OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Stockton City Council Meeting – July 29, 2025: Appointments, Ordinances, and Homeless Services Update

City Council — Tuesday, July 29, 2025
BodyStockton, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 29, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 5:35:54

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:09

I'd like to welcome you to Stockton City Council closed session meeting on July 29th.

0:16

Let's go ahead and do a roll call.

0:19

Councilmember Blauer Present.

0:21

Councilmember Enriquez.

0:23

Councilmember Ponce is absent.

0:26

Councilmember Padilla is absent.

0:28

Councilmember Via Padua present.

0:30

Vice Mayor Lee?

0:31

Present.

0:32

And Mayor Fugazi.

0:33

Present.

0:33

We have a quorum.

0:34

Wonderful.

0:36

Do we have any additions to uh the closed session agenda?

0:43

Seeing none, hearing none.

0:46

Um at this time, uh, I will uh if there's any public comment uh for closed session.

0:53

Do we have any cards?

0:56

Oh, sorry.

0:57

Closed session with uh our negotiator for item 54957.6A and then performance evaluation 54957B again 5497B.

1:13

Uh uh discipline dismissal 54957 and then appointment, public employment appointment 54957B.

1:25

Okay, so at this time, uh is there any public comment?

1:29

We do.

1:30

May I have Matthew Lester to the podium, please.

1:40

Hello, City Council and everybody gracing you all again.

1:43

Name is Matthew Lester.

1:44

I'm the procurement coordinator for the Western Farm Work Association.

1:47

I want to express my concern regarding the recent appointment of our current city manager.

1:53

It wasn't that long ago where I stood here stating my concern, but was told by certain people on the council that no matter who was appointed to that position, that they would listen to you and you guys would listen to the city of Stockton.

2:06

But I feel lately that his actions have been a little bit rogue.

2:12

I feel the city of Stockton deserves a city manager that is actually qualified.

2:17

And from now on, these positions must be given to people based on their merit and not in the friends group they hang around.

2:23

That is all.

2:24

Thank you.

2:27

Julie Dunning.

2:35

Good afternoon, Madam Mayor and Council.

2:38

I have a lot of angst about bringing this matter to the attention of council, but I feel it's the appropriate thing to do.

2:44

I'm a measure, I'm a member of the Measure A Citizens Advisory Committee, and I have concerns about the ICM's interference with the activities of the Measure A Committee.

2:53

While I speak solely for myself today, I am aware that at least one other committee member shares these concerns as well.

3:00

In June, shortly after his appointment to a position in the city manager's office, Tony Manor, former Measure A Committee Chair, stated that he had been hired to be a liaison between the Measure A Committee and the ICM's office.

3:14

This didn't seem right to me as I didn't understand why a citizens advisory committee would need a special liaison.

3:22

By resolution charter and bylaws, we are an independent citizens advisory committee that reports directly to the city council, not the CM's office.

3:33

To my knowledge, none of the other advisory committees have a liaison nor meet with the CM's office, but I started decided to stay quiet for a while and see where this was going.

3:44

On June 20th, I received an email from Tony Manner's personal Gmail account stating that he had been told to join me and Ned, who is the chair of the committee, the Measure A committee, at all city manager meetings regarding measure A.

4:01

So if there's questions, he could go get answers.

4:05

Ten days later, on the 30th, I received another email from his personal Gmail account that was CC'd to some email account Skydriver, which I have no idea who that is.

4:16

Says I was wondering if you guys were uh interested in meeting with the city manager this morning or afternoon.

4:22

You will be able to ask any questions about measure A or anything else you might want.

4:27

Neither Chairman Liban nor I were available that day.

4:30

Seven days later, I received an email from Patty Vasquez to Chair LIBA and myself.

4:37

I'm reaching out for ICM Colangelo's request to schedule an in-person meeting at City Hall prior to the August Measure A meeting.

4:46

Let me know if Tuesday, July 15th, between 1.30 and 2.30 will work for your schedules.

4:52

The meeting was ultimately scheduled with the ICM, Tony Manor, DCM Reed, Chair LIBA, and myself.

5:00

The meeting title was listed as Measure A agenda meeting.

5:04

The next day in an email conversation between the budget subcommittee, which is the chair, myself, and uh Anthony Sprague, we agreed to do a pre-meet on July 11th to finalize our subcommittee report, ensure that we were all in agreement with the ask in the document.

5:22

However, some confusion occurred with the date of the meeting, which had been set for the next that coming Friday, July 11th.

5:28

Chair Leba was out of town, and the meeting didn't ultimately happen.

5:32

On the next day, Chair Leba sent a message to uh Anthony Sprague and myself stating that he'd received a request to meet with ICM Colangelo.

5:43

I do not know who set the meeting or why.

