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Time For the City to Step Up with Leadership and Changes

By David M. GreenwaldAugust 6, 201010 comments

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Call this the other end of yesterday’s story on MOU changes. I am not willing, at least yet, to write off the new council in terms of making the kinds of changes that will save this city from potential, and I think impending, bankruptcy in 2010. However, what concerns me is that we have been pushing this issue since at least 2008 on these pages, and some have been pushing for a lot longer than that.

Where are we now? Not very far. In fact, other cities are leading the way on reform and we are arguing over whether the current contracts are even a step in the right direction. They are not. It is August, we will not have another meeting for a month in a half, time to regroup and put forward bold new initiatives.

Honeymoon Over For New Council?

By David M. GreenwaldAugust 5, 201016 comments

The August meeting is supposed to be ceremonial, a mandatory meeting to fulfill the statutory requirement that the council meet each month. So they have it in the morning and generally have a light calendar. However, despite all appearances, this was not a light calendar. There were several very important issues that were addressed, including the first glimpse into the new council’s thinking on perhaps the most important issue facing them – the city’s financial condition.

The new council voted 4-1 to approve the Police Officer’s Association MOU. The loan dissenter was Sue Greenwald. On Wednesday, in Rich Rifkin’s column he took the new councilmembers to task.

NRC Sends New Recommended Wood Smoke Ordinance Back to Davis City Council

By David M. GreenwaldAugust 5, 201038 comments

By Alan Pryor –

On July 26, the Davis Natural Resources Commission (NRC) unanimously approved a new Recommended Wood Smoke Ordinance to be sent to the Davis City Council for review, and hopeful ly passage, some time in September. This is the 4th time the NRC has sent a recommendation for a comprehensive wood smoke ordinance to the Council

Background – Prior to the recent deliberations in July, the NRC considered the results of 2 additional studies performed last year in Davis and presented to the NRC in June.

MOU With Davis Police Officers Association Approved And New Mayor’s Rigid Style of Governance

By Elaine Roberts MusserAugust 3, 201017 comments

By E. Roberts Musser, filling in for David M. Greenwald

The City Council approved without change the Davis Police Officers Association MOU, as described thoroughly in the August 2, 2010 Davis Vanguard article on the subject. The vote was 4-1, with Councilmember Sue Greenwald in opposition. She expressed her concern that the structural changes were not substantive enough to address the city’s unfunded health and pension liabilities. For informational purposes, City Staff noted the total compensation currently budgeted for an average five-year fire fighter is $139,792 (or $143,569, whichever figure is correct since Staff was very unclear why they gave two different numbers); for an average five-year police officer it will be $131,992. The average five-year fire fighter’s yearly salary is $94,783; for an average five-year police officer it will be $86,479.

Councilmember Greenwald stated she could not support any contract “that doesn’t make the necessary reforms in the cafeteria cash-out and allow us to put it towards paying off our unfunded health liabilities”. Assistant City Manager Paul Navazio clarified that the total compensation figures do count the value of the cafeteria cash-out. When Council member Greenwald tried to respond to Mr. Navazio’s statement, Mayor Saylor forbid further commentary. He would not recognize her, despite her having raised a point of order. Instead Mayor Saylor emphatically stated “as presiding officer” he would “take a vote”. Council member Greenwald was helpless to do anything without running the risk of censure or being stripped of a committee/commission assignment.

RDA Funding Approved to Finance New Hanlees Volkswagen Auto Dealership

By David M. GreenwaldAugust 3, 20106 comments

By E. Roberts Musser, filling in for David M. Greenwald –

At the unusually early hour of 9:30 a.m. on August 2, 2010, the City Council considered a City Staff proposal to provide financial assistance for relocating a VW auto dealership from Napa to a vacated/blighted parcel within the redevelopment project area of the city. The parcel in question is located at the former Ford dealership site in south Davis on Chiles Road. It is currently being underutilized for an auto repair shop. The proposed City Staff resolution authorizes the Redevelopment Agency to execute an Owner-Participation Agreement with Hanlees Partners (who already own several auto dealerships in Davis), to allocate up to one million dollars from the Redevelopment-Commercial Development funds (funding Davis receives from the federal gov’t) as a loan.

According to City Staff, discussions with Don Lee of Hanlees indicated it would cost approximately $2 million dollars to demolish the existing building, erect a new state-of-the-art showroom, remodel the service building and improve the site. A consultant, Economic and Planning Systems (EPS), was hired by the city to do a fiscal analysis of the project and Hanlees’ need for city financing. Prior to this, upgrades of such a nature have been done without the city’s fiscal assistance. However, because of the recent downturn in the economy, it has become virtually impossible for dealerships to obtain suitable financing on their own at reasonable rates, said City Staff.

