Grand‑jury report and multiple investigations prompt calls for transparency, itemized invoices

Council members spent substantial time on July 7 discussing a recent grand‑jury report and the costs and outcomes of multiple council‑initiated investigations.

Vice Mayor and audit‑committee members urged the council to publish an itemized accounting of invoices for outside investigations and to agendize the grand‑jury materials with appropriate redactions so council and the public can review findings. One council member cited an aggregate figure of about $770,508 in outside investigation spending to date and asked staff to prepare a breakdown by investigation. Several members called for a 100‑day reform plan to track and implement grand‑jury recommendations and earlier governance items.

City staff read a letter from the San Joaquin County District Attorney into the record that said its office would not pursue criminal charges related to the conduct of former interim City Manager Steve Colangelo and urged council to find better processes for working out differences and focusing on service delivery. Members of the public and advocacy groups urged ethics reforms, greater transparency on staffing and contract decisions, and an accounting of staff time spent on investigations.

Council directed staff to agendize the outstanding investigation reports (with appropriate redactions) so council can determine whether to waive privilege or take additional public steps. Several council members said they support mediation and a public work plan to address the grand‑jury recommendations and to restore public trust. The council did not take final action on releasing invoices at the meeting but set direction to return with more detail.