Adding 587 new housing units –

COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN UNTIL JANUARY 8, 2023 –

Piedmont officials in the notice below provide no mention of the City Charter requirement for voters to approve zoning changes permitting many of the 587 new housing units necessary for an updated Piedmont General Plan.  Zoning code changes are  required to incorporate the pending Housing Element into the General Plan. The City notes  the necessity of “changes to the land use categories” without mentioning the City Charter requirements.

Since the Housing Element was first considered and subsequently approved by the City Council for state consideration, residents have mentioned numerous concerns regarding the addition of the 587 new housing units.  NOW, until January 8, 2023 is the time to inform the City of Piedmont of any environmental or other concerns you may have.  See below for contact address. If you want your concern or interest to be part of the permanent record, note it in your communication and ask that a copy be sent to the Piedmont City Council.

kjackson@piedmont.ca.gov is noted as the primary contact.

The Curative COVID-19 testing kiosk in the Community Hall parking lot will close permanently on Friday, December 2, 2022.

The kiosk has provided over 11,000 tests in Piedmont since opening in November 2021. Originally open only two days per week, the site expanded to Monday through Friday service in January 2022. Demand has waned in recent months, and Curative has cited low use numbers as the reason for the site’s closure.

“I’m proud that we’ve been able to provide this service to our community for over a year at no cost to the public,” said Fire Chief Dave Brannigan. “Bringing a test site to our civic center last winter – when testing lines stretched around the block throughout the region – gave Piedmont residents a critical tool to navigate last year’s Omicron surge. Since then, the site has supported thousands of community members as they resumed elements of pre-pandemic life, including return to offices, attending large events, and enjoying long-delayed travel plans.”

In contrast to when the site opened last year, COVID-19 tests are now widely available through many sources:

• At-home tests: Home antigen tests are now easy to purchase at pharmacies and online. Additionally, the FDA has extended the expiration dates for many brands of home test kits, so tests you already have may still be good even if the printed expiration date has passed. Information on extended expiration dates is available on the FDA website.

• Public testing locations: Use the California Department of Public Health interactive map and search tool at myturn.ca.gov/testing to find local testing options. This site provides information about community clinics sponsored by Alameda County Public Health as well as sites run by private testing providers. The tool allows you to filter results to display only free testing sites, or locations that offer both testing and treatment.

• Your healthcare provider: Health care providers are required by law to provide testing when you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19.

Health officials continue to advise getting tested before attending a gathering, staying home when sick, and getting vaccinated or boosted to provide the best protection against serious illness from COVID-19.

Community members with general questions about COVID-19 can call the Alameda County Public Health community support line (510) 268-2101.

Those seeking medical guidance related to COVID-19 should contact their health care provider, or call the 24/7 California Medi-Nurse line at (877) 409-9052,  if uninsured.

2022-11-29 Piedmont COVID-19 Testing Kiosk to Close December 3rd ?

Public Input Sought via City Administrator Recruitment Survey

Comments are to be made by Wednesday, November 30, 2022 using the City survey > > https://piedmont.ca.gov/government/city_news___notifications/city_administrator_selection_survey

Residents are invited to help shape the selection process for Piedmont’s next City Administrator by completing a brief online survey.  The City is not collecting names or any other personal information from respondents to this survey.  The survey asks community members to share their thoughts regarding the recruitment:

• the most important challenges and opportunities the new City Administrator will face

• what skills and experiences are the most critical in a new City Administrator

• what management and leadership attributes should the City Council look for

• how the new City Administrator should interact with the community.

The City Council will use the input gathered in this survey to help guide its decisions during the selection process. Piedmont’s City Administrator is appointed by the City Council and is responsible for overseeing day-to-day City operations and addressing the priorities established by the City Council.

City Administrator Sara Lillevand intends to retire in Spring 2023 or after the City Council has appointed a successor. Lillevand was appointed City Administrator by the City Council in 2019, after spending five years as Piedmont’s Recreation Director.

The Piedmont City Charter states the role of the City Administrator as follows:

SECTION 3.02 CITY ADMINISTRATOR

The City Council shall appoint a City Administrator for an indefinite term and fix his/her compensation. The administrator shall be appointed on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications. The City Administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the city and shall be responsible to the City Council for the administration of all City affairs placed in his/her charge by or under this charter.

The administrator shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) Shall appoint all city employees.

(2) Shall discipline, and, when deemed necessary for the good of the City, suspend or remove City officers and employees except as otherwise provided by law, this Charter, or personnel rules adopted pursuant to this Charter.

(3) Shall supervise the administration of all departments, offices and agencies of the City, except as otherwise provided by this Charter or by law and except further that the internal administration of each department shall remain with each department head.

(4) Shall attend Council meetings and shall have the right to take part in discussion, but may not vote.

(5) Shall see that all laws, provisions of this Charter and acts of the Council, subject to enforcement by him/her or by officers subject to his/her supervision, are faithfully executed.

