Stockton City Council and Concurrent Boards Regular Meeting – March 18, 2025

The Stockton City Council met in concurrent session with the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency, Public Financing Authority, and Parking Authority on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. The meeting began with a 4:00 PM closed session and reconvened in public regular session; all seven councilmembers were present. The City Attorney reported no reportable closed-session action. The regular session included recognitions, public comment, consent items, two new-business items, three public hearings, the City Manager’s update, and council comments, adjourning at 9:56 PM.

Consent Calendar

All consent calendar items were approved 7-0. Items 12.6 and 12.7 were considered separately after being pulled.

• 12.1 Staples Cooperative Agreement – Approved an exception to competitive bidding and a cooperative purchase agreement through Sourcewell with Staples Contract and Commercial LLC for office equipment, products, and supplies, with a total not-to-exceed amount of $3,400,000 and a term ending February 2, 2029.
• 12.2 E&I Cooperative Purchasing Agreement – Approved a cooperative purchasing agreement through E&I Cooperative Services with Vantage Electrical Group for electrical parts and supplies, totaling $236,000 through August 31, 2028.
• 12.3 Measure W Oversight Committee Appointment – Ratified the appointment of Rena Rodgers to the Measure W Oversight Committee through January 31, 2029.
• 12.4 City Council Minutes – Approved the minutes of the February 18, 2025 City Council meeting.
• 12.5 Emergency Solar Lights Purchase – Ratified an emergency purchase order with Fonroche Lighting America for 17 solar lights at the March Lane Underpass in the amount of $117,550.
• 12.6 Police Pursuit Trucks – Approved Resolution 2025-03-18-1206 ratifying the emergency purchase of six police pursuit Chevrolet Silverado trucks from Future Chevrolet of Sacramento, CA, in the amount of $598,843.62, and appropriating $499,036.35 from the Fleet Internal Service Fund Balance. Staff explained the emergency procurement was used because the trucks were already upfitted, cutting procurement time in half.
• 12.7 Pixie Woods Tree Trim and Brush Removal – Approved Resolution 2025-03-18-1207 transferring $148,518.29 between Pixie Woods projects and approving Change Order No. 2 for $183,132.61 with P31 Enterprises, Inc. for the Pixie Woods Tree Trim and Brush Removal Project. Public commenter Dan Richardson raised concerns about P31’s tree-trimming methods and urged city oversight.

Recognitions, Announcements, or Reports

• San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Chair Paul Canepa presented a certificate recognizing the City of Stockton on the county’s 175th anniversary. Philip Merlo, Executive Director of the San Joaquin County Historical Society, gave historical remarks about Stockton’s role as a gateway for immigration, agriculture, and industry.

Public Comments & Testimony

Members of the public spoke on matters not on the agenda. Their positions included:

• Dan Richardson thanked the police for enforcing municipal codes along Pershing Avenue, requested enforcement of Vehicle Code 27007 regarding excessive vehicle noise, and asked that a Pershing Avenue update be agendized.
• Shelly Stapleton, General Manager of La Quinta near I-5 and March Lane, raised urgent public safety concerns about homeless encampments on Caltrans property, reporting gunshots that day, break-ins, fires, and a $1.5 million revenue decline over three years. She asked for real, lasting action.
• Yolanda Amen urged the city to hire more city workers for tree maintenance, hire local electricians to maintain city lights, reduce outsourcing, and spend funds carefully.
• Zoyla Moreno said Spanish-speaking community members feel invisible and voiceless, thanked specific councilmembers for their responsiveness, and submitted a document.
• Pat Barrett asked for larger shade trees, safe parking/camping solutions with wraparound services for unhoused residents, and more public parking near City Hall.
• Dorton Nicholas opposed the Downtown Stockton Alliance’s annexation and assessment process, calling it a yes-only ballot and questioning the district boundaries as gerrymandered.
• Armando Rodriguez alleged that smoke shops are selling fentanyl-laced tobacco and mushrooms to youth, and asked the city to invest in a full-time grant writer to pursue federal funding.
• Mary Elizabeth invited the community to the AB617 Stockton Steering Committee meeting on April 2, 2025, and read a poem about groundwater stakeholder engagement.
• Edwin Valdes voiced concern about youth gun violence and proposed a Superman-themed community world-record event and a legacy center for youth.
• Greg Raffetto, a homeless community member, advocated for peer-led responsibility and offered to serve as a homeless liaison for $1 per year.
• Alberto Gonzalez thanked the city for tree planting events, requested more city tree workers and fruit trees, and supported lighting improvements.
• Amani Eiol asked for peace and security in the city and referenced the See Something Say Something campaign.
• Barry Rhodes Sr. requested after-school and summer youth programs in District 6 and asked about equitable cannabis licensing for people previously harmed by marijuana enforcement.

