Piedmont Candidates Float Bond for Fire Station Talked About Since 1976
City Council • PiedmontSeptember 29, 2026
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Piedmont's next City Council will likely inherit a decision on replacing fire and police facilities, a project discussed for 50 years. One candidate estimated the cost at $100 million or more. At a League of Women Voters Piedmont forum on Sept. 29, 2026, five candidates for three Council seats explained how they would pay for it, along with how they would manage a lean $40 million budget, Measure GG and oversight of license plate readers.
- A public bond is the "probable" path for public safety buildings, said Councilmember Tom Ramsey.
- Measure GG draws support as roughly $1.5 million for the general fund.
- Candidates call the $40 million budget lean, with revenue lagging needs like paving.
- License plate readers split candidates on whether current oversight goes far enough.
- Wildfire plans focus on outreach, codes and inspections tied to building permits.
Fire Station Funding: Bond Likely, Plan Unsettled
The basics: Five candidates are running for three seats with four-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The candidates are Nancy Beninati, Sunny Bostrom-Fleming, Adam Hunt, Tom Ramsey and Bill Reichle. Two forum questions focused on capital projects over the next five years and on paying for public safety building retrofits. Together they took up the largest share of the evening.
Why it matters: The cost estimate and the funding source will shape future tax and bond decisions for every Piedmont property owner. A candidate put the estimate at $100 million or more.
Where things stand: Bill Reichle, council candidate, grouped projects into short, medium and long term. He pressed for action on the fire and police stations and held up a 1976 article about replacing the firehouse.
"This article was dated 1976. Here we are 50 years later," said Reichle.
Ramsey, the only sitting councilmember in the race, listed pavement, sewers, storm drains and the Civic Center as priorities. He named the most likely funding route.
"It would be a bond, public bond, probably," said Ramsey.
Adam Hunt, council candidate, prioritized seismically sound, code-compliant public safety facilities. He also named stormwater compliance and renovation of a recreation building.
Nancy Beninati, council candidate and a supervising attorney with the California Department of Justice, stressed maintaining existing infrastructure and long-term financial planning.
Sunny Bostrom-Fleming, council candidate, separated needs from wants. She said a new city hall and fire department fall in the "needs" category and estimated the cost at $100 million or more. Beyond a bond, candidates discussed grants and philanthropy as ways to pay.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No action was taken. However, the candidates broadly agree on the project and differ mainly on financing. A bond would put the question to voters and spread the cost across property owners. Grants and philanthropy would shift part of the burden to outside funders and Piedmont's donor base. Fire and police staff working in aging buildings have the most immediate stake.
What's next: Any bond would require future Council action. No timeline was set at the forum.
Lean Budget, Measure GG in Focus
Why it matters: Candidates described a roughly $40 million budget with little margin. Measure GG is cited as adding about $1.5 million to the general fund.
Where things stand: Ramsey pointed to the city's Pavement Condition Index, a standard rating of road quality, as evidence of a structural gap.
"Our revenue doesn't match our need," said Ramsey.
Beninati said most of the budget goes to salaries and that the city relies heavily on property taxes. She called for long-term planning and reserves. Hunt praised the city's competence in managing the budget and urged creative revenue sources and public-private partnerships.
"So I support Ballot Measure GG," said Hunt in his opening statement.
Reichle called the budget lean and urged a healthy operating reserve.
"I'm a supporter of GG as a means of contributing approximately $1.5 million to the general fund," said Reichle.
Bostrom-Fleming tied the same figure to a real estate transfer tax increase.
"I see how vital it will be to have the additional $1.5 million, which will probably be coming in from the tax increase on the transfer of real estate," said Bostrom-Fleming. She also suggested tapping donors.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No candidate spoke against new revenue. Residents who sell property would be affected by a transfer tax increase. Street, sewer and staffing needs depend on whether general fund revenue grows. The city's dependence on property tax leaves it few other options.
What's next: Measure GG goes to voters in November.
License Plate Readers: Useful, but Who Watches?
Why it matters: Piedmont was an early adopter of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), cameras that capture and log vehicle plates. The program has faced controversy over data sharing. The next Council could revisit its audit and transparency rules.
Where things stand: Ramsey defended the city's safeguards. He cited 30-day rolling data retention, encryption and no facial recognition.
"We had the first-in-the-nation transparency portal regarding ALPR transparency," said Ramsey. He added that the city should verify the guardrails are working.
Hunt said safety and privacy can coexist and urged more communication with the community. Bostrom-Fleming called the cameras a cost-effective tool for solving serious crimes.
The other side: Beninati and Reichle pressed harder on oversight.
"The transparency portal is not enough," said Beninati. She called for robust audits and clarity on who can access the data and how long it is kept.
"There is no compromise on privacy," said Reichle. He raised concern about a for-profit company holding the data.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Every candidate saw value in ALPRs. The disagreement is over oversight. Privacy-minded residents and drivers passing through Piedmont would gain from stronger audits. The police department would face added reporting requirements.
Wildfire: Carrots Before Sticks
Why it matters: All of Piedmont is designated a wildland urban interface area, meaning homes border fire-prone vegetation. Any new mitigation steps would affect every property owner.
Where things stand: Ramsey said the city kept its building code requirements after the state reduced the fire zone. He suggested tying inspections to building permits.
"This town is much better at giving carrots than sticks," said Ramsey.
Reichle called wildfire a communications challenge and described a neighborhood evacuation drill on Scenic Avenue. Hunt urged maintaining codes, equipment and evacuation planning, plus wildfire compliance in the Moraga Canyon housing development. Beninati recalled the Oakland Hills Fire and supported vegetation clearing.
"Have the expert professionals from the fire department walk down the street," said Bostrom-Fleming.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Most candidates favored outreach and permit-stage conditions over penalties. Homeowners pulling building permits would feel the most direct effects of any change.
Minor Items
- Housing mandates: Hunt said, "I want to follow the state mandate regarding new housing development," citing diversity, tax base and housing for local workers. Ramsey called the housing element an opportunity for inclusion.
- Inclusion: Candidates credited recreation programs like Play Like a Girl and events like the Harvest Festival. Hunt acknowledged past hate speech and discrimination, and Reichle sought measurable goals.
- Dissent and service: Candidates described past solo stands on votes and their volunteer records, from schools to service crews.
Looking Ahead
The voter registration deadline is Oct. 19, 2026. Three Council seats are on the November ballot, and new terms begin Jan. 1, 2027.