01/16/2024 City Council Minutes Page 1 of 6
MINUTES OF THE DAVIS CITY COUNCIL
Meeting of January 16, 2024
The City Council of the City of Davis met in regular meeting session beginning at 6:32 p.m. in the Community Chambers, 23 Russell Boulevard, Davis, California. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Josh Chapman.
Roll Call: Councilmembers Present: Donna Neville, Gloria Partida, Bapu Vaitla, Josh Chapman
Councilmembers Absent: Will Arnold
Other Officers Present: City Manager Michael Webb, City Attorney Inder Khalsa, City Clerk Zoe Mirabile
Approval of
Agenda
B. Vaitla moved, seconded by D. Neville, to approve the agenda. Motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Neville, Partida, Vaitla, Chapman
NOES: None
ABSENT: Arnold
City Manager
Announce-
ments
City Manager Mike Webb: January 24—Biennial Point in Time Count will occur, census of people experiencing homelessness.
City Council
Announce-
ments and Li-
aison Reports
J. Chapman: Martin Luther King, Jr Celebration occurred yesterday.
Public Com-
ments
• Amir Cole, Rachel Darling, Gabriel Gazinski, Elizabeth, Sophie, Owen Krause, Justin Weiner, Elly, Kestrel, Ary, Dan Vadia, Amir, Harriet Gadisman, Shula Glazerman, Rob Eagle , Shirley Rachel, Alissa, Arnon, Alan Miller, Michael Levy, Davis Segel and unnamed individuals: Increase in antisemitism since the Hamas/Israeli conflict began and the City Council’s resolution calling for peace in Israel and Gaza. Council resolution contained inaccuracies. Jewish and Israeli communities feel alone, excluded, ostracized, and unwelcome. The Council should take a stand against antisemitism and send a mes- sage that the community stands against hate.
• Hiram Jackson, DJUSD Board: Support Measure N school parcel tax on the March ballot. Programs to be funded include library, perform- ing arts, counselors, nurses.
• Connor Gorman: All views should be discussed and given a chance in order to cause change. Need to think about economic justice.
01/16/2024 City Council Minutes Page 2 of 6
B. Vaitla: Council Subcommittee is initiating conversations with H ate Free Together and Human Relations Commission regarding antisemi- tism and ways to combat.
Consent Cal-
endar
Amendment to Agreement Relating to Fixed Route Transit and Support Services
Approve Resolution No. 24-007 - Authorizing the City Manager to Exe- cute Amendment 1 to the Agreement with UC Davis Relating to Fixed Route Transit and Support Services
Police Patrol Car Mobile Device Computer (MDC) Replacement Approve Resolution No. 24-008 - Authorizing the City Manager to Pur- chase 15 Replacement Mobile Device Computer (MDC) for the Police Patrol Cars from CDW-Government
D. Neville moved, seconded by G. Partida, to approve consent calendar.
Motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Neville, Partida, Vaitla, Chapman
NOES: None
ABSENT: Arnold
Public Hear-
ing:
Wastewater
Utility Fees
and Changes
to Davis Mu-
nicipal Code
Related to
Wastewater
Regulations
and Utility
Fees
Public Works Utilities & Operations Director Stan Gryczko: Proposed fee restructured based on rate study, reallocate costs between customer classes to have a higher fixed component. Last increase in revenue in 2014, cost reallocation in 2017 without increase in revenue. Expendi- tures are now outpacing revenue. Up coming capital improvement pro- jects are a large driver of costs. City currently has a Water Assistance Program of $10 monthly credit on overall city utility bill.
Mayor Chapman opened the public hearing.
• Donna Lemoncello: Proposed rates are not reflected of proportional share of wastewater treatment. Should divide fairly.
• Matt Williams: Public noticing was not sufficient , c ommission pro- cess was not followed. Should postpone.
• Alan Miller and Murray Morgan: Oppose proposed rates. • Elaine Roberts -Musser: Wa ter rates should not be conflated with wastewater rates. Pollutants in water mean higher costs to treat. Pro- posed r ate adjustment ensures everyone is paying fair share for treatment of wastewater.
• Alan Hirsch: Should allow public commenters to show slides. • Connor Gorman: Rates should be as equitable as possible and based on amount used per person, not per household.
Mayor Chapman closed the public hearing.
01/16/2024 City Council Minutes Page 3 of 6
S. Gryczko: City received 16 protests. This does not meet the majority protest threshold.
G. Partida moved, seconded by B. Vaitla, as follows:
1. Determine there is no majority protest.
2. Introduce Ordinance Amending the Title of Chapter 33, “Sewers and Sewage Disposal,” and Article 33.04.050 “Schedule of Charges” of Chapter 33, “Sewers and Sewage Disposal,” of the Davis Municipal Code, Related to Wastewater Regulations and Utility Rates, and Making a Determination of Exemption Under CEQA Pursuant to Sec- tions 15061(b)(3), 15378(a) and 15378(b)(4)
3. Approve Resolution No. 24-009 - Enacting Modification to City of Da- vis Customer Rates for Wastewater Service Fees Effective January 16, 2024 to Implement Rate Adjustment on February 1, 2024 Motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Neville, Partida, Vaitla, Chapman
NOES: None
ABSENT: Arnold
City Council recessed at 8:49 p.m. and reconvened at 8:59 p.m.
