MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
February 2, 2026
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 February 2, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Shess called a Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 7:01 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 29, 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 Annual Update from the Pleasant Hill Library
Patrick Remer, Senior Community Library Manager, provided a presentation on the activities and membership of the library in 2025.
5.2 Proclamation Recognizing Lunar New Year
Mayor Shess issued a proclamation recognizing Lunar New Year to Dr. Andrea Medina, Administrator of Diablo Valley College’s (DVC) AANHPI organization, on behalf of the DVC Lunar New Year Committee.
Dr. Medina expressed her thanks to the Council shared remarks regarding the importance of the holiday.
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager, reported that:
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 February 2, 2026
• 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 Commission on Aging will host a workshop scheduled for February 24, 2026, covering the topic of Financial Security for Seniors
• The Pleasant Hill Perks gift card program allocated all available cards for 2026.
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
7.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
There were no items to report.
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Councilmember La reported her attendance at a Coffee Chat she hosted.
Councilmember La announced upcoming events Neighbor Nights, hosted by the Education Commission and the Diversity Commission, and the Lunar New Year celebration hosted by the Contra Costa Chinese School and the DVC Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander organization. She also shared that there are vacancies on the Diversity Commission and Civic Action Commission.
Councilmember Szakats reported her attendance at a Coffee Chat she hosted, the Mobile Legal Van ribbon cutting ceremony, and at a public advocacy event for constitutional rights.
Councilmember Noack reported her attendance at a public rally, the East Bay Leadership Commission meeting, and at the College Park High School Crab Feed.
Vice Mayor Obolenskiy reported his attendance at the Diablo Alliance Water Polo Tournament.
Vice Mayor Obolenskiy announced the upcoming Maslenitsa holiday.
Mayor Shess reported his attendance at a staff retirement event, the College Park Crab Feed, and at the 333 Arts mural walk in Concord.
Mayor Shess recognized staff, including recently retired employee Juanita Davalos, for her time working for the City of Pleasant Hill.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
The following members of the public provided a comment:
• George
• Quy Tran
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 February 2, 2026
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion (Obolenskiy/La) to Approve consent items 9.1 – 9.4, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Obolenskiy, Szakats, Shess
9.1 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of January 26, 2026
9.2 Approve Appointment Recommendation to the Civic Action Commission
9.3 Adopt Resolution No. 4-26 Approving a Side Letter of Agreement with the Professional and Confidential Employees’ Association (PACE) to Amend the Memorandum of Understanding Article XIV Evaluations/Bonus Awards
9.4 Adopt Resolution No. 5-26 Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Consent to Collateral Assignment of an existing Grant Agreement for the Grayson Creek Apartments at 100 Chilpancingo Parkway
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Adopt Resolution No. 6-26 Approving Amended and Restated Municipal Pooling Authority Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement
Ericka Mitchell, Chief Human Resources Officer, provided a report on the history and services of the Municipal Pooling Authority.
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (Noack/Szakats) to Approve item 10.1, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Obolenskiy, Szakats, Shess
10.2 Adopt Resolution No. 7-26 Directing the Preparation and Filing of the 2026/2027 Annual Report for Assessment District No. 20 (Commercial Area Landscape and Lighting) and Adopt Resolution No. 8-26 Requesting Consent from the City of Concord for Ordering of Improvements and Assessments of Costs for Benefited Property in Assessment District No. 20
Ann James, Public Works Director, provided a combined report for items 10.2 and 10.3 on the areas of Pleasant Hill covered under Assessment Districts 20 and 22 as well as the services provided to the assessment districts.
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (Noack/Obolenskiy) to Approve item 10.2 for the preparation and filing of AD 20, carried unanimously as follows:
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 February 2, 2026
AYES: La, Noack, Obolenskiy, Szakats, Shess
Motion (Noack/Obolenskiy) to Approve item 10.2 for the ordering of improvements and assessments of AD 20, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Obolenskiy, Szakats, Shess
10.3 Adopt Resolution No. 9-26 Directing the Preparation and Filing of the 2026/2027 Annual Report for Assessment District No. 22
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (Szakats/La) to Approve item 10.3, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Obolenskiy, Szakats, Shess
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Shess adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m. The City Council will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, February 9, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, February 23, 2026, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
______________________________
LYONE P. CONNER, CITY CLERK