On Friday the Vanguard held a ninety-minute webinar with Davis Vice Mayor Lucas Frerichs. We talked about a range of issues and he took community questions for about 40 minutes.
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Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children.
Here is a list of the questions that the public asked Lucas
From Matt Williams to Panelists and Attendees:
The current City of Davis General Plan has 35 separate and distinct “general plan visions” [that] “are broad philosophical statements describing desired end states” grouped into 15 categories.
Most community planning professionals would call those “general plan goals” rather than “general plan visions.” As a result the City of Davis does not have a clearly articulated Vision Statement.
As our elected representative, have you taken the time to bring those 35 separate goals/visions into a Vision Statement that guides what you believe the the community wants for Davis in the present and in the future?
————–
From Robin Datel to Panelists and Attendees:
What are some specific ways that the City of Davis can work with Yolo County (and other jurisdictions in the county) on aspects of the climate emergency?
Can everyone be sure to send their questions to both the panel and the attendees (not just to the panel) so we can see all the questions? Thanks!
————–
From Matt Williams to Panelists and Attendees:
Each year the City of Davis annual Financial Statement (CAFR) reports the number of jobs in the City, but each year the reported number of jobs includes both jobs in the City and jobs that are outside the City Limits. Why is this incorrect reporting happening, and can a correct jobs count be reported from this point forward?
————–
From Anya McCann to Panelists and Attendees:
From Richard McCann: The Brown Act specifies the minimum for closed session meetings. Given the controversies created over the last several years as the result of closed Sessions, what are some additional conditions might you offer to create more transparency in
City decision making on these types of cases?
————–
From Kelsey Fortune to Panelists and Attendees:
Please explain why process goes from hearing specific recommendations from a commission/subcommission to sending things to staff and waiting for their recommendations. There are already recommendations, why does council seek recommendations from staff at this point?
————–
From Matt Williams to Panelists and Attendees:
Do you believe UCD should be involved in the City’s Housing Element Steering Committee process as an active and official participant?
————–
From Leslie Hunter to Panelists and Attendees:
Well before COVID, the Ace property on G Street sat empty and for sale, Why do you think the property has not been purchased?
————–
From Matt Williams to Panelists and Attendees:
Valley Clean Energy just recently chose energy providers and BrightNight was not chosen. How does that affect the BrightNight contract’s future?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Hello Lucas, quite a while back we had a brief back and forth about Public Banking. There are a number of cities and regions working to establish local/regional public banks and now a bill going to the legislature to create a state bank. What is your opinion about public banking and how could you, the council engage in this topic that could, help fund at lower borrowing cost for various city needs? Thanks, Nancy Price
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Does the City Manager still have ‘emergency power”? Please also state what the City Manager has used this power on since it was given to him, When will Council vote to eliminate the “emergency power” if it’s still in effect?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – You may have noticed in the news that federal agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and critical infrastructure were recently hacked by what is believed to be APT29 (Advanced Persistent Threat), Russian SVR unit. Two questions: 1) were any Davis government or critical infrastructure systems compromised,? and 2) How is Davis positioned to not become a victim of, say, Ransomeware (as other cities have fallen victim to) or other hacks that could compromise our critical infrastructure?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Were all candidates or commissions interviewed? including existing members who re-applied?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – What you view of the role of commissions: Just advice to council, or does it include Oversight of operations of city much like legislatures / congress role is to administrative government and implementing regulations and processes?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – What are some specific ways that the City of Davis can work with Yolo County (and other jurisdictions in the county) on aspects of the climate emergency?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q- Thank you Lucas for your service! | appreciate all your knowledge! My recollection from last Council “claw” discussion was that the plan was to eventually eliminate the claw due to financial limitations. What’s the update there?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – From Richard McCann: The Brown Act specifies the minimum for closed session meetings. Given the controversies created over the last several years as the result of closed Sessions, what are some additional conditions might you offer to create more transparency in City decision making on these types of cases?
