Stockton City Council Special Strategic Planning Session – February 22, 2024
Stockton City Council Special Strategic Planning Session – February 22, 2024
This special meeting was a strategic planning workshop held on February 22, 2024 (as specified) to review the city's fiscal outlook, legislative agenda, economic development, public works projects, government performance, and to revisit and refine the City Council's five priority goals for the upcoming fiscal year. The session included public comment, department presentations, and council discussion. No formal votes were taken, but consensus was reached on modifications to the strategic plan.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Earl Brown – Thanked the council and city manager; requested the city explore and deploy gunshot detection technology again, noting previous use was dropped due to budget constraints. Offered to collaborate on funding and grants.
- Motecuzoma Sanchez – Recommended goals on project timelines (e.g., Victory Park pool, McKinley Park pool, library delays); criticized Measure A police hiring promise (140 officers promised, net gain of negative one); demanded transparency and enforcement of the California Public Records Act; suggested regulating or replacing the city manager.
- Pat Barret – Demanded 100% transparency and equitable funding for South Stockton (matching dollar-for-dollar with north of Charter Way); criticized lack of outreach on the warehouse ordinance; called for representation and voice for South Stockton residents.
Discussion Items
Fiscal Update & Long‑Range Financial Plan (CFO Kimberly Trammell)
- Presented the city’s use of one‑time state/federal funds (e.g., $78M ARPA allocation, $30M spent); the state faces a $73B deficit; the city’s long‑range financial plan projects revenues and expenditures over 20 years, with sales tax as the largest general fund source.
- Highlighted labor market pressures: Stockton has seen the highest increase in payrolls and labor force in California since February 2020.
- Discussed pension costs (projected to approach $100M), CalPERS investment returns, and the impact of reopening Truck Company 7 (fire truck) at $3.5M annually.
- Council noted the importance of targeted wage adjustments and retention strategies.
2024 State and Federal Legislative Program (Grant Kirkpatrick, Kyra Ross)
- Recapped 2023 successes: secured round 5 homeless funding, opposed Delta Conveyance, supported flood protection, etc.
- Proposed 2024 state priorities: workforce infrastructure upsizing ($5M), restorative justice adult housing support ($2M), Van Buskirk reuse ($4M), Pershing Avenue complete streets ($2M), animal shelter renovation ($5M), police operations remodel ($1.5M).
- Federal priorities added: redevelopment and blight abatement ($3M), downtown emergency infrastructure ($5M), urban forestry ($2M).
- Discussed legislative threats: business tax measure, state deficit, bonds, Prop 1, retail theft bills, AI legislation, and PGE rate issues.
- Council asked about Prop 1 direct allocations and advocacy on PGE rates.
Economic Development Strategic Action Plan (Director Carrie Wright)
- Highlighted accomplishments: record attendance (half a million people downtown via events), business license growth (8% increase), small business support (39 facades improved, 50 broken windows repaired), workforce development (106 local high school students in summer program, 19 hired).
- Discussed downtown infill, housing approvals, and plans for a redevelopment fund.
- Councilmember Wright supported a commercial vacancy tax; staff will bring a proposal this year.
Council Priority Projects Update (Director Chad Reed, Public Works)
- Reported on completed and in‑progress projects: teen center roof, waterfront lighting, abandoned meter pole removal, Pixiewood suspension bridge, fire station one reopening, 24,000 citywide tree trimming, sidewalk replacements (400 locations), playground replacements, and pothole filling (19,525 potholes, up 133% year‑over‑year).
- Discussed additional projects in design (civic auditorium assessment, Silver Lake assessment, SUSE pool repairs).
- Council emphasized need for continued investment in parks, baseball fields, benches, swings, and finishing two unfinished parks.
Government Performance & Accountability (City Manager Harry Black)
- Introduced new Office of Performance and Data Analytics (OPDA) and one‑page strategic plan with metrics.
- Key data points: non‑fatal injury shootings stabilized (150 in 2021, 141 in 2022, 142 in 2023); police applications rose 206% (from 712 in 2021 to over 2,800 in 2023); building permit reviews exceed target (2,100 per quarter vs. 1,475 target); process cycle time reduced 45%.
- Homelessness: 1,359 shelter beds countywide (up from 1,161); navigation center and St. Mary’s Pathways project expected to add 480+ beds.
- Library usage up 31,000 checkouts, 22% increase in visitors; youth sports participation up 86%.
- Recruitment and retention efforts including signing bonuses, colas, and Measure A restructuring.
Review of 2023 Accomplishments by Priority Goal
The council heard detailed presentations from multiple departments on achievements for each of the five priority goals:
- Work with partners to improve quality of life, literacy, workforce, youth programming: Expanded library services, new youth sports and camp programs, awarded $2M to 14 youth service organizations, launched summer student worker program.
- Prioritize inclusive economic development: Repealed big box restrictions, established food truck parks, launched virtual assistant for small businesses, developed downtown strategic plan, hosted half million downtown event attendees.
- Develop solutions to address homelessness and increase affordable housing: Three home key projects under construction (Calaveras Quarters, domestic violence shelter, Phase 2 town center studios); hired first Homeless Strategic Initiatives Manager; St. Mary’s Pathways to break ground in March; 610 housing units created; 1,000 homeless outreach contacts.
