After an extensive recruitment process, the City Council has selected Rosanna Bayon Moore to serve as Piedmont’s next City Administrator. The Council will vote to confirm Ms. Bayon Moore’s appointment at their regular meeting on Tuesday, February 21st.

Ms. Bayon Moore currently serves as Assistant City Manager for the City of Antioch, CA, a role she began in 2020 after nine years as City Manager for the City of Brawley in Imperial County, CA.

Key accomplishments in these roles include successful delivery of a new fire station and Emergency Operations Center, strengthening partnerships and alignment with local school districts, advancing affordable housing projects with support from the State of California’s Strategic Growth Council, and developing a community crisis intervention program.

Previously, she served as Regional Affairs Officer for the Southern California Association of Governments, where she established a subregional hub for major transportation and regional planning initiatives.

She is well versed in building and development, having managed land acquisition, permitting, and entitlement processes at multiple civil engineering firms.

Bayon Moore holds a Masters of Public Administration with an emphasis in urban policy and advanced management techniques from the Columbia University School of International & Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley.

“I am thrilled to welcome Ms. Bayon Moore to Piedmont,” said Mayor Jen Cavenaugh. “Among a wealth of exceptional applicants, Bayon Moore stood out for her depth of executive experience, collaborative leadership style, and deep appreciation for Piedmont’s core values of fiscal responsibility, community engagement, and high-quality service delivery. I am confident she is the right person to build on current City Administrator Sara Lillevand’s success. The entire City Council is looking forward to working with Bayon Moore as we continue to make progress on our goals for the city.”

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Piedmont’s next City Administrator,” said Bayon Moore. “I was drawn to Piedmont’s engaged community, the Council’s vision for welcoming and belonging, and the City’s commitment to fostering both community safety and healthy living as centerpieces for quality of life.”

Bayon Moore continued, “Local government work is never carried out by a single person. The achievements I am most proud of have all been team efforts, made possible by a shared commitment to delivering results at a high level. I am excited to partner with Piedmont’s exceptional City staff, City Council, and dedicated community as we navigate the road ahead.”

After City Administrator Sara Lillevand announced her intention to retire last August, the City Council retained an experienced recruiting firm with a track record of successful executive leadership placements in local governments across California to conduct the search for her successor. The recruitment garnered 42 applications.

Bayon Moore was selected for the position after several rounds of screening and interviews with the City Council and the City’s leadership team.

“I’m grateful to know I’m leaving the City in excellent hands,” said City Administrator Sara Lillevand. “Bayon Moore’s experience leveraging state and federal resources to meet local challenges and successfully bringing new facilities online will be vital as we begin implementation of the Housing Element, complete construction of our new community pool, and plan for the future of our essential services buildings.”

Ms. Bayon Moore is expected to begin her term as City Administrator in early April 2023, following Lillevand’s retirement.

2023-02-16 City Council Selects Rosanna Bayon Moore as Next City Administrator

City of Piedmont Press Release – February 17, 223

The City of Piedmont received written comments on its proposed Housing Element from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on Thursday, February 16th, following the conclusion of the State’s 90-day review period.

As expected, State reviewers requested a number of technical revisions to Piedmont’s Draft Housing Element, primarily asking for specific additional analysis to support a number of findings and proposals in the document.

Additionally, reviewers requested that the City adjust or clarify implementation timelines for several proposed programs. Reviewers did not identify major structural issues or call for significant redirection of the City’s plans.

“I am gratified that HCD broadly supports the City’s plan to accommodate more housing,” said City Administrator Sara Lillevand. “Developing this plan over the past two years was a tremendous collective effort on the part of Planning staff, consultants, the Housing Advisory Committee, Planning Commission, City Council – and most important, the more than 1,000 community members who participated in this process. While we have some additional technical work to do before final adoption, the State’s letter confirms that we are on the right path and nearing the end of the road.”

Planning staff have been in regular communication with State officials since first submitting the City’s draft for review on November 18, 2022, holding multiple meetings to answer questions about how the proposed Housing Element addresses each of more than 100 specific requirements.

A list of these requirements and how Piedmont has addressed them is available for download at PiedmontIsHome.org, along with a copy of the HCD comment letter.

The State’s requests for technical amendments to Piedmont’s Draft Housing Element are consistent with those received by nearly every city in the region.

The volume and complexity of State laws related to housing has grown substantially in recent years, making preparation and compliance significantly more complex than for previous Housing Elements.

Next steps for adoption Planning staff and consultants are carefully reviewing each of the State’s comments and will work with HCD to complete the requested revisions, then bring proposed updates to City Council for approval.  Staff anticipate bringing the revised Housing Element to City Council for adoption in March.

