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Record of Proceedings

Stockton City Council Swearing-In Ceremony and First Meeting - January 7, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, January 7, 2025
BodyStockton, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 7, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:59:45

Transcript — Verbatim
1:07

Okay, let's say.

1:55

Welcome everyone.

1:58

Today is the swearing in ceremony for the city council, our council meeting for January seventh, two thousand twenty-five.

2:05

Wanna welcome you all to the historic Fob Hope Theater.

2:07

We're going to begin today with an invocation by Bishop Doctory.

2:11

Dockery.

2:21

Somebody needs to cure.

2:25

Somebody needs to cure.

2:34

Yes, stage manager.

3:00

All that can.

3:01

Would you do me a favor and stand to your feet?

3:03

All that would.

3:08

And we're going to pray for this year.

3:11

Happy New Year to all of you.

3:13

And we're going to pray and ask God's blessings upon our city and our officials in Jesus' name.

3:20

Father, right now, in Jesus' name, we thank you for another year.

3:24

Thank you, God that you have blessed us to be here on tonight.

3:29

A new year, a new time, a new season, new opportunities, new inspirations, new aspirations.

3:35

Father, we ask now, God that you would bless all of our officials.

3:38

Oh, God, bless, oh God, our city.

3:41

Bless our community.

3:42

Father, this year we pray that crime would go down.

3:46

Father, we pray, oh God, that graduations would go up.

3:50

Father, we pray this year that taxes would go down.

3:54

And housing opportunities would go up.

3:58

Father, we pray tonight, God, that you would blanket our city.

4:02

Let your grace and your favor rest upon us.

4:06

Father, we pray for economic opportunity to hit San Joaquin County.

4:12

Father, we pray God for our officials.

4:15

We pray for Mayor Fugazi.

4:17

Oh, God, and her entire team.

4:19

Vice Mayor Jason Lee.

4:21

In the name of Jesus, God, we pray for Brandon Philip Padu Padua.

4:26

Father, we pray for Mary Mary Ella Pots.

4:30

Mario Enriquez.

4:32

Father, we pray for our chief of police and his entire team.

4:36

Father, let safety, oh God, come to our city in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

4:42

Father, we even pray for our city manager on today.

4:46

Give them all the willpower, the understanding, the knowledge.

4:50

Oh God, the forbearance.

4:52

Oh God, the unity for this city, for this people, for our family.

4:57

In the name of the Lord Jesus, and Father, we bless you tonight.

5:00

And Father, we bless you tonight.

5:01

Thank you, God, for what you're going to do.

5:03

Thank you, God, for a new season.

5:05

Thank you for a new year.

5:07

Thank you, God, for a brand new opportunity.

5:09

Thank you, God, for a new city.

5:11

Thank you, God, for a new Stockton.

5:14

And Father, I pray.

5:16

Oh God, that this community would rise up to meet every challenge that faces us in the name of the Lord.

5:24

Father, I pray tonight, oh God, that you would just continue to bless us and do with our city all that we have empowered to do, all that we have dreamed to do.

5:36

All God that you have put in our hearts to do.

5:39

Let the city of Stockton be a beacon in our county, in our state.

5:47

Father, bless us, and we shall be blessed.

5:50

It is in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that we pray.

5:54

Amen and amen.

6:03

Thank you, Bishop Dohrey.

6:06

Well, now do the Pledge of Allegiance.

6:08

Councilmember Padilla, would you please lead us in the pledge?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement████████████████████████████████████36%
Procedural████████████████16%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Youth Programs███████████11%
Public Engagement█████5%
Affordable Housing███3%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Homelessness██2%
Veterans Affairs██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Stockton City Council Swearing-In Ceremony and First Meeting - January 7, 2025

This special meeting of the Stockton City Council, held at the Bob Hope Theatre on January 7, 2025, began at 6:31 PM and adjourned at 8:34 PM. The meeting featured the swearing-in of newly elected councilmembers and mayor, followed by the first regular business of the new council. All votes were unanimous (7-0).

Swearing-In Ceremony

  • Mariela Ponce (District 2): Oath administered by Mayor Christina Fugazi. Ponce expressed gratitude and outlined priorities: public safety, schools, homelessness, and economic opportunities.
  • Mario Enríquez (District 4): Oath administered by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom. Enríquez shared his personal story of overcoming homelessness and pledged to fight for Stockton, particularly District 4.
  • Jason Lee (District 6): Oath administered by Malcolm Bell. Lee spoke about his foster care experience, surviving gun violence, and his commitment to youth, affordable housing, and transparent governance.
  • Christina Fugazi (Mayor): Oath administered by her father, Ronald Fugazi. Fugazi outlined her "first 100 days" plans, including "Light Up Stockton," mental health units in the police department, summer youth employment programs, free swimming and youth sports, and ending "sweetheart deals" for developers.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Motecuzuma Sanchez (209 Times): Congratulated council and noted the historic first majority-Mexican representation on the council.
  • Akbar Bibb (SEIU 1021): Thanked council for labor support.
  • Mary Elizabeth (4th generation Stocktonian): Urged appointments to the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Subbasin Authority, highlighted asthma incidence, and called for reducing liquor and smoke shops.
  • Cynthia Gail Boyd: Requested action on unlicensed vendors and noisy parties.
  • Maria & Visionary Home Builders: Urged affordable housing as a top priority.
  • Destiny Rivas (Native American community): Asked for representation on boards and attention to urban Native issues.
  • Steven Bejaorquez (Native American community): Offered assistance.
  • Paul Kinjo (Mayor of Lathrop): Congratulated and offered collaboration.
  • Mercedes Heredia (Angels Recovery Dive Team): Supported free swim lessons.
  • Pandora Crowder (Conway Homes Resident Council): Thanked council and requested road safety improvements on Mariposa Road.
  • Vincent Cantino: Criticized absentee landlords and called for actual property inspections.
  • Nate Williams (Soyce for Freedom): Spoke about violence prevention and his work with incarcerated individuals.
  • Ivan (breakdancing studio): Urged investment in youth arts.
  • Lang Nguyen (Asian Pacific Public Affairs): Asked for better police response to break-ins in the Asian community.
  • Pastor Trina Turner (Victory and Praise Church): Urged council to utilize local organizations rather than outsourcing.
  • Tia Barnes (Faith in the Valley): Congratulated and pledged partnership.
  • Justice Baca (foster youth): Asked for focus on foster youth programs.
  • Renee Jones: Shared personal story of her daughter voting with Jason Lee’s staff.
  • Ed Stockton: Offered $100 million for a digital twin of the city.
  • Rick Demas: Praised the Ask Stockton app and asked for community volunteers.
  • Edwin Valdez: Proposed a fatherhood legacy center funded by cannabis taxes.
  • Multiple other speakers offered congratulations, prayers, and requests for youth programs, public safety, and homeless services.

