Davis City Council Meeting – June 2, 2026: Budget Adoption, Surveillance Renewal, and Hybrid Meeting Policy

On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., the Davis City Council met in the Community Chambers. The meeting included ceremonial proclamations, a consent calendar, a public hearing on vacant positions, adoption of the FY 2026/27 mid-cycle budget, renewal of surveillance technology and military equipment policies, and adoption of a hybrid meeting disruption policy. The meeting lasted until approximately 10:30 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• H Street Temporary Re-Paving Project, CIP No. ET8250: Approved Resolution awarding contract to McGuire & Hester, finding the project exempt from CEQA.
• First Amendment to Use and License Agreement – Davis Farmers’ Market: Approved Resolution authorizing a five-year extension and fee increase for the Davis Farmers’ Market Alliance to operate in Central Park.
• Grant Applications for Agricultural Conservation Easements (Bensen Farm and Gill Orchard #3): Approved Resolutions authorizing grant applications to the California Department of Conservation’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, with $120,000 in matching/monitoring funds each. Councilmember Partida highlighted these as positive uses of Measure O open space funds. The consent calendar was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• General Public Comment (before agenda items):
  • Zachariah Okenda announced a Housing for All Davis forum on June 11, 2026, at the Veterans Memorial Theater (6–9 p.m.) addressing unhoused issues.
  • Dorothy Jensen questioned why the city had not yet proclaimed July 4th for the nation’s 250th birthday and why patriotic crosswalk painting was not authorized while LGBTQ+ crosswalks were allowed.
  • Several speakers opposed the renewal of surveillance technology and military equipment, citing privacy, ICE data sharing, and lack of effectiveness. One speaker noted that police militarization does not reduce violent crime, referencing a study of 9,000 agencies. Another speaker provided detailed concerns about ALPRs, Cellebrite, and drones, arguing they harm marginalized communities. A speaker representing Students Demand Action thanked the council for the gun violence awareness proclamation.
  • Beth Bourne made lengthy, controversial comments opposing LGBTQ+ pride recognition, claiming that the city promotes harmful procedures for minors. The mayor reminded the audience to refrain from applause or disapproval.
  • A speaker from the Davis Phoenix Coalition highlighted the YOLO Rainbow Families support group for parents of LGBTQ+ children, emphasizing the importance of community support.
  • Nung Wan commented on robots not having legal personhood and alleged misuse of CCP law codes in mock trials.

Discussion Items

Item 5: Public Hearing on Local Public Employees Vacant Positions (AB 2561)

• HR Director Christopher Bensch presented the second annual report. Citywide vacancy rates averaged 8.4% in 2025 (high 10.3%, low 7%) and 8.2% through April 2026. No positions were vacant over a year without active recruitment. Turnover dropped from 8.2% in 2024 to 6.6% in 2025, largely due to improved retention in the Davis Police Officer Association. No bargaining unit representatives presented. Councilmember Vaitla praised the 20% drop in turnover, attributing it to recent compensation increases. The staff recommendation to receive the report was approved unanimously.

Item 6: Fiscal Year 2026/27 Mid-Cycle Budget Adoption and Appropriations Limit

• Finance Director Alberto Preciado presented the all-fund summary (revised budget $258.6 million) and general fund summary (ending fund balance $13.4 million, 13.7% reserve). The long-term forecast showed improvement but still below the 15% reserve policy. Sales tax per capita ranks in the 23rd percentile among similarly sized California cities; reaching the median would add $6.7 million annually. Councilmember Chapman requested analysis of potential revenue from approved housing developments. Public comment: Zachariah Okenda suggested developing a revenue-to-expenditure index; Dan Carson urged delaying final action until the Fiscal Commission could review the forecast and assumptions. The council approved Resolution adopting the City Operating and Capital Budget, the Redevelopment Successor Agency Budget, and Resolution establishing the FY 2026/27 Appropriations Limit ($143.8 million, with subject appropriations at $83.5 million or 58.1% of the limit). Additionally, the council dissolved the short-term budget ad hoc subcommittee and formed a new ad hoc subcommittee on long-range revenue generation, consisting of Councilmembers Vaitla and Neville.

Item 7: Surveillance Technology Annual Renewals and Military Equipment Reauthorization

• Police Chief Todd Henry presented 20 surveillance technologies (including Accurint, body cameras, Cellebrite, ALPRs, drones) and a list of military equipment (armored rescue vehicle, chemical agents, kinetic munitions, etc.). For 2025, Cellebrite was used on 44 devices with warrants and 11 with consent; ALPRs were searched 458 times; drones used 28 times. Two policy violations for late activation of body cameras were reported and remedied. Military equipment items were not used in 2025. The department requested addition of a DJI Neo drone and replacement of aging rifles. Public comment overwhelmingly opposed renewal, citing risks of data sharing with ICE, lack of transparency, and studies showing no crime reduction. Councilmembers expressed trust in Chief Henry and the police department but acknowledged concerns about third-party data handling. Chief Henry stated the city does not use Flock cameras and that ALPR data is held by Motorola with a one-year retention (considering reduction to 90 days). The council approved the continued use of all surveillance technologies and re-adopted the military equipment use policy unanimously.

Item 8: Implementation of SB 707 – Hybrid City Council Meetings and Technology Disruption Policy

• City Clerk Zoe Mirabile explained that SB 707 requires hybrid meetings with real-time remote public participation starting July 1, 2026. A trial run will occur at the next meeting (June 16). She presented a technology disruption policy: if the two-way platform fails, the council must pause for up to one hour for good-faith efforts to restore service; if unsuccessful, the council may continue with time-sensitive items or adjourn. The policy was adopted unanimously.

Item 9: AB 1234 Reporting and Long Range Calendar

• No meetings attended at city expense were reported. City Manager Daryel Dunston proposed additions for June 16: respite center MOU (as regular item), ERP contract (consent), public hearing on downtown paid parking lots, and long-range fiscal forecast presentation. For July 7: general plan update. Council also discussed scheduling a closed session on June 15 to review the city attorney’s performance. The long-range calendar updates were noted.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
• Item 5 (Vacant Positions): Approved staff recommendation to receive the report.
• Item 6 (Budget): Approved resolutions for FY 2026/27 Operating and Capital Budget, Redevelopment Successor Agency Budget, and Appropriations Limit. Dissolved short-term ad hoc budget subcommittee; formed long-range revenue subcommittee (Councilmembers Vaitla and Neville).
• Item 7 (Surveillance & Military Equipment): Approved continued use of all 20 surveillance technologies and re-adopted the military equipment use policy via ordinance, with findings per Government Code Section 7070 et seq.
• Item 8 (Hybrid Meetings): Adopted the Technology Disruption Policy for hybrid meetings.
• Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., with a trial run of hybrid participation.