Davis City Council Meeting: May 5, 2026 – Willowgrove Project Placed on November Ballot
Davis City Council Meeting: May 5, 2026
The Davis City Council met on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Community Chambers. The meeting began with ceremonial proclamations, followed by public comments, approval of the consent calendar, and a public hearing on the Willowgrove Project. The council unanimously certified the project's Environmental Impact Report (EIR), approved all related entitlements, and voted to place the project on the November 3, 2026 general municipal ballot.
Ceremonial Proclamations
- National Public Works Week (May 17–23, 2026): Councilmember Chapman recognized the contributions of Public Works personnel. Deputy Director Adrian Henning and Senior Civil Engineer Melody Eldridge accepted on behalf of staff.
- Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Councilmember Partida proclaimed May 2026 as AANHPI Heritage Month. The proclamation was accepted by Ellen Wade of APAPA, who thanked the council and highlighted the 2026 theme "Power and Unity."
- Jewish American Heritage Month: Councilmember Deos proclaimed May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Month. Ted Lasher of Congregation Bet Haverim accepted, noting the city's past support against antisemitism.
- May is Bike Month: Councilmember Vaitla proclaimed May 2026 as Bike Month. Active Transportation Coordinator Corey Frost presented a sign marking Eighth Street as the first bike lane in the U.S. (1967) and reported over 500 participants at the Lupaloza event.
- National Mental Health Awareness Month: Mayor Neville proclaimed May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month. Sarah Gavin (Communicare Ole), Martha Gilmore (Davis Center for Psychotherapy), and David Pinto (NAMI Yolo) spoke about reducing stigma and the importance of community support. Gavin noted that Communicare Ole provided over 60,000 behavioral health visits in Yolo County in the past year.
- 50th Anniversary of Village Homes: Councilmember Vaitla recognized the 50th anniversary of Village Homes, a pioneering sustainable neighborhood. Founder Judy Corbett and UC Davis Design Museum Director Tim McNeil accepted the proclamation.
Public Comments
- On Proclamations: Several residents spoke in support of Jewish American Heritage Month, with one resident (Alan Hirsch) praising Davis as a pluralistic community that addresses antisemitism effectively. Other comments addressed water quality concerns (black mold at an apartment complex), housing needs, and skepticism about the Willowgrove project.
- On Antisemitism and Extremism: Dan Ovadia and Alan Miller criticized the council for what they perceived as insufficient action against antisemitic rhetoric and protests. They referenced a May 1 rally by Yolo Democratic Socialists of America that included groups they labeled as extremist. Speaker Alan Miller verbally confronted the council, crumpling proclamation flyers. Another resident expressed fear for personal safety.
- On Willowgrove Project (majority of public comment): The council heard from approximately 30 speakers, nearly all in strong support of the project. Supporters included residents, students (fifth graders advocating for softball fields), parents of children with developmental disabilities, representatives from Habitat for Humanity, the Davis Storm Girls Basketball program, school board member Hiram Jackson, and business owners. Key supporting themes: need for housing, affordable units, supportive housing for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD), athletic facilities (lighted softball fields, gym), and the project's readiness (tentative map already filed). One speaker (Marjorie Longo, Wild Horse Neighborhood Association) asked the council to accept donated land for an agricultural buffer, require 40% single-story homes along the western edge, and not further densify the project. A farmer (Amher Gill) raised concerns about maintenance of Channel A. No speakers opposed the project outright.
Discussion Item: Willowgrove Project Public Hearing
- Staff Presentation: Senior Planner Eric Lee presented the project overview, detailing the 232‑acre site north of East Covell Boulevard and Alhambra Drive, with 1,250 residential units (250 affordable apartments, 288 townhomes/condos, 215 medium‑density lots, about 200 low‑density lots). The project includes 73 acres of open space, 20.8 miles of bike/pedestrian trails, a community park with lighted softball fields and a gymnasium, and a 20‑unit commitment for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (up from 10). A grade‑separated crossing at Harper Junior High was not recommended by staff due to design, cost, and operational challenges—a signalized at‑grade crossing is proposed instead. City Manager Daryel Dunston clarified that the $3.5 million developer contribution is for public safety needs (e.g., Station 31 upgrades), not a new fire station.
