City of Davis

Lewis Withdraws Application to Develop Cannery Park

Lewis Withdraws Application to Develop Cannery Park

By David GreenwaldMarch 18, 200958 comments

The Vanguard learned yesterday evening that Lewis Properties has withdrawn their application to re-zone the 100-acre empty site that used to occupy the Hunt Wesson Cannery in Davis as well as to the sale of an additional 60-acre site located next to the land fill in Yolo County.  Citing increasing costs and lack of clear opportunity for success, the developers have dropped their application to change the zoning from light industrial to residential for the purposes of developing a mixed-use site that would support 610 residential units and additional business.

In a letter that Mayor Pro Tem Saylor read aloud at last night’s council meeting, Lewis Properties told the city:

City Pares Down Costs of Proposed General Plan, But Still Doesn’t Get it

City Pares Down Costs of Proposed General Plan, But Still Doesn’t Get it

By David GreenwaldMarch 17, 200910 comments
After criticism at the last workshop on the General Plan the city staff has pared down the costs of the proposed projects.  The concern was expressed during the last meeting that a traditional general plan update would cost between $1 and $3 million.  Concern focused on what city priorities ought to be during difficult fiscal times.  Moreover, this would necessitate “a commitment to the multi-year process would need to be made at the beginning as it would be potentially wasteful and costly to stop after the process begin.”

So the staff is looking at creating a general plan update program that can adapt the tasks to the current fiscal situation.

Noise Ordinance Exemption Aimed At Political Favoritism

Noise Ordinance Exemption Aimed At Political Favoritism

By David GreenwaldMarch 16, 200915 comments

Neighbors Have Long Battled Friend of Mayor Pro Tem To Abate Noise From Montessori Day Care Center

At last week’s City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Don Saylor placed an item on the agenda that would exempt from the City’s Noise Ordinance, Schools and Day Care centers.  It seemed like a strange item at the time.  Mayor Pro Tem Saylor described the noise as the natural and delightful noise of children.  He openly wondered who could object to the sounds of children, implying that those who did were simply being selfish and insensitive.

However, what Mr. Saylor did not discuss was the ongoing problems that a specific group of neighbors have had with a specific facility whose noise and other problems has been anything but delightful.

Vanguard Reports: Should Davis Go To In-House City Attorney Services?

Vanguard Reports: Should Davis Go To In-House City Attorney Services?

By David GreenwaldMarch 13, 200919 comments
One of the big questions that often arises is whether Davis should continue to outsource their City Attorney Services to the law firm of McDonough, Holland & Allen who employ City Attorney Harriet Steiner.

The Vanguard engaged in extensive analysis through a series of public records requests.  In the fiscal year of 2004-05 Davis paid its City Attorney and law firm $514,154.10.  In 2005-06 it was $535,664.50.  In 2006-07 it was $641,025.70.  And in 2007-08 it $464,145.50.

 

Will Davis Get Rid of Its Ombudsman?

Will Davis Get Rid of Its Ombudsman?

By David GreenwaldMarch 12, 200912 comments

Move Smacks of Political Retribution Rather Than Sound Fiscal Policy

There is little doubt that Davis faces a very serious economic downturn.  However, it is also equally apparent to many that observe the process and support the current oversight role of the city’s Ombudsman, Bob Aaronson, that the proposed budget cut of his position is less about the budget and more about getting rid of someone who has been a thorn in the side of the most powerful employee group in the city.

Remember, the firefighters pumped in $30,000 into the last campaign to reelection Councilmembers Don Saylor and Stephen Souza.

Council Looks At Making Deep Cuts to Budget–But is it Enough?

Council Looks At Making Deep Cuts to Budget–But is it Enough?

By David GreenwaldMarch 11, 200911 comments
At last night’s council meeting, Finance Director Paul Navazio looked toward an aggressive cost savings plan as the city faces an immediate deficit, a longer-term structural deficit, and an impending problem of unfunded liabilities for health care and pensions.

Despite the rosey picture that City Manager Bill Emlen attempted to play at the outset, these projections may actually represent a best-case scenario as became clear as the conversation and discussion progressed.

