Davis City Council Meeting - December 16, 2025

The Davis City Council convened on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 6:34 PM (agenda start time 6:30 PM) for a regular meeting that included a ceremonial proclamation, consent calendar approval, a public hearing on LED lighting replacement, a workshop on the Village Farms Davis project, and the designation of the 2026 Mayor and Vice Mayor. The meeting featured extensive public comment and council debate, particularly regarding affordable housing commitments for the Village Farms project. The meeting adjourned after 9:30 PM.

Ceremonial Presentation

• Proclamation for Robert Schulz: The Council recognized Robert Schulz for over 33 years of service to the City of Davis, including recording more than 12,000 hours of public meetings since 1992. A proclamation was presented honoring his retirement.

Consent Calendar

• The Council approved the Consent Calendar (Items A through F) with a 5-0 vote, except for Item D (On-Call Transportation Planning Task Order 4 for Village Farms and Willowgrove nexus study), which was pulled and moved to the January 6, 2026 meeting agenda.
• Approved items included:
  • A: Professional Services Agreement with HdL Companies for cannabis business audit and compliance review.
  • B: Task Order 3 with West Yost Associates for design of Core Area Pond Improvements.
  • C: Grant of Public Utility Easement for South Davis Library.
  • E: Continuation of emergency contract with Eaton Drilling for Well #33 rehabilitation.
  • F: Approval of Planning Commission and Transportation Commission minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• MAPA Report (February 3 consent calendar item): Multiple speakers (Alan Hirsch, Mayan, Alan Miller, Ear Cole, Dan Ovadia, Harriet Gattsman) opposed the HRC MAPA report, citing rising antisemitism, recent hate incidents (swastika graffiti, violent rhetoric), and requests to remove it from the consent calendar or reject it entirely. Several speakers emphasized the need for community dialogue rather than divisive reports.
• South Davis Library: One speaker (not named) supported the utility easement, highlighting libraries as vital public resources for democratizing access, warming/cooling centers, and internet access.
• Village Farms Project: Several residents commented:
  • Support: Helen Prior endorsed the project after reviewing the FEIR and enhanced affordable housing; Chris Begg urged council and developer to reach a deal for ballot placement; Rachel Barge supported housing to sustain schools; Telita von der Molin stressed grade-separated bike crossings.
  • Opposition/Concerns: Alan Hirsch criticized tree requirements as a regression and urged full lifecycle funding; Dan Carson opposed a fourth fire station, calling it fiscally negative; Susan Rainier cited inadequate EIR and floodplain/toxic risks; John Cooper and Nancy Price cited rushed process and holiday timing; Mary Ann Hernandez opposed due to incomplete EIR and fire station costs; Eileen Sammits called baseline features and development agreement inadequate; Barbara Cletter was conflicted but concerned about infrastructure costs; Georgina Valencia (planning commissioner) noted missing middle housing and lack of for-sale affordable units; multiple callers raised concerns about toxics, landfill, floodplain, and lack of firm commitments.

Discussion Items

Item 5: Public Hearing – On-Bill Financing for LED Lighting Replacement

• Staff presented a package for LED lighting at four city sites, projecting $110,000 annual savings and CO2 reductions. A public commenter supported the project but urged fiscal commission review and municipalization of utilities. The Council approved the resolution 5-0.

Item 6: Workshop – Village Farms Davis Project (Pre-GP Amendment, Pre-Zoning, Development Agreement)

