Jun 7 2016
On Wednesday, June 8, the Piedmont Unified School District Board, will meet starting at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, to consider: a new Bond Measure for the schools, the budget, food allergies, and the November Election of 3 school board members including one open seat. The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast live on Cable Channel 27 and the City website under 0n-line videos. Recordings will be made of the proceedings.
The link to the agenda is here.
Jun 4 2016
It is time to prepare for 2016 November Election!
All ballot measures and candidates for the Piedmont City Council and the Piedmont Unified School District board need to adhere to the November 8, 2016 General Election timeline.
OPEN SEATS
The Council and School Board each have an open seat because a member is termed out and cannot seek re-election. On the Council, Margaret Fujioka will retire and on the School Board Rick Raushenbush will retire.
Candidates seeking election to the City Council or School Board can file papers beginning July 18 and ending August 12, 2016.
BALLOT MEASURES
“Should the Council wish to place a measure on the November ballot, there would be little additional charge to do so.”
“Should the Council wish to place a measure on the November ballot, two readings of the ordinance placing said measure on the ballot must occur prior to requesting the services of the County to conduct the election, which must occur on or before August 12, 2016. Therefore, the Council would need to conduct the first reading of an ordinance no later than July 18th and the second reading no later than August 1st in order to meet the deadline.”
The cost of the November election will either be borne completely by the City or divided between the City and the School District, if they have a competitive election.
As previously quoted by the Registrar of Voters, the cost for this election will be between $4 and $6 per registered voter in Piedmont, which number approximately 8,300.
Timeline for the November 8, 2016 Election:
- Deadline to Publish or Post Notice of Election: July 18, 2016
- Nomination for Candidates Period: July 18 – August 12, 2016
- Deadline for Ballot Measures: August 12, 2016
- Deadline for Direct Arguments on Ballot Measures: August 19, 2016
- Deadline for Rebuttal Arguments on Ballot Measures: August 26, 2016
- Last Day to Register to Vote: October 24, 2016
- Early Voting at the Registrar of Voters’ Office October 10 – November 8, 2016
- Election Day November 8, 2016
- Read the Staff report here.
- Read the Agenda for the June 6 Council meeting here.
Jun 4 2016
Beginning at 7:30 p.m. the City Council will take up its regular agenda in the Council Chambers. Agenda items include: (Click on items to read the reports.)
06/06/16 – Receipt of a Report on the Timeline for the November 8, 2016 Regular Municipal Election
06/06/16 – Receipt of a Report on the 2016 Annual Adjustment to Trash, Greenwaste and Recycling Service Rates
06/06/16 – PUBLIC HEARING Regarding the Proposed Budget and Fee Proposals for FY 16-17 and the Levy of the Municipal Services Tax and Sewer Tax
a. Presentation of Report from the Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee
b. Report on the FY 16-17 Budget Proposal
06/06/16 – Consideration of Direction to Staff Regarding the Inclusion of Projects Recommended by the CIP Review Committee in the FY 16-17 Budget Proposal
The public may comment on any agenda item during the meeting or on a non-agenda item during the Public Forum. You may choose to write comments to the Piedmont City Council, c/o City Clerk, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611 or send an email to: > jtulloch@ci.piedmont.ca.us. All comments submitted will become part of the public record and may be posted to the City’s website.
The meeting, open to the public, will be broadcast live, and recorded. Go to Cable Channel 27 and the City website under videos to view the meeting.
Read the full agenda here.
Jun 1 2016
The East Bay Express Editors recommend a “No” vote on Measure F and wrote:
“The City of Piedmont hopes to re-up an existing municipal tax, which expires next year, with Measure F. The plan is to increase parcel taxes in the city for four years, so as to defray the costs of police, fire, paramedics, and parks and public places. The tax requires two-thirds of voters’ approval. The catch is that Measure F is also a thirty percent increase over the existing parcel tax — a detail that the Piedmont city attorney just so happened to gloss over in its impartial analysis for voters. The Express urges a no vote on this flawed tax.”
Read the complete editorial here.
The East Bay Times recommends a “No” vote on Measure F and wrote:
“Piedmont Measure F: NO
Piedmont’s Measure F would increase that city’s parcel tax by 30 percent. But the ballot language doesn’t mention an increase. And City Attorney Michelle Marchetta Kenyon’s “impartial analysis” does not provide the magnitude of the hike.
