MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
September 8, 2025
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 September 8, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER
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 September 5, 2025, by City Clerk Lyone Conner.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Noack invited the Council and Public to join her in reciting the 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 were no closed sessions to report.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Proclamation Designating the Month of September National Suicide Awareness Month
Mayor Noack presented the proclamation to Sandra Blanco, on behalf of the Diversity Commission.
Commissioner Blanco thanked the Council and shared remarks honoring those who are impacted by the observance.
5.2 Education Commission Annual Report
Zach Seal, Staff Liaison for the Education Commission, introduced Education Commissioners Aaron Edell and Lindsey Dohlman, who shared information about the programs and progress of the Commission during the 2025 year.
Commissioners Dohlman and Edell also responded to questions from Council.
Before concluding the presentation section of the meeting, Mayor Noack recognized Staff Liaison and Economic Development Manager Zach Seal for his service.
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 September 8, 2025
Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager, reported that:
• Community Service Day is Saturday, September 27 and begins at Pleasant Hill Park. • The Senior Center is hosting an Open House on Friday, September 12. • The Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District is hosting a World Fusion Festival on Saturday, September 13.
• The second annual Bike Family Fest will be at the Pleasant Hill Library on Sunday, September 14, 2025.
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
7.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
Mayor Noack reported Council’s attendance at the Contra Costa Mayor’s Conference hosted by the City of El Cerrito on September 4, 2025.
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Councilmember Szakats reported her attendance at the July 4 Appreciation Dinner at Wise Girl, the grand openings for Agent2000 and My Salon Suite businesses, at the final Summer Concert of the season, and the Justice for Seniors Contra Costa Legal Services fundraiser.
Councilmember Szakats also announced that the MCE Technical Committee approved an expansion of the Virtual Power Plant pilot program.
Vice Mayor Shess reported his attendance at the July 4 Appreciation Dinner, the Agent2000 grand opening, and the final Summer Concert.
Vice Mayor Shess offered remarks of thanks to the Civic Action Commission and the Concert Sponsors for their continued support in making the concert series possible.
Councilmember Obolenskiy reported his attendance at the ribbon cutting for the My Salon Suite, the 4th of July Dinner, the Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting, the final Summer Concert, and a John Muir Community Health Meeting.
Councilmember Obolenskiy also announced that his family will be performing Ukrainian and Russian Dances at the World Fusion Festival on September 14.
Councilmember La announced that the public is invited to the Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies hosted by the Chamber, and she encouraged the community to attend various professional and social networking opportunities offered on their website.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 September 8, 2025
Councilmember La also reported her attendance at the Justice for Seniors fundraiser and the Gubernatorial Forum hosted by the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA) organization and Sacramento State.
Mayor Noack offered her regrets for missing recent City events, as she was out of state.
Mayor Noack reported her attendance at the July 4th dinner and encouraged the public to get involved in volunteering with and supporting the 4th of July Commission.
Mayor Noack additionally shared remarks to acknowledge and thank the Civic Action Commission on the Summer Concert Series, including for the new elements that were added to the events this year.
Finally, Mayor Noack recognized her husband, whose birthday coincided with the City Council meeting, for which the celebration was postponed.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
The following members of the public provided a comment:
• William Nownes
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion (Obolenskiy/ La) to Approve consent items 9.1 – 9.2, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Szakats, Noack
9.1 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of August 18, 2025
9.2 Approve Checks Dated: August 08, 2025; August 15, 2025; August 22, 2025; August 29, 2025
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Adopt Resolution No. 42-25 Authorizing the Appropriation of $81,950 from Fund 308 Capital Project/Building Fund for the Construction of the City Hall First Floor Offices/PD Dispatch Carpet Replacement Project
Ann James, Public Works Director, provided a presentation on the condition of the carpets in City Hall and the Police Department and shared timelines for carpet maintenance in both buildings.
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (La/Szakats) to Approve item 10.1, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Szakats, Noack
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 September 8, 2025
10.2 Adopt Resolution No. 43-25 Accepting the 2024 Storm Drain Maintenance Project No. 04-24 as Complete and Authorizing the Public Works Director to Issue and Record a Notice of Completion
Danny Urrutia, Assistant Engineer, provided a report on the storm drains included the project and the maintenance that was done to update them.
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (La/Szakats) to Approve item 10.2, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Szakats, Noack
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:07 p.m., Mayor Noack adjourned the meeting in memory of Bill Landis, a long-time City of Pleasant Hill resident and former Councilmember and Mayor, who recently passed away.
The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, October 6, 2025, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
______________________________
LYONE P. CONNER, CITY CLERK