12/16/2025 City Council Minutes Page 1 of 5
MINUTES OF THE DAVIS CITY COUNCIL
Meeting of December 16, 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 Daryel Dunston, City Attorney Inder Khalsa, City Clerk Zoe Mirabile
Approval of
Agenda
L. Deos moved, seconded by J. Chapman, to approve the agenda.
Motion passed unanimously.
Ceremonial
Presentation
Proclamation in Honor of Robert Schulz for Over 33 Years of Service to the City of Davis, presented by B. Vaitla.
City Council recessed at 6:41 p.m. and reconvened at 6:45 p.m.
City Manager
Announce-
ments
D. Dunston: December 24 -January 1—City offices will be closed to the public; emergency services remain unaffected.
City Council
Announce-
ments and Li-
aison Reports
None
Public Com-
ments
• Alan Hirsch, Mayann, Amir Kol, Dan Obaya, Harriet Gadisman: Op- pose MAPA report and Council consideration of it as indicated on long range as future consent calendar item. Controversial item, should reject report.
• Ning Wan: Support free speech.
• Matt Williams: To encourage affordable housing, should consider free structures based on square feet instead of lot.
• Craig Musberger, Everywhere Science, nonprofit: Thank city for grant from arts & cultural affairs fund. Will support film making for all ages, February 28 film festival is free and open to the public. • Alan Miller: Jewish hate incidents and violent rhetoric increasing.
Should condemn incidents.
• Connor Gorman: Consent calendar item Grant Utility Easement for South Davis Library—support, services benefit community. 12/16/2025 City Council Minutes Page 2 of 5
Consent Cal-
endar
1. Professional Services Agreement for Audit and Compliance Review Ser- vices for Cannabis Businesses
Approve Resolution No. 25-172 - Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into an Agreement with Hinderliter, de Llamas and Associates (HdL Companies), for Financial Audit and Compliance Review for Cannabis Businesses Operating in the City
On Call Regulatory Compliance and Environmental Permitting Profes- sional Services Agreement Task Order 3 for Design of Stormwater Core Area Pond Improvements
Approve Resolution No. 25-173 - Authorizing the City Manager to Exe- cute Task Order 3 Under the On Call Regulatory Compliance and Envi- ronmental Permitting Professional Services Agreement with West Yost Associates for the Design of the Core Area Pond Improvements
Grant of Public Utility Easement for South Davis Library Approve Resolution No. 25-174 - Approving Grant of Public Utility Ease- ment for South Davis Library
Approval to Continue with Construction Contract with Eaton Drilling for Emergency Cleaning and Rehabilitation of Potable Water Well #33 Reaffirm that due to the necessity of ensuring potable wat er wells are available for use, there is not time to allow the utilization of public bidding, and the emergency cleaning and rehabilitation of potable water Well #33 can continue with Eaton Drilling
Commission Minutes:
1. Planning Commission Meeting of September 24, 2025
2. Transportation Commission Meeting of November 10, 2025 Informational
B. Vaitla moved, seconded by G. Partida, to approved the consent cal- endar as amended to remove the following item and reschedule to Jan- uary 6, 2026: On Call Transportation Planning and Engineering Services Agreement for Transportation Development Impact Fee Program Nexus Study. Motion passed unanimously.
Public Hear-
ing: On-Bill
Financing
Loan Agree-
ment and En-
ergy Conser-
vation Agree-
ment for City
Facility LED
Assistant City Manager Stan Gryczko: Project will replace non-LED light- ing at five locations.
Mayor Vaitla opened the public hearing.
• Connor Gorman: Consider having Fiscal Commission review item.
Support municipalizing utility services.
Mayor Vaitla closed the public hearing.
12/16/2025 City Council Minutes Page 3 of 5
Lighting Re-
placement
Project
L. Deos moved, seconded by D. Neville, to approve Resolution No. 25- 175 - Approving an On-Bill Financing Agreement with PG&E, and Energy Conservation Agreement with Eco -Green, for Provision and Installation of LED Lighting Fixtures, and Making Findings in Support Thereof Pur- suant to Government Code Section 4217.10, et seq.
Motion passed unanimously.
Workshop:
Village Farms
Davis Project
– Pre-General
Plan Amend-
ment, Pre-
zone/Prelimi-
nary Planned
Development,
Development
Agreement,
Annexa-
tion/Sphere of
Influence
Amendment
Community Development Director Sherri Metzker:
Public comments:
• Alan Hirsch: Need better tree requirements and funding for life of trees.
• Dan Carson, Elaine Roberts-Musser: Should remove 4th fire station and public safety center provisions.
