MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
June 5, 2023
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 June 5, 2023
Mayor Flaherty called a Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 PM, in the Council Chambers, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA, 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 June 1, 2023, by Deputy City Clerk Juanita Davalos.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Timothy M. Flaherty Mayor Present
Matthew Rinn Vice Mayor Present
Sue Noack Councilmember Present
Allen Vinson Councilmember Present
Zac Shess Councilmember Present
4. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Mayor Flaherty stated that the City Council had adjourned from a closed session and there was nothing to report.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Resolution Recognizing Michael G. Harris for Years of Dedicated Public Service Presented by Senator Bill Dodd
Mayor Flaherty introduced California State Senator Bill Dodd.
Senator Dodd presented a resolution to Michael G. Harris for years of dedicated service to the City of Pleasant Hill.
10.6 Proclamation Commending June Catalano for Exemplary Service to the City of Pleasant Hill from 2006 to 2023, and Designating June 16, 2023 as June Catalano Day –Item Taken Out of Order
Mayor Flaherty presented a proclamation to June Catalano recognizing her years of service as the City Manager from 2006 to 2023, and designated June 16, 2023 as June Catalano Day.
Senator Dodd, Contra Costa County Supervisor Ken Carlson, and Councilmember Noack expressed their appreciation to Ms. Catalano for her service to the City.
5.2 Introduction of Commission on Aging Commissioner Bill Musick and Measure K Oversight Committee Member Cindy Tunales
Mayor Flaherty introduced Bill Musick, the new Commission on Aging Commissioner, and Cindy Tunales, the new Measure K Oversight Committee member.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 June 5, 2023
5.3 Proclamation Declaring June 19, 2023 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day Mayor Flaherty presented a proclamation to Carson Sprott, Chair for the Diversity Commission, declaring June 19, 2023 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day.
5.4 Proclamation Designating June 2023 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Plus (LGBTQ+) Pride Month
Mayor Flaherty presented a proclamation to Carson Sprott, Chair for the Diversity Commission, designating June 2023 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Plus (LGBTQ+) Pride Month.
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
June Catalano, City Manager, reported that:
The Summer Concert by the Lake held on May 28, 2023 had over 300 attendees, and the next Summer Concert will be held on June 11, 2023; The Juneteenth celebration will be held on June 18, 2023; and The Art, Wine, and Music Festival held on May 20-21, 2023 was well attended and over 2,000 people stopped by the City sponsored booth.
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 Oakley on June 1, 2023
Vice Mayor Rinn and Councilmember Noack reported their attendance at the Contra Costa Mayors Conference. Vice Mayor Rinn provided a brief report on the discussion topics. (B) Other Meetings Attended at City Expense
None
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Vice Mayor Rinn reported his attendance at the Art, Wine, and Music Festival and the Memorial Day Observance held at the Contra Costa County Veterans Monument.
Councilmember Shess reported his attendance at the first Summer Concert by the Lake; the Memorial Day Observance; and at a reception hosted by Senator Bill Dodd for elected officials.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 June 5, 2023
Councilmember Noack reported her attendance at the Memorial Day Observance and at Senator Dodd’s reception for elected officials. Councilmember Noack announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission worked with jurisdictions to obligate federal grant funds so that they would not lose them due to federal debt ceiling considerations.
Councilmember Vinson reported his attendance at the Summer Concert by the Lake and the Memorial Day Observance. Councilmember Vinson reported that he visited the newly opened Morgan Territory Brewery located in Downtown Pleasant Hill.
Mayor Flaherty reported his attendance at the Memorial Day Observance; Senator Dodd’s reception for elected officials; and the Aloha Family Luau sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Flaherty opened public comment.
