Stockton City Council Meeting: July 9, 2024 - Housing Element, Warehouse Standards, and Priority Projects

The Stockton City Council met on July 9, 2024, in a concurrent session with the Successor Agency, Public Financing Authority, and Parking Authority. The regular session began at 5:31 PM following a closed session (4:00-5:15 PM) that had no reportable action. The council covered a wide range of topics, including adoption of the 2023-2031 Housing Element, amendments to industrial warehouse standards, and allocation of $3 million for council priority projects. Councilmember Susan Lenz was absent for the regular session.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution 2024-07-09-1201: Appointed Fernando Duarte to the Community Development Committee.
• Motion 2024-07-09-1202: Approved minutes from June 4 and June 5, 2024, council meetings.
• Resolution 2024-07-09-1203: Awarded a $1,000,000 contract to AECOM for a Comprehensive Climate Action & Adaptation Plan, with an exception to competitive bidding.
• Resolution 2024-07-09-1204: Authorized a reimbursement agreement with H.D. Arnaiz Corporation for $15,817,379.38 for the Northeast Stockton Water Transmission Main.
• Resolution 2024-07-09-1205: Appointed Erin Martin and Julie Dunning to the Strong Communities Advisory Committee.
• Resolution 2024-07-09-1206: Accepted a $1,773,664 CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps grant.
• Motion 2024-07-09-1207: Approved a $140,000 contract with Grow America for the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan.
• Resolution 2024-07-09-1208: Supported the San Joaquin Council of Governments' San Joaquin Regional Housing Fund.
• Motion 2024-07-09-1209: Authorized a three-year, $210,000 agreement with CSG Consultants for fire plan review services.
• Motion 2024-07-09-1210: Approved the publicly available salary schedule for CalPERS.
• Motion 2024-07-09-1211: Executed a one-year $233,500 cooperative agreement with Peregrine for real-time data visualization.
• Motion 2024-07-09-1212: Approved an $877,600 amendment with Flock Group for Prepared 911 software integration.
• Resolution 2024-07-09-1213: Overruled protests and directed delinquent code enforcement charges to the tax roll.
• Resolution 2024-07-09-1214: Appropriated $1,590,353 and awarded a $5,521,230 construction contract to Dirt Dynasty for Safe Routes to School safety and connectivity improvements.
• Resolution 2024-07-09-1215: Set an August 20, 2024, public hearing for an underground utility district along Lower Sacramento Road.
• Motion 2024-07-09-1216: Ratified a $3,100,000 funds transfer agreement with Caltrans for Miracle Mile redevelopment (public safety/maintenance substation/parking). Approved 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Luz Guzman (District 6, Spanish with translation): Expressed concerns about violence, safety, and poverty in her community.
• Ernestina Barrios (Weston Ranch, Spanish with translation): Requested more police presence after July 3rd incidents at Food 4 Less shopping center and reported an attempted child abduction near a school; also asked for a water feature and playground equipment for kids.
• Zoyla: Thanked the City Manager and Councilmember Villapudua for fixing the water fountain at Sandra Smith Park; also thanked the police department for always being present in District 6.
• Jason Lee: Accused city staff of election interference (referencing a conversation to stop his election) and called for translation services for the Spanish-speaking community, noting that 45% of the population is Latino.
• Stephanie Brinkley (Lilypad Living): Expanded services for unhoused populations dealing with addiction and mental illness; offered to partner with the city.
• Debra Spragiel (Lilypad Living): Expressed concern about the Supreme Court's Grants Pass decision impacting the city; urged wise, thoughtful enforcement.
• Lauren Cardinelli: Recited prayers and raised concerns about medical sovereignty and COVID-19 mRNA platforms.
• Oscar Serrano (Spanish): Requested more police officers who are bilingual to serve the Hispanic community in South Stockton.
• Nev Cordic (Henry Building owner representative): Noted an address error that prevented timely receipt of hearing information about the building; asked for consideration.
• Julie Dunning: Thanked Councilmember Blower for his kindness in helping her solve a problem.
• Frank Farrell (Stockton Takes Action Against Retail Theft): Announced July 15th billboard reveal and a police reporting app prototype; invited council to the event.
• Shelly Hollis (District 1): Criticized the city's response to homelessness in District 1, citing a large homeless population behind Walmart; announced her candidacy for District 1 council seat.
• Pat Barrett (multiple items): Supported the climate action plan, asked to expedite it and postpone the warehouse ordinance until the plan is complete; also spoke on homelessness solutions.
• Pickleball advocates (on 15.8): A large group of residents, including seniors and diverse community members, spoke passionately in favor of converting three tennis courts at Groupie Park into 10 permanent pickleball courts. They highlighted health benefits, community building, and economic opportunities. Several asked to be involved in the design process.
• Environmental justice advocates (on 16.2): Jonathan Pruitt, Esperanza Villalma, Alicia Valenzuela, and Jasmine Latour urged postponement of warehouse ordinance amendments until the Climate Action Plan is completed. They cited concerns about air quality, asthma rates (Stockton ranks 2nd in state), and cumulative impacts. A poem was read emphasizing the burden on south Stockton.
• Developer representatives (on 16.2): Rob Mitchell (Green Law Partners) and Trevor Smith supported the planning commission's recommendations, noting that the ordinance is already the first in the valley and that the climate action plan can be revisited later.

