Council unanimously approves subsidy report, Bear Creek South project and places delinquent utility assessments on tax roll

The Stockton City Council on July 7 voted unanimously to accept several major administrative and land-use items, including the city’s 2025 Economic Development Subsidy annual report, approval of the Bear Creek South residential project, and placement of unpaid utility and solid-waste service assessments on the county tax roll.

City staff presented the subsidy report during a public hearing, detailing fee waivers and rebates the city provided to developers and businesses in 2025. Staff told council the report shows about $9.6 million in fee waivers to seven recipients and additional sales‑tax rebates; the slide deck and packet cite program details and local‑hire reporting requirements. After public comment raising concerns the council moved and approved acceptance of the report by roll call (Yes 7). The council’s action authorized the city manager to take administrative steps noted in staff recommendations.

On a separate, contested public hearing, the council considered the Bear Creek South project — a multi‑phase residential proposal that would prezone roughly 503 acres for up to 2,241 homes, add about 27 acres of parks/open space, and require annexation and a development agreement that would preserve current public-facility fee rates for a 10‑year term with possible extensions. Staff recommended no further CEQA review under CEQA Guidelines §15183, asserting the project is consistent with prior general‑plan analysis and uniformly applied mitigation measures. Developers and planning consultants described the project as infill-ready and said it includes park dedication and infrastructure commitments. Tribal representatives and environmental advocates urged additional review and consultation, citing cultural‑resource and biological concerns. After discussion and disclosures of ex parte contacts, the council voted to adopt prezoning, approve the development agreement, deny the appeal of the planning commission decision and authorize annexation filing; the roll call recorded all seven councilmembers voting yes.

In a third formal action, staff opened a public hearing on proposed delinquent utility and solid‑waste service assessments. The report summarized outreach and administrative appeals, noted collections paid since notices were issued and described the remaining accounts that would be assessed if unpaid. Waste Management staff answered council questions about customer‑service improvements and complaint-handling. The council voted to overrule protests, confirm the assessment report and direct the assessments to be placed on the San Joaquin County Treasurer‑Tax Collector’s roll; the motion passed 7–0.

What happens next: the actions put into motion standard implementation steps — the subsidy report acceptance authorizes administrative follow‑through, the Bear Creek approvals begin the DA and annexation process (including LAFCO review), and assessments confirmed for the tax roll will be finalized after staff reconciles payments received before the final assessment date. Several items prompted follow‑up requests by council for additional reporting, including documentation of the subsidy program’s local‑hire tracking and an itemized accounting of delinquent‑account appeals and resolutions.

Votes at a glance - Acceptance of 2025 Economic Development Subsidy report: Motion to accept; roll call YES 7–0 (Councilmembers Blauer, Henriques, Ponce, Padilla, Villapadua, Vice Mayor Lee, Mayor Fugazi). - Bear Creek South (prezoning, DA, tentative maps, annexation filing): Motion to approve; roll call YES 7–0. - Delinquent utility and solid‑waste assessments (confirm and place on county tax roll): Motion to adopt resolution overruling protests and confirm assessments; roll call YES 7–0.

Sources: Council meeting presentation and staff report; public testimony during hearings; roll‑call votes recorded at the July 7 council meeting.

The council meeting lasted into the evening and included extended public comment and a separate council discussion of recent investigations and a grand‑jury report; councilmembers agreed to agendize a public accounting of investigation costs and a 100‑day governance reform plan.