Jan 25 2022
The Piedmont Police and Fire Pension Board has no authority in Pool or City financial matters. However, in a staff report for an expanded meeting with the City Investment Sub-committee, the Pension Board is jointly involved in consideration of City assets (separate from Pension funds) and the Pool Complex Bond funds. City_Investment_Report_FY21-22_Q2 Fiscal Year 2021-22: 2nd Quarter Report on the City’s Investment Portfolio
City Code: SEC. 26.1 PENSION BOARD [Charge]
“A board is hereby created whose duty it shall be to handle and administer pensions for retired members and benefits for members, their nominees and the widows and minor children of deceased members of the police and fire departments of the City of Piedmont.
The Pension Board shall be comprised of the mayor, one member of the City Council, one member of the police department, one member of the fire department, and one community representative appointed by the Council for a three-year term of office commencing April l. Each said department member shall be selected from the rank and file of each respective department. The Council member and the community representative shall be selected by the members of the Council of the City of Piedmont.
The pension board shall select its own chairman and secretary and shall administer all matters pertaining to pensions in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter 26. The pension board shall have power, by resolution, to provide rules and regulations for the administration of all matters pertaining to pensions and benefits hereunder, and shall invest the pension fund, or direct that their investments be made by or through investment counsel, trust companies, or trust departments of banks, or any combination thereof, in accordance with City ordinances applicable to the investment of funds of municipal retirement systems, and if there be none, in accordance with state law. (Ord. No. 396 N.S., §1; Ord. No. 42l N.S., §l)”
City of Piedmont Police & Fire Pension Board & City Investment Subcommittee
Agenda Wednesday, January 26, 2022 4:00 p.m.
Via Teleconference
See agenda details below:
Pension 2021-10-27
Finance Director’s Memo 1:2022
City_Investment_Report_FY21-22_Q2
The Finance Director’s staff report regarding a disability applicant is purposely omitted from this article to protect the privacy of the applicant’s medical condition. https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/opinions/pdfs/04-408.pdf
If readers need more information on the disability application, please contact the City Clerk at 510/420-3040.
Jan 25 2022
In contrast to the Piedmont City Council’s enthusiastic support for 587 new Piedmont housing units, in Belvedere, “the proposal, which will be submitted to the city next week, is causing consternation…” The project has a density of 13 units per acre, less than state density bonus laws allow.
The 42-unit, mixed-income Mallard Pointe development would displace the residents of the 22-apartment rental complex that currently exists on the 2.8-acre site, thus only increasing Belvedere’s housing by a net gain of 20 units. The project proposes 19 homes fronting the lagoon and a 23-unit apartment building on the Mallard Road side of the site. Belvedere is assigned to build about 160 new housing units.
Five affordable units for couples with incomes of $77,000 to $100,000, six affordable accessory units would be incorporated in three of the lagoon houses, and five small one-bedroom affordable units would be located in the 23-unit building.
The opposition group, Belvedere Residents for Intelligent Growth, mentions “serious concerns about the potential impacts on local flood control, zoning consistency and soil stability that could be caused by this large-scale waterfront subdivision.”
Read more in the Jan 24, 2022 article here
Jan 25 2022
Is the State Priority of Affordable Housing as Strong as the Piedmont City Council?
As Piedmonters wonder where 587 new housing units will be built in our compact city, some arms of the State government may not be entirely on the same page as the mandate on Piedmont.
Is shuttling Californians to Las Vegas to gamble really a high public interest to be subsidized? In a split vote on January 19, 2022, the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee approved opening up some of its $4.3 billion bond capacity for projects other than affordable housing.
With the encouragement of the governor’s representative some of the State’s limited private-activity bonds will be available for non-housing uses, “providing an opportunity for projects such as a private-equity backed train to Las Vegas and a desalination plant to apply for the coveted financing.”
Fortress Investment Group and the Huntington Beach Poseidon Water project are surprising new potential beneficiaries for this funding considering that “Housing developers are expected to need about $9 billion of bonds this year, far more than what’s available.”
Read January 19, 2022 Meeting agenda Here
Read January 19, 2022 Staff report here
Read general reporting about non-housing projects access to cheap financing here
Jan 22 2022
January 22, 2022, Saturday AM Piedmont Police Advisory
SHELTER IN PLACE ADVISORY Lakeview and Poplar Avenues
There are multiple trees and wires down in the area due to high winds. PG&E is on the scene with Piedmont Fire & Police. Tree limbs are continuing to fall and the fire department has requested that residents in the area stay inside their homes until they can ensure the area is safe for pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
Public Works crews are out working to clear trees. Please avoid these areas.
