Mar 3 2022

Now is the time !

by March 21, 2022

to volunteer for City of Piedmont Committees and Commissions –

Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee, Civil Service Commission, Park Commission, Planning Commission, Public Safety Committee, Recreation Commission,  Mosquito Abatement Representative

Information  is linked below:

Residents wishing to apply must take one of the following two actions on or before the posted deadline of Monday, March 21, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Postmarks will not be accepted for paper applications.

1) Apply online OR

2) Complete and return the paper application form A link to the electronic application and a downloadable application for paper submission are available on the city’s website at https://piedmont.ca.gov or from the office of the City Clerk, Piedmont City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, or by telephone at (510) 420-3040.

All applicants must be available for an interview with the City Council the evening of Monday, March 28, 2022, at which time appointments may be made.

Read links below:

PCA Commission Application 2022

PCA Commission Description of Duties 2022-02-28

PCA2022-02-28 Volunteers for Commissions-Committees

PCA Notice of Appointive Vacancies 2022

 

Feb 26 2022

Special Planning Commission Agenda Tuesday, March 1, 2022 5:30 p.m. Via Teleconference *

COVID-19 NOTICE * In a continuing effort to reduce the public health effects of COVID-19, the Planning Commission meeting will not be physically open to the public and Planning Commissioners will be teleconferencing into the meeting via ZOOM Teleconference, pursuant to the provisions of Government Code 54953.
To maximize public safety while still maintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can participate in the meeting in several ways: See instructions for participation on the Tuesday, March 1, 2022 Agenda linked at the end of this article. 

Regular Agenda

Staff reports were not distributed for this meeting.

1. Approval of minutes for the December 13, 2021, regular meeting of the Planning Commission.
2. Scoping Session on the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Housing Element Update Staff and Rincon Consultants will conduct a public scoping session to receive comments on the scope and contents of the EIR being prepared for the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update and associated amendments to the General Plan.
3. Presentation on the Piedmont Community Pool Project. The design team from ELS Architecture and Urban Design will provide a verbal update and slideshow on the activities related to the development of a design for the Piedmont Community Pool.
4. Update on Housing Policy Presentation. Staff and Commissioners will provide a verbal update on the activities of staff, the Housing Advisory Committee and City’s housing consultants related to the development of fair housing policy. Adjourn
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] In accordance with G.C. Sec. 54954.2 (a) this notice and agenda were posted on the City Hall bulletin board and also in the Piedmont Police Department on February 15, 2022.

Click Agenda below for details on participation and viewing:

PCA Plan Com 3 2022<

Jan 6 2022
The first item on today’s (January 6, 2022) PAC agenda is a briefing on the scope of facilities allowed under Measure UU.
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Can Measure UU bonds be used for just pool facilities or other recreational activities/services?  

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This seems a more appropriate question for the Bond Oversight Committee, but in any event, a brief staff report would help the public to understand staff’s interpretation, but none is provided for today’s meeting. That interpretation may be best understood from a use survey for the new facility (link below). Multipurpose rooms, cardio gyms and a cafe all appear to be permitted under UU. 
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https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/piedmontcommunitypoolprogramming
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Measure UU language and the City Attorney analysis of the measure are provided below. I think the key language is “new pool facilities” and many of those uses in the survey are not related to a pool facility. 
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Measure UU
“Shall the measure to prevent permanent closure of Piedmont’s Community Pool by constructing new pool facilities, restrooms and related areas, to conserve energy and water, provide greater community access and safety, and authorize Piedmont to issue $19,500,000 in bonds at legal rates, generating $1,257,950 annually at an average rate of 2.6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation while bonds are outstanding, with all money staying local and independent citizens’ oversight, be adopted?”
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City Attorney Analysis of UU 
“Measure UU limits the principal amount of the bonds to no more than $19,500,000 and provides that interest rates on the bonds would be capped at a maximum of 12%, but the prevailing market rates could be less. The bonds would be secured by ad valorem taxes levied on taxable real property in the City. The City estimates that the levy of taxes to repay the bonds would be at an average rate of 2.6 cents per $100 of the assessed valuation. The tax would only be assessed if the bonds are issued and the actual tax rate shall be subject to variation during the duration of the repayment period. Proceeds of the bonds may only be used for the design and construction of improvements for the Piedmont Community Pool and adjacent areas. Measure UU includes accountability requirements including that bond proceeds shall be deposited in a separate account created and held by the City solely for financing the authorized improvements. In addition, the measure also requires the Finance Director to file a report with the City Council at least annually showing the amount of bond proceeds collected and expended, and the status of improvements. Measure UU would also require the City Council to establish and appoint members to an oversight committee, which would have responsibility for reviewing and reporting on the expenditure of the proceeds of the bonds.”
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Garrett Keating, Former City Council Member
Jan 4 2022

