Davis City Council Meeting June 3, 2025: Proclamations, Budget, and HR Vacancies
Davis City Council Meeting – June 3, 2025
The Davis City Council met on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, beginning at 6:30 PM. The meeting featured ceremonial proclamations for Juneteenth, National Gun Violence Awareness Month, and LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Extensive public comment centered on the Human Relations Commission's MAPA report and concerns about anti-Semitism. The consent calendar was approved with one item pulled for discussion. A public hearing on employee vacancies was held under AB 2561. The council continued its budget discussion for FY2025/26 and FY2026/27, making decisions on positions, fund reallocations, and capital projects.
Consent Calendar
- Approved items A (WWTP contract), B (Landfill environmental services), C (Property purchase for sewer project), and E (Commission minutes) unanimously (5-0).
- Item D (Playfields Batting Cages) was pulled for separate discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- MAPA Report and Jewish Community Concerns: Many speakers opposed the HRC's MAPA report, calling it biased, inaccurate, and harmful to the Jewish community. Speakers including Alan Brownstein, Yuri Greiner, Daphne Ramille, Millie, and others argued the report vilifies Zionists and Jews, dismisses anti-Semitism, and could incite violence. Several noted recent hate incidents in Davis and elsewhere (e.g., Colorado, DC). A few speakers defended the report as a needed effort to address Islamophobia and anti-Arab discrimination, emphasizing the importance of listening to Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian community experiences.
- Other Public Comments: Michael Scheer criticized sprawl development, bike path cracks, and tree damage. Caden Velasquez proposed an Entertainment Commission. Mel Kim thanked the city for her exchange experience. Robert Holland thanked for the gun violence proclamation but reported a "kill all Zionists" graffiti. Jordan Nelson and Juliet Beck thanked for arts funding. Les Portello requested preservation of the Boy Scout Cabin. Others spoke in support of Pride Month.
Discussion Items
- Playfields Batting Cages (Item 4D): Councilmember Chapman pulled the item. Staff recommended permanent closure due to $17,000 in needed netting repairs and ongoing deficit (28% cost recovery). Council discussed usage, youth engagement (only 26% of respondents under 18 had used them), and alternative funding. Council voted 3-2 to replace the netting and refer the matter to the Recreation and Parks Commission for further study on sponsorship and outreach.
- Public Hearing on Employee Vacancies (Item 5): HR Director Christopher Bensch presented the AB 2561 report. The citywide vacancy rate dropped from 9.6% in 2024 to 9% through May 2025. The DCEA (Davis City Employees Association) president Mark Casala highlighted a 13.4% vacancy rate in their unit, increased workloads, and retention challenges. Council discussed four positions vacant over a year without recruitment, strategies for recruitment (reducing 127-day average) and retention (stay interviews, engagement surveys).
- Proposed Budget Continued Discussion (Item 6): Finance Director Elena Adair provided updated projections. The general fund ending fund balance dropped to 10% by FY27 due to reduced cannabis tax projections. To reach 15% would require $4.9M in cuts or new revenue; to reach 12.5% requires $2.5M. Staff presented options: reallocating Crisis Now funding ($930K), Vets Theater rehab ($350K), de-obligating previously restricted funds ($1.4M), and freezing/removing vacancies. Council discussed each option. The Fiscal Commission subcommittee report was noted.
Key Outcomes
- Playfields Batting Cages: Motion passed 3-2 to replace netting and return to Recreation and Parks Commission for study.
- De-obligated Restricted Funds: Unanimously (5-0) directed $1.4M to the 14th Street pavement project.
- New Positions: Approved a new police officer for downtown beat and an aquatics maintenance technician (5-0). Staff directed to explore use of existing vacancies for the officer position and consult with Natalie's Corner committee on potential fundraising for the aquatics tech. Chief Henry to report back on operational alternatives.
- Freezing/Removing Vacancies: Motion passed 4-1 (Mayor Vaitla dissenting) to remove the management analyst position (Social Services) and the 0.75 custodian position (Parks). Maintained both planner positions (with possible reorganization of one to building division) and the two limited-term accountants in Finance.
