OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Davis City Council Meeting - April 9, 2024: Goals, Budget, and Proclamations

City Council & Planning Commission — Tuesday, April 9, 2024
BodyDavis, California
SessionCity Council & Planning Commission
DateTuesday, April 9, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:43:21

Transcript — Verbatim
0:06

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Tuesday, April 9th meeting of the Davis City Council.

0:11

I will uh let the record reflect that it's 6 31, and uh all of my colleagues are here, so we have a quorum and we're ready to move forward.

0:20

Uh with that, I will entertain a motion for the approval of the agenda.

0:24

So move.

0:26

Second.

0:27

Thank you.

0:28

We have a motion by Councilmember Partita and a second by Councilmember Neville.

0:31

Um any questions, comments on the agenda?

0:35

All in favor, please say aye.

0:36

Aye.

0:37

Oppose, abstain.

0:39

Motion carries five zero, and we have an agenda for this evening.

0:44

We're now on to item one ceremonial ceremonial presentations of proclamations, uh, recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, uh, April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and April as National Donate Life Month.

1:00

Um, three of my colleagues have our proclamations here.

1:03

Um, and after we'll take a quick five-minute uh break and we'll meet folks down in front of the podium for a couple of photos, and then we will um readjourn our meeting.

1:12

Uh so with that, I'm gonna turn it over to Councilmember Partita, who has a proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

1:24

I see our acceptors coming down.

1:26

Uh Jennifer Candelo and Jean Lyan.

1:30

Um, and I'm actually really um glad that I I took this proclamation.

1:36

Uh sadly, when my son was very young, he uh has a disability, and so he had a lot of health issues when he was up until he got a certain age, and now he's quite healthy.

1:48

But I remember uh frantically calling a number of times, and folks always responding, and so thank you for being on the other side of that call.

1:58

Um dedicated public safety telecommunicators daily serve Davis by answering requests for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services by dispatching the appropriate assistance as quickly as possible.

2:11

The professional public safety telecommunicator is that vital link between the public or victim and the public safety provider who may apprehend a criminal, save their possessions from fire, save their life or the life of a loved one.

2:26

The critical functions performed by professional telecommunicators also include those related to highway safety, road maintenance, public utilities, and other services that affect the health and safety of the public.

2:39

Emergencies can strike at any time.

2:41

We rely on the vigilance and preparedness of these individuals 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

2:48

The association of public safety communications officials, an organization of over 16,000 people in the United States and Canada, has set aside this week in April to recognize telecommunicators and their crucial role in the protection of life and property.

3:03

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the City Council of Davis declares the week of April 14th through the 20th, 2024 to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Davis in honor of those uh whose diligence and professionalism help keep our community and the public safe.

3:24

Thank you.

3:33

Don't even know.

3:34

Oh, thank you.

3:34

Thank you very much for recognizing the dispatchers who work 24-7, 365 to keep the community safe.

3:42

They're very dedicated, they train really hard, and they work long, steady hours to keep everyone safe and answer 911 and be there when when things go south.

3:51

And as I said in the past, they save the world, at least here in Davis.

3:55

So thank you.

3:56

Thank you very much.

4:03

Thank you.

4:08

Great.

4:08

Thank you, Mayor Chapman.

4:10

Um, child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious.

4:14

Oh, let me pause for a moment.

4:15

Geneva and Rochelle, if you'd like to come up to the podium.

4:18

Welcome.

4:20

Child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious threats to our nation's children.

4:25

In 2023, according to the internet data set from the Yellow County Health and Human Services Agency.

4:31

281 children in Yolo County were found to be victims of abuse and or neglect.

4:36

Community-based prevention services can strengthen families and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect.

4:43

YOLO County Children's Alliance was founded as the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Yolo County in 2002, and has continued to coordinate county efforts to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect.

4:55

YOLO County's child abuse prevention efforts are fostered by the contributions of the following agencies and organizations.

5:02

Communicare plus Olay, Empower YOLO, First Five YOLO, West Sacramento Police Department, YOLO County Casa, Yellow County District Attorney's Office, Multidisciplinary Interview Center, YOLO County HHSA, YOLO County Office of Education, Yellow County Probation, Community Members, and those with lived experience.

