Lodi City Council Special Meeting - December 16,2025
Lodi City Council Special Meeting
Mayor Cameron Bregman
Mayor Pro Tempore Ramon Yepez
Councilmember Lisa Craig-Hensley
Councilmember Mikey Hothi
Councilmember Alan Nakanishi
Meeting Overview
This special meeting of the Lodi City Council convenes with a focused agenda centered on two substantive policy discussions. Rather than including consent calendar items, public hearings, or formal presentations, the meeting format prioritizes detailed informational briefings on operational processes and strategic planning. The council will address how resident requests are evaluated for traffic control modifications and provide direction on priority agenda items for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget planning session.
| Agenda Item | Title | Department | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Call to Order / Roll Call | — | Administrative |
| B.1 | Resident Request Process for Traffic Control Devices | Public Works | Information |
| B.2 | Fiscal Year 2026-27 Planning Session Agenda | City Manager | Discussion |
| C | Adjournment | — | Administrative |
Presentations
No presentations are scheduled for this special meeting. The agenda structure bypasses the typical presentations section in favor of direct council discussion of Regular Calendar items.
Consent Calendar
No consent calendar items are included. All business is conducted through direct council consideration under the Regular Calendar.
Public Hearings
No public hearings are scheduled. The meeting focuses on informational briefings and planning discussions rather than legislative actions requiring public testimony.
Regular Calendar Items
Item B.1: Provide Information to Council on the Typical Resident Request Process
- Department:
- Public Works
- Presenter:
- Interim Public Works Director
- Focus:
- All-way stop sign requests and traffic control device evaluation procedures
- Strategic Vision:
- 7H. Public Safety: Address strategic safety problem areas in the community
- Fiscal Impact:
- Not Applicable
Purpose and Background
This informational item provides council with a comprehensive overview of how resident requests for traffic control modifications are systematically evaluated. Staff uses all-way stop sign requests as a primary example to illustrate the rigorous, data-driven evaluation process that ensures traffic control devices are installed only when warranted by state and federal standards.
Request Processing Framework
The Public Works Department receives approximately 150 traffic-related requests annually, including complaints about sight visibility, speeding, parking, traffic signals, and crosswalks. Each request follows a standardized evaluation protocol:
- Intake and Acknowledgment: Requests are logged chronologically and staff contacts residents within 2-3 business days to confirm receipt and provide a 3-5 week study timeframe estimate.
- Technical Analysis: Staff conducts field observations, traffic volume counts, peak-hour intersection analyses, collision data reviews, and delay assessments. Studies are timed to avoid school break periods when traffic patterns deviate from normal conditions.
- Warrant Verification: All evaluations follow California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD) standards and California Highway Design Manual sight distance requirements.
Warrant Analysis Standards
The evaluation process examines four critical warrant categories:
Requires a minimum of 5 correctable collisions within a 12-month period. Collisions must be correctable through the installation of traffic control devices.
Major Street: 300 vehicles per hour for any 8-hour period of an average day
Minor Street: 200 vehicles per hour for the same period
Minor Street must also average 30 seconds of delay per vehicle during the highest hour
Note: If 85th percentile speed exceeds 40 mph, these thresholds are reduced to 70%
80% of Collision Requirement = 4 correctable collisions
80% of Traffic Volume Requirements = 240 vehicles/hour (major) and 160 vehicles/hour (minor)
• Left turn conflicts
• Vehicle/pedestrian conflicts at high pedestrian locations (schools, downtown)
• Two residential collector streets with similar design and operational characteristics
• Sight visibility restrictions (if non-correctable)
Case Study: Oak and Crescent Intersection
Resident Request Analysis
A resident submitted an email requesting an all-way stop at Oak and Crescent, citing heavy traffic, speeding, and safety concerns. The resident believed the all-way stop would slow traffic, improve visibility, reduce collision risk, and increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
Warrant Analysis Findings (2018 - September 2025):
- Collision Data: 3 total reported collisions
— 2 DUI-related incidents in 2025 (hitting parked vehicle)
— 1 non-injury incident in 2023 (minimal data collected)
— Result: Warrant NOT Met (requires 5 correctable collisions) - Traffic Volume Counts:
— Oak Avenue: 121 vehicles/hour for highest 8-hour period
— Crescent Avenue: 104 vehicles/hour for same period
— Neither street speed limit exceeds 40 mph (both are 25 mph)
— Result: Warrant NOT Met (requires 300/200 vehicles per hour) - Combined Analysis: None of the three components met the 80% threshold criteria
— Result: Combined Warrant NOT Met
Intersection History:
• Added to the Intersection Study List (ISL) in 1987
• June
2002: Larger stop sign installed
• December 2002: "Cross Traffic Does Not Stop" signs added
•
Current ISL Ranking: 111 out of 314 intersections with 2-way stop controls (based on 3-year collision
and traffic volume data)
Disadvantages of Unwarranted Traffic Control Modifications
Installing traffic control devices without meeting established warrants creates significant problems:
