Stockton City Council Meeting – April 14, 2026

The Stockton City Council met on April 14, 2026, beginning with a closed session at 3:31 PM (adjourned 5:00 PM) and reconvening in regular session at 5:31 PM. The meeting lasted until 12:17 AM the following morning. Major actions included awarding approximately $9.2 million in affordable housing loans, approving $6.57 million in mid-year budget adjustments, and hearing public testimony on whether to rename the Cesar Chavez Library.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 12.1: Accept committee minutes from Salary Setting Commission (Feb 11, Mar 12, Mar 27, 2026).
• Approved 12.2: Approve City Council minutes from March 24 and March 31, 2026.
• Approved 12.3 (7-0): Reject all bids for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consulting services; city manager will hire an internal DEI officer instead.
• Approved 12.4 (6-1): Authorize a three-year addendum (not-to-exceed $189,000) with Zencity Technologies for community engagement analytics; Councilmember Enríquez dissented citing lack of performance data.
• Approved 12.5: Award $158,100 contract to Haley & Aldrich, Inc. for erosion control design at Delta Water Intake Pump Station (non-competitive exception).
• Approved 12.6: Award $370,441 contract to Kleinfelder, Inc. for decommissioning multiple groundwater wells.
• Approved 12.7: Establish guidelines for Council member conduct during labor negotiations per Meyers-Milias-Brown Act.
• Approved 12.8 (6-0; Mayor Fugazi recused): Set public hearing for June 9, 2026 on Five Mile Slough Assessment District formation.
• Approved 12.9 (7-0): Award $281,862 contract to Swierstok Enterprise for Grupe Park Pickleball Courts.
• Approved 12.10, 12.11 (both 7-0): Preliminarily approve annual reports and budgets for Central Stockton Lighting District and Consolidated Landscape Maintenance District No. 96-2; set public hearings for June 9, 2026.
• Approved 12.12: Award three-year fountain maintenance contract (not-to-exceed $468,070) to All Seasons Pool Service for Weber Point Events Center.
• Approved 12.13: Approve $417,906.95 cooperative purchase for Regional Wastewater Control Facility roof replacement.
• Approved 12.14 (7-0): Approve $3,131,674.79 cooperative purchases for two fire engines, one wildland engine, and one police Bearcat.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Cesar Chavez Library (Item 16.6): Ten speakers addressed the council: Alicia Ramirez (recommended an ad hoc committee and urged retaining the name or renaming to honor farm workers); Cynthia Gail Boyd (suggested renaming after Barack Obama); Inez Ruiz-Huston (proposed “Farm Workers’ Library” and urged community process); Yolanda Amen (supported keeping the name, citing collective movement); Regina Martin, Gail Stallworth, and Elaine Moonie (proposed renaming after Dr. Lewis D. Stallworth Sr.); Ralph White (shared personal history with Cesar Chavez and urged retaining the name).
• Affordable Housing NOFA (Item 16.1): Many speakers supported the BRICS project (workforce housing) and Alicia’s Place (veteran housing), while others questioned the process and urged funding shovel-ready projects.
• Other Public Comments: Included concerns about the Ask Stockton app, park maintenance (Stuart Gibson Park sign), support for climate action planning, and invitations to community events.

Discussion Items

• USS Lucid Presentation (16.3): Dave Rakovich, Stockton Maritime Museum, presented plans to restore the last wooden minesweeper and relocate it downtown. The project is 85% complete; no city funds requested. Council expressed strong support.
• Affordable Housing Loan Awards (16.1): After a lengthy debate and multiple motions, the council voted 4-3 to fund three projects:
  • BRICS (downtown workforce housing, 40 units): $4,468,637 (including original $2.6M and $1.8M gap).
  • Alicia’s Place (veteran permanent supportive housing, 77 units): $3,100,000.
  • Danny Drive (senior housing, 54 units): remaining $1,611,201, contingent on breaking ground within two years or funds returning for reallocation.
  • A motion to approve staff's recommended projects (The Brix, Alicia’s Place, Danny Drive) failed 3-4. A motion to require Mayor Fugazi to recuse herself also failed 3-3 (Councilmember Padilla absent).
• Miracle Mile Community Improvement District (16.4): Approved 7-0 the 2025 annual report and 2026 operating budget and assessments.
• Stockton Tourism Business Improvement District (16.5): Approved 7-0 the 2025 annual report and 2026 budget and service plan.
• FY 2025-26 Mid-Year Budget Adjustments (16.2): After discussion, council voted 7-0 to approve $1.1 million in time-sensitive items (Buckley Cove dredging ($500,000), legal costs ($475,000), SUSE Pool improvements, July 4th events, and SB 707 compliance). Remaining $1.8 million in general fund requests were referred to the Budget Committee.
• Cesar Chavez Library Naming (16.6): Council received public testimony and voted 7-0 to continue the item to the next meeting, with no Council comments or further discussion.

Key Outcomes

• Housing Funding: Council diverged from staff recommendations, allocating $9,179,838 across three projects (BRICS, Alicia’s Place, Danny Drive) with a two-year deadline for Danny Drive. Voting: 4-3 (Fugazi, Villapudua, Padilla, Ponce yes; Blower, Enríquez, Lee no).
• Mid-Year Budget: Only time-sensitive items approved; balance deferred to Budget Committee.
• Cesar Chavez Library: Decision postponed to next Council meeting.
• DEI Consulting: All bids rejected; city manager to hire internal DEI officer.
• Zencity Technologies: Contract extended 6-1; Council will receive a performance update by August 2026.
• Police Substations: Not funded at this meeting; Vice Mayor Lee pledged to reintroduce in seven months.
• Administrative Matters: Council directed staff to bring back items on a face-covering ordinance (Vice Mayor Lee), a housing continuum presentation within 30 days (Lee), an RTD update (Lee), and a review of civil service hiring policies within 60 days (Councilmember Padilla).