The recent resignation of former City Council member Jeff Wieler vacancy is to be filled by a Council appointment.  

To familiarize themselves with the 12 candidates noted below, the Council will conduct required interviews starting at 2:00 p.m., Monday, October 2, 2017 in the Emergency Operations Center of the Piedmont Police Department at 403 Highland Avenue. The agenda states that following the interviews, the Council may act to appoint the new Councilmember at the same meeting. 

In the past, the interviews have not been recorded or broadcast, ostensibly to give no candidate an advantage in hearing prior candidate’s questions or answers.

Council interviews, discussions, and any actions are open to all members of the public.

 Piedmont volunteerism is a traditional route to the Council.

Many of the applicants have served one or more times on city commissions or committees.  City Council members are not compensated monetarily for their service.  The  appointee will be eligible to seek election to a full term at the November 2018 General Election, as the seat will become open.

The candidates are:

Betsy Smegal Andersen

Shanti Brien

Brian Cain

John DeSerio

Kobi Eshun

Nancy Lehrkind

Johnathan Levine

Conna McCarthy

Gary Rinehart

Gina Scialabba

Susy Struble

Jamie Totsub

Information and comments on the various candidates can be submitted to the City Council members.

Council contact information:

All information submitted to the Council by the applicants is public information.

For further information, contact City Clerk John Tulloch at (510)420-3040.

 Statewide CAASPP Results

Press release from Piedmont Unified School District…..

The City states the reissuance of bonds will not cost Piedmont taxpayers.  Costs for the continuing City staff time appear not to have been factored into the reissuance of the private special district bonds. 

Agenda item: City Council Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 2, 2017

Consideration of Authorization to Engage a Financial Advisor with Regard to the Possible Refinancing of the Bonds of the Piedmont Hills (Special District that Cost Piedmont taxpayers millions) Wildwood/Crocker, and Dudley/Blair/ Mountain/Pacific/Hagar & Vicinity Underground Assessment Districts.

http://www.ci.piedmont.ca.us/html/govern/staffreports/2017-10-02/underground-bond-refinance.pdf

According to the staff report as stated:

“The City’s General Fund has no obligation to pay or ensure the full and timely payment of the debt service related to refunded debt. Debt service associated with the assessment district is solely the responsibility of the 217 parcel owners.”

The City Council is scheduled to take the cell tower matter up at its regular meeting on October 2, 2017, at City Hall starting at 7:30 p.m.  A previously scheduled City Council public hearing had to be postponed when the applicant submitted revised plans after the public hearing notice had been posted and mailed to property owners and residents.

Latest documents provided by the Planning Department –

10/02/17 – Crown Castle Distributed Antenna System Applications

10/02/17 – Crown Castle Distributed Antenna System Applications – Attachments A – H (35MB File)

10/02/17 – Crown Castle Distributed Antenna System Applications – Attachment I (45MB File)

10/02/17 – Crown Castle Distributed Antenna System Applications – Attachments J-O

Crown Castle Wireless Distributed Antenna System – Application Documents

Click to view a map of the proposed locations. Application materials for each of the proposed installations are below:

1. 340 – 370 Highland Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

2. 505 Blair Avenue & 150 Highland Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

3. 799 Magnolia Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

4. 358 Hillside Avenue & 740 Magnolia Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

5. 303 Hillside Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

6. 428 El Cerrito Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

7. 355 Jerome Avenue & 352 Jerome Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

8. 1159 Winsor Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

9. 314 Wildwood Avenue & 100 Requa Road

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

Other Documents

• Descriptions of Proposed Sites with Height of Greater than 35 Feet
• Story Pole Certification
• June 7, 2017 Park Commission Agenda Report
• June 12, 2017 Planning Commission Agenda Report – Item 4a
  • Attachment H – Coverage Map & Alternative Sites Analysis for the Proposed Installations
• June 12, 2017 Planning Commission Agenda Report – Item 4b
  • Attachment H – Coverage Map & Alternative Sites Analysis for the Proposed Installations
• June 12, 2017 Planning Commission Agenda Report – Item 4c
  • Attachment H – Coverage Map & Alternative Sites Analysis for the Proposed Installations
• Transmittal Letter for Revised Application
• Coverage Report Dated August 3, 2017

Residents with questions regarding the application are welcome to contact Senior Planner Pierce Macdonald Powell via email or via telephone at (510) 420-3050.