- Crisis Now and Vets Theater Funding: Motion passed 5-0 to allocate $125K from Crisis Now funds to the county pilot program and move the remainder ($805K) plus $350K from Vets Theater rehab into general fund reserve for future policy discussions on homelessness and urban forestry.
- Future Agenda Items: Council requested future agenda items on lighting updates, electricity access for unhoused, encampment ordinance update (including citation data and safe parking program), G Street activation options, voluntary electrification progress, and gas-powered leaf blower phase-out transition.
Meeting Transcript
The City of Davis City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025. It is 6 31. I see that all of my colleagues are present. Do we have a motion to approve the agenda? Second. Vice Mayor Neville, is there any discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Nay, abstain. Motion passes 5 0. We have an agenda. We'll start with three ceremonial presentations. We'll invite some folks to come up, receive the presentations, and then we'll uh do a brief recess to take some photos. The first is mine. It's uh Juneteenth, so please come on up, The Anne Griffith. Dr. Griffith, good to have you here. Happy to be here. They was one of the organizers of the Standard for Science Rally in Sacramento, potentially other places. I'm sure you've done others. Let me read the proclamation, and we'll give you a few minutes to speak. Juneteenth commemorates the day that the United States Army arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the emancipation of over 250,000 enslaved Americans of African descent. Over two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. America's original sin of slavery is formally abolished in the United States by the ratification of the 13th Amendment on December 6, 1865. On June 19th, 1866, former enslaved African Americans in Texas celebrated the first Jubilee Day, the holiday we now know as Juneteenth. June 19th, 2025, will mark the 160th anniversary of that historic day in four years since Juneteenth was designated a federal holiday and a national day of observance. While Juneteenth celebrates the liberation of African Americans, it also recognizes that there is much work to be done. Our nation cannot fulfill its promise of freedom until there is equality for all Americans. In designating Juneteenth as an official city holiday in 2024, the City of Davis recommitted itself to work on equity, equality, and justice for all, and committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that values the contributions of its diverse workforce and recognizes the invaluable role that different communities play in shaping the cultural fabric of American society. Now, therefore, we, the Davis City Council, on behalf of the citizens of Davis, do hereby proclaim June 19th, 2025 as Juneteenth in the City of Davis and encourage the people of Davis to observe the significant milestone with commemorative ceremonies, activities, and programs. Welcome to Ann. I will be very brief and just say that I am very honored and delighted to accept this proclamation on half of on behalf of the black community here in Davis and honestly, YOLO County more broadly. And we thank you all again for standing firm on your commitment to commemorating Juneteenth for the extremely important holiday that it is. Thank you for that. Thank you, Mayor Vila. And I'd like to invite up Rowan Thebalt to the uh lectern, please. Uh next proclamation is recognizing June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month. National Gun Violence Awareness Month is a time to honor and remember all victims and survivors of gun violence and to declare that we as a country must do more to end this public health crisis. Every day, 125 people in the United States are killed by gun violence, and more than 260 are shot and wounded with an average of more than 19,000 gun homicides every year. Guns are the second leading cause of death among children in teens in California and cities across the nation, including in Davis, are working to end the senseless violence with evidence-based solutions. Protecting public safety in the communities they serve is the city council's highest responsibility. Councils and law enforcement officers know their communities best, are the most familiar with local criminal activity and how to address it, and are best positioned to understand how to keep their citizens safe. We renew our commitment to reduce gun violence and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the wrong hands and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our children safe. Now, therefore, we, the Davis City Council, on behalf of the citizens of Davis to hereby proclaim June to be national gun violence awareness month and encourage all citizens to support their local communities' efforts to prevent the tragic effort effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives. Welcome to the United States. Thank you. Hello, and thank you again for your work to ensure that Davis remains leader in gun violence prevention. My name is Rowan, and I am the group co-lead for Students Demand Actions chapter here at UC Davis. We're part of a youth-led movement of over 800 chapters at high schools and colleges nationwide organizing to end gun violence, along with Moms Demand Action in the Every Town Survivor Network. We are the nation's largest grassroots grassroots volunteer network working to end gun violence, which happens in every state.
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