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Record of Proceedings

Davis City Council Meeting – April 23, 2024: Proclamations, Form-Based Code, Police Plan

City Council & Planning Commission — Tuesday, April 23, 2024

BodyDavis, California

SessionCity Council & Planning Commission

DateTuesday, April 23, 2024

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 3:31:41

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:07

The April 23rd, 2024 meeting of the Davis City Council.

0:11

Um I will note that it is 645, and we are calling the meeting to order.

0:15

I am here with all of my colleagues, so we have a quorum.

0:19

And with that, I will entertain a motion for the approval of tonight's agenda.

0:23

So moved.

0:28

Second, thank you.

0:30

We have a motion by Vice Mayor Vitla and a second by Councilmember Neville.

0:33

Any other questions or comments on the approval of the agenda?

0:36

Right.

0:36

All in favor, please say aye.

0:38

Aye.

0:38

Opposed, abstain.

0:40

Motion carries 5-0, and we have an agenda.

0:43

With that, we're going to move to item number one, ceremonial presentations of proclamations recognizing April 22nd as Earth Day and recognizing April 27th as Arbor Day.

0:55

And I'm going to turn to Vice Mayor Vitler for the proclamation on Earth Day.

1:08

Great.

1:10

Earth Day established in 1970 is now recognized annually to celebrate the beauty of our planet, recommits actions to promote a healthy environment, and maintain a peaceful, just and sustainable world.

1:22

The City of Davis adopted the 2020-2040 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan on April 18th, 2023, in convergence with Earth Day in order to chart an ambitious, actionable and measurable course for the community's path to carbon neutrality by 2040.

1:38

The city is committed to addressing regional climate resiliency and adaptation issues through leadership and participation in the YOLO County Regional Resilience Collaborative, Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative, Sacramento Region, City Council County Climate Working Group, and other regional planning and implementation efforts.

1:56

We acknowledge that to meet the goals of Earth Day, the City Council will provide leadership, employ the expertise and talent of our community, and engage the hearts and minds of our citizens throughout the year.

2:06

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that we, the Davis City Council, on behalf of the citizens of Davis do hereby proclaim that the City of Davis recognizes Earth Day, April 22nd, 2024.

2:19

Okay.

2:20

My turn.

2:21

Yes.

2:22

Yes.

2:22

Good to be here with you.

2:23

Thank you.

2:24

I'm Lynn Nittler.

2:27

And this time, um, I'm not representing Cool Davis for any particular group, but this proclamation.

2:34

Yesterday was Earth Day.

2:36

Each year on April 22nd, around one billion people around the world take action to raise awareness of the climate crisis and bring about behavior change to protect our environment.

2:48

It's a day that always reverberates from through me.

2:52

I love this earth.

2:53

How could I not?

2:55

The earth is alive and beautiful day after day through all the natural seasons and even through all the changes we humans have imposed on it.

3:05

Consider the famous Earth photo taken from outer space.

3:10

Surely you too have fallen in love with that blue-green ball, our only home.

3:15

Rachel Carson published her famous silent spring in 1962.

3:20

It exposed the deadly use of the pesticide DDT and how it killed birds in the food chain.

3:26

People began to fear for the health of our earth as we failed to curb our pollution.

3:31

Silent Spring and subsequent research forced us to change our polluting ways.

3:44

At the time, I was thrilled at our awakening.

3:47

After all, our lives are intertwined with the health of our earth, and by 1970, we knew we had to take better care of our only home.

3:57

The official purpose of Earth Day has evolved to this.

4:01

Quote Earth Day reminds the world about the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging us to come together and take action for a healthier planet and a brighter future.

4:14

The day raises awareness and inspires change, fostering a deeper and healthier connection with nature.

4:22

Every April 22nd since 1970, Earth Day refocuses our support for the environmental protection of our precious and only home.

4:33

A wide range of events coordinated globally by Earth Day.org now reach one billion people in more than 193 countries.

4:41

The official 2024 theme is planet versus plastics, aimed at curbing our use of plastics.

4:49

It's our job to preserve nature's delicate balance and assure future generations they will inherit a healthy planet.

4:58

Thank you.

5:06

Thank you, Lynn.

