PIEDMONT CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Minutes for Monday, May 4, 2026
A Special and Regular Session of the Piedmont City Council was held Monday, May 4, 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 April 30, 2026.
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, Councilmember Lorrel Plimier, and Councilmember Tom Ramsey
Staff: City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore, City Attorney Deepa Sharma, Fire Chief Dave Brannigan, Police Chief Frederick Shavies II, Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales, Planning and Building Director Kevin Jackson, Parks and Project Manager Nancy Kent, Finance Director Kiran Bawa, Sustainability Program Manager Deniz Ergun, Climate Action Fellow Emma Grossman, and Deputy City Clerk Lisa Argue
PRESENTATIONS
Jewish American Mayor Smegal Andersen read the Jewish American Heritage Month Heritage Month proclamation. The proclamation was accepted by Jennifer Alderman and Dan Proclamation Sherman with the Jewish Community of Piedmont.
Piedmont Planning The Council honored Planning and Building Director Jackson for his 23 years and Building Director with the City. He is retiring May 8. Mayor Smegal Andersen read the Proclamation proclamation.
Planning and Building Director Jackson thanked City staff and the Council for their efforts and support.
The Council, Bob McBain, John Tulloch, and Andy Madeira congratulated Planning and Building Director Jackson on his retirement and shared stories about their personal experiences with him. Administrator Moore read a message from former mayor Jennifer Cavenaugh to Jackson.
Public Service Mayor Smegal Andersen read the Public Service Recognition Week Recognition proclamation. Police Chief Frederick Shavies II accepted the proclamation.
Week Proclamation
Tobacco Use Piedmont High School students Olivia Bailey, Diego Branneria, Mina Herrgott, Prevention and Andson Zhou presented a proposal to ban current and future sales of all Educators tobacco products in Piedmont to protect Piedmont youth.
Presentation
Eden Youth students Luis Santos, Jenny Tran, Icela Velazquez, Ashely Hernandez, and Vaness Hernandez all voiced their support and provided additional data to support the banning of tobacco products.
City Council Minutes
May 4, 2026
2 PUBLIC FORUM Public Comment was received from:
Teacher Gillian Bailey, Piedmont High School students Grace Alorigreen, Vivian Burke, and Davila Osman, and Elise Marks, Association of Piedmont Teachers President, requested the city and Council reconsider the parking allotments in the civic center and to provide increased parking for PUSD students and teachers. They shared personal experiences with the challenges presented by the current parking configuration.
Maria Henderson, Alameda County Transit, reported that the Alameda County Transit Board of Directors is considering reducing services due to a $200 million budget deficit over the next four years. All bus lines are under review.
The Board of Directors meeting to consider the reduction is at 5:00 p.m. on June
10. 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 April 6, 2026.
Approval of Resolution Approval of a Resolution Designating Projects for Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Road Designating Projects Maintenance for Fiscal Year 2026/2027 and Authorization for the Finance for Senate Bill 1 Road Director to Modify the Budget to Reflect Anticipated SB-1 Revenues Maintenance, (Recommended CEQA Action: Exempt under CEQA Guideline Section 15301) Authorization for
Finance Director
to Modify Budget
to Reflect Anticipated
SB-1 Revenues
Approval of License Approval of a License Agreement with New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC Agreement with New (AT&T) for Wireless Communication Facilities at 120 Vista Avenue AT&T Cingular Wireless WCF License.
PCS, LLC
Award of a Contract Award of a Contract for the Bonita Avenue Accessible Parking and Striping for the Bonita Avenue Project to D’s General Engineering in the Amount of $142,236, Approval of an Accessible Parking Overall Construction Budget of $156,460, and a Finding that the Project is and Striping Project Categorically Exempt Under CEQA Section 15301 (c). to D’s General
Engineering
Acceptance of Acceptance of Improvements for the Truss Pipe Sewer Rehabilitation Project.
Improvements for
the Truss Pipe Sewer There was no Public Comment received.
Rehabilitation Project
Resolution No. 31-2026
RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts Consent Calendar Items 1 to 5 as submitted.
Moved by McCarthy, Seconded by Long
Ayes: Smegal Andersen, McCarthy, Long, Plimier, and Ramsey Noes: None
REGULAR AGENDA The Council considered the following items of regular business:
Receipt of the Park Commission Chair Tom Smegal presented the annual report to the Council.
