MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 1, 2026
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 May 18, 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 May 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 reported that there was a closed session and nothing to report.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Proclamation Designating the Month of June 2026 as Pride Month in the City of Pleasant Hill
Mayor Shess issued a proclamation to Commissioner Jeanne Casey, on behalf of the Diversity Commission, designating the month of June as Pride Month.
Commissioner Casey shared remarks regarding the importance of Pride recognition.
6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager, reported that:
• The third annual Local Government Academy began on May 28, 2026. • The second band of the Sunset by the Lake Summer Concert Series will perform on May 31, 2026
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 June 1, 2026
7.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
There were no meetings or conferences reported.
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Councilmember La reported her attendance at the Mock City Council school visit with Valhalla Elementary, the Memorial Observance at the Hyatt House, a Neighborhood Potluck, and the Farmers’ Market Mixer.
Councilmember La announced that the Diversity Commission is hosting a Juneteenth Festivity at the Night Market on June 5, 2026.
Councilmember Szakats announced that the Primary Elections conclude on June 2, 2026, and there are four ballot box locations in Pleasant Hill.
Councilmember Szakats reported her attendance at Farmers’ Market Mixer, the Recognition of Women Across Contra Costa County event hosted by Assemblywoman Anamarie Avila Farías, and at the Swearing in Ceremony for the Contra Costa Fire Chief.
Councilmember Noack reported her attendance in Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators.
Vice Mayor Obolenskiy reported his attendance at the Mock City Council visit at City Hall, the Memorial Day Ceremony, and the Clayton Pride Parade.
Vice Mayor Obolenskiy announced that Visit Pleasant Hill will host a viewing party for the World Cup and that the Young Professionals Networking group is meeting on June 2, 2026 at the Hyatt House.
Mayor Shess reported his attendance at the Memorial Day Ceremony, where he provided remarks, the first Local Government Academy session, where he presented to participants, and the Clayton Pride Parade.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
The following member of the public provided a comment: Emily Barnett
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice Mayor Obolenskiy pulled item 9.5.
Motion (Noack/La) to Approve consent items 9.1 – 9.4, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Szakats, Obolenskiy, Shess
9.1 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of May 18, 2026
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 June 1, 2026
9.2 Approve Checks Dated: May 15, 2026; May 22, 2026
9.3 Adopt Ordinance NO. 985 Amending Chapter 5.55, Traffic Mitigation Fee, of the City of Pleasant Hill Municipal Code with an Updated Traffic Impact Fee Nexus Study
9.4 Accept Update on Contra Costa Transportation Authority and TRANSPAC
9.5 Adopt Resolution No. 30-26 Authorizing a Request to the California Transportation Commission and Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Allocation of Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 8 Project Funding for the Monument Boulevard and Contra Costa Boulevard Active Transportation Project
Anthony Nutti, Associate Engineer, responded to questions from Council regarding item 9.5.
Motion (Obolenskiy/La) to Approve consent item 9.5 carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Szakats, Obolenskiy, Shess
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Adopt Resolution No. 3 1 -26 Approving the Participation of the City of Pleasant Hill in the Contra Costa County Regional Alternative Compliance System Joint Powers Authority
Laetitia Porta, Senior Engineer, provided a report on the process and benefits of the Joint Powers Authority.
Mayor Shess opened public comment. No members commented.
Mayor Shess closed public comment and invited additional discussion from Council.
Motion (Obolenskiy/Noack) to Approve item 10.1, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Szakats, Obolenskiy, Shess
10.2 Adopt Resolution No. 3 2 -26 Authorizing Updated Traffic Impact Fees and Directing Staff to Implement a Three-year Phased Increase.
Laetitia Porta, Senior Engineer, also provided a report on the implementation process of the phased Traffic Impact Fee and responded to questions from Council.
Mayor Shess opened public comment. No members commented.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 June 1, 2026
Mayor Shess closed public comment and invited additional discussion from Council.
Motion (Szakats/Noack) to Approve item 10.2, carried as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Szakats, Shess
NOES: Obolenskiy
10.3 Adopt Resolution No. 3 3 -26 approving intention to levy and collect assessments and to provide for Public Hearing and Notice in AD 20 for FY2026-2027 Laetitia Porta, Senior Civil Engineer, first clarified that the correct date for the resolution is 2026, not 2025.
Mrs. Porta then provided one report for items 10.3 and 10.4 regarding the draft Engineer’s reports on the levy of the assessments for AD 20 and AD22 and shared an update on the status of projects for the Assessment Districts.
Melanie Lee of SCI Consulting Group was available remotely to answer questions from Council.
Mayor Shess opened public comment. No members commented.
Motion (Obolenskiy/Szakats) to Approve item 10.3, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Szakats, Obolenskiy, Shess
10.4 Adopt Resolution No. 34-26 Approving Intention to Levy and Collect Assessments and to provide for Public Hearing and notice in Assessment District No. 22 for FY 2026-2027
Mrs. Porta restated the report information being considered for Assessment District 22, as was similarly clarified for Assessment District 20 under item 10.3.
Melanie Lee of SCI Consulting Group was available remotely to answer questions from Council.
Mayor Shess opened public comment. No members commented.
Motion (Noack/La) to Approve item 10.4, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Szakats, Obolenskiy, Shess
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 June 1, 2026
10.5 Adopt Resolution No. 35-26 Calling for a General Municipal Election to be Held on November 3, 2026, for the Election of Certain Officers, Requesting the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to Consolidate the General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election to be Conducted on that Same Date, and Setting Rules and Deadlines for Candidate's Statements
Lyone Conner, City Clerk, provided a report clarifying the provisions of the General Election consolidation and specified the Pleasant Hill districts in which candidates are eligible to run in 2026.
Motion (La/Obolenskiy) to Approve item 10.5, carried unanimously as follows:
AYES: La, Noack, Szakats, Obolenskiy, Shess
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Shess adjourned the meeting at 8:43 p.m. The next Regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, June 15, 2026, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
______________________________
LYONE P. CONNER, CITY CLERK