MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
March 2, 2026
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 March 2, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER
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 February 26, 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 reported that there was a closed session earlier in the evening and there was nothing to report.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Proclamation Designating March 7, 2026 as PH Baseball Association Day Mayor Shess presented a proclamation to Melissa Barrett, President of the Pleasant Hill Baseball Association (PHBA), declaring March 7, 2026 PHBA Day.
President Barrett shared remarks regarding the PHBA program. She, along with players and families, took a photo with Mayor Shess and the Council.
5.2 Proclamation Designating the Month of March as National American Red Cross Month
Mayor Shess presented a proclamation to Matt Smith, Red Cross Sheltering Lead, on behalf of the Red Cross, declaring the month of March as National Red Cross Month.
Matt Smith expressed his gratitude to the Council and provided additional noteworthy facts about the Red Cross and the impact of public donation and service.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 March 2, 2026
5.3 Proclamation Recognizing Ramadan
Mayor Shess presented a proclamation to Chair Lloyd Schine, on behalf of the Diversity Commission, recognizing Ramadan 2026.
Chair Schine provided remarks in honor of Pleasant Hill community members who participate in and celebrate Ramadan.
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager, reported that:
• The City hosted a workshop as part of its Safe Streets Action Plan. • The Mt. Diablo Unified School District and the Education Commission invite the public to view the screening of the Documentary “Count it Out” on March 4, 2026. • The Contra Costa Animal Services is looking for volunteers. • Information about updates and activities in Pleasant Hill may be found on the City’s website, social media platforms, via the bi-weekly email subscription, and the Outlook Newsletter.
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
7.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
Mayor Shess reported that he and his fellow Councilmembers attended the East Bay Division Meeting on February 26, 2026.
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Vice Mayor Shess and all Councilmembers reported their attendance at the Choice in Aging Crab Feed Fundraiser.
Councilmember La reported her attendance at the California League of Cities meeting.
Vice Mayor Obolenskiy reported his attendance at the John Muir Community Health Foundation meeting, and three events hosted by the Chamber of Commerce: the Women’s Networking Group, the 680 Networking Group, and the Fourth Friday Coffee meet-up.
Councilmember Szakats announced that she will be hosting a coffee chat on March 13, 2026.
Councilmember Noack reported her attendance at Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s birthday event.
Councilmember Noack announced that the Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Policy was passed to provide access to about $45 million in incentive funds for nine Bay Area Counties in 2027.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 March 2, 2026
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
The following members of the public provided a comment:
• George
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 9.4 was pulled by Councilmember Szakats.
Motion (Noack/La) to Approve consent items 9.1 – 9.3 and 9.5, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Obolenskiy, Szakats, Shess
9.1 Approve Minutes for the Joint Recreation and Park District Board and City Council Special Meeting of February 19, 2026
9.2 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of February 23, 2026
9.3 Approve Checks Dated: February 20, 2026
9.4 Adopt Resolution No. 12-26 Authorizing Transmittal of the Annual General Plan and Housing Element Progress Report to the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the State Department of Housing and Community Development
9.5 Adopt Resolution No. 13-26 Approving Continued Participation in the Stormwater Pollution Management Utility District and Authorizing the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to Adopt the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Stormwater Utility Area Fee for the City of Pleasant Hill City Planner, Troy Fujimoto, and Senior Planner, Haley Croffoot, responded to questions from Council.
Motion (Szakats/Noack) to Approve consent item 9.4, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Obolenskiy, Szakats, Shess
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Adopt Resolution No. 14-26 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with SCI Consulting Group to Provide Assessment Engineering Services for a Proposed Assessment Rate Increase Within Assessment District 20
Ann James, Public Works Director, provided a report for items 10.1 and 10.2 highlighting the needs for improvement for Assessment Districts 20 and 22.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 March 2, 2026
Melanie Lee, consultant with SCI Consulting Group, shared background information on the Assessment review process and responded to questions from Council.
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (Noack/Obolenskiy) to Approve item 10.1, carried as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Obolenskiy, Szakats
NOES: Shess
10.2 Adopt Resolution No. 15-26 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with SCI Consulting Group to Provide Assessment Engineering Services for a proposed Assessment Rate Increase within Assessment District 22
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (La/Szakats) to Approve item 10.2, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Obolenskiy, Szakats, Shess
10.3 Introduce Ordinance No.__ Amending Chapter 15.05, Stormwater Management and Discharge Control, of the City of Pleasant Hill Municipal Code to Add a Requirement for Installation and Maintenance of Devices to Capture Trash, Litter, and Other Pollutants from Entering the City's Storm Drain System Laetitia Galeazzi, Senior Civil Engineer, provided a presentation explaining the impacts of trash that enters the City’s storm drain system and the recommended devices needed to address the pollutants.
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (La/Szakats) to Approve item 10.3, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Obolenskiy, Szakats, Shess
10.4 Adopt Resolution No. 16-26 Accepting the Contra Costa Boulevard Improvement Project (Viking Drive to Harriet Drive) Project No. 02-23 as Complete and Authorize the Public Works Director to Issue and Record a Notice of Completion, and Authorize the City Manager to Increase the Contract with Park Engineering Inc. for Construction Management Services by $77,954.44 Ann James, Public Works Director, provided a report highlighting the new and major improvements completed in the Contra Costa Blvd. Improvement project. She also responded to questions from Council.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 March 2, 2026
No members of the public provided comments.
Motion (La/Obolenskiy) to Approve item 10.4, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Obolenskiy, Szakats, Shess
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Shess adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m. The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, March 16, 2026, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
______________________________
LYONE P. CONNER, CITY CLERK