MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
November 17, 2025
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 December 1, 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 November 26, 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.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Award of Appreciation to Dr. Candice Arora for Service on the Diversity Commission
Mayor Noack shared that due to a personal matter, Dr. Arora was no longer able to receive the recognition in person. She also stated that the award would be mailed to her.
5.2 Introduction of Diversity Commissioner Sunny Pannu
Vice Mayor Shess provided remarks to introduce Diversity Commissioner Sunny Pannu.
Commissioner Pannu expressed his gratitude to Council.
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager, reported that:
• There are vacancies on the Diversity Commission and the Commission on Aging. • The annual Light up the Night festival had over 4,000 attendees.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 December 1, 2025
• The Civic Action Commission invites residents to nominate their decorated home to the Holiday Glow Contest.
• 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 none reported.
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Mayor Noack, along with Councilmembers Obolenskiy, La, and Szakats reported their attendance at the City of Pleasant Hill Light up the Night event.
Councilmember La also reported her attendance at DVC’s AANHPI learning group event.
Councilmember Szakats reported her attendance at the Pleasant Hill Instructional Garden and at the League of California Cities webinar on newly passed legislation.
She also announced her appointment to the League of California City’s Environmental Policy Committee, and she shared that the MCE EV Instant Rebate Program has completed allocation of all available funding.
Vice Mayor Shess had no additional items to report.
Mayor Noack reported that she provided remarks related to the state of the City at the Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee and she recently met with Senator Tim Grayson to discuss updates in Pleasant Hill.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
The following member of the public provided a comment:
• George G.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion (Obolenskiy/Shess) 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 November 17, 2025
9.2 Approve Checks Dated: November 07, 2025; November 14, 2025; November 21, 2025
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 December 1, 2025
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Hold Public Hearing and Adopt Ordinance 979 Adding Section 14.05.090, of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code with Amendments, to Title 14 of the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code.
Contra Costa County Fire District Chief, Chris Bachman, participated remotely and described the nature of the changes to the proposed code.
The following member of the public provided comments:
• George J.
Motion (Shess/Obolenskiy) to Approve item 10.1, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Szakats, Noack
10.2 Election of New Mayor
Mayor Noack opened joint public comments for items 10.2 and 10.3.
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (Noack/Obolenskiy) to Nominate Vice Mayor Zac Shess as Mayor, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Szakats, Noack
10.3 Election of Vice Mayor
Motion (Shess/Noack) to Nominate Councilmember Andrei Obolenskiy as Vice Mayor, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Obolenskiy, Shess, Szakats, Noack
10.4 Recognition of Outgoing Mayor Sue Noack
Newly appointed Mayor Zac Shess provided remarks in recognition of Councilmember Noack for her service as Mayor.
Additional recognition was offered by each member of the Council.
The following member of the public provided a comment:
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 December 1, 2025
• Ken Carlson
This item was for recognition, and no vote was required.
10.5 Remarks by New Mayor and Vice Mayor
Mayor Shess expressed his gratitude to Council, attendees, and the public for their support. He also announced his focus on community for his 2026 term.
Vice Mayor Obolenskiy expressed his gratitude and that he is looking forward serving as Vice Mayor and what he looks forward to
No members of the public provided comments.
This item was ceremonial, and no vote was required.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Shess adjourned the meeting at 7:37 p.m. The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, December 15, 2025, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ______________________________
LYONE P. CONNER, CITY CLERK