Community Pool Advisory Committee (PAC) Agenda

Thursday, January 6, 2022 7:30 p.m. Via Teleconference

Revised to Update Zoom Meeting

Regular Agenda

1. Briefing on Scope of Facilities Under Measure UU

2. Consideration of Recommendation to City Council Regarding Final Version of the Piedmont Community Pool Conceptual Plan

3. Update on Status of Evaluation of Exterior Lighting

4. Discussion of Next Steps and Tentative Timeline After Conceptual Design Approval 

READ THE FULL AGENDA WITH LINKS BY CLICKING BELOW:

PAC_current_agenda 2022

For more information go to: https://www.piedmont.ca.gov/government/commissions___committees/community_pool_advisory_committee

Jan 4 2022

Special Planning Commission Agenda Monday, January 10, 2022 6:00 p.m. Via Teleconference

Regular Agenda

1. Presentation on the Piedmont Community Pool Project.

2. Presentation on Senate Bill 9 Related to Housing.

READ THE FULL AGENDA FOR PARTICIPATION DETAILS BY CLICKING BELOW:

January 2022 PC Agenda

Contact the Planning Department for additional information at:

510-420-3050

Jan 4 2022

City Council Makes Appointments to Bond Oversight Committee

At a special meeting on December 13, 2021, the City Council interviewed applicants and made appointments to the Bond Oversight Committee. Drawing on the talents of seventeen applicants for five vacancies, the City Council appointed:

John Chiang

Margaret Hiller

Al Lee

Patricia Leicher, Chair

Dirk tenGrotenhuis

Ms. Leicher was appointed as the Committee’s chair.

The committee members bring over 100 cumulative years of experience in
accounting, regulatory auditing, public fiduciary oversight, and financial and executive management.

This committee, required by Measure UU, was established by the City Council to focus on reviewing and reporting on the expenditure of the proceeds of the bonds, specifically:

• Informing the public how the City is expending the bond proceeds
• Review expenditure reports produced by the City to verify that bond proceeds were expended only for the purposes set forth in Measure UU.
• Produce an annual report which includes the following information:

o A statement indicating whether the bond proceeds used by the City have been expended only for the purposes set forth in Measure UU; and
o A summary of the Committee’s proceedings and activities for the preceding year.

The Bond Oversight Committee will meet twice per year and will terminate when the expenditure of the bond proceeds is complete.

Dec 7 2021

Bond Oversight Committee Application Deadline is Wednesday, December 8th at 5:00 p.m.

On Thursday, November 18, 2021, the City of Piedmont successfully priced $19.5 million in General Obligation Bonds to rebuild the now defunct Piedmont Community Pool pursuant to voter- approved Measure UU. Tax Exempt bonds such as these are often sold at a discount or a premium depending on the interest rate environment. Current conditions have allowed the $19.5 million par amount of the bonds to yield approximately $24 million in project proceeds as investors are willing to pay more than the face value of the bonds to get a better interest rate. The bond proceeds and the resulting debt service are in alignment with the projections in the Measure UU materials and at a lower tax rate than voters approved.

Since June of 2020, staff has advised the City Council, the Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee, and the community that the proceeds would likely exceed the sale amount of the bonds. The favorable climate for bonds is a benefit to Piedmonters, especially in the current construction environment, with costs for projects such as these rising sharply since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The available proceeds will allow a healthy contingency to buffer rising construction costs, supply chain issues, and inflation.

Pricing the bonds fixes the interest rate to maturity, which eliminates the City’s exposure to rate fluctuations. The annual tax rate to repay the bonds is expected to be no more than $25.40 cents per $100,000 of assessed value, which is lower than the $26.20 cents per $100,000 tax rate estimate contained in Measure UU. The bonds are expected to be delivered and the funds received by the City on December 8th.

Residents interested in serving on the Bond Oversight Committee are invited to submit their application on the City web site at > https://p1cdn4static.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_13659739/File/Government/Commissions%20and%20Committees/Recruitment/BOC_Application.pdf.     The application deadline is Wednesday, December 8th at 5:00 p.m. Interviews for the Committee will be held at a special City Council meeting on Monday, December 13th.

