Mar 27 2019

Pickleball, Wildwood Gardens, Blair Park, Coaches Field, Dog Fountain, Witter Field Capital Projects Proposed 2019

  • Middle School courts repaved for Pickleball purposes
  • Wildwood Gardens streets changed to one way
  • Stairway to Oak Avenue from Wildwood Gardens
  • Fencing and improvements to Blair Park along Moraga Avenue 
  • Improvements to Witter Field drainage and various enhancements
  • Water fountain in Piedmont Park near Witter Field for dogs and people

The purpose of the CIP Review Committee and citizen proposed projects can be read by clicking below:

> CIP 2019

Revised Proposal worksheet can be read by clicking below.

> 2019 Proposal sheet revised

Various City Wide projects are: Aquatic Center, Linda Beach Park, Recreation Center and Veterans Hall improvements, Coaches Field improvements including lights, and Public Security Cameras.

The Committee meetings are open to the public and any resident that wants to attend is welcome. The next meeting is scheduled for April 9th at 7 pm in the City Council conference room to the left as you enter Piedmont City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue.  Recordings of the meeting are not made and there are no broadcasts or minutes of the meetings. 

For more information, contact Nancy Kent at NKent@piedmont.ca.gov

Mar 25 2019

Crime Report, Public Safety Cameras, Piedmont Disaster Prep Guide, Hazard Mitigation Plan, Schools: Thursday, March 28

Public Safety Committee meets Thursday, March 28, 5:30 p.m. City Council Chambers. The public is welcome to participate and attend the meeting.  No broadcasts are planned for the meeting. *See update and report on the meeting below under comments.

The agenda includes:

  1. Approval of Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes for 1/31/19 Public Safety 2019-01-31 DRAFT
  2. Update on the Crime Report
  3. Update from the Public Safety Camera Subcommittee
  4. Update on Get Ready, Piedmont Guide
  5. Update on the Hazard Mitigation Plan
  6. School Liaison Update
Mar 25 2019

Alameda County Seeks Grand Jury Members: Application Deadline April 1

Alameda County Civil Grand Jury Opens for New Members

Deadline: April 1, 2019

Alameda County is seeking applications for residents who wish to serve on the Civil Grand Jury. The Civil Grand Jury serves as the County’s citizen watchdog group by investigating local government operations and citizen complaints.

For more information on what the Civil Grand Jury does, please refer to Grand Jury’s website at http://acgov.acgov.org/grandjury/ , or view the brochure here.

Civil Grand Jurors serve a term of one year, beginning on July 1st and ending on June 30th. To serve on the Civil Grand Jury, you must be over 18, have lived in Alameda County for at least one year, be able to dedicate 10-20 hours per week, and possess sufficient knowledge of the English language. Grand Jurors are paid $15 per day plus mileage.

If you would like to apply, please download the application form and submit it to Alameda County for consideration no later than April 1, 2019. Please contact Cassie Barner at (510) 208-9855 with questions about the Civil Grand Jury.

Mar 25 2019

Public Meeting on Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Wednesday, April 10

Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Meeting

Final Public Input Meeting for Draft Plan

 Wednesday, April 10th at 6 pm

Police Department EOC at 403 Highland Ave

The City of Piedmont Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP)  draft LHMP, which is now available for public review and comment.  The Public Review Draft of the LHMP is available online in pdf format.

Complete 402 page plan here

311 page Chapters only here

  92 page Appendices only here

It is also available on paper at City Hall.

Fires, earthquakes, landslides, and severe weather are just a few of the hazards to the Piedmont community. While natural hazards such as these cannot be prevented, a Hazard Mitigation Plan forms the foundation for a community’s long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses by breaking the repeated cycle of disaster damage and reconstruction. Additionally, only communities with a FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan are eligible to apply for both pre- and post-disaster mitigation grant funding.

A final public meeting to review and provide comments on the Public Review draft LHMP is scheduled for Wednesday, April 10th at 6 pm  in the Police Department EOC, located at 403 Highland Ave.

For more information, please see: http://www.ci.piedmont.ca.us/local-hazar…

Mar 16 2019

Capital Improvement Projects to be Considered Tuesday, March 19

CIP Review Committee Agenda Tuesday, March 19, 2019 7:00 p.m.   City Hall Conference Room, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA

What is being considered for City expenditures?