(6) Shall prepare and submit the annual budget to the Council and shall supervise its administration after its adoption.

(7) Shall submit to the Council and make available to the public a report on the finances of the City each fiscal year.

(8) Shall make such other reports as the Council may require concerning the operations of City departments, offices and agencies.

(9) Shall keep the Council fully advised as to the financial condition and future needs of the City and make recommendations to the Council concerning the affairs of the City.

(10) Shall administer the personnel system of the City and, in particular, those matters involving the City’s personnel classification system and employee benefit and retirement plans.

(11) Shall maintain a system of City records.

(12) Shall perform such duties as are specified in this charter or may be required by the Council. (Charter Amendment 11/06/2018)

Comments may also be sent directly to the Council.

To send comments to the City Council as a whole, send an email to citycouncil@piedmont.ca.gov.

2022-11-07 City Administrator Recruitment Survey

Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, City Council –

The City Charter once more is considered when adding housing units in Piedmont.  The City’s controversial Charter interpretation is presented in relation to the proposed ordinance expanding housing in Piedmont.

The City claims a recently adopted ordinance #17.02.C prevails over the City Charter, as copied below:

“CITY CHARTER The modifications to the City Code are in conformance with the City Charter, including section 9.02. No zones have been reduced or enlarged, and no zones have been reclassified. City Charter provisions are expressly referred to in City Code division 17.02.C.”

Not all Planning Commissioners approved recommending approval of the proposed ordinance.  On a 3-1 vote the ordinance was recommended to the Council. There are  6 commissioners eligible to have participated in the consideration.

Should the Council approve a first reading of the recommended ordinance on November 21, 2022, a second reading could occur as soon as December 5, 2022, and the Code amendments would go into effect thirty days after that.

Perpetuated is the unequal distribution of housing in Piedmont.  One zone (Zone E) continues to require a lot size Minimum of 20,000 square feet, subject to exception for accessory dwelling unit construction set forth in division 17.38, whereas Zone A  location of the majority of Piedmont properties  require a Minimum lot size of 8,000 square feet.

 “Objective standards in the Piedmont Design Guidelines” are required, however these are yet to be approved and are forthcoming.  These standards have the potential to impact every property and neighbor in Piedmont.

“B. Ministerial review. The Director shall review each application ministerially to determine if the development standards in section 17.38.060 are met, and shall within 60 days of a completed application approve or deny the application, except if the application to create an accessory dwelling unit or a junior accessory dwelling unit is submitted with an application to create a new primary single-family or multi-family dwelling on the lot, the Director shall delay acting on the permit application for the accessory dwelling unit or the junior accessory dwelling unit until permits for the new single-family or multi-family dwelling are approved. The Director will review the application without notice or public hearing. The time period for review may be tolled at the request of the applicant.”

READ the entire ordinance to be considered by the Council on Monday, November 21, 2022 by clicking HERE.

Participation and Nov. 21 Agenda > HERE.

On November 15, 2022 at the Special Council Meeting on the Housing Element, the Council unanimously voted to:

“Approve the attached Resolution authorizing staff to finalize and submit the City of Piedmont’s Sixth Cycle Draft Housing Element to the California Department Of Housing And Community Development For Review.”

 No Council changes were made to the proposal. 

All participants appeared to understand the necessity of moving forward on the Housing Element in meeting the January 31, 2023 deadline and responding to the Housing and Community Development Department.

A number of speakers wanted additional consideration of housing on city property in the center of Piedmont.  Others were supportive of the changes made to the November 15, 2022 proposal.

Interest was expressed regarding evaluating public safety facilities in conjunction with housing in Central Piedmont, recognition of safety issues related to adding housing next to schools in the congested center of Piedmont, need to support recreational spaces given the increase in population, potential of isolating low-income families in Moraga Canyon, and renewed planning study of Central Piedmont.

READ the authorized Housing Element >HERE.

Public Input Sought: City Administrator Recruitment Survey

Residents are invited to help shape the selection process for Piedmont’s next City Administrator by completing a brief online survey.  The City is not collecting names or any other personal information from respondents to this survey.  The survey asks community members to share their thoughts regarding the recruitment at:

https://piedmont.ca.gov/government/city_news___notifications/city_administrator_selection_survey

Look for the “complete the survey online” link on the site.

• the most important challenges and opportunities the new City Administrator will face

• what skills and experiences are the most critical in a new City Administrator

• what management and leadership attributes should the City Council look for

• how the new City Administrator should interact with the community.

The survey will remain open through November 30th, 2022.

The City Council will use the input gathered in this survey to help guide its decisions during the selection process. Piedmont’s City Administrator is appointed by the City Council and is responsible for overseeing day-to-day City operations and addressing the priorities established by the City Council.