Grocer Backs Out of Westlake Project

Grocer Backs Out of Westlake Project

By David GreenwaldMarch 10, 200934 comments
In a communication to the owners of the Westlake Plaza Shopping Center, Davis Advocates for Neighborhood Groceries (DANG) strongly admonished the owners of the Westlake Shopping Center for reneging on a previous agreement which has resulted in their failure to secure the Delanos in an effort to bring a viable Grocery Store to West Davis.

As the Vanguard reported two weeks ago, DANG along with consultants for the owners had found a grocer willing to move a grocery store into the spot vacated by Food Fair in May of 2006.  However, when the majority owner, Farrokh Hosseinyoun pulled his promised $250,000 in capital, the deal fell through.

Design Workshop Shows Possibilities for Safer and More Complete Fifth Street Corridor

Design Workshop Shows Possibilities for Safer and More Complete Fifth Street Corridor

By David GreenwaldMarch 8, 200915 comments

It was 11:30 am on a Friday, and Community Chambers was packed full of members of the public.  It was standing room only as over 100 people came to see Dan Burden show us the possibilities for how Fifth Street can go from a four lane thoroughfare to a two lane road and yet still serve the same vehicle flow in a slower but safer manner.

Not everyone is or was convinced by the show.  The residents from Old North Davis Neighborhoods who have to deal with the congestion and dangers on a regular basis certainly would like to see the change.  The business community however is not convinced that the changes would not impact the ability of people to get to downtown.

 

Commentary: Questioning Again Democracy and Process At Council Meetings

Commentary: Questioning Again Democracy and Process At Council Meetings

By David GreenwaldMarch 7, 200916 comments
In some ways, I found it interesting reading the Davis Enterprise Columnist Bob Dunning’s column yesterday and the repeated references to Mayor Ruth Asmundson and Councilmember Sue Greenwald fighting during council meetings.  There is definitely a rather toxic clash of personalities going on here.  On the other hand, it’s a bit of a cop out to view it as both sides fighting. But that is clearly what the public sees.

I see a larger problem and it extends beyond the issue of interpersonal relations.  I feel like the Mayor is systematically shutting down discourse and discussion in the name of expediency of getting home on time.  If she were somewhat equal-handed about it, it might be less of a problem.  But I have never seen her tell anyone else to stop talking other than Councilmember Greenwald.

Can City Hold Line on New Employee Contract Negotiations?

Can City Hold Line on New Employee Contract Negotiations?

By David GreenwaldMarch 3, 200930 comments
We have been talking about this for months, but the Enterprise is starting to see the light of day on the issue of city contract talks with six of the employee bargaining units with the city.

One of the big questions that will need to be determined is the extent to which this process will have transparency.  Often what has happened in the past is that the first time either the council or the public knows about the contract is after the city’s “negotiators” usually the city manager, HR person, and finance director reach agreement with heads of the employee bargaining units.

City Continues to Withhold Full Fire Report from Council and Public

City Continues to Withhold Full Fire Report from Council and Public

By David GreenwaldMarch 2, 200911 comments

Redacted Version is Heavily Censored Revealing Little New Information

On January 13, 2009, the Davis City Council listened to investigator Bob Aaronson and City Manager Bill Emlen discuss very different interpretations of the Mr. Aaronson’s investigation into allegations present in the June of 2008 Grand Jury Report.

It was a report that the elected members of the Davis City Council did not get to read in full. The Vanguard subsequently filed a California Public Records Act Request for both the full unredacted report and a redacted report. The city of Davis, as expected has denied the Vanguard access to the full version of the report.

Judge Orders Defendants to Cease Delay Tactics in Buzayan Case

Judge Orders Defendants to Cease Delay Tactics in Buzayan Case

By David GreenwaldMarch 2, 20096 comments

It was summer of 2005 when then 16 year-old Halema Buzayan was arrested by Davis Police Officer Pheng Ly. Much has happened since that time both within the city and the police department. But one thing that has not happened is that the Federal Lawsuit filed by Ms. Buzayan’s family has not gone to trial. That may finally change shortly as a Federal Judge last week ordered the defense to quit stalling and allow the case to move forward.

