This Week in Your Government

Monday, March 1 – Friday, March 5, 2010

March 4 is the Day of Action for Public Education

The California budget crisis is taking its toll on the students and employees of public education.  In response to reduced state funding, the University of California, California State Universities, community colleges, and K-12 schools face difficult and damaging loss of program, enrollment caps and/or skyrocketing tuition.

Supporters of California public education are calling for a Day of Action on Thursday, March 4 and will rally on the north steps of the state Capitol from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.  The purpose is to feature lessons on California’s public education system, focusing on history, political science and economics.  Speakers include Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, and UC Berkeley Professor George Lakoff.  Everyone is invited to join.

Locally, the Davis Schools Foundation will rally public education advocates to a planning forum for the upcoming Dollar-a-Day Campaign.  The campaign will run from March 15 to May 1 to raise funds to close the Davis Joint Unified School District’s $5.6 million budget gap (for details of the district’s budget situation, visit District Dollars.)

The forum will be held from 8:45-10:00 am Thursday, March 4, at the Davis Odd Fellows Lodge, 415 2nd St.  All who want to learn more about the campaign are urged to attend, especially people who might like to volunteer.

The following are your opportunities to participate in the public process this week.  Click on links for full agendas, locations and back-up documentation.  If we’ve missed important events, we invite you to add them in a comment.

Monday, 1 March 2010

11:30 am – UCD – UC Student Association will hold a march, rally and press conference at the State Capitol between 11:30 am and 2:00 pm UCSA leaders have asked UC President Mark Yudof and several regents and chancellors to join them in meetings with key legislative leaders throughout the day.

5:30 pm – CITY – Bicycle Advisory Commission

Tuesday, 2 March 2010

2:00 pm – COUNTY – Yolo County Office of Education Child Care Planning Council

5:30 pm – Davis City Council - Joint Discussion with Open Space & Habitat Commission regarding Community Farms Concept; resolution approving the fee title acquisition of the Staib 72 Property for the purposes of permanently protecting the agricultural values and open space character of the property; resolution opposing the “New Two-Thirds Vote Requirement for Public Electricity Providers” Initiative (Proposition 16); resolution opposing budget policies of the state of California; public hearing on resolution to adopt the updated housing element; public hearing on Willowbank Park residential subdivision proposal; accept the Wastewater Management Plan; approve mailing of the notification of 5% water rate increase and 6% sewer rate increase to begin September 1, 2010; proposed additions to the Council Meeting Ground Rules to address circumstances when ground rules and procedures are not adhered to and the possible sanctions that may be applied in the event of violation

7:00 pm – CITY – Social Services Commission (joint meeting with City Council) – presentations from groups and organizations who have submitted grant proposals for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Housing Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds.

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

2:30 pm – CITY – Telecommunications Commission - Google Fiber to the community RFI update

6:00 pm – Google Fiber Optics for Communities organizing meeting

Thursday, 4 March 2010

7:00 pm – Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Education – Davis Schools Foundation fundraising update, refinancing general obligation bonds, presentation of Spanish Immersion master plan, proposed Board Bylaw regarding student board members.