Council OKS City Budget, Sewer Tax Increase, Street Paving Projects

Piedmont City Council members moved efficiently through a long agenda Monday night, approving:

—A city operating budget of $23.2 million for fiscal year 2013-14;

—A capital projects budget of $4.4 million;

—Municipal service (parcel) tax rates that will remain at current levels for the coming fiscal year;

—And sewer tax rates that will rise by 2.2 percent, an increase of $10 to $19 per parcel for single family residences, depending on the size of the property.

No members of the public spoke during a scheduled second and final public hearing on the budget and taxes, which were also the subjects of a public hearing at the previous council meeting.

The council also:

—Authorized signing a $235,676 construction contract with Gallagher & Burk Inc. for 2013-14 pavement projects. These will include slurry sealing of Cambridge Way, portions of Howard Ave. and portions of Glen Alpine Road, as well as grinding/resurfacing portions of Ramona Ave, Howard Ave., Inverleith Terrace and Wyngaard Avenue. Work will begin about July 8 and continue for about six weeks.

Chester Nakahara, the city's public works director, said Lake Avenue between Howard Avenue and Linda Avenue was originally to be a part of this project. However, EBMUD officials determined that they needed to lower and replace their old water main on Lake but couldn't complete the work soon enough to match this year's repaving schedule. The Lake Avenue work will be done in the pavement project for next year, Nakahara said.

—Heard a presentation from the investment banking firm of Brandeis Tallman on refinancing what is known as the city's CalPERS Side Fund obligations (essentially a loan covering old unfunded liabilities in the city employee retirement plans). Refinancing the loan by issuing bonds could save the city in the neighborhood of $100,000 over the course of nine years, the presenters said. The bond issue would require approval by Piedmont voters.

—Approved a five-year plan for maintenance and refurbishing of city facilities, with minor changes in how some projects are categorized. (See "The List: What Needs Fixing in Piedmont" for a more detailed look at the facilities maintenance program.)

The complete agenda for the meeting and related staff reports are available on the City of Piedmont website.

Council members will meet in closed session today (Tuesday, June 18) to interview applicants for the Piedmont fire chief position.

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