Measure A opponent  asks: Was our School Board too hasty in changing Measure A to a flat tax?

On December 11, 2012, the Board was advised by legal counsel to change Measure A to a uniform flat tax rate that applies to every parcel. His advice followed the ‘Borikas Decision’ wherein an appeals court reversed an earlier judgment that had ruled in favor of the Alameda School District’s 2008 tax measure that had variable tax rates based on use and size of parcel. The Appeals Court concluded that the governing statute (Sec 50079-50079.5) while allowing certain exemptions does not otherwise permit these variances, although this has been an accepted practice for years. A final ruling and its ramifications may not be known for months or even years. > Click to read more…

StopWaste offers revised language to  coax reluctant cities to participate

At its Wednesday, February 27, 2013 meeting, the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (WMA) Board is expected to make a final decision on four changes to the Energy Council Joint Powers Authority (JPA) in the areas of:

• voting structure (the issue of weighted voting)
• liability and insurance,
• withdrawal notice reduced to 6 months (from 1 year)
• effective date (revised to April 12, 2013 (from   The approved version of the JPA would then be distributed to WMA member agencies (including Piedmont) with encouragement to all to join.

The current proposal for a “weighted” voting structure remains unchanged from a previous proposal voted down at the January WMA Board meeting.  The proposed withdrawal notice is reduced from one year to six months.  The revised effective date is proposed to be April 12, 2013.  The revised language on liability, voting structure, withdrawal and effective date is here.

> Click to read more…

Many Piedmonters with absentee ballots have yet to return them to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.  All ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5.  Ballots mailed on March 5 will not be counted.  Absentee ballots may be turned in on election day to a voter’s regular polling location.

The Piedmont Unified School District Special Election will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. The polls will be open from 7:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. 

Voters may cast their ballots early at the Registrar of Voters office, Monday through Friday from 8:30 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. or on Election Day, March 5 th,  from 7:00 A.M until 8:00 P.M. at the Alameda County Courthouse, 1225 Fallon Street, Room G-1, in Oakland. > Click to read more…

Piedmont Center for the Arts (PCFA) is asking for community ideas for the use of our East Wing Space.  Post your comments and ideas for this rare public space at the end of this article and on the PCFA website!

A Message from the Piedmont Center for the Arts (PCFA):  The City Staff of Piedmont has proposed to use the East Wing of the Piedmont ArtsCenter building at 801 Magnolia as an all-day child-care facility.  This would involve the City remodeling the space as a single-purpose child-care space.  We, the Board of the Center, do not think this proposed usage will be compatible with our current, vibrant arts usage of the other half of the building.  We also believe that the largest body of Piedmonters currently being under-served are our adults. > Click to read more…

Franchise Tax Board (FTB) changes rules going back 4 years and recommends taxpayers amend returns –

Business founders and early investors in high tech start-ups and other qualified small businesses (QSB) in California who sold the stock since January 1, 2008, taking a Qualified Small Business (QSB) exclusion, may soon receive a Notice of Proposed Assessment from the Franchise Tax Board for 50% of the capital gains they legally excluded under the California Tax Code.  (California Revenue and Taxation Code, § 18152.5, subds. (c)(2)(A), (e)(1)(A) & (e)(9)).  The FTB has retroactively disqualified all exclusions and deferrals for Qualified Small Businesses and recommends taxpayers amend their returns.  Not only will the taxes be retroactively charged, going back to 2008, but interest and penalties may be added. > Click to read more…

City Council Approves New Pool Fees –  

On February 19, the City Council approved by a 3-1 vote * the 2013-14 Piedmont Community Pool fees and schedules.  The weekend Youth (resident and non-resident alike) drop-in fee will be reduced from $7.50 to $7.00 .  Because Friday will no longer be considered a weekend day, Friday drop-in fees will be reduced for all walk-in swimmers.  (Resident adults will pay $10 instead of $15, non-resident adults will pay $20 instead of $30 and all youths will pay $5 instead of $7.50 Friday drop-in fee.)

While many day fees will be reduced, Family annual passes  for both residents and non-residents will increase $100 and family seasonal passes will increase $75 for both.  Piedmont seniors will pay $125 more, the greatest increase.   (Non-Piedmont seniors will pay a 30% increase for the same Seasonal Pass. )  Councilmember Keating advocated no increase in the Senior Seasonal Pass and either an increase in the Annual Passes or a reduction in the hours of the pool to reduce the General Fund subsidy required for pool operation.

> Click to read more…

Residents Request Response from City Council – 

At the February 19 City Council meeting during the Public Forum, two Piedmonters inquired about the status of reimbursement of associated City costs by the private group that proposed constructing sports fields in Blair Park. The private group, Piedmont Recreational Facilities Organization, (PRFO) promised that their proposed sports facility would involve no cost to City taxpayers.

Piedmont resident Ralph Catalano asked for an accounting of the “at least $400,000”  PRFO owes the City  under their reimbursement contract with the City.  (The 2011 PRFO agreement with the City was executed on August 12th and disclosed by the City to residents several weeks later, in late September, at the urging of one of Piedmont’s Council Members.) > Click to read more…

Erick Cheung Selected by City Council- 

On February 19, the City Council appointed Erick Cheung as Piedmont Finance/Human Resources Director, effective March 6, 2013, to replace outgoing Finance Director Mark Bichsel. Since  Bichsel’s retirement is effective March 15, there will be a one week overlap, so he can assist Mr. Cheung in the transition, which is occurring during the City’s 2013-14 budget preparation process.  According to the City Charter the proposed budget is to be presented to the City Council by May 15 annually.  Budget workshops and a public hearing will be held prior to the June 30 adoption of the budget.  > Click to read more…

Memorandum Issued by Piedmont School Superintendent Constance Hubbard –

February 14, 2013

It has come to my attention that erroneous information and conclusions about the use of funds from the sale of surplus property in San Marino Unified School District are being discussed. We are often compared with San Marino in terms of size of student population and achievement levels, > Click to read more…