Early Test for New Council? DPOA’s New Contract Set For Ratification

By David M. GreenwaldAugust 2, 201026 comments

One of the most contentious issues on the previous council was the approval of the new contracts for the employee bargaining groups. Councilmember Sue Greenwald, along with former Councilmember Lamar Heystek, consistently opposed the contracts. They argued that there was too little in the way of long-term concessions, insufficient short-term cuts and insufficient mechanisms to fix unfunded liabilities or pensions.

The Council has drawn the line in the sand with one employee group, the Davis City Employee’s Association (DCEA). They did so however at a contract that was roughly similar to what groups like the Firefighters already agreed to.

Davis Celebrates 20 Years of ADA with Disability Pride Parade

By David M. GreenwaldAugust 1, 20102 comments

On Saturday, over 100 people gathered in Davis’ Central Park to celebration the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Organizers say they hope to “strengthen the pride, power and unity of people with disabilities, our families and allies” and “challenge the way many people think about and define ‘disability.’ ”

The lively group marched on the sidewalk around the park and then gathered at the Rotary Stage for speakers and performers.

On 20th Anniversary of ADA, City Thwarting Efforts to Allow Access Ramp to Davis Community Church

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 31, 201028 comments

The Davis Community Church has been proposing and has requested to be allowed to install a new universal access ramp. This would be an enlargement of the landing at the main entrance to provide a concrete patio for a gathering place, and new landscaping in order to hide the railings of the proposed ramp off of Fourth Street.

As was explained to me, at the present time the church has members who are not able to access their church because they cannot get in and out of the front door. This includes a number of elderly parishioners whose mobility is limited and other members who are also wheelchair-bound. In addition, the church wishes to increase the size of the front patio to enable the reverend to stand away from the door and greet the congregants. The access ramp would land on the new patio.

City Proposals to Streamline Approval For Cell Towers and Other Entitlement Review Processes

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 30, 201013 comments

The City Council has on their special agenda for Monday morning an item entitled “Proposed Updates to Entitlement Review Processes.” The item would appear to streamline the processing to expand the list of projects that may be approved via the administrative review process.

There are four listed streamlined uses that this would apply to. First, co-location of new antennas/equipment on existing cellular towers not within 500 feet of residential districts. Second, Final Planned Developments for new commercial buildings or additions. Third, Revised Final Planned Developments for commercial or residential projects for discreet additions or changes (not wholesale changes) to residential subdivisions. And fourth, new homes or additions resulting in six or more bedrooms (continue to require specific findings). Furthermore, it would direct staff to initiate processing the necessary code amendment to eliminate the requirement for a CUP (conditional use permit) for structures over two stories in the Central Commercial (CC) zoning district.

Without a Fight, Fire Consolidation Plan Moves Forward

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 29, 201024 comments

In one of the boldest and most innovative moves since I have been following the Davis City Council, the City Council unanimously and almost without comment approved a plan that would consolidate the leadership of the Davis and UC Davis fire departments under a single fire chief, a move that will save both entities a combined $250,000 a year.

The City Council voted Tuesday night to authorize staff to move forward with a plan to implement the first phase of the pilot project. The plan also calls for a shared fire dispatch center; a restructuring of administrative support functions; and standardized training, policies and procedures, according to a release from the city of Davis.

Senior Housing Guidelines Are Approved – With Nary a Whimper!

By Elaine Roberts MusserJuly 29, 20101 comments

New Dynamic on the City Council?

By E. Roberts Musser –

On Tuesday July 27, 2010, the Senior Housing Guidelines were unanimously approved by the City Council. Go figure! I attended the Council meeting “loaded for bear”, ready to do battle for the Guidelines. Why such a pugnacious stance on my part? The Senior Citizens Commission together with City Staff, the Social Services Commission and ADA Subcommittee worked on these Guidelines for a very long time – nearly three years. The Guidelines did not initially make it onto any City Council agenda, because the events of the Senior Housing Strategy overtook them. Ultimately the Senior Housing Strategy was enveloped into the city’s bureaucratic vortex as a lost cause.

Council Goes Ahead with Application for Grant Involving Nishi Development

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 28, 201019 comments

In a fast-moving meeting that seemed to lack significant discussion on several key issues, the Council agreed to move forward with the Grant Approval process for the “Gateway/Olive Drive Specific Plan Update, Including Nishi Property and Circulation Improvements.” The council approved the proposal by a 4-1 vote with Councilmember Sue Greenwald dissenting.

Councilmember Greenwald expressed concerns about going ahead with planning for the Nishi property prior to an agreement from the university to allow university access on the back side of the property. She sees the site as potentially ideal for a business development but is concerned with the traffic flow issues from Olive Drive onto Richards Blvd.

