In brief: Piedmont citizens can review, comment on city’s proposed budget

The Piedmont City Council is expected to approve next fiscal year's municipal budget June 17 after two upcoming public hearings on the document.

PIEDMONT

The city of Piedmont’s proposed budget for the 2024-25 fiscal is now available for review and comment. The budget, adopted annually, serves as a major policy document and describes how Piedmont intends to finance its services and infrastructure in the coming year.

The proposed budget would maintain existing service levels citywide and include one new full time position for an emergency services dispatch supervisor, the second of two new dispatcher positions made possible by the city’s passage of Measure F.

The proposed budget also includes funding for several projects aimed at improving service delivery and helping city staff work more efficiently, including a public works  workflow and asset management system, digitization of paper records, online business licensing, online public records requests and an upgraded city website.

To view the proposed budget online, visit bit.ly/44ReZ5u. Piedmont citizens are encouraged to share feedback and ask questions about the proposed budget using the city’s online engagement portal at piedmont.ca.gov/BudgetFeedback.

The City Council will hold public hearings on the proposed budget at 6 p.m. June 3 and June 17 in the council’s City Hall chambers at 120 Vista Ave. in Piedmont. Community members are welcome to provide comment at both meetings in-person or via Zoom. To attend online, visit piedmont-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/82141110391.

The council is expected to adopt the budget at the second meeting on June 17. The city’s Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee met May 14 to review the proposed budget and will provide a letter to council with their findings and recommendations in advance of budget adoption.

— city of Piedmont

OAKLAND

‘Meals for Gaza’ fundraiser June 2 to feature food, music

“Meals for Gaza,” a volunteer community fundraiser for Anera, a humanitarian organization based in Washington, D.C., will feature Middle Eastern food, music, cultural performances and a silent auction from 2 to 4 p.m. June 2 at the Uptown Body & Fender Shop at 401 26th St. in Oakland.

The Anera organization has provided aid for more than 56 years to refugees and families impacted by Palestinian, Lebanese and Jordanian conflicts. Since last October, Anera has provided more than 25 million meals to the displaced people of Gaza.

East Bay supporters of Anera organized “Meals for Gaza” in response to Gaza’s current catastrophic conditions and to sustain the humanitarian work on the ground there. Advance tickets for the event are available online at support.anera.org/a/meals-for-gaza-event.

“100% of the proceeds will feed families and provide medical assistance,” said Judy Barsalou, a member of Anera’s Board of Directors. “Every dollar we raise goes a long way toward saving lives.”

— Sandina Robbins

‘Witches of Bellinas’ author to discuss novel at bookstore

Management and staff at A Great Good Place for Books (GGPB) in the Oakland hills’ Montclair Village district invite the public to join them at 7 p.m. Tuesday as they welcome author J. Nicole Jones for a discussion of her new novel, “The Witches of Bellinas.”

The book is described as a dreamy California Gothic about a woman who moves to the mysterious town of Bellinas to save her marriage only to be swept up in a hedonistic cult that isn’t what it seems. It can be ordered online at bit.ly/ggpWitchesBellinas. This in-person event will take place in the store at 6120 La Salle Ave. in Oakland.

— GGPB

Montclair Beer, Wine & Music Festival happening June 15

The Montclair Village Association (MVA) and generous presenting sponsor Ken Betts Co. are excited to announce the 10th annual Montclair Beer, Wine & Music Festival from 12 to 6 p.m. June 15 in the Oakland hills’ Montclair Village business district.

Several blocks will be closed for this community celebration and fundraiser that drew more than 3,000 attendees last year. Proceeds will benefit the MVA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has served the Montclair Village district and surrounding community for 75 years.

Funds raised will help improve safety, beautification and ensure free family-friendly gatherings continue throughout the year. For tickets and more details online, visit bit.ly/3wtvwzM.

— Jody Colley

PIEDMONT

Police station walk-in services to be limited temporarily

Walk-in services at the Piedmont Police Department will be temporarily limited starting in June, as the police station is reconfigured to accommodate construction for the department’s dispatch center relocation project.

With the reception area under construction, visitor accommodations similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic will be put in place, with commonly requested forms and a phone to connect with staff available outside the building.

The project, which is intended to improve 9-1-1 response capabilities, will relocate the dispatch center into the space that now jointly serves as the city’s emergency operations center and the Police Department’s conference and interview room.

Visible construction work will start in June, but behind-the-scenes preparations have been underway for months as police and city public works staff reconfigure the police station to accommodate a 32% reduction in workspace. For more details, visit bit.ly/3V1rvvQ online.

— city of Piedmont

Donations can help those in need in Africa, Latin America

Recent contributions to the Piedmont-based Lantern Projects charity organization in March and April provided much-needed supplies to people in need in the developing world. All funds received by the organization go to the projects, and every donation really helps.

Lantern Projects is accepting donations now to fund school uniforms in Kenya (project #494), a school playground in Cameroon (project #495), food relief and deworming medicine in Haiti (project #496) and costumes and uniforms for a ballet school in Cuba (project #497).

Tax-deductible donations in any amount (please identify which project number is being funded) can be made online at lanternprojects.org or sent by a check payable to Lantern Projects at 51 Glen Alpine Road, Piedmont, CA 94611-3522.

— Lantern Projects

To submit an item for our “In brief” section, please email it, at least three days before print publication, to njackson@bayareanewsgroup.com. Each item should be 90 to 180 words and include a short headline along with the name of the group or individual to credit for it.