MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
March 7, 2022
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 March 7, 2022
Mayor Harris called a Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 PM via teleconference, complete proceedings of which were electronically recorded. The meeting agenda was posted on the City Hall outdoor bulletin board at 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA on March 4, 2022, by Deputy City Clerk Juanita Davalos.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Michael G. Harris Mayor Present
Timothy M. Flaherty Vice Mayor Absent
Ken Carlson Councilmember Present
Sue Noack Councilmember Present
Matthew Rinn Councilmember Present
3. PRESENTATIONS
3.1 Proclamation Designating March as Women's History Month Mayor Harris read and presented the proclamation to Barbara Thor, Chair of the Civic Action Commission. Commission Thor expressed her appreciation to the City Council and the City on behalf of the Commission. She made brief remarks about Women’s History Month.
3.2 Proclamation Designating March as American Red Cross Month Mayor Harris read the proclamation designating the month of March as American Red Cross Month.
3.3 Proclamations Recognizing Martha Barajas as Police Professional Staff Member of the Year and Nick Filippini as Police Officer of the Year 2021 Pleasant Hill Police Chief, Bryan Hill, expressed his appreciation for the employees of the Pleasant Hill Police Department. Chief Hill commented on the qualifications of Martha Barajas and Officer Nick Filippini. He also remarked on Ms. Barajas’ role and contributions to the Police Department.
Mayor Harris presented the proclamation recognizing Ms. Barajas as the Police Department’s Professional Staff Member of the Year. Ms. Barajas thanked the City Council and Chief Hill for the recognition and made brief remarks.
Chief Hill introduced Officer Filippini and summarized his accomplishments and contributions to the community. Mayor Harris presented the proclamation recognizing Officer Filippini as Police Officer of the Year. Officer Filippini thanked the City Council and the Pleasant Hill Police Department for the opportunity to serve the community.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 March 7, 2022
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
June Catalano, City Manager, reported that:
• Off the Grid will be returning to Pleasant Hill in April; • the City Council Goals Workshop will be held virtually on Monday, March 28, 2022, at 6:30 p.m.; and
• the Planning Commission will hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. to consider the preferred land use alternative for the General Plan, including the housing opportunity sites.
Ms. Catalano expressed her appreciation to Martha Barajas and Officer Filippini.
5. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
5.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
(A) Contra Costa Mayors Conference Hosted via Teleconference on March 3, 2022 Mayor Harris reported his attendance at the Contra Costa Mayors Conference. (B) Other Meetings Attended at City Expense
Councilmember Carlson noted the meeting was not at the City’s expense, but he attended at the League of California Cities Board of Directors meeting held February 24-25, 2022 in Walnut Creek, California.
5.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Mayor Harris and Councilmembers Carlson and Rinn reported their participation at the Pleasant Hill Baseball Association opening day parade.
Mayor Harris reported his participation at the Coffee with the Cops event; a number of school safety meetings, a ribbon cutting ceremony; and the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee meeting.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Harris opened public comment.
Chris Pugliese, Pleasant Hill, encouraged the City Council to return to in-person meetings. Mr.
Pugliese also expressed concerns about Public Works maintenance efforts.
Mayor Harris noted that many of the areas are private property not maintained by the City, and that he will have staff from Public Works and Code Enforcement contact Mr. Pugliese.
Mayor Harris closed public comment.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 March 7, 2022
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion (Noack/Rinn) to Approve all consent items, carried as follows:
AYES: Carlson, Noack, Rinn, Harris
ABSENT: Flaherty
7.1 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of February 7, 2022
7.2 Approve Checks Dated: February 4, 2022; February 11, 2022; February 18, 2022; February 25, 2022
7.3 Accept Update on Contra Costa Transportation Authority and TRANSPAC
7.4 Affirm Resolution No. 63-21 Approving Continued Teleconferencing of the Meetings of All City Legislative Bodies Pursuant to the Provisions of AB 361
7.5 Adopt Resolution No. 14-22 Approving a First Amendment to the Agreement with Stay Pleasant Hill to Serve as the Owners' Association for the Pleasant Hill Tourism Improvement District and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Amendment
7.6 Public Hearing and Introduce Ordinance No. ___ Amending Section 3.35.070 of the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code Regarding the Traffic Safety Commission
8. PUBLIC WORKS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
8.1 Presentation by Bird, a Nationally Recognized Micro-Mobility Company, on the Potential for an Electric Scooter Pilot Program in Pleasant Hill.
Ethan Bindernagel, Community Development Director/Assistant City Manager, introduced Mike Butler from Bird. Mr. Butler delivered a slide show presentation on Bird which explained the use of shared electric scooters and the potential benefits to the community. Mr. Butler described the local infrastructure and pricing specific to Pleasant Hill.
Mayor Harris expressed his concerns about safety and potential clutter, to which Mr. Butler responded.
Councilmember Noack suggested that the public could use the scooters to ride from Downtown Pleasant Hill to the new library using the local trail system. Councilmember Noack and Mr.
Butler discussed helmet usage incentives.
Councilmembers and Mr. Butler discussed scooter storage and nesting areas in the community; potential elimination of traffic issues; and marketing usage to tourists and Diablo Valley College students.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 March 7, 2022
Mayor Harris asked Mr. Bindernagel about next steps. Mr. Bindernagel said that staff would conduct due diligence and then work with Bird on the terms of an agreement which would be brought back to the City Council for consideration.
8.2 Public Hearing and Adopt Resolution No. 15-22 Authorizing Transmittal of the Annual General Plan and Housing Element Implementation Report to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and the State Department of Housing and Community Development
Troy Fujimoto, City Planner, summarized the City’s annual status report on the General Plan and the Housing Element Implementation report. Mr. Fujimoto cited the accomplishments of the Planning Division, Engineering Division, and the Economic Development Department.
Mayor Harris thanked Mr. Fujimoto and the parties involved in the General Plan Update.
Councilmember Noack made a clarification regarding the housing allocation numbers and asked about how certain allocations are counted. Mr. Fujimoto answered Councilmember Noack’s question.
Mayor Harris opened public comment.
There was no public comment.
Mayor Harris closed public comment.
Motion (Carlson/Noack) to Approve item 8.2, carried as follows:
AYES: Carlson, Noack, Rinn, Harris
ABSENT: Flaherty
8.3 Adopt Resolution No. 16-22 Accepting the Pleasant Hill Road Sidewalk Installation Project (Pleasant View Drive to Cumberland Drive), Project No. 02- 21, as Complete and Authorizing the City Engineer to Issue and Record a Notice of Completion
Ananthan Kanagasundaram, Acting City Engineer, delivered a presentation on the Pleasant Hill Road Sidewalk Installation Project from Pleasant View Drive to Cumberland Drive. Mr.
Kanagasundaram described the construction highlights, project successes, and financial impact.
Mayor Harris thanked Mr. Kanagasundaram and staff for their work on a successful project.
Mayor Harris opened public comment.
There was no public comment.
Mayor Harris closed public comment.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 March 7, 2022
Motion (Carlson/Rinn) to Approve item 8.3, carried as follows:
AYES: Carlson, Noack, Rinn, Harris
ABSENT: Flaherty
9. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Harris adjourned the meeting in solidarity with the country of Ukraine at 8:30 P.M. The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, March 21, 2022, beginning at 7:00 PM. ________
CAROL W. WU, CITY CLERK RECORDER