OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

City of Davis/UC Davis/Yolo County Annual Public Meeting Summary - February 25, 2025

City Council & Planning Commission — Tuesday, February 25, 2025
BodyDavis, California
SessionCity Council & Planning Commission
DateTuesday, February 25, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:57:47

Transcript — Verbatim
0:11

Five o'clock, and you are in the City of Davis, UC Davis YOLO County Annual Public Meeting.

0:18

I will note that all of my colleagues and supervisors and UC Davis personnel are here.

0:25

So we have a full house.

0:35

Welcome.

0:36

Sure.

0:36

Thank you, Mayor Vitler, for inviting us and appreciate everyone joining us this evening.

0:41

It's always a pleasure to meet with our partners in the city and YOLO County and our friends from across the region.

0:48

Thank you again, also to Supervisor Fres uh for always being willing to discuss challenges we face and opportunities uh we are creating together.

0:57

Um I'll just begin with a brief update on UC Davis and what's happening on campus.

1:01

Um as we uh navigate the complex national political landscape and budget constraints and things like that, uh we're very proud that our our rankings continue to place UC Davis among the top public universities in the country, uh as I like to say on the metal stand.

1:18

Uh we are now the number three public university in the country according to the Wall Street Journal, so bronze medal, uh if you will.

1:24

Um that ranking I think is significant because it focuses on how well we prepare our students for their careers after they leave the university.

1:32

Um and we remain uh top uh tops, number one in agriculture and veterinary medicine and some things that we are traditionally well known for in the U.S.

1:42

But these rankings just illustrate how we empower our students from every background uh with world-class educational opportunity preparing them for career success and service to their communities.

1:52

Uh uh we continue to be a research powerhouse across uh all fields of study, uh whether it's ensuring sustainable groundwater access in California or developing source uh cures for emerging viruses in Africa.

2:04

UC Davis researchers are enhancing our understanding of the world and making it a better and healthier uh and more sustainable place.

2:12

Last September we announced that UC Davis uh received over a billion dollars in research funding for the third consecutive year.

2:19

Uh fewer than 20 public universities in the nation can boast reaching that level of uh external funding.

2:26

You know, hitting the mark three years in a row speaks to the uh enduring impact of the research happening across uh both of our campuses.

2:33

Uh our outstanding results are encouraging uh more students to apply to UC Davis every year.

2:38

The total enrollment for fall of 2024 at all locations, including our undergraduates, graduate students, professional students, interns, and residents at our health center.

2:46

The total reached uh record 41,239 students and residents.

2:51

Uh the momentum is continuing for next fall, 2025.

2:54

We received over 120,000 total applications and for the first time crossed the 100,000 dollar threshold for first-year freshman applicants.

3:03

Um they're coming from for opportunities uh for UC Davis education and the quality of living that this area in Davis offers.

3:11

So conversations like the one we'll have this evening are a vital part of the uh uh effort to ensure our town gown relationship remains a model uh for other communities, whether it's our efforts to combat discrimination and our hate free together initiative or partnership on building a more sustainable community uh or strengthening our transportation partnership.

3:30

Every challenge we face is uh more manageable when we face it uh together.

3:35

On that note, I just want to thank the Davis City Council, YOLO County Board of Supervisors, and all of our business and community partners uh together we're making progress and making this community stronger, healthier, more prosperous, and I'm eager to continue that work uh as we discuss uh our opportunities this evening.

3:52

So thank you.

3:53

Thank you, Chancellor May.

3:54

Impressive list of partnerships and accomplishments.

3:57

Let me ask if our YOLO County Supervisors have any words that they'd like to share.

4:04

Sure.

4:04

Um Sheila Allen, um new YOLO County Supervisor District 4, so two-thirds of Davis.

4:10

Um really happy to be here for the two by two by five, I guess.

4:16

Um being a part of Davis is really important for YOLO County.

4:21

We um provide health and human services and a lot of the surrounding county infrastructure and partnerships are really what makes YOLO County go.