5:21

Now, therefore, we, the Davis City Council, on behalf of the citizens of Davis hereby proclaim April 2024 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and call upon the Davis community to take responsibility to nurture and protect our children and help ensure they become healthy and productive adults.

5:39

So welcome, Jennifer and Rochelle.

5:47

Thank you so much.

5:48

My name is Rochelle.

5:49

I'm the vice chair for the Child Abuse Prevention Council for Yellow County.

5:53

With me is Jennifer, who is the Yellow County Children's Alliance Director.

5:58

We just want to thank you today for prioritizing and bringing some awareness to child abuse and really showing that you support the mission of the Child Abuse Prevention Council, which is to ultimately eliminate child abuse and neglect and a way to strengthen families in our communities.

6:17

In 2023, the Yellow County Child Welfare Services conducted 1,044 investigations into child child abuse or suspected child abuse, which led to 135 children entering foster care.

6:31

Notably, black children age zero to five represented 10% of those, despite that they only cover 2% of the child population.

6:40

This is an area that we are nationally addressing that disparity and trying to address that in all of our efforts and all the work that we do throughout Yellow County.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment███████████████████19%
Procedural███████████████15%
Budget Equity Analysis████████████12%
Public Health██████6%
Economic Development██████6%
Housing██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
City Council Goals████4%
Community Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Davis City Council Meeting - April 9, 2024

The Davis City Council met on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 6:31 p.m. in the Community Chambers. The meeting included ceremonial proclamations, public comments, approval of a consent calendar, discussion and adoption of 2024/2025 City Council Goals, a mid-year budget update, and a long-range calendar item. The meeting adjourned after approximately three hours.

Ceremonial Presentations

  • National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 14-20): Councilmember Partida presented the proclamation. Jennifer Candelario and Jean Lyan accepted. Partida shared a personal story about relying on dispatchers for her son's health emergencies.
  • Child Abuse Prevention Month (April): Councilmember Neville presented. Rochelle (Vice Chair of the Child Abuse Prevention Council) and Jennifer (Yolo County Children's Alliance Director) accepted. Rochelle noted that in 2023, Yolo County conducted 1,044 child abuse investigations, leading to 135 children entering foster care. Black children aged 0-5 represented 10% of those despite being only 2% of the child population.
  • National Donate Life Month (April): Vice Mayor Vaitla presented. Steve Streeter shared the story of his son Nathan, a 31-year-old filmmaker with cerebral palsy who died in March 2021. Nathan's organ donations saved two lives: a chiropractor (kidney) and a married woman with two children (liver). Angelica Williams from Sierra Donor Services also spoke.

Consent Calendar

The consent calendar was approved unanimously (5-0) after brief comments on items E, H, and M:

