MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
January 26, 2026
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 January 26, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Shess called a Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 7:03 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 January 22, 2026, by City Clerk Lyone Conner.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Shess invited the Council and Public to join him in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Zac Shess Mayor Present
Andrei Obolenskiy Vice Mayor Present
Belle La District 1 Councilmember Present
Sue Noack District 2 Councilmember Present
Amanda Szakats District 5 Councilmember Present
4. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Mayor Shess announced that there was a closed session earlier in the evening, and there is nothing to report.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Presentation on the Summer Concert Series from the Civic Action Commission Civic Action Commissioner Hunter Roberts shared results of the 2026 Summer Concert line-up and discussed changes to the upcoming concert experience.
5.2 Proclamation Designating January 27, 2026 as International Day of Holocaust Remembrance
Vice Chair of the Diversity Commission, Liz Nunan, received the proclamation and shared remarks regarding the observance.
5.3 Introduction of Commission on Aging Commissioner Jenny Lind Councilmember Szakats, Chair of the Interview and Nominating Committee, introduced Jenny Lind of the Commission on Aging.
Commissioner Lind offered her thanks to the Council.
5.4 Introduction of Diversity Commissioner Sharon Jacob City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 January 26, 2026
Councilmember Szakats also introduced Sharon Jacob of the Diversity Commission.
Commissioner Jacob provided remarks to the Council regarding her appointment.
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager, reported that:
• The City is developing a Safety Action Plan, and the community is invited to complete the survey.
• The Pleasant Hill Climate Action Plan (CAP) is on the City’s website, and the Planning Commission public hearing related to the CAP will be held on February 10, 2026. • The 4th of July Committee is looking for volunteers.
• City of Pleasant Hill events and activities may be found on social media, the website, the bi-weekly e-Newsletter, and the mailed Outlook Newsletter
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
7.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
Councilmember Szakats, Vice Mayor Obolenskiy, and Councilmember La reported their attendance at the California League of Cities Councilmember Academy.
Councilmember Szakats also reported her attendance at the Environmental Policy Committee meeting.
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
All Councilmembers reported their attendance at the Lion’s Club Crab Feed.
Councilmember Szakats reported her attendance at the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration hosted by the Diversity Coalition in San Ramon.
Councilmember Szakats also announced that she is hosting a Coffee Chat on January 30, 2026, with special guest BART Director Matt Rinn.
Councilmember Noack reported her attendance at Supervisor Diane Burgis’ reorganization luncheon. She also reported that she was a speaker at the San Ramon Valley Citizens Academy.
Councilmember La announced that she is hosting a Coffee Chat on January 30, 2026, with special guests Diversity Commission Chair Lloyd Schine and Diablo Valley College AANHPI Coordinator Dr. Andrea Medina.
Vice Mayor Obolenskiy reported his attendance at the Town Hall with Mayor Shess and Senator Tim Grayson. He also reported his attendance at the Visit Pleasant Hill Luncheon, the Ribbon City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 January 26, 2026
Cutting for the OCD and Anxiety Center, which he attended with Mayor Shess, and at the Slavic celebration of the Old New Year.
Vice Mayor Obolenskiy announced that the 4th of July Commission is seeking members.
Mayor Shess reported his attendance at the Town Hall with Senator Grayson, the Ribbon Cutting for the OCD & Anxiety Center, and at the Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs meeting.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
The following members of the public provided a comment:
• Chris Stieger
• Jim Bonato
• Lindsay Dohlman
• Quy Tran
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion (Noack/La) to Approve consent items 9.1 – 9.2, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Obolenskiy, Szakats, Shess
9.1 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of January 12, 2026
9.2 Approve Checks Dated: January 09, 2026; January 16, 2026
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Study Session for the Participation of the City of Pleasant Hill in the Contra Costa County Regional Alternative Compliance System Joint Powers Authority Ann James, Public Works Director, introduced Rinta Perkins, Manager of the Contra Costa Water, who provided a report on.
No members of the public provided comments.
As this item was a Study Session, no vote was required of the City Council.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Shess adjourned the meeting at 8:54 p.m. The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, February 2, 2026, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ______________________________
LYONE P. CONNER, CITY CLERK