4:31

We like to talk about the YOLO way a lot, and the YOLO way is really about collaboration and working together.

4:38

And so opportunities like this to talk about how over the year have we worked together, how might we work together more going forward, and what have we individually accomplished, but importantly, what can we do together going forward is very important.

4:52

So really happy to be here to represent the county perspective on that.

4:59

Thanks, Supervisor Allen.

5:00

Also so excited to have Supervisor Allen join this uh board of the Board of Supervisors, but also uh really appreciate uh our partnership together.

5:09

Uh a couple quick things.

5:10

I think just appreciate Chancellor your opening comments as well.

5:13

I mean, I think just a little bit of uh historical background or context.

5:17

I think you know, we were frankly at a low point in our relationship.

5:21

Uh the university, the city, the county, you know, sort of in the sort of late 20, you know, 2015, 2016 range, but actually after super uh excuse me, Chancellor May arrived uh here.

5:32

Uh, we really I think found sort of had an opportunity to have a new chapter in the relationship between the university, the city, and the county, and you know, the MOU that was signed in 2018.

5:43

Uh, you know, that really talked about the creation of more housing, uh, transportation projects working together, planning projects, of course, really, I think helped pave the way to uh uh a really united response during COVID.

5:57

I mean, Healthy Davis together, leading to Healthy YOLO together.

6:00

Uh, that partnership was essential, of course, in combating the the um pandemic, but also then, of course, is uh led into additional work together and hate free together, certainly, uh and then uh many other uh opportunities for collaboration.

6:13

So just so appreciate uh this annual now I think fifth or sixth maybe it is this year, uh town and gown meeting uh between the three parties here.

6:23

Just really so grateful for that opportunity to continue to um be strong allies in uh across many different types of uh issue areas.

6:32

So thanks so much for the opportunity to say a few comments.

6:34

Thank you.

6:35

Thank you, Sheila and Lucas.

6:36

And now we'll move to public comments.

6:39

Any member of the public that wishes to address this body on matters that are on the agenda is welcome to come up.

6:45

Just to let folks know, unlike normal meetings, we have a 20 minutes set aside for public comments, so we'll go to approximately 5 30.

6:52

And if everyone doesn't get a chance to speak, there'll be a chance to speak after the presentations tonight, after item three.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Housing████████████████████████24%
Economic Development█████████████13%
Mental Health Awareness████████████12%
Community Engagement████████████12%
Immigration Policy████████8%
Public Comment██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Public Safety█████5%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

City of Davis/UC Davis/Yolo County Annual Public Meeting - February 25, 2025

This special joint meeting of the Davis City Council, UC Davis, and Yolo County was held on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, from 5:00 PM to approximately 7:30 PM in the City of Davis Community Chambers. The meeting featured updates on UC Davis economic impacts, housing progress, the Hate-Free Together initiative, and the Crisis Now mental health program, along with public comments on a range of topics including LGBTQ+ rights, infrastructure, immigration enforcement, and mental health services.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Beth Bourne (Davis resident, UC Davis employee) expressed opposition to the Hate-Free Together campaign, arguing that transgender identity concepts harm children and that schools should focus on biology. She cited statistics: 1 in 22 UC Davis students identifies as transgender, and claimed six girls at Davis High School had breast amputations due to gender transition.
  • Mary Lou Rosetto (UC Davis alum, homeowner) urged the partnership to address poor road conditions, citing Alvarado Avenue between Anderson and Sycamore Lane as an example. She asked what UC Davis contributes to mitigate infrastructure wear from expanded population and bus traffic.
  • Norby Kumigai (Davis resident) spoke against recent ICE detentions in Davis, drawing parallels to the World War II internment of Japanese Americans. He referenced Executive Order 9066 and urged opposition to the new administration's detention policies.
  • Kimberly Mitchell (UC Davis alum, community member) presented recommendations for Crisis Now: expand co-responder hours beyond 9-5, extend crisis intervention training to all first responders (including dispatch, fire, EMS), and work toward a crisis stabilization unit (psych ED) in Yolo County. She submitted a detailed policy brief.
  • Alan Hirsch (Davis resident) suggested renaming Hate-Free Together to avoid framing issues as conflict between 'hater' and 'victim,' advocating for a focus on maintaining civil society and productive dialogue.
  • Eileen Samets (Davis resident) urged UC Davis to build more on-campus apartments, noting the campus has 5,300 acres but is the only UC not committed to 50% on-campus housing. She called for taller buildings (seven stories) and updates on Solano Park redevelopment and faculty/staff housing.
  • Claudia Kritch (Davis resident) expressed concern about a UC Davis employee known nationally for lawsuits related to civil liberties, stating the individual is detrimental to the community's reputation and asking how to move forward.
  • Liam (Davis resident) called for stronger enforcement of anti-hate initiatives, citing a 2024 Pride event where Beth Young allegedly assaulted someone. He urged action to prevent family tragedies.
  • Nitya (UC Davis student, president of NAMI on campus) expressed support for partnership on mental health and offered to be involved.