Discussion Items

• 15.1 Community Support Grant Program Update (ARPA): Informational only. Presentations from three nonprofits receiving ARPA funds:
  • Christina Peebles (Amelia and Adams Whole Life Center): Supported 89 families with rental assistance, utilities, and counseling; hired local residents for outreach.
  • Dr. Hansen (Emergency Food Bank): Increased families served from 124,042 to 312,559 and food distributed from 3.6 million to 7 million pounds; added mobile farmer market sites and diabetes management programs.
  • Kristen Burtwissel (United Way) and Brandy Bruni (San Joaquin County Office of Education): Described the Next Gen to Service program for high school students to develop leadership and nonprofit skills; student testimonial highlighted its impact. Council praised transparency and investment. Council requested final expenditure data.
• 15.2 Community Medical Centers Project Updates: Informational only. Detailed quarterly data from:
  • Mobile Crisis Response Team (Lindsay Lopez): In Q3 (Feb-Apr), over 1,800 calls were received; 432 were new calls for behavioral health services. Calls were handled by phone or in-person follow-ups. Most calls from self-referral (603) and community members (332); Stockton PD used the service 52 times. Top call reasons: community concern, emotional disturbance, wellness checks. Zip code 95207 had highest usage (34%), followed by 95202 (16%) and 95206 (9%). 31% of callers identified as Hispanic/Latino, 52% as white, 9% as Black. Two case studies highlighted successful interventions (a homeless woman with a dog and a 19-year-old).
  • Stockton PD Captain Bradley Burrell reported that emotionally disturbed person calls decreased by 4.85% in March and 10.2% in April compared to February.
  • Opioid Settlement Program (Alfonso Apu): The CMC Respite Center provided 378 bed days of withdrawal management (14-21 day stays) to 35 individuals (27 male, 8 female). 54% completed the full 14 days; 29 continued outpatient services. Six were placed in longer-term recovery.
• 15.4 Discussion on Camping on City Property (Grants Pass Decision): Informational. City Manager Harry Black summarized the Supreme Court decision (City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, June 28, 2024), which upheld anti-camping ordinances. He highlighted Stockton's progress: over $72 million in homeless services (since 2020), 430 additional shelter beds, 878 affordable housing units, and Clean City Initiative removal of over 3,900 tons of trash from encampments (2021-2023). Immediate next steps: a 'Take Back Our Parks' initiative and a study session in August to analyze code changes. Council members emphasized a balanced approach with enforcement and compassion, urged prompt action to avoid being reactive, and supported safe camping and parking options. No vote was taken.
• 15.5 Wastewater Revenue Refunding Bonds: Approved to issue up to $32,000,000 in refunding bonds to refinance the remaining $29,620,000 of 2014 wastewater bonds, achieving net present value savings of 3.79% (about $1.2 million total). Council waived the 3% debt policy threshold. Approved 6-0.
• 15.6 Measure A Expenditure Guidelines: Approved a resolution establishing formal guidelines for Measure A (3/4-cent sales tax). The plan allocates 65% to law enforcement/crime prevention (including sworn positions, equipment, OVP) and 35% to general city services (including bankruptcy recovery costs). The FY 2024-25 expenditure plan shows 80% budgeted for law enforcement/OVP. Approved 6-0.
• 15.7 FY 2023-24 1st & 2nd Quarter Budget Status Update: Approved budget amendments totaling $828,214 from various funds (Development Services, Measure K) to cover IT, indirect costs, and a transfer for traffic signal projects. Revenues were 25.1% of budget at mid-year, with a projected surplus of $14.9 million; expenditures were 38% of budget, with police $17.6 million under budget due to vacancies. Approved 6-0.
• 15.8 Appropriation of $3,000,000 for Council Priority Projects: Approved with an amendment. Council approved the Budget/Finance/Economic Committee's recommended list of 11 projects, including:
  • Groupie Park: Convert three tennis courts to 10 permanent pickleball courts ($750,000)
  • Van Buskirk Park: Playground and court repairs ($500,000)
  • Mormon Slough sidewalk gap closure ($350,000)
  • Van Buskirk Park tennis lights/solar ($289,443 contingency, reduced by $20,000)
  • Other projects: Swanson Park picnic shelter, playground safety surfacing, and more. Councilmember Blower successfully moved to allocate $20,000 from contingency to the