Stockton City Council Meeting – December 16, 2025

The Stockton City Council and concurrent authorities held its final regular meeting of 2025 on December 16, 2025, in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 425 N. El Dorado St., Stockton. The regular session convened at 5:31 p.m. and adjourned at 10:31 p.m. No closed session was held, and City Attorney Lori Asuncion reported no reportable action. All roll-call votes during the meeting were 7-0. No agenda was provided for this summary; this summary is based on the meeting minutes and transcript.

Recognitions & Ceremonial Items

• Pastor David led the invocation, and Christopher led the Pledge of Allegiance.
• Council presented a certificate to Loyalty & Family CTF Inc. Denise Friday thanked the Council and Vice Mayor Lee, named loved ones lost to gun violence, and said the organization's theme is to ‘drop the gun violence, drop the guns, and up with prayer.’
• Council recognized St. Mary's High School football for winning the first CIF state championship in Stockton history. Coach Franks thanked the team and praised the police escort send-off.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved 7-0 on a motion by Councilmember Padilla, seconded by Councilmember Blower, with items 12.3 and 12.12 considered separately.
• 12.1: Ratified appointment to the Planning Commission. Public commenter Mary Elizabeth raised concerns about economic-interest statement filings and FPPC complaints.
• 12.2: Authorized a contract with Co Occupational Medical Partners (C.O.M.P) for pre-employment screenings and occupational health services.
• 12.4: Approved a five-year agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore as chief negotiators for labor negotiations, not to exceed $1,500,000, with two optional one-year extensions and a budget amendment from General Fund reserves.
• 12.5: Approved an amendment with OpportunitySpace, Inc. dba Tolemi in an amount not to exceed $960,040.51 for an additional four-year term.
• 12.6: Authorized purchase of SB 1383 procurement compliance attributes. Mary Elizabeth opposed the agreement, citing air pollution concerns from biomass combustion at DTE in the Port of Stockton.
• 12.7: Adopted a resolution ordering and consolidating the June 2, 2026 primary municipal election with the statewide direct primary for Council Districts 1, 3, and 5. Yolanda Amen commented that the earlier date could advantage incumbents.
• 12.8: Adopted the amended citywide salary schedule effective January 1, 2026, as required by CalPERS.
• 12.9: Authorized purchase of Maya Angelou Branch Library furniture through the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance with Demco, Inc., not to exceed $301,405.04, and transferred $230,478 from the library carpet replacement project.
• 12.10: Accepted a $160,000 turf rebate from California Water Service Company for the East Bay Municipal Utilities District Greenbelt Turf Conversion Project. Shannon McGovern of Cal Water said the grant fully covered turf removal of roughly 50,000 square feet and would save the city water and money.
• 12.11: Authorized budget amendments of $2,659,181 from the Health Internal Service Fund to offset 2026 health care premium increases and up to $600,000 from Fire Department salary savings for a paramedic recruitment and retention plan.
• 12.3: Approved a $5,569,852 standard agreement with 4LEAF, Inc. for temporary contracted code enforcement services for three years with two one-year renewal options. Staff said the contract funds up to five contracted code enforcement officers to bridge vacancies, that 4LEAF bills only for services used, and that hiring remains difficult due to background requirements. Motion carried 7-0.
• 12.12: Adopted the street and sidewalk vendor ordinance amendments. See Discussion Items below. Motion carried 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Multiple speakers, including Teresa Sicaeros, Alicia Ramirez of United Farm Workers, Laura Frausto, Matthew Lester, David Sengthay, Learkana Chong, Bertha Jackson, and CaseyAnn Carbonell, urged the council to pass a future ‘Compassionate City’ resolution supporting immigrant and refugee communities. Laura Frausto described conditions at ICE detention centers; Alicia Ramirez cited an estimated $23 billion statewide tax revenue loss from mass deportation; Matthew Lester said street vendors are inseparable from the migrant community.
• Cecilia Rangel expressed fear after a recent mass shooting and asked what the city is doing about gangs and public safety. Other speakers, including Learkana Chong and Alyssa Leva, urged greater investment in youth and violence prevention.
• Lynn Yanko and Alfredo Rosano asked the city to complete approved traffic-calming measures on Longview Avenue and in the Swain Oaks neighborhood, citing speeding and safety concerns after the project was postponed.
• Dan Richardson thanked the city for the Pershing Avenue HAWK light and Victory Park restroom repairs, and asked for a police contract for sergeants and below. Leslie Hearon thanked the city for the mental health facility ribbon cutting and praised police and sheriff's departments.
• Tamara Buenrostro Suguitan and Alyssa Leva raised the San Joaquin County civil grand jury report, alleged targeting by 209 Times, and attacks on community volunteers and formerly incarcerated re-entry workers. Cynthia Gail Boyd gave a critical recap of 2025 council actions; Yolanda Amen criticized council and mayoral conduct; Anthony B. defended the council and urged residents to base comments on facts.
• Mary Elizabeth raised recycling and waste-reduction enforcement, saying businesses are not asked to acknowledge foodware and organic-waste rules. Bertha Jackson announced the 2026 Martin Luther King celebration. Alex Lima described Trust for Public Land park grant opportunities.
• On 12.12, public comment included: Mary Elizabeth and Dan Richardson objecting to generator allowances and requesting stronger enforcement; Julie Devincenzi and Prany Kasern supporting higher fines and larger setback distances; David Sengthay, Learkana Chong, Jaelyn Galasinao, Alyssa Leva, and CaseyAnn Carbonell supporting the amended ordinance while calling for monitoring, translated guidance, and recognition of Angel Cruise Park's cultural significance; Lyn Lee Loth asking the council to revisit fuel quantities and storm-drain protections; and Cynthia Gail Boyd and Julie Dunning urging that the process not criminalize vulnerable communities.