Planning & Building Director Kevin Jackson will provide a verbal update on the receipt of the State’s comments and status of the Housing Element at the February 21, 2023 City Council meeting.

Implementation already underway

If the City Council adopts the Housing Element by May 31, 2023, the City will have three years to implement a substantial number of the proposed programs and regulatory changes outlined in the document.

Some of this work has already begun:

• The City is currently soliciting proposals for a consulting firm to lead the preparation of the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan, one of the core elements of the City’s plan to accommodate 587 new homes by 2031. Piedmont’s Moraga Canyon area was one of two sites in the region to be selected this year as a study subject by the James R. Boyce Affordable Housing Competition Studio at UC Berkeley.

• Staff have begun discussions with affordable housing organizations about possible future developments.

• The City has already established a new incentive for affordable ADUs and made it easier to convert existing spaces into new housing.

For more information about the Housing Element update, visit PiedmontIsHome.org, or subscribe to the City’s Housing Update email newsletter to receive news directly.

With questions, email PiedmontIsHome@piedmont.ca.gov.

2023-02-17 City Receives Housing Element Comments from State Reviewers

Starting March 1, 2023, the City of Piedmont will discontinue remote participation for most
Commission and all Committee meetings. Community members will still be able to comment
remotely via Zoom for City Council and Planning Commission meetings. Park Commission and
Recreation Commission meetings will continue to be broadcast live on KCOM and streamed on the
City website.

This format change was prompted by changes to State regulations governing public meetings,
which had been relaxed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to support remote participate
for members of legislative bodies. Governor Newsom has announced his intention to rescind the
COVID-19 State of Emergency at the end of February 2023, at which point members of City
Councils, Boards, Commissions, and Committees statewide will be required to attend meetings in
person, with limited exceptions.

At their January 17, 2023, the City Council was briefed on changes to teleconference regulations
and was asked to give direction to staff on whether to continue providing remote participation
options for community members at Council, Commission, and Committee meetings.

After a detailed discussion, the Council chose to continue offering remote public comment for City
Council and Planning Commission meetings only, due to low remote participation for other bodies
and the strain on staff resources required to support hybrid meetings. Each remote or hybrid
meeting requires an additional staff member, working overtime, to manage the logistics and
operations of the virtual meeting.

More information is available in the agenda report, minutes, and meeting video for the January 17th City Council meeting.

City Press Release – February 14, 2023

The City of Piedmont expects to receive written comments on the Draft Housing Element from the
California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) this week, following the
conclusion of the State’s 90-day review period.

Since the City submitted the Draft Housing Element for review on November 18, 2022, HCD
officials have been studying the document to assess how it addresses each item on the State’s list of
more than 100 specific requirements. Planning staff have been in active communication with State
officials during this period, holding multiple meetings to answer questions about the City’s plan
and taking the City’s reviewer on personal tour of the city to showcase the sites listed in the sites
inventory. An analysis of how the City’s proposed Housing Element addresses each of the State’s
requirements is available at PiedmontIsHome.org.

The City expects that HCD’s written comments will request some technical revisions to the Draft
Housing Element, as has been the case for most every other city. Planning staff will work with
HCD to develop any necessary amendments, then bring the proposed updates to City Council for
approval. Staff anticipate bringing the Housing Element to City Council for adoption in late
February or March.

Planning & Building Director Kevin Jackson will provide a verbal update on the status of the
Housing Element at the February 21, 2023 City Council meeting.

After adoption, City will have three years to implement new Housing Programs
If City Council adopts the Housing Element by May 31, 2023, the City will have three years to
implement a substantial number of the proposed programs and regulatory changes outlined in the
document. Some of this work has already begun – the City is currently soliciting proposals for a
consulting firm to lead the preparation of the Moraga Canyon Specific Plan, one of the core
elements of the City’s plan to accommodate 587 new homes by 2031.

For more information about the Housing Element update, visit PiedmontIsHome.org. With questions, email PiedmontIsHome@piedmont.ca.gov.

City of Piedmont Press Release – February 13, 2023

Recreation Commission Meeting February. 15 7:30 pm

Item 5 on the Recreation Commission Agenda is Consideration of an Exclusive Pickleball Trial at the Beach Tennis Courts for a Five-Month Period
from February 27, 2023 to July 31, 2023 and Parameters for the Trial

Item 5 on the Agenda.

The Recreation Commission will consider whether or not to go forward with the trial of dedicated Pickleball at Linda.  Read the meeting agenda and participation particulars  here.

Fair Housing Policy

Prior to hearings on requested Variances and Design Reviews of  individual private property projects, a verbal report will update Commissioners on the activities of staff and the City’s housing consultants related to the development of a fair housing policy.  (Item 3 on the agenda.)  This is an informational item only, not for Commissioners’ action or advice.

Read the agenda here.

