Preface to thinking about Measure Q Tax and council election

By Alan Hirsch   

I write this having attended more City Council and Commission meetings than all current council members, and all but a few community members.

For years now, I have seen city government fail to harness our community’s education and social capital wealth since the failure of the 2014 R&D Business Park initiative.  The community has not leveraged its charmed geography—a unique rural area highly accessible via I-80 & rail service between the Bay Area & State Capitol. And proximity to UC Davis, a major research university that brings billions in grant dollars to our community. We are ideally located to incubate a wealth of startups and attract businesses. This should be giving us a robust tax base and providing a rich offering of city services.

Instead, we are failing. So, we now need to raise our sale taxes and we seem to have been forced to site new affordable housing next to the freeway, land that should have been used for new startups and businesses to build our city’s tax base.  I note council decided not to site housing on Russell at a redone Trader Joes Mall across from the University this year. And Community resistance to student housing on Russell Fields 6 year back, close to our downtown, forced students to live in dorms in West Village 1 mile from our downtown shopping area- where they don’t feed out sales tax base.

It used to be noted at council meetings that Davis’s greatest asset is its involved and educated residents. No longer. Instead, city staff and council, though their actions, indicate they don’t believe this anymore. It used to be residents could express their insight and expertise by being involved in an independent city commission.  Full commissions used to bring up new ideas, and even vote to disagree with the council, even over ballot measures. No more.  People volunteering for commissions are told by staff that their role is to serve the current council’s policy, even though this contradicts the not-yet-updated official Commission Handbook that recalls the old way: “Commissions are independent.”

By Scott Steward

I attended three October 7th events. First, I attended the noon UCD Students for Justice in Palestine demarcation of “One Year of Genocide." - it was well attended, and the students chanted a series of edgy truths about Palestinian rights to land taken by Israel, 76 years of takings and oppression, and the most recent accelerated genocide.  

October 7th, students attending "One Year of Genocide" Students for Palestinian Justice protest at UCD Memorial Union

A small group of counter-protestors was noticeably attended by non-student senior adults. The senior adults led the harassment of masked Justice for Palestine student protestors. With phone cameras pointed, they would home in on a student and attempt to get a response with a series of derisive questions. The students were well-disciplined and would not let themselves get drawn into a quarrel.  Repeatedly, the pro-Israeli counter-protestors chanted, “Rape (see footnote) is not resistance,” in a useless attempt to shout down the much larger group of Students for Justice in Palestine. I left the group before they marched through campus.

Storer Lecturship in the Life Sciences: How Decades of Climate Denial, Disinformation and Doublespeak by Big Oil Fueled the Climate Crisis

Tuesday October 22, 4:00 - 7 pm ARC Ballroom (and Zoom)

Register here: https://bit.ly/102224StorerReg (or use QR code in flyer).   All are welcome.  Please register soon to help ensure an accurate headcount.

Speakers:

The east end of south Davis: No street refreshing for a "Farm fresh" business like Chipotle - and automobile dealers and other businesses here have been paying taxes for years, but to date not for any improvements to Chiles Rd and adjacent streets (Chiles Corridor).

In addition to Chipotle, multiple projects have been completed or are in process on or near the Corridor over the past four years, while the City excuses itself  by requiring no mitigation fees or investment since there's no specific "project" to improve transportation conditions in the Corridor. 

Westbound Chiles just east of the site in question. Staff seemed to have interpreted my photo as a suggestion that sight lines could be problematic for people leaving Chipotle. My actual intention was to make clear how unsafe it is to cycle this way from the large neighborhood to the east.... explicitly parents telling e.g. younger teens perfectly capable of riding a bike that they can't go get their food. 

Staff is recommending that the City of Davis Planning Commission - at their meeting on October 9th - approve the destruction of the building formerly used by Cindy's, following an earlier cancellation at their July meeting - so that the Historical Resources Management Commission could consider historical designation - and that Commission's vote against it on September 16.. The site would then be used by Chipotle Mexican Grill, for new building with its "Chipotlane" feature, a drive-thru - they call it a "pickup window" - designed to reduce idling by visiting motor vehicles. 

