MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
December 5, 2022
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 December 5, 2022
Mayor Harris called a Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 PM, complete proceedings of which were electronically recorded. The meeting was a hybrid of both in person and teleconferenced attendees. The meeting agenda was posted on the City Hall outdoor bulletin board at 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA on December 1, 2022, by Deputy City Clerk Juanita Davalos.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. CLOSED SESSION REPORT (IF ANY)
Mayor Harris reported that there was no closed session report.
4. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Michael G. Harris Mayor Present – via teleconference
Timothy M. Flaherty Vice Mayor Absent
Ken Carlson Councilmember Present
Sue Noack Councilmember Present
Matthew Rinn Councilmember Present
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Acknowledgement of Vivian Veurink as Honorary Mayor for a Day Mayor Harris announced that Vivian Veurink’s appearance as Honorary Mayor for a Day has been postponed.
5.2 Annual Report on the Activities of the Commission on Aging by Chair Michael MacDonald
Michael MacDonald, Commission on Aging Chair, delivered a presentation on the Commission on Aging’s activities during the past year.
5.3 Annual Report on the Activities of the Diversity Commission by Chair Eslam Najjar
Eslam Najjar, Diversity Commission Chair, delivered a presentation on the Diversity Commission’s activities during the past year.
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
June Catalano, City Manager, reported that:
The City was prepared for the recent rainstorms and clean up has been completed; and City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 December 5, 2022
The Civic Action Commission is accepting applications for performers for the 2023 Sunset by the Lake Concert Series.
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
7.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
(A) Contra Costa Mayors Conference Hosted by the City of Richmond on December 1, 2022
Mayor Harris and Councilmembers Carlson, Noack, and Rinn, reported their attendance at the Contra Costa Mayors Conference.
(B) Other Meetings Attended at City Expense
None
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Councilmember Rinn reported his attendance at the Ace Hardware Pleasant Hill grand opening; the Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District reorganization meeting; and the retirement party for Contra Costa County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff.
Councilmember Noack reported her attendance at the retirement party for Orinda Councilmember Amy Worth, and at the same activities as reported by Councilmember Rinn.
Councilmember Carlson reported his attendance at the retirement party for Orinda Councilmember Amy Worth; the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce community impact meeting; and at the same activities as reported by Councilmember Rinn.
Mayor Harris reported his attendance at the Ace Hardware Pleasant Hill grand opening and at a Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano event in recognition of Pleasant Hill’s food donations.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Harris opened public comment.
Sequoia Middle School students, Sanui Panda, Marlowe Hoang, and Vasilava Stefania Gavrila, spoke about banning Styrofoam in Pleasant Hill.
Mayor Harris closed public comment.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 December 5, 2022
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion (Noack/Rinn) to Approve all consent items, carried as follows:
AYES: Carlson, Noack, Rinn, Harris
ABSENT: Flaherty
9.1 Approve Checks Dated: November 18, 2022; November 30, 2022
9.2 Accept Update on Contra Costa Transportation Authority and Transpac
9.3 Reaffirm Resolution No. 33-22 Approving Continued Teleconferenced, Hybrid or In-Person Meetings of All City Legislative Bodies Pursuant to the Provisions of AB 361
9.4 Adopt Resolution No. 102-22 Authorizing the Appropriation of $150,000 from Fund 20 Capital Project/Building Fund for the Construction of the City Facilities Technology Upgrades Project
9.5 Adopt Resolution No. 103-22 Authorizing the Appropriation of $70,000 from Fund 20 Capital Project/Building Fund for the Construction of the Public Services Center Underground Storage Tanks Annular Sensors Upgrades Project
9.6 Adopt Resolution No. 104-22 Amending the Budget for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Program to Incorporate New Local Roadway Safety Plan Grant Funding
11. OTHER
[Item 11.1 taken out of order]
11.1 Discuss the Method to Fill a Vacant City Councilmember Position Danielle Navarro, Principal Management Analyst/City Clerk, delivered a presentation regarding the options of selecting a successor to fill an upcoming City Councilmember vacancy resulting from the resignation of an elected City Councilmember.
The following members of the public spoke in person on item 11.1:
Andrei Obolenskiy
Ady Olvera
Ken Housfeld
Rebecca Auerbach
Zhanna Thompson
The following members of the public spoke via Zoom on item 11.1:
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 December 5, 2022
Yehudit Lieberman
Ogie Strogatz
Vince Wells
Shirley Shelangoski
Mayor Harris reported that the City Council received over “two dozen” written comments from the public.
Councilmembers concurred on the appointment option versus holding a special election.
Councilmember Noack recommended discussing the appointment process during the first City Council meeting held in January 2023. Councilmember Carlson recommended giving direction to staff to prepare an application form for the City Council to review in January.
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Update on the City's $500,000 Small Business Economic Stimulus Initiative Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act
Zach Seal, Economic Development Manager, provided an update on the funds received by the City from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
Andrei Oblenskiy, Pleasant Hill, commented on the item.
Mayor Harris called for a recess at 8:50 p.m.
Mayor Harris reconvened the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
10.2 Public Hearing and Introduce and Adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 960 Amending Section 18.20.095 of the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code Related to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units and Determining the Ordinance to be Exempt from CEQA
Troy Fujimoto, City Planner, introduced item 10.2.
Haley Croffoot, Senior Planner, delivered a presentation explaining the need to amend Section
18.20.095 of the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code in order to comply with the provisions of Government Code sections 65852.2 and 65852.22 which take effect on January 1, 2023.
No one from the public spoke on the item.
Motion (Harris/Carlson) to Approve item 10.2, carried as follows:
AYES: Carlson, Noack, Rinn, Harris
ABSENT: Flaherty
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 December 5, 2022
10.3 Introduce Ordinance No. ___ Repealing Section 18.50.170, “Electric Vehicle Charging Stations,” of Title 18 of the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code and Adding a New Chapter 14.75, “Electric Vehicle Charging Systems; Streamlined Permitting”
Geoff Simmons, Chief Building Official, delivered a presentation on a process to expedite permit processing for applicants looking to install electric vehicle charging stations.
No one from the public spoke on the item.
Motion (Noack/Rinn) to Approve item 10.3, carried as follows:
AYES: Carlson, Noack, Rinn, Harris
ABSENT: Flaherty
10.4 Adopt Resolution No. 105-22 Accepting Bid and Award a Construction Contract for the Diablo Vista Water System, 12” Main Rehabilitation Phase II Project No.
PSC-02-22 and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Construction Contract with Paulson Cox Construction, Inc.
Ann James, Maintenance Superintendent, delivered a presentation on the Diablo Vista Water System 12” Main Rehabilitation Phase II Project No. PSC-02-22 and the lowest responsive, responsible bid received for the project.
No one from the public spoke on the item.
Motion (Noack/Rinn) to Approve item 10.4, carried as follows:
AYES: Carlson, Noack, Rinn, Harris
ABSENT: Flaherty
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Harris introduced Zac Shess, City Councilmember-elect.
Mayor Harris adjourned the meeting at 9:33 p.m. The next special meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
________
CAROL W. WU, CITY CLERK RECORDER