The CIP meeting is open for public participation. Minutes and recordings are not made of the meetings, and there are no broadcasts of the meetings.  Meeting materials, staff reports, citizen requests have not been publicly distributed. Attendees at the meeting, and thereafter, all individuals have a right to view and obtain copies of all information distributed to the Committee. Meeting attendees may make recordings of the meetings, as long as the meeting is not disrupted by the recording device.

The March 19 meeting agenda includes:

  1. Update on Public Safety Projects from Police Chief Jeremy Bowers
  2. Review of Revised Work Schedule and Tasks for the CIP Review Committee for Fiscal Year 2019-20
  3. Review of Proposed Projects

Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the CIP Review Committee are available for public inspection in the Public Works Department during normal business hours. 

As of this writing (3/17/19) PCA has not received agenda information materials for the 3/19/19  meeting. When information is submitted to PCA, it will be published here. 

New CIP member, Recreation Commissioner Conna McCarthy, was chosen to serve on the CIP Review Committee, as the representative from the Recreation Commission.

Mar 16 2019

Pickleball, Tennis Courts, Coaches Field: Wednesday, March 20

Piedmont Recreation Commission Agenda Wednesday, March 20, 2019   7:30 p.m.  City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA

AGENDA:

There 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 Commission.

  1. Approval of Minutes – January 16, 2019
  2. Chair’s Report
  3. Director’s Report
  4. Update on Recommendations from the Subcommittee on Tennis Court Use and Pickleball
  5. Update on Conceptual Master Plan for Improvements at Coaches Field – [See information below.]
  6. Update on Recreation Center Tennis Court Renovations
  7. Update on Capital Improvement Projects Review Committee (CIP)
  8. Next meeting date – Thursday, April 25th

Draft Jan. 16, 2019 minutes include the following public participation regarding Coaches Field proposals.

“Public Testimony was received from: Mike McConathy, Edward McNulty, Lynn Nelson, and Rich Saykally expressed support for the proposed conceptual master plan. Speakers questioned the need for field lighting and expressed concerns about the possible delay its consideration might cause. Speakers commented on the poor condition of the existing field, suggested additional accommodation for spectators, and suggested that the current skate park location might be a suitable location for pickleball.

“The Commission thanked staff and the consultant for their work on this proposed plan, indicating support for additional public outreach and input. Ms. Lillevand indicated that additional public meetings will be held, including a meeting with neighbors on February 13th at 7PM in the EOC of the Police Department.”

Announcements, old business and consideration of future agenda items Adjourn

The March 20 Recreation Commission meeting is open for public participation.  Broadcasts of the meeting can be found live on Cable Channel 27 and on the Piedmont website under videos – Recreation Commission. 

Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Recreation Commission are available for public inspection in the Recreation Department during normal business hours.

READ the entire Agenda and prior meeting minutes > March Recreation Commission Meeting

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (510) 420-3040. Notification at least two business days preceding the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II]
Mar 15 2019

Parking Restrictions During School Construction, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory: City Council Agenda Monday, March 18

 – Consideration of Temporary Designation of Parking Spaces on Bonita and Highland Avenues as Permit A (School District Employee) Parking Spaces

Approval of the temporary use of designated public parking spaces by PUSD staff holding valid Permit A parking permits during the H-1 Bond related high school construction at one or more of the following locations:

  1. 9 new parallel parking spaces along the Highland Avenue curve at the intersection of Highland and Sheridan Avenues.
  2.  A new designation of the 11 existing unregulated diagonal parking spaces (and one (1) new diagonal parking space) on the west side of Bonita Avenue between Magnolia Avenue and Vista Avenue to include the following:

a)  Five (5) Permit A parking spaces for temporary use by PUSD staff.      b)  Three (3) City of Piedmont Employee parking spaces.  c)  Four (4) 2-hour parking spaces for general use by the public.

(Read the report > here.)

– Receipt of a Report on the 2017 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Implementation Status of the Climate Action Plan

This report provides information on the 2017 Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions inventory, including estimates for both community and municipal emissions. Piedmont staff completed the 2017 Municipal GHG Emissions Inventory in January of 2019.