City Council Minutes
May 4, 2026
3 Park Commission’s He explained that the City has numerous open street tree locations, identified 2025 Annual Report through a street tree survey program completed in 2023 and recorded in a database updated by City staff. The most popular public discussion topic at the Commission’s meetings is off-leash dog parks, especially after the closure of the off-leash dog area at Linda Park.
Public Comment was received from:
Garrett Keating commended the Park Commission for their sustainability plan.
He asked the Council to accept the Commission’s offer to engage the community about dog runs.
Consideration of With the upcoming retirement of Planning and Building Director Jackson, City Appointment of Jeff Administrator Moore proposed hiring an interim Planning and Building Director Bond as Interim while the City searches for a full-time replacement.
Planning and Building
Director Jeff Bond introduced himself to the Council.
There was no Public Comment received.
Resolution No. 32-2026
RESOLVED, that the City Council Appoints Jeff Bond as Interim Planning and Building Director and Authorizing the City Administrator to Execute an Employment Agreement.
Moved by Long, Seconded by McCarthy
Ayes: Smegal Andersen, McCarthy, Long, Plimier, and Ramsey Noes: None
Receipt of
an Informational
Update on Home
Electrification Sustainability Program Manager Deniz Ergun gave an update on the home Strategy electrification strategy. Her report included reasons for the city being behind on its carbon neutrality goals. One barrier is resident’s willingness to pay for energy renovations to their homes due to high costs. Phase 3 of the strategy contains neighborhood level approaches to hopefully overcome that barrier.
Other challenges include electrical infrastructure upgrades and overall unwillingness of residents to contribute toward upgrades. The home electrification strategy was the most voted for program when staff polled residents about various city programs, and staff has initiated financial incentives for some upgrades. She noted one of the benefits of the electric infrastructure upgrades is better coverage from insurance companies.
Mayor Smegal Andersen requested City staff contact PG&E about whether PG&E can send notices to Piedmont residents when they are making an electric infrastructure upgrade, to outline the planned upgrade and inquire whether the resident is interested in making the same upgrade.
Public Comment was received from:
Garrett Keating asked City staff to include the health benefits of electric infrastructure upgrades in communications to the public.. He requested the City publish its carbon data to show how much the programs are improving carbon neutrality.
City Council Minutes
May 4, 2026
4 Receipt of Climate Action Fellow Grossman gave a presentation on the rebate program. an Informational The presentation included updates to the program and the fiscal impact.
Update on the City
of Piedmont Home Climate Action Fellow Grossman explained there are other regional incentive Electrification programs Piedmont residents could apply for, most of which are for Rebate Program low-income residents. She noted that if a rebate is not proving effective, the for Fiscal Year program is flexible for updates, and the City has approved all rebates to 2026/2027 residents with an acceptable application.
Sustainability Program Manager Ergun added that the majority of Piedmont residents who buy heat pumps do not apply for the rebate, which in itself demonstrates the financial benefit of heat pumps.
Mayor Smegal Andersen requested City staff to consider adding an incentive for Piedmont residents when purchasing solar panels with a battery pack. According to Ava Community Energy, solar panels alone make electricity more expensive for residents without panels.
There was no Public Comment received.
REPORTS AND Councilmember Long reported on the successful annual Play Like a Girl was ANNOUNCEMENTS event, where 1,300 children participated, with 31 sports available.
Councilmember Plimier reported the Planning Commission is holding their next meeting at 5:00 p.m. on May 11. One of the items the Commission will discuss is the housing element programs.
Councilmember Plimier requested the Council add to a future agenda a discussion of banning the sale of tobacco products. The Council will consult with legal counsel before adding the item.
Mayor Smegal Andersen reported that Earth Day and Food Fest were successful.
Food Fest had a record high attendance despite rainy weather. She also reported that she participated in the City’s volunteer reception.
Mayor Smegal Andersen presented Planning and Building Director Jackson with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from US Congresswoman Lateefah Simon.
City Administrator Moore reported the Budget Advisory Committee will meet on May 7 to discuss the funding mechanisms.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Smegal Andersen adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m.