Stockton City Council Meeting – November 18, 2025
Stockton City Council Meeting – November 18, 2025
The Stockton City Council met in closed session from 3:00 PM to 5:08 PM, then convened in regular session at 5:30 PM, adjourning at 11:58 PM. The council approved numerous consent items, including the appointment of Johnny R. Ford as City Manager, a five-year $7.8 million Axon contract, and amendments to the discretionary funding policy. A major 1,411-unit residential development (LeBaron Ranch) was approved. A face-covering ordinance was sent back to committee, and a resolution supporting a behavioral health recovery center passed 6-1.
Consent Calendar
- Appointment of Johnny R. Ford as City Manager – Approved 7-0. Annual base salary of $325,000, plus benefits and allowances. (Resolution 2025-11-18-1212)
- Five-Year Agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. – Not to exceed $7,799,772.82 for body-worn cameras, TASERs, and digital evidence software. Approved 7-0. (Motion 2025-11-18-1210)
- Amendments to Chapter 5.10 (Discretionary Funding) – Approved 7-0. (Resolution 2025-11-18-1211)
- Appointment to Water Advisory Group – Patricia Barrett appointed. Approved 7-0. (Resolution 2025-11-18-1202)
- Appointment to Measure W Oversight Committee – Margarita Reyes appointed. Approved 7-0. (Resolution 2025-11-18-1203)
- Amendment to Chapter 4.02 (Agendas) – Sent back to staff for further work after council discussion. (Item 12.4)
- North Pershing Avenue Safety Enhancements – Authorized $586,595.20 construction contract. Approved.
- 2026 Meeting Calendar – Adopted.
- Van Buskirk Strategic Reuse Project – Accepted $500,000 HUD grant. Approved.
- De-Escalation Training Grant – Accepted $500,000 DOJ grant. Approved.
- Vandalized Street Lights Repair – Ratified emergency contract of $643,500. Approved 7-0. (Resolution 2025-11-18-1215)
- Animal Shelter Play Yard – Accepted contributions from Spanos Foundation ($100,000) and County ($50,000); ratified emergency contract of $254,582. Approved.
- Mayoral Appointments to Committees – Approved.
- Arts Commission Membership Reduction – Pulled by staff; rescheduled.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment (Items Not on Agenda): Multiple speakers addressed council behavior, accountability, and specific issues. Donald Tafoya and Diane Buettner criticized council infighting; Pat Barrett thanked Vice Mayor Lee and Councilmembers Blower and Enriquez; Stephanie Alfanso requested an emergency vet; Carlos Barnes urged enforcement of vehicle codes; Barbara King and Yolanda Amen called for transparency and adherence to campaign promises; numerous residents expressed support for Mayor Fugazi.
- Consent Item 12.12 (City Manager Appointment): Eighteen speakers supported Johnny Ford, including Terrance Saffold, Darin Frazier, Cynthia Gail Boyd, Bobby Bivens (NAACP), Charlene Leathers, Reverend Curtis Kimbrough, Steve Morales, Amaya Fields (NAACP Youth Council president), Daryus Evans, Jordan Howard, Jochebed Smith, Cleveland Gordon, Dennis Smallie, Antoine Aisha Williamson, Pat Barrett, Alyssa Leiva, Bishop Reverend Williams, and Julie Dunning. Most praised Ford’s integrity, experience, and local roots.
- Hearing 15.1 (LeBaron Ranch): Trevor Smith and Steve Miller (applicants) presented the project; Gary Greeno (pastor of nearby church) supported; Pat Barrett questioned low-income housing and solar; Jasmine Peterson raised transportation concerns.
- New Business 16.1 (Face Coverings): Alyssa Leiva opposed, citing First Amendment concerns and potential profiling; Pat Barrett supported, sharing experience as a crime survivor.
- New Business 16.2 (Vacant Property Registration): Pat Barrett spoke in favor but cautioned about enforcement.
- New Business 16.4 (Service First Recovery Center): Julie Dunning raised questions about the rushed process and lack of information.
Discussion Items
- LeBaron Ranch Development (Item 15.1): The council certified the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) with a Statement of Overriding Considerations for significant unavoidable impacts on aesthetics, agriculture, air quality, and transportation. The project includes 1,411 residential units on 306 acres, with a mix of low, medium, and high density, a K-8 school site, parks, and wellness walks. A property owner within the project boundary requested to remain unincorporated, but LAFCO has ultimate authority. Approved 7-0.
