08/19/2025 City Council Minutes Page 1 of 7
MINUTES OF THE DAVIS CITY COUNCIL
Meeting of August 19, 2025
The City Council of the City of Davis met in regular meeting session beginning at 6:30 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: Linda Deos, Donna Neville, Gloria Partida, Bapu Vaitla
Councilmembers Absent: Josh Chapman
Other Officers Present: Interim City Manager Kelly Stachowicz, City Attor- ney Inder Khalsa, City Clerk Zoe Mirabile
Approval of
Agenda
L. Deos moved, seconded by D. Neville, to approve the agenda. Motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Deos, Neville, Partida, Vaitla
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chapman
Ceremonial
Presentations
A. Proclamation Recognizing August as Breastfeeding Month, pre- sented by G. Partida
B. Proclamation Recognizing September as National Recovery Month, presented by D. Neville
City Council recessed at 6:35 p.m. and reconvened at 6:42 p.m.
City Manager
Announce-
ments
Interim City Manager Kelly Stachowicz: August 16 —Natalie’s Corner grand opening, will be open 10am-7pm every day during the summer.
August 25—first day of school for DJUSD, reminder to community about bike and pedestrian safety. September 1 —City offices closed in ob- servance of Labor Day. September 12 —commission recruitment dead- line. October 2—surveys due for City’s application to League of A meri- can Bicyclists for continued certification. October 5 —Davis Neighbors Night Out, registration is open to host a neighborhood party. October 11—Tickets on sale for parent/child dance “Boo Bash,” costumes en- couraged.
City Council
Announce-
ments and Li-
aison Reports
D. Neville: Attended Yolo Animal Services JPA Planning Agency, dis- cussing governance model and c onsidering modification to a full JPA model.
Public Com-
ments
• Lois Wolk: Natalie’s Corner Splash Pad is open and enjoyed by resi- dents of all ages. Support efforts by Council, staff, and Natalie Corona 08/19/2025 City Council Minutes Page 2 of 7
Committee. Regular item Unmet Needs for City Trees and Side- walks—oppose concept of privatization of trees and sidewalks. • Dorte Jensen: City press release on Report of Grants for Hate Free Together Arts Initiative. One event was a play about a recall effort in Woodland. Tax payer dollars should not be used for political activities. • Ning Wan: Concerned about political activities of foreign countries. • Alan Miller: Concerned about community tensions.
• Beth Bourne: August 30 event at Davis Library will feature talk about de-transitioning.
• Unnamed individuals: Support safe parking lots for unhoused individ- uals. Need more permanent supportive housing and facility improve- ments at Respite Center.
• Alan Hirsch: Need guardrails on what can be said in a civil society. • Shoshanna Zatz and Barbara Clutter, Heart of Davis: Consent calen- dar item—Response to Grand Jury Report on Homelessness and Up- date on Implementation of Camping Ordinance. City needs to in- crease services for unhoused, additional hours for Respite Center, facility improvements.
• Connor Gorman and Alanna: Consent calendar items —Grand Jury Report and Implementation of Camping Ordinance. Oppose. People should not be penalized for living and sleeping outside. Need afford- able accessible housing and adequate shelter options.
Consent Cal-
endar
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Program of Projects and Subrecip- ient Agreement for Operations and Capital Assistance of Unitrans Approve Resolution No. 25-120 - Approving FTA Program of Projects, and Authorizing the City Manager to Submit an FTA Grant Application, and Execute a Subrecipient Agreement with the University of California- Davis for Operations and Capital Assistance of Unitrans
Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP) Annual Certification for Unitrans and Davis Community Transit
Approve Resolution No. 25-121 - Certifying the PTASP for D avis Com- munity Transit and Unitrans
Caltrans Master Agreement for Receipt of State and Federal Grant Funds for Various Projects and a Program Supplement Agreement for the Cowell Boulevard Improvements Project, CIP No. ET0036 Approve Resolution No. 25-122 - Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Master Agreement Allowing for the Receipt of State and Federal Grant Funds for Various Projects with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and a Supplemental Agreement for Cowell Boulevard Improvements Project, CIP No. ET0036
08/19/2025 City Council Minutes Page 3 of 7
Caltrans Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program Award and Restricted Grant Agreement for the Development of an Active Transpor- tation Plan
Approve Resolution No. 25-123 - Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with the California Department of Transportation (Cal- trans) for the Development of an Active Transportation Plan
Traffic Impact Study Guidelines
Approve Resolution No. 25-124 - Adopting the 2025 Traffic Impact Study Guidelines
Acceptance of Grant Funds from California Highway Patrol, Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program
Approve Resolution No. 25-125 - Accepting California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant and Amending the Fiscal Year 25-26 Budget to Incorporate Funding Received
Professional Services Agreement for Update of the City’s Laboratory In- formation Management Systems (LIMS)
1. Find that due to the need to comply with the new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit requirements for the City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility that became effective August 1, 2025, the City’s LIMS database needs immediate updating to comply with electronic reporting requirements, extensive re-configuration due to the increase in monitoring and reporting requirements by the new NPDES Permit, and to meet full LIMS capability for the day -to-day operation of the City’s Laboratory.
