LODI CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
CARNEGIE FORUM
305 W. PINE STREET
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2025 ‑ 5:30 P.M.
C‑1 Call to Order / Roll Call
The City Council Closed Session meeting of January 28, 2025, was called to order by Mayor Bregman at 5:33 p.m.
Present: Council Member Craig-Hensley, Council Member Hothi, Council Member Nakanishi, Mayor Pro Tempore Yepez, and Mayor Bregman
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager Carney, City Attorney Lucchesi, and City Clerk Nashed
C‑2 Announcement of Closed Session
a) Conference on Labor Negotiations Regarding International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Lodi City Mid‑Management Association, AFSCME General Services and Maintenance & Operators, Police Mid‑Managers, Lodi Police Officers Association, Lodi Police Dispatchers Association, Lodi Professional Firefighters, Lodi Fire Mid‑Management, Confidential General Services, Confidential Mid‑Managers, Executive Managers, and Appointed Employees, Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6 (HR)
C‑3 Adjourn to Closed Session
At 5:34 p.m., Mayor Bregman adjourned the meeting to a Closed Session to discuss the above matters. The Closed Session adjourned at 5:53 p.m.
C‑4 Return to Open Session / Disclosure of Action
At 5:53 p.m., Mayor Bregman reconvened the City Council meeting, and City Attorney Lucchesi disclosed that there was no reportable action.
A. Call to Order / Roll Call
The Special City Council meeting of January 28, 2025, was called to order by Mayor Bregman at 5:53 p.m.
Present: Council Member Craig-Hensley, Council Member Hothi, Council Member Nakanishi, Mayor Pro Tempore Yepez, and Mayor Bregman
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager Carney, City Attorney Lucchesi, and City Clerk Nashed
B. Regular Calendar
B.1 Adopt a Resolution Approving Salary Adjustments for Classifications Impacted by the Recently Adopted International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Memorandum of Understanding (HR)
Attachments: Attachment 1 ‑ EUD Conforming Salary Adjustment Table Attachment 2 ‑ Resolution
This item was pulled by staff and will be continued to the February 5, 2025 agenda.
B.2 Adopt a Resolution Appointing Interim Assistant City Manager Bobby Magee to the Position of City Treasurer of the City of Lodi (CM)
Attachments: Attachment 1 ‑ Resolution
City Manager Carney provided a presentation regarding the appointment of Interim Assistant City Manager Bobby Magee to the position of City Treasurer of the City of Lodi. Specific topics of discussion included the requirement of a having a City Treasurer, previous Assistant City Manager's role of City Treasurer, duties, and staff recommendation.
Council Member Nakanishi thanked Mr. Magee for his recent handling of a citizen's problem with a City bill.
At Council Member Hothi's invitation, Mr. Magee introduced himself to Council and provided information regarding his past experience.
Council Member Craig‑Hensley provided background information to the public on the City Treasurer position and spoke in support of this item.
Mayor Bregman thanked Mr. Magee for accepting the position of City Treasurer.
Council Member Craig‑Hensley made a motion, second by Council Member Nakanishi, to adopt Resolution No. 2025‑11 appointing Interim Assistant City Manager Bobby Magee to the position of City Treasurer of the City of Lodi.
VOTE:
The above motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Craig‑Hensley, Council Member Hothi, Council Member Nakanishi, and Mayor Bregman Noes: Mayor Pro Tempore Yepez
Absent: None
ROLL CALL VOTE
The City Council held a ROLL CALL vote (all voiced their votes).
B.3 Receive the Library Assessment Report and Provide Guidance on Future Library Resources for Operations (CM)
Attachments: Attachment 1 ‑ Lodi Public Library Assessment
City Manager Carney provided an introduction. John Alita, of Baker Tilly, provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Library Assessment Report. Specific topics of discussion included positive findings of the report; scope of the project; background of research; current state of the Library; challenges; fiscal soundness; considerations for options presented; three directions for consideration: 1) keeping the Library independent, reallocation of unused part‑time funds, addition of Librarian II position, and investment in self‑service aspect; 2) combining the Library with the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department to achieve some economies of scale and joint programming benefits, combination of departments or more interaction of departments, and changes in structure of departments; and 3) joining the San Joaquin County Library System, cost savings due to efficiency of being part of the system and bulk purchasing, and the need for a thorough review of job descriptions; the possibility of Library programming in other City facilities; clarification of the role of City Manager vs. role of the Library Board of Trustees; and comparison of operation within the County Library System vs. independent operation.
In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Yepez, Mr. Alita provided information regarding personnel costs and comparisons to other local municipalities.
In response to Council Member Craig‑Hensley, Mr. Alita provided information regarding the lack of cohesiveness of the Library Strategic Plan and Council Strategic Plan.
Council Member Nakanishi explained for the benefit of the public that the Library has its own Board of Directors.
In response to Council Member Nakanishi, City Manager Carney provided information regarding City funding for the Library and funding sources for Capital improvements.
In response to Mayor Bregman, City Manager Carney stated information regarding Library Foundation funding can be provided to Council.
In response to Council Member Nakanishi, Mr. Alita provided information regarding the presentation of the report to the Library Board of Trustees.
