Third-grade teacher Jaimie Lasky, center, lines up her students Aug. 10 at Piedmont’s Beach Elementary School on the new school year’s first day of full-time, in-person instruction. During Piedmont’s first full calendar year of the pandemic, the city saw students return to school after more than 12 months of virtual learning, plans began to form for the construction of a new aquatic facility and the city celebrated July 4 without a parade but with other festive doings. These and others were among Piedmont’s top stories of 2021.
During Piedmont’s first full calendar year of the pandemic, the city saw students finally returning to school after more than 12 months of virtual learning.
Also, plans began to form for the construction of a new aquatic facility after voters approved Measure UU in November 2020. The city did its best to keep up July 4 holiday spirits without a parade but with other festive doings such as a musical caravan through the streets and block parties. And Piedmont Unified School District students enjoyed the new STEM buildings that offer state-of-the-art learning. Here’s a look back at 2021 in Piedmont.
January: Local leaders, scholars, youths and lawmakers came together to present a diverse, vibrant Martin Luther King Jr. celebration for its 24th annual commemoration.Each presenter in the virtual program echoed this year’s theme of “Let Us Be Dissatisfied: Using Our Power to Bend the Arc.”
“I’m so grateful to Piedmont’s Appreciating Diversity Committee for advancing equity,” Vice-Mayor Tim Rood said. “Last year tested our strength. Its impacts have fallen hard. Black Lives Matter bent the arc. Piedmont’s racial equity campaign raised awareness that we have much more to do.”
“Let’s participate in the beauty of diversity, the urgency of our time,” said U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland. “We continue to struggle and demand equality and justice for all.”
“Where do we go from here?” asked state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. “We need to lead with love. We must walk on, as horrible as (violence and threats) have been.”
February: Plans moved along for development of a new aquatics center following Measure UU’s passage by voters the previous November to approve $19.5 million in general obligation bonds. Former City Administrator Paul Benoit was asked by current administrator Sara Lillevand if he would act as a consultant to the project.
“We want to honor the faith voters put in (this project),” Benoit said from his new Oregon home. “One key is to pay attention to every detail. We are looking for an experienced professional for the job — dedicated with no distractions, start to finish.”
A bond oversight committee to track how monies are spent and a citizen’s advisory committee would be seated in the spring, Lillevand said. Proposed plans called for a “stretch” competition pool that includes a movable bulkhead and two diving boards. This pool would serve competitive swim and water polo, lap swim, practices and meets, swim camps, recreational swim and instructions. A “leisure” pool could feature small waterslides, an activity structure and spray features, plus a two-lane instructional area for swim lessons and lap swim.
The master plan also included a two-story bathhouse, with changing restrooms, concessions and a 1,200-square-foot mechanical room. A second floor would provide a restroom for adjacent tennis courts, two multipurpose rooms, office space and an observation deck.
March: Daniel Gonzales was appointed to his post after the retirement of longtime director Chester Nakahara. Gonzales, who grew up and lives in San Leandro, has a bead on the Piedmont community.
“There are very informed residents both places,” said Gonzales, who left as deputy director in Hillsborough to take the Piedmont job. “There is no apathy. When people are not sure of what they want, it’s more challenging. Civil engagement is a system that works. A great community has a high level of participation. That’s the goal.”
Gonzales has a good sense of Piedmont residents’ priorities.
“People are concerned about bicycle and pedestrian safety and speeding. It’s a walkable community. Kids walk to school. People walk their dogs. Many roadways are narrow. There are competing demands. We’re working our way through it.”
One of Gonzales’ biggest projects would be teaming up with designers, contractors, staff and the community as plans were hatched for the new aquatic center.
April: The Piedmont Unified school board at its April 28 meeting continued to reel from the effects of a viral posting that drew attention to a White student support circle that created local and national media attention.
Assistant Superintendent Cheryl Wozniak sent out an advisory to school families on April 21 that called for the White student support circle for students to discuss the outcome of the Chauvin trial over the death of George Floyd. Her words were posted by someone soon after on TikTok, creating a firestorm of controversy. Black, indigenous and other students of color in the district and their supporters were outraged at Wozniak’s words that were misinterpreted as supporting White students over the racially diverse groups. School officials apologized for the unintentional gaffe and pledged to actively address inequities.
May: The city’s Housing Advisory Committee met virtually May 19 to review aspects of the Piedmont Is Home campaign and the many moving parts of the ponderous but mandatory housing element report.
In the next cycle, Piedmont is mandated to create 587 new housing units from 2023 through 2031. The current cycle is for 2015 through January 2023. The city is expected in the next cycle to build 163 very-low-income units, 94 low-income units, 92 moderate-income units and 238 above-moderate-income units for a 979% increase from the current planning cycle.
The City Council in early May chose Lisa Wise Consulting for services related to a housing element update, planning ahead for challenges in a city with sparse buildable land. The city would need to prepare and submit an updated housing element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development for certification by the end of 2022.
June: The City Council labored in lengthy discussions over a proposal to earmark four parking spaces near the civic center as electric vehicle charging stations. City officials for some time have wanted to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. The designated parking spaces are on Bonita Avenue near its intersection with Vista Avenue, a very busy location in a city that has sparse parking availability.