If you have something to say on this matter which you would like to be considered by the Planning Commission, please write them by end of morning on Wednesday at [email protected], or - better yet - come to the meeting at 7pm at City Hall. 

About the not-Historical part and Cindy's as an example of Googie architecture, I don't have a lot of professional experience, but a commenter at the mentioned meeting was a former HRM Commissioner (and current Yolo County Climate Action Commission member), Robin Datel. See the video starting at 16:15. Ms Datel commented that the Cindy's building represents a shift to suburban, automobile-focused planning, and that we lose something if it's destroyed.

That continuing endeavor is murderous, but it's good to keep memories of horrors along the way, isn't it?  About interiors, I DO  like the traditional diner aesthetic...

(By the way, the 'Enterprise article on that Commission meeting failed to mention that expert opposing comment.)

The natural segue of, um, deconstruction here is that the Chipotlane is the next step in the "evolution" of automobile-centric planning, which Davis is increasingly known for! So, this 'pickup window" is at once the evolution and symbol of big car. 

My precise position on this proposal is pragmatic: Leaving aside my justified criticism of car culture, while I think the best solution for I-80-focused businesses is some variant of the I-5-style multi-businesses that essentially form their own drive-thru, entrance and exit, for this location I question the absolute lack of any changes to the streetscape itself to make it safer for vulnerable users especially - but really, also people travelling by car. 

Historical Designation Dismissed - Archaic Infrastructure Ignored

It's widely known that the Davis automobile and RV dealerships and associated services - e.g. gas stations and car washes - on and adjacent to the long stretch of Chiles on both sides of Mace Blvd are one of if not the primary source of tax revenue for the City. But take a look at Chiles... what's been improved here since the whole area was first constructed, except perhaps some signal upgrades? It's so awful that it's logical to propose that the intensely old-school streetscape itself is worthy of historical designation!

But fear not, the City is not interested in tearing it down! 

The following from the Staff Report, starting on pg. 9. with my COMMENTS: 

"Traffic Considerations

Staff acknowledges that conversations regarding traffic operations along Chiles Road have taken place. Staff considered several alternatives to the proposed project, such as restricting turning movements at the project driveway, especially the eastbound left turn into the driveway. Staff felt that without a viable U-turn opportunity on Chiles to the west [do they actually mean "east"???], restricting turning movements at the driveway would increase cut-through traffic along Cowell Boulevard and El Cemonte Avenue, as this would be the shortest path of travel for automobiles. This route is not desirable since this portion of Cowell Boulevard is a residential neighborhood as well as a suggested safe route to school.

BUT also there's a huge residential neighborhood to the east and the most direct connection to Chipotle is via these streets. The alternative via Cowell requires a trip through the Mace and Chiles intersection, and back through the same. 

Additionally, there have been discussions about existing issues related to traffic on Chiles Road, such as existing congestion at the intersection of Chiles Road and Mace Boulevard and truck parking along Chiles Road near the project location. In this case, these issues are existing deficiencies. The City is not allowed to condition improvements on a private development project to address existing issues. If there were an identified project to address them, then the City could look at assessing a proportional share of the cost of that solution for the new traffic that would be created by this project; however, in this case, there is no such project in place.

WHY is there "... no such project..." here? During the past three or four years to the present day the following six varied projects were completed or in development, on the Corridor:

• 400 Mace Blvd: 7-11 & gas station re-construction (2020/21);
• 3820 Chiles Road (The Celeste Apartments, opened early 2023)
• Mace Blvd (South of Cowell; Re-design (2023 final version);
• 4480 Chiles: ARCO/AM-PM (2022 status: Approved and Pending/Under Construction)
• 4810 Chiles: Chiles Road Plaza (2022 status: Approved and Pending/Under Construction)
• 480 Mace (Sunny's Carwash, opened spring 2024

All of the development projects in the list have related transportation studies. The one done for 4810 Chiles - across the street from the proposed Chiptole - by Fehr & Peers - essentially the City's in-house external transportation experts - recommends features for Chiles to restrict turns and notes the hazards caused by the slip lane from NB Mace to EB Chiles. The study was done before Cindy's closed and likely before it was envisioned that it would, and that this possible variation of the restaurant model would be introduced. 