Discussion Items

UC Davis Economic Impact Report

Presented by Tom Martens (Economic & Planning Systems Vice President) in place of David Zehnder. Key findings:

  • UC Davis supports 68,300 jobs statewide and generates $13.2 billion in total economic activity (direct, indirect, induced).
  • Within the City of Davis, direct economic output is $1.5 billion; regionally (Greater Sacramento) it is $5.6 billion; total UC Davis (including health system) regional impact is $9.6 billion.
  • Fiscal impact analysis: UC Davis-related residents and employees generate more tax revenue for the City of Davis and Yolo County than the cost of municipal services they consume. Revenue sources include property tax, sales tax, transient occupancy tax, etc. (University-owned land does not pay property tax.)
  • Aggie Square (Sacramento innovation campus) construction adds $2 billion in regional activity; ongoing operations will add $500 million annually.
  • Councilmembers asked about the dotted line on the chart (expenditure comparison) and clarified that property tax figures reflect actual revenue returned to the city. Supervisor Allen noted the university does not pay property tax on its buildings.

UC Davis and City of Davis Update on Housing

City presentation (Sherry Metzger, Community Development Director):

  • Since 2023, 297 units completed (e.g., Marco at Cannery, Celeste on Childs Road). 360 units near completion (Plaza 2555 with 200 units, Research Park Drive with 160 units). Total city pipeline: 2,062 units (including approved/pending). An additional 3,000 units are subject to voter approval (Measure J/R).
  • A new Housing Dashboard was launched to track projects by status. Councilmember Neville suggested adding income-level comparisons to RHNA targets.
  • RHNA target: 2,075 units; moderate/above-moderate units met, but lower-income units still lag due to financing challenges.
  • Mayor Vaitla noted that of the 6,000 pending units shown on the dashboard, over 3,000 are subject to voter approval and should be clearly labeled.

UC Davis presentation (Lucas Griffith, Executive Director of Campus Planning & Sustainability; Mike Sheehan, Associate Vice Chancellor for Housing):

  • Since 2018 LRDP MOU, UC Davis has added 6,000 new beds while enrollment grew by 2,600 — more than doubling the housing ratio. Vacancy rate in Davis increased to 4%; rent escalation dropped to 1.6%.
  • Currently 15,000 students live on campus (41% of Davis-based enrollment). New projects: Segundo Infill (500+ beds, opening 2027), West Village Infill (500+ apartments), Reagan redevelopment (400+ beds, ~2030).
  • Affordability: Orchard Park rents are 30% below comparable new construction; West Village rents track below market. A need-based rent subsidy program distributes over $800,000 annually. Segundo received a $43 million state grant for affordable housing.
  • On-campus vacancy is near 100% occupied. Transportation: new on-campus housing reduced biking; Unitrans ridership shifted. Partnership with YTD on 'Moving Forward Together' sustainable transportation plan.
  • Supervisor Frerichs thanked the university for fulfilling MOU obligations and avoiding litigation. Councilmember Chapman noted the value of negotiated agreements.

