MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
February 24, 2025
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 February 24, 2025
Mayor Noack 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 agenda was posted on the City Hall outdoor bulletin board at 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA on February 20, 2025, by City Clerk Lyone Conner.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Sue Noack Mayor Present
Zac Shess Vice Mayor Present
Belle La District 1 Councilmember Present
Andrei Obolenskiy District 2 Councilmember Present
Amanda Szakats District 5 Councilmember Present
4. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Mayor Noack reported that there was a closed session, and there was nothing to report.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Introduction of Education Commissioner Kayla Dessalgne Vice Mayor Shess introduced Kayla Dessalgne who was appointed to the Education Commission.
Commissioner Dessalgne thanked the Council and shared comments regarding her appointment.
5.2 Visit Pleasant Hill Annual Report Update
Trish Snowden, President of Visit Pleasant Hill (VPH), provided an update on changes implemented by VPH, following the October 2024 audit report and responded to questions from Council.
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager, reported that:
• The City will host an inaugural Earth Day Celebration on April 24, 2025 at City Hall. • The City is seeking applicants for current Commission vacancies. • The Commission on Aging held a workshop on proactive planning for aging on February 20, 2025.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 February 24, 2025
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
7.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
Mayor Noack reported four Councilmembers’ attendance at the Contra Costa Mayors Conference, hosted by the Town of Moraga on February 13, 2025.
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Councilmember Szakats reported her attendance at the MCE Board Meeting.
Vice Mayor Shess reported his attendance at the Lunar New Year celebration at the Pleasant Hill Library, the Lunar New Year Festival at Diablo Valley College, two School Site Safety meetings, the East Bay Economic Development Association meeting, and the Economic Development Committee meeting.
Councilmember Obolenskiy reported his attendance at the Economic Development Committee meeting, and he recognized the International Women’s Day observance.
Councilmember La reported her attendance at the Lunar New Year celebration at the Pleasant Hill Library and the Lunar New Year Festival at Diablo Valley College. She also attended a briefing on the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan.
Mayor Noack reported her attendance at School Site Safety meetings for Pleasant Hill Middle School and Gregory Gardens. She also had a speaking engagement at the International Jewish Film Festival at the Century Downtown Pleasant Hill movie theater.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
The following members of the public shared comments:
• Ryan-Thomas Brown for Congressman Mark Desaulnier
• David Calder
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion (Shess/La) to Approve consent items 9.1 through 9.4, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La , Obolenskiy, Shess, Szakats, Noack
9.1 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of February 3, 2025
9.2 Approve Checks Dated: February 07,2025; February 14, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 February 24, 2025
9.3 Approve Appointment Recommendations to the Civic Action Commission, Commission on Aging, and County Connection Advisory Committee
9.4 Adopt Resolution No. 8 -25 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Amendment to a Professional Services Agreement with Mintier Harnish for Planning and Environmental Consulting Services for the Update of City of Pleasant Hill General Plan, Housing Element, Zoning Ordinance Update
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Accept the Audited Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Measure K Fund Report, and the Management Letter for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 Erick Cheung, Chief Finance Officer, introduced item 10.1, provided a presentation regarding the audit, and responded to comments from Council.
Auditors Jon Waller and David Bullock of MGO were also available online to answer questions.
No members of the public spoke on the items.
Motion (Obolenskiy/Szakats) to Approve item 10.1, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Szakats, Noack
10.2 Adopt Resolution No. 9 - 25 Approving an Additional Contribution to the Public Agencies Post-Employment Benefits Trust Program with Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) Section 115 Trust
Erick Cheung, Chief Finance Officer, introduced item 10.2 and provided a presentation on the projections of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust program.
No members of the public spoke on the item
Motion (La/Obolenskiy) to Approve item 10.2, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Szakats, Noack
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Noack adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m. to a Special Joint meeting of the City Council and the Recreation & Park Board of Directors on February 25, 2025 at 7:30 a.m.
The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, March 3, 2025, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 February 24, 2025
LYONE P. CONNER, CITY CLERK