Davis City Council Meeting May 21, 2024: Commission Restructuring, Budget, and Appointments
Davis City Council Meeting Summary – May 21, 2024
The Davis City Council met on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, beginning at 6:39 p.m. (agenda listed 6:30 p.m.) and concluding past midnight. The meeting featured ceremonial proclamations, a consent calendar approved 4-0, extensive public testimony, and action on restructuring the city's advisory commissions, appointing new commissioners, and adopting a mid-cycle budget update with fee increases. Councilmember Donna Neville was absent.
Ceremonial Presentations
- Public Works Week (May 19–25): Presented by Councilmember Arnold; Alexis Eastwood and Ryan Chapman accepted.
- Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Presented by Councilmember Partida; Alan Way and Aaron Wendra of APAPA accepted, noting the chapter's internship program connecting students with elected officials.
- Jewish American Heritage Month: Presented (speaker not specified); Rob Eagle of Congregation Bet Haverim accepted, expressing appreciation for the resolution and noting rising anti-Semitism.
- May is Bike Month: Presented by Councilmember Partida; Trish Price of Bike Davis accepted, highlighting 63 miles of off-street paths and 120 miles of bike lanes.
- Mental Health Awareness Month: Presented by Mayor Chapman; Tagwin Millard of CommuniCare+OLE accepted, referencing the organization's history as the Davis Community Free Clinic.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent calendar 4-0, with Councilmember Partida abstaining from Item 4B (Pride Month crosswalk coloring and banners). Items included:
- Contract for Playfields Park ADA Improvements.
- Authorizing Pride Month activities.
- Second reading of the Chiles Ranch Development Agreement amendment.
- Open Space and Habitat Commission minutes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Commission Restructuring (Item 5A): Over 40 public comments, both in person and by voicemail, addressed the proposed commission mergers. Supporters cited efficiency and alignment with city goals; opponents argued loss of citizen input, particularly for the Tree Commission, Finance and Budget Commission, and Utilities Commission.
- Appointments to Human Relations Commission (Item 5B): A significant number of comments focused on the candidacy of Dr. Amir Cole. Supporters described him as a bridge-builder and called allegations a "slander campaign"; opponents cited his behavior during a student protest in October 2023, alleging harassment and intimidation. Similar comments were made about other candidates, including Dima Tamimi and Felix Alvarez.
- Budget and Fees (Item 6): A commenter opposed Unitrans and Davis Community Transit fare increases, arguing they burden seniors and people with disabilities. Another supported modest increases to maintain service.
- General Public Comments: Residents spoke about anti-Semitism, a personal robbery incident, homeless-related violence, and support for the climate and environmental justice commission.
Discussion Items
- Commission Structures and Scopes (Item 5A): Assistant City Manager Kelly Stachowicz presented the subcommittee's recommendations to merge six commissions into three new ones (Climate and Environmental Justice, Fiscal, and Transportation) and update scopes for others. After a lengthy public comment period and council deliberation, the council voted 4-0 to approve all five staff recommendations:
- Approve the general resolution on commission structure.
- Conclude work of specified existing commissions.
- Establish new commissions (Climate and Environmental Justice, Fiscal, Transportation).
- Re-establish six commissions (Human Relations, Open Space and Habitat, Police Accountability, Recreation and Parks, Senior Citizen, Social Services).
- Modify Historical Resources Management Commission membership (reduce from seven to five members, meet on demand).
- Appointments to Advisory Commissions (Item 5B): The council individually appointed members to the Fiscal, Human Relations, Open Space and Habitat, Planning, Police Accountability, and Senior Citizen Commissions, using a ranked-choice method. Notable appointments included Dr. Amir Cole (Human Relations Commission regular member) and Dima Tamimi (Human Relations Commission regular member), both receiving unanimous votes. The city clerk announced terms starting July 1, 2024.
- Fiscal Year 2024/25 Mid-Cycle Budget Update (Item 6A): Finance Director Elena Adair presented the updated general fund summary, projecting a 0.4% revenue increase and 1.3% expenditure decrease, but with the reserve fund balance dropping from 8.9% to 7.5%. To close a structural deficit, the city is deferring capital projects (e.g., Community Park restrooms, Arlington roundabout), reducing OPEB contributions to pay-as-you-go, and seeking $1 million in departmental cuts. City Manager Mike Webb highlighted the impact of new labor contracts and PG&E cost increases ($1 million annually). The council received the update and directed staff to return June 4, 2024, with adoption of the mid-cycle adjustments and a proposed revenue measure for November 2024.
- Public Hearing: City Fees and Charges (Item 6B): The council approved a resolution adopting fee increases for Unitrans and Davis Community Transit (2024 and 2025), as well as other city fees (e.g., swimming passes, mobile stage rental, Veterans Memorial Theater). The Unitrans fare increase was noted as a modest adjustment to maintain service. The motion passed 4-0.
