LODI CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
CARNEGIE FORUM
305 W. PINE STREET, LODI
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2026 - 5:00 P.M.
C-1 Call to Order / Roll Call
The City Council Closed Session meeting of January 27, 2026, was called to order by Mayor Yepez at 5:04 p.m.
Present: Council Member Bregman, Council Member Craig-Hensley, and Mayor Yepez
Absent: Council Member Nakanishi and Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi
Also Present: Interim City Manager Lindsay, City Attorney Lucchesi, and City Clerk Nashed
NOTE: Council Member Nakanishi and Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi arrived at 5:07 p.m.
C-2 Announcement of Closed Session
a) PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: Two Appointed Positions.
Pursuant to Government Code § 54957(b). Annual Evaluation for the City Clerk and City Attorney.
b) PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT, Pursuant to Government Code § 54957(b). One Position: Interim City Manager.
c) 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)
d) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION, S ignificant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(d)(2). Three Cases.
C-3 Adjourn to Closed Session
At 5:05 p.m., Mayor Yepez adjourned the meeting to a Closed Session to discuss the above matters. The Closed Session adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
C-4 Return to Open Session / Disclosure of Action
At 7:50 p.m., Mayor Yepez 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 27, 2026, was called to order by Mayor Yepez at 7:50 p.m.
Present: Council Member Bregman, Council Member Craig-Hensley, Council Member Nakanishi, Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi, and Mayor Yepez
Absent: None
Also Present: Interim City Manager Lindsay, City Attorney Lucchesi, and City Clerk Nashed
B. Presentations
B.1 Presentation of Proclamation Proclaiming January 2026 as National Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month (PD)
Mayor Yepez presented a proclamation to Police Chief Ricardo Garcia and Detective Kris Valencia proclaiming January 2026 as National Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the City of Lodi.
C. Consent Calendar (Reading; Comments by the Public; Council Action)
Council Member Bregman made a motion, second by Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi, to approve the following items hereinafter set forth, in accordance with the report and recommendation of the City Manager.
VOTE:
The above motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Bregman, Council Member Craig-Hensley, Council Member Nakanishi, Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi, and Mayor Yepez Noes: None
Absent: None
C.1 Accept Protocol Account Report from October 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 (CLK)
Accepted the Protocol Account Report from October 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
C.2 Adopt a Resolution Repealing Traffic Resolution No. 2025 -190, and Reenacting the Complete, Current Version of the Traffic Resolution Hereby Approving a Multi -Way Stop Control on Crescent Avenue at Oak Street and Setting of 50 Miles -Per-Hour Speed Limit on West Lane from Harney Lane to South City Limit (PW)
This ite m was pulled at the request of Council Member Craig- Hensley and Council Member Bregman.
In response to Council Member Craig -Hensley, Interim Public Works Director Sean Nathan provided information regarding repealing and reenacting the Traffic Resolution and the timeline for installation of the multi-way stop on Crescent Avenue.
In response to Council Member Bregman, Interim Public Works Director Nathan provided information regarding stop sign sizes and repainting at the Crescent Avenue location.
This item was included in the vote on the Consent Calendar.
Adopted Resolution No. 2026- 08 repealing Traffic Resolution No. 2025- 190 and reenacting the complete, current version of the Traffic Resolution hereby approving a multi-way stop control on Crescent Avenue at Oak Street and setting of 50 miles- per-hour speed limit on West Lane from Harney Lane to the south City limit.
C.3 Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Interim City Manager or Designee to Award Contract for 2025-2027 Citywide On- Call Electrical Services to Bockmon & Woody Electrical Co., Inc. , of Stockton ($69,080) (PW)
Adopted Resolution No. 2026-09 authorizing the Interim City Manager or designee to award the contract for the 2025 -2027 Citywide on-call electrical services to Bockmon & Woody Electrical Co., Inc., of Stockton, in the amount of $69,080.
