Stockton officials cut the ribbon Tuesday on the city’s new City Hall, celebrating the long-awaited opening of a downtown government headquarters next to the deep-water channel that city leaders described as a symbol of progress, stability and renewed confidence in Stockton’s future.
The ceremony marked a major milestone for a project nearly a decade in the making — one that has also drawn years of scrutiny over delays, rising costs and contract increases that largely happened outside public City Council votes.
Mayor Christina Fugazi said the new building belongs to Stockton residents, families, businesses and employees.
“This is an important day for the city of Stockton, and hopefully this will serve as a symbol of progress, stability, and renewed confidence in the future of our city,” Fugazi said during the ceremony.
She said City Hall is where residents ask for help, where ideas turn into action and where the work of building a stronger community happens.
“As we cut this ribbon, we’re not just opening the doors to a new City Hall,” Fugazi said. “We’re opening a new chapter for Stockton.”
The ribbon cutting was held ahead of the first full City Council meeting inside the new council chambers. The event drew city officials, county leaders and representatives from state and federal offices.
Public Works Director Peni Basalusalu opened the ceremony and recognized Fugazi, Vice Mayor Jason Lee and councilmembers Michele Padilla, Mariela Ponce, Michael Blower, Mario Enríquez and Brando Villapudua. City Manager Johnny Ford and other city staff were also recognized.
Representatives from Congressman Josh Harder’s office, state Sen. Jerry McNerney’s office and Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom’s office attended, along with San Joaquin County Supervisor Mario Gardea and District Attorney Ron Freitas. County supervisors Paul Canepa, Sonny Dhaliwal, Steven Ding and Robert Rickman were also recognized during the program.
McNerney, who represents Stockton in the state Senate, called the opening a step toward improving the city’s image.
“I’ve often said that Stockton is a jewel in the rough, and this is one step in shining that jewel,” McNerney said.
Gardea, a lifelong Stockton resident and former city employee, said the new building was needed for a city that has grown far beyond the size it was when the old City Hall opened.
He said the old setup could be inefficient for employees and residents, with city offices spread across different locations.
“You never knew where you were going,” Gardea said. “Parking was always a challenge.”
The new City Hall is located in the Waterfront Towers, a property the City Council voted to buy in 2017 for $13.6 million. At the time, renovations were projected to cost about $11.8 million, bringing the expected public investment to roughly $25 million.
Instead, the project took years longer than expected and grew far more expensive.
Stocktonia previously reported that public expenses were approaching $100 million by February, when some city services opened in the building ahead of the full summer opening. That partial opening included revenue services, building permits and fire prevention counters.
A 2025 Stocktonia investigation found that three main contracts tied to design, construction management and construction began at about $44.5 million and had grown to about $62 million by spring 2025. While the City Council voted on about $4.2 million in increases, Stocktonia found the contracts had increased at least 33 times by a total of about $17.5 million.
Those increases were possible under a city policy sometimes referred to as the “10% rule,” which allows certain contracts to grow by up to 10% plus $100,000 without a council vote. Once the council approves a new increase, the limit resets and the process can repeat.
In November, the City Council approved about $1.1 million more in contract increases tied to the project. Stocktonia reported that the vote also allowed up to $6.9 million in additional spending without further council approval.
The project’s long history was not absent from Tuesday’s celebration.
Basalusalu said the city’s old City Hall will turn 100 years old in December. He said city leaders hope the new building will serve Stockton for the next century.
Vice Mayor Jason Lee said the opening allowed residents to finally see what the city had invested in.
“This represents progress,” Lee said after the ceremony. “The city has invested in this building for over 10 years, and to see it open, to be the vice mayor of the city when the people get to see what they’ve invested in, is a great feeling.”
He said the new building is also a better environment for city employees.
“They do all the work of the city,” Lee said. “So to be able to see them come to work in an environment that is cleaner, nicer, newer, more advanced with technology is a great thing, and they deserve it.”
For some residents and community members, the opening represented a hopeful moment after years of waiting.
Liz Kastner, outreach coordinator for the Central Valley Asian Chamber of Commerce, said she has lived in Stockton since 1993 and was excited to see the new building open.
“I think it’s fantastic,” Kastner said. “I’m very excited about the progress that Stockton is making. I think that this is a very positive start to a new future.”
Kastner said she loved the old City Hall but believed the city needed a more modern space.
“It’s a beautiful old building, but it’s an old building, and it needed to have an upgrade,” she said.
Cynthia Gail Boyd, a Stockton native and regular City Council attendee, said she was glad the building was finally open but hoped the promises made during the ceremony would be matched by action.
“I hope that all the words that the mayor spoke about the future happens here,” Boyd said.
Asked what she hoped the building would mean for the city, she said, “Liberty and justice for all.”
Boyd said Stockton still has growth ahead and that every district should be represented.
“I’m praying for harmony and peace in this new building,” she said.