City Council - Special

Hutchins Street Square - Kirst Hall 125 S. Hutchins Street, Lodi

Agenda — 9 items

1. A. Call to Order / Roll Call
2. B. Regular Calendar
3. 2 The Special City Council meeting of January 28, 2026, was called to order by Mayor Yepez at 9:11 a.m. Present: Council Member Craig-Hensley, Council Member Nakanishi, Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi, and Mayor Yepez Absent: Council Member Bregman Also Present: Interim City Manager Lindsay, City Attorney Lucchesi, and City Clerk Nashed NOTE: Council Member Bregman arrived at 9:15 a.m. NOTE: Council Member Nakanishi left the meeting at 10:50 a.m. and returned at 11:43 a.m.
4. B.1 Review and Update the City Council Strategic Vision and Protocol Manual (CM) 26-049
5. C. Adjournment
6. 5 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 24 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/. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. 5 Interim City Manager Lindsay provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the review and update the City Council Strategic Vision and Protocol Manual. Specific topics of discussion included overview; Fiscal Health priority; Stretch Goal of "Create a fiscal structure to accomplish Council Strategic Priorities"; milestones of (A) promote the City's fiscal transparency and citizens' fiscal fluency, (B) position Lodi to maintain a diversified revenue mix that reflects the economic prosperity of the community, (C) ensure elected leaders and staff retain focus on fiscal priorities, (D) anticipate and advocate against unfunded mandates while ensuring the City has funding amounts equal to annual depreciation levels to maintain assets, and (E) improve pension as against average cities by 25%; Fiscal Health update; and General Fund revenues. Following the completion of the presentation on the priority Fiscal Health, an opportunity was provided for Council discussion and direction. Interim City Manager Lindsay, Budget Manager Jennelle Baker, and Electric Utility Director Jeff Berkheimer provided additional information to Council Members. Interim City Manager Lindsay continued the PowerPoint presentation for the Infrastructure priority. Specific topics of discussion included the Stretch Goal of "Develop and maintain a robust infrastructure to support a world-class city"; milestones of: (A) invest in innovative infrastructure with a high Return on Investment, (B) adaptive reuse of existing properties, (C) address deferred maintenance, (D) ensure capacity for future growth, (E) proactive infrastructure development for Sphere of Influence and growth areas, (F) ensure that funding for the maintenance of future development projects is sustainable and self-supporting; and Infrastructure update. Following the completion of the presentation on the priority of Infrastructure, an opportunity was provided for Council discussion and direction. Interim City Manager Lindsay, Electric Utility Director Jeff Berkheimer, and Interim Public Works Director Sean Nathan provided additional information to Council Members. Scott Hamilton, a member of the public, spoke regarding the need for community feedback opportunities on the City's website; the integration of the Budget in Brief with the public budget input site; support for a lobbyist; support for cannabis sales as a revenue source; lease of Electric Utility property; adaptive reuse of the Main Street Firehouse, the Armory, and the Hutchins Maintenance Building; and the use of private/public partnership for adaptive reuse projects. Mike Carouba, a member of the public, spoke regarding property tax, sales tax, annexation, and the benefit brought by new residents. Interim City Manager Lindsay continued the PowerPoint presentation for the Parks priority. Specific topics of discussion included the Stretch Goal of "Develop a world-class revenue-generating Parks System"; milestones of (A) fully staffed to annual benchmarks, (B) expand, develop, and maintain Lodi Lake to meet or exceed industry standards, (C) develop and maintain sports/recreational facilities for City and Public use including an indoor sports facility (D) expand, develop, and maintain Hutchins Street Square facilities to meet or exceed industry standards, (E) create a dedicated fund to improve event-based facilities to meet or exceed industry standards, and (F) new benchmark to develop a Parks Master Plan to identify the recreational needs of the community and develop strategies for meeting those needs; and Parks update. Following the completion of the presentation on the priority of Parks, an opportunity was provided for Council discussion and direction. Mike Carouba, a Parks and Recreation Commissioner, spoke regarding the need to provide a service to the community as well as generate revenue, park maintenance, and the need for collaboration between departments in planning future parks. Interim City Manager Lindsay continued the PowerPoint presentation for the Public Safety priority. Specific topics of discussion included the Stretch Goal of "Create the best-trained police and fire departments in the State of California"; milestones of (A) reach and maintain full staffing, (B) create an outdoor training facility, (C) institute the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Program, (D) consider strategic regional partnerships with surrounding agencies to enhance fire