  • Item 4E: Safety Enhancement Zone for Picnic Day 2024. Mayor Chapman noted last year's spillover into Walnut Park. City Manager Webb explained the zone is based on historical call volumes and that patrols will monitor areas outside the zone.
  • Item 4H: Co-application with The Climate Center for a grant to develop roadmaps for municipal utilities to own/operate community microgrids. Councilmember Neville highlighted alignment with climate goals.
  • Item 4M: 2024 Thong Hy Huynh Awards nominations. Councilmember Partida acknowledged community concerns about some nominees but stressed the importance of supporting uncomfortable but brave work. She also apologized for scheduling the ceasefire resolution on a Jewish holiday.
  • Other items approved: Community Park Shade Structure Rehabilitation contract, audit services amendment, Cool Davis MOU, fire protection services amendment, Pony Express trail signs, Unitrans LCTOP funding authorizations, ICARP grant applications, salary table and position listing, weed abatement public hearing, parking ordinance second reading, budget adjustments, commission minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Daniel (External Affairs Commission chair): Urged council to prioritize physical accessibility, lighting, and student engagement.
  • Anika Ogerwall (External Affairs Commission): Re-emphasized accessibility issues, especially for people with disabilities.
  • Beth Bourne: Spoke against transgender identity and drag performances, claiming they harm children. She referenced two competing events on April 13: a forum on girls' sports at the library and a "Drag for Liberty" event by Davis Phoenix Coalition. She alleged taxpayer funds ($6,000) were used for the drag event.
  • Dorothy Jensen: Expressed concern about potential bomb threats at the upcoming library event (April 13, 2 p.m.) and defended Beth Bourne, calling defamation claims "disgraceful."
  • Todd Edelman: Questioned commission recruitment website errors and asked about impacts of the Oakland A's potential relocation to West Sacramento on Davis traffic.
  • Anush (LGBTQ+ community member): Called for consequences for escalating anti-LGBTQ+ hate campaigns, citing recent threats.
  • Dylan: Supported proclamations, noted work with Nathan Streeter, and urged full inclusion.
  • Joshua Smith: Asked council to weigh in on state bills affecting renters and housing (AB 2785, AB 2801, AB 3116, SB 312).
  • Connor Gorman (pre-recorded): Discussed Cesar Chavez celebration and UC Davis Pow-Wow on April 13. Also commented on I-80 tolls, alleging misrepresentation in grant applications. On consent item M, he raised concerns about Patty Fong's past work as a deputy DA.
  • Dima Tmimi (pre-recorded): Strongly supported Annie Temple's nomination for the Thong Hy Huynh Award, citing her work for peace and social justice.
  • Additional pre-recorded comment on item 6: Connor Gorman questioned police overtime and training effectiveness, urging reallocation of police funds to social services.

Discussion Items

Item 5: City Council Goals 2024/2025

  • Consultants Bill Mueller and Jerry Azevedo (Integrated Communications Strategies) presented a draft based on a February 2024 goal-setting retreat. Six objectives were proposed: 1) Striving for Fiscal Resilience, 2) Strengthening Climate Resilience, 3) Shoring Up the Housing Continuum, 4) Improving Social Services for Vulnerable Populations, 5) Maintaining High-Quality Infrastructure and Services, 6) Stepping Up Economic Development Activities.
  • Council feedback: Vice Mayor Vaitla suggested merging objective 6 into objective 1 (fiscal resilience) and changing "striving" to "achieving" fiscal resilience. He proposed adding carbon negativity language, sustainability in economic development, and support for underrepresented small business owners. Councilmember Neville supported measurable outcomes, especially a housing dashboard. Councilmember Partida preferred keeping objective 6 separate, emphasizing equity preamble. Councilmember Arnold agreed on keeping objective 6, adding urban forest to infrastructure. Mayor Chapman suggested reordering objectives.
  • Amendments adopted: change title to "Achieving Greater Fiscal Resilience"; add preamble on equity, diversity, inclusion, and community engagement; add carbon neutrality commitment with vision toward carbon negativity; reference urban forest in infrastructure objective; include sustainability language and support for small businesses (especially underrepresented) in economic development; add annual progress report and housing dashboard under housing continuum.
  • The motion passed unanimously (5-0) with the understanding staff would incorporate edits and finalize the document.

