Stockton City Council Meeting - March 31, 2026

The Stockton City Council met in regular session from 5:43 PM to 11:26 PM, following a closed session (3:30 PM - 4:35 PM) on labor negotiations and potential litigation. The council took action on a $3.15 million Flock drone-as-first-responder contract, approved $2.8 million in gap funding for the Fairview Terrace senior affordable housing project, advanced a Proposition 218 stormwater rate adjustment process, and received an informational update on police substations. All votes were 7-0 unless otherwise noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approved a $68,972.17 refund to Big Valley Ford Lincoln, Mercury, Inc. for business license tax.
• Accepted the Quarterly Investment Report for the quarter ended December 31, 2025.
• Authorized the City Attorney to accept deeds and grants of real property.
• Confirmed Kathleen Hart to the Stockton Center Site Authority.
• Approved minutes from seven previous council meetings (Jan 13, Jan 27, Feb 3, Feb 17, Feb 19, Mar 3, Mar 9, 2026).
• Accepted a $126,997 Caltrans Clean California CCEP Grant for community cleanup and employment pathways.
• Approved Judith Blumhorst as a public member to the Mossdale Tract Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District's Public Financing Authority.
• Authorized a refund of $27,091.45 in planning fees to Ryan Van Groningen of Five Corners Group.
• Appointed Amelia Lewis and Leonel Martinez to the Stockton Arts Commission.
• Approved a MOU with San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office for subsurface search and recovery operations, including donation of Fire Department SCUBA equipment.
• Approved a cooperative agreement for Sharp copier equipment and maintenance for $2,066,058.42 through 2032.
• Entered into a contract with ESRI for professional services ($100,575) and authorized purchase authority for software maintenance ($186,823.42 through 2028).
• Awarded two five-year contracts for water treatment chemicals: Univar Solutions ($4,755,300 for sodium hypochlorite) and Hill Brothers Chemical ($814,300 for aqueous ammonia).
• Awarded a service contract for gym floor refinishing at community centers for $157,200 to Old Growth Sport Floors, Inc.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Consent item 12.17 (Flock Drone): Over a dozen speakers opposed the $3.15 million drone expansion, citing privacy concerns, ICE data sharing, racial bias in AI, and arguing funds should go to social services, youth programs, and hiring more police officers. One speaker satirically supported the program as "Mr. Flock Safety." A few speakers questioned the lack of data on success of existing Flock cameras.
• General Public Comment (non-agenda): Speakers addressed topics including an Easter sunrise service, a youth-led roundtable on violence prevention, foster youth programs, autism awareness event, Cesar Chavez name controversy, ADA accommodations, and the need for more equitable investment in East Stockton parks.
• Item 15.2 (Zoning Map Amendment): Mary Elizabeth criticized the proliferation of drive-throughs and lack of shade trees and bicycle parking.
• Item 15.3 (Stormwater Rates): Several speakers supported the rate increase, emphasizing aging infrastructure and flood risk, while requesting more community education.
• Item 16.1 (Affordable Housing NOFA): Jane Chamberlain urged funding the "Bricks" project for downtown workforce housing over more expensive projects with longer timelines. Peter Ragsdale highlighted senior housing plans at Danny Drive.
• Item 16.4 (Police Substations): Western Ranch residents demanded the council honor its previous commitment to a substation in District 6, arguing the decision was already made and should not be reversed.