————–
From William Marshall to Panelists and Attendees:
David… what is the better way? if the claw to remove tree waste is to be eliminated, do we all need to take care of it ourselves?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Each year the City of Davis annual Financial Statement (CAFR) reports the number of jobs in the City, but each year the reported number of jobs includes both jobs in the City and jobs that are outside the City Limits. Why is this incorrect reporting happening, and can a correct jobs count be reported from this point forward?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Please explain why process goes from hearing specific recommendations from a commission/subcommission to sending things to staff and waiting for their recommendations. There are already recommendations, why does council seek recommendations from staff at this point?
————–
From Matt Williams to Panelists and Attendees:
Doby Fleeman will be very happy with that jobs reporting answer by Lucas.
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Do you believe UCD should be involved in the City’s Housing Element Steering Committee process as an active and official participant?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Well before COVID, the Ace property on G Street sat empty and for sale, Why do you think the property has not been purchased?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Valley Clean Energy just recently chose energy providers and BrightNight was not chosen. How does that affect the BrightNight contract’s future?
————–
From Leslie Hunter to Panelists and Attendees:
To David – Will this recorded webinar be posted somewhere for us to view again? | couldn’t see Gloria’s webinar on the Vanguard site.
————–
From Matt Williams to Panelists and Attendees:
With respect to the Ace property, given its close proximity to the Amtrak Station and the low costs of demolition, isn’t it a logical property to kick start the Updated Downtown Plan as the first property to be redeveloped?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – This is the most tree aware council in decades, and a draft of a stronger Tree Protection Ordinance will be release in the next month. But can you help explain city process: At the August 2016 Commission meeting a draft of the New Tree ordinance was approved for review by council. Can you explain why this Ordinance took 4 years to work through city staff process?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Background Statement: I’ve been to two large chain drug stores six times since April. Five of those times there were either customers or employees with no masks or uncovered noses. When | talked to a manager they said because they dispensed lifesaving medicines, they couldn’t force people not to come in. Question: Can we pass a city or county ordinance that these drugstore chains must provide parking-lot pickup (like the COOP) since they won’t enforce mask laws?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
On Public Safety, the City Council gave general support to the Temporary Joint Subcommission on Public Safety but did not make specific recommendations.. And there seemed to be no awareness of Chief Pytel on the racial disparities that need to be addressed, despite the process where that data was available from his department, which seemed concerning. How can this move forward more quickly, without more specific directions to staff?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
With respect to the Ace property, given its close proximity to the Amtrak Station and the low costs of demolition, isn’t it a logical property to kick start the Updated Downtown Plan as the first property to be redeveloped?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Has the city of Davis decided how they will address the influx of violent criminals being released into our community? A south Davis community is currently trying to manage a violent, confrontational and racist individual who is very scary. This person needs 24 hour care. What are we going to do? We can not live in fear – it’s emotionally unsustainable. Maybe a 5150 is needed? Thank you.
————–
From Leslie Hunter to Panelists and Attendees:
Other cities have a promotion plan to attract businesses. With vacancies such as the prior Whole Foods spot, what should the city’s role be?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Lucas | know that confronting systemic racism is important to you. What are your thoughts on the comments from Chief Darren Pytel regarding the racial disparities in arrests, stops, and recommended charges? Specifically his comments at the Tuesday City Council meeting saying he “hasnt looked into it” yet. And also the departments history of blaming the majority of crime on “Black and brown people from out of town” despite data not backing up this assertion. And lastly his comments that he is “color blind” in his job (which is counter productive to eliminating racial biasing in policing)
————–
From Kelsey Fortune to Panelists and Attendees:
Connor Gorman has suggested a vacancy tax for commercial real estate to encourage property owners to more actively search for tenants. | believe this would help fill spaces that are chronically vacant
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q- Other cities have a promotion plan to attract businesses. With vacancies such as the prior Whole Foods spot, what should the city’s role be?
————–
From Kelsey Fortune to Panelists and Attendees:
There are many things the city could do to encourage vibrancy!
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees: https://youtu.be/glhRyEwTSZ4
Connor Gorman has suggested a vacancy tax for commercial real estate to encourage property owners to more actively search for tenants. | believe this would help fill spaces that are chronically vacant
————–
From Leslie Hunter to Panelists and Attendees:
Thank you Lucas for all your answers! These questions and answers were wonderful conversation starters as we all care about Davis!
