LODI CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
CARNEGIE FORUM
305 W. PINE STREET, LODI
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2025 ‑ 4:00 P.M.
A. Call to Order / Roll Call
The Special City Council meeting of December 16, 2025, was called to order by Mayor Yepez at 4:06 p.m.
Present: Council Member Craig‑Hensley, Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi, and Mayor Yepez
Absent: Council Member Bregman and Council Member Nakanishi
Also Present: Interim City Manager Lindsay, City Attorney Lucchesi, and City Clerk Nashed
NOTE: Council Member Bregman arrived at 4:08 p.m.
NOTE: Council Member Craig‑Hensley left the meeting at 4:56 p.m.
B. Regular Calendar
Council Member Craig‑Hensley made a motion, second by Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi, to move Item B.2 before Item B.1 on the agenda.
VOTE:
The above motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Craig‑Hensley, Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi, and Mayor Yepez Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Bregman and Council Member Nakanishi
B.1 Provide Information to Council on the Typical Resident Request Process (For Example:
All‑Way Stop Sign Requests) (PW)
Per the Council vote, this item was heard after Item B.2.
Interim Public Works Director Sean Nathan provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the typical residential traffic request process. Specific topics of discussion included previous Council discussions, all‑way stop requests, Oak Street and Crescent Avenue intersection all‑way stop request, resident's concern/request, warrant analysis, standards for analysis, collisions, minimum traffic volumes, combined collisions and volumes, other potential considerations, next steps, history of Oak Street and Crescent Avenue intersection, and reason for following standards.
In response to Council Member Craig‑Hensley, Interim Public Works Director Nathan provided information regarding the reason for a two‑way stop at the Oak Street and Crescent Avenue intersection when adjacent intersections are four‑way stops.
Council Member Craig‑Hensley spoke regarding the perception that Oak Street and Crescent Avenue is a four‑way stop due to the adjacent four‑way stops and voiced her support for a four‑way stop at the location.
In response to Council Member Craig‑Hensley, Interim Public Works Director Nathan provided information regarding installation of four‑way stops under stricter guidelines than those used for warrant analysis.
In response to Council Member Craig‑Hensley, Interim Public Works Director Nathan and Senior Traffic Engineer Dorothy Kam provided information regarding the previous installation of larger stop signs and "cross traffic does not stop" signs at the Oak Street and Crescent Avenue location.
In response to Council Member Craig‑Hensley, Interim Public Works Director Nathan provided information regarding the cost of installing a four‑way stop.
Council Member Craig‑Hensley spoke in favor of a four‑way stop at Oak Street and Crescent Avenue and requested that the item be added to a future Council agenda.
In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi, Interim Public Works Director Nathan provided information regarding other four‑way stop intersections that did not meet or no longer meet the criteria for a four‑way stop and the potential for City liability.
Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi voiced his support for the four‑way stop.
In response to Council Member Bregman, Interim Public Works Director Nathan confirmed that speed was not measured in the warrant analysis.
Council Member Bregman spoke regarding the speed of vehicles in the intersection and the residents' petition requesting a four‑way stop. He further voiced his support for the four‑way stop.
Interim Public Works Director Nathan provided further information regarding vehicle speed in warrant analysis.
Mayor Yepez requested a copy of the entire current Intersection Study List.
In response to Mayor Yepez, Interim Public Works Director Nathan provided information regarding the enforceability of speed limits which did not meet State guidelines.
In response to Mayor Yepez's request for a list of the intersections which have stop controls which did not meet the criteria, Interim Public Works Director Nathan stated that the data was not tracked and it would be difficult to produce such a list.
Kim Combs, a resident of Crescent Avenue, spoke regarding monthly meetings to discuss neighborhood concerns, accidents at the intersection that did not have police response, speeding on Crescent Avenue, and worsening conditions.
Paul Schultz, a resident of Crescent Avenue, spoke regarding speeding, worsening conditions, multiple near‑accidents witnessed while in his yard, difficulty in crossing the intersection, and the neighborhood petition supporting the four‑way stop.
