MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING - CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 17, 2026
City Council Meeting Minutes - 1 of 4 - Monday, August 17, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Shess and Mayor for a Day, Ersa Finn, called a Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 PM.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor for a Day Finn invited the Council and Public to join her in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Zac Shess Mayor Present
Andrei Obolenskiy Vice Mayor, District 2 Councilmember Present Belle La District 1 Councilmember Present
Sue Noack Councilmember at Large Present
Amanda Szakats District 5 Councilmember Present
Ersa Finn Mayor for a Day Present
4. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Mayor Shess reported that there was not a closed session meeting held.
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Acknowledgement of Ersa Finn as Honorary Mayor for a Day Mayor Shess noted that Ersa Finn was joining the City Council to conduct the meeting and that he would share additional information about Ersa later in the meeting.
5.2 Proclamation Designating August 26, 2026 as Women's Equality Day in the City of Pleasant Hill
Sharon Jacob, Diversity Commissioner, accepted the Women’s Equality Proclamation and shared remarks with the City Council.
5.3 Traffic Safety Commission Annual Report
Steve Weiss, Traffic Safety Commissioner and Chair, provided a report on the findings and recommendations of the Commission.
5.4 Presentation from the 511 CCTA - 2026 Bike Family Fest Cara DeJong, Manager of the Bike Family Fest program, provided a presentation on the 2026 event and highlighted changes to this year’s program.
The following member of the public provided a comment: Robert Arias
MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING - CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 17, 2026
City Council Meeting Minutes - 2 of 4 - Monday, August 17, 2026 Mayor Shess took a moment to reintroduce the Mayor for a Day, Ersa Finn. Ms. Finn shared information about herself and her family and posed for a picture with Mayor Shess.
6. CITY MANAGERS COMMENTS
Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager reported that:
• Community Service Day is on September 19, 2026
• The Farmer's Market now accepts EBT through Cal Fresh. • The Chief's Advisor Panel is accepting applications.
• The Commission on Aging is hosting an event regarding home safety on September 2, 2026.
7. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
7.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense Mayor Shess Reported his and Council’s attendance at the Mayor's Conference in the City of Oakley.
7.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Councilmember La reminded the public of traffic safety during the return to the school year.
Councilmember La announced that her intern, Bella Fusco, will report to one of the City Commission meetings; that the Bike Family Fest is on September 13, to which she will lead a bike ride from Valhalla Elementary; and that she submitted a Community Service Day project request, with multiple entities, to have a Creek Cleaned up in District 1.
Councilmember La reported her attendance at the Night Market and Skylinks Golf Course.
Councilmember Noack reported her attendance at National Night Out, an Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony, a County Connection presentation with Congressman DeSaulnier, and the MDUSD Growing Healthy Kids program.
Councilmember Szakats reported her attendance at National Night Out, where she helped serve food.
Councilmember Szakats announced that MCE has relaunched the instant rebate program for EV and hybrid vehicles and that the Church of the Resurrection is hosting a Party with a Purpose fundraiser on September 19, 2026, following Community Service Day.
Mayor Shess Reported his attendance at National Night Out and the Eagle Scouts Court of Honor event, where he was a speaker.
MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING - CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 17, 2026
City Council Meeting Minutes - 3 of 4 - Monday, August 17, 2026 Before moving on to Public Comment, City Manager Bindernagel invited Chief Vermillion to provide remarks.
Chief Vermillion corrected remarks from the August 3, 2026 Police Department presentation, regarding the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Account (SLESA), to clarify that the retention period for both license plate readers and pan tilt zoom camera footage is 30 days.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT
The following members of the public provided a comment:
• Judy Stroyer
• Philip Simpson
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Clerk Conner noted an amendment to item 9.1 that included a memo with updates from Councilmember La.
Moved By La; Seconded By Szakats to approve items 9.1 (with amendments) - 9.3 carried as follows:
Ayes (5): Noack, La, Szakats, Shess
Absent (1): Obolenskiy
9.1 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of August 3, 2026
9.2 Approve Checks Dated: July 31, 2026; August 04, 2026;
9.3 Accept the Treasurer's Report as of June 30, 2026
10. ACTION CALENDAR
10.1 Adopt Resolution No. 5 9 -26 Awarding the Construction Contract for the 2026 Street Resurfacing Project No. 01-26 and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Construction Contract with MCK Services, INC.
Shawn Hung, Associate Engineer, provided a presentation on the need for street resurfacing and an overview of the bidding process.
No Members of the public commented.
Moved By Noack; Seconded By La
Motion Carried as follows:
Ayes (5): Noack, La, Szakats, Shess
Absent (1): Obolenskiy
MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING - CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 17, 2026
City Council Meeting Minutes - 4 of 4 - Monday, August 17, 2026
11. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Shess adjourned the meeting at 8:32 p.m. The next City Council will be held on September 14, 2026, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
LYONE P. CONNER, CITY CLERK