Started with David’s orchestration to the “talking points”… seemed like Lucas was clued in to what they would be. Almost like an info-mercial…
As to the Q & A by others… the responses were there, but had little ‘meat’… often ‘talk-talk’… platitudes, “I’ll look into that”, other ‘deflecting’… it was what it was… glad it was ‘free’… had I paid to ‘attend’, would likely be less generous…
At beginning, David ‘praised’ Lucas for “institutional knowledge”… after 8 years? Really?
Unless Lucas moves (or we do), will never have a chance to vote for/against Lucas… and we are not likely to move within Davis…
Will be interesting to see how Lucas positions himself, his views, his votes, now that we have had district elections thrust upon us… perhaps as a ‘district’/base orientation, counting noses in case he wants to run again, or for higher office, OR as someone who acts as if he is truly serving the whole community, and using his own judgement, instead of wetting finger, and seeing which way the ‘wind blows’… I can see it going either way… I hope he uses his intellect, skills, background, and judgement to serve the entire community… time will tell… and that applies to all CC members elected under the new “district” rules… notsingling Lucas out, on that… fact remains, we had 0.00 vote for CC in November… nada.
I can categorically say, Lucas had no idea what I or the public were going to ask. Also my point about the institutional knowledge was not just his 8 years on council, but he was active on commissions dating back to 2004. He’s the only one on council whose involvement in city government goes back that far.
My impression was different than Bill’s. I was duly impressed with Lucas’ breadth and depth of knowledge, speaking extemporaneously to a wide range of issues. I appreciate his forthrightness in not just BSing in response to questions for which he didn’t have immediate answers. This included questions to which he wouldn’t be expected to have answers—e.g., why it was taking so long for a privately owned property to be sold.
I’m not in his district but, as a City resident, am glad we are represented by someone with Lucas’ dedication, thoughtfulness, and integrity.
Here is a list of the questions that the public asked Lucas
From Matt Williams to Panelists and Attendees:
The current City of Davis General Plan has 35 separate and distinct “general plan visions” [that] “are broad philosophical statements describing desired end states” grouped into 15 categories.
Most community planning professionals would call those “general plan goals” rather than “general plan visions.” As a result the City of Davis does not have a clearly articulated Vision Statement.
As our elected representative, have you taken the time to bring those 35 separate goals/visions into a Vision Statement that guides what you believe the the community wants for Davis in the present and in the future?
————–
From Robin Datel to Panelists and Attendees:
What are some specific ways that the City of Davis can work with Yolo County (and other jurisdictions in the county) on aspects of the climate emergency?
Can everyone be sure to send their questions to both the panel and the attendees (not just to the panel) so we can see all the questions? Thanks!
————–
From Matt Williams to Panelists and Attendees:
Each year the City of Davis annual Financial Statement (CAFR) reports the number of jobs in the City, but each year the reported number of jobs includes both jobs in the City and jobs that are outside the City Limits. Why is this incorrect reporting happening, and can a correct jobs count be reported from this point forward?
————–
From Anya McCann to Panelists and Attendees:
From Richard McCann: The Brown Act specifies the minimum for closed session meetings. Given the controversies created over the last several years as the result of closed Sessions, what are some additional conditions might you offer to create more transparency in
City decision making on these types of cases?
————–
From Kelsey Fortune to Panelists and Attendees:
Please explain why process goes from hearing specific recommendations from a commission/subcommission to sending things to staff and waiting for their recommendations. There are already recommendations, why does council seek recommendations from staff at this point?
————–
From Matt Williams to Panelists and Attendees:
Do you believe UCD should be involved in the City’s Housing Element Steering Committee process as an active and official participant?
————–
From Leslie Hunter to Panelists and Attendees:
Well before COVID, the Ace property on G Street sat empty and for sale, Why do you think the property has not been purchased?
