The Stockton City Council may once again be considering a leadership change during its closed session discussions this week. Tuesday’s council meeting agenda lists the possible appointment of a new city manager.
Same as the previous City Council meeting this month, an item is scheduled to be discussed regarding the possible discipline, dismissal or release of a public employee. It is immediately followed by the appointment of another public employee, with the position listed as “City Manager.”
The same combination of agenda items listed on this week’s agenda previously led to the ousting of former City Manager Harry Black in January.
Both the city clerk and interim city manager also once again have performance evaluations on the council’s agenda.
The city attorney, city clerk and interim city manager have all been listed on agendas for performance evaluations multiple times in the last few months — four times for the interim city manager, twice for the city attorney and three times for the city clerk. This is also the second time in a row that a possible leadership change in the city manager position has been listed for closed session discussion.
The interim city manager remained in his post following a council’s closed-door discussion at its last meeting with the same items under consideration.
Last year, the San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury concluded that “a chartered employee should not have to fear for their job by the continual threat of a job performance review at every Closed Session Council meeting.”
While annual job evaluations are standard, the jury took issue with the continuous posting of performance reviews on meeting agendas. It’s unclear if these recent reviews are considered standard.
The city manager search process has been that of continuous controversy in recent months. Following Black’s resignation, a CEO and event planner, Steve Colangelo, became the interim city manager and is set to serve in the position for at least the next few weeks, when the council’s self-imposed deadline for hiring a permanent city manager is scheduled to expire.
Colangelo was an unconventional choice due to his apparent lack of city government experience and no apparent hiring process. Ire from both the public and some councilmembers was also ignited earlier this year after an investigation by Stocktonia revealed that Colangelo had hired another city manager for $11,000 per month of public money to help him do his job. It was later revealed the money used to pay for the contract had been reallocated from funds meant for diversity, equity and inclusion support.
Councilmembers have also sparred publicly over the city manager search, including the dissolution of an ad hoc search committee and accusations of law breaking and political retaliation.
Based on what happens, Colangelo could be hired, fired or remain interim. However, the public will only know what happens if Colangelo were to be removed.
Employment-related discussions by the council are held behind closed doors during what’s known as a closed session. Only actions taken, such as hiring or firing a city manager, are required to be announced. So the public won’t be privy to Tuesday’s closed-session deliberations.
Following the closed session, there are myriad items to be considered in the public session that begins at 5:30 p.m.
Other items of note include an infrastructure grant, expensive “emergency” police trucks and an update on the long-awaited Navigation and Pathways project.
Infrastructure grant
It is being recommended that the city accept a joint grant with Service First of Northern California for $2,538,78. The award is from the California Infill Infrastructure Grant Program.
According to the San Joaquin Valley Regional Planning Agencies, the competitive grant program is meant to promote construction on vacant or underutilized land. In the past, the Housing Authority of the city of Fresno and the city of Dinuba were awarded.
Police request emergency trucks
Finally, amongst other issues, the City Council is recommended to approve the “emergency purchase” of two 2500 Chevrolet Silverado trucks for the police department. Together, the trucks would cost $154,804.40. The police department is asking the council to make an exception to the competitive bidding process.
According to the legislation text, about eight months ago, the police department submitted a request to the city manager for two new police vehicles. The purchase would follow a new resolution proclaiming a Local Emergency on Homelessness. The vehicles were meant to aid arrests and community cleanups, such as the recent displacement at Trinity Park.
Months later, in March 2025, the interim city manager approved an emergency purchase order of two trucks. The order was submitted to Chevrolet in April, but never brought to the council — until now.
The department claims the trucks are needed for an emergency. Cited are supply chain issues and other competition as reasons for the urgency.
Homeless services and housing update
The council is also scheduled to receive an update on additional housing under construction for homeless Stocktonians. Two homeless services and housing projects — a navigation center and modular home community — are scheduled to open their doors this year after years in the making.
The Carol and Henry Zeiter Navigation Center and Pathways Neighborhood project, both to be operated by St. Mary’s Community Services, are meant to help homeless people by increasing shelter capacity, providing wrap-around services, and more.
Stocktonia last reported that construction on the Pathways Neighborhood, “a modular bedroom community,” was scheduled to begin in January 2024 and take about 10 months to complete. An updated timeline from Tuesday’s agenda shows that the Pathways project will be completed sometime this fall.
The navigation center, which will offer nearly 70 more beds for unhoused families and wrap-around services, is scheduled for completion this month.
The council meeting begins Tuesday with closed session at 3 p.m. and then public session is scheduled to resume at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.