The draft proposal included:

1. Support equitable distribution of affordable units across the City. A diversity of  housing choices, including new affordable multi-family housing, new mixed-income  multi-family housing, new residential mixed-use development, converted units, ADUs,  and JADUs, should be considered throughout the City’s neighborhoods, corridors, and  zoning districts.

2. Promote and enhance community design and neighborhoods. Infill development  should be compatible with the neighborhood context. Development and design standards  should ensure that new construction “fits in” in terms of building scale, placement, and  design; and is sensitive to impacts on the neighborhood, including impacts related to  sunlight access, privacy, and roadway access. Each building must exhibit high-quality  design and play a role in creating a better whole.

3. Remove barriers to development and access to housing through clear and objective  standards. Development standards and procedures should guide development that is  equitable and feasible and that lead applicants through procedures that are transparent and  predictable.

4. Facilitate the development of new housing units through strategic partnerships  between the City and the broader community. Partnerships to facilitate development  include reaching community consensus for desired designs; and achieving community  support for new incentives, standards, and tools to meet housing goals.

5. Social equity. Work with the Community to proactively facilitate greater social equity  by considering City incentives and programs that will enable new homes and apartments  for a range of income levels, creating opportunities for all persons regardless of race,  religion, ethnic background, or financial ability.

Read the Memorandum on Consideration of Fair Housing Guiding Principles here.

Piedmont High School Hosts 54th-Annual Piedmont Bird Calling Show

After a three-year absence, the famed Piedmont Bird Calling Contest is set to return on Thursday, March 30, 7pm, at the new Alan Harvey Theater, 800 Magnolia Ave., on the campus of Piedmont High School.

Under the theme of ‘Maskarade,’ guests are encouraged to show their creativity  and personality through their masks – bird-themed or not.

Created in 1963, the Piedmont Bird Calling Contest grew into an annual event that over the decades has attracted attention both locally and nationally as winners have appeared on ‘The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,’ and ‘Late Night with David Letterman.’ Recently, a former PHS student and participant demonstrated her skills on ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.’ Though the show has changed somewhat over the years, its spirit and traditions were carried on by the many who share in a spirit of innovation.

Students have spent weeks and months perfecting their bird calls and will be judged based on three criteria:

• Authenticity of Call – The judges will act as experts of the Show to certify the authenticity of the call.
• Poise and Delivery – Both stage presence and smoothness of delivery are considered. The beauty and singularity of the bird call are essential.
• Content of Introduction – Contestants must write their own ‘sketches’. It should include pertinent information about their bird. The information should be organized, well-composed, and in good taste. Humor can be a plus or minus, depending on its appropriateness.

Tickets for the Piedmont Bird Calling Show will go on sale on March 2, through ShowTix4U.  General admission tickets will be available for $25. General admission student tickets will be available for $15.
Plan to buy tickets in advance because the one-time performance usually sells out.

Prior to every Bird Calling Contest, high school students are encouraged to submit their artwork for the official Contest poster. This year’s winner is PHS senior, Macie Gard.

The California Energy Commission approved Piedmont’s updated “reach codes” at their January 25, 2023 meeting, formalizing this set of local energy efficiency requirements for building  projects that reach beyond statewide standards.

Piedmont’s reach codes require that all new single-family homes and detached accessory  dwelling units (ADUs) be all-electric. Additionally, the reach codes require energy efficiency  measures be included in certain renovations to existing properties:

• Electric panel replacements or upgrades must have capacity to accommodate future  electrification of all appliances

• Kitchen or laundry area renovation projects must install outlets that allow for the use of  electric appliances in the future

• Renovations or additions to existing homes that meet certain project value thresholds  must incorporate one or more items from a menu of energy efficiency and electrification  measures, such as installing insulation in attics or walls, replacing gas furnaces or water heaters with heat pump alternatives, or swapping incandescent light fixtures with LEDs.  A renovation project that costs $30,000 or more must include an energy efficient insulation or heating system electrification improvement to include in the renovation. A renovation project that costs $115,000 or more must include two energy efficient insulation or heating system electrification improvements to include in the renovation.

• Projects that add a new upper level or increase the building’s roof area by 30% or more  must install a photovoltaic (solar power) system

For questions about  the updated reach codes, contact Sustainability Program Manager Alyssa Dykman at  sustainability@piedmont.ca.gov.

For more information on reach codes, visit the City’s reach code webpage.

Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee

Tuesday, February 7, 2023  6 pm  Via Teleconference

Regular Agenda
1. Mid-Year Financial Review – Fiscal Year 2022-2023
2. Discussion of the Municipal Services Special Tax (Parcel Tax) and Consideration of the  Committee’s Review of the Parcel Tax Pursuant to Resolution 120-14.