Stockton City Council/Successor Agency/Public Financing Authority/Parking Authority Concurrent Meeting – April 15, 2025

The Stockton City Council held a concurrent meeting on April 15, 2025, starting with a closed session at 4:01 PM and reconvening publicly at 5:30 PM. The regular session lasted until 11:37 PM and covered a wide range of issues including fire protection at the Port of Stockton, fire hydrant maintenance, a moratorium on new smoke shops, a public censure of Councilmember Villapudua, and the allocation of $1 million in discretionary funds. The council also approved several consent calendar items and heard extensive public testimony.

Consent Calendar

• Approved a resolution authorizing the summary vacation of waterline and public utility easements at Westlake Villages (Resolution 2025-04-15-1201).
• Preliminarily approved the 2025-26 Annual Engineers’ Report and budget for the Stockton Consolidated Storm Drainage Maintenance Assessment District 2005-1, setting a public hearing for June 3, 2025 (Resolution 2025-04-15-1202).
• Authorized the purchase of membrane filters from FilmTec Corporation for the Delta Water Treatment Plant in the amount of $486,981.20 (Resolution 2025-04-15-1203).
• Awarded a three-year on-call streetlight foundation repairs contract to St. Francis Electric, LLC for up to $450,000, with optional extensions totaling $750,000 (Resolution 2025-04-15-1204).
• Preliminarily approved the Central Stockton Lighting Maintenance District and the Stockton Consolidated Landscape Maintenance Assessment District No. 96-2 annual budgets, setting public hearings for June 3, 2025 (Resolutions 2025-04-15-1205 and 2025-04-15-1206).
• Preliminarily approved the 2025-26 annual assessments for six industrial storm drainage basin maintenance districts, setting a public hearing for June 3, 2025 (Resolutions 2025-04-15-1207-01 through -06).
• Approved the third amendment to the 2025 council meeting calendar, adding an April 29, 2025 meeting (Motion 2025-04-15-1208, passed 6-1).

Public Comments & Testimony

• General Public Comment (matters not on the agenda):

  • Julie Dunning thanked the council for recent audit committee actions and urged further accountability for the former city manager and auditor.
  • Pandora Crowder (Conway Homes Resident Council) announced a backpack giveaway and requested school supply donations.
  • Maria Perkins (CG Entertainment) requested city sponsorship for an August 16, 2025 event at Weber’s Point.
  • Dominick Gulli raised concerns about the Lower San Joaquin River Project cost overruns (from $1.4B to $1.95B) and urged careful review.
  • Jon Ness and Donnie Flatt (Waterbury Drive residents) requested speed bumps, citing dangerous speeding (60-70 mph in a 25 mph zone) and multiple accidents.
  • Cynthia Gail Boyd complained about diminished quality of life and lack of response from elected officials regarding safety on her street; requested a meeting with the Mayor and Police Chief.
  • Paul Ratto (former Camp Stockton Silverlake president) offered to help reopen the 103-year-old camp.
  • Erica Parker (Victory Gardens veteran) described management issues at her apartment complex, including retaliation and failure to conduct welfare checks, leading to a resident dying undiscovered for five days.
  • James Hill (Housing Justice Coalition) noted that fire hydrants are broken by homeless individuals needing water for hygiene and urged more mobile washing stations and investment in homeless facilities.
  • Mary Elizabeth criticized minutes accuracy, street sweeping issues, and unaddressed graffiti at the library.

• Comments on Consent Item 12.7:

  • Mary Elizabeth questioned the adequacy of the engineer’s report for storm drainage districts, noting erosion from 2022-2023 floods and calling for upgraded infrastructure based on future climate data.

• Comments on New Business 15.1 (Discretionary Funds):

  • Julie Dunning praised the proposed funding for traffic calming and the Gospel Center Rescue Mission as aligned with council priorities.
  • Zed Khan advocated for solar lighting to reduce energy costs and improve safety.
  • Cynthia Gail Boyd supported prioritizing safety over application order for traffic calming.

• Comments on 15.2 (Fire Protection at the Port):

  • Julie Dunning cited risks from proposed hydrogen production and biomass storage projects at the port.
  • Devin Robson (Stockton Firefighters Union President) emphasized the resource burden on the city and lack of dedicated fire services at the port.
  • Mary Elizabeth noted that the port’s water infrastructure from the river is at risk from invasive golden mussels.
  • Pandora Crowder (community advocate) stated that port risks affect the entire city, especially South Stockton with high asthma rates, and that the port should pay for fire services.
  • Dan Richardson (District 4 resident) recounted a tanker rollover fire that required three engines and left his district uncovered, calling for the port to contribute.
  • John Luebberke (port attorney) argued that the port is the largest single property tax revenue source for the city and that it does pay for services, and that the city has an obligation to provide fire service within its borders.
  • Zaid Khan raised air quality concerns for residents living near the port.
  • Anitra Williams (clinician) warned that local hospitals are not equipped to handle burn patients from a potential port disaster.

