City Council
Regular MeetingLodi, NJ · September 13, 2022
Minutes
LODI CITY COUNCIL
SHIRTSLEEVE SESSION
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022
A. Call to Order / Roll Call
An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held
Tuesday, September 13, 2022, commencing at 7:00 a.m.
Present: Council Member Khan, Council Member Kuehne, Council Member Nakanishi, Mayor
Pro Tempore Hothi, and Mayor Chandler
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager Schwabauer, City Attorney Magdich, and Assistant City Clerk Farris
B. Topics
B-1 Receive Information on Lodi Lake Nature Area and Provide Direction to Staff on Next
Steps
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Christina Jaromay provided a PowerPoint
presentation regarding the Lodi Lake Nature Area. Specific topics of discussion included Lodi
Lake visitation, calls for service, considerations to mitigate future violations, current signage, and
sample of updated signage.
In response to Mayor Chandler, Director Jaromay stated that the two retired annuitants are for all
of the parks, not just Lodi Lake.
City Manager Schwabauer stated that CalPERS may be changing the rules governing the hiring
of retired annuitants, which will affect those positions.
In response to Council Member Nakanishi, Director Jaromay stated staff is not recommending the
hiring of any additional retired annuitants at this time.
Mayor Chandler suggested signage in Spanish.
Council Member Nakanishi stated the Nature Area is now crowded and patrons are not following
the rules. He noted that there will be a cost to enforcing the rules and feels the public will need to
start paying to help offset that cost.
Council Member Kuehne concurred with Council Member Nakanishi.
Council Member Khan stated that Lodi Lake is a great place for the citizens of Lodi and he
appreciated the suggestions. He stated the park needs to be kept safe and clean.
In response to Mayor Chandler’s question regarding revenue enhancement, Director Jaromay
stated that she does not have projections at this time but Lodi Lake was considered during the
recent fee study. She stated that in order to have a minimal impact on citizens, the entrance fee
for citizens was raised from $4 to $5 and the annual pass remained at $50. Director
Jaromay stated that staff can return to Council with additional revenue information.
In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Hothi, City Manager Schwabauer stated that the $2.5 million
allocated for the Lodi Lake project included funding for streetscape and storm drainage and did
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not include fiber optics or other improvements, but the project can be modified.
Council Member Nakanishi stated he would like the project modified to include security.
Jay Bell, member of the public, stated that he has been involved with Lodi Lake since 1986 and
he feels the most important issue to address is the need for stronger enforcement against the
intrusions of dogs in the Nature Area. He further noted that signage does not work.
Julie Gionetti-Wahl, a member of the public, stated that she serves as a docent at Lodi Lake,
questioned whether the difference in the number of calls for service may be related to more
people using the Nature Area and reporting problems, and stated that the dog owners can be
confrontational in the Nature Area.
Lisa Craig, a member of the public, stated that she visits Lodi Lake around four times per month
and noted positive things, such as runners’ groups using the park and the possibility of fiber
optics for camera use in the Nature Area. She expressed concerns about the river, including the
speed of the boats and water skiers at night. Ms. Craig also inquired about the City partnering
with the San Joaquin County Sheriffs for enforcement.
City Manager Schwabauer confirmed that the river is under the County’s jurisdiction and the City
had a partnership in place for about a year, but the County discontinued it. He further stated the
City would reach out to the County about renewing a partnership but he is concerned with the low
staffing levels within the Police Department. He noted that Animal Control makes a daily patrol at
the park.
Mayor Chandler noted that Public Safety is doing a great job at Lodi Lake.
Neil Adams, a member of the public, stated that he spends roughly 30 hours per week at the
Nature Area and that many of the ideas presented are good but costly. He further stated that he
thinks the most efficient way to address problems in the Nature Area is to have staff at the gate to
the Nature Area during peak seasons, approximately five to six months of the year, as having
someone in uniform will deter most of the bad behavior.
Mayor Chandler brought up the possibility of an additional fee being charged at the gate for use
of the Nature Area.
Donna Phillips, a member of the public, stated that she has been involved with Lodi Lake for
many years and expressed concern regarding the number of cars parked within the park,
speeding cars, loud stereos, and large parties. She questioned whether parking could be
established on the west side of the park to cut down on the number of car within the actual park.
She noted the need for a master plan for Lodi Lake and an additional guard shack. Ms. Phillips
noted that she agreed with Mr. Adams’ idea for a uniformed staff member at the gate to the
Nature Area.
Joseph Burino, a member of the public, stated that he often goes to Lodi Lake and that no one is
at the gate or in the guard shack, so patrons are not paying to use the park. He suggested the
use of an arm similar to those used in a parking garage to enforcement payment for use of the
park.
Ms. Gionetti-Wahl returned to the podium to state that the signage contains too many words and
is posted too high for easy visibility.
Council Member Nakanishi stated that he liked many of the ideas presented and asked that staff
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return with information regarding the use of guards at the Nature Area and on parking.