5:45

His assistant Patty did not know the reason for this meeting.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement██████████████████████22%
Public Safety████████████████16%
Homelessness████████████12%
Procedural███████7%
Downtown Revitalization███████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Community Engagement█████5%
Personnel Matters███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Stockton City Council and Concurrent Authorities Meeting – July 29, 2025

The Stockton City Council held a regular session on July 29, 2025, following a closed session. The council voted 7-0 to appoint Deputy City Manager William Crew as acting city manager effective August 9, 2025, and directed a new contract for the interim city manager to the next meeting. The regular session began at 6:34 PM and adjourned at midnight. Major actions included approving a vacant commercial property ordinance, authorizing the annexation prezone for a 217‑lot residential development (Murray Ranch), setting a public hearing for the Downtown Stockton Community Improvement District, and receiving an update on the Navigation Center and Pathways homeless shelter projects.

Consent Calendar

  • Resolution 2025-07-29-1201: Appointed Silvia Perez to the Community Development Committee (term ending January 31, 2027).
  • Resolution 2025-07-29-1202: Authorized joint application for a $2,538,787 Infill Infrastructure Grant for the Hunter House project.
  • Resolution 2025-07-29-1203: Designated Councilmember Blower as voting delegate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference (October 8‑10, 2025).
  • Resolution 2025-07-29-1204: Overruled protests and confirmed delinquent code enforcement charges for placement on the tax roll.
  • Motion 2025-07-29-1205: Approved a three‑year (plus two one‑year options) $781,680 contract with Shield Protection Group for prisoner transport, extradition, and hospital watch.
  • Motion 2025-07-29-1206: Ratified emergency purchase of two Chevrolet Silverado trucks for the Police Department ($154,804.40).
  • Motion 2025-07-29-1207: Awarded a three‑year $1,215,102.13 contract to Convergint Technologies for video monitoring system maintenance.
  • Motion 2025-07-29-1209: Authorized a tree maintenance services agreement amendment and extension with West Coast Arborists (total not to exceed $830,000).
  • Resolution 2025-07-29-1210: Appropriated $9,427,000 from the State Active Transportation Program and awarded a $1,412,881.13 design contract to R.E.Y. Engineers for the Downtown Weber Avenue Bike and Pedestrian Connectivity project.
  • Item 12.8 (Lower Sacramento Road Widening and Bridge Replacements) was continued to a future September meeting after public testimony. Councilmembers raised concerns about the scope and requested inclusion of Armor Drive and Marlette Road in the design.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Pat Barrett criticized the appointment process for city manager, expressing disappointment and alleging cronyism.
  • Julie Dunning (Measure A Citizens Advisory Committee member) alleged interference by the Interim City Manager’s office with the committee’s independence.
  • Yolanda Amen questioned the extension of the interim city manager’s contract and urged a transparent search for a permanent, qualified candidate.
  • Matthew Lester urged appointment based on merit rather than personal connections.
  • Tim Mora, Andrea Branson, Annabel Barajas, Cirila Barajas, and Pat Barrett spoke during the Murray Ranch hearing, mostly opposing opening Hall Avenue to through traffic. They requested the street remain closed to all but emergency vehicles and expressed concerns about property values and safety.
  • Lanphuong Nguyen and Stefanie Alfaro commented on the Lower Sacramento Road widening, emphasizing traffic congestion and safety needs.
  • Tony Yadon (CEO Main Street Youth and Family Services, DSA board president) and Farr Yazdi (private investor) spoke in strong support of the Downtown Stockton Community Improvement District.
  • During the general public comment period, residents raised concerns about: AVA Community Energy cost increases, abandoned vehicles, noise ordinance enforcement, meeting decorum, the need for a tool lending library, police accountability in a fatal crash, and the condition of parks and public spaces.

Discussion Items

  • Navigation Center and Pathways Update (Item 15.1) – Informational only. Economic Development Director Tina McCarty presented the timeline for the Zider Navigation Center (68 beds, family‑focused) and Pathways (268 beds). Total city/county construction investment: $28.2 million. The Navigation Center is expected to open in August 2025, Pathways in October 2025. Mayor Fugazi noted that total city funding for the shelter system has reached approximately $14.79 million. Councilmembers discussed the shift from 180 originally planned beds to 68 due to family space requirements, the inability to accommodate pets (Navigation Center only, Pathways will allow some pets), and the ongoing $3 million annual operational shortfall. Vice Mayor Lee called for a more coordinated, city‑wide homeless strategy and suggested creating a dedicated Housing and Homeless Department.
  • Older Adult Programming Presentation (Item 15.2) – Informational. Community Services Director Chris Farrow presented senior membership benefits ($29.75/year for age 50+), nutritional programs, library resources, and volunteer opportunities. Councilmember Villapudua requested shareable social media content.
  • Downtown Stockton Community Improvement District (Item 15.3) – The council approved a Resolution of Intention (7‑0) to form a 20‑year CID, replacing the current five‑year Business Improvement District. The district will provide maintenance, ambassador services, and business development, funded by property assessments. The city’s vote (authorized by the resolution) along with already‑submitted property petitions (31.89%) brings total support to 51.89%. A public hearing is set for September 23, 2025.
  • Changes to Council Policy 4.06 (Item 15.4) – The council approved a resolution (7‑0) allowing city‑issued tablets without internet or transmission capability in closed sessions, amending the definition of electronic communication devices.

