Nancy Kent, and City Clerk Anna Brown PUBLIC FORUM Dr. Stephen Sidney promoted the No Kings rally on March 28 in Piedmont Park.
The event is organized by the League of Women Voters of Piedmont. The league’s goal is for approximately 400 people to participate.
PRESENTATIONS
Women’s Mayor Andersen gave a proclamation for Women’s History Month for History Month March, 2026. Indira Balkissoon, vice chair of the community advisory committee for Ava Community Energy, accepted the proclamation and highlighted several accomplishments of the committee.
CONSENT CALENDAR The following items were considered under one vote by the Council:
Agreement Approve the agreement with the City of Alameda for the provision of firefighter with the City training and education.
of Alameda
Resolution No. 15-2026
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts Consent Calendar Item 1 as submitted.
Moved by Long, Seconded by Ramsey
Ayes: Andersen, Long, Plimier, and Ramsey
Noes: None
Absent: McCarthy
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
Resolution Adopting Fire Chief Brannigan presented the item to the Council. His presentation the 2025 Local covered the planning process, strategies, and updates in the 2025 Local Hazard Hazard Mitigation Mitigation Plan.
Plan
Chief Brannigan explained that city staff are already working on some actions.
The format of the plan will inform the City and the Council on how to prioritize action items and what grants to pursue.
City Council Minutes
March 2, 2026
2 He noted Piedmont historically has generally been unsuccessful in earning California’s vegetation mitigation grants.
Public Testimony was received from:
Susy Struble asked how community members can follow up and aid in completing action items in the plan, especially the tree mitigation. Fire Chief Brannigan answered he would talk with Susy Struble after the meeting.
Resolution No. 16-2026
WHEREAS, the City of Piedmont recognizes the threat that natural hazards pose to people and property within the City of Piedmont, and WHEREAS, the City of Piedmont has prepared a multi-hazard mitigation plan, hereby known as the 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with federal laws, including the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended; the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended; and the National Dam Safety Program Act, as amended; and WHEREAS, the 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies mitigation goals and actions to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property in City of Piedmont from the impacts of future hazards and disasters; and WHEREAS, adoption by the City of Piedmont demonstrates its commitment to hazard mitigation and achieving the goals outlined in the 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of Piedmont seeks FEMA approval of the hazard mitigation plan, desires to comply with the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act and to augment its emergency planning efforts by formally adopting the 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan by reference into the Safety Element of the General Plan in accordance with the requirements of AB 2140; and
WHEREAS, the City of Piedmont desires to augment its emergency planning efforts by formally adopting the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and to comply with the funding eligibility requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act; and WHEREAS, adoption of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan by the City Council demonstrates the City of Piedmont’s commitment to fulfilling the mitigation goals and objectives outlined in this Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Piedmont does hereby resolve, declare, determine, and order as follows:
SECTION 1. The above recitals are correct and are incorporated into this Resolution as findings of the City Council.
SECTION 2. The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan dated November 2025 is hereby adopted.
SECTION 3. The City Clerk is directed to the forward a copy of this resolution, along with the adopted Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, to the California Office of Emergency Services and FEMA Region IX to enable the plan’s final approval in accordance with the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act and to establish City Council Minutes
March 2, 2026
3 conformance with the requirements of AB 2140
SECTION 4. The City Council of the City of Piedmont hereby finds this action is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a), in that the adoption of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan does not have a potential for a direct physical change or reasonably indirect physical change in the environment, and State Guidelines section 15061(b)(3), providing that actions are not subject to CEQA where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.
Moved by Long, Seconded by Plimier
Ayes: Andersen, Long, Plimier, and Ramsey
Noes: None
Absent: McCarthy
Presentation of Police Chief Frederick Shavies II presented the year-end report. The report the Piedmont covered improvements, accomplishments, crime statistics, and private Police Department information management. The department fielded over 12,000 service calls in 2025 Year-End 2025.
Report
Overall, crime was down in Piedmont in 2025. Police Chief Shavies II noted that the community feeling safe is often more important than positive statistics.
He also explained the department is data-driven, constantly evaluating crime data, and working on making crime data more available to the public. He reviewed department staffing, noted the loss of the tobacco grant which funds the juvenile liaison officer position and said the department will pursue funding to replace the grant. He also discussed connections and partnerships with regional police departments.
City Administrator Bayon Moore commended the police department for the completion of the dispatch center and working while the center was being built.
Public Testimony was received from:
Susy Struble commended Officer Hugo Diaz for his work in the school district, and expressed concerns about the protection of private information collected by Flock cameras.
This is an informational report with no action required.
Ad Hoc Council Resolution No. 17-2026
Subcommittee RESOLVED to establish an ad hoc Council subcommittee tasked with for Selection of reviewing nominations and selecting the recipients of the 2025 Volunteer and the 2026 Volunteer Young Volunteer of the Year Award, and to appoint Mayor Betsy of the Year and Andersen and Vice Mayor Conna McCarthy to the subcommittee.
Young Volunteer Moved by Long, Seconded by Plimier
of the Year Ayes: Andersen, Long, Plimier, and Ramsey
Recipients Noes: None
Absent: McCarthy
There was no Public Testimony received.
City Council Minutes
March 2, 2026
4 Public Hearing: Assistant Planner Chabbani presented on the creation process of the Consideration of amendment. This amendment is a routine action for the Council, occurring every Adoption of five years.
Amendments to
the Environmental The maps of the high fire severity zones were amended, which shifted the zones Hazards Element away from Piedmont towards Montclair. Fire Chief Brannigan explained the map shift will not negatively impact home insurance in Piedmont. The shift will also raise the level of fire safety for all of Piedmont’s homes.
There was no Public Testimony received.
Resolution No. 18-2026
RESOLVED, to adopt a resolution which amends the Environmental Hazards Element of the General Plan to incorporate the City of Piedmont’s 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) into the Element.
Moved by Long, Seconded by Plimier
Ayes: Andersen, Long, Plimier, and Ramsey
Noes: None
Absent: McCarthy
REPORTS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilmember Plimier announced the Planning Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2026. StopWaste is hosting a We Are the (RE)Generation art and storytelling contest. The contest is open until May 4, 2026.
Councilmember Ramsey announced that Heritage Tree nominations are open.
Councilmember Long announced that Piedmonters for Inclusive Education (PIE) hosted their second annual Sidekicks fundraiser, an event at 801 Magnolia entitled Eagles Have Landed in Piedmont and Beyond is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on March 11, 2026, and entries are open for the Piedmont Recreation Department’s annual Putt Putt and Picnic in the Park event on April 19, 2026.
Mayor Andersen noted that she, Vice Mayor McCarthy, and City Administrator Bayon Moore attended the League of California East Bay Division meeting. The meeting grappled with the state having a $17 billion budget deficit. State legislators also recognized that housing goals for local jurisdictions are a challenge to meet when the needed resources are not available.
Mayor Andersen also noted the City is accepting applications for Committees and Commissions. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. March 13, 2026.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Andersen adjourned the meeting at 7:51 p.m.