Director Jaromay stated that she appreciated the comments and that she would look into the idea
of a security bike patrol and an arm for the gate at the front of Lodi Lake. She noted that if a
guard shack was established at the front of the Nature Area, the attendant would need to have
some type of authority for enforcement.
C. Comments by Public on Non-Agenda Items THE TIME ALLOWED PER NON-AGENDA
ITEM FOR COMMENTS MADE BY THE PUBLIC IS LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES.
None.
D. Adjournment
No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 a.m.
ATTEST:
Pamela M. Farris
Assistant City Clerk
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Agenda
LODI CITY COUNCIL AGENDA – Shirtsleeve Session
Date: September 13, 2022
Carnegie Forum Time: 7:00 a.m.
305 West Pine Street, Lodi
For information regarding this Agenda please contact:
Olivia Nashed
City Clerk
Telephone: (209) 333-6702
Notice Regarding Public Comments
Public Comment may be submitted in the following ways:
• In-person – The Carnegie Forum is open to the public in accordance with CDPH and CalOSHA
guidelines.
• Zoom Webinar
Meeting ID: 872 2014 2274
Passcode: 401448
Phone number: +1 720 07 2699 or +1 253 215 8782
Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87220142274?pwd=dzYySXc2bTkvZ0ZFdlpMTkRZdW9XZz09
• Email – councilcomments@lodi.gov
Received no later than 4:30 p.m. on the business day prior to the meeting.
• Mail – City Clerk’s Office, P.O. Box 3006, Lodi, CA 95241
• Hand delivered to: City Clerk’s Office, 221 W. Pine Street, Lodi, CA 95240
A. Call to Order / Roll Call
B. Topics
B-1 Receive Information on Lodi Lake Nature Area and Provide Direction to Staff on Next Steps
C. Comments by Public on Non-Agenda Items
THE TIME ALLOWED PER NON-AGENDA ITEM FOR COMMENTS MADE BY THE PUBLIC IS LIMITED TO
FIVE MINUTES.
Public comment may only be made on matters within the Lodi City Council's jurisdiction (Government Code Section
54954.3, Lodi City Council Protocol Manual Section 6.3l). The Council cannot take action or deliberate on items
that are not on this agenda unless there is an emergency and the need to take action on that emergency arose
after this agenda was posted (Government Code Section 54954.2(b)(2)). All other items may only be referred for
review to staff or placement on a future Council agenda.
If you wish to address the Council, please refer to the Notice at the beginning of this agenda. Individuals are
limited to one appearance during this section of the Agenda.
D. Adjournment
Pursuant to Section 54954.2(a) of the Government Code of the State of California, this agenda was posted at least
72 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting at a public place freely accessible to the public 24 hours a day.
______________________________
Olivia Nashed
City Clerk
Revised 10/2021 9/7/2022 8:37 AM
All staff reports or other written documentation relating to each item of business referred to on the agenda 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. If requested, the agenda shall be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with a
disability, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132), and the federal rules and
regulations adopted in implementation thereof. To make a request for disability-related modification or accommodation contact the City
Clerk’s Office as soon as possible and at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date. Language interpreter requests must be received at
least 72 hours in advance of the meeting to help ensure availability. Contact Olivia Nashed at (209) 333-6702. Solicitudes de
interpretación de idiomas deben ser recibidas por lo menos con 72 horas de anticipación a la reunión para ayudar a asegurar la
disponibilidad. Llame a Olivia Nashed (209) 333-6702.
Meetings of the Lodi City Council are telecast on SJTV, Channel 26. The City of Lodi provides live and archived webcasts of regular
City Council meetings. The webcasts can be found on the City's website at www.lodi.gov by clicking the meeting webcasts link.
Members of the public may view and listen to the open session of this teleconference meeting at www.facebook.com/CityofLodi/ or
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87220142274?pwd=dzYySXc2bTkvZ0ZFdlpMTkRZdW9XZz09.
AGENDA ITEM B-01
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
AGENDA TITLE: Receive Information on Lodi Lake Nature Area and Provide Direction to Staff on
Next Steps
MEETING DATE: September 13, 2022
PREPARED BY: Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive information on Lodi Lake Nature Area and provide direction to staff
on next steps.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Nature Area at Lodi Lake is a special place - providing visitors an
outdoor space to walk, run, bike ride, bird watch, and enjoy nature in the
middle of an urban setting. The Nature Area is located on the northeast
corner of Lodi Lake Park. It has over three miles of trails in a riparian forest which includes various species of
trees, birds, deer and other wildlife. Lodi Lake has become a popular destination and visitation has increased
since the start of the pandemic.
