The Stockton City Council will face a range of important decisions on Tuesday, with millions in proposed spending focused on improving the city’s finances, infrastructure and services.
From tax audits and street repairs to affordable housing, public safety and insurance coverage, the council is set to tackle a packed agenda focused on financial oversight, infrastructure upgrades and community investment.
Park improvements continue with a $284,064 contract change order to Otto Construction for the McKinley Park Renovation project. The enhancements include further upgrades to sports courts, pool access and turf areas. If approved, the total contract value would rise to $12.68 million.
The council will also consider awarding a $408,233 contract to Robert Burns Construction to resurface local streets on about two dozen residential and connector roads. A separate proposal calls for a $301,868 contract to Chrisp Company for re-striping 28 intersections and four miles of high-traffic and linking streets, with construction set to begin this summer. An additional $80,000 from the Gas Tax fund would support the project.
Councilors is expected to approve five-year contracts with consulting firms HdL and MuniServices. These firms will conduct specialized audits of city tax revenues, including sales, business licenses, property, utility user taxes and franchise fees.
The proposed contracts will cost the city about $1.67 million over five years, or around $333,000 each year. This cost includes a flat annual fee plus additional payments based on how much extra revenue the consultants are able to recover for the city.
City staff is requesting an exception to the competitive bidding process, citing the city’s lack of internal capacity to perform these specialized audits and the need to select vendors based on professional qualifications.
The audits are expected to generate around $1.5 million annually in additional revenue and aim to support essential city services like police, fire and parks.
Bridge work is in the mix as well, with a $127,369 contract proposed for Valentine Corporation to repair the El Dorado Street Bridge over Bianchi Road. The project, expected to be completed this summer, includes concrete repairs and guardrail installation following damage from a 2021 car crash.
Pedestrian safety improvements near Spanos Elementary School are planned through the Mormon Slough Improvements project. The council will decide whether to approve the transfer of $50,000 in funds and award a $427,569 contract to FBD Vanguard Construction for new and repaired sidewalks, curbs, gutters and ADA-compliant ramps.
Affordable housing remains a topic of discussion, as the council is set to allocate up to $2 million in federal and local funds to the Delta Community Development Corporation. The funds will support the development of five affordable single-family homes, and city staff say the action would ensure the use of expiring federal funds by September 2025.
On the public safety front, Stockton Police will present a three-phase plan to enhance police presence and community engagement in South Stockton neighborhoods, particularly in Weston Ranch and Sierra Vista.
Initial steps include opening two temporary police substations, followed by evaluations for long-term solutions and the eventual creation of a permanent Public Safety Bridge Center.
Funding for the project ranges from $1.3 to $1.45 million, but no current budget allocation exists, meaning council direction and future financial planning will be essential. The proposal comes after Vice Mayor Jason Lee called for improved police accessibility and community relations.
Financial risk management is another item to be discussed. The council will consider authorizing interim city manager Steve Colangelo to secure as much as $14 million in general liability insurance coverage for the upcoming fiscal year. This follows the city being removed from its previous insurance pool, CJPRMA, after Stockton’s loss ratio exceeded 100% for three consecutive years.
The city is seeking new coverage through a different public agency, PRISM, to ensure coverage is in place by July 1, 2025, in order to avoid significant financial exposure.
The council will also review ongoing efforts related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within the city.