The Chiles Corridor: The Celeste is just west of Esmeralda Drive and the proposed Chipotle is next to - and to the east of - Taco Bell. Click on image to enlarge. (Sorry about formatting glitch)

The Chipotle analysis, for its part, consists of pasted in projections about the Chipotlane from the applicant and references staff and external input - included in the appendices of the Staff Report. 

However, the project - again, consisting in part of a transportation feature wholly new to Davis - was not brought to the Bicycling, Transportation and Street Safety Commission (BTSSC) prior to the cancelled July 2024 Planning Commission meeting, and the successor Transportation Commission (TC) did not see the project prior to the Planning Commission review this week. Fun Fact: Out of all the projects I mentioned above, only what came to be known as the Celeste was reviewed by the BTSSC (back in 2019 or so). The BTSSC/TC didn't see anything else, and so had no opportunity to, for example, suggest the Chiles Corridor needed the elusive "project". (I wrote the TC several times about this, including a link to these photos/videos. The only reaction was in September 2024: One Commission member suggesting a look into drive-thru's at a future meeting.) However, Chiles Road from the east frontage of the Celeste to the EB exit from I-80 will be part of the Cool Pavements project, so there will be new asphalt and universally-agreed-as-inadequate paint-only bike lanes just as there is all the way to the Cowell-Drummond-Chiles roundabout  (The project - and of course funding application to the Federal government - mentioned "progressive striping standards" which haven't been updated for eight years.) 

Mace Blvd NB, about 1/3 of the way between the WB I-80 exit and 2nd St. This is the apparently acceptable solution from the City for a damaged drain grate that could literally grab a bicycle wheel. It took two months after my report for the City to bring it to this state. From a collection of related photos. 

From the "Conditional Use Permit" section of the Staff Report, starting at the bottom of pg 3, again with my COMMENTS (starting in BOLD):

"The proposed demolition and reconstruction project would continue the long-standing use of the site as a restaurant the with addition of a pick-up lane. The project site is located on a major collector street in proximity to freeway off ramps, and is well suited to serve travelers along I-80 and visitors to the nearby auto dealers. The restaurant also provides a convenience for the community as a whole with proximity to the businesses and recreation facilities east of the City limits and residents in the South Davis vicinity, where there are limited restaurant choices, and will be the first “pick-up” lane in Davis.

ANOTHER "long-standing use" of this area is Mace Blvd as the most direct connection from El Macero, El Macero Estates and adjacent neighborhoods to the east end of Mace Ranch, including - most notably Target and its CVS pharmacy - there is currently no other pharmacy in the area, the closest might be at Safeway on Pole Line in the near future - the Ikeda fruit stand, University Covenant Church, the new businesses on Alhambra and Mace, etc.  (For me it forms part of the most direct route by bike to Sutter Davis on West Covell.) This "connection" has to be for all modes, and safely.  The sewer grate fix in the photo above is objectively, trash, and should have never been approved. It would not be tolerated in most other parts of Davis. "Recreation facilities east..." refers to the soccer fields, which have exactly zero safe official connections by bike - it's possible when dry to access from the east end of Cowell Blvd, but that's at least partly on private land. (It's a good candidate for an official cycling and walking corridor, but - as with Nugget Fields - cycling to soccer in Davis is overwhelmingly an alien activity.)  In other words, the convenience of people driving is paramount here, including those getting off and back on I-80 .

SAFE cycling (and walking) for kids vs. Gig-driver Delivery

Chipotle will have some bike racks and such, but given the described non-plan of Davis to make the areas safe for its peripheral #cycling capital activity, the racks will likely remain empty. If I lived east of here, I'd be nervous to allow any children to go by foot to Chipotle, i.e. to cross Chiles either east or west of Chipotle I would simply use Door Dash. 

