Woodburning, Public Art & Commissions: Council Liveblog, Round 2

Ok, here is a fresh start!  The Agenda and all previous commentary can be found by clicking HERE.

8:40PM – Break is over, and Public Comment will now commence.  If you want to summarize the public comments below in OUR comments section… well, that’d be just great.  I’m gonna give my typing digits a rest and just tally the comments: PRO-Ordinance (regulate woodsmoke, see pdf staff report for specific language), ANTI-Ordinance, Somewhere In Between… Got it?  Looks like 12 commenters are lined up and ready to speak their piece.

PRO-Ordinance – 8

ANTI-Ordinance – 5

Somewhere In Between – 1

9:14pm - Public Comment is now closed.  Now it’s time for Council to make some general comments before a decision is made.  Swanson is concerned about unintended consequences of the ordinance yet doesn’t think that doing nothing is the answer.  Souza would like to confirm that the NRC is actually doing work that the Council asked them to do, but it seems like the proposed ordinance does not solve many of the problems that are not recognized.  Souza would like to see the AQMD institute mandatory No-Burn days, but doesn’t think that the City by itself can enforce a stand-alone ordinance.

9:26pm – Krovoza is up to bat now,  “Smoky conditions” are real and when people make the choice to not go outside and enjoy all of our city’s amenities because of health concerns, that is a problem.  Federal and regional regulations are good, but we’ve struggled to find a way that makes sense for Davis and the NRC has followed their charge.  Krovoza would prefer a one-year trial that is completely voluntary, and would like to pass this ordinance with that proviso.

9:33pm – It is Greenwald’s turn now…  She’s mainly concerned that folks with EPA-Phase 2 fireplaces will be placed at an unfair disadvantage.  “We need more community outreach, education, more information from medical analysts”… She wants to “go back to the drawing board.”

9:40pm – Saylor is up now and supports the staff recommendation to deny the NRC’s ordinance and focus on voluntary efforts…. he’s also willing to consider other provisions.

9:42pm – Krovoza moves the NRC recommendation with the proviso that the first full year be voluntary and that staff come back with a report after the winter 2011 to determine whether to continue it another year with a fair and enforceable ordinance AND bring it back to council on October 26th to ensure that citizen investments in EPA2 stoves are protected.  Greenwald seconds.

9:44pm – Souza has a substitute motion to approve the Staff recommendations A, B & C:

a) Continue voluntary no-burn program based on the “Don’t Light Tonight” days as determined by the Yolo Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD).
b) Continue logging of air quality concerns from residents via the City’s webpage, YSAQMD’s webpage, telephone, and email.
c) Work with Dr. Thomas Cahill of UC Davis DELTA Group and the YSAQMD to gather specific air quality information during winter burn season 2010-2011

with the additional request for more educational programs, a ban on soft wood sales in the city, and more data on “Nearest Neighbor Effect” from Prof. Cahill, AND direct the Council liaison to ask the AQMD about Mandatory No-Burn days. Seconded by Swanson with a friendly amendment about more information on law enforcement’s ability to actually enforce… (anyone get that?).

Souza’s substitute motion passes 4-1 with Krovoza dissenting.  I’ve bolded what I think is now the law regarding woodburning…

10:00pm – And now that the fire has been put out, we’re moving on… Zoe Mirabile, City Clerk, has just explained how the voting process for commission appointments will work.  And now 3 more public comments from applicants.

10:07pm – It’s oddly quiet in Chambers while Council Members are casting their votes for Commission applicants.  Results later.

10:15pm – Item 05 East Area Water Tank Art Selection (pdf).  From the report,

The allocated amount for the aesthetics of the East Area Tank will not exceed $75,000. The  funding is available through the I-Bank Low Interest loan funds, which are being used for the construction of the water tank.

The artists are explaining their concept now, and it’s basically to bring nature, movement and life to the structure with shadows created by a small sculpture erected to cantilever out from the edge of the tank.  Titled “The Same Sun”, the artists have this to say about their work,

We propose creating an installation that evokes the feeling of the local landscape through a painted image and shadows. It will be made up of two major components: a painted  mural on the surface of the tank, and several sculptural pieces mounted to the top of the tank which cast shadows that complete the design. The painting consists of earthy abstract color fields with shadowy shapes and a Latin phrase that is completed with the sculptures’ shadow.

“Sol Omnibus Lucet”, or “The Sun Shines Upon Us All” is a Latin phrase that embodies our message, and reflects the surrounding community. It captures timeless wisdom in a few
words that embody a simple truth. This phrase connotes a connectedness that relates to the local awareness of the environment, focus on sustainability, and importance of education. The motto of the UC system ‘let there be light’ pronounces light as knowledge and truth. Accessible education, and building a global community through education is at the core of the University and the greater City of Davis.

