Recreation Commission Public Hearing – 

The Recreation Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed fees and schedules for the Piedmont Community Pool for the period of May 1, 2013 through April 30, 2014. The hearing is on Wednesday, January 30, at 7:30 pm, in City Council Chambers, City Hall. The Commissioners will hear a report on the operating shortfall for the pool for the current FY 12-13, necessitating an additional $19,294 appropriation from the General Fund.  The 12-month expenses for 2012-13 will be $650,00 and the revenues are expected to be $550,000.  The annual City subsidy is projected to be $100,000.  The fee schedule will be considered by the City Council at a future meeting.  Announcement of hearing and details. There will be no February meeting of the Recreation Commission.

The following report was prepared by the Police Chief for the Council meeting of February 4, in City Hall.  

City of Piedmont COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT : February 4, 2013

FROM: Rikki Goede, Chief of Police

SUBJECT: Update to Council and Community on Police Department Response toCrime and Consideration of Authorization to Hire Ahead of Known and Probable Vacancies

RECOMMENDATION

Authorize the Chief of Police to immediately begin the process to hire ahead of known and probable vacancies within the Department to minimize gaps in patrol services.

DISCUSSION

On January 21, 2013, two armed home invasion robberies occurred within thirty minutes of each other. The first robbery occurred on Estates Drive and, while officers were investigating that crime, a second occurred on Arroyo Drive. The same suspects are believed to be involved in both robberies. These two incidents, combined with an increase in residential and auto burglaries have,understandably, increased the fear of crime within the community of Piedmont and has the residents demanding to know what steps are being taken by the police department to address the crime issues. This report will serve to update the Council and community on the actions taken by the police department in response to these crimes.

BACKGROUND

Upon assuming the Police Chief role on January 22, 2013, I immediately began an assessment of the Department’s staffing. The Department is authorized 28 full time employees, including 20 sworn personnel. Due to a combination of retirements, disability status, and frozen positions, the Department is currently at 22 full time employees. Without question this has hindered the Department’s ability to effectively respond to and investigate criminal activity. It also impacts the Department’s ability to maintain a minimum on duty staffing of one sergeant and two officers that is critical to the safety of our officers.

With regard to the aforementioned, the Department has taken the following immediate actions:
 Overtime has been authorized to backfill positions and ensure the minimum
staffing is met at all times.
 The number of paid reserves (primarily retired officers) has been increased from two to five allowing for more patrol resources.
 I have reached out to two local Bay Area departments who have provided investigative resources to assist our detective in the investigation of the home
invasion robberies. Additionally, we are working with Oakland investigators who
are following up on home invasions in their city with similar suspect descriptions
to the two committed in Piedmont.
 Overtime has been authorized for two officers to continue the investigative efforts on the other open criminal investigations.
 The determination of the benefit to offering a reward will be discussed with the investigators as well as the timing of such.
 Currently, the Department has two new officers in the final hiring process who are anticipated to begin field training next month. It is important to understand that field training for the aforementioned new hires will take a minimum of four
months and up to six months to complete. These officers have already completed
a police academy or that time would be extended by another four to six months.
 The Department is seeking Council authorization to actively begin hiring ahead for anticipated vacancies in an effort to minimize potential patrol gaps. Given that the Department is anticipating the possibility of five retirements in the coming year, it is important to prepare and minimize any gaps in patrol services these retirements will cause.
 The Department has already met with a vendor that provides license plate
reader/video surveillance services and is waiting for a final cost estimate from the
vendor to report to Council.

Finally, I want to reiterate that Piedmont remains a very safe community, however, it is not immune to the same issues facing every city in the state. For this reason, community collaboration and vigilance are essential to maintaining our safety. Neighborhood Watch programs have never been more necessary, and I will be working very closely with the Public Safety Committee and the community at large to increase participation in this valuable tool. Without question, 11,000 pairs of eyes watching out for the community are better than 20.

Ellen Driscoll Playhouse on February 3 – 

The public is invited to join the Piedmont Asian American Club and Piedmont Language School to celebrate the Lunar Year of the Snake on Sunday, February 3, from 12:30 to 3 pm at the Ellen Driscoll Playhouse, Highland Ave., Piedmont.  The program will include: Chinese folk dance, Taiko drummers,  calligraphy, and Lunar New Year arts and crafts. Light refreshments will be served.  Admission is $8 for members of the Piedmont Asian American Club & Piedmont Language School, and $10 for general admission at the door.

More information is on the flyer.

