OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Davis City Council Meeting: Feb 17, 2026 - Respite Center, Noise Ordinance, Musk Divestment

City Council & Planning Commission — Tuesday, February 17, 2026
BodyDavis, California
SessionCity Council & Planning Commission
DateTuesday, February 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:41:57

Transcript — Verbatim
0:06

Good evening, everyone.

0:15

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Tuesday, February 17th meeting of the Davis City Council.

0:21

I see that all of my colleagues are here at the DIES.

0:24

And our first item of business is to approve the agenda for this evening.

0:28

Is there a motion?

0:30

So moved.

0:31

And a second?

0:32

Move by Councilmember Chapman, seconded by Dios.

0:34

All in favor of approval of the agenda, say aye.

0:37

Aye.

0:37

Aye.

0:38

Any nose?

0:39

Good.

0:40

Approval uh agenda is approved unanimously.

0:43

And just um, for everyone who might be here in the audience, just to be sure you're all aware that one of the items that had previously been scheduled to be heard this evening.

0:52

The street vendor ordinance is not on this evening's agenda that will be taken up at a later city council meeting.

0:57

Just so you know, in case you are waiting here for that item.

1:00

So we're gonna move on next to a ceremonial presentation.

1:06

We are swearing in our fire chief Paul Swanson.

1:10

But before we do that, I would like to invite Chief Tenny up to the podium.

1:15

Where is Chief Tenny?

1:16

There he is.

1:17

I did not see you.

1:24

Chief Tenney is our outgoing fire chief, and I wanted to take a moment just to thank you and read this proclamation while everyone is here.

1:32

Uh, fire chief Joseph Tenney has devoted 38 years of distinguished and faithful service to the fire service, with 26 of those years proudly serving the city of Davis.

1:43

Chief Tenney has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public safety, strong leadership, and professional excellence throughout his career.

1:52

During his tenure, Chief Tenney was responsible for the hiring, mentoring, and promotion of more than 45 personnel, including firefighters, captains, and battalion chiefs, leaving a lasting legacy to the leaders and firefighters he helped develop.

2:06

Chief Tenney responded to multiple major incidents across California, including the 2020 LNU Lightning Complex fires in Yolo and Solano counties, and the 2021 Caldor Fire.

2:19

As Fire Chief Chief Tenney led the effort to purchase outfit staff and train for the city's new ladder truck, providing an enhanced level of service and increased emergency response capabilities in the Davis community.

2:31

Chief Tenney prioritize modernization and innovation within the fire department by upgrading existing systems and implementing new technologies, including a new records management system, tablet-based command software, radio infrastructure improvements, station alerting systems, and automated voice dispatching.

2:50

Chief Tenney's famous chocolate chip cookies will be greatly missed throughout the fire stations as he turns his time and talents toward enjoying well-earned moments with his wife and favorite people, his grandchildren.

3:03

Now the therefore be it proclaimed that the City of Davis, that excuse me, the Davis City Council, on behalf of the residents of Davis hereby recognizes Fire Chief Joseph Tenney for 26 years of service to the City of Davis and 38 years of faithful service to the fire service, and congratulates him on his retirement with sincere gratitude for his lasting contributions to the safety and well-being of the community.

3:28

Thank you.

3:55

Thank you very much to uh the city council members to all those that have uh supported me and supported the fire department for the all of those years.

4:03

Um it's been my pleasure to do so and a great honor.

4:06

I'm very thankful for that opportunity to come in uh as the fire chief after a time that was very challenging for the fire department uh for several years for different different reasons at the time.

4:19

But I did I was going to bring in uh a tin of the chocolate chip cookies, but I ate most of those on the way in.

4:25

So I'll have to get those another time.

4:28

Um but I do want to share just my gratitude, not only for the council, but for the community of Davis.

4:34

Uh to entrust me with that so important job of uh public safety for the whole community is so important.

4:45

There really isn't uh too many jobs like uh the firefighter, where they live together and they um spend a lot of time together.

4:55

They go on the most difficult calls and they go on the most rewarding calls as they help other people.

5:00

And that really has always been my message and the things that I've learned that this is very service-oriented to the community.

5:07

It's not about us, it's about how we serve those in the community, and it's so important.

5:12

And I can tell you with uh great confidence that what we've continued to move forward in the Davis Fire Department will greatly serve this community going forward.

5:22

I have a lot of faith and trust in all the members that we've hired and promoted, and we've trained and we've done a lot uh as you read the list and particularly bringing the new ladder truck.

5:33

I want to thank the council for that.