- EIR Consultant (Nick Papani): Presented the CEQA process: a Notice of Preparation (July 12–August 12, 2024), scoping meeting, draft EIR (54‑day review, ended December 10, 2025), and final EIR (released March 16, 2026). The EIR identified significant unavoidable impacts in aesthetics, agriculture, air quality (criteria pollutants), construction noise, population/housing, VMT, transit, and wastewater treatment. Alternatives were analyzed, including lower density and reduced footprint options. Staff recommended adoption of a Statement of Overriding Considerations and certification of the EIR.
- Applicant Presentation: James Coppert and Bree Mobius (lead land use counsel) presented the project pillars: designed for Davis, infrastructure for inclusion, and ready now. Key commitments: 250 affordable units (built in one phase without city loans), $3.5 million for public safety, $1.8 million for affordable homeownership (down payment assistance), $1.5 million for Channel A Basin, 374 acres of off‑site agricultural preservation, and a Community Facilities District (CFD) providing an additional $5.2 million in revenue to the city. The project has a filed tentative map (unprecedented for a pre‑ballot project) and anticipates delivering homes by 2028.
- Council Deliberation: All council members expressed strong support. Vice Mayor Partida and Councilmember Chapman, who served on the subcommittee that negotiated the development agreement, praised the project's responsiveness to community input. Councilmembers highlighted the affordable housing commitment, IDD units, athletic equity (lighted softball fields), the gym as a resilience hub, and the binding language in the development agreement. Councilmember Deos noted the project's accountability measures. Mayor Neville praised the tentative map and IDD housing as showing extraordinary commitment.
Key Outcomes
- Certification of the Final EIR – Unanimously approved (5‑0), including adoption of CEQA Findings of Fact, Statement of Overriding Considerations, and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
- General Plan Amendment and Baseline Project Features – Unanimously approved (5‑0), setting land use designations for the 232 acres and establishing baseline features (e.g., 250 affordable units, 20 IDD units, no development north of Channel A, 374 acres off‑site ag preservation).
- Pre‑zoning and Preliminary Planned Development – Ordinance introduced (5‑0) to pre‑zone the site as Preliminary Planned Development #02‑23 upon annexation.
- Development Agreement Ordinance – Ordinance introduced (5‑0) approving the development agreement with all commitments (parks, fees, affordable housing schedule, CFD, etc.).
- Vesting Tentative Subdivision Maps, Affordable Housing Plan, and Final Planned Development – Resolutions approved (5‑0), including approval of the affordable housing plan (250 deed‑restricted units) and final design guidelines.
- Ballot Measure Resolution – Unanimously approved (5‑0) ordering the submission of a measure to voters at the November 3, 2026 general municipal election to approve the land use designation change and baseline project features.