Discussion Items

3.1 Mayoral Appointment of Vice Mayor (Resolution 2025-01-07-0301):

  • Councilmember Michele Padilla moved, Michael Blower seconded. Motion carried 7-0, appointing Councilmember Jason Lee as Vice Mayor.

3.2 Mayoral Appointments to Council Committees and Committee Structure/Function Roster (Resolution 2025-01-07-0302):

  • A memo with revisions was distributed. Motion by Padilla, seconded by Enríquez. Carried 7-0.

3.3 Adopt a Resolution Appointing a Position in the Office of the Mayor (Resolution 2025-01-07-0303):

  • Appointed one new employee (Leenisha Ward, PIO II) to fill the final vacancy in the Mayor’s Office. Motion by Lee, seconded by Enríquez. Carried 7-0.

Council Comments & Additional Motions

  • Councilmember Blower: Welcomed new members and thanked the public.
  • Councilmember Enríquez: Announced a Saturday coffee meeting on public safety and highlighted Ask Stockton app; noted boards/commission appointments will be approved Jan 21.
  • Vice Mayor Lee: Acknowledged recent shootings/homicides; called for transparency on ASM Global contract threats; made motion for two study sessions within 45 days: (1) policies on contract procurement/extensions/amendments, and (2) review of money awarded to building contractors (Stan Project and Visionary Home Builders). Motion carried 7-0. Also requested agenda discussion on restoring substations in Western Ranch and Southeast Stockton.
  • Councilmember Padilla: Requested a detailed investigation and report on allocation of Measure A funds, to be agendized by Jan 21. Motion supported.
  • Councilmember Villapudua: Thanked community and expressed excitement to work with new council.
  • Councilmember Ponce: Thanked attendees.
  • Mayor Fugazi: Thanked Mary Elizabeth for data on liquor/smoke shops; requested department directors present updates on form, function, and major projects at a regular meeting; closed meeting with a moment of silence for firefighter Robert "Bobby" Van Ruiten.

Key Outcomes

  • Jason Lee appointed Vice Mayor (7-0).
  • Mayoral committee appointments approved (7-0).
  • New mayoral staff position (Leenisha Ward) approved (7-0).
  • Study sessions on contract procurement and building contractor awards ordered within 45 days (7-0).
  • Councilmember Padilla’s request for a detailed Measure A fund allocation report supported; to be agendized by Jan 21.
  • Discussion on restoring police substations in South Stockton agendized with two council members’ support.
  • Council will receive department updates on form, function, and major projects at a future regular meeting.
  • Next regular council meeting scheduled for January 21, 2025, including boards and commissions appointments.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, let's say. Welcome everyone. Today is the swearing in ceremony for the city council, our council meeting for January seventh, two thousand twenty-five. Wanna welcome you all to the historic Fob Hope Theater. We're going to begin today with an invocation by Bishop Doctory. Dockery. Somebody needs to cure. Somebody needs to cure. Yes, stage manager. All that can. Would you do me a favor and stand to your feet? All that would. And we're going to pray for this year. Happy New Year to all of you. And we're going to pray and ask God's blessings upon our city and our officials in Jesus' name. Father, right now, in Jesus' name, we thank you for another year. Thank you, God that you have blessed us to be here on tonight. A new year, a new time, a new season, new opportunities, new inspirations, new aspirations. Father, we ask now, God that you would bless all of our officials. Oh, God, bless, oh God, our city. Bless our community. Father, this year we pray that crime would go down. Father, we pray, oh God, that graduations would go up. Father, we pray this year that taxes would go down. And housing opportunities would go up. Father, we pray tonight, God, that you would blanket our city. Let your grace and your favor rest upon us. Father, we pray for economic opportunity to hit San Joaquin County. Father, we pray God for our officials. We pray for Mayor Fugazi. Oh, God, and her entire team. Vice Mayor Jason Lee. In the name of Jesus, God, we pray for Brandon Philip Padu Padua. Father, we pray for Mary Mary Ella Pots. Mario Enriquez. Father, we pray for our chief of police and his entire team. Father, let safety, oh God, come to our city in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, we even pray for our city manager on today. Give them all the willpower, the understanding, the knowledge. Oh God, the forbearance. Oh God, the unity for this city, for this people, for our family. In the name of the Lord Jesus, and Father, we bless you tonight. And Father, we bless you tonight. Thank you, God, for what you're going to do. Thank you, God, for a new season. Thank you for a new year. Thank you, God, for a brand new opportunity. Thank you, God, for a new city. Thank you, God, for a new Stockton. And Father, I pray.

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