• Comments on 15.3 (Fire Hydrants and Air Quality Notification):

  • Zaid Khan suggested using technology to monitor hydrants more efficiently.
  • Mary Elizabeth noted that Cal Water charges residents for hydrants and that rates are high.
  • Gurneel Boparai urged training residents through the CERT program and noted that Assemblymember Ransom has already trained 40 people in Tracy.

• Comments on 16.1 (Smoke Shop Moratorium):

  • Pandora Crowder said parents buy tobacco for children and urged holding parents accountable; asked about grandfathered shops near schools.
  • Marcus McDaniel (cigar lounge owner) asked that legitimate cigar lounges not be grouped with smoke shops.
  • Don Caral Cruz (American Cancer Society volunteer and three-time cancer survivor) urged a comprehensive ordinance to protect children, noting six smoke shops near a school.
  • Mary Elizabeth expressed distrust in city staff regarding conditional use permits for alcohol and tobacco.
  • Keesa Bruce (American Lung Association) recommended non-transferable licenses and free technical assistance from the Public Health Law Center.
  • Cynthia Gail Boyd questioned enforcement against existing illegally operating smoke shops.
  • Gurneel Boparai noted that gas stations also sell flavored tobacco and that state/federal enforcement is available.

• Comments on 16.3 (Main and Market Streets Project):

  • Patsy Morez (document filed) argued community outreach was inadequate and that the project would negatively impact emergency response.
  • Cynthia Gail Boyd criticized existing traffic issues and the need for better signal timing.
  • Gurneel Boparai requested a dedicated bus lane for emergency vehicles and transit, noting that promises for such lanes on California Street and Airport Way were not kept.

• Comments on 16.4 (Public Censure):

  • Pandora Crowder noted that the gesture was wrong but called for consistency, pointing to videos of other council members using similar language.
  • Ralph White echoed the call for accountability for all council members' public behavior.
  • Cynthia Gail Boyd asked for mercy and understanding, noting that the councilman is new and growing.
  • Gurneel Boparai said the councilman flipped off the entire community and has failed District 5 with business closures and inaction on homelessness; suggested resignation.

Discussion Items

• 15.1 – Allocation of $1,000,000 from FY 2023-24 Year-End Discretionary Funds:

  • Deputy City Manager Rosemary Rivas explained that the Budget/Finance/Economic Development Committee recommended $850,000 for the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) and $150,000 for the Gospel Center Rescue Mission.
  • Director of Public Works Chad Reed presented the current NTMP list and a prioritized list based on collision data. Councilmembers questioned the existing first-come, first-served process and agreed to shift to a safety-based priority. The Gospel Center funding was for the New Life program.
  • Outcome: Resolution 2025-04-15-1501 passed 7-0, appropriating $850,000 for NTMP and $150,000 for Gospel Center.

• 15.2 – Presentation and Discussion on Fire Protection at the Port of Stockton (Informational):

  • Fire Chief Richard Edwards detailed the gap: the Port of Stockton (2,000 acres, second largest in California) has no dedicated fire station. The city provides fire services without a formal agreement; response times can exceed 15 minutes. The port pays permit fees and possessory interest taxes ($83.2M since 2012), but direct fire protection costs are uncovered. Chief Edwards proposed a five-year cost estimate for staffing an engine and truck company, and options including a service contract, community facilities district, or state policy change.
  • Vice Mayor Lee and others emphasized the high risk of hazardous materials and potential environmental disaster. The city manager confirmed ongoing inquiries with the county assessor about tax revenue and jurisdictional issues.
  • Public testimony highlighted risks from proposed hydrogen and biomass projects, and the lack of dedicated fire service.
  • Outcome: Informational item; no action taken. Council directed the city manager to continue negotiations with the port.