The sun takes the design through periods of undone, done, abstraction, representation, and a moment of clarity, a discovery. The images the sun creates document the distinct cycle of a day, and the slow shifting cycle of the sun’s rays through the course of a year. The cycle of the sun can be a metaphor for any of life’s cycles, the natural flow of things coming together, going apart, and coming together again.

10:26pm – Greenwald is arguing with Saylor about the order of comments from Council Members and the original intent of the RFP for this project.  Saylor has ruled her out of order, but asked staff that same question… to clarify original Council intent and how that process worked.  Staff member Elvya Garcia is explaining that process as described in the staff report.

10:29pm – Krovoza is asking if there was any direction in the RFP about “advertising” the City of Davis.  Garcia states that yes, that request was included in the RFP.

10:32pm – Swanson has questions about the money…  Interim City Manager Paul Navazio is explaining the funding source, but basically it comes from our utility funds but channeled through a bank loan (correct me if I’m wrong).  Swanson also has concerns that the original Council direction was not captured in the RFP… Souza’s questions for a Civic Arts Commissioner clarified that point… we didn’t get any submissions that ~advertised~ what’s great about Davis.

10:39pm – Thankfully, everyone is confirming that the artists created something wonderful, but it may not jibe with the original intent of Council.

10:40pm – Greenwald is driving home the original intent, something bright and bold to really attract attention.  “How did Staff not get that in the RFP?”

10:43pm – Saylor’s comments about art and beauty is in the eye of the beholder are right on track.  And yes, this creative piece of art does reflect the spirit Davis.  Saylor argues that this piece of art will attract people to Davis because it is interesting and beautiful, it’s something that people will talk about.

Two comments from the public support the idea that this is public art, it’s great art and we should embrace the process and say thank you for this interesting and intriguing gift.

10:52pm – Saylor moves to adopt the piece of art submitted, and it dies for lack of a second.  Greenwald makes a motion to try again with another RFP that reflects this idea of “advertising” Davis.  Swanson has a clarifying question about not spending any money on the art, Navazio replies that he’d have to come back with more info.  Greenwald is now adding something (c’mon people, it’s late)… thank goodness, Saylor is asking her to repeat it.  Dies for lack of a second.

10:56pm – Souza is asking the artist to elucidate the concept of “advertising” Davis in an artistic endeavor.  The artists, Sofia Lacin and Hennessy Christophel, explained quite eloquently why Davis should embrace art over commercialization.

10:57pm – Swanson’s motion to appoint a sub-committee of Souza & Greenwald to re-examine the issue fails 3-2 with Saylor, Krovoza, and Souza dissenting.

11:04pm – Krovoza has a motion to send it back to the Civic Arts Commission and it passes unanimously, I’ll get the exact wording for you later.

11:07pm – And now, the Asst. City Clerk is reading the votes cast for all the Commissions.  Since she has to read out the votes, and not the appointments… its a little confusing.

11:22pm – Someone is literally playing the Jeopardy song in Chambers right now… awesome.  There is a lot of back and forth now with runoffs and then some shuffling around based on people who were in the running for more than one commission… the Mayor just made a good point, it may seem a little chaotic and inefficient but the point is that they are doing it in real time, publicly and on television, so that transparency trumps efficiency.  No offense, Zoe, I don’t know that you could actually make it much more efficient unless you had one of those electronic  voting systems like the House of Representatives uses.

11:30pm – And now, here’s Will Arnold playing the Jeopardy song for us again, but this time on the microphone.

11:32pm – Comments & Communications from Council & Staff, then the Long Range Calendar… but I’m done reporting.  As for the Commission appointments, I’ll try to get them from Zoe tonight… If not, I’ll post them here tomorrow.  Good night to all, and to all a good night!

Bicycle – Bourne, Matzek, Davis, McCullough

Business & Economic Development – Agee, Boschken, Hill

City/UCD – Buccieri, Tebbutt

Civic Arts – Joshi, Gatewood, Ingenthron, Hartsough

Finance & Budget – Miller, Sortor, Zhu, Clark,

Historical Resources – Beason, Howard, Epstein, Maples

Human Relations – Bixson, De Anda-Scaia, Privateer, Plank

Natural Resources – Boschken, Lubell, Newberry, Greaves, Shapiro, Wilson

Open Space & Habitat – Aptekar, Hoshovsky,

Planning – Braly, Hoffman, Hanson,

Recreation & Park – Russell, Bray, Purohit, Young, Westlund

Safety & Parking – Berneheim, Parks, Watson

Seniors – Bridge, Musser, Thomas, Bryan

Social Services – Hague, Wolk, Wolf, Templeton

Telecommunications – Frame, Nickerson

Tree – Osborn, Ozonoff, Vogt, Westrup

11:49pm – They’re still figuring this thing out folks, there is a motion to reconsider one of the run-off votes… and I’m done, done, done and done…. I’m packing up and leaving the building… really.

11:??pm – Meeting Adjourned with a large number of public members still here, I count 12 citizens, 2 members of the press, and 7 staff members.