2. Approve Resolution No. 25-126 - Authorizing the City Manager to Ex- ecute a Professional Services Agreement with LABWORKS for Up- dates to the City’s LIMS
Sewer System Management Plan Update
Approve Resolution No. 25-127 - Adopting Updates to the Sewer System Management Plan for the City of Davis
Reimbursement Agreements for Water Main and Storm Drain Pump Sta- tion Improvements at the Bretton Woods Subdivision
Approve Resolution No. 25-128 - Authorizing the City Manager to Exe- cute Reimbursement Agreements with Denova Homes for Water Main and Storm Drain Pump Station Improvements at the Bretton Woods Sub- division
Agreement for Specialized Legal Services Related to Labor Negotia- tions, Payroll, Benefits and Payroll Taxation
Approve Resolution No. 25-129 - Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Best Best & Kreiger for Specialized Legal Services
08/19/2025 City Council Minutes Page 4 of 7
Amendment to Professional Services Agreement for Management of the City’s Investment Portfolio
Approve Resolution No. 25-130 - Authorizing the City Manager to Exe- cute Amendment #2 to the Professional Services Agreement with US Bancorp Asset Management (Previously PFM Asset Management)
Amendment to Professional Services Agreement for Accounting Services Approve Resolution No. 25-131 - Authorizing the City Manager to Exe- cute Amendment #2 with SRYAN Consulting LLC to Extend Contract for Accounting Services
Revised Fiscal Year 2025/26 Authorized Position Listing and Salary Ta- ble Effective August 19, 2025
1. Approve Resolution No. 25-132 - Approving Citywide Salary Table
2. Approve Resolution No. 25-133 - Amending the Authorized Positions Listing for Fiscal Year 2025/26
City Council Meeting Schedule for Legislative Year 2025-2026 Approve Resolution No. 25-134 - Establishing Meeting Dates for L egis- lative Year 2025-2026
Second Reading: Ordinance Amending Article 39.04 “Cross-Connection Control” of Chapter 39, “Water,” of the Davis Municipal Code, Related to Changes in Program Regulations, and Making a Determination of Ex- emption Under CEQA Pursuant to Sections 15061(B)(3) and 15308 Adopt Ordinance No. 2676 (Introduced 07/01/2025)
City Response to 2025 Yolo Grand Jury Report on Homelessness Approve City response to the Yolo County Grand Jury for the report titled Homelessness: Our Local American Tragedy, and direct staff to transmit responses to the Grand Jury
Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026
Authorize Mayor to sign letter of support for the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026
City Manager Purchasing and Approval Authorization During Council Re- cess – Summary of Actions
Informational to receive accounting of actions taken by City Manager with additional approval authority granted via Resolution 25-119 during sum- mer 2025 Council recess.
Update on Implementation of Camping Ordinance
Informational
Commission Minutes:
1. Recreation and Park Commission Meeting of May 21, 2025 08/19/2025 City Council Minutes Page 5 of 7
2. Transportation Commission Meeting of May 12, 2025
Informational
D. Neville moved, seconded by G. Partida, to approve the consent cal- endar. Motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Deos, Neville, Partida, Vaitla
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chapman
City Manager
Appointment
and Employ-
ment Agree-
ment – Daryel
R. Dunston
Human Resources Director Christopher Bensch : Summarized contract provisions in employment agreement.
Public comments:
Beth Bourne, Ning Wan, Alan Miller, Alan Hirsch, Nora Goldman: Wel- come to new City Manager.
D. Neville moved, seconded by G. Partida, to approve Resolution No. 25-135 - Approving the Appointment of and Employment Agreement with City Manager and Authorizing Mayor to Execute Said Agreement. Motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Deos, Neville, Partida, Vaitla
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chapman
City Council recessed at 7:36 and reconvened at 7:42 p.m.
2025 General
Plan Update:
Environmen-
tal Justice
(EJ) Consid-
erations
General Plan
(GP) Commit-
tee Formation
Eric Yurkovich, Raimi + Associates: Overview of state law regarding dis- advantaged communities screening. Sensitive populations + high pollu- tion and/or health burden = disadvantaged community. Two options:
stand-alone EJ element or EJ policies throughout GP.