Hate-Free Together Update

Presented by Megan Macklin (UC Davis), Jenny Tan (City of Davis), and Oliver Snow (Yolo County). Highlights:

  • In 2024, executive committee attended community events and engaged over 600 people. Bi-monthly Zoom meetings with local organizations (20-30 participants each). Website (hatefreetogether.org) launched with resources.
  • City of Davis received a $300,000 California Creative Corp grant for artist-led community engagement. Five artist groups (Bike City Theater, Davis Repertory Theater, Davis Shakespeare Ensemble, Bahia Yackson, Jessica Marie Ross) created the CARE project (Community Artists Research Engagement). Events reached over 2,000 community members in Davis and Woodland. Initial findings: 29% increased awareness of social justice issues; 32% more likely to take action.
  • Strategic planning process for 2025: Phase 1 (now) – develop mission/values; Phase 2 (May-July) – contract with community consultant for summit; Phase 3 (June-Sept) – develop plan; Phase 4 – present draft at next annual meeting. RFP for consultant in early March.
  • Councilmembers expressed strong support, especially in light of rising 'othering.' Vice Mayor Neville and Councilmember Partida noted the importance of the work. Supervisor Frerichs highlighted the need for collaboration. Mayor Vaitla asked about focusing on undocumented immigrants; presenters said discussions are ongoing and website has immigrant resources.

Yolo County Crisis Now Update

Presented by Dirk Brazil (Interim County Administrator):

  • Crisis Now has three components: 24/7 call center, mobile crisis response/co-responders (two-thirds in place), and a sobering center (still in development). $2-2.5 million invested so far.
  • Sobering center: estimated $3 million build and $850,000 annual operating cost. Federal earmark from Congressman Thompson is uncertain. City of Davis committed $900,000 in ARP funds; Woodland and West Sacramento are working on agreements.
  • Councilmember Neville emphasized the importance of a receiving/sobering center for youth mental health (75% of mental illness emerges by age 25). She invited UC Davis to partner.
  • Councilmember Chapman noted a recent meeting between UC Davis, county, and city to identify gaps and avoid duplication (e.g., UC Davis Health 34 program runs 24/7 for students). Supervisor Frerichs suggested expanding co-responder hours and crisis intervention training to all first responders, and visiting Marin County's crisis stabilization unit.
  • Vice Mayor Neville clarified the combined receiving/sobering center model improves fiscal viability by drawing multiple funding streams.
  • Mayor Vaitla directed that Kimberly Mitchell's policy brief be shared with county and UC partners.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes were taken; the meeting was informational and collaborative.
  • The Hate-Free Together initiative will proceed with a strategic planning process in 2025, including a community summit and consultant-led plan, with a draft presented at the next annual meeting.
  • The Crisis Now sobering center development remains contingent on federal funding and ongoing city-county MOUs. UC Davis expressed willingness to collaborate through a gap analysis with the county.
  • UC Davis and City of Davis will continue housing efforts; the city will update its Housing Dashboard to include RHNA income-level tracking and clearer labeling of voter-dependent units.
  • UC Davis confirmed it cannot exceed LRDP enrollment without a new plan, and will continue to build housing in line with the 2018 MOU.
  • The city manager clarified that public comment at the special meeting was limited to the scheduled 20-minute period, but additional comments were allowed at the council's discretion after the agenda items.