Discussion Items

• Street Vendor Ordinance (12.12): Councilmember Mario Enríquez presented the amended ordinance as a foundation for regulating street and sidewalk vending citywide. He said Stockton had not been in state compliance since 2019 and had no enforceable vending regulations on the books. The ordinance reflects two town halls, four meetings with community leaders, and work with eight city departments. Councilmembers Lee, Padilla, Villapudua, Blower, and Mayor Fugazi supported the measure while discussing citywide consistency, generator noise, setback distances, enforcement, and the need for future refinements. The ordinance was amended to include vending hours from 7 a.m. to dusk and approved 7-0.
• Prop 47 Grant (16.1): Laura Larson, director of the Stockton Office of Violence Prevention, presented the REDIRECT project (Restorative Engagement and Diversion Through Incarceration Reduction Care and Treatment) supported by an $8,000,000 grant from the California Board of State and Community Corrections for October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2029. The grant funds substance-use and mental-health treatment, diversion, re-entry support, restorative justice circles, a six-week paid employment program called LEAP, and three new grant-funded OVP positions. County health data cited during the presentation showed 13.5 suicides per 100 individuals in San Joaquin County versus 10.9 statewide, and 24.7 drug-overdose deaths per 100,000 versus 16.2 statewide. Program goals include serving 650 individuals, reducing recidivism by 25%, and having 50-60% of participants receive housing support. CSU Stanislaus will conduct independent evaluation. Public commenters David Sengthay, Pat Barrett, Alyssa Leva, and Jaelyn Galasinao supported the grant; Sengthay urged the council to ignore an outside group making unverified claims, and Ralph White called for equitable staffing and distribution of resources. Mayor Fugazi noted no one from Youth Peace and Justice Foundation had spoken to staff. Resolution 2025-12-16-1601 was approved 7-0.
• Police Substations (16.2): Deputy City Manager Chad Reed reported that the Sierra Vista substation will open December 23, 2025, and vehicles for the substations have been secured. Negotiations for a Weston Ranch location at the Food 4 Less shopping center were ongoing; alternative sites considered were Weston Ranch Library, Van Buskirk Community Center, and Conway Homes. Crime data comparing Weston Ranch and Van Buskirk from January 15 to December 15, 2025 showed Van Buskirk with higher numbers in burglary (54 vs. 19), larceny (81 vs. 72), motor vehicle theft (46 vs. 41), homicide (1 vs. 0), sexual assault (5 vs. 2), and robbery (21 vs. 14), while Weston Ranch had more aggravated assaults (59 vs. 40). Vice Mayor Lee requested the data, said he did not want public safety politicized, and offered to help fundraise if another district was a greater need. Councilmember Villapudua questioned why the original plan favored Weston Ranch when Van Buskirk showed higher crime totals and raised concerns about funds originally discussed for youth. Public commenters Yolanda Amen, Ralph White, Pat Barrett, Alberto Gonzalez, Julie Dunning, and Mary Elizabeth urged honoring the earlier commitment to District 6 substations or following a data-driven process. Councilmember Padilla offered a process to bring the item back with more complete data. Motion 2025-12-16-1602 directing staff to return in January with crime data for all districts and resources carried 7-0.

Councilmember Reports & Announcements

• Councilmember Blower announced the Jersey Mike's grand opening, the housing authority's 51-unit mental-health housing ribbon cutting, Salvation Army bell ringing, a 40,000-pound food donation to the Stockton Emergency Food Bank, and a December 18 public meeting on the Five Mile Slough assessment district. He also pledged follow-up on Swain Oaks traffic calming.
• Vice Mayor Lee described attending the funeral of Amari Peterson, a young victim of the recent mass shooting, and called for renewed focus on youth and prevention. He announced Toys for Joy on December 20, raised concerns about $300,000 in BHCIP funding that state correspondence indicated would not be used for housing, requested a January smoke-shop ordinance update, and said the state audit begins Friday.
• Councilmember Padilla congratulated St. Mary's football, announced a holiday workshop at the Ursula Meyers Library, and said the next Ad-Hoc Homelessness Committee meeting will discuss the Safe Grounds Initiative on January 7, 2026.
• Councilmember Villapudua thanked the city manager and police chief, highlighted the City Hall open house, and said Sousa Park and Columbus Park improvements remain priorities.
• Councilmember Enriquez recapped the street-vendor town halls, Miracle Mile events, a wreaths-across-America ceremony, the University of the Pacific partnership with the San Francisco 49ers, a joint smoke-shop walk with Councilmember Villapudua, and upcoming events including a Space Force flag raising and Supper with Santa.
• Councilmember Ponce thanked constituents and wished the community a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.
• Mayor Fugazi addressed RTD, youth programs, Kaiser's 40-year presence, a Polo Run Apartments event, boards and commissions recruitment, and announced a new Ad-Hoc Committee on Affordability. She closed by reminding residents to check on isolated neighbors over the holidays.

Key Outcomes

• All formal votes were 7-0.
• Consent agenda approved, except items 12.3 and 12.12 considered separately.
• 4LEAF code enforcement contract approved 7-0.
• Street and sidewalk vendor ordinance adopted 7-0 with vending hours from 7 a.m. to dusk.
• Prop 47 REDIRECT grant resolution approved 7-0.
• Police substation discussion concluded with a 7-0 motion for staff to return in January with comprehensive crime data for all districts and resource information.
• Closed session had no reportable action.