Item 6: FY 2023/24 Mid-Year Budget Update

  • Finance Director Elena Adair presented remotely. Key points:
    • General fund reserves projected at under 10% (down from adopted 16.4%), driven by increased costs (PGE, labor contracts, insurance) and revenue fluctuations.
    • Property tax up 6.2% (25% from new construction, rest from CPI and property sales). Sales tax state portion declining, local portion increasing from new car sales.
    • Business license stable; transient occupancy tax (TOT) down $200,000; cannabis tax down due to state slowdown.
    • Construction/development-related revenues variable; $0.8 million collected so far vs. $2.5 million budgeted.
    • Police overtime up $600,000 (leaves, mandatory training), fire down $500,000 (fewer fires).
    • Proposed budget amendments: reallocating salary savings, covering PGE increases, adjusting for grant-funded easement purchase ($780,000 for Gill Orchard #2 from DIF to grant).
  • Council discussion: concerns about declining reserves; Councilmember Neville asked about immediate actions; Vice Mayor Vaitla asked about revenue declines (attributed to economic factors, shopping habits, cannabis black market). Councilmember Partida emphasized communicating reserve importance to public.
  • Staff recommendation 1 (accept mid-year report) was acknowledged. Council approved Resolution amending the FY 2023/24 budget (motion by Partida, second by Neville), unanimous (5-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Proclamations: Declared weeks for Public Safety Telecommunicators, Child Abuse Prevention, and Donate Life.
  • Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (5-0).
  • City Council Goals 2024/2025: Adopted with amendments (5-0). Staff will finalize document; next reporting is annual (with more frequent housing dashboard).
  • Mid-Year Budget Amendments: Approved resolution (5-0). Staff will continue monitoring reserves and bring mid-cycle update May 21, 2024.
  • Long-Range Calendar: Councilmember Partida requested a future agenda item on a Trans Sanctuary City resolution. Council consensus supported adding it.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Tuesday, April 9th meeting of the Davis City Council. I will uh let the record reflect that it's 6 31, and uh all of my colleagues are here, so we have a quorum and we're ready to move forward. Uh with that, I will entertain a motion for the approval of the agenda. So move. Second. Thank you. We have a motion by Councilmember Partita and a second by Councilmember Neville. Um any questions, comments on the agenda? All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Oppose, abstain. Motion carries five zero, and we have an agenda for this evening. We're now on to item one ceremonial ceremonial presentations of proclamations, uh, recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, uh, April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and April as National Donate Life Month. Um, three of my colleagues have our proclamations here. Um, and after we'll take a quick five-minute uh break and we'll meet folks down in front of the podium for a couple of photos, and then we will um readjourn our meeting. Uh so with that, I'm gonna turn it over to Councilmember Partita, who has a proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. I see our acceptors coming down. Uh Jennifer Candelo and Jean Lyan. Um, and I'm actually really um glad that I I took this proclamation. Uh sadly, when my son was very young, he uh has a disability, and so he had a lot of health issues when he was up until he got a certain age, and now he's quite healthy. But I remember uh frantically calling a number of times, and folks always responding, and so thank you for being on the other side of that call. Um dedicated public safety telecommunicators daily serve Davis by answering requests for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services by dispatching the appropriate assistance as quickly as possible. The professional public safety telecommunicator is that vital link between the public or victim and the public safety provider who may apprehend a criminal, save their possessions from fire, save their life or the life of a loved one. The critical functions performed by professional telecommunicators also include those related to highway safety, road maintenance, public utilities, and other services that affect the health and safety of the public. Emergencies can strike at any time. We rely on the vigilance and preparedness of these individuals 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The association of public safety communications officials, an organization of over 16,000 people in the United States and Canada, has set aside this week in April to recognize telecommunicators and their crucial role in the protection of life and property. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the City Council of Davis declares the week of April 14th through the 20th, 2024 to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Davis in honor of those uh whose diligence and professionalism help keep our community and the public safe. Thank you. Don't even know. Oh, thank you. Thank you very much for recognizing the dispatchers who work 24-7, 365 to keep the community safe. They're very dedicated, they train really hard, and they work long, steady hours to keep everyone safe and answer 911 and be there when when things go south. And as I said in the past, they save the world, at least here in Davis. So thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Great. Thank you, Mayor Chapman. Um, child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious. Oh, let me pause for a moment. Geneva and Rochelle, if you'd like to come up to the podium. Welcome. Child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious threats to our nation's children. In 2023, according to the internet data set from the Yellow County Health and Human Services Agency. 281 children in Yolo County were found to be victims of abuse and or neglect. Community-based prevention services can strengthen families and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. YOLO County Children's Alliance was founded as the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Yolo County in 2002, and has continued to coordinate county efforts to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect. YOLO County's child abuse prevention efforts are fostered by the contributions of the following agencies and organizations. Communicare plus Olay, Empower YOLO, First Five YOLO, West Sacramento Police Department, YOLO County Casa, Yellow County District Attorney's Office, Multidisciplinary Interview Center, YOLO County HHSA, YOLO County Office of Education, Yellow County Probation, Community Members, and those with lived experience.

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