5:34

That was a very important piece of equipment for the city of Davis for us to continue to do our jobs well in every way, not just the tall ladder, but all the equipment that it comes with and the people that we have that are assigned to it.

5:48

So I'm very proud of that.

5:49

I'm very excited to begin a new life with retirement.

5:53

But again, I want to thank you and thank the fire department um for everything you've done.

6:00

Thank you.

6:11

And now I would invite Paul Swanson, our new fire chief up with his son Evan, who's going to swear him in.

6:27

I, Paul Swanson.

6:28

I, Paul Swanson, do solemnly swear, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

6:37

That I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

6:40

And the Constitution of the State of California.

6:43

And the Constitution of the State of California.

6:45

Against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

6:48

Against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Homelessness██████████████████████████████████34%
Procedural█████████████13%
Public Safety██████████10%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Noise Management███████7%
Procurement Policy██████6%
Mobile Food Vending████4%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Community Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Davis City Council Meeting – February 17, 2026

The Davis City Council convened on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 2:45 PM for a lengthy meeting addressing several high-profile items. The agenda included a ceremonial recognition of outgoing Fire Chief Joseph Tenney and swearing-in of new Chief Paul Swanson, public comments on multiple topics, and three major discussion items: proposed changes to the noise and skateboarding ordinances, the future of the daytime respite center, and a resolution to divest from Elon Musk-controlled companies. The meeting ran late into the evening.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent calendar was approved unanimously with the exception of Item 4B (municipal code amendments), which was pulled for separate discussion.

Ceremonial Presentation

  • Fire Chief Joseph Tenney was honored for 26 years of service to Davis and 38 total in fire service. Highlights included hiring and mentoring over 45 personnel, leading response to major wildfires, and procuring a new ladder truck. He was presented with a proclamation.
  • Paul Swanson was sworn in as the new fire chief by his son Evan.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Numerous residents spoke during general public comment and on specific agenda items.
  • Noise Ordinance (Item 4B): Several speakers urged the council to retain objective decibel limits, arguing that proposed changes to "ordinary and reasonable" standards would weaken enforcement. Speakers cited past sound studies (e.g., pickleball, skytrack) and expressed concern over lack of public process.
  • Skateboarding Prohibition: Multiple commenters opposed expanding the skateboarding ban to all city parks, stating it unfairly targets youth, causes minimal damage, and that the existing skate park is inadequate. They requested delaying the change until park improvements are made.
  • Street Vendor Raid: Several speakers condemned a recent police and health department raid on a street vendor, calling it hypocritical given the city's sanctuary city discussions. They urged amends and a cooperative approach.
  • Respite Center (Item 5): Many residents from the Davis Manor neighborhood called for relocating the center, citing safety issues, broken promises about temporary status, and impacts on quality of life. Others advocated for keeping services, emphasizing the need for low-barrier access. A neighborhood group presented a criteria framework for decision-making.
  • Musk Divestment (Item 6): Supporters argued for ethical investment, citing labor violations and democratic accountability. One speaker raised concerns about emergency services reliance on Starlink.

Discussion Items

  • Item 4B – Municipal Code Amendments (Noise & Skateboarding): Staff explained the intent was to clarify existing rules. After extensive public comment, council voted to:
    • Remove proposed changes to Chapter 24 (noise ordinance) and bring them back as a separate item after further public engagement.
    • Remove Section 27.02.060A (prohibiting skateboarding in all city parks) and also remove the prohibition on skateboarding on hard surfaces (cement or asphalt) when not in use for their primary purpose. The rest of the package was approved.
  • Item 5 – Daytime Respite Center Alternatives: Staff presented a SWOT analysis of four potential sites and operational options. The council subcommittee (Mayor Neville and Vice Mayor Partida) recommended continuing current operations at 530 L Street through June 30, 2026, while developing a transition plan that includes transportation to Forth and Hope shelter in Woodland and a concept note for a new location (likely Fifth Street). Council debated services scope and locations. The motion passed, directing staff to also consult with Yolo County on using 600 A Street.
  • Item 6 – Resolution to End Engagement with Musk-Controlled Companies: The city manager noted Davis has no current holdings in Musk companies but uses Starlink for emergency backup. Council adopted the resolution with an amendment adding an exception for emergency operations. The resolution also encourages CalPERS to divest from Musk stocks. Passed 4-0-1 (Councilmember Dios abstained).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Approved with Item 4B removed.
  • Noise Ordinance: Changes to Chapter 24 were pulled from the package and will return at a future meeting with public engagement.
  • Skateboarding: Section 27.02.060A removed; prohibition on skateboarding on hard courts (cement/asphalt) when not in use removed; rest of code amendments approved.
  • Respite Center: Operations at 530 L Street to continue through June 30, 2026. Staff directed to develop a transition plan with transportation to Forth and Hope and a detailed concept for a Fifth Street location, including neighborhood engagement. County consultation on 600 A Street also requested.
  • Musk Divestment: Resolution adopted (4-0-1) with emergency operations exception.