Discussion Items

• Flock Drone as First Responder System (Item 12.17): The council debated the $3.15 million amendment to add a drone system (separate from existing license plate cameras). Deputy Chief Pierce and Flock representative Lily Ho answered questions about response times (30 seconds to 4 minutes), data retention (30 days, city-owned), and guardrails preventing ICE access (a digital guardrail implemented March 2025 prevents out-of-state sharing). The city attorney confirmed no reportable action from closed session. The motion carried 7-0.
• Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Building Program (Item 12.11): The council approved $307,290 in CDBG-funded agreements with three organizations (A Tavola, Uptima Cooperative, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce) for small business support. Vice Mayor Lee requested future presentations on program outreach.
• General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports (Item 15.1): Staff reported 716 new housing units in 2025, including 131 affordable units (27 extremely low, 66 very low, 38 low, 19 moderate). The city is not on pace to meet the 12,673-unit RHNA target but has exceeded the previous cycle's pace. The report was approved 7-0.
• Zoning Map Amendment – West Lane/Morada Lane (Item 15.2): A 2.69-acre rezone from Commercial Neighborhood to Commercial General was approved 5-2 (Lee and Enríquez dissenting) to allow two drive-through fast-food restaurants (McDonald's confirmed, Starbucks not locked) and an 8,800 sq ft speculative commercial building. Councilmembers expressed concern about fast-food proliferation and the need for healthier options.
• Stormwater Rate Adjustment – Proposition 218 Process (Item 15.3): The council voted 7-0 to move forward with a rate increase from $2.10/month to $8.10/month over five years, after a public hearing where only 45 written protests were received (0.05% of 84,871 mailed ballots, far below the 50%+1 needed for a majority protest). A ballot election will be held with a public hearing on June 9, 2026. Staff highlighted $285 million in capital needs and the risk of FEMA flood mapping if improvements are not made.
• Affordable Housing NOFA Awards (Item 16.1): The council de-obligated $1.614 million from Sierra Vista Phase III (not moving forward) and approved $2.8 million in gap funding for Fairview Terrace senior housing (76 units, 55+, 30-60% AMI). The remaining $5 million for two Visionary Home Builders projects (Don Shelvy Apartments and The View at Channel) was tabled for future council presentation after Councilmember Enríquez requested all applicants have an opportunity to present. The motion to approve Fairview Terrace and defer the rest passed 7-0.
• Police Substations Update (Item 16.4): Staff and police presented crime data comparing Districts 2, 5, and 6. Kentfield (District 2) had the highest violent crime; Van Buskirk (District 5) had the highest property crime; Weston Ranch (District 6) was lowest in both. Chief McFadden noted that opening new substations would pull officers from Special Enforcement Units (SEOs) handling quality-of-life issues, and that 31 officers are currently eligible for retirement. The item was informational only; no action was taken, but Vice Mayor Lee urged honoring the prior commitment to a Weston Ranch substation.
• Single Audit FY 2023-24 (Item 16.3): The council accepted the Single Audit report with nine findings (four new, five repeated). Key issues included delays in bank reconciliations, payroll errors, and lack of documentation. CFO Garcia reported corrective actions including improved Tyler Munis implementation and monthly closings. Vice Mayor Lee requested a future agenda item to discuss a forensic audit previously authorized but not started. The motion carried 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Approved $3,150,000 Flock Drone as First Responder system (7-0), with contract through April 14, 2031. First-year funding from a grant; cancellation allowed if future funding is not secured.
• Approved $307,290 in entrepreneurship program agreements (7-0) using CDBG funds.
• Approved $2,000,000 CalVIP grant (7-0) for violence prevention, adding 2 full-time and 2 part-time grant-funded positions.
• Approved 2025 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports (7-0) for submission to state by April 1.
• Approved zoning map amendment (5-2) for McDonald's and speculative commercial development at West Lane/Morada Lane.
• Advanced Proposition 218 stormwater rate increase (7-0) to ballot election; final adoption hearing set for June 9, 2026.
• De-obligated $1,614,000 from Sierra Vista Phase III and awarded $2,800,000 gap funding for Fairview Terrace senior housing (7-0); tabled decision on remaining $5 million for two other projects for future meeting.
• Accepted the Single Audit (7-0) with corrective action plan; council directed staff to agendize discussion on internal auditor versus external forensic audit.
• Meeting extended to 11:30 PM (7-0) and adjourned at 11:26 PM.