Council support for Measure Y was not unanimous-

There you go again, Measure Y proponents. Continuing to misinform and mislead Piedmont voters. At the outset, there was the completely false claim in your ballot argument in the Voter Information Pamphlet that, “The City Council unanimously supports renewal of the existing Municipal Services Tax . . . “. Even when the proponents acknowledged their material misstatement, when there was time to correct the submission, they chose not to do so. To let the statement stand is an egregious, misleading act.  > Click to read more…

The League of Women Voters of California recommends Yes or No votes on five measures on the November 6 statewide ballot –

YES on Prop 30: Proposition 30 begins to move California toward financial stability and adequate funding for all the services we want from our government; we can’t continue to cut vital public services such as schools and public safety.

NO on Prop 31: Proposition 31 is based on good intentions and has some pieces that, taken alone, the League could support. However, Proposition 31 has several significant flaws and raises questions about whether or not the provisions allow local governments to suspend state environmental requirements.

NO on Prop 32: This measure is not the campaign finance reform measure its proponents say it is. Proposition 32 promises “political reform” but is actually designed by special interests to help themselves and harm their opponents. It unfairly targets one set of large campaign donors while giving other donors unlimited power.

YES on Prop 34: The SAFE California Act will replace the death penalty in California with a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Convicted killers will stay in prison for the rest of their lives, eliminating the possibility of executing an innocent person in California. It will save over $100 million every year— because the court and incarceration costs are so much higher for prisoners at risk for a death penalty.

YES on Prop 40: One last step to lock in independent redistricting for California. The League strongly urges a “YES” vote on this referendum on the state Senate maps drawn by the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. The question on a referendum is not intuitive; it asks if you want to retain the new law, or in this case, the maps drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission.  Vote YES to affirm the maps drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission.

NEUTRAL on Prop 38 & Prop 39: Adequate revenue to provide for the public good is critically needed. The League supports Prop 30 on this ballot as the best way to provide some relief from the endless cutting of vital government services. We see some merit in Propositions 38 and 39, but have taken a neutral position on them because of their earmarking of revenues.

For more detailed information on the recommendations, go to www.lwvc.org and click on Ballot Recommendations.  The League has not studied the issues in Propositions 33, 35, 36 and 37, and therefore has no recommendations.

Editors’ Note:  The opinions expressed are those of the League of Women Voters of California.  The Piedmont Civic Association does not support or oppose ballot measures or candidates.

ramp awaits handrail

handrail and stairs

 Construction of the new access ramp and stair improvements to the temporary Piedmont Avenue Library, on the grounds of the Piedmont Avenue Elementary School, is progressing.

The September opening was delayed, and the library is now scheduled to close its current location on 41st Street on Saturday, October 27, and transfer the books and other collections over the following weeks to the new site on the school playground.

Since the construction of necessary access was not completed in September, the official opening on the school playground will be November 27.

Saturday, October 27^th is also the date of the Piedmont Avenue Halloween Parade.  The Friends of the Piedmont Avenue Library plan to dress as books and lead the parade from the 41^st Street library building to the modular units on Echo Avenue that will serve as the temporary library.

Good News from STAR Test Results –

Message from Jeanne Donovan, Principal Piedmont Middle School

We have great news to report regarding the STAR results for the 2011-12 school year at Piedmont Middle School:

PMS’s Academic Performance Index score (API) from last spring’s STAR testing increased from a score of 943 to 966, a 23-point gain. The API is a single number that ranges from 200 to 1000, and reflects a school’s performance level based on the results of statewide testing. Its purpose is to measure the academic performance and growth of schools. PMS also met all Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) criteria including participation rate, percent proficient, and API score.

I attribute our success in the STAR results to many factors.  Our teachers have embraced a more collaborative teacher evaluation system, and are taking advantage of common planning time to share strategies and learn from each other’s successes.  Throughout the school there is an increased focus on collaboration within and between departments, in order to improve student learning.

Teachers are also using our data management program, Data Director, to look closely at the specific data within content clusters of the STAR test.  Looking closely at these data helps teachers develop, refine, and restructure their teaching in order to address specific areas of need.

The extremely generous contributions of parents are also a huge factor in our success.  Given the uncertainties of funding from the State, it is the parent contributions that allow us to continue to improve our excellent program.  Donations to the Giving Campaign, the School Support Tax, the Piedmont Education Foundation, and ongoing parent support of state funding initiatives are all vital to the strength of our program.  Adding to this are the countless hours and amazing dedication of our parent volunteers.  It is this partnership between parents, school and administration that leads to success.

Please keep in mind that STAR is only one indicator of either our school’s or any individual student’s annual academic progress. Teachers also look at other forms of assessment, such as common assessments, formative assessments, and benchmark assessments.  As seriously as we take grades and test scores, it is of equal importance to our staff to stay focused on the healthy emotional, physical, and social development of our students.

