MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
October 20, 2025
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 October 20, 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 October 16, 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 was a Closed Session earlier in the evening for a Public Employee Performance Evaluation, and there was nothing to report.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Annual Update from the Civic Action Commission
Civic Action Commissioner Anthony Garcia provided a presentation on the updates, successes, and future plans for the Summer Concert Series.
5.2 Award of Appreciation to Ben Johanson for Service on the Architectural Review Commission from 2018 – 2025
Mayor Noack recognized Ben Johanson for his seven years of service on the Architectural Review Commission.
Commissioner Johanson provided reflective remarks of gratitude regarding his time as a Commissioner.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 October 20, 2025
5.3 Introduction of Architectural Review Commissioner Janet Brandess Vice Mayor Shess introduced Janet Brandess, the newly appointed member of the Architectural Review Commission.
Commissioner Brandess expressed her eagerness to join the Commission.
5.4 State of the District Presentation by the Contra Costa Community College District and Diablo Valley College
Contra Costa Community College District Chancellor, Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, and Diablo Valley College President, Monica Chahal, provided updates on the demographics of their student population and programs offered, their structural and fiscal needs, and on the leadership who represent the District, including in Pleasant Hill.
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager, reported that:
• The Pleasant Hill Civic Action Commission invites Summer Concert Series attendees to fill out a survey about their experience this past season. • The City’s annual Light up the Night Festival is scheduled for November 22, 2025.
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
7.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
Councilmember Obolenskiy reported his attendance at the Cal Cities Annual Conference from November 7–10, 2025.
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Councilmember La offered remarks in recognition of Diwali 2025.
She also announced the Recess Break forum scheduled for October 23, 2025 at the Pleasant Hill Library, the Haunted Trail event on October 24, 2025, at the Pleasant Hill Park, where she will volunteer with the Lions Club, and the Fall Harvest donation event at the Food Bank on October 25, 2025.
Councilmember Obolenskiy announced that Main Street Automotive will show a spooky Tesla and offer toys and trinkets to children.
He also reported his attendance at the DVC Engineering Technology Building groundbreaking, the Loaves and Fishes food delivery van ribbon cutting, the Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs committee meeting, and at the No Kings Rally.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 October 20, 2025
Vice Mayor Shess reported his attendance at the investiture celebration for Dr. Chahal at DVC, the No Kings Rally, and at the Government Affairs Committee Meeting, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
Councilmember Szakats reported her attendance at the Community Discussion for United Against Hate Week, sponsored by Cal Cities, the No Kings Rally, and at the MCE Board Retreat.
She also provided remarks in celebration of Diwali 2025.
Mayor Noack reported her attendance at the No Kings Rally, where she provided welcoming remarks.
Mayor Noack also offered her regret to the public for not responding to comments ahead of the meeting, as she had intended, due to a death in her family.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
No members of the public provided comments.
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 October 6, 2025
9.2 Approve Checks Dated: October 03, 2025; October 10, 2025
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Introduction of Ordinance No. of the City Council of Pleasant Hill Amending Section 14.05.080 of Title 14 of the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code and Adopting the 2025 California Fire Code with Amendments
Chris Bachman, Chief of the Contra Costa Fire Protection District, provided a report on the proposed amendments of the 2025 California Fire Code.
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (La/Szakats) to Approve item 10.1, carried as follows:
AYES: La, Shess, Szakats, Noack
NOS: Obolenskiy
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 October 20, 2025
10.2 Introduction of Ordinance No. of the City Council of Pleasant Hill Adding Section 14.05.090 to Title 14 of the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code and Adopting the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code with Amendments Chris Bachman, Chief of the Contra Costa Fire Protection District, provided a report on the proposed amendments of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (Obolenskiy/La) to Approve item 10.2, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Szakats, Noack
At 8:08 p.m., Mayor Noack called a recess. The meeting resumed at 8:16 p.m.
10.3 Introduce Ordinance No. to amend the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code Title 18, Planning and Land Use, in its entirety, and amend the Zoning Map to include the rezoning of 1,072 parcels throughout the City, for consistency with the 2040 General Plan and 2023-2031 Housing Element
Haley Croffoot, Senior Planner, introduced Michael Gibbons of Mintier Harnish, who provided a presentation on the proposed amendments to the Planning and Land Use and Zoning Map Ordinance.
The following members of the public provided a comment:
Albert Franco, Deborah McDonald, Samantha Roberts, Cory Ashor, Maureen Rasmussen, Tina Fitzsimmons, Gerald Stephens, Bonnie Gannon, Amanda Booth, Aiden Martin, George Josephsen, Craig Abernethy, Dr. Quy Tran, Julie Franco, Ryan Guest, Michelle Abernethy, Kari, Tomy Branch, Scott Loyd, Leslie Altman, Ken O’Keefe, Elizabeth Nunez, Cindy Walker-Sayles, Gordon Swidler, Mark Maeyama, Thomas Vitale, Alaric Toy, Kirla Oyola, Melissa Maeyama, Christine Will, Donna Gilliam, Jon Corbett, Jeff MacDonald, Michelle Kim, Tara Legaspi
The following members of the public submitted a public comment card but did not speak at the podium during the meeting:
David Kaye, Eric S., Steve Vanderoef, Emily Stewart, Vicky Hill At 10:12 p.m., Mayor Noack called a recess. The meeting resumed at 10:24 p.m.
At 10:32 p.m., Mayor Noack called a recess. The meeting resumed at 10:38 p.m.
Motion (Shess/Szakats) to Approve item 10.3, carried as follows:
AYES: Shess, Szakats, Noack
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 October 20, 2025
NOES: La
ABSTAIN: Obolenskiy
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Noack adjourned the meeting at 11:10 p.m. The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, November 3, 2025, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ______________________________
LYONE P. CONNER, CITY CLERK