MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
March 3, 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 28, 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 no closed session and nothing to report.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Proclamation Designating March 31, 2025 as Cesar Chavez Day Mayor Noack read a proclamation designating March 31, 2025 as Cesar Chavez Day.
5.2 Proclamation Designating the Month of March as Red Cross Awareness Month Mayor Noack read a proclamation designating the month of March 2025 as Red Cross Awareness Month.
Matt Smith, a Volunteer with the American Red Cross accepted the proclamation and shared comments about the work of the Red Cross.
5.3 Introduction of Civic Action Commissioner Scott Roberts and Reappointed Civic Action Commissioners Barb Thor and Faye Donaghu
Vice Mayor Shess introduced the Commissioners and shared information regarding their backgrounds.
Commissioners Roberts, Thor, and Donaghu each provided remarks about their appointment or reappointment.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 March 3, 2025
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager, reported that:
• The Pleasant Hill Police Department will begin conducting traffic and parking enforcement in and around schools during the mornings and afternoons. • The Central Sanitary District is proceeding with the second of three sewer pipe renovation projects in Gregory Gardens.
• Residents are encouraged to examine the Fire Hazard Severity Local Responsibility Maps (“Fire Maps”) on the City’s website.
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
7.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
Mayor Noack, along with Councilmembers La, Obolenskiy, and Szakats reported their attendance at the League of California Cities meeting.
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Councilmember La reported her attendance at Pleasant Hill Baseball Association (PHBA) Opening Day.
Councilmember Obolenskiy shared his regrets for missing the PHBA Opening Day. He reported his observance of the Slavic holiday Maslenitsa, and announced the symbolism of his pendant, as a means of being in solidarity with the immigrant community.
Vice Mayor Shess reported his and all of Council’s attendance at the State of the City (Joint City Council Meeting with the Recreation and Park District), at the East Bay Leadership Open House, and the 50th annual Choice in Aging Crab Feed.
Councilmember Szakats reported her attendance at the Choice in Aging Crab Feed, the State of the City, and the PHBA Opening Day.
Mayor Noack reported her speaking engagement at the State of the City hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. She also reported her attendance at the Choice in Aging Crab Feed, and the PHBA Opening Day Parade, a Safety meeting at Sequoia Middle School, and a Sequoia Middle School Gala, which auctioned off the Mayor for a Day program.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
The following members of the public offered comments:
• Cara DeJong
• Mindy Armando
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 March 3, 2025
• Josh Kelley
• Cat Hodgson
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion (Obolenskiy/Shess) to Approve consent items 9.1 through 9.3, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La , Obolenskiy, Shess, Szakats, Noack
9.1 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of February 24, 2025
9.2 Approve Checks Dated February 21, 2025
9.3 Accept Update on Contra Costa Transportation Authority and TRANSPAC
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Adopt Resolution No. -25 Denying the Appeal and Upholding the Planning Commission’s Decision to Approve a Reasonable Accommodation Request for an Attached Carport Structure for a Person with Disabilities at 135 Byron Court, ENT- 2023- 0058
Haley Croffoot, Senior Planner, introduced item 10.1, provided a presentation regarding the appeal, and responded to questions from Council.
City Planner Troy Fujimoto, as well as the residents of the property under review, were available to answer questions.
No members of the public spoke on the item.
Motion (Shess/Obolenskiy) to Continue item 10.1 following additional input from the City’s Engineering Division, carried as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Noack
NOES: Szakats
10.2 Discussion on Potential Commercial Cannabis Ordinance Modifications Troy Fujimoto, City Planner, introduced item 10.2 and provided a presentation on the current Cannabis Ordinance.
One member of the public spoke on the item: Matt Light
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 March 3, 2025
This item was for discussion only, and no motion was required.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Noack adjourned the meeting at 8:59 p.m. The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, March 17, 2025, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
LYONE P. CONNER, CITY CLERK