Mary Jane East, a resident of Crescent Avenue, spoke regarding vehicles running the stop sign, speeding on Crescent Avenue, near collisions which are not reported, an accident which caused a vehicle to land in her yard, a collision with a cement light post, the petition supporting the four‑way stop, and her appreciation for Council Member Craig‑Hensley's efforts.
Scott Hamilton, a Crescent Avenue property owner, spoke regarding the problem being worsened by the adjacent four‑way stops and the painted crosswalks in the intersection without a stop sign, and noted the large number of residents walking in the neighborhood.
In response to Mayor Yepez, Interim City Manager Lindsay clarified that the direction from Council is to bring this item back on an agenda in January for installation of a four‑way stop.
No Council action was required on this item.
B.2 Discuss Agenda Items for the Fiscal Year 2026‑27 Planning Session (CM)
Attachments: Attachment A ‑ Strategic Vision Resolution Attachment B ‑ Strategic Plan Final Report
Attachment C ‑ Q1 Strategic Updates
Per the Council vote, this item was heard before Item B.1.
Interim City Manager Lindsay provided a presentation regarding potential agenda items for the Fiscal Year 2026‑27 Planning Session. Specific topics of discussion included preparation for January 28, 2026 Planning Session; Strategic Vision; new short‑term initiatives; Pension Stabilization Policy; deferred maintenance of parks, streets, and facilities; implementation of the Downtown Specific Plan and Economic Strategic Plan; and need for Council direction.
In response to Council Member Craig‑Hensley, Interim City Manager Lindsay provided information regarding the use of the existing Strategic Plan as a framework for the discussion.
Council Member Craig‑Hensley stated that she was still comfortable with the headings (Downtown, Economic Development, Fiscal Health, Housing, Infrastructure, Parks, Public Safety, and Public Well Being) for prioritization, though there may be a difference of prioritization of those items and related action items.
In response to Council Member Craig‑Hensley, Interim Public Works Director Sean Nathan provided information regarding the status of the roads assessment report.
In response to Council Member Bregman, Interim City Manager Lindsay provided an update on the monthly permit tracking report.
Council provided topics for discussion at the January 28 Planning Session.
Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi
Funding Opportunities
Council Member Craig‑Hensley
Preservation of Downtown Historic Character
Downtown Transportation Plan
Micro Loan Funds / Support of Small Business Development White Slough Public Safety Training Facility
Lobbying Firm
Focus on Fiscal Priorities
Access Center / Housing / Infrastructure
Roads Assessment Study / Turner Road Traffic Study
Public/Private Partnership for Sports and Entertainment Facilities Parks Deferred Maintenance ‑ Lawrence Park and Grape Bowl Library Inclusion in Public Well‑Being Category
Permit Process Reform
Council Member Bregman
Permit Process Reform
Parks Projects
Parks Partnerships with Other Entities / Working with Lodi Unified School District Sponsorship of Parks – Creation of a Program
Homeless and Abandoned Vehicles
Infrastructure
Mayor Yepez
New Sources of Revenue
Customer Service - Metrics Process
Permit Process Reform
Annexations
Cameras in District 4
Interim City Manager Lindsay provided the following recap of topics for the January 28 agenda:
1. Strategic Vision
2. Opportunities to Increase Funding
a) Operations
b) Existing and future Infrastructure
c) Lobbying support
d) Training facility at White Slough
3. Opportunities for Service Improvements
a) All service delivery points
b) Permit processes
c) Public Safety
d) Mitigating impacts of homeless population
e) Use of technology
4. Parks Master Plan Development
a) Public/private partnerships
b) Identifying use for each City park
c) Improvement program
Council Member Craig‑Hensley requested the addition of the implementation of the Downtown Specific Plan and the Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Council Member Bregman spoke in favor of holding Town Hall Meetings to discuss parks rather than developing a master plan, citing greater opportunity for public input and the two plans currently being developed.
Council Member Bregman requested that bond financing be investigated as a funding opportunity.
No Council action was required on this item.
C. Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 5:16 p.m.
ATTEST:
Olivia Nashed
City Clerk