City Invites Residents to Meet New Police Chief and Discuss Crime Issues –

On Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 7:30 PM, the City of Piedmont will hold a Town Hall meeting at the Veterans Memorial Building to introduce residents to Piedmont’s new Chief of Police, Rikki Goede. This meeting will be hosted by the City’s Public Safety Committee and will be attended by members of the City Council, the City Administrator, and other City officials.

Understanding that residents have been upset by recent crimes in Piedmont, there will be a presentation about the increase of crime in Piedmont with a significant focus on the steps that the Police Department is taking to combat these trends. There will also be a good amount of time set aside for residents to participate in a question and answer period with Chief Goede.

Chief Goede started her career as a police officer, then Sergeant with the City of San Diego, where she worked for 10 years. For the past 16 years, Goede has worked in the City of San Jose, beginning as an officer and working her way up to the position of Assistant Chief. In her long career in law enforcement, Goede has worked in virtually all areas of police activities, including patrol, field training, crime prevention, internal affairs, robbery, gang investigations, and a variety of command assignments.

The formal agenda for the meeting is being developed in consultation with the Public Safety Committee and will be released as the Town Hall meeting draws near.

Measure A Supports School Arts Programs – 

Dear Editor,

 As an artist and as the Program Director for the Piedmont Center for the Arts, I have a unique perspective on the importance of arts education in our town. One reason that the Piedmont Center for the Arts has been a phenomenal success is because Piedmonters understand that engagement with the arts opens up our perceptions and allows us to discover new possibilities in our self and the world around us. We know that children naturally have an enthusiasm for discovery of self.  Self discovery is enhanced through the arts and is imperative to their overall development.

The PUSD has been able to maintain a comprehensive program in visual and performing arts, and in music, due in large part to the dedication of district leadership and the overwhelming community support for the school support tax for the past 27 years.

Alternatives to staff childcare proposal will be considered –

At the January 22 City Council meeting, staff presented a proposal to use 801 Magnolia’s East Wing, former Sunday School Room of the Christian Science Church, as a childcare facility.  The City Council responded with a request for further information from staff and an intention to hear alternative proposals from community groups on other community uses.  Presentations from interested community groups will be reviewed in March and/or early April.

Many ideas for use of the space in the East Wing, adjacent to the Piedmont Center for the Arts,  have been offered for this underutilized section of the building.

Languishing as a fallow and neglected building for almost a decade, the Arts Center was transformed last year into an attractive, popular venue in the heart of Piedmont, boasting more than 10,000 visits to art exhibits and events in its first year.   The East Wing of the building, however, is still used for storage by the City and has not been renovated, except for the addition of restrooms built and paid for by the Arts Center.  Many feel that a compatible use for the East Wing is important to the viability and continuing success of the Arts Center.

At the Jan. 22 Council meeting, staff acknowledged that some potential uses, aside from their recommendation of a childcare facility, would be possible.  However, staff has been proceeding with childcare plans prior to any public input, despite urging in the past by numerous civic leaders (see statements by public officials and commission members).   Questions by Council members on the demand for more childcare facilities or numbers of children on a waiting list were not fully answered, while staff reiterated their desire to set up a City program run by the Recreation Department.  Free childcare for staff members would be made available.

During discussion, Council members requested staff to come back with cost and revenue figures of the childcare proposal. They deferred any action until interested community groups have the opportunity to provide presentations on alternative uses in March or early April.  Presentation details were not specified.  (Questions may be referred to City staff, who often provide informal assistance and guidance to groups presenting proposals to the Council.)    Revenue and cost projections were indicated as  pivotal to any final decision on use.

Some of the alternatives mentioned at the Council meeting were:

– Allow the space to be booked by the Arts Center for activities of various Piedmont community groups

– Use the facility as a senior/adult center

Not discussed at the meeting were: the possible use of Regional Park Measure WW Bond Funds (totaling over $500,000 available to Piedmont) for use on the facility, Piedmont’s significant senior population, priorities for use of City resources, verified need for additional childcare facilities, or programs for adults.

Some Property Owners Will Pay More, Some Less Under Measure A-

On March 5, Piedmont voters will consider a school parcel tax, Measure A.  Taxpayers are asking what impact Measure A’s $2,406 per year for 8 years will have on their tax bill.

You can determine your current school tax by referring to your Alameda County Secured Property Tax Statement.  This is the annual statement sent to all property owners from the Alameda County Tax Assessor.  It has a two part payment schedule and lists the various taxing agencies.