Professor Jonathan London, UCD Department of Human Ecology/Com- munity and Regional Development : Class project to develop EJ frame- work and policy tracker. Hilde Cabilla-Garcia, Katie Casters, and Eri c:
UCD students: Working to develop suggestions for policy considerations through surveys, focus groups, and research.
Community Development Director Sherri Metzker : GP Committee pro- cess—6 commissions identified for membership, purpose to resolve in- ternal conflicts. Overview of proposed application and appointment pro- cess.
Public comments:
• Alan Hirsch: Sound and visual impacts should be considered in envi- ronmental justice policies. Need to enforce tree requirements. • Benton Buker: Consider environmental impacts in 25 years such as increased heat index, need to provide drinking water for residents. 08/19/2025 City Council Minutes Page 6 of 7
• Beth Bourne: Question why city would coordinate with UC Davis to perform equity work when UCD has lost federal government funding due to its equity policies.
• Alan Miller: General Plan policies need to be implemented. • Ron Glick: The most uncomfortable speech should be the most pro- tected speech.
• Katie Casters: Should consider presenting all options to council, in- stead of having General Plan committee resolve issues.
• Connor Gorman: Support G eneral Plan committee. Consider non- commissioners on committee. Should include environmental justice policies in General Plan even if not legally required. Support remedies to environmental justice impacts such as parks, facilities, and afford- able housing.
L. Deos moved, seconded by D. Neville, to a pprove the proposed Gen- eral Plan committee process; membership to be 2 members from the 6 selected commissions and one additional member from one of the 6 commissions. Motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Deos, Neville, Partida, Vaitla
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chapman
Environmental Justice topics for Council feedback:
1. Critical EJ issues to address
2. Comments on draft disadvantaged communities screening methodol- ogy or maps
Councilmember feedback included:
• GP must be clear to average person, easy to use, organized logically, accessible.
• Integrate EJ into General Plan, not stand alone element. • Consider both stand alone and integrated EJ.
• May need to reconsider priorities of EJ every few years. Issues that most affect health and well-being should be prioritized. • Request information on proposed policies form other jurisdictions that address targeted impacts of hazards in designated areas.
City Council recessed at 9:01 p.m. and reconvened at 9:09 p.m.
Unmet
Maintenance
Needs for
City Trees
and Side-
walks: Short-
Assistant City Manager Stan Gryczko : Overview of existing programs and services for city trees and sidewalks. Summarized short term pro- grammatic changes: City Trees: prioritization of new inventory, reduction of service request -based City tree work , and m odification of proactive City tree pruning work; Sidewalks: creation of a sidewalk inspection pro- gram. Long term options will involve significant adjustments.
08/19/2025 City Council Minutes Page 7 of 7
Term Pro-
gram Adjust-
ments and
Review of
Long-Term
Changes for
Council Dis-
cussion
Public comments:
• Alan Hirsch: Should seek UC Davis resources to mitigate infrastruc- ture problems. Prioritize tree work and tree replacement s. Staff should collaborate with community experts and conduct more public engagement.
• Greg McPherson: S an Francisco adopted a ballot measure to in- crease funding for tree program three-fold to allow city to maintain trees. Should consider increasing revenue.
• Ann Daniel, Don Shor, Anya McCann, Tree Davis Board: City part- nership with Tree Davis is critical. Should ensure no net loss of tree canopy. Support updated tree inventory to ensure equitable distribu- tion of trees across all neighborhoods. Need additional funding to re- place trees that are aging out or unsuitable.
• Yael Fran co, Tree Davis : Important to have highest professional standards for tree pruning.
• Alan Miller: Request stump at 204 J Street be removed and a replace- ment tree planted. Support Tree Davis activities.
• William Shoen: Support Urban Forest Management Plan. Need long term plan for planting aligned with long term vision. Sup port city and Tree Davis working together.
• Connor Gorman: Issues of equity and accessibility. Sidewalk mainte- nance is more important than road maintenance. Topics should be discussed by commissions.
Councilmember feedback included:
• Trees: Formalize program for homeowners to adopt tree s, return to Council with 1) information on new developments and tree owner- ship/potential Community Facilities Districts, 2) revenue measure op- tions, and 3) update to fees and penalties.
• Sidewalks—Return to Council with ordinance to be consistent with state law and authorize code enforcement, provide options for side- walk inspection program.
• More information on budgetary impacts.
AB 1234 Re-
porting
None
Long Range
Calendar
K. Stachowicz: Staff will work with Mayor to rearrange items between 3 September meetings, move Homelessness Ecosystem from 9/2 to 9/16.
Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m. in memory of Milly Bronstein.
Zoe Mirabile
City Clerk