Additional Action: The council scheduled a closed session for June 2, 2026, starting at 5:00 PM, to conduct the city manager’s annual performance evaluation and a mid‑year review (coming up on eight months). The meeting adjourned in honor of Robin Tuta.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Tuesday, May 5th regular meeting of the Davis City Council. Welcome everyone. I note for the record that all of my colleagues are here in chambers, and our first item of business is to approve our agenda for this evening. So motion to approve. It was a tie, so I'm going to call it to Councilmember Chapman for the motion to approve, and the second to Councilmember Dios. All in favor of approval of the agenda say aye. Aye. Any no's or abstentions? Hearing none, the agenda is approved unanimously. Excellent. So we're going to now turn to a series of some ceremonial proclamations where we recognize some community groups. And each of us in on council here will read the proclamation, and then you have the opportunity to come up and make a few uh few words of comment, and then we'll have a short opportunity for uh photos at the end of that. Um I understand there may be some here who wish to make a public comment regarding a proclamation. Because it's a ceremonial item and not an item of business. We don't take public comment during that part of the meeting, but you are free to offer your comments during the general public comment period that will follow immediately after the proclamations. So with that, we are going to turn to Councilmember Chapman for national recognizing National Public Works Week. Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to invite up to the podium Adrian Henning, the City of Davis Public Works Direct Deputy Director, and Melody Eldridge, Senior Civil Engineer. And this proclamation is for declaring May 17th through May 23rd, 2026 as National Public Works Week. The services provided by Public Works personnel to the Davis community spans streets, transportation, wastewater, storm drainage, water systems, facilities, urban forestry, parks, infrastructure, and essential administrative, environmental, engineering, regulatory, and fleet maintenance functions. These services are woven into residents' dailies daily lives, supporting safety, reliability, and comfort. The 2026 National Theme for Public Works Week, rooted in service, powered by community, highlights the commitment of staff whose daily operations, long-term planning, and delivery of critical critical infrastructure enhance mobility, sustainability, and overall quality of life. Public works teams also play a vital role in emergency response and recovery, restoring access, repairing damaged systems, and supporting police, fire, and EMS during incidents affecting public safety. They maintain critical assets such as bike paths, streets, utilities, street lights, and signals. The effectiveness of this work depends on public understanding, trust, and appreciation, and continued community support ensures long-term success. Now, therefore, we, the Davis City Council, on behalf of the citizens of Davis to hereby proclaim May 17th through May 23rd, 2026 as National Public Works Week in the City of Davis, and urge all citizens and civic organizations to acquaint themselves with the issues involved in maintaining, operating, and improving our public works facilities and to recognize the contributions which public works personnel make every day to our health, safety, comfort, and quality of life. Thank you. Thank you so much, Councilmember Chapman. And thank you, Council, for as you do every May shining a spotlight on a dedicated group of professionals that mostly work behind the scenes to ensure a smooth quality of life in Davis. We appreciate it. And uh just thank you for acknowledging that work. Great, thank you. And next we're gonna turn to Councilmember Partita to recognize May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Great. And I'm going to invite up Ellen Wade. And uh this is a proclamation recognizing the month of May as Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is recognized at both the national and state levels as a time to honor the profound contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history and development of the United States. The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community represents a richly diverse population encompassing more than 45 distinct ethnic groups and over 100 language dialects. The theme for 2026 is Power and Unity, strengthening communities together, highlighting the importance of leveraging collective power, honoring contributions, building bridges, and inspiring younger generations to foster resilience, innovation, leadership, participation, ownership, and belonging with AANHPI communities. The local Davis chapter of APAPA, Asian Pacific American Public Affairs, established in 2018, focuses on serving communities and advancing leadership and civic engagement. Now, therefore, we, the Davis City Council, on behalf of the citizens of Davis do hereby proclaim May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the City of Davis. In doing so, the City of Davis will recognize and observe this month by calling upon the Davis community to uplift and show ongoing support to persons of Asian Heritage, Native Hawaiian Heritage or Pacific Island Heritage now and in the future, and to encourage institutions and organizations to recognize the month with programs and activities. Thank you, Councilmember Gloria. Thank you very much, Council Aaron and I for my papa. We're very happy and grateful to have this opportunity to accept this proclamation. We will make sure we disseminate this information widely in our community. And also, by the way, you can tell our group is very diverse. And we especially like the this year's theme of empowering unity and the strengthening community and the inspiring the younger generation of leaders, which aligns very well with the Papa mission of engaging inspire and empower not just the uh API community, but the next generation leaders uh especially in Davis, the the student community. Uh mayor Ruth uh remind me to thank you for the internship programs that you supported in the past, and we will be sure to contact you for and thank you for uh your future support. Henry Hobbes, a couple words.
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