Public Hear-
ing: Surveil-
lance Tech-
nology – Re-
placement
Body-Worn
Cameras/In-
car Cameras
Police Chief Darren Pytel: Police Department currently uses body-worn and in-car cameras, request is to purchase replacement cameras for existing equipment that has reached end -of-life. The surveillance tech- nology report was discussed by the Police Accountability Commission, and the purchase was unanimously approved for recommendation.
Mayor Chapman opened the public hearing.
• Connor Gorman: Some benefits to these cameras. Technology use policy should be routinely reviewed.
Mayor Chapman closed the public hearing.
B. Vaitla moved, seconded by G. Partida, as follows:
1. Consider the purchase/replacement of body -worn cameras (BWC) and in-car cameras (ICC).
2. Make a determination that the continued use of BWC/ICC has been balanced with the need to investigate and prevent crimes; protect crime victims and society from those who commit crimes; protect civil rights and civil liberties, including privacy and free expression; and the costs to the City.
3. Approve the purchase of BWC/ICC and associated software/cloud - based storage.
4. Re-adopt the proposed Surveillance Use Polic ies for the continued use of BWC/ICC.
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Motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Neville, Partida, Vaitla, Chapman
NOES: None
ABSENT: Arnold
Prioritization
for Near-term
Urban Forest
Management
Plan (UFMP)
Next Steps
Urban Forestry Manager Charles Murphy : UFMP includes state of the urban forest, benchmarks, operations and funding, tree species selec- tion, resources, implementation plan. Staff recommendations for near- term priorities include:
a) Updating and creation of policies, procedures, specifications and standards related to tree care, maintenance, management and planting.
b) Continuing the previous efforts undertaken to update the City’s ordinance related to Trees (Chapter 37 of the Municipal Code). c) Conducting an updated comprehensive City tree inventory. d) Downtown tree trimming, planting, planting inventory, or specific tree care and maintenance overseen by the Urban Forestry pro- gram.
Public comments:
• Alan Hirsch: Support policies and specifications, tree inventory. Sup- port downtown tree trimming, but need vision and tree plan for down- town.
• Elaine Roberts-Musser: Support implementation, especially updat- ing Tree Ordinance. Current ordinances are confusing, outdated, and not helpful. Understand not able to afford to do all tasks. Support staff recommendations.
• Alan Miller: Need to resolve conflict between trees and solar panels.
City should prioritize keeping trees above solar power.
C. Murphy: Downtown plan will follow tree inventory of downtown. Con- sidering different options.
Update on
Leaf Blower/
Small Off-
Road Engine
Use
Deputy Director Adrienne Heinig : Summarized background, surveys to community and commercial users, other jurisdictions with full or partial bans, commission discussion. AB1346 requires that small off -road en- gines for sale in C alifornia manufactured after January 2024 be zero - emission. Staff conducted testing of battery powered devices for equip- ment used by parks, streets and urban forestry, wastewater, water.
Overview of benefits and challenges.
Current status: Ongoing testing, staff communicating with manufactur- ers where possible, Central Park designated all electric maintenance, staff evaluating tasks to reduce use of gas powered where possible, on- going work to address charging infrastructure ne eds, new landscape 01/16/2024 City Council Minutes Page 5 of 6
maintenance contracts included considerations for climate action devel- opment. Staff recommendation is to allow time for testing and deploy- ment in the field, continue to replace existing gas powered equipment where feasible, add a second test site for all electric maintenance, con- duct feasibility assessment of larger park, keep track of technology im- provements.
Public comments:
• Thomas Schmidt: Support work to get leaf blowers under control.
Many cities have already banned, negatively impact air quality and create noise pollution.
• Alan Miller, Arthur Nolva, Alan Hirsch, and Anna Soyviyetsky: Op- pose leaf blower use. Should consider full ban on gas powered en- gines.
• Connor Gorman: Need to figure out best way to transition away from use. Should incentivize electric leaf blowers, ban gas powered leaf blowers.
• Todd Edelman: Support city efforts to phase out gas powered equip- ment. Larger issue is trees. Leaves on street are dangerous for bi- cyclists.
B. Vaitla moved, seconded by G. Partida, as follows:
1. Direct staff to develop a transition plan to all electric equipment, ar- riving at a ban on gas powered SOREs (Small Off-Road Engines).
2. In the interim, explore short term efforts to reduce use of gas pow- ered SOREs in city operations.
3. City Council Subcommittee on C limate Action and Adaptation Plan implementation can serve as a resource to staff.
Motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Neville, Partida, Vaitla, Chapman
NOES: None
ABSENT: Arnold
AB 1234 Re-
porting
None
Long Range
Calendar
M. Webb: Will confer with staff to develop a schedule to return to Council with roadmap for electrification of equipment. Council consensus.
M. Webb: During utility discussion, Councilmembers expressed interest in options for wastewater rate subsidies for low income. Council consen- sus.
01/16/2024 City Council Minutes Page 6 of 6
D. Neville: Council previously discussed drafting a communication re- garding the conflict between climate action goals and state transporta- tion projects/CEQA process, to express the need for a coordinated, co- hesive approach at state level.
M. Webb: Suggest letter be addressed by Council Legislative Sub- committee of D. Neville & W. Arnold. Work with staff to develop rec- ommendations, including who to send letter to.
Council consensus.
G. Partida: Council policy on resolutions v ersus statements for foreign matters. Council consensus.
Public comments:
• Alan Hirsch: Council has not asked community leaders about how they want commissions to function.
• Alan Miller: Support developing a policy on transportation on I-80 and Council process on national/international issues.
Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 10:44 p.m.
Zoe Mirabile
City Clerk