Stockton City Council and Concurrent Authorities Meeting – December 9, 2025

The Stockton City Council met in regular session on December 9, 2025, at 5:30 PM following a closed session at 3:30 PM. The meeting was marked by extensive public comment mourning the December 7 mass shooting that killed four young people and injured 13 others, and by a contentious debate over expanding the scope of the Wild N' Out investigation. The council approved a consent agenda, adopted a habitat conservation fee schedule, accepted a budget status report, and directed staff to issue a request for proposals for the Silver Lake Family Camp. The meeting adjourned at 9:49 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 7-0: All 20 consent agenda items, including:
  • Approval of minutes from five prior meetings.
  • Contract change order for state legislative consulting ($114,888).
  • Ordinance reducing Stockton Arts Commission membership from 15 to 7.
  • Five-year contract for ion exchange resin and media exchange services ($1,513,567.59).
  • Contract amendment for wastewater facility modifications ($311,533).
  • Purchase of membrane filters for water treatment plant ($549,575.66).
  • Resolution of intent to annex territory for storm drainage assessment district (public hearing set for February 3, 2026).
  • Five-year contract for materials and maintenance services ($500,000).
  • Standard agreement for online recruiting services ($88,000).
  • Three-year agreement for background investigations software ($171,574).
  • Cooperative purchase for HVAC controls and building automation upgrade ($607,266.05).
  • Amendment for tree maintenance services ($990,000).
  • Transfer of funds and contract award for Cannery Park (2.7 acres) construction ($3,000,000 to Abide Builders, Inc.).
  • Resolution for Harding Way Left-Turn Pockets project (contract award $1,519,552 to Dirt Dynasty, Inc.).
  • Contract amendment for Mormon Slough sewer line rehabilitation ($92,000).
  • Amendment to cooperative agreement with Robert Half, Inc. ($230,000).
  • Service agreement with Michael Baker International for on-call planning ($600,000).
  • Acceptance of quarterly investment report.
  • Appointment of Mayoral Public Information Officer (Jason Teramoto).
  • Amendment to Council Policy Manual on agendas.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mass shooting response: Over 20 speakers expressed condolences to the families of the four children killed in the December 7 shooting on Lucille Avenue. Many urged the council to fully fund the Office of Violence Prevention, reinstate Advance Peace, and implement evidence-based strategies such as Operation Ceasefire. Speakers included Niki Smith (Cleveland School Remembers), David Sengthay, Matthew Lester, Yolanda Amen, and others. Multiple speakers criticized the council's internal conflicts, calling for unity.
• Rocco Robinson killing: Several speakers, including the mother Samantha Kelly and father Robert Robinson, demanded justice for Rocco Robinson, who they said was shot 16 times in the back by Stockton police officers Kyle Ribena and Ruben Rion. They called for the officers to be charged with murder. The speakers became emotional, leading to a recess at 6:53 PM to restore order.
• Other topics: Public comments also addressed homelessness, neighborhood safety, the need for more police officers/detectives, and concerns about the 209 Times organization's influence. A few speakers welcomed new City Manager Johnny Ford.
• Public hearing (Item 15.1): Pat Barrett spoke on the San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan fee schedule, questioning whether fees would enable development in sensitive areas.

Discussion Items

• 16.3 – Wild N' Out Investigation Expansion: A proposal to expand the existing investigation of Vice Mayor Jason Lee to include review of his failure to recuse himself from the August 26 and December 9 votes on the investigation itself. After procedural motions, the council voted:
  • Motion to release the original investigation report at the next meeting (Dec. 16) failed 3-4 (yes: Blower, Enríquez, Lee; no: Fugazi, Villapudua, Padilla, Ponce).
  • Motion to expand the investigation scope (including recusal and potential violations of City Charter Section 1000 and Government Code Section 1090, and to bring back results) passed 4-3 (yes: Fugazi, Villapudua, Padilla, Ponce; no: Blower, Enríquez, Lee).
• 16.1 – Budget Status Update: Interim Budget Officer Brandon Sepulvara presented the FY 2024-25 second and third quarter unaudited results. General fund revenues were $206.1 million (64% of budget) and expenditures $223.5 million (50% of budget), with a projected year-end surplus of $11 million. The council approved continuation of up to $12,233,179 in appropriations to FY 2025-26 and authorized budget amendments for the Downtown Marina Fund ($86,350) and Boat Launch Fund ($46,275). Motion carried 7-0.
• 16.2 – Silver Lake Family Camp: Program Manager Thomas Freeman reported that only one response was received to a request for information (from Onetto Tree Service). The council directed staff to issue a formal request for proposals (RFP) to seek an operator for the camp, which has been closed since 2022 and requires significant capital improvements ($5.8 million for renewal or $22 million for replacement). Motion carried 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Approved all consent agenda items (7-0).
• Adopted Resolution 2025-12-09-1501 approving the San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan 2026 Development Fee Schedule (7-0).
• Expanded Wild N' Out investigation to include Vice Mayor Lee's recusal failures (motion 2025-12-09-1603-02, passed 4-3). Results to be brought back at the next available council meeting.
• Accepted budget status report and authorized carryover appropriations (Resolution 2025-12-09-1601, passed 7-0).
• Directed staff to issue an RFP for Silver Lake Family Camp (Motion 2025-12-09-1602, passed 7-0).
• City Manager Johnny Ford introduced himself and committed to collaborative work.
• Council agreed to Rosenberg's Rules of Order training at a future meeting (consensus).
• Council will invite RTD presentation within 30 days and Restore Delta presentation within 60 days (motion by Vice Mayor Lee, seconded and approved).
• A moment of silence was held for the four mass shooting victims and others affected.
• Informational items filed: committee and commission minutes from July–August 2025.