• Leslie Blevins, Yolo Realtors Association; Alan Pryor, Chris Filey, Ra- chel Bards: Support. Project will provide n eeded housing for young families and affordable housing. CEQA process has included exten- sive public review , no documentation to substantiate claims of ad- verse impacts.
• Ning Wan, Susan Ranier, Reina Nyer, Marianne Hernandez, Eileen Samitz, Nancy Price, Margie Longo, Ken Hallot, Dave McKay, Cath- erine Keller: Oppose. Project too large, located in a flood plain, major traffic impacts, unfunded infrastructure, toxins from adjacent old land- fill. Baseline features and development agreement are missing infor- mation.
• Matt Williams, John Cooper: Project review not complete, need more time.
• Alan Miller and Mark Huising: Need safe bike infrastructure. • Barbara Clutter: Need more duplexes and fourplexes. Developer should pay portion of ongoing infrastructure maintenance. • Georgina Valencia , David Thompson , Teresa : Oppose Affordable Housing Plan. Need more affordable units and for sale housing, fund- ing problematic. Should provide down payment assistance.
Rochelle Swanson, representing applicant: Still refining project materi- als, will be complete soon. Fire station—support city decision and direc- tion. Project will provide critical bike/ped infrastructure, permanent habi- tat conservation and endowment for maintenance, dedicati on of land to school for pre -k, large park lands, extensive sustainability features, di- verse mix of housing. Updates since last presentation —increase from 9 to 16 acres of land dedication and increase contribution from $2 million to $6 million for affordable housing. Over 1,000 small lots for entry level homes.
City Council recessed at 8:15 p.m. and reconvened at 8:23 p.m. 12/16/2025 City Council Minutes Page 4 of 5
B. Vaitla moved, seconded by G. Partida, to direct staff and council sub- committee to work with developer to include some number of low-income affordable units in baseline features with identified triggers.
B. Vaitla amend motion: Identify trigger that at some point will transfer responsibility from city to developer if units are not built. Staff and council subcommittee discretion to develop.
Motion failed by the following vote:
AYES: Vaitla
NOES: Chapman, Deos, Neville, Partida
D. Neville moved, seconded by L. Deos, to approve Exhibit E – Afforda- ble Housing Project Individualized Plan as the applicant’s current pro- posal as presented, including:
• Dedicate 16 acres to City for 280 low / very low units o To be developed in partnership with qualified affordable hous- ing developer;
o To be a fully improved site with all infrastructure and utilities; o In the form of no more than 4 parcels no less than 2.5 acres in size;
• Contribute $6 million to the Housing Trust Fund
o $2 Million – w/ dedication of first land site
o $1 Million – w/ first building permit
o $3 Million – w/ first building permit in Phase 3
• City will endeavor to build an additional 80 moderate units on Land Dedication
G. Partida proposed a friendly amendment to the motion: Direct staff and council subcommittee to work with developer to add a trigger to Devel- opment Agreement to shift burden away from city based on some condi- tion occurring. Accepted by mover and second.
Motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Chapman, Deos, Neville, Partida
NOES: Vaitla
By consensus, direct staff to change references in documents from pub- lic safety to public use.
City Council recessed at 9:56 p.m. and reconvened at 10:03 p.m.
Designation
of Mayor and
Vice Mayor
City Manager Daryel Dunston: Overview of current process and potential options.
12/16/2025 City Council Minutes Page 5 of 5
Public comment:
• Alan Miller: Oppose district elections. Prefer prior system of mayor and vice mayor from highest votes at an election.
• Connor Gorman: Rotate through 1 year terms. Next should be D. Ne- ville as Mayor and L. Deos as Vice Mayor. Consider all councilmem- bers rotating through meeting facilitation and community events. Or consider co-mayors, rotate every other meeting.
B. Vaitla moved, seconded by J. Chapman, as follows:
1. Designate D. Neville to serve as Mayor for calendar year 2026.
2. Designate G. Partida to serve as Vice Mayor for calendar year 2026.
D. Neville moved a substitute motion, seconded by L. Deos, as follows:
1. Designate D. Neville to serve as Mayor for calendar year 2026.
2. Designate L. Deos to serve as Vice Mayor for calendar year 2026.
Substitute motion failed by the following vote:
AYES: Deos, Neville
NOES: Chapman, Partida, Vaitla
Main motion passed unanimously.
By consensus, direct staff to return with rotation options, pros and cons and phasing.
AB 1234 Re-
porting
None
Long Range
Calendar
D. Dunston: January 13—possible Village Farms meeting if needed.
B. Vaitla: Need to amend land dedication option in city affordable housing ordinance. Return ASAP. Council consensus.
Public comment:
• Alan Miller: Oppose upcoming MAPA report on February 3 consent calendar.
Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 10:33 p.m.
Zoe Mirabile
City Clerk