An expert friend remarked:

Recommendations: 

1) Cancel item for Planning Commission meeting on October 9th.

2) Create a new item for the Transportation Commission, specifically a process for a project focusing on efficiency, joy and safety for the Chiles Corridor... ideally forming a sub-committee process inclusive of one or more public hearings, or at least implementing features recommended for 4810 Chiles, and also possibly involving the Fiscal Commission (in relation to e.g. the Chiles Corridor business tax disconnect with Chiles Corridor improvements) and the Climate and Environmental Justice Commission (in relation to climate goals and transportation equity in the Corridor).

By Matt Williams

In one of the Measure Q threads on NextDoor, Council member Donna Neville and I have been having a dialogue about whether the City’s most recent financial audit by their independent auditors was “clean.” The dialogue starts here (https://nextdoor.com/p/8q75t9X4mtRY/c/1232060918?utm_source=share&utm;_campaign=1728246745147)

As you can see from the comments in the dialogue, Donna asserts that the audit was “clean,” and I believe the audit was not. For those of you who prefer not to wade through long threads, here are the reasons I believe what I do. In the interests of transparency, I have sent this to Donna as a personal email as well as posting it here.

Donna, reasonable people can agree to disagree reasonably.  I have always found you to be very very reasonable, and this is no different.  And I the spirit of that reasonability let me explain why I do not believe the audit is “clean.” When the 2021 audit arrived in January 2024, the concerns the auditor had raised in the 2020 audit were no longer 4 “Significant Deficiencies,” but rather 5 even more serious “Material Weaknesses” plus 5 “Significant Deficiencies.” Even more concerning was the fact that the City had made no meaningful progress in addressing 3 of the 4 Significant Deficiencies in the three years between audits.

So, with the carry over of those 3 unaddressed Significant Deficiencies there really were 6 Significant Deficiencies in the January 2024 Audit’s Memorandum.

Those factual realities appear to indicate that the Auditor and the City were having conflicts getting the 2021 audit done because (1) the City didn’t appear to be taking the Auditor’s 2020 concerns seriously, and (2) in three years the situation had gotten significantly worse both in the gravity of the problems and their quantity. That is what the auditor’s written report tells anyone who reads it, and it is impossible for me to see that as a “clean” audit.

(From press release) Women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families and seek financial assistance to further their education or training are encouraged to apply for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women.

The application deadline is Friday, Nov. 15. This year, Soroptimist International of Davis will present one or more awards ranging from $1,000 to $4,000. The top recipient’s application will advance to regional and possibly the international level, where she could receive up to $15,000 more. Recipients may use the Live Your Dream Award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. This may include tuition, books, childcare, transportation or other education-related expenses.

Applications are available at https://bit.ly/LYDA-apply.

The Live Your Dream Award provides more than $2.8 million in cash awards to head-of-household women in need each year. Since the program’s inception in 1972, more than $35 million has helped tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families.

Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Learn more at https://www.sidavis.org/.

The LWV Davis area held three local election forums for the November election.  Measure Q, Davis City Council district 2, and DJUSD Trustee Area 2.  You can find the videos here:  https://lwvdavisarea.org/ (scroll down)

Four Davis City Council Members Accepted Large Campaign Contributions from the Firefighters Union and its Members that Preceded Excessive Salary Increases

By the No on Measure M Campaign Committee

I. Large contributions were accepted by current Davis City Councilmembers’ campaign committees over 2 election cycles from firefighters and their union.

All current Davis City Councilmembers, except Donna Neville, have accepted substantial bundled contributions from individual firefighters and Davis Firefighters Union Local 3494. Additionally, in Gloria Partida’s and Bapu Vaitla’s case, the firefighters’ union also printed and sent out a mailer for each of their campaigns, as well as door hangers. These door hangers were then distributed by firefighter volunteers on behalf of the campaigns in 2022.