- Leverage resources for public health, community well‑being, resiliency: 717 cats spayed/neutered (up 38.6%), 591 pets vaccinated, 2.8M water assistance provided, 10,000 fire inspections, 507 volunteer cleanups, 19,525 potholes filled, 2,239 new traffic signals, 652,500 sq ft graffiti removed.
- Focus on crime reduction in focus areas: Violent crime down 1.2% in 2023; 963 firearms seized (up 5%); 261 community events; 433 total engagements; 255,000 calls to 911; 12 carjacking arrests, 71 auto theft arrests, 44 organized retail theft arrests; Office of Violence Prevention achieved 71% housing placement, 20% recidivism (vs. state 50%), 40% employment increase, and 238 conflict mediations.
Community Survey Results & Strategic Plan Revision
- Presented results of a community survey (571 respondents). Key findings: 74% likely to live in Stockton in 5 years; highest dissatisfaction: overall cleanliness (64%), safety (58%), youth programs (53%), affordable housing (50%), roads (not a separate category but implied).
- Council discussed the gap between positive outcomes and public perception; agreed to create new media/communication strategies to better highlight accomplishments.
- Council then revisited the one‑page strategic plan. Consensus to retain the five priority goals but add specificity: include “workforce housing” in Goal 3; add a strategy under “Safer Streets” on ceasefire model and neighborhood empowerment; add a plan under “Thriving and Healthy Neighborhoods” for tree canopy and road maintenance (including PCI metric); and reflect collaborative relationships (state/county) more explicitly.
- Staff will update the plan and present it for informational approval at the March 12 city council meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Council agreed in principle to maintain the five existing priority goals with the following modifications:
- Goal 3: Change to “Develop solutions to address homelessness, including increasing the affordable and workforce housing supply.”
- Goal 5 (Safer Streets): Add strategy “F – Implement and expand Ceasefire model to empower neighborhoods and build trust.”
- Goal 4 (Thriving and Healthy Neighborhoods): Add plans for tree canopy expansion and road maintenance (with pavement condition index target).
- Staff directed to produce a revised one‑page strategic plan for the March 12 council meeting (informational item).
- City Manager will explore creating a city‑owned media channel to improve communication of accomplishments to residents.
- The fiscal year 2023‑24 budget process will be guided by council priorities discussed today; some projects (e.g., commercial vacancy tax) will be brought forward separately.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone. Hopefully you can hear me okay. Um I do not have a gavel this morning, so we're gonna yeah, there you go. We're gonna we're gonna improvise and um get this thing started today. So we call this meeting to order. I want to welcome everybody um to the city council special uh study session, our city council planning workshop. Today is February 21st, 2024. City Clerk, please take roll. Councilmember Padilla Absent, Councilmember Glower. Present. Councilmember Lenz present. Councilmember Wright. Present. Councilmember Via Pudua Present. Vice Mayor Wormsley, present. Mayor Lincoln. Present. We have a quorum. Thank you. And I'm not seeing a flag in here, so I don't think we'll do a flag salute this morning. So we'll move right along. Uh first of all, before we get into public comments, um, I want to uh just welcome everybody uh this this morning. I see several community stakeholders, uh public residents here in the building. Uh thank you for taking time out of your schedules uh to be here this morning. Uh your input is vitally important to the city council as we work and navigate uh our prior our council priorities uh for this come upcoming uh fiscal fiscal year. I also want to thank uh my city council colleagues as well uh for being here and taking time um you know over the last several years um you've demonstrated uh commitment to the city of Stockton and each year we've been able to build upon um our progress in in milestones and really focus on the matters uh that are important to the people of Stockton and those we're all elected to represent. Also want to thank the city staff uh for your diligence, uh your hard work, uh your collaboration uh for hearing city council um and in representing day in and day out uh our goals, our focus to really help them come to light uh for the residents of Stockton. We know where we've made significant progress. We know we have a lot more progress uh to make moving forward, uh but we all have uh confidence that uh we're in the position and a place we need to really uh continue to build and deliver for the people of Stockton. Uh so again, I want to thank everybody uh for being here and making today uh possible. Um before I hand it over to the city manager, or you want to speak first? Okay, before I hand it over to the city manager, um I'm going to move right into public comments. Uh if there are any members of the public who would like to uh share um your thoughts, uh give public feedback now is the time and the opportunity to do that. Uh each uh member of the public will be given three minutes uh to make public comment this this morning. Uh there is not a timer that will be visible for you, however, uh our city clerk will provide a 30-second warning um when we get to that point where you have 30 seconds left to make your public comment. So we again we just ask that uh each member of the uh public maintain uh the rules of of the quorum uh this uh this morning, and we'd be respectful of everybody who is here while you're making your public comments. Uh City Clerk, do we have any comments for members of the public this morning? We do, Mayor. Thank you. We'll begin with Mr. Earl Brown. Good morning, everyone. This is a new layout, but I may I have permission to address the audience from the front, please. Uh no. That that's the place you'll be able to address the audience. I just a little more convenient if everyone didn't have to turn around. That's my thing. So first of all, my name is Earl Brown. I live here in Stockton, uh, 5453, St. Andrews Drive.
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