MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
November 3, 2025
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 November 3, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER
Vice Mayor Shess 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 30, 2025, by City Clerk Lyone Conner.
Vice Mayor Shess invited Mayor for a Day Aubree Iribarne to assist in conducting the meeting.
Vice Mayor Shess announced that item 10.1, Ordinance Amendment, is continued to the November 17, 2025 meeting, and public comment would not be taken at the current meeting.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor for a Day Iribarne 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 Absent
Aubree Iribarne Mayor for a Day Present
Vice Mayor Shess invited Mayor Noack to explain her remote participation.
Mayor Noack requested to participate in the meeting remotely, under the provision of AB 2449 related to the care of a relative. She confirmed that no one else was in the room with her.
Motion (Obolenskiy/La) to Approve Mayor Noack to participate remotely, carried as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess
ABSENT: Szakats
4. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
No report was provided.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Acknowledgement of Aubree Iribarne as Honorary Mayor for a Day City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 November 3, 2025
Vice Mayor Shess introduced Aubree Iribarne as Mayor for a Day and invited her to remain at the dais to further conduct the meeting.
5.2 Proclamation Designating November 2025 as Homelessness Awareness Month Vice Mayor Shess invited Diversity Commission Liaison, Alex Khalfin, to receive the proclamation.
Mayor for a Day Iribarne read the proclamation.
Commissioner Khalfin shared data to highlight the impact of homelessness in Contra Costa County.
5.3 Traffic Safety Commission Annual Report
Vice Mayor Shess invited Rich Davies, Chair of the Traffic Safety Commission, to provide the annual report.
Chair Davies responded to questions from Council.
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager, reported that:
• The Police Department will have an increased number of officers patrolling during the holidays, to keep the streets safe from impaired drivers. The patrol expansion was made possible by a state grant the City Council endorsed earlier in the year. • The annual Light up the Night event is on November 22, 2025. • The City is partnering with the Contra Costa Foodbank and Solano County to host an online Food Drive through the month of November.
• The City provides information about updates, projects, and events on social media, the City’s website, the Bi-weekly emails, and via the Bi-monthly Outlook newsletter.
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
7.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
There were no reports provided.
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Councilmember La reported her attendance at the Recreation and Park District Haunted Trail, the Solano Food Bank Fall Harvest, the Roger’s Ranch Fall Harvest, and the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA) Gala.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 November 3, 2025
Councilmember La also announced that the final 2025 Night Market is on Friday, November 7, 2025.
Councilmember Obolenskiy reported his attendance at the JFK University Community Meeting, the National University Counseling Community Grand Opening, the Pleasant Hill Trick-or-Treat Walk, where he sponsored a spooky Tesla, the Hope Solutions Stakeholder meeting, the Aquarius Midwifery Ribbon Cutting with the Chamber of Commerce, and at the City Hall Halloween Staff Luncheon.
Councilmember Obolenskiy invited the public to donate candy and toys for next year’s Halloween event. He also announced a “Drinks with Andrei” open forum at Magoo’s on November 11, 2025 Vice Mayor Shess reported his attendance at the Contra Costa Association of Realtors Elected Official’s Reception, the National University Grand Opening for the Community Counseling, which honored Dr. Michael Harris, the Eagle Scout Court of Honor at St. Mark’s Lutheran, and at the City Hall Employee Halloween Extravaganza.
Mayor Noack expressed her sentiments to the Mayor for a Day, for not seeing her in-person. She also acknowledged the Eagle Scout Court of Honor recipients.
Mayor Noack reported her attendance at the Contra Costa Association of Realtors Reception, the City Hall Employee Recognition Luncheon, a workshop on Transportation and Housing in the Bay Area, and a workshop in Long Beach on Housing Finance.
Mayor for a Day Iribarne reported that she trick-or-treated in Pleasant Hill with her friends.
Vice Mayor Shess shared final remarks of thanks and acknowledgement to Mayor for a Day Aubree Iribarne and presented her with a bag of gifts and a certificate.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
The following members of the public provided a comment:
• Ryan Guest
• Robert Arias
• Andrew Tomerson
• George Josephsen
• Madhu Amesur
• Christine Will
• Gordon Swidler
• Michelle Abernethy
• Sharen Fretwell
• Steve Weiss
• Albert Franco
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 November 3, 2025
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion (La/ Shess) to Approve consent items 9.1 – 9.3, carried as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Noack
ABSENT: Szakats
9.1 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of October 20, 2025
9.2 Approve Checks Dated October 17, 2025; October 24, 2025
9.3 Approve Appointment Recommendations for the County Connection Advisory Committee, Diablo Vista Water System Advisory Board, Diversity Commission, and the Traffic Safety Commission
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Adopt Ordinance No. amending the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code Title 18, Planning and Land Use, in its entirety, and amending 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
This item was continued to the November 17, 2025 meeting date; No action or public comment was taken on this item.
10.2 Adopt Resolution No -25 Delegating Authority to the Chief Human Resources Officer to Make Determinations Regarding Industrial Disability Ericka Mitchell, Chief Human Resources Officer, shared information regarding the need for the delegation in order to support industrial disability.
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (Noack/Obolenskiy) to Approve item 10.2, carried as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Noack
ABSENT: Szakats
10.3 Adopt Resolution No. -25 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with the Contra Costa Certified Farmers' Markets (CCCFM) to Manage and Operate the Pleasant Hill Farmers' Market From May 2, 2026 Until April 28, 2029 Troy Fujimoto, City Planner, shared the history of the Farmers’ Market in Pleasant Hill and presented the plans for the 2026 proposed schedule.
Staci DeShasier, Executive Director of the Contra Costa Certified Farmer’s Market, was available to respond to questions from Council.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 November 3, 2025
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (Noack/La) to Approve item 10.3, carried as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Noack
ABSENT: Szakats
Before moving to the next item, Vice Mayor Shess took a moment to recognize Rich Davies who was reappointed to the Traffic Safety Commission.
10.4 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds Update (Information Only) Erick Cheung, Chief Financial Officer, presented the current status and balance of the ARPA funds.
No members of the public provided comments.
This item was for information only, and no vote was required.
10.5 Approve Resolution No. 25 to Authorize the Re-allocation of American Rescue City Council Meeting Agenda - Page 4 of 4 - Monday, November 03, 2025 Plan Act (ARPA) Funds from the City Hall Pond and Fountain Rehabilitation Project No. 01-24 to the Government Services Program Category and Transfer an Equivalent Amount of General Fund Monies to the City Hall Pond and Fountain Rehabilitation Project No. 01-24
Ann James, Public Works Director, provided a presentation on the condition of the City Hall pond. She also shared a timeline for the pond work and clarified how the construction schedule impacts the funds available.
Ann James also responded to questions from Council.
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (Noack/Obolenskiy) to Approve item 10.5, carried as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Noack
ABSENT: Szakats
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 November 3, 2025
10.6 Adopt Resolution No. -25 Authorizing Appropriation of American Rescue Plan Act Funds to Fund Additional Digitization Services and Indexing of City Archives and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the First Contract Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with BMI Imaging Systems, INC.
Ling King, Chief Technology Officer, provided a report on the progress of the digitization project in City Hall and clarified the additional scope of work required.
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (La/Obolenskiy) to Approve item 10.6, carried as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Noack
ABSENT: Szakats
ADJOURNMENT
Vice Mayor Shess adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m. The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, November 17, 2025, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ______________________________
LYONE P. CONNER, CITY CLERK