– On the left side  of the tax statement are:

• Countywide Tax  – this county property tax begins at 1% of assessed value or purchase price (for the base year) by Proposition 13.  The assessed value generally increases 2% per year.
• School Bond debt service assessment  – This amount pays off multiple voter approved school bonds used to retrofit and rebuild schools recently and in the past.  The funds go to the Piedmont Unified School District.
•  Other assessments are also listed under debt service.

– On the right side of the statement are the “Special Assessments” (parcel taxes).  All of these taxes were approved by 2/3rd’s of those voting on the tax.

• Sewer Tax – Piedmont voters turned down a proposal to double this tax amount in a recent election.  The current tax is higher than the recently approved Measure Y, Municipal Service Tax.  This money goes to the City of Piedmont.
• School Measure B – Measure A on the March ballot, if passed, will replace this tax with the flat amount of $2406 for all Piedmont property owners.  If measure A should fail, the School Board has indicated its intention to increase the Measure B amount by 5% for the 2014 tax year. Add 5% to your statement to determine your 2014 tax.  This money goes to the Piedmont Unified School District.
• Municipal Services Tax – A parcel tax for the City of Piedmont which was just renewed for 4 years by the voters. This money goes to the City of Piedmont.
• Other taxes are also listed.

To determine how much of your property tax is going directly to the Piedmont schools add the debt service for school unified tax and the special school parcel tax (School Measure B or A).

Under the proposed new Measure A tax, every parcel in Piedmont, regardless of size and use, will be taxed at the rate of $2,406 per parcel for 8 years.   This includes commercial property and vacant parcels.   The School Board will be able to increase the base tax amount by 2% per year (compounded) during the 8 year term.

To determine if your property tax will go up or down with the passage of Measure A, look at your current Measure B tax, add 5%, and then compare the amount to $2,406.    Approximately, 78 % of  residential property owners will find their tax to be more under Measure A, while approximately 22 % will find their taxes reduced. 

Total number of residential parcels  = 3,764

 + Parcels under 5,000 square feet = 993

 + Parcels between 5,000 square feet and 9,999 square feet = 1,953 

  – Parcels 10,000 square feet or over = 818

Total residential parcels paying more under Measure A = 2,946

Total residential parcels paying less under Measure A = 818

The following information is on the Piedmont Civic Association website.

• A 4-part series describing Piedmont taxes, increases and comparisons to other school districts in the area.
• School Budget News (see left sidebar) has articles on how the school tax was developed.

Editors’ correction noted in purple above made on 1/29/13.

Difference Between Types of Exemptions- 

Dear Editor:

The supporters of Measure A are incorrectly characterizing one of the points made by the opponents of this proposal. The Proponent ballot rebuttal to the Measure A opponent argument states:  “The opponents simply have their facts wrong.  Low-income seniors are exempt from Measure A.”  The Argument Against Measure A makes this point:  “Piedmont does not have a senior exemption and this must be included. The proposed SSI (Supplemental Security Income) exemption for low-income seniors is meaningless in Piedmont.”

There is a substantial difference between a senior exemption and a low-income senior exemption.  In our region alone there are at least 35 school districts with age 65-only qualification for 100% senior exemption; the age 65 only qualification is common and most school districts use this straightforward qualification. Piedmont is 3^rd in the top 10 list of California school districts by Academic Performance Index (API) and only Piedmont does not offer an Age 65 senior exemption if a school tax is present. The details for these two points are contained at http://tiny.cc/36xyqw.

Local school districts define “very low income” using Federal classifications and on a very different basis from what the proponents feel is right for Piedmont:

• Berkeley USD:  household income below $37,400.
• Moraga SD:  household income below $32,350 to $49,850, depending on household size.
• Oakland USD:  household income below $31,250 to $58,950, depending on household size.
• Orinda Union SD:  household income below $46,150 to $60,950, depending on household size.

 Regarding Piedmont’s SSI qualification as a senior exemption, regardless of even the extremely low income levels of SSI, a person is not eligible if resources exceed $2,000 (exclusive of residence and car). The high cost of living in Piedmont virtually ensures any senior with a home will not qualify for SSI. The reality is that there is no meaningful senior exemption with Measure A.

To reiterate the closing statement of the Opponents to Measure A:  “Vote NO on Measure A. Instead, let us vote for a tax in November that is equitable, has genuine citizen oversight, and a meaningful senior exemption.”

Thank you,

Jim McCrea,  Piedmont Resident

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

Fewer Fires But Firefighter Costs Keep Rising – 

National Public Radio (NPR) reported on the community issues surrounding pensions of the Contra Costa County Fire Department after voters turned down a ballot measure asking for additional tax funding.  See article.