Conna McCarthy Seeks Election to the Piedmont City Council
Today, I pulled papers to file as a candidate for Piedmont City Council. I am running because I want to be part of the decision-making that makes Piedmont a truly special place to live. We are a multi-generational community of neighbors. We look out for each other. We feel responsible for each other. With every school parcel tax passed, we declare that the welfare of our children is the priority of our entire community. And just as important, we respect and honor those who came before us, those who grounded us with community traditions and pride, those who planned and prepared and were stewards for next generations.
I want to be part of the leadership that encourages large conversations where all stakeholders thoughtfully plan and manage limited resources for the benefit of Piedmont now and into the future. I want to support technology that makes city services more accessible. I want to support climate leadership that values technological innovation as well as encouraging individual responsibility. I want safe streets. I want to support a highly trained and visible police department. I want to support a highly trained and visible fire department. I will respect the economic investment and personal sacrifices people make to live in Piedmont when determining how funding is spent. I want Piedmont to be the place where our children want to raise their own families and where newcomers know they are welcomed and wanted.
Conna McCarthy
July 13, 2020
Well stated, Conna. I support your positions and look forward to hearing more about your intentions for our city.
Monday night’s Council meeting would be a good opportunity for the candidate to demonstrate climate change leadership. The City is proposing to double the size of the community pool, the largest stationary source of municipal GHG emissions in Piedmont. Major technological innovations not included in the current plan could offset that GHG increase. Likewise, on Monday’s agenda is the first reading of the REACH codes, changes to the building code to reduce natural gas usage. One provision requires that all new detached accessory dwelling units be all electric – no natural gas allowed.
What is the candidate’s position on these issues?
Thank you for your questions, Mr. Keating.
While Piedmont’s Climate Action Plan goals are ambitious, they are achievable. Informing and encouraging residents how to actively lower carbon emissions is at the forefront of achieving climate action goals. Decreasing natural gas usage by requiring electrical appliances in new construction or in alterations to existing residential buildings, in addition to requirements for energy efficient insulation and solar panels puts Piedmont in a leadership role mitigating climate change. While electrical appliances and heaters may increase construction costs, evidence of the long-term benefit to community health, as well as, reducing the cost of home operations over time, offsets initial investment. I fully support proposed changes to building codes to reduce natural gas usage and more specifically, I support requirements that newly detached ADUs be all electric.
The Piedmont Community Pool has reached the end of its useful life. There is no disagreement that the current facility cannot be repaired in a cost effective or environmentally efficient manner. A community-wide effort is now undertaken to persuade Piedmonters that an improved facility capable of providing a wide range of aquatic related activities to local residents is an important community resource. I am hopeful for the opportunity to construct an environmentally responsible aquatic center. (It is my understanding that it is not possible to achieve zero emissions with a pool rebuild.) I suggest we continue to discuss this topic as part of larger community inclusive conversations to the benefit of all stakeholders. I will be an attentive participant at Monday night’s CC meeting.
Good to hear that, Conna. As I understand it, the proposed REACH codes only require electric appliances in new construction – new homes (very few) and detached ADUs (more common). Requiring that to apply to alterations to existing residential buildings(aka remodels) would put Piedmont in a leading position. Like Piedmont, other cities are making all-electric a requirement of just new construction and Piedmont could stand out by extending this requirement to remodels as well.
The Piedmont Climate Action Plan proposes that the city adopt a net zero energy policy for new municipal building construction. Based on 2016 data, the community pool represents over half of the city’s natural gas usage. Theoretically a NET zero emissions pool is possible but the look and costs of such a concept have not been publicly undertaken. It may be prohibitively expensive with the current design. But there are multiple design concepts and offset possibilities that could substantially minimize the GHG emissions of a proposed pool. I think some voters will want to know those options and associated costs before committing to a new pool.