and emergency response services, (E) research, develop, and/or promote advanced training programs for police and fire personnel based on or exceeding best practices for service delivery and affecting public safety, (F) meet International Organization for Standardization (ISO Measurements in response times, (G) high levels of community involvement by public safety employees, and (H) enhance programs to address strategic safety problem areas in the community such as the unsheltered population, the Fentanyl crisis, and in animal services; and public safety update. Police Chief Ricardo Garcia and Fire Chief Ken Johnson provided information regarding staffing in their departments. Fire Chief Johnson provided an update on the ALS Program. Following the completion of the presentation on the priority of Public Safety, an opportunity was provided for Council discussion and direction. Police Chief Garcia, Fire Chief Johnson, and Community Development Director John Della Monica provided additional information for Council. In response to Scott Hamilton, a member of the public, Fire Chief Johnson provided information regarding Fire Department response to medical emergencies. Interim City Manager Lindsay continued the PowerPoint presentation for the Economic Development priority. Specific topics of discussion included the Stretch Goal of "Raise the median income of Lodi residents to 25% of the State of California"; milestones of (A) develop a long-term economic development strategy (B) expand and diversify economic opportunities, (C) continue to support the Hydrogen Hub Project, (D) White Slough Public Safety Training Facility, (E) grow the City through East Side annexation, (F) repurposing existing assets, and (G) attracting tech and non-agriculture jobs; and Economic Development update. Following the completion of the presentation on the priority of Economic Development, an opportunity was provided for Council discussion and direction. Interim Public Works Director Sean Nathan provided information regarding the need for the agricultural property for distribution of treated wastewater. Economic Development Director Luis Aguilar and Community Development Director John Della Monica provided additional information. JP Doucette, President of the Lodi Chamber of Commerce, spoke regarding the importance of economic development, the implementation of the Economic Development Plan, business retention, City customer service, and sales tax as a sustainable revenue source. In response to Mayor Yepez, Mr. Doucette provided information regarding business retention and business expansion. Interim City Manager Lindsay continued the PowerPoint presentation for the Downtown priority. Specific topics of discussion included the Stretch Goal of "Realize a lively mixed-use, walkable commercial downtown district; milestones of (A) expand opportunities for Downtown living, (B) preserve Downtown historic character, (C) ensure accessibility for multi-modal transportation and public safety, (D) protect and promote the use of public facilities including the Library, Public Safety Building, and the City Administrative Building, (E) expand the perimeter of Downtown mixed-use zoning, and (F) adopt policies that incentivize the revitalization of buildings and infrastructure; and Downtown update. Following the completion of the presentation on the priority of Downtown, an opportunity was provided for Council discussion and direction. Community Development Director John Della Monica, City Attorney Lucchesi, and Economic Development Director Luis Aguilar provided additional information. Nick Jones, of Ford Construction, spoke regarding the Economic Strategic Plan, the need to fix the gateways to Lodi to bring in tourist money, and the need for citizens to live and work in Lodi. City Clerk Nashed provided a presentation regarding the City Council Protocol Manual. Specific topics of discussion included background; last update; annual City Council rotation during the reorganization meeting each December; Council direction for a specific process for selection of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore; outside counsel's provision of samples from other cities' procedures; City of Glendale - reorganization in April with selection of Mayor based on the member who has gone the longest without serving as Mayor and percentage of votes received in the event of a tie on seniority; City of Colfax - reorganization in December, Mayor Pro Tempore automatically becomes Mayor, Mayor Pro Tempore selected based on the member who has gone the longest without serving as Mayor; no samples where Cities rotate by district; district rotation disadvantage of newly-elected Council Member could be eligible immediately to serve as Mayor. Following the completion of the presentation on the process for selection of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore, an opportunity was provided for Council discussion and direction. City Clerk Nashed recapped Council direction: Mayor Pro Tempore becomes Mayor, appointment rotatation by District, a four-fifth or super majority to override the policy, and Mayor Pro Tempore's role description will include mentorship of new Council Members. Discussion ensued between Council Members, City Clerk Nashed, and City Attorney Lucchesi regarding the super majority requirement. City Clerk Nashed will return to Council with an