Key Outcomes
- Commission Restructuring Approved: The council voted 4-0 to approve the commission structure changes, effective July 1, 2024.
- Commission Appointments Made: Unanimous appointments filled vacancies on six commissions, with terms starting July 1.
- Budget Update Received: Staff will return June 4 for final adoption of mid-cycle adjustments and discussion of a revenue measure.
- Fee Increases Adopted: Unitrans, Davis Community Transit, and other city fees were increased via a 4-0 vote.
- Councilmember Partida abstained from Item 4B due to potential conflict of interest (employment with Phoenix Coalition).
- Next Steps: Staff will bring back specifics on $1 million departmental cuts and a revenue measure proposal on June 4, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. I'm going to call the May 21st meeting of the Davis City Council to order. Let the record reflect that it is 6.39 p.m. And also a quick announcement. Our Council member uh colleague, Councilmember Neville is not able to be here with us this evening. So you have the pleasure of just our four faces in front of you here this evening. So with that, I will entertain a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. Second. All right, we have a motion by Vice Mayor Vitlin, a second by Councilmember Partita. Any further questions or comments on the agenda? All right. Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed? Abstain. All right. Motion carries 4-0, and we have agenda. Okay. We are now on to agenda item number one, which is ceremonial presentations of proclamations, uh, recognizing May 19th to 24th as Public Works Week, May as Asian American Pacific Islander Month, May as Jewish American Heritage Month, May as bike month, and May as Mental Health Awareness Month. So the way we normally do this, we will um we'll read the proclamation, invite whoever's receiving the proclamation up to the lectern, say uh to say a few words, uh we'll move to the next proclamation and then we're done. We'll take uh a short break and invite um folks from uh the recipients of the proclamations to the front of the lectern uh to come down and have a photo with uh council members, and then we will um come back and go to item number two. Um, with all that being said, I'm going to turn to my colleague, Councilmember Arnold, who is going to present May 19th to the 24th as Public Works Week. Well, thank you, Mayor. Uh I believe we have Alexis Eastwood and Ryan Chapman who will be joining us for this. Um I am pleased to proclaim May, the week of May 19th through the 25th as National Public Works Week. The services provided by public works personnel to the Davis community involving streets, transportation, wastewater, storm drainage, water, facilities, urban forestry, and parks infrastructure, as well as administrative, environmental, engineering, regulatory, and fleet maintenance services, are an integral part of our citizens' everyday lives. The sustainable health, safety, and comfort of the Davis community greatly depend on public works to deliver cost-effective capital improvements. The future of the Davis community is greatly influenced by the design and construction of new developments managed by public works personnel. The efficiency of the qualified and dedicated personnel who staff public works departments is materially influenced by the people's attitudes and understanding of the importance of the work they perform. Now, therefore, we, the Davis City Council, on behalf of the citizens of Davis, hereby proclaim May 19th through the 25th, 2024 as National Public Works Week in the City of Davis, and urge all citizens and civic organizations to acquaint themselves with the issues involved in maintaining operating and improving our public works facilities and to recognize the contributions the public works personnel make every day to our health, safety, comfort, and quality of life. Mayor Chapman and Council members, on behalf of all of public works uh staff, thank you. All right, thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month provides the people of the United States with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, and history of, and to understand the challenges faced by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have endured and overcome hardship and heartache, feeling fear for themselves and their loved ones in the wake of anti-Asian hate and acts of violence against people in Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Persons of Asian heritage or Pacific Island Heritage are a critical part of our civic community, having made substantial contributions to our city, our state, and our nation, with persons of Asian heritage or Pacific Island Heritage serving in vital positions from frontline workers, researchers, health care providers, community leaders to other essential roles. Now, therefore, we, the Davis City Council, on behalf of the citizens of Davis, to hereby proclaim May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the City of Davis. In doing so, the City of Davis will recognize and observe Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by calling upon the Davis community to uplift and show ongoing support to per persons of Asian Heritage or Pacific Island Heritage now and in the future, and to encourage institutions and organizations to recognize the month with programs and activities. And I believe we have Aaron Wedra and Alan Way here to receive. Good evening, Mayor Chairman, Council members, staff, and friends. My name is Alan Way. I'm a Davis resident and a board member of the Davis chapter of Asian Pacific Island Americans Public Affairs Association. I'm very delighted to introduce my colleague for fellow board member Aaron Wendra. Thank you, Way and James and Cheryl join joining me. So my colleagues and I are extremely grateful and honored and proud to receive this proclamation. It recognizes not only the rich and diverse cultures that make up our communities, but also serve as a strong testament to the ingenuity, resilience, and diverse contributions of by Asian Americans in history, today, and beyond. APAPA is a nonprofit organization funded 20 years ago and currently has over uh 40 chapters across the country. Our mission is to inspire, engage, empower API communities through leadership and civic engagement. We advance this mission by thinking globally, acting locally.
openpublica.com