City Council - Special

Carnegie Forum 305 W. Pine Street

Agenda — 12 items

1. A. Call to Order / Roll Call
2. B. Announcement of Closed Session
3. 2 The City Council Closed Session meeting of April 11, 2025, was called to order by Mayor Bregman at 10:05 a.m. Present: Council Member Craig Hensley, Mayor Pro Tempore Yepez, and Mayor Bregman Absent: Council Member Hothi and Council Member Nakanishi Also Present: City Attorney Lucchesi and City Clerk Nashed NOTE: Council Member Nakanishi arrived after Council adjourned to Closed Session. He was briefed on what had occurred prior to his arrival and participated fully in the Council deliberations.
4. B.1 Conference with Outside Legal Counsel on Public Employee Appointment - Title: Acting City Manager, Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.
5. C. Adjourn to Closed Session
6. D. Return to Open Session / Disclosure of Action
7. E. Adjournment
8. 6 After the announcement of the Closed Session item, in response to Council Member Craig-Hensley, Mayor Bregman clarified that the point of the Closed Session and the agenda item is to appoint an Acting City Manager. Mayor Bregman invited outside counsel, Adam Lindgren, to the podium. Mr. Lindgren noted that City Attorney Lucchesi has no conflict on this issue and is free to participate in any advice on this topic. Mr. Lindgren further noted that two Council Members were unable to attend the Closed Session and will not be participating via telephonic communication. Kenneth Wheeler, a member of the public, spoke regarding not being able to ascertain if City Manager Carney's comments were referencing an audit from prior to his tenure, if the previous City Manager knew about the issue, and concerns regarding vaccinations and hidden agendas. JP Doucette, President of the Lodi Chamber of Commerce, expressed his disappointment in the whole Council not participating in the meeting. He stated that the Chamber Board and members would prefer to have an Acting City Manager appointed from outside of current City staff members while the financial audit and investigation into potential Brown Act violations are conducted. He spoke regarding the retention of Interim Assistant City Manager Bobby Magee, his possible service as Acting City Manager, and his importance to the completion of the forensic audit. He further stated he is unclear if the investigation is into the validity of the allegations Mr. Carney's claims regarding City finances, into his potential violation of the Brown Act, or into the editing of staff reports against his authority. Mark Chandler, former Council Member and Mayor, expressed his support for Mr. Doucette's comments and spoke regarding the public's concern regarding the current situation and his support of having an individual from the outside serve as Acting City Manager, and the highest priority being the forensic audit. Council Member Craig-Hensley spoke regarding the administrative leave of Mr. Carney, the Acting City Manager's qualifications being the same as the City Manager, and the importance of the forensic audit. At 10:20 a.m., Mayor Bregman adjourned the meeting to a Closed Session to discuss the above matters. The Closed Session adjourned at 10:54 a.m.
9. 7 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All staff reports or other written documentation relating to each item of business referred to on the agenda are on file in the Office of the City Clerk, located at 221 W. Pine Street, Lodi, and are available for public inspection. Agendas and staff reports are also posted on the City’s website at www.lodi.gov. If requested, the agenda shall be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with a disability, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132), and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof. To make a request for disability-related modification or accommodation contact the City Clerk’s Office as soon as possible and at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date. Language interpreter requests must be received at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting to help ensure availability. Contact Olivia Nashed at (209) 333-6702. Solicitudes de interpretación de idiomas deben ser recibidas por lo menos con 72 horas de anticipación a la reunión para ayudar a asegurar la disponibilidad. Llame a Olivia Nashed (209) 333-6702. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meetings of the Lodi City Council are telecast on SJTV, Channel 26. The City of Lodi provides live and archived webcasts of regular City Council meetings. The webcasts can be found on the City's website at www.lodi.gov by clicking the meeting webcasts link. Members of the public may view and listen to the open session of this meeting at www.facebook.com/CityofLodi/. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. 8 At 10:54 a.m., Mayor Bregman reconvened the City Council meeting, and announced the unanimous decision to appoint Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Christina Jaromay as Acting City Manager, with the time period being through Wednesday or Friday next week at which time Council will agendize and take action on hiring a retired annuitant from outside the City. Mayor Bregman announced that a future meeting, he has asked that an item be agendized to receive public comment regarding the appointment of a City Treasurer. Outside counsel, Adam Lindgren, announced that Mayor Bregman's comments have accurately reflected Council's decision in Closed Session and noted that Council Member Nakanishi was able to join the deliberations and was fully briefed on what had occurred up to that point and participated fully in the decision of the Council. In response to Council Member Craig-Hensley, Mayor Bregman confirmed that Council did not discuss the City Treasurer position in Closed Session.
11. 10 There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 10:56 a.m.
12. 11 ATTEST: Olivia Nashed City Clerk