League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA February 4, 2014 Election
	Tim Rood Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Piedmont

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Piedmont and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. Do you support Measure A on the February ballot to refinance the pension side fund?

I strongly support Measure A on the February 4, 2014 ballot. This measure is necessary to achieve one of the Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee's key money-saving recommendations.

This measure would give the City Council the authority to refinance approximately $8,000,000 in existing employee pension obligations (technically, the "side fund" owed to CalPERS and currently accruing 7.5% interest).

This refinance is currently projected to save the City between $600,000 and $700,000 over the 9-year period. If voters approve the measure, the City completes the refinance, and the Council negotiates a correspondingly lower cap on City pension contributions in its new labor contracts, both the City and staff will benefit: the City benefits by reducing the rate of growth of its pension expenditures, and staff benefits by freezing a currently uncontrollable out-of-pocket cost that is otherwise likely to rise significantly.

The measure will satisfy the requirements of Piedmont's Charter with a simple majority vote; however, if it passes by more than 50% but less than 2/3, a court validation process will be required, which would introduce additional costs, a 4-6 month delay, and interest rate risk.

I urge Piedmonters to support this measure and am hoping for greater than 2/3 approval.

Additional detail is provided in the 2013 BAFPC report, beginning on page 16, and I'd be happy to discuss my position on the measure with those interested.

2. Do you agree/disagree that the City needs a stronger risk management policy to ensure fiscal accountability?

Yes. I spoke in favor of the risk management policies developed by the League-appointed Task Force on Open Governance at Council meetings in April 2013 and again on January 6, 2014, at which a risk management policy for major projects was adopted. However, the adopted policy does not provide for monthly reporting on major projects to the City Council and the public - only to the City Administrator. I will work with the incoming City Administrator and other Council members to strengthen the reporting requirements.

3. What do you think Piedmont’s relationship should be to the region in regard to housing policies, transportation, and public safety?

Like any other city in the Bay Area, Piedmont needs to fully engage and cooperate with state, regional and county agencies in these and other realms. State law requires us to plan for our fair share of the region's housing growth, including affordable housing. Our transportation dollars come through regional and county agencies, for which my urban planning firm has frequently done professional work. And our public safety issues obviously require coordination and cooperation with Oakland, our only adjacent neighbor city.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: January 13, 2014 11:47
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