Lodi City Council Meeting - March 4, 2026
Lodi City Council Regular Meeting
March 4, 2026 — Carnegie Forum, 305 West Pine Street, Lodi • Closed Session: 5:00 p.m. • Regular Session: 7:00 p.m.
Meeting Overview
The Lodi City Council convenes for its regular meeting with a packed agenda of 22 items spanning financial reports, executive compensation adjustments, infrastructure financing modernization, homeless services updates, an electric rate ordinance, and a strategic vision revision. Two closed session items address the ongoing recruitment of a new City Manager and the first performance review of the Interim City Manager. The regular session features a proclamation honoring retiring NCPA General Manager Randy Howard, six consent calendar items, one public hearing, twelve regular calendar items, and one ordinance.
Presiding: Mayor Ramon Yepez • Mayor Pro Tempore: Mikey Hothi • Councilmembers: Cameron Bregman, Lisa Craig-Hensley, Alan Nakanishi
Public participation: In-person, Zoom Webinar (ID: 817 1838 4202 / Passcode: 348490), email to councilcomments@lodi.gov (received no later than two hours prior), mail, or hand delivery to the City Clerk’s Office.
Closed Session (5:00 p.m.)
C-2a City Manager Recruitment
Conference with Greg Nelson of Mosaic Public Partners regarding recruitment of a new City Manager, pursuant to Government Code §54957. The recruitment is actively underway with an outside executive search firm.
C-2b Interim City Manager Performance Review
Initial performance evaluation of the Interim City Manager, pursuant to Government Code §54957(b). This is the first formal review since the interim appointment.
Presentation (B.1)
B.1 Proclamation — Randy S. Howard, NCPA General Manager
Mayor Yepez will present a proclamation honoring outgoing Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) General Manager Randy S. Howard, who is retiring after more than 40 years in public power. NCPA is a California joint powers agency established in 1968, headquartered in Roseville, serving 16 member agencies — including the City of Lodi — that collectively provide electricity to over 700,000 consumers throughout Central and Northern California.
Prior to NCPA, Mr. Howard served as Senior Assistant General Manager of the Power System for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the nation’s largest public power utility. The proclamation specifically highlights his role in positioning the Lodi Energy Center for a transition toward green hydrogen integration, protecting public investment while supporting California’s clean energy goals. He also represented publicly owned utilities on the Western Energy Imbalance Market Nominating Committee and served as Board Chair of Hometown Connections Inc. and Board Member of the Transmission Agency of Northern California.
Consent Calendar (C.1–C.6)
All consent calendar items are considered routine and will be acted upon by a single motion.
| Item | Description | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Treasurer’s Report & Register of Claims — January 2026 | Total claims: $21,825,205 ($16.6M Accounts Payable + $5.2M Payroll). City cash & investments stood at $279.3 million as of 1/31/2026, up from $270.3M on 12/31/2025. General Fund cash grew from $35.5M to $45.2M. Year-to-date total revenue: $161.7M (60.5% of budget). Year-to-date total expenditures: $164.9M (48.6% of amended budget). | |
| Quarterly Investment Report — Q4 2025 | Total portfolio: $225.3 million. 42.86% held in cash or cash equivalents. Portfolio earned $1,755,159 in Q4 interest and dividends. Investments comply with City policy priorities: safety, liquidity, and yield. Strategy: hold to maturity to minimize market value erosion. | |
| Write-off of Uncollectible Utility Bad Debts (2017–2021) | Total write-off: $1,573,855.04. Appropriations of $1,292,718 allocated: Electric Utility $810,950, Wastewater $237,421, Water $178,467, Finance $65,880. Covers accounts accumulated since Tyler Munis system implementation. | |
| Accept $10,000 Carnegie Corporation of New York Donation — Library | Gift celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Lodi is among 1,350+ surviving Carnegie libraries. Unrestricted donation for future Library project. | |
| Accept $25,000 Constance E. Reynolds Trust Donation — Library | Unrestricted bequest from the Constance E. Reynolds Separate Property Trust dated October 13, 2011, distributed by Successor Trustee Donna L. Reynolds of Woodbridge, CA. Funds held until an appropriate library project is identified. | |
| Set Public Hearing for March 18, 2026 | 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report — second APR for the 6th Cycle Housing Element. Required by Government Code Section 65400. Must be submitted to HCD and Governor’s Office of Planning and Research by April 1. |
Financial Snapshot — January 2026
City of Lodi — Cash & Investments by Major Fund (January 31, 2026)
General Fund Revenue by Category — Year-to-Date vs. Adopted Budget (FY 2025–26)
Public Hearing — F.1
F.1 Statewide Community Infrastructure Program (SCIP) — Modernization
Action: Public hearing to repeal and replace Resolution No. 2018-111 and authorize the City of Lodi to rejoin the Statewide Community Infrastructure Program with updated legal documentation. Prepared by Economic Development Director Luis Aguilar.