Discussion Items

Miracle Mile Pedestrian Safety Improvements and Revitalization Project (15.1)

The City Council voted 7-0 to award a Professional Services Contract to Siegfried Engineering, Inc. of Stockton, CA, in the amount of $2,194,000 for design of the Miracle Mile Pedestrian Safety Improvements and Revitalization Project, Project No. WT24043/PLBP-5008(203). Staff reported that $20 million in state funding was secured through Assembly Bill 179 in 2022, that an ad hoc community working group produced a 269-page conceptual report in May 2024, and that seven proposals were received on January 21, 2025. Siegfried Engineering committed to reaching 30% overall design and 100% first-phase design by fall 2026, holding eight public meetings, and applying for eight grants. Council discussion noted that total project cost is not yet known and that community input will help determine the first phase.

Stockton Police Department Substations Update (15.2)

This item was informational only; no action was taken. Deputy Chief Tony Sager presented staffing and substation models for South Stockton, including proposed substations in Weston Ranch and the Sierra Vista area and a future “Public Safety Bridge Center” concept to co-locate police with other city services. The next step is for the City Manager’s Office to identify locations and a budget; a substation item is expected to return to council as a consent item in May. Councilmembers expressed support, with Vice Mayor Lee highlighting the need for community integration and Councilmember Ponce requesting consideration of a North Stockton substation.

Hearings

Home Depot Office and Industrial Sales Tax Incentive Agreement (16.1)

By a 6-1 vote, with Councilmember Ponce dissenting, the City Council adopted Resolution 2025-03-18-1601 approving an Office and Industrial Sales Tax Incentive Agreement with Home Depot USA, Inc. and amending the Office and Industrial Sales Tax Incentive Program guidelines. The agreement shares one percent of the city’s Bradley-Burns sales tax with Home Depot for a term of 20 years with two 5-year extensions. A March 14, 2025 memo distributed at the meeting corrected the term from the originally misstated 15 years; the 15-year figure is the length of Home Depot’s underlying lease. Home Depot representatives reported a 600,000–700,000 square foot e-commerce point-of-sale distribution center at the Port of Stockton, under construction with a capital investment of $130–160 million, retaining 80–120 jobs, projected annual taxable sales of $50–100 million, and city revenue from the split of $250,000–$500,000 annually. Program guideline changes include a standardized $50,000 capital investment threshold, a standardized 50/50 tax split, and exclusion of businesses relocating from elsewhere in San Joaquin County. Public commenter Mary Elizabeth, submitting comments from the Delta-Sierra Group of the Sierra Club, cited unmitigated air quality and health impacts near the port and asked the council not to adopt the incentive package.

2024 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports (16.2)

The City Council voted 7-0 to adopt the 2024 Annual Progress Reports for the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan and the 2023-2031 Housing Element and authorize submission to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Office of Planning and Research. Staff reported that Stockton’s share of the regional housing need allocation is 12,673 units in the eight-year cycle, requiring an average of about 1,500 new units per year. In 2024, the city issued permits for 837 total new housing units, including 253 very low-income units, 31 low-income units, and 52 accessory dwelling units. Public commenters Mary Elizabeth and LanPhoung Nguyen argued the city should do more to produce affordable housing and criticized outdated development fees and incentives for market-rate housing. Council discussion included a request from Mayor Fugazi to bring forward the Stockton Economic Stimulus Program and public facility fee/nexus study, and Vice Mayor Lee called for a broader study session on city taxes, fees, rent stabilization, and inclusionary housing.

Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Sustainability Plan Amendment (16.3)

The City Council voted 7-0 to adopt Resolution 2025-03-18-1603 approving the 2024 Groundwater Sustainability Plan Amendment and the 2025 Periodic Evaluation for the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin, authorizing submission to the Department of Water Resources and implementation. Staff highlighted that the basin is one of 21 in critical overdraft, that the city is part of the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Authority, and that city projects include the completed Well No. 8 rehabilitation near Ernie Shopsire Park, planned groundwater recharge basins at the Delta Water Treatment Plant, and an automated meter reading program. Public commenter Mary Elizabeth said the city’s Water Advisory Group had only one day to review the 1,600-page amendment and requested that the resolution direct collaboration with local stakeholder groups. Dan Richardson praised groundwater recharge/percolation ponds as essential. Mayor Fugazi expressed support for including collaboration with local agencies in the resolution; the motion carried 7-0.

City Manager’s Update

Interim City Manager Steve Colangelo reported on recent and upcoming activities, including: staff work on 24-25 accomplishments for strategic planning workshops; Public Works implementation of a CIP software management system; the Fire Station #7 and Truck #7 ribbon cutting on March 19, 2025; a CENCAL Fire Authority EMS services meeting; the Lower San Joaquin River Levee Project groundbreaking on April 18, 2025, with construction from mid-April 2025 through October 2026; the Victory Park pool tour; a one-on-one meeting program with councilmembers; the Stocktonian of the Year event in June; and a City Council Workshop on April 1, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the University Waterfront Hotel.

Council Comments

Councilmembers made announcements and gave staff direction on several topics:

• Councilmember Padilla announced a March 22 coffee hour, an April 6 homelessness ad hoc committee meeting, and park clean-up events; requested abandoned vehicle and pallet ordinances for the April 1 meeting; and asked for department presentations to council within 45 days.
• Vice Mayor Lee promoted the Ask Stockton app and the See Something Say Something campaign; announced a March 25 police community meeting at Sierra Vista; requested a no-ski-mask/no-face-mask ordinance; requested a homeless plan presentation and special study session within 45 days; raised concerns about county tax-sharing rates and a county-proposed golf course homeless shelter site; and discussed youth conferences and port AB617 job opportunities.
• Councilmember Villapudua announced a March 19 annual action plan meeting, proposed a vacant building ordinance based on square footage, and supported addressing abandoned vehicles.
• Councilmember Enríquez announced a Transgender Day of Visibility event at University of the Pacific on March 19, thanked West Care’s women’s re-entry program, provided updates on the Victory Park pool and street repairs, and requested a Pershing Avenue presentation at an April meeting.
• Councilmember Blower praised the police department press conference, reported on the Visit Stockton board retreat and Fire Station #7 dedication, and announced office hours at Seifert Community Center.
• Mayor Fugazi thanked the police department, requested a food truck park ordinance referral to the Legislation Committee, noted over 300 city vacancies, highlighted tree maintenance and solar/smart lighting efforts, supported keeping the Oak Park snack bar, reported on language services, noted the food bank served 83,000 Stockton residents, and announced the State of the City on June 10, 2025, at Stockton Arena.

Key Outcomes

• The consent calendar was approved 7-0, with items 12.6 and 12.7 approved separately by 7-0 votes.
• The Miracle Mile design contract was awarded to Siegfried Engineering, Inc., $2,194,000, by a 7-0 vote.
• The SPD Substations update was informational only; a May consent item is planned with proposed locations and a budget.
• The Home Depot sales tax incentive agreement and program guideline amendments were approved 6-1, with Councilmember Ponce voting no.
• The 2024 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports were adopted 7-0.
• The 2024 Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Sustainability Plan Amendment was adopted 7-0.
• Council directed staff on follow-up items including abandoned vehicle and pallet ordinances, a no-ski-mask/no-face-mask ordinance, a food truck park policy, city fee waiver and nexus studies, department presentations, and a Pershing Avenue update.