That’s inexcusable.
In material mailed to voters, the 30 percent figure is finally found in the opponents’ ballot arguments. We verified it with other city documents.
…
The ballot wording states that Measure F is needed to prevent the loss of “essential” city services. But the city’s own financial forecasts don’t support that, although there are concerns about the city’s backlog of deferred maintenance.
The current parcel tax doesn’t expire until next year. If city officials believe it must be increased, we suggest trying again in November with a transparent ballot measure.”
Read the complete editorial here
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The Piedmont League of Women Voters Forum on Measure F as reported by the Mercury News:
Read the report here:
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View the entire broadcast of the Piedmont League of Women Voters Forum: State Senate Candidates, Measure AA and Piedmont Measure F > here.
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June 7, Tuesday, Election Day is the last day to vote in the California Primary Election.
For holders of a VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT, your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received at the Alameda County Registrar of Voters no later than three (3) days after Election Day. You may also turn in your ballot by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, June 7, at any Alameda County polling location, including Piedmont’s, or into the drop-off box in Piedmont behind the Wells Fargo Bank on Highland Way any day when the drop-off box remains in place.
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Editors’ Note: The Piedmont Civic Association does not support or oppose candidates for public office or ballot measures. Pro and con opinions and articles on ballot items are welcomed and can be submitted via email for publication by clicking below:
Personal attacks will not be published.
Jun 1 2016
Learn more about a survey the Piedmont Unified School District commissioned to find out if Piedmont voters would support a new local school bond measure, possibly in November 2016, to improve school facilities. The survey is called Bond Feasibility Survey. The conclusion from the survey was that 70% of voters in Piedmont would support a new and additional school bond ballot measure.
“Is a bond measure to repair and improve Piedmont schools feasible for the November 2016 ballot? Yes.”
“Voters have an exceptionally positive opinion of the quality of education provided by the Piedmont Unified School District and they consider maintaining the quality of education in local public schools to be the most important issue facing the community—more important than maintaining local streets and roads, protecting the environment, preventing local tax increases, and other benchmark issues. These sentiments translate into strong natural support (70%) for a $65 million bond to repair and modernize aging classrooms and school facilities including repairing deteriorating roofs, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and electrical systems, improve student safety, campus security, and access for the disabled, and acquire, renovate, construct and equip classrooms, facilities, science labs, and technology to support advanced programs in math, science, engineering, arts and technology.
“The results of this study suggest that, if structured appropriately and combined with an effective public education effort and independent campaign, the proposed school bond measure has a good chance of passage if placed on the November ballot. Having stated that a bond measure is feasible, it is important to note that a recommendation to place a measure on the ballot comes with several qualifications and conditions. Indeed, although the results are promising, all revenue measures must overcome challenges prior to being successful. The proposed measure is no exception.”
Read the complete survey – methodology, questions posed to potential voters, and conclusions here.
May 26 2016
Drop your unstamped Ballot in the new Ballot Drop Box added to the center of Piedmont next to the mailboxes and library book drop box on Highland Way.
![Ballot Drop Box](http://www.piedmontcivic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_7068-300x225.jpg)
Ballot Drop Box on Highland Way in the Center of Piedmont
![Ballot Drop Box](http://www.piedmontcivic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IMG_7066-225x300.jpg)
Ballot Drop Box on Highland Way
June 7, 2016 – Last Day to Vote
Submitting Stamped Ballots Through the US Postal Service:
Vote-by-Mail Ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the Registrar of Voters office no later than 3 days after Election Day.
Submitting Ballots Without Postage:
Vote-by-Mail voters who do not want to mail in their ballot can DROP their voted ballots in the 24-hour outdoor Ballot drop-off box in Piedmont behind the Wells Fargo Bank on Highland Way. (Ballot Box is pictured in the photos above.)
Other 24-hour outdoor Ballot drop-off boxes are in downtown Oakland at the corner of 12th Street and Oak Street or at the ramp at 1225 Fallon Street. There is also a Ballot drop-off box inside the courthouse next to the Sheriff’s check-in station, Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm.
Deliver in Person:
On Election Day, June 7, Ballots may be dropped off at any polling place in Piedmont or Alameda County from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Vote-by-Mail Ballots may currently be delivered in person to the Registrar of Voters Office 1225 Fallon Street during business hours; 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.