Following is a summary of the total contributions accepted by the 2020 campaigns of Will Arnold and Josh Chapman from the Davis Firefighters Union and their members, and by the 2022 campaigns of Gloria Partida and Bapu Vaitla. See Appendix A for a full detailed listing of the contributions as reported on the City of Davis’ and the California Secretary of State’s campaign finance  reporting portals.

Open to all topics of course, but this month we'll focus on cutting off the City Council's allowance money!

To highlight this month's primary topic, here is my testimony sing-a-long from last night's City Council meeting (2 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsy-s6viEaU

Here are the lyrics:

Spend On (sung to the tune of "Dream On" by Aerosmith)

Every time that I look at the budget
All these lines on the books, they try to fudge it
The money's gone
It went by like a unwatered lawn
Isn't that the way?
The City always spends more than it can pay, yeah

I know, nobody knows
Where the money comes and where the money goes
I know it's the City Council’s sin
You've got overspend in order to win

[ kazoo bridge ]

Half the spending is on bottomless budget pages
Ladder trucks, zip lines and climate changes
You know it's true, oh . . .
All this spending, come back to you

Spend with me, Spend through the years
Spend on the soccer field, and on housing crisis fears
Spend with me, not just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take the City Debt, away

But until then . . .

Vote No, Vote No, Vote No
Vote No on Measure Q!

Vote No, Vote No, or Spend On!  Spend On!
Vote No!, Vote No!, Vote No! - Waaaaaaaaa-oooooooo!

[ kazoo piano fade ]

By Scott Steward

51 Weeks of Protest, Yolo for Palestinian Justice weekly protest in front of Mike Thompson's Woodland Office. We witness a genocide and Mike does nothing. It will be a year next week.n

51 Weeks of Protest, Yolo for Palestinian Justice weekly protest in front of Mike Thompson's Woodland Office. We witness a genocide and Mike does nothing.  It will be a year next week.

It is some comfort, if small comfort, that the moorings of our Davis democracy are relatively intact, even as our "leadership" gambles our democracy on US/Israeli war crimes.  I would say that Israel has drawn Iran into war and the US along with it, except that it is obvious that the US has been party to the war plan all along.  12 months of Genocide?  That is the cost of doing business for Israel and the US.

After yesterday's 200 mostly destroyed Iranian missile attacks on Israeli military targets, “Make no mistake,” Joe Biden said, “The United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel.” October 1 2024, Michael Birnbaum Washington Post.

Blinken has been lying about peace (see Veterans for Peace lawsuit below). Joe is delusional. Together along with most all of our federal representatives, including our Congressman Mike Thompson, we have been lied to about any and all consternation concerning Israel. No serious thoughts of how to secure the return of the hostages, no thoughts on how to give honor to those killed on October 7th, just a year of killing (42,000 Gazan's dead, mostly women and children).

As we debate Measure Q and the rest of the November ballot here in Davis, you are about to see your future hopes, dreams, and dollars be flushed down the war toilet - again. Why not pay the extra 1% sales tax for Measure Q, and get our $11 million local dollars.  We might as well, we are about to experience the same Iraq/Afghan Washington Beltway war f-- up with Iran  ($21 Trillion US dollars, 2,000 US and 200,000 Iraq killed). In the end, we will have a more radicalized and impoverished Arab world when it is all over.  Let's all go buy Raytheon stock! 

Let's set the record straight regarding the position the No on Q speakers shared at the recent League of Women Voters Forum.

No on Q stated that Interfaith Housing Justice Davis (IHJD) is urging residents to vote for Measure Q because the city is planning to direct more money to homelessness. They implied that the city has already committed to funding new programs addressing housing. While IHJD supports Measure Q, the city has not promised anything other than that housing is on the list of possible recipients of funding along with other legitimate city needs including replenishing the General Fund reserve, and infrastructure. The city has not promised to prioritize housing issues or indeed any particular recipient because Measure Q is a General fund tax and therefore by law, they can't.

No on Q stated that a plan for the City to spend money on homelessness is in the staff report. A review of the 6/4/24 staff report clearly demonstrates a wish list of projects "including urban forestry, climate action, affordable housing and social services, and infrastructure ". No commitments were made (nor can they be made!!) about where funds may be used.

