MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
June 26, 2023
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 June26, 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 23, 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
Janet Coleson, City Attorney, stated that the City Council gave direction to staff at the closed session held on June 22, 2023.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Acknowledgement of Noah Collins-Hoyt as Honorary Mayor for a Day Mayor Flaherty introduced Noah Collins-Hoyt as the Honorary Mayor for a Day. Honorary Mayor Collins-Hoyt assisted Mayor Flaherty at the City Council Meeting.
5.2 Introduction of Civic Action Commissioners David Chung, Hunter Roberts and Reappointed Commissioner Anthony Garcia
Mayor Flaherty introduced David Chung and Hunter Roberts, the new Civic Action Commissioners. Mayor Flaherty introduced Anthony Garcia, the reappointed Civic Action Commissioner.
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Ethan Bindernagel, Acting City Manager, reported that:
The Juneteenth celebration sponsored by the Diversity Commission had approximately 250 attendees;
The Civic Action Commission is seeking new projects for Community Service Day;
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The Pleasant Hill Library will be celebrating its first anniversary on Saturday, July 29, 2023;
National Night Out will be held on August 1, 2023; and Light Up the Night will be held on December 2, 2023.
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
7.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
None
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Councilmember Noack reported her attendance at the Juneteenth celebration; Summer Concert by the Lake; and the East Bay Leadership Council reception honoring her appointment to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).
Councilmember Vinson reported his attendance at the Juneteenth celebration and the Summer Concert by the Lake.
Councilmember Shess reported his attendance at the Juneteenth celebration; Summer Concert by the Lake; and the East Bay Leadership Council reception honoring Councilmember Noack.
Vice Mayor Rinn reported his attendance at the Juneteenth celebration. Vice Mayor Rinn congratulated Councilmember Noack on her appointment to the MTC.
Mayor Flaherty reported his attendance at the Juneteenth celebration; Summer Concert by the Lake; and the East Bay Leadership Council reception honoring Councilmember Noack.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Flaherty opened public comment.
The following member of the public appeared in person to provide a comment:
Matt Kennedy
Patrick Remer (regarding Consent Calendar item 9.7)
Mayor Flaherty closed public comment.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion (Noack/Shess) to Approve all consent items, except for item 9.6, which was pulled for further discussion, carried as follows:
AYES: Noack, Rinn, Shess, Vinson, Flaherty
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9.1 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of June 5, 2023
9.2 Approve Checks Dated: June 2, 2023; June 9, 2023 and June 16, 2023
9.3 Approve Appointment Recommendations to the Education Commission, Planning Commission and Contra Costa Transportation Authority Advisory Committee
9.4 Adopt Resolution No. 47-23 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a ThreeYear Agreement for Independent Auditing Services with Macias, Gini & O'Connell, LLP
9.5 Adopt Resolution No. 48-23 Establishing the Proposition 4 Appropriations Limit Pursuant to Article XIIIB of the California Constitution for the Fiscal Year 2023/2024
9.7 Adopt Resolution No. 50-23 Authorizing the City Manager to Increase the Budgeted Amount of Additional Monday Hours at the City Library from $215,000 per Year to $220,153 using the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) Funds and Execute Sublease Supplement No. 2 for FY 2023/2024
9.6 Adopt Resolution No.49-23 Rejecting All Bids for the Contra Costa Boulevard Improvement Project (Viking Drive to Harriet Drive), Project No. 02-23; and Directing Staff to Modify the Bid Documents and Re-Bid the Project Item Pulled from Consent
Councilmember Noack requested an update on item 9.6.
Ananthan Kanagasundaram, City Engineer, delivered a staff report on the bid process for the Contra Costa Boulevard Improvement Project (Viking Drive to Harriet Drive), Project No. 02-
23. Motion (Noack/Vinson) to Approve item 9.6, carried as follows:
AYES: Noack, Rinn, Shess, Vinson, Flaherty
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Adopt Resolution No. 51-23 Appointing Ethan Bindernagel as City Manager, Approving an Employment Agreement for City Manager Services with Ethan Bindernagel, and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute the Employment Agreement for City Manager Services
Ericka Mitchell, Human Resources & Risk Manager, delivered a presentation on the executive search and hiring process for a new City Manager. Ms. Mitchell summarized the Employment Agreement and Mr. Bindernagel’s professional experience.
No one from the public spoke on the item.
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Motion (Noack/Vinson) to Approve item 10.1, carried as follows:
AYES: Noack, Rinn, Shess, Vinson, Flaherty
10.2 Adopt Resolution No. 52-23 Approving Adjustments to the General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2023/2024
Erick Cheung, Finance Manager, delivered the presentation for item 10.2. Mr. Cheung summarized the proposed revisions to the fiscal year 2023/2024 General Fund budget.
No one from the public spoke on the item.
Motion (Noack/Rinn) to Approve item 10.2, carried as follows:
AYES: Noack, Rinn, Shess, Vinson, Flaherty
10.3 Adopt Resolution No. 53-23 Approving the Changes to the Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Master Fee Schedule
Ross Yangwas, Accountant, delivered the presentation for item 10.3. Mr. Yangwas summarized the proposed changes to the fiscal year 2023/2024 Master Fee Schedule to become effective on September 1, 2023.
No one from the public spoke on the item.
Motion (Flaherty/Noack) to Approve item 10.3, carried as follows:
AYES: Noack, Rinn, Shess, Vinson, Flaherty
10.4 Public Hearing and Introduce Ordinance No. ___ Adopting District-based Elections for Members of the City Council, Pursuant to the California Voting Rights Act 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 regarding Map 5 and explained the timeframe for potential election options that would allow Pleasant Hill voters to approve their preferred by-district map.
The following member of the public provided a written comment:
Daniel Safran
Concepcion James, Chair – United Latino Voices of Contra Costa Lindsey Dohlman
Melanie Sakoda
Terry Dunn
Daniel Rodriguez
Robert Kattenburg
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Peggy Magilen
The following members of the public appeared in person to provide a comment:
Yehudit Lieberman
Bob Kattenburg
Susan Hedpeth
Marian Shostrom
Kenji Yamada
Amanda Szakats
Karen Yapp
Matt Kennedy
Ady Olvera
Valerie Sloven
Amy Brownell
Richard Offerman
Jack Prosek (spoke after the teleconferenced participants) The following members of the public participated via teleconference to make a comment:
Kathy Gallagher
Marshall Lewis
Zhanna Thompson
Eric Tubbs
Sietse Gofford
Jim Priest, Best Best & Krieger, was present via teleconference to answer questions asked by Councilmembers.
Mayor Flaherty closed the public hearing.
Mayor Flaherty called for a recess at 9:00 p.m.
Mayor Flaherty reconvened the meeting at 9:11 p.m.
The City Council directed staff to draft an ordinance adopting Map 5 and to delete the option of a four district map with a directly elected Mayor if passed by the voters. The City Council also called for a Special City Council meeting to be held on July 10, 2023.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Flaherty adjourned the meeting at 9:34 p.m. The next Special City Council meeting will be held on Monday, July 10, 2023, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
CAROL W. WU, CITY CLERK RECORDER