The City has been made aware of various violations in the Nature Area including the presence of dogs,
partying, swimming, alcohol and drug use, fires, and homeless camps. For the month of June, Lodi Police
Department (PD) received 26 calls for service in the Nature Area. 17 of the 26 calls were Animal Control calls
with 14 of them being self-initiated. Animal Control generates a call for service when they patrol. One call was
for an injured cat, one for a dog in the Nature Area and another for an injured goose. The remaining 10 calls for
service was for a homeless man living in a tree (5), one lost child who was relocated with parents (1),
male/female disturbance (1), male brought gas grill into Nature Area (1), juveniles lighting fireworks (1) and a
homeless camp (1). One major report earlier in the summer was for a robbery. Those offenders were caught
and arrested. In the month of July, there were 17 calls for service in the Nature Area. Nine of those calls were
self-initiated by Animal Control Officers. The remaining eight calls were for a homeless man living in a tree (2),
people locked in the Nature Area (3), key theft (1), families picnicking (1) and kids with fireworks (1).
City staff from various departments have discussed considerations to mitigate future violations of the Nature
Area. Those include:
• Enforcement
o Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department (PRCS) jointly employs (with the Public
Works Department) two retired annuitant peace officers to patrol all parks and other City
facilities. These officers work a limited number of hours per year and patrol Lodi Lake and the
Nature Area as much as possible. An additional retired annuitant to patrol Lodi Lake and the
Nature Area would cost ~$45,000 for 960 hours.
APPROVED: ________________________________
Stephen Schwabauer, City Manager
Receive Information on Lodi Lake Nature Area and Provide Direction to Staff on Next Steps
September 13, 2022
Page 2
o Animal Control patrols the Nature Area almost daily and has recently added a Saturday shift to
their schedule. To add additional animal control services (overtime) for patrols in the Nature
Area between April through August (busy season) would cost ~$8,000 (four hour shifts for 44
days).
• Surveillance Cameras
o PRCS has purchased trail cameras to install within different areas of the Nature Area to help
deter and reduce crime and provide footage for violations and convictions. PRCS staff are
testing the trail cameras and are experimenting with settings, testing battery life and determining
where best to install the cameras throughout the Nature Area. The trail cameras will need to be
serviced periodically i.e. battery replacement, data download. The trail cameras do not feed into
the City’s live security camera feeds.
o The City’s IT Department is undertaking a City-wide fiber optics cable project which will include
fiber optic cable installation at Lodi Lake’s entrance at Turner Rd. to provide the infrastructure
needed for internet access for staff and surveillance cameras. An estimated $50,000 is needed
to move forward with the project at Turner Rd. However, installation at the entrance to Lodi Lake
will not provide the infrastructure needed for wired, live-feed cameras at the Nature Area. More
analysis will need to be done to determine estimates for fiber optics cable installation as well as
installation of electricity source or tamper resistant solar to the Nature Area.
• Signage
o The entrance to the Nature Area has six signs informing visitors of rules and regulations
including three “no dog” signs, overall park rules sign, sign warning of arrest and a larger sign
for “no wading, boating and swimming”. A refresh of the signage could be made to include
verbiage warning of fine violations.
The public will have an opportunity to share with City Council their observations and experiences with visitors
violating rules and regulations in the Nature Area. City Council will discuss and provide direction to staff.
FISCAL IMPACT: Pending City Council recommendation, if applicable
FUNDING AVAILABLE: Pending City Council recommendation, if applicable
________________________________________
Christina Jaromay
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director
CJ/tl
LODI LAKE NATURE AREA
City Council Shirtsleeve Meeting - August 30, 2022
LODI LAKE VISITATION
2019 2020 2021 2022
Iron ranger 4,048 13,416 13,952 11,174
Annual passes 360 4,260 9,000 9,920
Entrance passes 58,760 46,614 69,120 52,020
TOTAL 63,168 64,290 92,072 73,114
CALLS FOR SERVICE
June 1 – July 2 July 3 – 31
Total of 26 calls for service to the Nature Total of 17 calls for service to the Nature Area
Area 9 calls related to Animal Control; all self-initiated
17 calls related to Animal Control; 14 self- Man living in a tree (2)
initiated
People locked in Nature Area (3)
3 calls – injured cat, dog in Nature Area, injured
goose Key theft
Remaining calls Families picnicking
Man living in a tree (5)
Juveniles lighting fireworks
Lost child relocated with parents
Male/Female disturbance
Gas grill brought to Nature Area
Juveniles lighting fireworks
Homeless camp
CONSIDERATIONS TO MITIGATE FUTURE VIOLATIONS
Enforcement
Two (2) Retired Annuitant Peace Officers
Additional Retired Annuitant Peace Officer ~$45,000 for 960 Hours
Animal Control Overtime ~$8,000 (Four (4) hour shifts for 44 days)
Surveillance Cameras
Trail Cameras
IT’s Fiber Optics Cable Project
Turner Rd/Lake Entrance ~$50,000; will not provide infrastructure needed for Nature Area
Signage
Various signs – overall park rules, no dogs, no wading/boating/swimming
Refresh signage
CURRENT SIGNAGE
SAMPLE UPDATED SIGNAGE
QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION
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