docketcity.com
Home › Lodi › Meetings

City Council - Special

January 28, 2025 ·5:30 PM Final

Carnegie Forum 305 W. Pine Street

Agenda PDF Official record ↗

Agenda — 21 items

  1. C-1 Call to Order / Roll Call
  2. C-2 Announcement of Closed Session
  3. 2 The City Council Closed Session meeting of January 28, 2025, was called to order by Mayor Bregman at 5:33 p.m. Present: Council Member Craig Hensley, Council Member Hothi, Council Member Nakanishi, Mayor Pro Tempore Yepez, and Mayor Bregman Absent: None Also Present: City Manager Carney, City Attorney Lucchesi, and City Clerk Nashed
  4. a) Conference on Labor Negotiations Regarding International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Lodi City Mid-Management Association, AFSCME General Services and Maintenance & Operators, Police Mid-Managers, Lodi Police Officers Association, Lodi Police Dispatchers Association, Lodi Professional Firefighters, Lodi Fire Mid-Management, Confidential General Services, Confidential Mid-Managers, Executive Managers, and Appointed Employees, Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6 (HR)
  5. C-3 Adjourn to Closed Session
  6. C-4 Return to Open Session / Disclosure of Action
  7. A. Call to Order / Roll Call
  8. 6 At 5:34 p.m., Mayor Bregman adjourned the meeting to a Closed Session to discuss the above matters. The Closed Session adjourned at 5:53 p.m.
  9. B. Regular Calendar
  10. B.1 Adopt a Resolution Approving Salary Adjustments for Classifications Impacted by the Recently Adopted International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Memorandum of Understanding (HR) 25-033
  11. 8 At 5:53 p.m., Mayor Bregman reconvened the City Council meeting, and City Attorney Lucchesi disclosed that there was no reportable action.
  12. B.2 Adopt a Resolution Appointing Interim Assistant City Manager Bobby Magee to the Position of City Treasurer of the City of Lodi (CM) 25-029
  13. B.3 Receive the Library Assessment Report and Provide Guidance on Future Library Resources for Operations (CM) 25-045
  14. 10 The Special City Council meeting of January 28, 2025, was called to order by Mayor Bregman at 5:53 p.m. Present: Council Member Craig Hensley, Council Member Hothi, Council Member Nakanishi, Mayor Pro Tempore Yepez, and Mayor Bregman Absent: None Also Present: City Manager Carney, City Attorney Lucchesi, and City Clerk Nashed
  15. C. Adjournment
  16. 12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 24 hours prior to the meeting date. Language interpreter requests must be received at least 24 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/. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  17. 13 This item was pulled by staff and will be continued to the February 5, 2025 agenda.
  18. 15 City Manager Carney provided a presentation regarding the appointment of Interim Assistant City Manager Bobby Magee to the position of City Treasurer of the City of Lodi. Specific topics of discussion included the requirement of a having a City Treasurer, previous Assistant City Manager's role of City Treasurer, duties, and staff recommendation. Council Member Nakanishi thanked Mr. Magee for his recent handling of a citizen's problem with a City bill. At Council Member Hothi's invitation, Mr. Magee introduced himself to Council and provided information regarding his past experience. Council Member Craig-Hensley provided background information to the public on the City Treasurer position and spoke in support of this item. Mayor Bregman thanked Mr. Magee for accepting the position of City Treasurer.
  19. 16 Council Member Craig-Hensley made a motion, second by Council Member Nakanishi, to adopt Resolution No. 2025-11 appointing Interim Assistant City Manager Bobby Magee to the position of City Treasurer of the City of Lodi. VOTE: The above motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Council Member Craig\-Hensley, Council Member Hothi, Council Member Nakanishi, and Mayor Bregman Noes: Mayor Pro Tempore Yepez Absent: None ROLL CALL VOTE The City Council held a ROLL CALL vote (all voiced their votes).
  20. 18 City Manager Carney provided an introduction. John Alita, of Baker Tilly, provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Library Assessment Report. Specific topics of discussion included positive findings of the report, scope of the project, background of research, current state of the Library, challenges, fiscal soundness, considerations for options presented, three directions for consideration: 1) keeping the Library independent, reallocation of unused part-time funds, addition of Librarian II position, investment in self-service aspect; 2) combining Library with Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department to achieve some economies of scale and joint programming benefits, combination of departments or more interaction of departments, changes in structure of departments; and 3) joining the San Joaquin County Library System, cost savings due to efficiency of being part of the system and bulk purchasing; the need for a thorough review of job descriptions; the possibility of Library programming in other City facilities; clarification of the role of City Manager vs. role of the Library Board of Trustees; and comparison of operation within the County Library System vs. independent operation. In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Yepez, Mr. Alita provided information regarding personnel costs and comparisons to other local municipalities. In response to Council Member Craig-Hensley, Mr. Alita provided information regarding the lack of cohesiveness of the Library Strategic Plan and Council Strategic Plan. Council Member Nakanishi explained for the benefit of the public that the Library has its own Board of Directors. In response to Council Member Nakanishi, City Manager Carney provided information regarding City funding for the Library and funding sources for Capital improvements. In response to Mayor Bregman, City Manager Carney stated information regarding Library Foundation funding can be provided to Council. In response to Council Member Nakanishi, Mr Alita provided information regarding the presentation of the report to the Library Board of Trustees. In response to Council Member Nakanishi, Mr. Alita provided information regarding Library Boards of Trustees in other jurisdictions. In response to Council Member Craig-Hensley, Mr. Alita provided information