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RECONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 2025-01-07-0301 RATIFYING THE APPOINTMENT OF DISTRICT 6 COUNCILMEMBER JASON LEE AS VICE MAYOR
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
• Conduct a public discussion regarding reconsideration of Resolution No. 2025-01-07-0301, adopted January 7, 2025, ratifying the appointment of District 6 Councilmember Jason Lee as Vice Mayor of the City of Stockton.
• Consider whether the continued appointment of Councilmember Jason Lee as Vice Mayor serves the institutional and operational interests of the City Council.
• Provide direction regarding any further action consistent with Article XI, Section 1103 of the Stockton City Charter, the Council Policy Manual, and applicable law.
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Summary
At its January 7, 2025, meeting, the Stockton City Council unanimously approved Resolution No. 2025-01-07-0301, ratifying Mayor Christina Fugazi's nomination of District 6 Councilmember Jason Lee to serve as Vice Mayor.
The appointment was approved under Agenda Item 3.1, Legislative File No. 25-0002, by a vote of 7-0.
The resolution established a term commencing January 7, 2025, and continuing through
December 31, 2026, following the next general municipal election.
Pursuant to Section 4.02.010(7)(B) of the Stockton City Council Policy Manual, an item previously voted upon may return for consideration when at least six months have elapsed since the Council's last vote on the matter.
More than six months have elapsed since the original appointment. Therefore, the prior
resolution is eligible for renewed Council consideration under the City's adopted agenda
procedures.
The purpose of this item is to provide the City Council with an opportunity to publicly revisit the appointment, evaluate the Vice Mayor designation, and determine whether further action is warranted and permissible.
DISCUSSION
Background
Background
A. Article XI, Section 1103 of the Stockton City Charter establishes the office of Vice Mayor.
i. The Charter provides that the Mayor shall nominate one of the Councilmembers to serve as Vice Mayor, subject to ratification by the City Council.
ii. Section 1103(a) states that the term commences upon ratification and continues through December 31 following the next general municipal election.
iii. On January 7, 2025, Mayor Christina Fugazi nominated Councilmember Jason Lee for the position.
iv. The City Council approved the nomination through Resolution No. 2025-01-07-0301.
v. The motion was made by Councilmember Michele Padilla and seconded by Councilmember Michael Blower. All seven members of the City Council, including Councilmember Lee, voted in favor.
vi. The appointment, therefore, constituted an affirmative action of the full City Council.
B. Authority to Reconsider a Previously Approved Agenda Item
i. Section 4.02.010(7) of the Stockton City Council Policy Manual governs the return of previously approved agenda items.
ii. The policy establishes three procedural circumstances under which an item may return for consideration:
1. A motion for reconsideration has been approved pursuant to Rosenberg's Rules of Order.
2. Six months have elapsed since the last meeting at which the item was voted upon.
3. A majority of the entire Council membership has requested that the item return to the agenda .
iii. The original appointment occurred on January 7, 2025. Accordingly, the six-month requirement was satisfied on July 7, 2025.
iv. The proposed reconsideration is therefore procedurally eligible under Section 4.02.010(7)(B).
1. Additionally, Section 4.02.010(6) permits a Councilmember, with the concurrence of at least one additional Councilmember during an open session, to request placement of an item on a subsequent Council agenda if the Mayor does not agree to place it.
v. The Mayor may also initiate placement of the item through the ordinary agenda-setting process.
vi. These provisions govern eligibility for agenda placement and renewed consideration. They do not independently establish authority to remove an incumbent Vice Mayor or override a term established by the City Charter.
2. Relevant Precedent
A. At the July 21, 2026, City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Jason Lee, with concurrence from Councilmember Mario Enríquez, requested that the Council revisit a previously approved resolution concerning an appointment to the Office of the Mayor.
i. That matter subsequently appeared on the August 18, 2026, Council agenda as Item 10.1, Legislative File No. 26-0936, titled:
1. RECONSIDERATION OF THE RESOLUTION APPOINTING A POSITION IN THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
ii. The item was presented for discussion following an earlier Council-approved appointment.
B. The present proposal follows the same general procedural framework: returning a previously approved resolution to the Council for public discussion after the expiration of the six-month period prescribed in the Council Policy Manual.
i. However, the legal authority governing the underlying appointments differs. In particular, the Vice Mayor's appointment is expressly governed by Charter Section 1103, including its provisions concerning the nomination, ratification, term, and responsibilities of the office.
3. Charter Authority and Limitations
A. Stockton City Charter Section 1103 provides for nomination of the Vice Mayor by the Mayor and ratification by the City Council.
i. Section 1103(a) establishes the designated term.
ii. Section 1103(b) provides that the Vice Mayor acts as Mayor during the
Mayor's temporary absence or disability and performs specified duties when a vacancy occurs in the office of Mayor.
PURPOSE OF RECONSIDERATION
• The Vice Mayor serves an institutional leadership role and may be called upon to exercise the powers and duties of the Mayor in circumstances specified by the City Charter.
• The designation therefore carries responsibilities beyond those normally assigned to an individual Council district representative.
• Periodic evaluation of Council leadership structures may promote clarity in succession procedures, institutional continuity, public accountability, and effective Council operations.
• The proposed item would provide an opportunity to review the continued designation through a publicly noticed Council discussion.
• The item does not seek to remove Councilmember Lee from his elected District 6 position, alter his voting rights, or impair his ability to represent District 6.
• The subject of the discussion is limited to the separate Vice Mayor designation and the underlying appointment resolution.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There is no identified direct General Fund expenditure associated with conducting the proposed discussion.
Any financial effects associated with subsequent Council action, changes in administrative responsibilities, or related legal proceedings would require separate evaluation.
PUBLIC NOTICE
This item shall be placed on a duly noticed City Council agenda in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, including California Government Code Section 54954.2, and applicable City procedures.
The agenda description should identify the prior appointment resolution and the possibility of Council discussion and direction concerning the Vice Mayor designation.
Any future resolution to rescind, modify, or replace the appointment should be supported by appropriate legal review and sufficiently specific public notice.
CONCLUSION
Resolution No. 2025-01-07-0301 was adopted by unanimous vote of the Stockton City Council on January 7, 2025.
More than six months have elapsed since its adoption, satisfying the procedural requirement established by Section 4.02.010(7)(B) of the Stockton City Council Policy Manual for renewed consideration of a previously decided matter.
The City Council may therefore discuss the prior resolution through a properly agendized item.
Whether the Council may take additional action affecting the current Vice Mayor's term remains subject to the provisions of Charter Section 1103 and a determination of the City's legal authority.