Yes, IHJD supports Measure Q because we hope revenue will be generated sufficient to fund housing related issues. But we understand that passing Measure Q is only the first step. When the council begins the budgetary process after the election, IHJD will advocate for a commitment to address affordable housing and homelessness.

Ellen Kolarik, co-chair IHJD

(From press release) Soroptimist International of Davis invites community members to join its annual Soup Night and Silent Auction, Thursday, Oct. 24 at Veterans Memorial Center. The event benefits two programs that serve local women’s causes: SI Davis and Thriving Pink.

Due to the event’s popularity, organizers moved it to a larger venue: Veterans Memorial Center, 203 E. 14th St., Davis. The Soroptimist Soup Night and Silent Auction features unlimited soups from local restaurants as well as sides and dessert. Each ticket comes with a beverage ticket for a local beer, glass of wine or nonalcoholic drink. Music will be provided by the youth jazz band Lucky Strike.

What makes the silent auction so popular? It’s the meticulously crafted themed baskets, each a labor of love from dedicated Soroptimists and generous local businesses. From artisanal gifts to unexpected experiences, the auction is a celebration of community generosity and creativity. It’s a great chance to get a jump start on holiday shopping too.

General admission tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Students or children ages 6-17 are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Children 5 and under are free. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Auction bidding ends at 7:30 p.m. and the event concludes at 8 p.m. For tickets or sponsorship information, visit https://www.sidavis.org/soupnight.

The evening’s proceeds benefit SI Davis programs, and Thriving Pink’s work bettering the lives of breast cancer survivors and their families. Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Learn more about the service club at https://www.sidavis.org/ and about Thriving Pink at https://www.thrivingpink.org/.

by the No on Measure Q Campaign Committee

This article factually analyzes and discusses patently false claims made by the Yes on Measure Q campaign in their ballot statements presented to voters.

Introduction and Background

This article is the 3rd in a series presented by the No on Measure Q campaign committee about the significant problems associated with the new tax measure. The first article (see here) provided three good reasons for citizens to vote No on Measure Q including a decided lack of transparency and disclosures by the City Council in bringing the measure to a vote. The 2^nd article (see here) gives additional reasons to vote No on the tax measure, discussing the mismanagement of city finances by the current administration.

About Measure Q

If passed on the November ballot, Davis Measure Q would double the extra sales tax from 1% to 2% imposed by the City of Davis on all goods purchased or used within the City except for some food and medicines. Based on the expected $11 million per year generated by the new tax and a Davis population of about 66,000, this works out to be approximately $165/year tax for every man, woman, and child in Davis. And like the previous two ½ percentage point sales and use tax hikes, this tax is permanent.  It doesn’t matter if the City’s financial condition substantially changes for the better in the future, this tax never goes away!  

In the Past Decade, City of Davis Revenues and Expenses Soared Far in Excess of the Inflation Rate or Population Growth.

I wholeheartedly support Measure Q, which proposes a modest increase in Davis’s sales tax from 8.25% to 9.25%. This initiative will generate $11 million annually, funding critical services that ensure our community’s health, safety, and financial stability.

Why is this additional tax necessary? While costs have risen, our city’s revenue has not kept pace. For years, the City Council has sought solutions, from proposing a dedicated tax for road maintenance that failed in 2018 to two economic development plans—the Davis Innovation & Sustainability Campus (DISC) in 2020 and DISC II in 2022—both of which did not pass. After cutting discretionary spending, the City is now at a point where further reductions threaten essential services.

What will Measure Q accomplish? This measure is essential for strengthening our police and fire departments, enhancing maintenance of our parks and greenbelts, and upgrading our aging public infrastructure.  It can also contribute to the Housing Trust Fund, helping to tackle homelessness and expand affordable housing options.

I understand that sales taxes can disproportionately affect low-income individuals. However, Measure Q exempts essential purchases like groceries and medicine, mitigating that impact.