————–
From Matt Williams to Panelists and Attendees:
Valley Clean Energy just recently chose energy providers and BrightNight was not chosen. How does that affect the BrightNight contract’s future?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Hello Lucas, quite a while back we had a brief back and forth about Public Banking. There are a number of cities and regions working to establish local/regional public banks and now a bill going to the legislature to create a state bank. What is your opinion about public banking and how could you, the council engage in this topic that could, help fund at lower borrowing cost for various city needs? Thanks, Nancy Price
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Does the City Manager still have ‘emergency power”? Please also state what the City Manager has used this power on since it was given to him, When will Council vote to eliminate the “emergency power” if it’s still in effect?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – You may have noticed in the news that federal agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and critical infrastructure were recently hacked by what is believed to be APT29 (Advanced Persistent Threat), Russian SVR unit. Two questions: 1) were any Davis government or critical infrastructure systems compromised,? and 2) How is Davis positioned to not become a victim of, say, Ransomeware (as other cities have fallen victim to) or other hacks that could compromise our critical infrastructure?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Were all candidates or commissions interviewed? including existing members who re-applied?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – What you view of the role of commissions: Just advice to council, or does it include Oversight of operations of city much like legislatures / congress role is to administrative government and implementing regulations and processes?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – What are some specific ways that the City of Davis can work with Yolo County (and other jurisdictions in the county) on aspects of the climate emergency?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q- Thank you Lucas for your service! | appreciate all your knowledge! My recollection from last Council “claw” discussion was that the plan was to eventually eliminate the claw due to financial limitations. What’s the update there?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – From Richard McCann: The Brown Act specifies the minimum for closed session meetings. Given the controversies created over the last several years as the result of closed Sessions, what are some additional conditions might you offer to create more transparency in City decision making on these types of cases?
————–
From William Marshall to Panelists and Attendees:
David… what is the better way? if the claw to remove tree waste is to be eliminated, do we all need to take care of it ourselves?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Each year the City of Davis annual Financial Statement (CAFR) reports the number of jobs in the City, but each year the reported number of jobs includes both jobs in the City and jobs that are outside the City Limits. Why is this incorrect reporting happening, and can a correct jobs count be reported from this point forward?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Please explain why process goes from hearing specific recommendations from a commission/subcommission to sending things to staff and waiting for their recommendations. There are already recommendations, why does council seek recommendations from staff at this point?
————–
From Matt Williams to Panelists and Attendees:
Doby Fleeman will be very happy with that jobs reporting answer by Lucas.
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Do you believe UCD should be involved in the City’s Housing Element Steering Committee process as an active and official participant?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Well before COVID, the Ace property on G Street sat empty and for sale, Why do you think the property has not been purchased?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – Valley Clean Energy just recently chose energy providers and BrightNight was not chosen. How does that affect the BrightNight contract’s future?
————–
From Leslie Hunter to Panelists and Attendees:
To David – Will this recorded webinar be posted somewhere for us to view again? | couldn’t see Gloria’s webinar on the Vanguard site.
————–
From Matt Williams to Panelists and Attendees:
With respect to the Ace property, given its close proximity to the Amtrak Station and the low costs of demolition, isn’t it a logical property to kick start the Updated Downtown Plan as the first property to be redeveloped?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q – This is the most tree aware council in decades, and a draft of a stronger Tree Protection Ordinance will be release in the next month. But can you help explain city process: At the August 2016 Commission meeting a draft of the New Tree ordinance was approved for review by council. Can you explain why this Ordinance took 4 years to work through city staff process?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Background Statement: I’ve been to two large chain drug stores six times since April. Five of those times there were either customers or employees with no masks or uncovered noses. When | talked to a manager they said because they dispensed lifesaving medicines, they couldn’t force people not to come in. Question: Can we pass a city or county ordinance that these drugstore chains must provide parking-lot pickup (like the COOP) since they won’t enforce mask laws?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
On Public Safety, the City Council gave general support to the Temporary Joint Subcommission on Public Safety but did not make specific recommendations.. And there seemed to be no awareness of Chief Pytel on the racial disparities that need to be addressed, despite the process where that data was available from his department, which seemed concerning. How can this move forward more quickly, without more specific directions to staff?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
With respect to the Ace property, given its close proximity to the Amtrak Station and the low costs of demolition, isn’t it a logical property to kick start the Updated Downtown Plan as the first property to be redeveloped?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Has the city of Davis decided how they will address the influx of violent criminals being released into our community? A south Davis community is currently trying to manage a violent, confrontational and racist individual who is very scary. This person needs 24 hour care. What are we going to do? We can not live in fear – it’s emotionally unsustainable. Maybe a 5150 is needed? Thank you.