(Read the 26-page report > here.)

The biggest sectors contributing to total municipal emissions (as opposed to private residential emissions) were transportation (48% of the total) and buildings and facilities (33% of the total).

The 2017 GHG emissions inventory reveals that Piedmont, in total, experienced a 2.9% increase in emissions from 2016. This increase applies to all sectors within the community and municipal functions, except for the community transportation sector, municipal vehicle fleet, City employee commute, and municipal street lights and traffic signals. The community decrease in transportation generated emissions may be a result of people consciously using alternative fuel vehicles, using more public transportation, and/or walking or biking more often.

– Consideration of a Project Specific Supplemental Agreement with Coastland Civil Engineers for Mapping of the City’s Storm Sewer System

Approval of the Project Supplemental Agreement with Coastland Engineers to provide professional engineering services for Phase One of the City-Wide Storm Sewer Mapping Project in an amount not- to-exceed $85,920.

(Read the staff report here.)

The Council meeting will be in City Hall starting at 7:30 p.m., open to the public, and viewable live on Cable Channel 27 and on the City website under City Council videos.

(Read the full agenda here.)

Mar 15 2019

Heritage Tree Nomination Deadline Extended to Monday, March 18

The City decided to extend the deadline for Heritage Tree nominations of noteworthy trees in our public open spaces from March 11 to March 18.

Who can nominate? Individuals and groups

What are the criteria? aesthetic, educational or historic value.

Submit the Heritage Tree Application 2019 no later than Monday, March 18th at 5 pm to Nancy Kent, Parks and Project Manager via email at nkent@piedmont.ca.gov or in hard copy to: 120 Vista Avenue.

Nominations will be reviewed by a subcommittee composed of Park Commissioners and Public Works Staff.  The tree or group of trees selected for this year’s designation will be announced at the April 3, 2019 Park Commission meeting.

Click to read the policy regarding Designation of Heritage Trees on City Property.

Completed nomination forms should be returned to Nancy Kent, Parks and Project Manager via email at nkent@piedmont.ca.gov or in hard copy to: 120 Vista Avenue.

Questions should be directed to Ms. Kent at (510) 420-3064.

Read the original PCA > article

Mar 15 2019

Free Home Energy Tour in Piedmont: How to Fight Climate Change at Home Sunday, March 24

Sunday, March 24th hourly 10 am – 2 pm

Piedmont Home Energy Tour address provided when you sign up (below) for a tour at 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, or 1 pm.

Have you ever wanted to know where the drafts and dusty air in your home come from?

Join Piedmont Connect, the City of Piedmont, and Bay Area Energy Upgrade for a guided tour through a Piedmont home. Attendees will learn first- hand from a building science expert how a Home Energy Score is calculated.

At this FREE event you can:

  • Find out where common air leaks and drafts are in the home
  • Speak to a contractor about the best ways to address comfort issues at home
  • See how issues can be diagnosed scientifically
  • Get all of your questions answered about how to make your home more comfortable and efficient.
  • Learn about Home Energy Score and speak to a local homeowner about why they decided to have it done for their home
  • Find out about rebates of up to $5,000.

Please sign up > here.

In addition to learning how to become more energy efficient, there will also be refreshments and energy efficiency giveaways!

Mar 15 2019

OPINION: Having Daylight Savings Time Year-Round is Dangerous

Dear Editor,

Since changing to Daylight Saving Time (DSL) last Sunday, media opinionators are talking about making it year-round.  Permanent DSL is a terrible, dangerous idea.  Setting the clocks ahead one hour moves an hour of morning light to the end of the day.  That’s great between March 21 and September 21, when there is more daylight than night.  But for the winter-half of the year, we need more light in the morning when kids are going to school.

Our children go to school at about the same time that commuters are starting their treks to work.  Darkness and early morning sun in commuters’ eyes create dangerous hazards.  Later in the day, schools end before most commuters return home, so evening darkness is not as dangerous.

As it is, Daylight Saving Time ends in November, nearly two months past the September 21 Equinox.  Shortening, not lengthening, the DST period would make mornings safer for our children and grandchildren.

Yours truly,

Bruce Joffe, Piedmont Resident

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