Those four spaces near the Piedmont High School campus were subject to a two-hour parking limit. The contract with East Bay Community Energy would be for 10 years with fines for those who exceed the charging limit.
July: No festive big July 4 parade happened this year, but many festivities took place in town to celebrate the red, white and blue.
“As disappointing as this is, the city recognizes that the most important thing right now is to keep the community safe and healthy. Hosting a large group event in Piedmont is still not a good idea, even with the progress we’ve made fighting COVID-19,” city officials said.
But fun was afoot. There was to be a July Fourth house and car decorating contest. Drive-by judges were to visit each entry on July 3, with winners announced July 4. Residents signed up by July 1 to enter the contests. Awards were to be given to the Highland Cup best entry and the categories of Highland Spoon, Best Car, Most Artistic, Best Spirit and Best Theme.
A flotilla of vehicles and a flatbed truck carrying the favorite Barrelhouse Jazz Band made their way around town. Block parties, also a long-standing Piedmont tradition, took place. City Clerk John Tulloch said 27 block parties were requested.
August: Piedmont school district students returned to school Aug. 10 full-time and in-person. Piedmont Mayor Teddy King was relieved and hopeful on the school year’s first day.
“I just did the walk-through with my middle school kids,” she said. “It felt so great to go to campus and see everyone masked up and enthusiastic. I know we can get through this. Last year was so tough on young people. (It was) tough on everybody, but so many months at home watching Zoom school was terribly difficult. This year will be better, I can’t wait.”
Brian Killgore, the school district’s new communications director, said the first day back was bustling as teachers and staff prepared for the students.
“(It was a) hectic day, but I like what I see so far, and everyone seems excited to get things going,” Killgore said.
September: Extreme conditions and rugged terrain didn’t deter the firefighters from Piedmont’s small department who are helping to fight the Dixie Fire.
“We had a crew rotation. Four guys came back, four more went up,” Lt. Justin McNulty said. “It was nuts up there. We were very busy the first night; we worked 38 hours in a row. Hot shot crews saved homes in Taylorsville from the approaching fire front. We didn’t lose any structures in our section, but the fire is so massive. We saved several homes in Jonesville. Driving through was so hot we were afraid it would melt the paint off our engines.”
He said no firefighter from Piedmont was injured fighting the Dixie Fire, to which the Piedmont Fire Department had an engine and four firefighters deployed. The wildfire burned at least 771,183 acres, nearly 1,200 square miles in Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties. More than 1,200 homes and businesses had been destroyed since the fire began above the Cresta Dam in Feather River Canyon.
October: Plans were on track for the long-awaited Piedmont community pool, city officials said. A firm had been chosen to design, plan and engineer the swim complex. Former City Administrator Paul Benoit was and still is consulting for the pool project.
“Things are proceeding better than expected,” Benoit said. “We put an aggressive schedule together. All the proposals were top-notch proposals from very talented firms. We are very blessed and lucky. Things are right on schedule, and I’m thrilled with that. Our focus is to keep things moving, open in summer 2024.”
Residents were trying out carbon-neutral induction cooktops, and the City Council was working toward installing electric vehicle charging stations on Magnolia Avenue through East Bay Community Energy. Piedmont was awarded the 2021 Beacon Spotlight Award from the Institute of Local Government for its strides made in sustainability and reducing in greenhouse gas emissions.
“The city achieved a 30% reduction in community greenhouse gas emissions and a 12% reduction in agency greenhouse gas emissions from 2010 to 2019,” said Piedmont’s sustainability program manager Alyssa Dykman.
The grassroots group Piedmont Connect, formed some years ago, has bolstered the city’s efforts by hosting conservation events to educate and encourage residents to conserve water, household and vehicle emissions.
“People are addressing the climate problem front and center,” said Piedmont Connect’s Margaret Ovenden. “We are ahead of it. It sets us apart. We have to do the right thing.”
November: Patience, perseverance and resourcefulness mark the construction of the new Alan Harvey Theater on the Piedmont High campus, as the pandemic has stalled everything.
“The lighting rigging part of the stage is on a container overseas. No date when we might get it,” said Measure H-1 bond coordinator Michael Brady. “Lighting fixtures to the art rooms were ordered in July. We may get them in March. We’re at the mercy of the suppliers, vendor and shipper.”
Piedmont schools Superintendent Randy Booker said the district’s contractor, Overaa, “managed the uncertainty and minimized disruptions and delays with contingency planning and changes in staffing, suppliers and work flow. Overaa searched for alternative suppliers and subcontractors, often with remarkable success.
“Further complicating things, some of the theatrical light fixtures specified and ordered are no longer manufactured due to COVID. The design team had to respecify these fixtures, made to order with long lead times.”
December: City officials want to keep residents safe and aware on city streets. They voted unanimously to adopt the Piedmont Safer Streets Plan to protect pedestrians, kids walking to school, crossing guards, cyclists and drivers.
“Residents’ main concerns are speeding and crossing conditions,” said Niko Letunic of consultants Eisen/Letunic. “A lot has been done, (but more is neeed).”
Several community meetings were held to gather input. The city received more than 2,500 comments via email, survey, a project website message box and a pinable map.
January 2022: Only time — and the pandemic most people hope will end soon — will tell what’s in store for Piedmont in the coming year.
Linda Davis is a longtime Piedmont correspondent. Contact her with news tips or comments at [email protected].
