Stockton City Council and Concurrent Authorities Meeting - September 9, 2025

This summary covers the September 9, 2025 meeting of the Stockton City Council, which convened in closed session at 4:02 p.m., returned from closed session at 5:15 p.m., and held its regular session from 5:33 p.m. to 9:35 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 425 N. El Dorado Street, Stockton, California. No separate agenda was provided in the source materials, so item descriptions are drawn from the official minutes and raw transcript.

Closed Session

• The council held a closed session under Government Code sections 54956.9(d)(1), 54956.9(d)(4), and labor negotiator authority. No public comment was taken.
• Report of closed session action: The council voted unanimously to settle Yeng Xiong v. Manuel Ortiz, et al. (San Joaquin County Superior Court Case No. STK-CV-UAT-2022-4637) for $150,000.
• The council also authorized the initiation of litigation on a 5-2 vote, with Mayor Fugazi and Councilmember Villapudua dissenting. Details may be disclosed after the action formally commences.
• Note: The agenda listed the initiation of litigation under Government Code section 54956.9(d)(4), while the reported closed-session action cited section 54957.1(a)(2).

Recognitions and Informational Updates

• Recognized 404 Cryptos Not Found, the first-place college division team from the 2025 H2O Hackathon. The team presented WaterGuard, a water-conservation app and valve system, and reported winning $2,000.
• Received an update from Assembly District 13 representative Jasmine Gutierrez. Since taking office in December 2024, Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom has authored 12 bills, sent AB 696 and AB 1042 to the governor, secured $10 million for the California Family Justice Center, secured $8 million with Senator McNerney for Beam Circular's Bioeconomy Innovation Campus, and helped constituents recover $410,000.
• Proclaimed September 12, 2025 as AVID Day. Speakers noted that 40 Stockton Unified schools implement AVID, that AVID alumni are four times more likely to graduate from college, and that 42% of first-generation low-income AVID students earn a four-year degree within six years versus 11% nationally.
• Proclaimed September 14-20, 2025 as National Forensic Science Appreciation Week, honoring Stockton Police evidence technicians and supervisors.

Consent Calendar

• The consent calendar was approved 6-0, with Councilmember Padilla absent, for the items not pulled for separate consideration. The separately considered items are summarized under Discussion Items.
• Approved Resolution 2025-09-09-1203 authorizing the summary vacation of a portion of public right-of-way along Navy Drive, reserving a public utility easement, declaring the property exempt surplus land, and filing CEQA Notice of Exemption No. 35-25.
• Approved Resolution 2025-09-09-1204 allocating $1,244,210 in Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program funding to St. Mary's Community Services for the Pathways Neighborhood operation.

Public Comments and Testimony

• General public comment included: Adriana Cruces asked the city to support Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month and youth arts programs, noting that 45% of city residents are Latino/Hispanic and that there are no murals in North Stockton. Matthew Lester supported Patricia Barrett and called her removal retaliation. Pat Barrett alleged retaliation and said she felt targeted and unsafe. Donald Tafoya criticized council conduct. Mary Elizabeth described being bitten by dogs and said the city has 14,474 dog licenses and 2,098 cat licenses for a population over 320,000, urging that animal control be separated from the police department. Alyssa Leiva asked for police transparency, community advisory board reform, and de-escalation. Cynthia Gail Boyd complained about respect and representation. Mark Stebbins connected the Northeast Stockton Library naming controversy to historical racism and urged affirmations of all ethnicities. Andy Abbott urged full implementation of Civil Grand Jury findings and campaign-disclosure reforms. Chinse Daniels praised the council's diversity. Lanphuong Nguyen thanked councilmembers for a town hall and said volunteer commissioners feared removal.
• Item-specific public testimony is summarized under the relevant Discussion Items below.

