Davis City Council Meeting – March 4, 2025

The Davis City Council met on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in Community Chambers. The meeting included ceremonial proclamations, a presentation on the SACOG 2025 Blueprint, a public hearing on automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and public safety cameras, a substantial amendment to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, and amendments to the Downtown Davis Form-Based Code. The council also discussed the city manager transition and received public comments on various topics.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (5‑0) all consent items: Emergency sewer infrastructure repair (CIP ET0034, $500,000 with McGuire and Hester), professional services agreement for Richards Boulevard/I‑80 interchange construction management (WSP and Blackburn Consulting), Arroyo Pool replastering contract (Adam’s Pool Specialties), naming the Veterans Memorial Theatre stage the “Dave Burmester Stage,” batting cages analysis report (operate for one more year with cost‑recovery monitoring and $5,000 repair cap), and the annual Development Impact Fee AB1600 report for FY2023‑2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Alan Miller called for acknowledgment of a recent $24.3 million jury verdict against the city for a tree‑related death in Slidehill Park, arguing the city neglected tree maintenance and failed to listen to citizen complaints despite Measure H funds.
• Michelle Famula (co‑president Yolo County League of Women Voters) and Stephanie DeGraf Hunt urged the council to oppose the SAVE Act and to defend federal legislative authority against executive orders that withhold congressionally approved funding and dismiss federal employees without cause.
• Lucas Hatton (co‑artistic director Davis Repertory Theater) spoke in support of the arts, thanking the city for funding and space.
• A voicemail comment on consent item 4F urged the city to consider a housing impact fee for non‑residential development and to broaden the definition of public safety to include tree trimming and accessibility projects.
• During the ALPR public hearing, several speakers supported the cameras for crime fighting, while one warned of potential misuse and impacts on reproductive health care privacy.
• On the Form‑Based Code amendment, Teresa Leonard (736 G Street, tutoring center owner) opposed the 60% destruction trigger, saying it would force her out of business because insurance would not cover the cost of rebuilding to new code standards.

Discussion Items

• Item 5 – SACOG 2025 Blueprint Presentation: Kacey Lizon (SACOG Deputy Executive Director) presented the long‑range transportation plan, emphasizing the triple bottom line (equity, economy, environment), public outreach findings (housing affordability, safety, transportation options), and a regional growth forecast of 600,000 new people and 275,000 new homes by 2050. Davis anticipates 8,600 new housing units and 13,300 new jobs. Councilmember Chapman, the Davis SACOG representative, highlighted the importance of regional collaboration. Public comment urged more concrete investment in transit and bicycle connections, especially to Woodland.
• Item 6 – Public Hearing on ALPR/Public Safety Cameras: Police Chief Todd Henry requested approval to seek grant funding for 29 new cameras at nine locations (primarily city ingress/egress routes) under the city’s surveillance technology ordinance. The cameras would be Motorola units with combined ALPR and streaming video. The department reported a 53‑of‑65 (81.5%) positive investigative lead rate from existing cameras in 2024. The proposed use policy bars data sharing with federal immigration enforcement and prohibits using data to target reproductive health choices. The Police Accountability Commission had reviewed and supported the request. After discussion about privacy safeguards and a potential grant from the Department of Justice COPS program, the council voted 5‑0 to approve the resolution, authorize grant application, and adopt the surveillance use policy.
• Item 7 – Substantial Amendment to CDBG Funds: Social Services & Housing Director Dana Bailey explained that the city had $2.1 million in unspent CDBG funds exceeding HUD’s timeliness threshold. She proposed reprogramming $613,000 into shovel‑ready projects: $200,000 for Playfields Park inclusive playground pre‑development, $140,000 for Pacifico rehabilitation, $73,000 for a housing study, and $175,000 for economic development. Councilmembers debated priorities, with Vice Mayor Neville and Councilmember Partida emphasizing the need for immediate public‑safety improvements around the L Street respite center and encampment response. The council voted 5‑0 to allocate $200,000 for parks design, $140,000 for Pacifico, $100,000 for economic development (including facade improvements and encampment remediation), and $175,000 for homeless services to be refined by the homeless subcommittee and brought back on March 18.
• Item 8 – Public Hearing: Downtown Davis Form Based Code Amendments: Planner Thomas McNairn presented amendments to clarify legal non‑conforming structures. The council first approved (5‑0) a set of technical cleanup amendments (table one). Then they debated three substantive changes: (1) requiring structures damaged ≥60% to comply with the Form‑Based Code; (2) prohibiting any expansion (increased footprint or 25% exterior perimeter alteration) of a non‑conforming structure; (3) limiting lots with a non‑conforming structure to one building. After discussion, Councilmember Partida moved to accept items (2) and (3) as proposed but to exempt owner‑occupied single‑family homes from items (1) and (3) if the damage was involuntary and the home remains owner‑occupied. The exemption expires upon sale. The motion passed 4‑0‑1 (Councilmember Chapman abstaining). The council then introduced the amended ordinance as a whole (5‑0).
• Item 9 – AB 1234 Reporting and Long‑Range Calendar: No meetings to report. The council agreed to agendize a future discussion on the results of the L Street respite center community meeting and to have staff explore options for front‑loading transportation planning for the northeast quadrant of the city as part of the General Plan update.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar approved 5‑0.
• ALPR/Public Safety Cameras approved 5‑0; grant application authorized.
• CDBG Fund Allocation approved 5‑0: $200,000 parks, $140,000 Pacifico, $100,000 economic development, $175,000 homeless services (subcommittee to detail).
• Form‑Based Code Amendments – cleanups approved 5‑0; substantive amendments (items 1‑3) approved with an owner‑occupied single‑family exemption 4‑0‑1; ordinance introduced 5‑0.
• Future Agenda Items – respite center results and northeast corridor transportation planning to be placed on future agendas.