• 15.3 – Presentation and Discussion on Fire Hydrants and Air Quality Notification Following the April 2 Three-Alarm Fire (Informational):

  • Deputy Chief Brandon Doolin recounted the fire at a recycling plant (2422 South California). Two public hydrants were out of service; one already had a red “out of service” tag. Firefighters overcame the challenge with water tenders and alternative hydrants. The fire produced toxic smoke from car parts and batteries.
  • He explained notification systems: Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) through San Joaquin County OES (requires a call chain) and the voluntary Everbridge system (only 25,000 subscribers). The department did not issue a WEA that night due to late hour; council expressed expectation for better public alerts.
  • Deputy Director of Water Resources Travis Small reported that the city has 7,500 public hydrants (1,500 private). Currently about 20-23 are non-operational due to damage, often from homeless misuse (brass stems stripped). Annual inspections by Xylem Dewatering identify issues; MUD repairs them from a $289,000 annual budget. Only four hydrants are replaced per year; many are over 50 years old. MUD and fire department agreed to improve communication and provide daily status updates.
  • Councilmember Blower questioned the fragmented responsibility (MUD vs. Cal Water) and the need for long-term solutions, possibly transferring ownership to water purveyors. The mayor suggested exploring sensor technology. Fire Chief Edwards clarified the water system is robust.
  • Outcome: Informational item; no action taken. Council urged better internal communication and exploration of funding for hydrant replacement.

• 16.1 – Public Hearing: Extension of Urgency Ordinance (Smoke Shop Moratorium):

  • Revenue Officer Sharon Dillingo presented proposed regulations including safety/security plans, distance requirements (1,000-2,500 feet), caps on licenses, and increased penalties ($25,000 per day for flavored tobacco violations). The extension is for 10 months and 15 days under state law.
  • Mayor Fugazi proposed even stricter provisions, including seizure of all flavored tobacco products.
  • Councilmembers expressed strong support for a comprehensive permanent ordinance.
  • Outcome: Urgency Ordinance 2025-04-15-1601 approved 7-0, extending the moratorium until February 2026.

• 16.2 – Public Hearing: Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, etc. (HUD Programs):

  • Deputy Director Jordan Peterson presented the plan for CDBG, HOME, and ESG funding for 2025-2029. The process included extensive outreach since September2024.
  • Vice Mayor Lee requested more time for council to review applications and scoring.
  • Outcome: Motion to continue to April29, 2025 passed 7-0.

• 16.3 – Public Hearing: Negative Declaration and Precise Road Plan for Main and Market Street Complete Streets Project:

  • Consultant Paul Schneider and staff presented the plan to reduce lanes from two to one in each direction, add buffered bike lanes, bulb-outs, and roundabouts to calm traffic and improve safety. The project has $8 million in grants at risk if delayed. The planning commission recommended approval.
  • Councilmember Villapudua tried to table the item but failed (no second). Councilmembers expressed support for investment in the east side but concerns about community outreach; Schneider noted future design-phase outreach.
  • Outcome: Resolution 2025-04-15-1603 passed 7-0, adopting the initial study/negative declaration and approving the precise road plan.

• 16.4 – Public Hearing: Public Censure of Councilmember Villapudua:

  • City Clerk Katherine Rowland explained the process. Vice Mayor Lee initiated the censure after a video showed Councilmember Villapudua making an obscene gesture at a member of the public during the March4 meeting. The Ad Hoc Committee (Mayor Fugazi, Councilmember Enríquez, Councilmember Ponce) recommended censure.
  • Councilmember Villapudua apologized to District5 and the city, stating he is focused on results.
  • Councilmembers debated the severity; some noted the previous censure (former councilmember) involved misuse of funds ($10,000+). Vice Mayor Lee defended the action as upholding accountability. Councilmember Blauer urged consistency and noted the councilman’s apology.
  • Outcome: Resolution 2025-04-15-1604 passed 6-0 (Councilmember Villapudua abstained), approving the censure.

Key Outcomes

• Approval of $1 million discretionary funding: $850,000 for Neighborhood Traffic Management (prioritized by collision data) and $150,000 for Gospel Center Rescue Mission (Resolution 2025-04-15-1501, 7-0).
• Extension of smoke shop moratorium: Extended until approximately February 2026 to allow development of permanent regulations (Ordinance 2025-04-15-1601, 7-0).
• Approval of Main and Market Street Complete Streets Plan: Adopted CEQA negative declaration and precise road plan (Resolution 2025-04-15-1603, 7-0).
• Public Censure of Councilmember Villapudua: Approved (Resolution 2025-04-15-1604, 6-0 with one abstention).
• Deferral of HUD consolidated plan: Continued to April 29, 2025 meeting (Motion 2025-04-15-1602, 7-0).
• Consent calendar approved: 7-0 (except item 12.8 on meeting calendar, passed 6-1).
• Directed city manager to negotiate with Port of Stockton for fire protection services and to continue revenue analysis.
• Directed staff to improve hydrant communication and explore funding for replacement and maintenance.
• Added April 29, 2025 council meeting to the calendar (Motion 2025-04-15-1208, 6-1).