Discussion Items

Item 12.1 - Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee Removal and Appointment

• The item proposed removing Patricia Barrett and appointing Kristine Williams to the seven-member committee for a four-year term effective immediately and ending January 31, 2029.
• Public speakers, including committee chair Julie Dunning, opposed the removal, saying Barrett was the only member from South Stockton and the AB 617 area and that the removal appeared retaliatory. Dunning suggested adding Williams without removing Barrett or creating a nine-member committee. Pat Barrett, David Sengthay, Mary Elizabeth, and Alyssa Leiva echoed concerns about transparency, representation, and a chilling effect on volunteers. Cynthia Gail Boyd also defended Barrett.
• Councilmember Blower moved to add Williams to an eight-person committee without removing Barrett, with Councilmember Enríquez seconding. Under Rosenberg's Rules of Order, the later motion was voted on first, so no vote was taken on the Blower motion.
• Mayor Fugazi defended the removal, citing her appointment authority and Williams' South Stockton housing and environmental work. Councilmembers Blower, Enríquez, and Lee opposed removal, citing lack of a stated reason and loss of District 6 representation. Councilmember Villapudua supported removal, citing rules for commissioner conduct; Councilmember Padilla said the mayor was exercising policy discretion.
• Final Resolution 2025-09-09-1201 passed 4-3. Yes: Fugazi, Villapudua, Padilla, Ponce. No: Blower, Enríquez, Lee.

Item 12.2 - Downtown Stockton Master Plan and Visioning Project

• Jane Chamberlain spoke in support of downtown revitalization but urged the city to build on prior plans and not delay permit-ready housing. Mary Elizabeth urged that displacement avoidance be central and that multiple study sessions and draft-section reviews be held.
• Staff said past plans would be incorporated, existing pipeline projects would not be delayed, and the contract includes substantial public outreach.
• Resolution 2025-09-09-1202 passed 7-0, awarding Wallace Roberts and Todd, LLC a professional services agreement not to exceed $1,027,340, authorizing a $154,965 budget amendment from the Redevelopment Sub-fund balance, and authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement.

Item 12.5 - Advanced Life Support Services Agreement with San Joaquin County

• The council authorized a new five-year non-transport Advanced Life Support services agreement with San Joaquin County for continued service by the Stockton Fire Department.
• Fire Chief Brian Carr said the department needs roughly 55-60 paramedics to place one on every fire apparatus. It currently has 57, with over 60% at captain rank and only 9 of 75 firefighters holding paramedic certification. He noted competitive recruiting and retention challenges but said the agreement could be executed.
• Motion 2025-09-09-1205 passed 7-0.

Item 12.6 - 2025-2031 Sewer System Management Plan Updates

• Mary Elizabeth, a registered environmental health specialist, asked why only one reclamation district receives sanitary sewer overflow notifications and requested regular updates to the Water Advisory Group. Staff said they would check the notification issue and would provide periodic reporting.
• Resolution 2025-09-09-1206 passed 7-0, approving the 2025-2031 Sewer System Management Plan updates required by the State Water Resources Control Board.

Item 12.7 - El Dorado Street Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Connectivity Project

• Mary Elizabeth commented on bike parking, maintenance of bike lanes, and contract cost overruns. Staff said the project includes public outreach and that base failures will be repaired before final roadway improvements.
• Resolution 2025-09-09-1207 passed 7-0, transferring $35,000 from the Grant Match project, approving an exception to competitive bidding under Stockton Municipal Code section 3.68.070, and awarding a $348,775.95 design contract to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for Project No. WT23039/HSIPL-5008(210).

Item 12.8 - Van Buskirk Park Revitalization Project

• Public comment included Mary Elizabeth's concerns about CEQA notification practices; Artie Valencia of Restore the Delta expressed support for the project but asked for water-access infrastructure, a humane engagement plan for unhoused residents, and an anti-displacement strategy; Mark Stebbins advocated restoring Van Buskirk as a full golf course; Cynthia Gail Boyd credited former Councilmember Kimberly Warmsley and asked for improvements to Stribley Park.
• Councilmember Villapudua described phase one amenities including a skate park, bicycle pump track, splash pad, community garden, and multi-purpose lawn. Staff said the park is about 192 acres and that engagement since 2020 included six stakeholder meetings, four community meetings, and two surveys, with design at 60%.
• Resolution 2025-09-09-1208 passed 7-0, adopting the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Van Buskirk Park Revitalization, Project No. WT24050.