In response to Council Member Nakanishi, Mr. Alita provided information regarding Library Boards in other jurisdictions.
In response to Council Member Craig‑Hensley, Mr. Alita provided information regarding skill sets and qualifications for Library Board members; other jurisdictions which have their library operating under the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department; and information gathered regarding the number of part‑time staff.
In response to Council Member Craig‑Hensley, City Manager Carney and City Attorney Lucchesi provided information regarding different scenarios for joining the County Library System and Lodi Library’s operation under the California Education Code Municipal Libraries Act's requirements.
Council Member Craig‑Hensley requested information on the municipalities currently operating under the Municipal Libraries Act.
Council Member Craig‑Hensley spoke regarding the Library hours of operation and meeting the public's needs.
Council Member Hothi stated he would like to hear from the public before asking questions.
In response to Mayor Bregman, Mr. Alita confirmed that Lodi is the only independent library in San Joaquin County.
Council Member Craig‑Hensley noted that Council had received written comments from the public.
Eve Milton, a Library Board Trustee, provided information regarding her extensive library background and spoke in favor of maintaining an independent library.
Carolyn Dougherty, a member of the public, spoke in favor of maintaining the library's autonomy and rejecting the proposal to join the County Library System.
Brian Campbell, a Library Board Trustee, spoke in favor of maintaining an independent library, noting the difficulty of leaving the County Library System once joined and the ability for an independent library to move quickly to meet community needs.
Judith Tillinghast, a member of the public active in the Friends of the Lodi Public Library and the Lodi Public Library Foundation, spoke regarding concerns she has over merging with the County Library System.
Arlene Farley, Lodi Public Library Foundation Secretary, spoke regarding the Foundation's improvements to the Library, collaboration, and input into the spending of the money the Foundation has raised.
Lyndsy Davis, a member of the public, spoke against merging with the County Library System.
Frank Kooger, a Library Board Trustee, spoke against merging with the County Library System.
Katherine Mahood, a member of the public, spoke in support of the Lodi Library.
Luis Anaya, a member of the public, spoke regarding the need for careful review before making a decision.
Mike Carouba, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission, spoke regarding budget shortfalls coming from cuts in the Parks and Recreation and the Library.
Stuart Krengel, President of the Lodi Public Library Foundation, spoke in favor of maintaining an independent library. He noted the Foundation is ready to be a fiscal and strategic partner and advocated for the appointment of a Library Director.
Terry Welch, a member of the public, spoke against contracting services to manage the library.
Jateen Bhakta, a member of the public, spoke in favor of an independent library in order to maintain the programming currently available.
Mayor Pro Tempore Yepez spoke against joining the County Library System, noted that the report had helpful information on ways to improve the Library, and stated that joining the County Library System will require conducting a Citywide election that would be expensive.
Council Member Hothi spoke against joining the County Library System, recognized the contributions of the Foundation, and noted the value of recommendations in the report.
Council Member Nakanishi stated that there was good information in the report.
Council Member Craig‑Hensley reiterated that Council does not set policy, run the Library, or make decisions on programming; Council’s only functions are to budget money for the Library and appoint members to the Library Board of Trustees. She encouraged members of the public to attend the Measure L Citizens’ Oversight Committee meetings to learn more about Measure L funding for the Library and the Library Board of Trustees meetings. Council Member Craig‑Hensley spoke regarding the Library Strategic Plan reflecting community input, the Board’s funding priorities, the need for adult literacy programs, recruitment of qualified employees, and tuition assistance for staff professional development. She addressed potential solutions for Option 1 challenges, including no‑cost shared space with Hutchins Street Square, job skills training at the Access Center, space planning at the Library, and the potential for a mutual aid agreement with the County Library System for purchasing. She spoke regarding the importance of spending aligning with the Library Strategic Plan and the Council Strategic Plan, noting that a Council Strategic Plan update is upcoming and should incorporate information provided by the Library. She also spoke in favor of establishing a 2x2 committee with Council, the Library Board of Trustees, the Lodi Public Library Foundation, and the Friends of the Lodi Public Library.
Council Member Hothi noted that the City abolished late fees at the Library two years ago, so other funding opportunities need to be considered.
Mayor Bregman recognized the hard work of the Board and the Foundation and spoke regarding Council working within financial boundaries, aligning funding goals with the Council Strategic Plan, safety being his first priority, collaboration and better communication with departments, and support of the formation of a 2x2 committee as referenced by Council Member Craig‑Hensley. He thanked the public for attending and requested questions be emailed to Council for response.
Caitlin Casey, Library Board Trustee, stated that the Library Board of Trustees is an administrative board, not an advisory board, and is subject to the Brown Act; meetings are open to the public and the Board would welcome Council Member attendance; policies are available for review; and the Lodi Public Library Foundation has saved the City hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Council Member Nakanishi requested information from City Manager Carney regarding the funds budgeted for the Library two years before the passage of Measure L and for the two years after the passage of Measure L.
Council Member Craig‑Hensley requested the City Clerk supply Council with a link or a packet of the Library policies referenced by Trustee Casey.
C. Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
ATTEST:
Olivia Nashed
City Clerk