Stockton City Council Meeting - September 29, 2026

The Stockton City Council met on September 29, 2026, in a regular session that ran from 1:00 PM to 7:39 PM (with a recess from 3:19-3:34 PM and a closed session from 6:59 PM). The council approved several consent items, debated the Measure A Citizens' Advisory Committee reports, adopted a formal response to a critical civil grand jury report, and allocated over $11.6 million in state Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funds to local service providers.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 16 consent items with a single 7-0 vote, pulling items 6.1 (Measure A Annual Report), 6.2 (Measure A Budget Report), 6.4 (Grand Jury Response), and 6.10 (Health Benefits Report) for separate discussion and votes.
• Individual consent items approved unanimously include: quarterly investment report, Conflict of Interest Code update, $4.5M Prop 64 grant acceptance, naming of Corazón del Valle Park, team lease agreements for Stockton Thunder hockey and Stockton Crusaders arena football, fire telecommunication recruitment incentives, sole source agreements for camera repair and membrane filters, annexations to the Western Pacific Industrial Park storm drainage district, AT&T contract for dispatch centers, and construction contracts for sewer rehabilitation and B Street roundabouts.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-agenda public comments (21 speakers) covered: candidate Andrew Watkins for Stockton East Water District (described his farming background and water conservation efforts); Richard Sepulveda (reported ongoing harassment and police inaction, requested outside investigation); multiple residents (Leslie Hearon, Zoyla Moreno, Donald Tofoya, Joaquin Dominguez, Shelly Hollis, and others) criticized city council dysfunction, personal attacks, and lack of decorum; Mary Elizabeth raised concerns about tobacco retail licensing and blight; several speakers urged accountability for the council's behavior.
• On consent items: Ned Leiba (Measure A Chair) stated the city collected $470M in sales tax but one third is unaccounted for and zero sworn officers were added; Dan Offield (Measure A Vice Chair) said the committee cannot track the money and called for an audit; David Sengthay questioned the use of $3.45M in Prop 64 grant funds for surveillance equipment and asked for a written use policy; Mary Elizabeth opposed removing the Water Advisory Group from conflict-of-interest filer requirements.
• On the Grand Jury response: Cynthia Gail Boyd, David Sengthay, Mary Elizabeth, Barbara King, and Nina Rebultan all spoke. Sengthay (Stockton Democrats Together) praised the response format but urged an independent ethics commission, contribution caps, and quarterly progress reports. Mary Elizabeth emphasized the need for a transparent dashboard and a truly independent ethics commission.
• On HHAP funding: David Sengthay supported the staff recommendations and urged the council to follow the competitive scoring process.

Discussion Items

• 6.1 & 6.2 – Measure A Reports (Annual Report July 2018–June 2024 and Budget Report FY 2025-26): The committee reported $470M collected with no added police officers and poor accounting. Councilmembers Fugazi, Padilla, Lee, and Enríquez acknowledged past failures and committed to prospective transparency, audits, and improved reporting. City CFO Gilbert Garcia confirmed that UHY (the city's new auditor) has been tasked with a Measure A audit. The council approved both reports 7-0.
• 6.4 – Response to 2025-2026 Civil Grand Jury Report No. 0125 ("Stockton City Council: Governance in Turmoil"): Vice Mayor Lee noted the response was submitted after a deadline extension to October 2, 2026. He raised First Amendment concerns about social media restrictions and asked about the process for establishing an ethics commission and campaign finance rules. Councilmember Enríquez reported that the Legislative Committee has already drafted a Stockton Ethics Commission ordinance (hybrid model of Sacramento and San Francisco). City Manager Ford said a public workshop could be scheduled for October. The council unanimously approved the response (7-0).
• 6.10 – Health Benefits Report and 2027 Premium Rates: Councilmember Padilla inquired about progress on percentage-based employee premium contributions. CFO Garcia said scenarios were run and will be discussed in closed session in early October. The rates and report were approved 7-0.
• 8.1 – 2026-2027 Legislative Advocacy Program Follow-up (Informational): Staff and lobbyists presented metrics: federal advocacy yielded $1.25M in secure funding (484% ROI) and is advancing $3.02M more; state lobbyist Ciara Ross reported on bill tracking, protecting $5M in grant funding, and planning for 2027 budget requests. Council members discussed relationship mapping and future advocacy trips. No action taken.
• 10.1 – HHAP Funding Allocations: The city allocated $1,019,288.08 to Amelia Ann Adams Whole Life Center (Housing Justice Program); $1,019,288.09 to Family Resource Center (Housing Assistance); $5,000,000 to St. Mary's Community Services (shelter operations); $1,161,187.97 to Children's Home of Stockton (CATALYST Program); $1,161,187.94 to Lutheran Social Services (Housing Assistance); $1,019,288.09 to Family Resource Center (Childcare Vouchers); and $1,325,880.00 to Housing Authority of San Joaquin County (Emergency Housing Vouchers). Councilmember Padilla raised concerns about sustainability and urged quarterly reports. Councilmember Villapudua noted neighborhood concerns about St. Mary's campus. The resolution passed 6-0 (Vice Mayor Lee recused).

Key Outcomes

• Approved Measure A reports and budget (7-0).
• Approved the city's formal response to the Grand Jury report (7-0), with commitments to an ethics commission, campaign finance reform, training on decorum and social media use, and a public tracking matrix.
• Approved 2027 employee health plan premium rates (7-0).
• Allocated $11,614,041.17 in HHAP-5 and HHAP-6 funds to seven organizations for homeless prevention, shelter, housing vouchers, and childcare vouchers (6-0, Lee recused).
• No reportable action from closed session.
• City Council comments included announcements of upcoming events (police awards, pumpkin giveaways, park improvements, legislative committee work) and expressions of appreciation for staff and community partners.