Road closures due to downed trees:
Requa blocked at Wildwood
Grand from Lower Grand to Arroyo
Moraga from Monticello to Estrella
Blair from Dracena to Carmel
Lakeview from Sheridan to Seaview
Boulevard from Crofton to Warfield
Moraga from Highland to Monte
Hampton east of Lexford.
Jan 20 2022
NEW SCHEDULE AND LOCATION FOR PIEDMONT TESTING!
The testing provider, Curative, is expanding COVID-19 testing in Piedmont to 5 days a week!
Beginning Thursday, January 20th, testing will now be available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 am in the Community Hall parking lot at 711 Highland Avenue. At this time, appointments are NOT required! More information is available at https://cur.tv/piedmont.
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Please note that Curative is experiencing unprecedented demand for testing. Appointments can be made at curataive.com.
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At the request of the City Council, staff is working with Curative to make a weekend day of testing available. When more news is available on that front, we will send it out on all channels!
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For further information, contact Curative directly at 888-702-9042, or visit their website at curative.com
City of Piedmont Press Release
Jan 18 2022
“…there are no plans or discussions to close schools. To the contrary, the District has comprehensive plans to keep students and staff in school to the greatest extent possible while protecting the health of the entire school community.” Randall Booker, Superintendent of Schools
At the January 12, 2022 Piedmont School Board meeting a COVID report on each school, advice, and need for substitute teachers. The report is linked below:
A report on the entire Jan. 12, 2022 Board meeting is linked below:
Jan 18 2022
REMINDER:
The City of Piedmont is accepting applications for appointment to the City Council to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Councilmember Tim Rood.
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For eligibility, application and interview process, please visit the > Council Appointment page on the City website. The deadline for applications is Monday, January 31st at 5:00 pm and interviews will be held on Monday, February 7th in the afternoon and/or evening.
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Jan 18 2022
Summary of January 11 LWV “Voting Rights” Zoom talk
The series is cosponsored by Leagues across the country in Collier County, Florida; Gunnison Valley, Colorado; Oakland, California; The Pikes Peak Region, Colorado; Portland, Oregon; Pueblo, Colorado; Santa Barbara, California; and Solano County, California.
Goldberg opened her presentation with a brief history of voting rights in both the United States and California that highlighted the country’s expansion of the right to vote beyond white, male property owners. This expansion was marked by the ratification of the 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th U.S Constitutional Amendments; the 1965 Voting Rights Act; and HAVA, the Help America Vote Act that provided for funding to help states update their voting equipment after the controversy surrounding the 2000 presidential election.
Goldberg went on to discuss some of the protections for voters that are currently in place in California. For example, California provides for online voter registration and same day voter registration. Beginning in the November 2020 election, California mailed vote-by-mail ballots to all registered voters because of the special circumstances of the pandemic.
The state has recently extended that provision to all future elections. California has also enacted laws to curtail partisan gerrymandering. The FAIR Maps Act creates criteria and guidelines for cities and counties in California to ensure transparency and fairness in the redistricting process. The League’s work in California has been instrumental in the passing of laws protecting voting rights including some of those mentioned above and Prop 7, which restores voting rights to people who are on parole many of whom are tax paying, contributing members of society who deserve a voice in their government.
Goldberg closed her presentation with a focus on the current federal voting rights legislation and suggestions for what we can do to support voting rights. The Freedom to Vote Act protects and expands the right to vote, decreases the influence of money in politics and curbs partisan gerrymandering. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA) effectively restores section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that was gutted by the Supreme Court in Shelby County v. Holder in 2013. The JLVRAA would require federal preclearance for certain changes to state voting laws and would result in federal voting rights protections to counter racial discrimination. The League is part of a coalition of 230 organizations supporting these federal bills. We can support voting rights ourselves by visiting the Declaration for American Democracy, a site representing this coalition, clicking on “events” and taking action
Jan 9 2022
Co-sponsored by PADC (Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Committee) and the City of Piedmont, the 25th Annual Martin Luther King Celebration features performances by traditional Native American flutist Vince Redhouse and the Oakland Interfaith Youth Choir.
Speakers will include Congresswoman Barbara Lee; Assemblymember Buffy Wicks; Mayor Teddy Gray King; Dr. Clayborne Carson, founding director of the MLK Research and Education Institute; and Anna Malaika Tubbs, author of The Three Mothers.
When: Mon., Jan. 17 from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. online
