Stockton council accepts city attorney resignation, appoints acting city attorney

The Stockton City Council voted unanimously in closed session on Jan. 13 to accept the resignation of the city's top lawyer and to appoint assistant city attorney Taryn Jones as acting city attorney.

According to the closed-session report read into the record, the council voted 7-0 to accept the resignation subject to a separation agreement that includes severance “consistent with section 6(a) of the city attorney's employment contract,” sets the last date of employment as Jan. 13, 2026, provides a $3,500 payment for attorney fees, and includes a mutual non-disparagement clause. The council then voted 7-0 to name Taryn Jones acting city attorney effective immediately.

The actions followed a public comment period before the closed session in which community member Yolanda Amen urged transparency and said the effort to remove the city attorney "does not look like a routine personnel matter" and "gives the appearance that there's something going on." Amen asked council to either disclose wrongdoing or allow the attorney to speak publicly on her own behalf.

Mayor Fugazi read the closed-session report into the record at the start of the regular meeting. The council did not discuss additional details of the agreement during open session beyond those summarized by the city attorney's office.

The appointment of an acting city attorney ensures legal coverage for the city while the separation agreement takes effect; the council did not announce a timeline for naming a permanent city attorney or for any public review of the separation terms beyond what was read into the record.