regarding skill sets and qualifications for Library Board members, other jurisdictions which have their library operating under the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, and information gathered regarding the number of part-time staff. In response to Council Member Craig-Hensley, City Manager Carney and City Attorney Lucchesi provided information regarding different scenarios for joining the County Library System and operation of the Lodi Library under the California Education Code Municipal Libraries Act's requirements. Council Member Craig-Hensley requested information on the municipalities currently operating under the Municipal Libraries Act. Council Member Craig-Hensley spoke regarding the Library hours of operation and meeting the public's needs. Council Member Hothi stated he would like to hear from the public before asking questions. In response to Mayor Bregman, Mr. Alita confirmed that Lodi is the only independent library in San Joaquin County. Council Member Craig-Hensley noted that Council had received written comments from the public. Eve Milton, a Library Board Trustee, provided information regarding her extensive library background and spoke in favor of maintaining an independent library. Carolyn Dougherty, a member of the public, spoke in favor of maintaining the library's autonomy and rejecting the proposal to join the County Library System. Brian Campbell, a Library Board Trustee, spoke in favor of maintaining an independent library, noting the difficulty of leaving the County Library System once joined and the ability for an independent library to move quickly to meet community needs. Judith Tillinghast, a member of the public active in the Friends of the Lodi Public Library and the Lodi Public Library Foundation, spoke regarding concerns she has over merging with the County Library System. Arlene Farley, Lodi Public Library Foundation Secretary, spoke regarding the Foundation's improvements to the Library, collaboration, and in put into the spending of the money the Foundation has raised. Lyndsy Davis, a member of the public, spoke against merging with the County Library System. Frank Kooger, a Library Board Trustee, spoke against merging with the County Library System. Katherine Mahood, a member of the public, spoke in support of the Lodi Library. Luis Anaya, a member of the public, spoke regarding the need for careful review before making a decision. Mike Carouba, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission, spoke regarding budget shortfalls coming from cuts in the Parks and Recreation and the Library. Stuart Krengel, President of the Lodi Public Library Foundation, spoke in favor of maintaining an independent library. He noted the Foundation is ready to be a fiscal and strategic partner but they are in need of leadership from a Library Director. Terry Welch, a member of the public, spoke against contracting services to manage the library. Jateen Bhakta, a member of the public, spoke in favor of maintaining an independent library in order to keep offering the programming currently available. Mayor Pro Tempore Yepez spoke against joining the County Library System, noted that the report had helpful information on ways to improve the Library, and stated that joining the County Library System will require conducting a Citywide election that will be expensive. Council Member Hothi spoke against joining the County Library System, recognized the contributions of the Foundation, and noted the value of recommendations in the report. Council Member Nakanishi stated that there was a lot of good material in the report. Council Member Craig-Hensley reiterated that Council does not set policy, run the Library, or make decisions on programming; Council’s only functions are to budget money for the Library and appoint members to the Library Board of Trustees. She encouraged members of the public to attend the Measure L Citizens’ Oversight Committee meetings to learn more about Measure L funding for the Library and the Library Board of Trustees meetings. Council Member Craig-Hensley spoke regarding the Library Strategic Plan reflecting community input, the Board’s funding priorities, the need for adult literacy programs, recruitment of qualified employees, and tuition assistance for staff professional development. She addressed potential solutions for Option 1 challenges, including no-cost shared space with Hutchins Street Square, job skills training at the Access Center, space planning at the Library, and the potential for a mutual aid agreement with the County Library System for purchasing. She spoke regarding the importance of spending aligning with the Library Strategic Plan and the Council Strategic Plan, noting that an update is upcoming and should incorporate information provided by the Library. She also spoke in favor of establishing a 2x2 committee with Council, the Library Board of Trustees, the Lodi Public Library Foundation, and the Friends of the Lodi Public Library. Council Member Hothi noted that the City abolished late fees at the Library two years ago, so other funding opportunities need to be considered. Mayor Bregman recognized the hard work of the Board and the Foundation and spoke regarding Council working within financial boundaries, aligning funding goals with the Council Strategic Plan; safety being his first priority; collaboration and better communication with departments; and support of the formation of a 2x2 committee as referenced by Council Member Craig-Hensley. He thanked the public for attending and requested questions be emailed to Council for response. Caitlin Casey, Library Board Trustee, stated that the Library Board of Trustees is an administrative board, not an advisory board, and is subject to the Brown Act; meetings are open to the public and the Board would welcome Council Member attendance; policies are available for review; and the Lodi Public Library Foundation has saved the City hundreds of thousands of dollars. Council Member Nakanishi requested information from City Manager Carney regarding the funds budgeted for the Library two years before the passage of Measure L and for the two years after the passage of Measure L. Council Member Craig-Hensley requested the City Clerk supply Council with a link or a packet of the Library policies referenced by Trustee Casey.
  21. 20 There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m. ATTEST: Olivia Nashed City Clerk