- Face Covering Ordinance (Item 16.1): The council discussed two versions (A – broader ban; B – specific locations with $1,000 fine). Police Chief McFadden expressed concerns about enforcement and potential racial profiling. Council decided to send the item back to the Legislative/Environmental Committee for further public input. Motion carried 7-0.
- Vacant Commercial Property and Vacant Lot Registration Program (Item 16.2): Approved amendments to Chapters 15.32 and 15.34, including narrowing definitions, correcting a typo, and allowing administrative guidelines. Startup costs of $21,000 from General Fund contingency. Approved 7-0.
- OPTIC Presentation (Item 16.3): Informational only. The Office of Public Transparency, Information, and Communication outlined plans for recruitment, community engagement, and operations. Councilmembers asked about real-time content, measurable outcomes, and coordination with the new city manager. No action taken.
- Service First Recovery Center (Item 16.4): The council approved a resolution supporting the application for an $8 million state grant for a 90-bed behavioral health recovery center at 1005 N. El Dorado St. The city committed $300,000 from opioid settlement funds, contingent on the full 10% match ($749,486) being secured by November 21, 2025. Vice Mayor Lee dissented, citing process inconsistencies. Approved 6-1.
- Wild N’ Out Investigation (Item 16.5): Moved to December 9, 2025 council meeting without discussion.
Key Outcomes
- City Manager Appointment: Johnny R. Ford appointed 7-0, effective immediately.
- LeBaron Ranch: All four resolutions (EIR certification, General Plan Amendment, Prezoning, Annexation authorization) adopted 7-0.
- Axon Contract: Five-year agreement approved 7-0.
- Discretionary Funding Policy: Amendments approved 7-0.
- Face Covering Ordinance: Sent back to Legislative/Environmental Committee for public input.
- Vacant Property Registration: Approved 7-0 with amendments and $21,000 funding.
- Service First Recovery Center: Resolution approved 6-1, with funding contingent on full match by Nov. 21, 2025.
- Downtown Stockton Alliance: Council suspended rules and voted 5-0 to bring the item to the December 16, 2025 meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to our city council closed session meeting for November 18th, 2025. Let us go ahead and do roll call. Councilmember Blauer. Present. Councilmember Enriquez. Present. Councilmember Ponce is absent. Councilmember Padilla. Present. Councilmember Via Padua is absent. Vice Mayor Lee. Present. And Mayor Figazi. Present. We have a quorum. Wonderful. Okay. So we don't have any additions to closed session. So moving on then. This government body will recess to closed session pursuant to government code section nine four nine five six point nine D one to confer with its attorney regarding agenda item three point two, which is existing litigation. We will also recess the closed session pursuant to government code section five four nine five seven B to discuss agenda item three point one public employee uh recruitment. Um we will also recess the closed session pursuant to government code section five four nine five seven point six to discuss agenda item three point three conference with labor negotiators. Um do we have any public uh comment? We do Mary Elizabeth to the podium, please. And I had an education today uh regarding an asterisk. And so it says closed session public comment asterisk. And then in earlier in the agenda, the asterisk is referencing any item which you don't see on here, referencing uh uh availability of people to speak on any matter. And so I I called the uh the city clerk uh to check on that and uh no that uh is only referring to closed items. So that asterisk has a special meeting, which is different than the asterisk that is on uh 11 item 11. And so I would like to suggest that uh perhaps you all consider having uh three asterisks, which indicates that you're only able to talk on closed session items, not any item that is uh uh in the ability of the city council to have action. So in that regard, I would just like to say that any appointment that uh we've ever seen here mostly has a uh application that's redacted. And I would like to say that any uh employee that the city of uh Stockton appoints should uh provide the public uh with uh a uh redacted application as well as a resume should uh resume be submitted by the applicant. Thank you. That concludes public comment. Thank you. Um hearing no public comment, we will recess to close session. We'll be staying in here for the first two items and then going into the round room. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to our regular council meeting session today, November eighteenth, twenty twenty-five. Let's go ahead and start with roll call. Councilmember Blauer. Present. Councilmember Enriquez. Councilmember Ponce. Present. Councilmember Padilla. President. Councilmember Via Padua. Present. Vice Mayor Lee. Present.
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