The Stockton City Council met in concurrent session on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, beginning with a closed session at 4:00 p.m. and convening the regular open session at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 425 N. El Dorado St. All seven councilmembers were present. The council approved consent items, adopted a councilmember and commissioner conduct policy, initiated formation of Community Facilities District No. 2024-1, and approved entitlements for four parcels to be added to the Mariposa Industrial Park. The meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
The consent calendar was approved 7-0 with items 12.5 and 12.6 pulled for separate discussion. The following consent items were approved:
Councilmember Wright expressed strong support for removing drunk drivers from the road but raised concern that checkpoints sometimes lead to impoundments for expired registration or lack of insurance, which he called a 'crime of poverty,' and said he preferred saturation enforcement. Police staff replied that checkpoints are focused on impaired drivers, are legally regulated, and involve officer discretion; education is the first tool, though vehicles may be towed after repeated registration violations. Vice Mayor Warmsley asked that enforcement be distributed across the city; staff noted roadway design and legal requirements constrain checkpoint placement. Resolution 2024-09-17-1205 accepting the $518,000 grant passed 7-0.
Councilmembers celebrated the long-awaited pool renovation. Staff said the contract would be executed in about 45 days and the goal was delivery in summer 2025. Councilmember Villapudua asked about contractor qualifications; staff said CWS Construction Group had been on the approved pre-qualified bidder list. Resolution 2024-09-17-1206 relieving Tricon Construction of its bid, approving plans, and awarding $7,355,000 to CWS Construction Group passed 7-0.
Staff said the councilmember creed was redrafted to include commissioners at the direction of the Legislation and Environmental Committee, with research including a robust Sacramento policy. Councilmembers praised the work; Vice Mayor Warmsley said it raised ethical standards and responded to the grand jury's report. Resolution 2024-09-17-1501 adopting the conduct policy and creed passed 7-0.
Ken Deeker of Del Rio Advisors presented the first step of a two-step CFD formation. The initial boundary would be the Mariposa Industrial Park, which currently has a Walmart distribution center and is adding about 1.2 million square feet of facilities; future development in the annexation territory would be asked to join the CFD. Special taxes would fund fire-related facilities and services, including one or more fire stations. The maximum facility special tax was proposed at $650 per acre per year with 2% annual growth while bonds are outstanding, and the maximum services special tax was proposed at $1,637 per acre per year with up to 4% annual growth in perpetuity. Bonded indebtedness was capped at $50 million. A public hearing was set for Nov. 12, 2024. Fire Chief Rick Edwards said the first station would likely be between Highway 99 and Airport Way along the Arch Road corridor to support four-minute response times. Councilmembers spoke in support, citing public safety, reinvestment in South Stockton, jobs, and infrastructure. Resolutions 2024-09-17-1502-01 and 2024-09-17-1502-02 passed 7-0.
The public hearing was opened for a request concerning APNs 179-220-14, -15, -25, and -26 at 5252, 5262, and 5276 East Mariposa Road. Assistant Community Development Director Mike McDowell said the original industrial park was approved in 2022 and annexed; the four parcels include two rural residential parcels, an access road parcel, and a parcel in the city limits without zoning. The request was to approve an EIR addendum, prezone/rezone to Industrial Limited, amend the development agreement, and file an annexation application with LAFCO. The original approval allows up to 3.6 million square feet, and the four parcels would not add square footage. Rob Mitchell, the developer, spoke in support, explaining that he had originally faced holdout homeowners and needed speed to keep Walmart from going to Nevada; the new parcels would allow a more efficient building layout without increasing traffic or pollution. Vice Mayor Warmsley confirmed with staff that no new environmental impacts or mitigation were identified and that the parcels would be subject to the same EIR mitigation measures as the rest of the industrial park; staff noted those measures had been extensive because of the Sierra Club and the Attorney General's office. The hearing was closed, and Resolution 2024-09-17-1601-01, Resolution 2024-09-17-1601-02, Ordinance 2024-09-17-1601-01, and Ordinance 2024-09-17-1601-02 were approved 7-0. Next steps include LAFCO annexation and site plan/design review.
Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to closed session for Stockton City Council. Today is September 17th, 2024. City Clerk, please take roll. Councilmember Padilla. Present. Councilmember Wright. Councilmember Blower. Present. Councilmember Lenz. Present. Councilmember Via Padua. Present. Vice Mayor Wormsley? Present. And Mayor Lincoln. Present. We have a quorum. Thank you. Item two, additions to closed session agenda. There are no additions today's closed session. So we'll move on. Item three, announcements of closed session 3.1, conference with labor negotiator. This closed session is authorized pursuant to Section 54957. Item 3.2, public employee performance evaluation. This closed session is authorized pursuant to government code, Section 54957 B. And item four, public comment. City Clerk, do we have any comments from members of the public this afternoon? We do not, Mayor. Thank you. Item 5 recessed to close session. This body will now adjourn to closed session. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the regular session of Stockton City Council. Today is September 17th, 2024. City Clerk, please take roll. Councilmember Padilla, present. Councilmember Wright. Present. Councilmember Blauer. Present. Councilmember Lenz. Present. Councilmember Via Padua. Present. Vice Mayor Wormsley? Present. And Mayor Lincoln. Present. We have a quorum. Thank you. At this time, I'd like to ask Councilmember Blower to lead us in the flag salute.