5:08

And now I will turn to Councilmember Partita for April 27th as Arbor Day.

5:14

Thank you.

5:15

And I believe Torrin Denavant is coming up to accept this.

5:19

This holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska.

5:25

Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world.

6:11

Now, therefore, we the Davis City Council, on behalf of the citizens of Davis, do hereby proclaim April twenty-seventh, twenty twenty-four as Arbor Day in the City of Davis, and urge all citizens to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands and to support our city's urban forest.

6:29

Thank you so much.

6:48

And I really do think that if uh a city can do best by its urban forest, that city is Davis.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Safety███████████████████████23%

Procedural█████████████13%

Zoning Regulation████████████12%

Community Engagement█████████9%

Mosquito Control████████8%

Public Comment█████5%

Downtown Specific Plan█████5%

Housing████4%

Public Health███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Davis City Council Meeting – April 23, 2024

The Davis City Council met on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 6:45 PM (agenda listed 6:30 PM) in Community Chambers. The meeting included ceremonial proclamations for Earth Day and Arbor Day, a presentation from the Mosquito and Vector Control District, a discussion on downtown Form-Based Code amendments, and the presentation of the 2024-2027 Davis Police Department Strategic Plan. The Consent Calendar was approved 5-0.

Ceremonial Presentations

Earth Day Proclamation (April 22, 2024): Vice Mayor Vaitla read the proclamation; community member Lynn Nittler spoke in support, highlighting the 2024 theme “Planet vs. Plastics.”
Arbor Day Proclamation (April 27, 2024): Councilmember Partida read the proclamation; Torrin Denavant accepted, thanking the city for urban forest support.

City Manager & Council Announcements

City Manager Mike Webb announced commission recruitment (deadline April 29), a memorial bench and bike path naming for Kareem Abu Najim at Sycamore Park on April 29, Picnic in the Park returning May 1, and Lupalooza on May 5.
Councilmember Arnold thanked staff for successful Picnic Day.

Public Comments & Testimony

General Public Comment (Item 3): Multiple speakers addressed anti-Semitic incidents and hate rhetoric in Davis, citing flag vandalism, offensive posters at Picnic Day, and personal harassment. Speakers (Yaniv, Dan Ovaria, Margaret, Robert Holland, Natalia) urged council to take a stand. Another speaker (Alan Miller) requested enforcement of minor traffic infractions and raised concerns about tinted windows and bright headlights. One voicemail (Connor Gorman) supported creating more public space downtown and criticized police involvement in non-criminal issues.

Consent Calendar

Approved 5-0. Items included Senior Center Facility Improvement Project contract, Water System Saddle Replacements, landscape maintenance agreements, Watchman #8 sculpture repair (declared emergency), water service agreement amendment, E Street Plaza parking lot restrictions (Councilmember Chapman recused due to business proximity), Golden Heart Awards, Environmental Recognition Awards, and City Council Goals 2024/2025 informational.

Discussion Items

Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District (Item 5): Manager Gary Goodman presented 2024 outlook. Last year saw a tenfold increase in West Nile virus human cases in Yolo County (26 deaths in 2022, 23 in 2023, per county data). Invasive Aedes mosquitoes threaten Zika, dengue, chikungunya transmission. District uses integrated management: public information, surveillance (hundreds of traps), biological control (4,000 lbs of fish/year), ecological management, and control operations. Councilmember Vaitla connected spread to climate change; Goodman confirmed. Council praised outreach improvements during aerial spraying.
Downtown Davis Form-Based Code (Item 6): Principal Planner Dara Dungworth presented five topics: (1) adding detached house as allowed building type in Neighborhood Medium zone; (2) exempting nonconforming structures from site design standards; (3) rebuilding on existing nonconforming footprints; (4) development on large consolidated lots; (5) allowing second primary structure on a building site. Council consensus: no to allowing new detached homes (uphold code intent); support for reasonable additions to existing homes; no to rebuilding on nonconforming footprints for new construction; support for lot consolidation; no to second primary structure on same site. Staff will take direction to Planning Commission. Potential unit loss if detached homes allowed: ~210 units (30 lots × 7 units each).
Davis Police Department 2024-2027 Strategic Plan (Item 7): Deputy Chief Todd Henry presented the plan developed through community meetings, business surveys, school district input, and internal staff survey. Six goals: community engagement (public dashboards, diverse workforce), crime reduction (DDI program, fentanyl tracking, emergency medical dispatch), traffic safety (OTS grants, education), employee development, employee health & well-being, and futures (technology, ALPRs, AI). Council discussion: Vice Mayor Vaitla asked about building trust with marginalized communities – Chief Pytel emphasized consistent presence and connections; Councilmember Neville noted staffing challenges; Councilmember Arnold supported intelligence-led policing detective position. No vote taken.