C.4 Set a Public Hearing for February 18, 2026, to Consider Adopting a Resolution Setting Pre-Approved Engineering News Record Adjustment Index for Usage -Based and Flat Water Rates for Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Customers (PW)
Set a public hearing for February 18, 2026, to consider adopting a resolution setting pre-approved Engineering News Record adjustment index for usage- based and flat water rate s for residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
D. Regular Calendar
D.1 Communications and Social Media Update (CM)
Public Information Officer Nancy Sarieh and Bailey Caswell, of Bloom Creative Marketing, provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the communications and social media update.
Specific topics of discussion included background, open and timely communicat ion, public education and awareness, community engagement and feedback, brand building and reinforcement, crisis communication, transparency and trust, information flow to and from the public, information outlets, social media accounts, project goals, proj ect methods, department and City program support, project results, Facebook metrics, Instagram metrics, and 2026 goals.
Council Member Craig-Hensley spoke regarding the City's need for a social media plan.
In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi, P ublic Information Officer Sarieh and Ms. Caswell provided information regarding publication media outlets and departmental coordination and communication.
Council Member Nakanishi stated he was impressed with the efforts put forth.
In response to Council Member Craig-Hensley, P ublic Information Officer Sarieh provided information regarding Spanish language translation efforts and Spanish language media outlets.
Council Member Bregman commended their efforts.
No Council action was required on this item.
D.2 Discussion of Options for Housing on a Portion of City -Owned Property at 130 West Century Boulevard (CD)
Deputy Director of Community Development Cynthia Marsh provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding options for housing on a portion of City -owned property at 130 West Century Boulevard. Specific topics of discussion included view of 130 West Century Boulevard, background, options, potential elements of a City -issued Request for Qualifications (RFQ), and initial steps.
Council Member Bregman stated he would support the decision of Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi, the Council representative for District 5, which includes this property.
Mayor Pro Tempore H othi spoke regarding the importance of parks as the City explores affordable housing options.
Council Member Craig- Hensley spoke regarding targeted residential density, compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood, community input, park use, and a public/private partnership with a developer to reach housing goals.
In response to Council Member Craig- Hensley, Interim City Manager Lindsay and City Attorney Lucchesi provided information regarding next steps, RFQ preference over a Request for Proposals (RFP), and investigation into the acquisition of the property to determine a possible Parks designation.
Council Member Nakanishi spoke regarding the property being in District 5, the importance of Parks, and the community's opinion on the project.
Council Member Bregman concurred with Council Member Nakanishi.
Mayor Yepez spoke regarding the property being adjacent to District 4, which he represents; his constituents' opposition to affordable housing on the property; and an alternative location for the affordable housing project.
In response to Mayor Yepez, Community Development Director John Della Monica provided information regarding the Housing Authority project's use of the entire parcel of land on the east side of the railroad tracks and the difficulty of finding an available parcel of appropriate size within City limits for an affordable housing project. Community Development Director Della Monica stated staff w ould review the surplus property identified in the Housing Element and present any alternatives to Council.
Mayor Yepez spoke regarding the improvement of Park facilities and stated the Park improvements should be a part of the discussion of affordable housing.
In response to Council Member Bregman, Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi confirmed the property falls within his district, that Mayor Yepez's district starts approximately two blocks to the north, with Council Member Bregman's district starting approximately two blocks to the west, and that Beckman Elementary is the school that would be impacted. He further noted that there is already affordable housing in this area.
Council Member Bregman stated that generally he is not in favor of subsidized housing but feels he should defer to the Council Member whose district the property is located in.
Council Member Craig- Hensley spoke regarding the importance of obtaining RFQs and evaluating the proposals before making a decision.
Mayor Yepez concurred with Council Member Craig-Hensley.
Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi made a motion, second by Council Member Craig- Hensley, to direct staff to obtain Request for Qualifications for housing on a portion of City -owned property at 130 West Century Boulevard, with evaluation of a variety of options including housing, a park component, and a full-size park at the location.
VOTE:
The above motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Bregman, Council Member Craig-Hensley, Council Member Nakanishi, Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi, and Mayor Yepez Noes: None
Absent: None
ROLL CALL VOTE
The City Council held a ROLL CALL vote (all voiced their votes).
E. Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m., in memory of Dr. Bennie Webber, a retired local podiatrist recently killed in a bicycling accident.
ATTEST:
Olivia Nashed
City Clerk