City Council

Major Contra Costa Blvd Safety Project Completed Under Budget After 8-Year Journey

Council accepted the $7.98M Contra Costa Blvd improvement project as complete, finishing under its $8.25M budget with new signals, bike/ped upgrades, and resurfacing funded largely by a $4.8M CCTA grant.

Why it matters: The grant-funded project since 2017 added protected bike/ped infrastructure, a new traffic signal at Allen Drive, ADA upgrades, and decorative lighting along a heavily-trafficked corridor, and came in $269K under budget despite PG&E-caused delays.

Council Introduces Ordinance Requiring Private Trash Capture to Avoid State Fines

Council introduced an ordinance allowing the city to require commercial property owners to install trash capture devices on their storm drains to meet the 100% trash load reduction mandate.

Why it matters: The city is stuck at 87.3% trash capture and faces potential $10,000/day cease-and-desist fines from the Regional Water Quality Control Board, with one large commercial parcel near Contra Costa Blvd accounting for roughly 10% of the total trash load.

City Has Permitted 17% of State-Mandated Housing Units with No Large Projects in Pipeline

Council approved the annual housing progress report showing 307 of 1,496 state-required units permitted in two years, driven by the 85 Cleveland development, with only smaller projects in the pipeline.

Why it matters: Without another large project like 85 Cleveland, housing production will rely on ADUs (18-20/year) and small developments, raising questions about whether the city can meet its Housing Element targets and potential implications for upcoming general plan amendments.

Council Launches Prop 218 Process to Rescue Underwater Assessment Districts

Council unanimously hired SCI Consulting Group to prepare engineer's reports and conduct community outreach for proposed assessment rate increases in two financially distressed landscaping districts.

Why it matters: Most zones in Assessment Districts 20 and 22 began this fiscal year in the red, providing only basic safety maintenance; without rate increases approved by property owners, the city cannot fund even routine landscaping and lighting.

Traffic Impact Fee Nexus Study and Ordinance Update

Senior Civil Engineer Leticia Galeazzi presented the city's updated Traffic Impact Fee (TIF) nexus study, prepared by consultant Fehr & Peers, replacing the 2003 methodology. The new study shifts from a system equity approach to a project-based approach using 15 future capital improvement projects totaling ~$100 million, of which 33% (~$34 million) is attributable to the TIF. Fees are calculated based on an estimated 4,500 new adjusted daily trips from projected population growth to 43,500 residents by 2035 (per the 2040 General Plan and Plan Bay Area 2050). The new fees represent roughly double current rates in some categories. Per Budget Committee recommendation, the council adopted a three-year phased implementation with a 4% annual construction cost index cap to mitigate developer impact. Fee comparisons showed Pleasant Hill's proposed fees align with or remain below neighboring jurisdictions like Lafayette, Moraga, and Martinez. The resolution and first reading were approved unanimously 5-0; the second reading with the fee schedule is scheduled for the first meeting in April.

Civic Action Commission Expansion from 9 to 11 Members

The council considered an ordinance to expand the Civic Action Commission (CAC) roster from 9 to 11 members. The commission, currently operating with only 8 of 9 authorized seats filled, has significantly expanded its programming—including the Sunset by the Lake Summer Concert Series, Family Fun Zones, Community Service Day, Light Up the Night, and participation in community events like the Trunk or Treat and National Night Out. CAC Vice Chair Anthony Garcia testified that the commission is stretched thin and needs additional members to sustain and grow programming. Council Members Noack, Szakats, La, and Vice Mayor Obolensky supported the expansion, while Mayor Shess dissented, arguing the commission should prioritize with existing members and expressing concern about recruitment challenges across all city commissions.

Animal Shelter Adoption Promotion

Resident George Sherman requested that the city work to reduce animal euthanasia by promoting shelter adoption on the city website, hosting adoption events at Pleasant Hill Park with rescue organizations (potentially every other Saturday with a free room), and partnering with neighboring cities Walnut Creek, Concord, and Martinez.

RHNA Housing Production Progress Concerns

Resident Jack Prosek presented data showing Pleasant Hill is falling behind on its RHNA housing production goals in the current cycle. After running ahead in permits during the first year, the city fell behind in years two and three. Prosek argued the city's overly restrictive ordinances are the biggest barrier, that approving projects of only 4-9 units at a time is insufficient, and that the city needs projects of 30-50 dwelling units. He noted that the pipeline lacks such projects aside from Choice in Aging, and that without the 85 Cleveland Road project (started in 2018), numbers would be significantly worse. He called for open discussions with the public on housing policy.