On Tuesday, the Stockton City Council will hear an update on the $78 million the city received in March of 2021, as part of the $350 billion American Rescue Plan Act.
The act, signed by former President Joe Biden, was designed to help state and local governments recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The council approved an initial spending plan in September 2021, and has since approved 46 projects and projects totaling $46.95 million in expenditures through December 2024.
Some of the projects and programs include:
- May 2022: $2.5 million for Uplift Downtown improvement projects, Miracle Mile Improvement projects, and COVID-19 sick leave.
The council will also hear a trio of information-only presentations on efforts to tackle blight throughout the city.
- August through October 2023: $1.9 million for homeless shelter transition housing and the Stockton Shelter for the Homeless Navigation Center. The council also approved $1.79 million for the Navigation Center in May 2024, and an additional $800,000 for the Navigation Center in October 2024.
- October 2024: $2 million for Banner Island Ballpark, and $2.6 million for emergency generators for the city.
The city started a pilot program for its Revitalizing and Improving Stockton Program in January 2024 as a way to track code enforcement violations.
To date, the city’s detection technology has taken more than 102,000 images and analyzed more that 27,600 individual parcels of land.
The analysis revealed more than 30,700 unique issues detected, while more than 11,000 of those issues stemmed from neglected lawns.
The city issued educational letters for “blight violations” in January, while offering a “six-month grace period for voluntary compliance,” according to a presentation by the Stockton Police Department’s Neighborhood Services Section. While the aim of the RISE program is “voluntary compliance through education,” a request from the council and the Environmental Committee on Feb. 3 called for a “timeline proposal to cease the grace period provided to citizens and expedite enforcement efforts” where property owners received letters, according to the police department presentation.
The council will also hear a second presentation from the Neighborhood Services Section on their 2024 accomplishments and staffing needs. The section opened 11,909 code violation cases in 2024 and closed 7,011 cases, collecting $4.37 million for the city.
The city’s Clean City Initiative will also update the council on its accomplishments. In 2024, a battalion of 754 community volunteers removed 175 tons of trash from the city, including 681 mattresses. The initiative also oversaw the recycling of 33 tons of electronic waste, shredded or recycled 14 tons of paper, and planted 57 trees.
The council meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at the Council Chambers at City Hall, 425 N. El Dorado St. A complete agenda and livestreaming support is available at the city’s website, https://www.stocktonca.gov/government/city_council_agendas,_meetings___minutes/index.php.