Meeting Transcript

Five o'clock, and you are in the City of Davis, UC Davis YOLO County Annual Public Meeting. I will note that all of my colleagues and supervisors and UC Davis personnel are here. So we have a full house. Welcome. Sure. Thank you, Mayor Vitler, for inviting us and appreciate everyone joining us this evening. It's always a pleasure to meet with our partners in the city and YOLO County and our friends from across the region. Thank you again, also to Supervisor Fres uh for always being willing to discuss challenges we face and opportunities uh we are creating together. Um I'll just begin with a brief update on UC Davis and what's happening on campus. Um as we uh navigate the complex national political landscape and budget constraints and things like that, uh we're very proud that our our rankings continue to place UC Davis among the top public universities in the country, uh as I like to say on the metal stand. Uh we are now the number three public university in the country according to the Wall Street Journal, so bronze medal, uh if you will. Um that ranking I think is significant because it focuses on how well we prepare our students for their careers after they leave the university. Um and we remain uh top uh tops, number one in agriculture and veterinary medicine and some things that we are traditionally well known for in the U.S. But these rankings just illustrate how we empower our students from every background uh with world-class educational opportunity preparing them for career success and service to their communities. Uh uh we continue to be a research powerhouse across uh all fields of study, uh whether it's ensuring sustainable groundwater access in California or developing source uh cures for emerging viruses in Africa. UC Davis researchers are enhancing our understanding of the world and making it a better and healthier uh and more sustainable place. Last September we announced that UC Davis uh received over a billion dollars in research funding for the third consecutive year. Uh fewer than 20 public universities in the nation can boast reaching that level of uh external funding. You know, hitting the mark three years in a row speaks to the uh enduring impact of the research happening across uh both of our campuses. Uh our outstanding results are encouraging uh more students to apply to UC Davis every year. The total enrollment for fall of 2024 at all locations, including our undergraduates, graduate students, professional students, interns, and residents at our health center. The total reached uh record 41,239 students and residents. Uh the momentum is continuing for next fall, 2025. We received over 120,000 total applications and for the first time crossed the 100,000 dollar threshold for first-year freshman applicants. Um they're coming from for opportunities uh for UC Davis education and the quality of living that this area in Davis offers. So conversations like the one we'll have this evening are a vital part of the uh uh effort to ensure our town gown relationship remains a model uh for other communities, whether it's our efforts to combat discrimination and our hate free together initiative or partnership on building a more sustainable community uh or strengthening our transportation partnership. Every challenge we face is uh more manageable when we face it uh together. On that note, I just want to thank the Davis City Council, YOLO County Board of Supervisors, and all of our business and community partners uh together we're making progress and making this community stronger, healthier, more prosperous, and I'm eager to continue that work uh as we discuss uh our opportunities this evening. So thank you. Thank you, Chancellor May. Impressive list of partnerships and accomplishments. Let me ask if our YOLO County Supervisors have any words that they'd like to share. Sure. Um Sheila Allen, um new YOLO County Supervisor District 4, so two-thirds of Davis. Um really happy to be here for the two by two by five, I guess. Um being a part of Davis is really important for YOLO County. We um provide health and human services and a lot of the surrounding county infrastructure and partnerships are really what makes YOLO County go. We like to talk about the YOLO way a lot, and the YOLO way is really about collaboration and working together. And so opportunities like this to talk about how over the year have we worked together, how might we work together more going forward, and what have we individually accomplished, but importantly, what can we do together going forward is very important. So really happy to be here to represent the county perspective on that. Thanks, Supervisor Allen. Also so excited to have Supervisor Allen join this uh board of the Board of Supervisors, but also uh really appreciate uh our partnership together. Uh a couple quick things. I think just appreciate Chancellor your opening comments as well. I mean, I think just a little bit of uh historical background or context. I think you know, we were frankly at a low point in our relationship. Uh the university, the city, the county, you know, sort of in the sort of late 20, you know, 2015, 2016 range, but actually after super uh excuse me, Chancellor May arrived uh here. Uh, we really I think found sort of had an opportunity to have a new chapter in the relationship between the university, the city, and the county, and you know, the MOU that was signed in 2018. Uh, you know, that really talked about the creation of more housing, uh, transportation projects working together, planning projects, of course, really, I think helped pave the way to uh uh a really united response during COVID. I mean, Healthy Davis together, leading to Healthy YOLO together.

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