• Decreased compliance at unwarranted locations
• Pedestrians at greater risk from poor driver compliance
• Cross-traffic at increased risk from non-compliance
• Increased traffic diversion to nearby streets (to avoid the stop)
• Increased noise and air pollution from additional vehicle stops and starts
• Not enforceable if State standards and laws are not followed
Next Steps for Warranted Improvements
When warrants are met, staff recommends the following progression:
- If Warranted: Signage and/or striping improvements taken to Council for approval, with Streets Division installation typically occurring 3-5 weeks after approval
- All-Way Stops: Council amends Traffic Resolutions and authorizes Streets Division installation of signs and markings
- Traffic Signals: Added to Signal Priority List for future funding consideration
- If Warrant Not Met: Intersection added to Intersection Study List (ISL) if not already included; ISL data reviewed annually to determine if conditions have changed to meet warrants
Item B.2: Discuss Agenda Items for Fiscal Year 2026-27 Planning Session
- Department:
- City Manager's Office
- Prepared By:
- James Lindsay, Interim City Manager
- Action Requested:
- Provide Staff direction on agenda items to include for FY 2026-27 Planning Session
- Planning Session Date:
- January 28, 2026 (All-day session)
- Fiscal Impact:
- Not Applicable
Purpose and Context
This discussion item seeks council direction on agenda priorities for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget planning session. The City Council will conduct an all-day session to establish priorities and initiatives for the upcoming fiscal year, with strategic direction grounded in the City's 2023 Strategic Vision adopted in Resolution No. 2023-98.
Planning Session Overview
The January 28, 2026 planning session will serve as the foundation for FY 2026-27 budget development. Staff prepared a preliminary list of potential topics based on discussions during the Interim City Manager's one-on-one meetings with individual Council Members and Executive Staff.
Proposed Agenda Topics for Consideration
- Review of the City Council's 2023 Strategic Vision (Attachments A-C) — Comprehensive review of all eight strategic priorities, stretch goals, and associated milestones
- New Short-Term Initiatives — Identification of achievable goals within twelve months
- Pension Stabilization Policy — Development of sustainable pension funding strategies
- Deferred Maintenance - Parks & Streets — Assessment and prioritization of maintenance needs across park facilities and street infrastructure
- Implementation of the Downtown Specific Plan and Economic Strategic Plan — Progress review and acceleration strategies for downtown revitalization and economic development initiatives
Strategic Vision Update Status
The last quarterly Strategic Vision update provided to City Council covered Q1 2024 (January - March 2024). Staff has prepared comprehensive attachment materials documenting:
- Current status of all eight strategic priority areas
- Progress toward established milestones and stretch goals
- Implementation challenges and opportunities
- Budget and resource allocation recommendations
The planning session represents the first formal strategic review and priority-setting exercise for FY 2026-27 budget development.
Attachments Summary
Public Comment Information
Submitting Public Comments
Members of the public may submit comments regarding agenda items in the following ways:
- In-Person: Attend the meeting and address the Council during public comment periods
- Email: Send comments to councilcomments@lodi.gov (must be received no later than 2 hours prior to meeting)
- Mail: Send to City Clerk's Office, P.O. Box 3006, Lodi, CA 95241 (must be received no later than 2 hours prior to meeting)
- Hand Delivery: Deliver to City Clerk's Office, 221 W. Pine Street, Lodi, CA 95240 (must be received no later than 2 hours prior to meeting)
Note: Public comments received via email, mail, or hand delivery will be provided to the City Council and included in the official minutes record of the meeting, but will not be read aloud during the meeting.
Meeting Access & Accommodations
- Telecast: Meetings are telecast on SJTV, Channel 26
- Live Webcast: Available on the City's website at www.lodi.gov
- Social Media: Members of the public may view and listen at www.facebook.com/CityofLodi/
- Disability Accommodations: If requested, the agenda shall be made available in appropriate alternative formats as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132). Contact the City Clerk's Office as soon as possible and at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date.
- Language Interpreters: Requests must be received at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Contact Olivia Nashed at (209) 333-6702.
Meeting Documents & Access
All staff reports and written documentation relating to each agenda item are on file in the Office of the City Clerk, located at 221 W. Pine Street, Lodi, and are available for public inspection. Agendas and staff reports are also posted on the City's website at www.lodi.gov.
References & Resources
- City of Lodi Official Website
- City Council Comments Email
- City Clerk Contact: Olivia Nashed, (209) 333-6702
- City Clerk Office Location: 221 W. Pine Street, Lodi, CA 95240
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3006, Lodi, CA 95241
- Social Media: Facebook: City of Lodi
- Document Posted: At least 24 hours in advance at a public place freely accessible 24 hours a day, as required by Government Code Section 54954.2(a)
Document Generated: December 13, 2025 | Meeting Date: December 16, 2025
Prepared
for Lodi 411 / LodiEye
All information sourced from
official Lodi City Council Special Meeting Agenda Packet