See below for City Council contact numbers.

History:

Crown Castle NG West LLC filed applications in November 2016 for nine proposed Verizon distributed antenna system wireless communication facilities, located generally around Piedmont Park and Piedmont High School. Crown Castle NG West LLC is a company that builds wireless communication facilities and then leases them to wireless service providers, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon.

On June 7, 2017, the Park Commission reviewed the possible impacts to street trees. On June 12,2017, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposal and made recommendations to City Council on the design and location of each proposed wireless communications facility. Please see the Park Commission Agenda Report and the Planning Commission Agenda Reports in the documents list below.

On August 4, 2017, Crown Castle NG West resubmitted plans and application forms with project revisions. The proposed revised projects include five installations on existing utility poles, three installations on the tops of existing street light poles, and one installation on a new light within Piedmont Park at the Wildwood Avenue entrance. The applicants have proposed that ground equipment related to the pole top antennas be located in various locations, including inside cabinets shaped like mailboxes on the sidewalk, behind shrouds mounted on the poles and streetlights, and in underground vaults. On September 8, 2017, Crown Castle submitted revised plans which superceded those submitted in August. On September 8, 2017, Crown Castle withdrew the original designs filed in November 2016. The original designs are posted above for comparison.

Placement of wireless communication facilities is governed by state and federal law, including requiring cities to allow certain wireless communications facilities in the public right-of-way. Under the Federal Telecommunications Act, the federal government and FCC decide what is a safe level of EMF radiation. In addition, under these laws, cities cannot place conditions on, deny, or approve a proposed wireless facility based upon the health effects if the applicant demonstrates that the project meets federal safety requirements.

On May 2, 2017, Crown Castle constructed a mockup to represent a proposed light pole and wireless antenna near the Wildwood Ave. entrance to Piedmont Park. Residents are encouraged to visit the site and view the mockup in person. This mockup is also meant to represent the wireless antenna installations at eight additional sites located generally around Piedmont Park, Piedmont High School, and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Reference Documents

The American Planning Association offered a training on the basics of wireless communication facilities and recent case law on July 27, 2017. The training was recorded and is available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WsOnJyCxHI

On August 21, 2017, the City Council received a presentation from the Jonathan Kramer of the Telecom Law Firm, entitled “Wireless Technology and Regulatory Setting Update.” While not directly related to the Crown Castle Application, this presentation is posted here for reference purposes. Presentation from Telecom Law Firm to Piedmont City Council on August 21, 2017.

COMMUNICATION WITH CITY COUNCIL

The rescheduled cell tower City Council public hearing will be, Monday, October 2.

The following information was provided to PCA by the proponent of the cell sites, Crown Castle.

Crown Castle has revised its original plans to install nine small cell sites to address the safety and aesthetics concerns of both Piedmont city staff and community members. Working with city staff, we held a community meeting on August 29 where we gave residents the opportunity to raise their questions regarding the revisions and our current proposal.

In advance of the City Council meeting, Crown Castle has also prepared a community page, where residents can go to learn more about the project. It features information about small cell technology, a fact sheet detailing the changes made to each of the sites, side-by-side photo comparisons of our original and most recent designs, and a contact form community members can use to directly reach Crown Castle representatives.

• Across from 342-370 Highland Ave (CA-PHS01)
• 150 Highland Ave (CA-PHS02)
• 799 Magnolia Ave (CA-PHS03)
• Across from 740 Magnolia Ave (CA-PHS04)
• 303 Hillside Ave (CA-PHS05)
• Across from 428 El Cerrito Ave (CA-PHS06)
• Across from 352 Jerome Ave (CA-PHS07)
• 1159 Windsor Ave (CA-PHS08)
• Across from 314 Wildwood Ave (CA-PHS09)

By clicking the items above the various sites can be viewed.