Ultimately, I believe that a small increase in sales tax is a worthwhile investment in our community’s future. By supporting Measure Q, we can preserve and enhance the services that make Davis a great place to live. Let’s take this step together to ensure our city thrives for years to come.

Barbara Clutter

Mismanagement of City Finances by the Davis City Council

by the No on Measure Q Campaign Committee

Introduction and Background

This article is the second in a series presented by the No on Measure Q campaign committee about the new tax measure. The first article (see here) provided three good reasons for citizens to vote No on Measure Q  including a decided lack of transparency and disclosures by the City Council in bringing the measure to a vote   This 2^nd article discusses the mismanagement of city finances by the current administration, which is attempting to get their financial house in order by encouraging citizens to approve forking over millions of dollars annually rather than addressing the root causes of the city’s financial problems. The best way to describe this effort is that it is a “Bailout of financial and operational mismanagement!

About Measure Q

If passed on the November ballot, Davis Measure Q would double the extra sales tax from 1% to 2% imposed by the City of Davis on all goods purchased or used within the City except for some food and medicines. Based on the expected $11 million per year generated by the new tax and a Davis population of about 66,000, this works out to to be an approximately $165/year tax for every man, woman, and child in Davis. And like the previous two ½ percentage point sales and use tax hikes, this tax is permanent.  It doesn’t matter if the City’s financial condition substantially changes for the better in the future, this tax never goes away!   

Reason 4 -  The City Council suspended paying down $42 million of unfunded employee benefits.

The changes will threaten Commission independence and stifle innovation

 By the Sierra Club Yolano Group Management Committee

A recent op-ed by Dan Carson and Elaine Roberts Musser (see here)  alerted Davis residents to a concern with a new proposal before the Davis City Council that has the potential to substantially limit citizen input into environmental issues in the City of Davis. 

According to the op-ed, Mayor Josh Chapman and Councilmember Bapu Vaitla recently began asking Davis City Commissioners for feedback on their proposal for “clarification of how items are placed on a commission meeting agenda.”

Carson and Roberts Musser state:

“…in a big change, proposals initiated by a commission would now be subject to review and veto -- by either any relevant council subcommittee (two councilmembers) or that commission’s assigned Council liaison (typically one councilmember).The Chapman-Vaitla plan says these new rules would apply whenever the council wished to “undertake a particular task/project/discussion.” In other words, almost anything and everything a commission might ever want to do would be subject to veto by one councilmember. The Council and city staff would dictate what a commission can or cannot do, but the commission itself would have absolutely no control over its work.” (Bold emphasis added)

If enacted, we find this proposal deeply concerning and undemocratic.  Historically, at least six of Davis’s volunteer citizen commissions regularly dealt with environmentally-related matters: Tree; Open Space and Habitat; Natural Resources; Bicycling, Transportation, and Street Safety; Utilities; and Recreation and Park Commission (for the latter, with topics such as the use of toxic pesticides and drought-tolerant plantings).

Lack of Transparency by the Davis City Council

By the "No on Measure Q" Campaign

About Measure Q

If passed on the November ballot, Davis Measure Q would double the extra sales tax imposed by the City of Davis from 1% to 2% on all goods purchased or used within the City except for some food and medicines. Based on the expected $11 million per year generated by the new tax and a Davis population of about 66,000, this works out to to be an approximately $165/year tax for every man, woman, and child in Davis. And like the previous two ½ percentage point sales and use tax hikes, this tax is permanent.  It doesn’t matter if the City’s financial condition substantially changes for the better in the future, this tax never goes away!  

Introduction and Background

This article is the first in a series presented by the No on Measure Q campaign committee talking about various adverse impacts and lack of disclosures of the new tax measure. This article discusses the non-transparent and deceitful process by which Measure Q was brought to the public.  Many elements of Measure Q and the City’s finances have been shrouded in secrecy and not subject to public scrutiny and analysis by a citizen advisory commission.