Item 16.1 - 2025 Parks and Recreation Master Facilities Plan

• Director Stephanie Ocasio presented the draft plan, explaining that it is a facility infrastructure plan tied to development impact fees and AB 1600, not a recreation programming plan. The plan relies on surveys and community input, and the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended approval on July 28, 2025.
• Vice Mayor Lee said he was not comfortable voting on a document he had not reviewed. Councilmember Villapudua asked about potential fee impacts. Mary Elizabeth cited park comparisons: Stockton has about 320,000 residents, 1,142 park acres, and $790,000 per year in maintenance, while Sacramento has about 528,000 residents, 4,205 acres, and $1,300,000 per year.
• The council voted 7-0 to continue the item to October 14, 2025, and directed staff to provide copies to councilmembers and local libraries.

Item 16.2 - Response to Civil Grand Jury Report, City of Stockton Crisis in Government

• The council considered its third and final response to the San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury report. The response covers recommendation R1.2 on workplace violence and threatening communications, R2.3 on Brown Act investigation findings being provided to the grand jury within seven days through new Council Policy 3.15, and a modified R3.1 reflecting the city's intent to issue an RFP for a new external city auditor whose scope includes monitoring and investigating the fraud, waste, and abuse hotline.
• Public speakers David Sengthay, Lecia Harrison, Alyssa Leva, Pat Barrett, and Cynthia Gail Boyd raised concerns about the influence of 209 Times, transparency, retaliation, and the cost and independence of investigations. Some supported third-party review, while others questioned whether the district attorney or state Attorney General should be involved.
• Resolution 2025-09-09-1602 adopting Council Policy Chapter 3.15 on Brown Act Investigations passed 7-0. Motion 2025-09-09-1602 approving the final grand jury response and authorizing the City Attorney to submit it passed 7-0.
• Note: Source materials are slightly inconsistent, referring to the report as the 2023-24 Civil Grand Jury Report while one attachment is labeled 2024-25, and one motion cites Case No. 1023 while the agenda title says Case #0123.

City Manager's Update and Council Comments

• Acting City Manager Will Crew announced Monster Mash at Pixie Woods on October 25 and a September 25 groundbreaking for the Delta water treatment plant groundwater recharge project.
• Councilmember comments included announcements about the September 11 remembrance, district office hours, recycling events, community meetings, infrastructure updates, and parks projects. Councilmember Blower requested a moment of silence for Terry Hull Sr. and Dr. Elizabeth Blanchard. Vice Mayor Lee gave staff direction to prepare a presentation on the Hunter House funding history; the council seconded the request.
• Mayor Fugazi reported smoke-shop enforcement results, including the seizure of 2,445 flavored vapes worth $67,000, and discussed the Delta Conveyance Project, street improvements, and red-light camera enforcement.

Key Outcomes

• Closed session: settled Yeng Xiong v. Manuel Ortiz for $150,000 unanimously and authorized initiation of litigation 5-2.
• Consent calendar remaining items: approved 6-0.
• Item 12.1: removed Patricia Barrett and appointed Kristine Williams to the Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee, Resolution 2025-09-09-1201, 4-3.
• Item 12.2: awarded Downtown Stockton Master Plan contract to Wallace Roberts and Todd, LLC, 7-0.
• Item 12.5: approved five-year ALS agreement with San Joaquin County, 7-0.
• Item 12.6: approved 2025-2031 Sewer System Management Plan, 7-0.
• Item 12.7: awarded El Dorado Street safety design contract to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., 7-0.
• Item 12.8: adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration for Van Buskirk Park Revitalization, 7-0.
• Item 16.1: continued Parks and Recreation Master Facilities Plan to October 14, 2025, 7-0.
• Item 16.2: adopted Council Policy 3.15 and approved the final Civil Grand Jury response, both 7-0.
• The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.