Background & Context
The California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA) is a joint powers authority sponsored by the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties, with over 500 member agencies statewide. CSCDA created the Statewide Community Infrastructure Program (SCIP) in 2002 to allow property owners in participating jurisdictions to finance development-related fees and public capital improvements through pooled special assessment districts. Since inception, SCIP has issued over $1 billion in land-secured special assessment and Community Facilities District (CFD) bonds across California.
Lodi first joined SCIP in 2018 under Resolution No. 2018-111, which authorized only assessment district financing. The proposed update modernizes the legal framework and significantly expands the City’s participation.
What’s New in the Proposed Resolution
- Community Facilities Districts (CFDs) — Adds authority for CSCDA to form CFDs under the Mello-Roos Act within Lodi’s boundaries, in addition to the existing assessment district authority.
- Public Services Financing — Expands SCIP to finance public services necessitated by new development (not just capital improvements and fees).
- Joint Community Facilities Agreement — Establishes a framework agreement between CSCDA and the City for each CFD formed, governing collection and application of special taxes.
- Updated Acquisition Agreement — Revised template for developer-constructed improvements funded with SCIP bond proceeds.
Benefits to Property Owners
- Participation is entirely voluntary — only property owners who choose to participate will have assessments or special taxes imposed.
- Low-cost, long-term tax-exempt financing of development fees, freeing up capital for other purposes.
- Projects as small as $500,000 can access tax-exempt financing through the pooled program, which would not be economical on a stand-alone basis.
- For homebuyers, paying infrastructure costs through an assessment reduces the mortgage amount, making it easier to qualify, and tax-exempt rates are typically lower than mortgage rates.
- Assessments or special taxes can be paid off at any time.
Benefits to the City
- The City has no liability to repay bonds, assessments, or special taxes — CSCDA handles all district formation, administration, and bond issuance.
- Virtually no staff time required to administer the program.
- Encourages developers to pull permits and pay fees in larger blocks, giving the City immediate access to infrastructure revenues rather than a slow trickle over time.
- Improves Lodi’s competitive advantage in attracting new residential and commercial development.
- Successful projects may be refinanced through refunding bonds, with savings potentially directed to lower property taxes.
Fiscal Impact: None directly to the City. All costs are borne by participating property owners and CSCDA.
Regular Calendar (G.1–G.12)
G.1 Temporary Access Center & Emergency Shelter Quarterly Update
A quarterly informational update on the Lodi Access Center’s homeless services, prepared by the Community Development Department. Two client services reports are attached covering the periods August 1 – October 31, 2025 and November 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026. This is a receive-and-file item; no Council action is required beyond receiving the update.
G.2 Galt Fuel Concession Lease — Lawrence Park
Council will consider authorizing the Interim City Manager to enter into a concession lease agreement with Galt Fuel, LLC for a portion of Lawrence Park located at 350 N. Washington Street. Prepared by the Economic Development Department.
G.3 Revised City Council Strategic Vision
Adoption of a resolution repealing and replacing Resolution No. 2023-98 to adopt an updated Lodi City Council Strategic Vision. Both clean and redlined versions of the updated vision document are included in the packet. Prepared by the City Manager’s Office.
G.4 Lodi Police Mid-Management Side Letter
Approval of a side-letter agreement between the City of Lodi and the Lodi Police Mid-Management Organization (LPMO) for a one-time off-salary-schedule payment. Prepared by Human Resources.