The project budget, which is different from available proceeds, is currently under development during refinement of the 2016 conceptual master plan with the project architect and the community. The City Council will make the final decision on a project budget. If the project is constructed at a cost less than available proceeds, the unspent bond monies will be used to pay debt service on the bonds thereby reducing the overall burden on Piedmont’s taxpayer.

Oct 3 2021

Piedmont voters in March 2020 approved Measure UU the $19.5 million Piedmont bond measure levied against Piedmont real properties. 

The monies are to be used to develop and construct new municipal pools and an aquatic center.  A requirement of the ballot measure is the establishment of an oversight committee.  A resolution is to be considered by the City Council on October 4 to determine how the chairperson of the committee is chosen, the number of committee members, reporting requirements, oversight charges, etc.

Like the Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee (BAFPC), who will have a slot on the bond oversight committee, no written minutes or video archiving of the meetings are required within the resolution.  Release of information is restricted by the Council resolution.  Minutes have never been provided by the somewhat obscure BAFPC. Consequently, it appears those interested in the bond oversight committee and meetings will need to participate in real time during the meetings. 

There is no requirement for conflict of interest filings by committee members to be able to participate on the committee.

Below is a partial list of the committee member requirements.

SECTION 4. The Community Pool Bond Oversight Committee shall consist of five residents at large, including one current or former member of the Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee.

SECTION 5. The City Council shall appoint one member to serve as Committee Chair.

SECTION 6. The Community Pool Bond Oversight Committee shall meet at least two times per year or more frequently as the Committee deems it necessary to discharge its duty, but no more frequently than quarterly. At the end of each meeting, the Committee shall identify the next approximate meeting date.

SECTION 7. The term of the Community Pool Bond Oversight Committee shall extend from the date of establishment to the Committee’s submission of the final Annual Report which reflects the final accounting of the expenditure of the Bond proceeds.

SECTION 8. The Community Pool Bond Oversight Committee shall comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code §54950 et seq.) including, but not limited to notice, agenda posting, and public participation requirements.

SECTION 9. The Community Pool Bond Oversight Committee is an advisory body to the City Council and is not an independent decision-making body. All of its recommendations are subject to approval of the City Council

READ THE ENTIRE RESOLUTION IN THE COMPLETE STAFF REPORT LINKED  BELOW.

>Pool Bond Com 102021

AGENDA OF OCT. 4, 2021 COUNCIL MEETING > HERE.

Sep 22 2021

SCHOOLS, RECREATION, BUILDING RENOVATIONS, CITY MASTER PLAN, PUBLIC SAFETY AND MORE –

On Thursday, September 23. 2021 at 4:00 p.m.. the Piedmont Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee will meet via Zoom to consider a recommendation to the Piedmont City Council on how to spend $2,663,729, Piedmont’s COVID funds. 

To participate and view the meeting see the Agenda link below.

Of the $2,663,729 allocated to the City, $2,382,545 is tied to lost revenue and can be used in category 3 which, as noted in the full staff report linked below, may be used for any governmental services, including infrastructure projects. The remaining $281,183 must be used in accordance with the provisions of the other four categories.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

By motion, recommend that the City Council allocate the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds as proposed by staff:

A. Devote lost revenue funds to address urgent facilities projects, prioritized as follows:

1. Dispatch Center Relocation\Remodel

2. Initiation of Master Planning Process for the Future of Police, Fire and City Hall

3. City Hall Basement: Digitization of Residential Property Files and Remodel Office Space

3. Fire Department Living Quarters Renovation 3. Recreation Department Building Renovation

B. Devote the remaining more restricted funds as follows:

1. Cover the City’s direct COVID related expenses incurred after March 3, 2021

2. Provide premium pay to Recreation Department personnel who were exposed on a daily basis to critical health risks while interacting with the public due to the nature of their jobs

3. Provide COVID-19 specific support to the Piedmont Unified School District by providing funding toward a temporary full-time school nurse to assist PUSD in its COVID-19 response. Such resource would be available to support the City’s Recreation Department COVID response needs as well.

AGENDA >2021-09-23 Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee Agenda

READ  FULL STAFF REPORT >2021-09-23 ARPA Funding Direction – BAFPC

Sep 15 2021

On Tuesday, September 13th, the City began the process of draining the 154,000 gallons of water out of the main pool. Check out the video to see the progress and to hear more about the Piedmont Community Pool project.  The speaker is John Tulloch, City Clerk. 

Click on the arrow below to see the Piedmont Community Pool being drained, thus ending the water leakage. 

Piedmont Community Pool Project Update