Recreation employee Terrance May was arrested and charged with Embezzlement and Grand Theft.

Between July 15 and August 28, 2017, the crime of Embezzlement was committed within the City of Piedmont.

Piedmont Recreation Department staff discovered unusual transactions and promptly notified the Piedmont Police Department of their observations. The Police Department immediately initiated an investigation and determined that the suspect, who was an employee of the Piedmont Recreation Center for the past four years, used a point of sale application on his mobile device to take payments from Recreation Center customers and transfer those funds into his own bank account. The total amount of funds taken was $15,830.00.

Extensive investigative follow-up, combined with evidence recovered from bank accounts, led to the arrest of Terrance May.

May was charged by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office with one count of Embezzlement and two counts of Grand Theft.

May is currently out on bail.

Anyone with information and/or inquiries related to this case is asked to please contact Detective Willie Wright at (510) 420-3013.

A SPECIAL MEETING of the Piedmont Piedmont Unified School District Board has been called. The name of the individual under consideration for Discipline/Dismissal/Release has been withheld, as allowed by law.  Action taken by the School Board is to be publicly released following the Closed Session.  

Piedmont City Unified School District September 20, 2017 6:00PM
Piedmont Unified School District –  760 Magnolia Avenue, Board Conference Room Closed Session: 6:00 p.m.

Agenda:

City of Piedmont Climate Action Plan Task Force

City of Piedmont
Climate Action Plan Task Force
Tuesday, September 26, 2017

6:30 p.m.
Emergency Operations Center
403 Highland Avenue, Piedmont, CA 

The meeting is open to the public, however the meeting will not be broadcast.

AGENDA:

Order Roll Call

Call Public Forum This is an opportunity for members of the audience to speak on an item not on the agenda. The 10 minute period will be divided evenly between those wishing
to address the Task Force.

Regular Agenda
1. Presentation from Tom Kelly on East Bay Community Energy (30 minutes)
2. Report on Meeting Between the City and Piedmont Unified School District (30 minutes)
3. Consideration of the Establishment of an Outreach Sub-Committee (10 minutes)
4. Planning of Outreach and Public Workshop (30 minutes)
5. Update on Staffing Changes (10 minutes)
Adjourn
Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Committee are available for public viewing and distribution.

Committee member names, staff and prior actions can be read > HERE.

Five antennas on utility poles, three antennas on street light poles, and one antenna on a new street light were proposed near Piedmont High School and Piedmont Park.  More information >HERE.

The public hearing on applications for Wireless Communication Facilities Permits and Variances submitted by Crown Castle NG West LLC and Beacon Development previously scheduled for September 5, 2017, has been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 2, 2017.  A new public notice will be given at least fourteen days in advance of the hearing. Applications and project plans received on September 8, 2017 have been posted to the Planning Department webpage.

This postponement is due to the applicants’ indication that they would submit revised applications and plans to the City prior to the original hearing date. Though these documents have not been submitted to date, there is not adequate time to analyze these plans or provide notice to the public prior to the originally scheduled hearing date.

History

Crown Castle and Beacon Development filed an application in November 2016 for nine Verizon distributed antenna system wireless communication facilities, located generally around Piedmont Park and Piedmont High School. Crown Castle is a company that builds wireless communications facilities and then leases them to wireless service providers, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon.

The project consists of five installations on the tops of existing utility poles, three installations on the tops of existing street light poles, and one installation on a new street light. The applicants have proposed that ground equipment related to the pole top antennas be located in underground vaults in the sidewalk. The proposal will require review by both the Park Commission and Planning Commission, as well as final approval from the City Council. Click to read more information about the application and the review process.

The Piedmont Park Commission and Planning Commission considered this application in June, and  a wireless Facilities Update facilities study session was held in August.