Rosanna Bayon Moore was formally appointed Tuesday night as Piedmont’s next city administrator, and her employment agreement approved by the City Council. The city had announced on Feb. 16 the decision to hire Bayon Moore, who for the last 2 1/2 years has been Antioch’s assistant city manager. Before that, she had been city manager in Brawley, in Imperial County near the U.S.-Mexican border, for nine years.
Bayon Moore is expected to start her new job April 6. She will succeed the retiring Sara Lillevand, who has been Piedmont’s city administrator since June 2019 and for the five years before that was the city’s recreation supervisor.
According to her employment agreement, Bayon Moore’s annual salary will be $275,000, and she will receive a $600 monthly car allowance. Bayon Moore also will receive all leaves, holiday, and other employee benefits provided to other non-public safety city officers and department heads.
“We’re all welcoming you with open arms,” Mayor Jen Cavenaugh told Bayon Moore, who was present at Tuesday night’s council meeting. “We’re closing one chapter and beginning an exciting new one.”
Andrew Becker, an Antioch-based advocate for the homeless, called in to Tuesday’s meeting to praise Bayon Moore’s work in Antioch related to both housing the unhoused and for economic development, and that he’s sad to see her go.
“I just wanted to say that even though it will be difficult to lose Miss Bayon Moore, I want to say your city (Piedmont) will be in a better place,” Becker told the council.
Bayon Moore stepped to the podium briefly Tuesday night. “I’m very hopeful and optimistic I have something to offer you and (that) we grow together.” To that, Councilwoman Betsy Smegal Andersen responded, “I too am hopeful and optimistic … and I’m not going to talk about Sara.”
Indeed, Andersen appeared close to choking up at one point when talk of Lillevand’s departure arose. Councilwoman Jennifer Long seemed to share those sentiments. “I’m not ready to say goodbye yet, so we won’t say it yet,” Long said.
Piedmont Housing Element update
Kevin Jackson, Piedmont’s planning and building director, told the City Council that reviewers from the state Department of Housing and Community Development have provided comments on Piedmont’s draft Sixth Cycle Housing Element, and that the feedback was largely positive.
“There were no significant structural issues or major technical revisions” requested, Jackson told the council. There were “less than 30” items noted for clarification or change, he said. “Actually, that’s really good news,” Jackson said.
Piedmont planning staff and consultants will work with HCD to complete the requested revisions, then bring proposed updates to City Council for approval. Jackson said he anticipates the City Council will vote on final plan adoption in March.
The Housing Element is the key to Piedmont’s meeting its obligation connected to the sixth Association of Bay Area Governments’ Regional Housing Needs Allocation eight-year cycle, which runs from 2023 to 2031. Every Bay Area city is under a state mandate to plan for a certain number of new residences by 2031; Piedmont ’s number is 587 — 28 percent of them extremely or very low income units; 16 percent low income, 16 percent moderate income; and 40 percent “above moderate” income. State law does not require cities to actually build or finance their allocation of new residences.
Contact Sam Richards at sam.richards4344@gmail.com