Executive Employment Agreement Addenda (G.5–G.12)
Eight items authorizing the City Manager to execute addenda to employment agreements for senior executives. Common themes across all addenda include salary equity adjustments, elimination of CalPERS cost-sharing, modification of the City’s contribution to medical premiums, and future cost-of-living increases.
| Item | Position / Employee | New Base Salary | Adjustment | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.5 | Jennifer Fontanilla, Library Director | $172,010 | Future wage adjustments | January 4, 2027 |
| G.6 | Christina Jaromay, PRCS Director | $219,390 | Future wage adjustments | January 4, 2027 |
| G.7 | Jeffrey Berkheimer, Electric Utility Director | $342,000 | Current salary maintained; future COLA | Current |
| G.8 | Ricardo Garcia, Police Chief | $269,921 | 1.21% equity adjustment | January 5, 2026 |
| G.9 | Kenneth Johnson, Fire Chief | $236,752 | 5% equity adjustment | January 5, 2026 |
| G.10 | Luis Aguilar, Economic Development Director | $198,198 | 5% equity adjustment | January 5, 2026 |
| G.11 | Katie O. Lucchesi, City Attorney | $303,680 | Wage adjustment | Not specified |
| G.12 | Olivia Nashed, City Clerk | $162,842 | Wage adjustment | Not specified |
Executive Salary Comparison — Proposed Base Salaries
Ordinance — H.1
H.1 Ordinance No. 2046 — Community Benefits Incentive Discount
Action: Waive the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2046 revising Lodi Municipal Code Section 13.20.240 (Schedule G1 — General Service Group 1 Commercial/Industrial) and Section 13.20.250 (Schedule G2 — General Service Group 2 Commercial/Industrial).
Background & Context
This ordinance amends the City’s electric utility rate schedules for commercial and industrial customers to codify the Community Benefits Incentive Discount program. Schedules G1 and G2 are the electric rate classifications covering Group 1 and Group 2 commercial/industrial customers, respectively. The discount provides electric rate reductions for qualifying commercial and industrial customers who meet certain community benefit criteria established by the City.
The Council is being asked to waive the second reading, indicating this ordinance was introduced at a prior meeting (first reading) and is now ready for final adoption. Both redlined and clean versions of the ordinance text are included in the packet. Prepared by the City Clerk’s Office.
Key Takeaways
- City Manager Recruitment Underway — Mosaic Public Partners is actively conducting the search for a new permanent City Manager, while the Interim City Manager receives a first performance evaluation.
- Sweeping Executive Compensation Updates — Eight department head and appointed official employment agreements (G.5–G.12) are being adjusted simultaneously, reflecting equity adjustments ranging from 1.21% to 5%, elimination of CalPERS cost-sharing, and medical premium modifications.
- $1.57M Utility Bad Debt Write-Off — Item C.3 clears accumulated uncollectible utility billing accounts dating back to 2017, the first comprehensive write-off since the Tyler Munis system was implemented.
- SCIP Modernization — Item F.1 significantly expands Lodi’s development financing toolkit by adding Mello-Roos Community Facilities Districts and public services funding to the existing assessment district authority.
- Commercial Electric Rate Incentive — Ordinance No. 2046 (H.1) establishes a Community Benefits Incentive Discount for qualifying G1/G2 commercial and industrial electric customers, signaling the City’s intent to use utility rates as a tool for economic development.
- Healthy City Finances — Cash and investments grew from $270.3M to $279.3M in January alone, with year-to-date revenue at 60.5% of budget through seven months of the fiscal year.
References & Resources
- City of Lodi Official Website — Agendas, staff reports, and meeting webcasts
- Zoom Webinar Link — Meeting ID: 817 1838 4202 / Passcode: 348490
- City of Lodi Facebook — Live stream of open session
- Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) — Joint powers agency serving Lodi’s wholesale energy needs
- California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA) — SCIP program administrator
- City Clerk’s Office: Olivia Nashed • (209) 333-6702 • 221 W. Pine Street, Lodi, CA 95240
- Public Comment by Email: councilcomments@lodi.gov (received no later than two hours prior to meeting)
- Meetings telecast on: SJTV, Channel 26