Note: The street vendor ordinance was removed from the agenda and will be taken up later. The meeting included a brief break and a tense exchange between a council member and a public commenter regarding anti-Semitism.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Tuesday, February 17th meeting of the Davis City Council. I see that all of my colleagues are here at the DIES. And our first item of business is to approve the agenda for this evening. Is there a motion? So moved. And a second? Move by Councilmember Chapman, seconded by Dios. All in favor of approval of the agenda, say aye. Aye. Aye. Any nose? Good. Approval uh agenda is approved unanimously. And just um, for everyone who might be here in the audience, just to be sure you're all aware that one of the items that had previously been scheduled to be heard this evening. The street vendor ordinance is not on this evening's agenda that will be taken up at a later city council meeting. Just so you know, in case you are waiting here for that item. So we're gonna move on next to a ceremonial presentation. We are swearing in our fire chief Paul Swanson. But before we do that, I would like to invite Chief Tenny up to the podium. Where is Chief Tenny? There he is. I did not see you. Chief Tenney is our outgoing fire chief, and I wanted to take a moment just to thank you and read this proclamation while everyone is here. Uh, fire chief Joseph Tenney has devoted 38 years of distinguished and faithful service to the fire service, with 26 of those years proudly serving the city of Davis. Chief Tenney has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public safety, strong leadership, and professional excellence throughout his career. During his tenure, Chief Tenney was responsible for the hiring, mentoring, and promotion of more than 45 personnel, including firefighters, captains, and battalion chiefs, leaving a lasting legacy to the leaders and firefighters he helped develop. Chief Tenney responded to multiple major incidents across California, including the 2020 LNU Lightning Complex fires in Yolo and Solano counties, and the 2021 Caldor Fire. As Fire Chief Chief Tenney led the effort to purchase outfit staff and train for the city's new ladder truck, providing an enhanced level of service and increased emergency response capabilities in the Davis community. Chief Tenney prioritize modernization and innovation within the fire department by upgrading existing systems and implementing new technologies, including a new records management system, tablet-based command software, radio infrastructure improvements, station alerting systems, and automated voice dispatching. Chief Tenney's famous chocolate chip cookies will be greatly missed throughout the fire stations as he turns his time and talents toward enjoying well-earned moments with his wife and favorite people, his grandchildren. Now the therefore be it proclaimed that the City of Davis, that excuse me, the Davis City Council, on behalf of the residents of Davis hereby recognizes Fire Chief Joseph Tenney for 26 years of service to the City of Davis and 38 years of faithful service to the fire service, and congratulates him on his retirement with sincere gratitude for his lasting contributions to the safety and well-being of the community. Thank you. Thank you very much to uh the city council members to all those that have uh supported me and supported the fire department for the all of those years. Um it's been my pleasure to do so and a great honor. I'm very thankful for that opportunity to come in uh as the fire chief after a time that was very challenging for the fire department uh for several years for different different reasons at the time. But I did I was going to bring in uh a tin of the chocolate chip cookies, but I ate most of those on the way in. So I'll have to get those another time. Um but I do want to share just my gratitude, not only for the council, but for the community of Davis. Uh to entrust me with that so important job of uh public safety for the whole community is so important. There really isn't uh too many jobs like uh the firefighter, where they live together and they um spend a lot of time together. They go on the most difficult calls and they go on the most rewarding calls as they help other people. And that really has always been my message and the things that I've learned that this is very service-oriented to the community. It's not about us, it's about how we serve those in the community, and it's so important. And I can tell you with uh great confidence that what we've continued to move forward in the Davis Fire Department will greatly serve this community going forward. I have a lot of faith and trust in all the members that we've hired and promoted, and we've trained and we've done a lot uh as you read the list and particularly bringing the new ladder truck. I want to thank the council for that. That was a very important piece of equipment for the city of Davis for us to continue to do our jobs well in every way, not just the tall ladder, but all the equipment that it comes with and the people that we have that are assigned to it. So I'm very proud of that. I'm very excited to begin a new life with retirement.

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