Key Outcomes

Consent Calendar: Approved 5-0.
Form-Based Code: Council gave clear direction on five topics; staff will craft amendments for Planning Commission and return to Council.
Police Strategic Plan: Informational only; Council requested future check-ins and a focus on mental health support for officers.
Long Range Calendar (Item 8B): Councilmember Vaitla requested future agenda items on city actions for severe mental illness, Measure J RDA exemption options, and General Plan update preparations. Agreed to discuss in May.

Meeting Transcript

The April 23rd, 2024 meeting of the Davis City Council. Um I will note that it is 645, and we are calling the meeting to order. I am here with all of my colleagues, so we have a quorum. And with that, I will entertain a motion for the approval of tonight's agenda. So moved. Second, thank you. We have a motion by Vice Mayor Vitla and a second by Councilmember Neville. Any other questions or comments on the approval of the agenda? Right. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, abstain. Motion carries 5-0, and we have an agenda. With that, we're going to move to item number one, ceremonial presentations of proclamations recognizing April 22nd as Earth Day and recognizing April 27th as Arbor Day. And I'm going to turn to Vice Mayor Vitler for the proclamation on Earth Day. Great. Earth Day established in 1970 is now recognized annually to celebrate the beauty of our planet, recommits actions to promote a healthy environment, and maintain a peaceful, just and sustainable world. The City of Davis adopted the 2020-2040 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan on April 18th, 2023, in convergence with Earth Day in order to chart an ambitious, actionable and measurable course for the community's path to carbon neutrality by 2040. The city is committed to addressing regional climate resiliency and adaptation issues through leadership and participation in the YOLO County Regional Resilience Collaborative, Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative, Sacramento Region, City Council County Climate Working Group, and other regional planning and implementation efforts. We acknowledge that to meet the goals of Earth Day, the City Council will provide leadership, employ the expertise and talent of our community, and engage the hearts and minds of our citizens throughout the year. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that we, the Davis City Council, on behalf of the citizens of Davis do hereby proclaim that the City of Davis recognizes Earth Day, April 22nd, 2024. Okay. My turn. Yes. Yes. Good to be here with you. Thank you. I'm Lynn Nittler. And this time, um, I'm not representing Cool Davis for any particular group, but this proclamation. Yesterday was Earth Day. Each year on April 22nd, around one billion people around the world take action to raise awareness of the climate crisis and bring about behavior change to protect our environment. It's a day that always reverberates from through me. I love this earth. How could I not? The earth is alive and beautiful day after day through all the natural seasons and even through all the changes we humans have imposed on it. Consider the famous Earth photo taken from outer space. Surely you too have fallen in love with that blue-green ball, our only home. Rachel Carson published her famous silent spring in 1962. It exposed the deadly use of the pesticide DDT and how it killed birds in the food chain. People began to fear for the health of our earth as we failed to curb our pollution. Silent Spring and subsequent research forced us to change our polluting ways. At the time, I was thrilled at our awakening. After all, our lives are intertwined with the health of our earth, and by 1970, we knew we had to take better care of our only home. The official purpose of Earth Day has evolved to this. Quote Earth Day reminds the world about the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging us to come together and take action for a healthier planet and a brighter future. The day raises awareness and inspires change, fostering a deeper and healthier connection with nature. Every April 22nd since 1970, Earth Day refocuses our support for the environmental protection of our precious and only home. A wide range of events coordinated globally by Earth Day.org now reach one billion people in more than 193 countries. The official 2024 theme is planet versus plastics, aimed at curbing our use of plastics. It's our job to preserve nature's delicate balance and assure future generations they will inherit a healthy planet.

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