————–
From Leslie Hunter to Panelists and Attendees:
Other cities have a promotion plan to attract businesses. With vacancies such as the prior Whole Foods spot, what should the city’s role be?
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Lucas | know that confronting systemic racism is important to you. What are your thoughts on the comments from Chief Darren Pytel regarding the racial disparities in arrests, stops, and recommended charges? Specifically his comments at the Tuesday City Council meeting saying he “hasnt looked into it” yet. And also the departments history of blaming the majority of crime on “Black and brown people from out of town” despite data not backing up this assertion. And lastly his comments that he is “color blind” in his job (which is counter productive to eliminating racial biasing in policing)
————–
From Kelsey Fortune to Panelists and Attendees:
Connor Gorman has suggested a vacancy tax for commercial real estate to encourage property owners to more actively search for tenants. | believe this would help fill spaces that are chronically vacant
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
Q- Other cities have a promotion plan to attract businesses. With vacancies such as the prior Whole Foods spot, what should the city’s role be?
————–
From Kelsey Fortune to Panelists and Attendees:
There are many things the city could do to encourage vibrancy!
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
https://youtu.be/glhRyEwTSZ4
Connor Gorman has suggested a vacancy tax for commercial real estate to encourage property owners to more actively search for tenants. | believe this would help fill spaces that are chronically vacant
————–
From Leslie Hunter to Panelists and Attendees:
Thank you Lucas for all your answers! These questions and answers were wonderful conversation starters as we all care about Davis!
————–
From David Greenwald to Panelists and Attendees:
https://youtu.be/glhRyEwTSZ4
————–
From Anya McCann to Panelists and Attendees:
Thank you, Lucas!
Thanks Vanguard!
MW, how are you that thorough, and you miss the question from Davis’ greatest citizen, Alan C. Miller?
Oh, I see. You attributed it to David Greenwald. Ok, technically he asked it I guess. La la.
Brain spasm? Typo? Moderator?
Please fill in the blank, Alan…
My condolences to Lucas for subjecting himself to this.
Actually it wasn’t bad, although it did feel a bit like firing line.
That is a good analogy David, but Lucas has a ways to go before he can fill Bill Buckley’s shoes.
How so?
His choice, Don… and we’re all pro-choice and willing to accept consequences of our choices, right?
I had a different impression of the webinar…
Started with David’s orchestration to the “talking points”… seemed like Lucas was clued in to what they would be. Almost like an info-mercial…
As to the Q & A by others… the responses were there, but had little ‘meat’… often ‘talk-talk’… platitudes, “I’ll look into that”, other ‘deflecting’… it was what it was… glad it was ‘free’… had I paid to ‘attend’, would likely be less generous…
At beginning, David ‘praised’ Lucas for “institutional knowledge”… after 8 years? Really?
Unless Lucas moves (or we do), will never have a chance to vote for/against Lucas… and we are not likely to move within Davis…
Will be interesting to see how Lucas positions himself, his views, his votes, now that we have had district elections thrust upon us… perhaps as a ‘district’/base orientation, counting noses in case he wants to run again, or for higher office, OR as someone who acts as if he is truly serving the whole community, and using his own judgement, instead of wetting finger, and seeing which way the ‘wind blows’… I can see it going either way… I hope he uses his intellect, skills, background, and judgement to serve the entire community… time will tell… and that applies to all CC members elected under the new “district” rules… not singling Lucas out, on that… fact remains, we had 0.00 vote for CC in November… nada.
It is what it is…
I can categorically say, Lucas had no idea what I or the public were going to ask. Also my point about the institutional knowledge was not just his 8 years on council, but he was active on commissions dating back to 2004. He’s the only one on council whose involvement in city government goes back that far.
My impression was different than Bill’s. I was duly impressed with Lucas’ breadth and depth of knowledge, speaking extemporaneously to a wide range of issues. I appreciate his forthrightness in not just BSing in response to questions for which he didn’t have immediate answers. This included questions to which he wouldn’t be expected to have answers—e.g., why it was taking so long for a privately owned property to be sold.
I’m not in his district but, as a City resident, am glad we are represented by someone with Lucas’ dedication, thoughtfulness, and integrity.