City Administrator Sara Lillevand intends to retire in Spring 2023 after the City Council has appointed a successor. Lillevand was appointed City Administrator by the City Council in 2019, after spending five years as Piedmont’s Recreation Director.

The Piedmont City Charter states the role of the City Administrator as follows:

SECTION 3.02 CITY ADMINISTRATOR

The City Council shall appoint a City Administrator for an indefinite term and fix his/her compensation. The administrator shall be appointed on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications. The City Administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the city and shall be responsible to the City Council for the administration of all City affairs placed in his/her charge by or under this charter.

The administrator shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) Shall appoint all city employees.

(2) Shall discipline, and, when deemed necessary for the good of the City, suspend or remove City officers and employees except as otherwise provided by law, this Charter, or personnel rules adopted pursuant to this Charter.

(3) Shall supervise the administration of all departments, offices and agencies of the City, except as otherwise provided by this Charter or by law and except further that the internal administration of each department shall remain with each department head.

(4) Shall attend Council meetings and shall have the right to take part in discussion, but may not vote.

(5) Shall see that all laws, provisions of this Charter and acts of the Council, subject to enforcement by him/her or by officers subject to his/her supervision, are faithfully executed.

(6) Shall prepare and submit the annual budget to the Council and shall supervise its administration after its adoption.

(7) Shall submit to the Council and make available to the public a report on the finances of the City each fiscal year.

(8) Shall make such other reports as the Council may require concerning the operations of City departments, offices and agencies.

(9) Shall keep the Council fully advised as to the financial condition and future needs of the City and make recommendations to the Council concerning the affairs of the City.

(10) Shall administer the personnel system of the City and, in particular, those matters involving the City’s personnel classification system and employee benefit and retirement plans.

(11) Shall maintain a system of City records.

(12) Shall perform such duties as are specified in this charter or may be required by the Council. (Charter Amendment 11/06/2018)

Comments may also be sent directly to the Council.

To send comments to the City Council as a whole, please send an email to citycouncil@piedmont.ca.gov.

2022-11-07 City Administrator Recruitment Survey

Map, sites, numbers, locations

of the potential 587 new Piedmont housing units

to be considered by the Piedmont City Council

on Tues. Nov. 15, 6:00 p.m.

Recommendation from City Administrator: “Approve the attached Resolution authorizing staff to finalize and submit the City of Piedmont’s Sixth Cycle Draft Housing Element to the California Department Of Housing And Community Development For Review.”

“City staff and consultants recommend that the City Council authorize the City Administrator to finalize the revisions to the Draft Housing Element, including the sites inventory, prior to its submittal to California HCD for review and to make the Draft consistent with the revisions and updates described in this staff report and attachment A. The revised Draft Housing Element and any further changes in response to HCD comments will be presented for consideration to the City Council prior to final adoption by the City Council.”

Click HERE to read the full report to the Piedmont City Council from City Administrator Sara Lillevand.

Read the agenda for the Nov. 15  Special City Council meeting by clicking HERE.

City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA and Via Teleconference

Where? When?

A wealthy suburb with a history of racial discrimination is forced, by law, to designate sites for low-income housing. A group of residents organizes and tells the City Council “not near us!” The Council relents and designates a former landfill in a canyon accessible only by a high-speed thoroughfare previously identified by city staff as dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. No one seems to care.

Ralph Catalano, Piedmont Resident

Editors’ Note: Opinions expressed are those of the author.

 Saturday, November 5th

Piedmont residents will receive an AC Alert emergency notification around 9am on Saturday, November 5th asking them to participate in the City’s first ever community wildfire evacuation drill. This exercise will help residents improve their own readiness to evacuate in a wildfire, and also give emergency responders important training in real-world situations. Most residents will receive an alert with instructions for a wildfire readiness activity to complete at home.

Residents on Maxwelton Road, Abbot Way, Echo Lane, and Nellie Avenue will receive a different alert instructing them to evacuate their homes and go to Community Hall. Emergency responders will be knocking on doors in this neighborhood around 9am on November 5th as part of the drill. Alerts will be delivered via text message and email.

Following the drill, everyone is invited to a wildfire preparedness event starting at 10am at Piedmont Community Hall (711 Highland Avenue).

Following remarks from City officials, participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and share observations from their experience.

“Our changing climate means wildfires are more frequent and destructive than ever” said Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan. “By taking the time now to prepare our homes and practice evacuation, we will all be better prepared to take lifesaving actions quickly when a fire comes our way.”

Anyone not yet registered for AC Alert notifications should sign up by visiting acalert.org or texting their zip code to 888-777.

Piedmont and Alameda County public safety officials will use this system to send evacuation warnings and orders in a fire, earthquake, or other emergency.

Advance registration for the preparedness event at Community Hall is encouraged. To register and for more information about the November 5th drill please visit piedmont.ca.gov/WildfireDrill.

2022-10-31 Community Wildfire Evacuation Drill and Preparedness Event on November 5