Halema Buzayan and her family allege 16 causes of action against the Davis Police Department, individual police officers, the Yolo County District Attorney and several individual’s from the DA’s Office, and the City of Davis. Specifically the list of defendants include: City of Davis, former Davis Police Chief James Hyde, Assistant Police Chief Steven Pierce, Officer Pheng Ly and Ben Hartz, Former DA David Henderson, Deputy DA Patricia Fong, and Counsel for Yolo County and the City of Davis Douglas Thorn who is himself a defendant in this case.

Westlake Grocery Deal in Doubt As Owner Allegedly Reneges on Handshake Deal

Westlake Grocery Deal in Doubt As Owner Allegedly Reneges on Handshake Deal

By David GreenwaldFebruary 25, 200951 comments
imageWestlake Plaza

In an interview with the Vanguard, the Davis Advocates for Neighborhood Groceries (DANG) say they thought they had a deal. Consultants for Farrokh Hosseinyoun, the majority owner of the Westlake Plaza Shopping Center on Lake Boulevard in West Davis had found a suitor for the Westlake Plaza’s empty grocery store spot.

Enter the Delano Family, owners of eight Bay Area Grocery stores bearing the same name. They operate Delano’s Markets in San Francisco, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Fairfax and Novato, many of them very upscale in appearance. Adding to the intrigue is the versatility of their product and the vast experience of the Delanos in the grocery business and their genuine interest in coming to Davis and Westlake Plaza.

Vanguard Analysis: Davis Fire Has High Cost Per Service Call

Vanguard Analysis: Davis Fire Has High Cost Per Service Call

By David GreenwaldFebruary 24, 200952 comments
imageDavis Fire

One of the big questions facing the Davis Fire Department is the issue of staffing and the issue of whether or not the fire department needs a fourth fire station. Data presented by the Davis Fire Department has often shown that Davis has a relatively low number of fire fighters per thousand people, a high population per station, and a low cost per capita.

The Vanguard’s analysis largely confirms those findings that would seem to suggest that davis is in need of more fire staffing, an additional fire station, and that it is run relatively cost effective.

Guest Commentary: Addressing Safety Concerns and Design Changes to Fifth St Corridor

Guest Commentary: Addressing Safety Concerns and Design Changes to Fifth St Corridor

By David GreenwaldFebruary 19, 200925 comments
imageCity of Davis

by Steve Tracy
This past Tuesday evening the City Council considered changes to the design of the 5th/Russell corridor, between A and L Streets. Opportunities to put missing bike lanes on the street and deal with ongoing safety issues have been missed in the past. We hope this time the community can learn from the experience in other similar situations, set aside fear and emotion, and support a decision to create a safer street that will serve everyone better.

In February of 2005, the timing of the traffic signals was modified at the intersections where F and G Streets meet 5th Street. The new timing, called “split-phase” in traffic engineer vernacular, allows only one direction of traffic on 5th Street (eastbound or westbound) to flow at a time.

Word To The Wise: The Foreclosure Nightmare

Word To The Wise: The Foreclosure Nightmare

By David GreenwaldFebruary 19, 20092 comments
imageCity of Davis

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!–PART 1

By E.A. Roberts

As more heartsick seniors come to me as a volunteer attorney for advice on foreclosure options, I feel compelled to comment on the following issues as I see them:

  • Reasons for the plight of our vulnerable older adults;
  • How we as a nation arrived at a “mortgage meltdown” scenario;
  • Possible solutions to resolve the mess, on a global and more local scale.
Inside the Numbers: A Further Examination of the DPD Turnover Rate

Inside the Numbers: A Further Examination of the DPD Turnover Rate

By David GreenwaldFebruary 18, 200913 comments
imageCity of Davis

Yesterday’s Sacramento Bee ran an article that found that Citrus Highets and the Davis police departments have the highest staff turnover rates among other law enforcement agencies in the region.

To add fuel to the fire, the Bee recessitates old charges that the climate in Davis involving complaints of racial profiling and the Halema Buzayan case were the prominent if not primary culprits for this turnover rate.

“High-ranking officials from the two departments blame a variety of factors ranging from a new department’s normal break-in period to the way a racially charged incident was handled.”

The Bee quotes Assistant Chief Steve Pierce discussing issues involving the arrest of Halema Buzayan, then 16 in 2005, along with accusations of racial profiling.