02/04/2025 City Council Minutes Page 1 of 5
MINUTES OF THE DAVIS CITY COUNCIL
Meeting of February 4, 2025
The City Council of the City of Davis met in regular meeting session beginning at 6:34 p.m. in the Community Chambers, 23 Russell Boulevard, Davis, California. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Bapu Vaitla.
Roll Call: Councilmembers Present: Josh Chapman, Linda Deos, Donna Neville, Glo- ria Partida, Bapu Vaitla
Councilmembers Absent: None
Other Officers Present: City Manager Mike Webb , City Attorney Inder Khalsa, City Clerk Zoe Mirabile
Approval of
Agenda
G. Partida moved, seconded by J. Chapman, to approve the agenda.
Motion passed unanimously.
Ceremonial
Presentation
Proclamation Recognizing February as Black History and Black Futures Month, presented by B. Vaitla.
City Council recessed at 6:38 p.m. and reconvened at 6:40 p.m.
City Manager
Announce-
ments
M. Webb: February Polar Pedal Challenge encourages students to ride bikes in the winter. February 17 —City offices closed in observance of Presidents Day. February 19—Yolo County Day of Remembrance of Ex- ecutive Order 9066, film screening co -sponsored by Human Relations Commission.
City Council
Announce-
ments and Li-
aison Reports
None.
Public Com-
ments
• Alan Miller: Representing Old East Davis Neighborhood Association.
Numerous traffic accidents at 5 th and J Streets, dangerous intersec- tion. Request barriers next to left turn lanes at I, J, and K Streets. • Gerry Howlett, Stories on Stage Davis: Present established and emerging authors and actors , host in -person events. Thank city for grant funds, dedication to the arts is making a difference. • Elaine Roberts-Musser: Consent calendar item Down Payment As- sistance Program Framework Ordinance—oppose. Cost to adminis- ter program and no dedicated funding source. Hope Fiscal Commis- sion takes a hard look at program costs.
02/04/2025 City Council Minutes Page 2 of 5
• Alan Hirsch: Consent calendar item Public Works Design Stand- ards—does not mention bus stops and lack of shade. Bike lanes are inadequate for e-bikes.
• Joel Rapaport, Davis Music Initiative: Thank city for grants to support musicians and music venues. Able to fund musicians at restaurants and bars.
• Mark Huising: City should push the envelope on transportation. Fo- cus efforts on mode shift, encourage biking.
• John and Katherine Keller: Consent calendar item Down Payment Assistance Program Framework Ordinance —Concerns about fund- ing. Need tight program guidelines. Criteria should exclude student eligibility and prioritize young families.
• Connor Gorman: Consent calendar item Community Park restroom replacement—Support. Should also upgrade Central Park restrooms.
Consent Calendar Item Human Relations Commission Film Screen- ing—important educational event to not repeat history.
• Todd Edelman: Consent calendar item Ordinance All Way Stop at 6th & C Streets—new Daylighting law should be applicable at intersec- tion. Should pull item for City engineer to explain decision.
Ryan Chapman, PWET Assistant Director: Working with neighborhood association to address traffic issues. Next steps will be outreach to neigh- borhood about traffic calming options and impacts. Will return to Council with final proposal.
Consent Cal-
endar
Community Park Restroom Replacement, CIP No. ET0025
Approve Resolution No. 25-011 – Authorizing the City Manager to Exe- cute a Contract for Pre-Fabricated Building Manufacturing and Installa- tion with the Public Restroom Company (PRC) for the Community Park Restroom Replacement Project, and Finding the Project Exempt from Review Pursuant to CEQA Regulation Guidelines Section §15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures
Replacement Storage Area Network (SAN) for the Police Department Approve Resolution No. 25 -012 – Authorizing the City Manager to Pur- chase a Replacement Storage Area Network from HPE/Immer1 Tech- nology Group
Public Works Section V Transportation Systems Design Standards Cleanup
Approve Resolution No. 25-013 – Adopting the 2025 Public Works Sec- tion V Transportation Systems Design Standards
Establishing an All Way Stop at the Intersection of 6th and C Streets 02/04/2025 City Council Minutes Page 3 of 5
Introduce Ordinance Designating a New Stop Intersection, Amending Chapter 22 of the Davis Municipal Code, and Making a CEQA Exemption Determination
Second Reading: Ordinance Amending Section 18.05.020 (Definitions) and Adding a New Section 18.05.080 (Down Payment Assistant Pro- gram Framework) to Chapter 18 (Housing) to Establish a Framework for a Down Payment Assistance Program for Income-Eligible Households Adopt Ordinance No. 2672 (Introduced 01/21/2025)
2025-26 City Council Liaison Assignments
Approve modifications to Council assignments for the following 2025-26 liaison appointments:
1. Appoint Linda Deos as the regular liaison to Human Relations Com- mission
2. Appoint Bapu Vaitla as the alternate liaison to Yolo County Housing
Commission Action/Update: Human Relations Commission Co-Sponsor- ing Film Screening in Recognition of Day of Remembrance of Japanese American Incarceration During World War II
Informational
Commission Minutes:
