PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, March 16, 2026
A Special and Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council was held Monday, March 16, 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 March 12, 2026.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Smegal Andersen called the Regular Session meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and noted no reportable action from the Closed Session held at 5:15 p.m. today.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen, Councilmember Lorrel Plimier, and Councilmember Tom Ramsey
Absent: Vice Mayor Conna McCarthy and Councilmember Jennifer Long 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, Senior Planner Pierce MacDonald, City Clerk Anna Brown
PUBLIC FORUM There was no Public Comment received.
PRESENTATIONS
American Red Mayor Smegal Andersen gave a proclamation for American Red Cross Month Cross Month for March, 2026. Kathryn Mecrow of American Red Cross accepted the proclamation.
CONSENT CALENDAR The following items were considered under one vote by the Council:
Approval of Minutes Approval of the minutes for the City Council meeting of February 17, 2026.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution No. 19-2026
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts Consent Calendar Item 1 as submitted.
Moved by Plimier, Seconded by Ramsey
Ayes: Smegal Andersen, Plimier, and Ramsey
Noes: None
Absent: McCarthy, Long
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
Public Hearing: Engineers John Wanger and Steve Van Saun of DCCM presented the Ordinance and item to the Council.
Resolutions Related
to State of California Engineer Van Saun noted the ordinance and resolutions are part of the process to Revolving Fund Loan receive a reimbursement of the pending SRF loan from the state for this phase of Application the sewer project. He added this should be one of the last steps for the reimbursement.
City Council Minutes
March 16, 2026
2 Once the loan agreement is finalized, the bid for the project will be published in June, 2026.
Engineer Wanger shared that the City has currently successfully rehabilitated
80.95% of their sewer system. Once Phase 6 is complete, 87.8% of the sewer will be rehabilitated.
Engineer Wanger explained that staff is confident that the project will cost less than their initial estimate.
Engineer Wanger expects that Phase 6 will not greatly disrupt the neighborhood.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution No. 20-2026
RESOLVED, that the City Council 1) Approves the Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance 790 N.S. Approving the Borrowing of Funds Through Agreements with the State Water Resources Control Board; 2) Approves the Reimbursement Resolution Regarding the City’s Intent to Finance Project C and Expectation of Reimbursement for Project Costs from the State of California; and 3) Approves the Resolution Dedicating a Source of Revenue for Repayment of the State Revolving Fund Loan in Accordance with the State Water Resources Control Board’s Requirements.
Moved by Ramsey, Seconded by Plimier
Ayes: Smegal Andersen, Plimier, and Ramsey
Noes: None
Absent: McCarthy, Long
Informational Report Planning and Building Director Jackson explained staff is presenting this item to Regarding Request the Council to receive their approval that the RFQ meets project objectives. for RFQ within An RFQ will generate more responses from vendors than an RFP.
Moraga Canyon This approach will allow the City to focus more on quality and reputation Specific Plan Area of vendors, and the City will have more control over the design and features of future potential projects in Moraga Canyon. Planning and Building Director Jackson noted this RFQ approach is common. He noted that the RFQ is open to vendors outside of the Bay Area.
Public Comment was received from:
Andy Medeira agreed that publishing an RFQ instead of an RFP is a good choice and gave several pieces of advice if the Council approves the RFQ.
Carol Galante expressed her excitement that the project is proceeding and gave several pieces of advice for the RFQ selection process.
Mayor Smegal Andersen welcomed further comments via email.
Planning and Building Director Jackson and Special Legal Counsel Karen Murphy noted the next chance the public can comment on the project is during a public hearing for the exclusive negotiating agreement. There will be multiple other points throughout the project process where the public will have the opportunity to comment.
The discussion addressed timing constraints related to Measure A1 funding, with Senior Planner Pierce McDonald explaining that the city has approximately City Council Minutes
March 16, 2026
3 $2.1-2.2 million available through December 2026, requiring an exclusive negotiating agreement by that deadline. City Administrator confirmed this timeline is feasible and that county orientation supports ensuring all jurisdictions participate in regional housing solutions.
City Administrator Bayon Moore noted that staff believe an RFQ will encourage vendors to prove their qualifications for this project.
REPORTS AND Councilmember Plimier reported on the upcoming Design and Sustainability ANNOUNCEMENTS Awards Gala on April 15, and the Piedmont No Kings Rally in Piedmont Park on March 28.
Councilmember Ramsey reminded the Council that Heritage Tree nominations are due by March 20, and Earth & Arbor Day is April 23.
City Clerk Brown noted that the Commission applications and Young Volunteer of the Year nominations deadlines are extended to 5:00 p.m. on March 18.
Recreation Director Putzer advised that the Council launched registration software in the week of March 8. Approximately 173 people have attempted to sign up for a pool pass. The department created a sign-up process that allows residents to complete the paperwork for a program before signing up. The process is called Fasttrack. All five of the swim classes are full. Registration for annual passes opens March 24. Registration for the Smegal Family Poolside Room and Ellis Family Pavillion open March 31.
Mayor Smegal Andersen announced that the City is hosting a retirement party for retiring firefighter Rob Henry on Saturday, March 21.
The date of the next Council meeting was not scheduled.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Smegal Andersen adjourned the meeting at 7:19 p.m.