Editors’ Note:  The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Piedmont Civic Association.

From a Member of Piedmont League of Women Voters Undergrounding Task Force –

Voting no on Measure Y is not about opposition to taxes or antagonism towards city government, nor is it about ingratitude for all the benefits of living in Piedmont.  I believe it’s about “tough love” — setting limits for the sake of preventing unconstructive, ultimately self- destructive behavior.  It’s sending a clear message of the need for restraint, redirection and problem solving, rather than simply reacting.   The Task Force for the Piedmont Hills Undergrounding District, which I served on, spent many hours researching and identifying the factors that contributed to this project’s $2 million dollar financial fiasco. Among these were inadequate or absent  risk management policies, insufficient oversight, lack of transparency in decision making, and lack of planning and appropriate systemic procedures for dealing with the potential problems associated with major construction projects.  If one reviews the time line of events building to that significant cost to the city and the taxpayers, one sees a sequence of “just this one time” attitudes–  repeated reactivity,  rather than thoughtful problem solving in a devolving situation, a situation which might have been avoided or minimized by planning and anticipation, and by specifying limits clearly.

> Click to read more…

 Tax Helps Pay for Many Special Elements in Piedmont –

Since the passage of Proposition 13 in 1980, the residents of Piedmont have realized that for our community to have the things that we as a community value, we needed a City Services Tax.  Our city has had such a tax since 1980, and we have continuously renewed it for the past thirty-two years.  The tax is up for renewal this year and is on our ballot as MEASURE Y.  It will be at the end of your ballot and is not an increase over the past four years.  I urge you to vote YES ON MEASURE Y.  > Click to read more…

Many Contribute Time, Effort, and Expertise  –

Many Piedmont residents are dedicated volunteers who contribute their time and talents to help make our community a better place to live.  Attention has recently focused on Michael Rancer, Chair of the 2011 Municipal Tax Review Committee (MTRC), who for the past two years, has applied his expertise and knowledge of budgets and public financing to help shine a bright light on Piedmont’s financial issues.

In 2011, Rancer was selected by the City Council to serve on the MTRC, and was then elected Chair of the Committee by his fellow Committee members. The 9-member Committee met for months in Spring 2011 and, under Rancer’s leadership, produced an extensive analysis of the City’s budget and financial projections.  The report was praised unanimously by the City Council.

In the March 2012 local election, Rancer publicly supported Measure A, the sewer service surcharge, and signed the “pro” argument  in the Voters Handbook.

Rancer’s education and professional background make him well qualified to assess Piedmont’s financial and budget issues. Consider his resume:

At  the Piedmont League of Women Voters Forum on Thursday, Oct.11, Rancer represented the “No on Measure Y” portion of the presentations. During his presentation, he  commented that he thought the personal attacks against opponents of Measure Y  should cease. Rancer had good reason for his comment, since he is the subject of a verbal attack by Councilman Jeff Weiler posted on Weiler’s  Facebook page.  Letter to City Council requesting an apology from Council Member Wieler; Letter to Council Member Wieler.

As Chair of the  MTRC, Rancer carefully considered various aspects of Piedmont financial matters.  Despite originally supporting the proposed Piedmont parcel tax renewal (Measure Y), he reversed his position when, in his opinion, City actions recommended by the MTRC were not taken.

Cuts Would Affect City’s Quality of Life-

Dear Editor,

I am working with Piedmont friends and neighbors to inform voters why it is important to renew the existing parcel tax with no increase in order to maintain existing services.

Parcel tax revenues help pay for Piedmont’s police, fire, paramedics, park maintenance, street and sidewalk maintenance and other city services and amenities.  > Click to read more…

Investments, Beneficiary Amounts, and Police Officer Industrial Disability-

The City of Piedmont Police and Fire Pension Board will meet Wednesday, October 17, 2012, 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.   The Piedmont Police and Fire Pension Plan and the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) are both maintained for qualifying employees and retirees.  The two plans operate concurrently, yet independently. Employees hired prior to the City’s joining PERS continue to be covered by the Piedmont Police and Fire Pension Fund, while new employees are covered by PERS.

The return on investments and Piedmont Fund balance has drawn interest as a potential source of unallocated money when there are no remaining beneficiaries.

The agenda for the October 17 meeting includes:

• Acceptance of Participant Report, summarizing benefits paid in the 1st Quarter of FY 12/13 and current number of beneficiaries
• Report of pension fund investments by Osterweis Capital Management
• Consideration of an Industrial Disability Retirement for a Police officer

Staff reports were not available at the time of PCA publishing. All meetings are open to the public.