Key Outcomes

  • Closed Session Action: Appointed William Crew as acting city manager effective August 9, 2025 (7‑0 vote). Directed a new interim city manager contract to be placed on the next regular agenda.
  • Public Hearing 16.1 – Utility Assessments: Adopted Resolution 2025-07-29-1601 overruling protests, confirming $5.1 million in delinquent utility and solid waste charges for 2,835 accounts, and directing placement on the San Joaquin County tax roll (7‑0). Since May, $911,000 has been collected.
  • Public Hearing 16.2 – Vacant Commercial Property Ordinance: Adopted Ordinance 2025-07-29-1602 creating Title 15, Chapter 15.34 (Vacant Commercial Property and Vacant Lot Registration) and Resolution 2025-07-29-1602 amending the fee schedule to include an $826 annual registration fee per property (7‑0). Effective 30 days after adoption.
  • Public Hearing 16.3 – Murray Ranch Annexation/Prezone: Approved Ordinance 2025-07-29-1603 (prezone to RL) and Resolution 2025-07-29-1603 (authorizing annexation application to LAFCO) (7‑0). The council also adopted Motion 2025-07-29-1603 requiring that upon construction initiation, access from Hall Avenue be closed to all but emergency vehicles, with speed bumps, and that if a connection to Charter Way is not established within four years, Hall Avenue remains closed.
  • Consent 12.8 – Lower Sacramento Road Project: Continued to September 2025 for further discussion on scope, cost‑sharing with the county, and potential inclusion of Armor Drive and Marlette Road.
  • City Manager’s Report: Noted 18 fire recruits, 68 National Night Out events on August 5, first pickleball tournament, and progress on a parks master plan and traffic master plan.
  • Council Comments: Councilmembers reported district cleanups, school‑year reminders, upcoming events (National Night Out, Eritrean Festival, office hours), and requested future agenda items including: noise ordinance review, face‑ban ordinance, and presentation on gang prevention pilot program.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to welcome you to Stockton City Council closed session meeting on July 29th. Let's go ahead and do a roll call. Councilmember Blauer Present. Councilmember Enriquez. Councilmember Ponce is absent. Councilmember Padilla is absent. Councilmember Via Padua present. Vice Mayor Lee? Present. And Mayor Fugazi. Present. We have a quorum. Wonderful. Do we have any additions to uh the closed session agenda? Seeing none, hearing none. Um at this time, uh, I will uh if there's any public comment uh for closed session. Do we have any cards? Oh, sorry. Closed session with uh our negotiator for item 54957.6A and then performance evaluation 54957B again 5497B. Uh uh discipline dismissal 54957 and then appointment, public employment appointment 54957B. Okay, so at this time, uh is there any public comment? We do. May I have Matthew Lester to the podium, please. Hello, City Council and everybody gracing you all again. Name is Matthew Lester. I'm the procurement coordinator for the Western Farm Work Association. I want to express my concern regarding the recent appointment of our current city manager. It wasn't that long ago where I stood here stating my concern, but was told by certain people on the council that no matter who was appointed to that position, that they would listen to you and you guys would listen to the city of Stockton. But I feel lately that his actions have been a little bit rogue. I feel the city of Stockton deserves a city manager that is actually qualified. And from now on, these positions must be given to people based on their merit and not in the friends group they hang around. That is all. Thank you. Julie Dunning. Good afternoon, Madam Mayor and Council. I have a lot of angst about bringing this matter to the attention of council, but I feel it's the appropriate thing to do. I'm a measure, I'm a member of the Measure A Citizens Advisory Committee, and I have concerns about the ICM's interference with the activities of the Measure A Committee. While I speak solely for myself today, I am aware that at least one other committee member shares these concerns as well. In June, shortly after his appointment to a position in the city manager's office, Tony Manor, former Measure A Committee Chair, stated that he had been hired to be a liaison between the Measure A Committee and the ICM's office. This didn't seem right to me as I didn't understand why a citizens advisory committee would need a special liaison. By resolution charter and bylaws, we are an independent citizens advisory committee that reports directly to the city council, not the CM's office. To my knowledge, none of the other advisory committees have a liaison nor meet with the CM's office, but I started decided to stay quiet for a while and see where this was going. On June 20th, I received an email from Tony Manner's personal Gmail account stating that he had been told to join me and Ned, who is the chair of the committee, the Measure A committee, at all city manager meetings regarding measure A. So if there's questions, he could go get answers. Ten days later, on the 30th, I received another email from his personal Gmail account that was CC'd to some email account Skydriver, which I have no idea who that is. Says I was wondering if you guys were uh interested in meeting with the city manager this morning or afternoon. You will be able to ask any questions about measure A or anything else you might want. Neither Chairman Liban nor I were available that day. Seven days later, I received an email from Patty Vasquez to Chair LIBA and myself.

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