The following member of the public appeared in person to provide a comment:
Bob Kattenburg
Benu Chhabra
Maria Catania
Rabab Saib
Khulood Jamil
The following member of the public participated via teleconference to make a comment:
Andrei Obolenskiy
Mayor Flaherty closed public comment.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion (Noack/Rinn) to Approve all consent items, carried as follows:
AYES: Noack, Rinn, Shess, Vinson, Flaherty
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 June 5, 2023
9.1 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of May 15, 2023 and for the Special City Council Meetings of May 18, 2023 and May 22, 2023
9.2 Approve Checks Dated: May 12, 2023; May 19, 2023; May 26, 2023
9.3 Adopt Resolution No. 39-23 Approving the City of Pleasant Hill Investment Policy Effective July 1, 2023 and Delegating Investment Authority to the Elected City Treasurer
9.4 Adopt Resolution No. 40-23 to Identify the Contra Costa Boulevard (Harriet Drive to Viking Drive) Improvement Project for the Expenditure of Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Funds of Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017
9.5 Adopt Resolution No. 41-23 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Second Amendment to a Design Professional Services Agreement with Alta Planning + Design, Inc., for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Project No. 03-20
9.6 Adopt Resolution No. 42-23 Authorizing Participation in and Approving the Amended and Restated Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement of the Fire Risk Management Services Joint Powers Authority
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Public Hearing and Adopt Resolution No. 43-23 Approving the Engineer's Report, Confirming Diagram and Assessment, and Ordering Levy of Assessments for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 in Assessment District No. 20
10.2 Public Hearing and Adopt Resolution No. 44-23 Approving the Engineer's Report, Confirming Diagram and Assessments, and Ordering Levy of Assessments for FY2023- 2024 in Assessment District No. 22
Ann James, Public Works Manager, introduced items 10.1 and 10.2.
Rick Clark, Harris & Associates, delivered the presentation for items 10.1 and 10.2. Mr. Clark summarized the Engineer’s Reports and the financial information for Assessment District Nos. 20 and 22.
No one from the public spoke on the items.
Motion (Noack/Vinson) to Approve item 10.1, carried as follows:
AYES: Noack, Rinn, Shess, Vinson, Flaherty
Motion (Noack/Vinson) to Approve item 10.2, carried as follows:
AYES: Noack, Rinn, Shess, Vinson, Flaherty
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 June 5, 2023
10.3 Adopt Resolution 45-23 Accepting the Diablo View Road and Pleasant Hill Road Storm Drain Improvements Project No. 22-05 as Complete and Authorizing the City Engineer to issue and record a Notice of Completion
Ananthan Kanagasundaram, City Engineer, introduced Omar Adina, Assistant Engineer.
Mr. Adina delivered a presentation summarizing the background, project scope, and fiscal impact the Diablo View Road and Pleasant Hill Road Storm Drain Improvements Project No. 22-05.
No one from the public spoke on the item.
Motion (Rinn/Shess) to Approve item 10.3, carried as follows:
AYES: Noack, Rinn, Shess, Vinson, Flaherty
10.4 Adopt Resolution No. 46-23 Accepting Bid and Awarding a Construction Contract to Sandstone Environmental Engineering, Inc. for Phase I of the Downtown Street Tree Replacement Project No. 03-23 and the Grayson Creek Restoration and Mitigation Project
Ananthan Kanagasundaram, City Engineer, introduced the item and delivered a presentation describing the necessary streetscape improvements along Crescent Drive, and creek restoration and mitigation along Grayson Creek. Mr. Kanagasundaram explained the bidding process to retain Sandstone Environmental Engineering, Inc. for the Crescent Drive improvements and Grayson Creek restoration.
No one from the public spoke on the item.
Motion (Noack/Rinn) to Approve item 10.4, carried as follows:
AYES: Noack, Rinn, Shess, Vinson, Flaherty
Mayor Flaherty called for a recess at 8:41 p.m.
Mayor Flaherty reconvened the meeting at 8:53 p.m.
10.5 Public Hearing to Consider Draft Maps and Composition of Districts for By-District Elections
Janet Coleson, City Attorney, introduced the item, a public hearing to receive input from the community concerning transitioning to by-district elections. Ms. Coleson said that all required meetings have been held, and explained the steps regarding introduction and adoption of an ordinance. Ms. Coleson summarized the discussion from the last public meeting and the demographer’s response to Map 5. Councilmembers Noack and Shess (appointed as a subcommittee to review and consider options to modify Map 5) provided comments. There was discussion regarding potentially providing the option in the ordinance to allow for a measure to City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 June 5, 2023
be included in the next election that would allow Pleasant Hill voters to approve their preferred by-district map.
The following member of the public provided a written comment:
Tim Matthiessen
The following members of the public appeared in person provide a comment:
Susan Hedgpeth
Quy Tran
Sandra Bonato
Theresa Nidetz
Bob Kattenburg
The following members of the public participated via teleconference to make a comment:
Andrei Obolenskiy
Michelle Simone
Yehudit Lieberman
Jim Priest, Best Best & Krieger, was present via teleconference to answer questions asked by Councilmembers.
Mayor Flaherty closed the public hearing.
The City Council directed staff to draft an ordinance adopting Map 5 with the option of a four district map with a directly elected Mayor if passed by the voters.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Flaherty adjourned the meeting at 10:13 p.m. The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, June 26, 2023, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
CAROL W. WU, CITY CLERK RECORDER