_____________________________

Reason 1 -  The City Council prevented our watchdog Finance & Budget Commission from weighing in on the Tax Measure by unscrupulous means

For decades, the citizens of Davis have relied on the citizen’s advisory Finance and Budget Commission to provide needed oversight of the City’s finances. But our City Council has been so contemptuous of this Commission that they quietly refused to appoint any new applicants to fill Commission vacancies for more than a year. As a result, they have not met since July, 2023. So this critical Commission never even got the chance to weigh in on the need for new  taxes or how the proceeds will be spent. What is the City Council trying to hide from us?

As mentioned in this earlier post:

On September 11, 2024, starting at 7:00 PM, the City of Davis Planning Commission is scheduled to conduct a public meeting to solicit input and comments from public agencies and the general public on the Draft SEIR for the Palomino Place Project. This meeting will be held at the City of Davis Community Chambers, located at 23 Russell Boulevard, Davis, CA 95616.

There will be no transcription of oral comments at these meetings. Comments received will be summarized by staff for inclusion in the Final EIR. Those who wish to have their verbatim comments incorporated in the Final EIR must submit their comments in writing.

22nd Annual Request for Proposals—Proposals due September 27, 2024

(From press release) Nonprofit organizations are invited to submit applications to the Biberstein Social Action Fund for grants in support of projects addressing poverty, discrimination, abuse and neglect, and the promotion of social justice in Yolo County.

The Biberstein Social Action Fund was established in 2002 by the Board of Directors of Congregation Bet Haverim to honor Ernie and Hannah Biberstein, who are among the founding members of CBH, and who devoted much of their lives to community service and social justice. Hannah passed away in April 2011. This is the 22^nd Anniversary of the Fund.

The goal of the annual awards made from the Biberstein Social Action Fund is to help Yolo County organizations in their efforts to meet unfulfilled needs. Special consideration is given to new and/or innovative projects.

An annual Call for Proposals is released each Fall. Grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 are awarded in December. The Biberstein Fund members review the proposals. Current Biberstein Fund members include Congregation Bet Haverim partners Ernie Biberstein, Amy Abramson, Anne Gieseke, Sandy Jones, Joan Sublett, Shoshana Zatz, and Rabbis Bess Wohlner and Jeremy Simons.

Information about the Biberstein Award, including a link to the application, is available on the CBH website: https://www.bethaverim.org/engage/committees/biberstein-social-action-fund/

Grant proposals must be submitted no later than September 27, 2024. Questions may be directed to the Biberstein Social Action Fund at: [email protected]. Awards will be announced in December 2024.

By Dan Carson and Elaine Roberts Musser

Mayor Josh Chapman and Councilmember Bapu Vaitla recently began asking city commissioners for feedback on a proposal for “clarification of how items are placed on a commission meeting agenda.”  Chapman and Vaitla did not invite the public at large to weigh in on their proposal, but we feel compelled to do so in the public interest.

To sum up, we recommend jettisoning this illegal and ill-conceived plan. It would empower even a single councilmember to micromanage and indefinitely block any commission-initiated proposal they didn’t like for any reason whatsoever. There are far better alternatives to promote teamwork and collaboration between the City Council and the city’s expert volunteer citizen commissioners.

Current city policy allows commissions free reign to work on pretty much anything they want as long as it is consistent with the written charter established for them. Once a commission has explored a policy matter, the city’s Commission Handbook says it may submit items to the Council to be placed on the Council agenda for   its consideration.

The Chapman-Vaitla plan, summarized in a flow chart [see graphic at the beginning of the article], overrides those policies. The Council and the city staff could continue to place items on commission agendas. Yet, in a big change, proposals initiated by a commission would now be subject to review and veto -- by either any relevant council subcommittee (two councilmembers) or that commission’s assigned Council liaison (typically one councilmember).The Chapman-Vaitla plan says these new rules would apply whenever the council wished to “undertake a particular task/project/discussion.”  In other words, almost anything and everything a commission might ever want to do would be subject to veto by one councilmember. The Council and city staff would dictate what a commission can or cannot do, but the commission itself would have absolutely no control over its work. This is bizarre and extremely unwise.