1. Human Relations Commission Meeting of November 21, 2024
2. Planning Commission Meetings of August 28, September 11 and 25, and October 9, 2024
Informational
J. Chapman moved, seconded by D. Neville, to approve the consent cal- endar. Motion passed unanimously.
Preliminary
Discussion
and City
Council Direc-
tion on Initial
Steps of Cre-
ating an Eco-
nomic Devel-
opment Stra-
tegic Plan to
Achieve the
City Council
Goal of “Step-
ping Up Eco-
Economic Development Director Katie Yancey: Overview of current and potential economic development activities and creation of Strategic Plan.
Seek Council feedback on key efforts.
Public comments:
• Tim Keller, Inventopia: Support efforts. Over past 8 years, have incu- bated over 40 companies. More than half of existing businesses in Inventopia are food tech.
• Alan Hirsch: Need to categorize business types, distinguish which will stay and grow in Davis. Should focus on businesses that generate tax revenue. Need a music venue and more high-end restaurants. • Elaine Roberts-Musser: Support moving forward with Economic De- velopment Plan. Downtown needs improved safety and business fa- cades/aesthetics and diversification of business types. Address sales 02/04/2025 City Council Minutes Page 4 of 5
nomic Devel-
opment Activ-
ities”
tax leakage and workforce housing needs . Should include commis- sions and stakeholders.
• Connor Gorman: Support city addressing economic development.
Should have robust community input, including commissions. Sup- port discussion regarding living wages, including workers’ benefits such as medical coverage and paid time off. Consider commercial vacancy tax or commercial rent control.
Councilmembers provided individual comments, including:
• Support vision of aligning community identity with specific goals to generate revenue.
• Support hybrid approach allowing simultaneous implementation of immediate programs while developing a Strategic Plan.
• Support economic gardening —focus on youth, minority and women owned businesses.
• Support Living Wage objective.
• Need more analysis to understand which strategies and approaches will work. What is the deliverable? Cost? Who are key partners? • Engage in regional efforts.
• Local businesses —address barriers. Support permit streamlining.
Address issue of planned development overlays.
• Support Economic Development Plan by end of calendar year. • Determine what deliverables define Davis. Sustainable food/ag/de- sign/buildings and innovation. Attract businesses that focus on sus- tainability.
• Interested in branding/Davis identity.
B. Vaitla moved, seconded by D. Neville, to create the following Council Subcommittees:
1. Business Retention and Expansion and City-Business 2x2 Commit- tee (or Standing Subcommittee) (G. Partida and L. Deos)
2. Business Attraction and Economic Growth (D. Neville and J. Chap- man)
Motion passed unanimously.
M. Webb staff clarification: Process streamlining efforts are universal ir- respective of target se ctors, includes update/modernize and streamline zoning. Business outreach efforts are ongoing. Staff will look into re-es- tablishing City-Business 2x2.
G. Partida moved, seconded by L. Deos, to direct staff to move forward with a hybrid approach to continue working on the creation of an Eco- nomic Development Strategic Plan while simultaneously implementing key proposed programs or activities, with further input and guidance from the two Council Subcommittees. Motion passed unanimously.
02/04/2025 City Council Minutes Page 5 of 5
By consensu s, the newly created Council Subcommittees will discuss and recommend target industry sectors to focus local economic devel- opment efforts.
K. Yancey staff recommendation: Focus on the following programs: per- mit streamlining, Chamber MOU update, business climate improvement activities including business walk and small business preservation , and workforce development efforts included in C ommunity Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan.
Council consensus to move forward with staff recommendation for next steps.
By consensus, Council supports utilizing a “living wage” objective for business and job growth.
AB 1234 Re-
porting
L. Deos: Attended League of California Cities Councilmember Training
G. Partida, D. Neville, L. Deos, and J. Chapman: Attended Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner
Long Range
Calendar
M. Webb: Next meeting February 18. Will work with Mayor to add items to long range calendar.
Public comments: None
Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Zoe Mirabile
City Clerk