appointment policy for their review. City Attorney Lucchesi provided a presentation regarding SB 707 requirements. Specific topics of discussion included lack of an adopted decorum policy; SB 1100 allowing for removal of people creating a disruption at a Council meeting; the need for formal adoption into Protocol Manual; pronouns and updated terms; cross-references to City ordinances, resolutions, minutes, and action minutes; Closed Session minutes; meeting rules of conduct; Rosenberg's Rules of Order; adoption of SB 707; goal of strengthening public participation, expanding remote teleconferencing access, and offering more translation services and opportunities; important implementation of resource planning requirements; requires an update of meeting procedures; beginning January 1 the City is required to provide the opportunity to have Zoom public participation and public comment; language and interpretation requirement for agendas; requirement for provision of information on how to obtain agendas and participate in meetings; translation services are not required at meetings but the City must allow participants to bring their own translator; requirement to adopt a disruption of remote teleconferencing policy by July 1; City is required to wait for one hour in the case of a disruption in teleconferencing services; remote teleconferencing provisions; and upcoming training. Following the completion of the presentation on SB 707 requirements, an opportunity was provided for Council discussion and direction. Mayor Yepez requested that Council receive a copy of Rosenberg's Rules of Order. In response to Council comments, City Clerk Nashed stated that Council orientation will be added to the Protocol Manual. City Attorney Lucchesi recapped Council direction on the Protocol Manual: direction has been received regarding the rotation of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore and that item will be taken back to outside counsel; SB 707 updates and comment provisions will be incorporated and a draft presented to Council for consideration at a future meeting. Interim City Manager Lindsay continued the PowerPoint presentation for the Housing priority. Specific topics of discussion included the Stretch Goal of "Ensure every socio-economic demographic and family structure can secure quality housing within the community;" milestones of (A)develop new housing opportunities with market values aligned with current Area Median Income and standard housing/income rations, (B) create more residential opportunities Downtown, (C) ensure continued progress toward Regional Housing Needs Assessment Goals, (D) require a percentage of housing in new developments to be workforce housing, (E) adopt standards and policies to promote housing for all economic levels, (F) develop policies that will promote affordable housing by design, generational housing by design, and diverse housing by design, and (G) consider ways to support the existence of an adequate number of rental properties; and housing update. Following the completion of the presentation on the priority of Housing, an opportunity was provided for Council discussion and direction. Community Development Director Della Monica provided additional information. Mike Carouba, a member of the public, spoke regarding affordability and risks of housing through annexation and the need to not add additional fees. Lyndsy Davis, a member of the public, spoke regarding the need to retain the charm and historic elements of Lodi. Interim City Manager Lindsay continued the PowerPoint presentation for the Public Well Being priority. Specific topics of discussion included the Stretch Goal of "Be a recognized leader in generating a happy, healthy, high-quality of life for all; milestones of (A) increase opportunities for physical, recreational, and cultural activities, (B) partner with other public/private entities to provide outreach, education, and activities to engage diverse cultures and communities, (C) provide opportunities for access to mental health and substance abuse treatment, and (D) focus on youth education and mentorship to foster positive life choices. Following the completion of the presentation on the priority of Public Well Being, an opportunity was provided for Council discussion and direction. Library Services Director Jennifer Fontanilla, City Attorney Lucchesi, City Clerk Nashed, and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Christina Jaromay provided additional information. Lyndsy David, Chair of the Lodi Improvement Committee (LIC), spoke regarding member groups of the LIC that are assigned tasks in alignment with the Council's Strategic Vision, the opportunities afforded by the Library and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, and the need for more public outreach. Interim City Manager Lindsay continued the PowerPoint presentation for future financial needs. Specific topics of discussion included one-time funding needed to reach milestones, additional annual funding needed to reach milestones, sales tax, and transient occupancy tax. Following the completion of the presentation on future funding needs, an opportunity was provided for Council discussion and direction.
8. 7 There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 3:46 p.m.
9. 8 ATTEST: Olivia Nashed City Clerk

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