City to Decide What to Do with DACHA Units

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 27, 20104 comments

In early July the Davis Redevelopment Agency became the owner of the homes in DACHA. The foreclosure auction finally occurred after legal hurdles were breached when a judge dismissed efforts by Neighborhood Partners to declare involuntary bankruptcy.

A long series of events led to this outcome. The city of Davis had previously decided to lower the cost of shares and monthly payments to the members of the Co-Op. Included in that was a refinance by the city of Davis, meaning that the Redevelopment Agency became the effective bank for DACHA.

City Staff Report Recommends Pilot Consolidation of City – UCD Fire Services

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 26, 201014 comments

As we have previously report, a confluence of several factors including the retirement of the Fire Chiefs at both the City of Davis and UC Davis and a bad economy necessitating cost-cutting measures has made what might have been a challenging task of getting all parties to agree to a consolidation of fire services at least one step closer to reality.

According to the city staff report, “With the concurrent retirement of the City of Davis Fire Chief and UC-Davis Fire Chief, as well as the City of Davis Division Chief of Operations, there is an opportunity to assemble and reconstitute the aggregate remaining chief officers to form a functionally consolidated, unified command team for singular management and oversight of both the City of Davis and UC-Davis fire departments.”

Commentary: Council Priorities Change with the Times

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 25, 201016 comments

I did not get to watch the entire meeting on Saturday, so these are merely observations from the morning portion of the Council Goal Setting Session. We will get a fuller picture after city staff takes some of the raw material and finesses it. Still I think initial observations can be useful.

My first observation is, and this is a bit unfair, but that I always feel like I am getting a sell job when I listen to Bill Emlen talk about the state of the city. There is no doubt that the city, at least in terms of its goals, accomplished some of them. The city did bring the Bicycling Hall of Fame, that is certainly an accomplishment. They did bring in a Target and Trader Joe’s. You can decide for yourself whether that is a good thing. They have moved forward on the water projects. The city is moving forward on a sports complex.

Is Environmental Grant Proposal Backdoor Plan to Develop Nishi?

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 24, 20109 comments

At Tuesday’s city council meeting, the ostensive action item is to apply for a Sustainable Communities Planning Grant. But reading through the plan itself, it becomes fairly clear that the grant is a means by which to develop the Nishi Property. “The proposed project is the “Gateway/Olive Drive Specific Plan Update, Including Nishi Property and Circulation Improvements.””

According to the staff report, “The primary goal of the grant program is to develop and implement plans that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the following objectives.”

After 15 Years, Noise Issues Finally Resolved For Neighbors of Montessori School

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 23, 20103 comments

On July 15, Mark Wood, the city of Davis’ Chief Building Official, sent out a memo in which he announced that mitigation measures had been completed and that the neighbors consider the matter resolved to their satisfaction.

“I am pleased to report that the neighbors consider that these measures have resolved the issues to their satisfaction and if the day care maintains these measures, their current operation schedule and policies, the matter is closed,” Mr. Wood wrote.

Good News: Davis Manor Has a Grocery Store After Eight Years

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 22, 20106 comments

If we have to struggle these days to find good news, the good news nevertheless is there. This year key voids for Grocery Stores have been filled first at Westlake Shopping Center and now at East Davis Manor. For good measure, Trader Joe’s is going into the University Mall which has been without a grocery store of any kind for a number of years as well.

According to reports in the Davis Enterprise, the Grocery Outlet store is expected to open sometime in the early part of 2011. Following a similar model to the one that Westlake IGA has employed, they have filed plans with the city to operate a 12,000 square foot store, occupying the eastern half of the old site which was Ralphs and later Albertsons. The other portion of course is occupied by the Dollar Tree.

Retiree Health Care, Number One Priority?

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 22, 20107 comments

Good op-ed this week by Rich Rifkin in the Davis Enterprise. He argues that “the city has one overwhelming problem: our unfunded retiree health benefits. In a list of what should be the council’s top 10 priorities, solving this fiasco is No. 1. It’s also Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5.”

Allow me to quibble and say that is one among three, I would put compensation/ pension issues along with it, along with lack of funds for basic city services such as road repair.

Commentary: When Enough is Too Much

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 20, 20107 comments

For those of you who assume that at some point cooler heads will prevail and that we will eventually get a handle on the city’s fiscal crisis, look no further than the city of Bell as to why that might not happen.

The city of Bell for those who do not know, and I had to look it up myself is located in the Central portion of urban Los Angeles County. A small town in the midst of metropolis it had a population in 2000 of just 36,664. Bell is not an affluent community, in fact it is one of the poorest in Los Angeles County.

By Alan Pryor –

By E. Roberts Musser, filling in for David M. Greenwald

By E. Roberts Musser, filling in for David M. Greenwald –

New Dynamic on the City Council?

By E. Roberts Musser –

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