• Staff Presentation: Community Development Director Sherry Metzger outlined the project (approx. 1,800 dwelling units) and two key issues:
  1. Affordable Housing Plan: Updated proposal – 16 acres land dedication to city for 280 low/very-low income units (up from 9.3 acres), plus $6 million to housing trust fund (phased), and city endeavor to build 80 moderate-income units. This exceeds the 18.57-acre code requirement.
  2. Maintenance Funding: Developer will establish a Community Facilities District (CFD) or similar to fund ongoing maintenance of city facilities (parks, landscaping), not an HOA.
• Applicant Presentation: Rochelle Swanson (Village Farms applicant) highlighted updates: increased land dedication and cash contribution, reduced 5,000 sq ft lots, projected 1,150 students (school district demographer), bike/ped infrastructure, permanent habitat conservation, and all-electric/solar commitments. She emphasized the project is “zoned” for 360 deed-restricted affordable units.
• Council Discussion:
  • Mayor Vaitla argued that the $6 million and 16 acres are insufficient to build 280 units, citing conversations with tax-credit developers estimating a $75 million gap. He proposed putting 100 low-income units in the Baseline Project Features (BPF) with a trigger: if the city cannot build them within 10 years or Phase 3, the developer assumes responsibility. He stated, “Unless there’s a legitimate codified promise in the baseline project features… I’m a no.”
  • Councilmember Chapman noted the direction from the last meeting was to “get units built” and expressed concern the current proposal shifts all risk to the city without guarantee.
  • Councilmember Partida supported the staff-recommended proposal and emphasized the need for flexibility; she noted that affordable housing does get built and the city’s partnership is critical.
  • Vice Mayor Neville acknowledged the developer’s generous offer but worried about voter trust if units are not guaranteed.
  • Councilmember Deos supported sending the issue back to the subcommittee to explore a development agreement trigger rather than baseline features.
• Motions and Votes:
  1. Motion by Mayor Vaitla (seconded by Councilmember Partida): Direct subcommittee to work with staff and applicant to include some number of low-income units in the Baseline Project Features with a trigger. Failed 1-4 (Vaitla yes; Chapman, Neville, Deos, Partida no).
  2. Substitute Motion by Councilmember Deos (seconded by Councilmember Chapman): Approve the proposal as presented in the staff report, with direction to the subcommittee to work with the applicant to include a trigger in the Development Agreement (not baseline) that shifts responsibility for affordable units to the developer if conditions are not met. Passed 4-1 (Vaitla nay; Chapman, Neville, Deos, Partida yes).
• Additional Direction: Council asked staff to change references from “fire station” to “public use” in project documents. The subcommittee will continue negotiations on the trigger mechanism and return to council at a future meeting (likely January 13 or 20, 2026).

Item 7: Designation of Mayor and Vice Mayor for 2026

• Staff presented options for selection process. After discussion about establishing a rotation system (similar to school board or Woodland), the Council voted on two motions:
  • Substitute motion (Donna Neville as Mayor, Linda Deos as Vice Mayor) failed 2-3 (Neville and Vaitla yes; Chapman, Partida, Deos no).
  • Main motion (Donna Neville as Mayor, Gloria Partida as Vice Mayor) passed 5-0.
• The Council directed staff to return with a resolution codifying a formal rotation system for future years, including options for phasing in newly elected members.

Item 8: AB 1234 Reporting and Long-Range Calendar

• Mayor Vaitla reported attending meetings in Germany on his own dime. No other reports.
• Staff noted the next public hearing on Village Farms is scheduled for January 20, 2026. To allow subcommittee work, a potential additional meeting on January 13, 2026 was discussed; the January 6 meeting is firm due to a Prop 218 hearing. Council agreed to tentatively hold January 13 and cancel if not needed.
• Mayor Vaitla requested an urgent amendment to the inclusionary housing ordinance to clarify that land dedication alone is not sufficient to meet affordable housing requirements. Council agreed to prioritize this on the long-range work plan.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved 5-0; Item D moved to January 6, 2026.
• LED Lighting Replacement: Resolution approved 5-0.
• Village Farms Workshop: Council approved the staff-recommended affordable housing proposal (16 acres + $6 million) and directed the subcommittee to negotiate a trigger in the Development Agreement for affordable unit construction. The project will return for a public hearing on January 20, 2026 (with possible subcommittee update on January 13).
• Mayor/Vice Mayor: Donna Neville designated Mayor, Gloria Partida designated Vice Mayor for calendar year 2026. Staff to develop a rotation process for future years.
• Inclusionary Housing Ordinance: Council directed staff to prioritize amending the ordinance to prevent land-only dedications from satisfying affordable housing requirements.
• Future Meetings: January 6 (Prop 218 hearing, LAFCO, liaison appointments), January 13 (if needed for Village Farms subcommittee), January 20 (Village Farms public hearing).