City Council

19th. 2024 captions standing by of davis city council tuesday. NOVEMBER 19th. 2024 captions standing by tat is 639. And I looked to my right and left all of my colleagues are here. So we do have a quorum. Uh and with that I will entertain a motion to approve our agenda. We have a motion by council member arnold and the second by council member neville. Any further questions comments on our agenda this evening all right, seeing none. Please say I I I oppose abstain motion carries, uh, 50 and we have an agenda. Uh, with that, we're on to ceremony uh to item number 1 uh ceremonial present ceremonial presentations. Um ceremony present ceremonial presentations. Um, thank you all uh for being here. As we walk out of our closed session comes from council and said, well must an important must be here tonight and there's uh, definitely a few important people sitting here in the audience that uh, where we're honored to be here um honoring and also welcoming into new roles. So thank you, all of you for being here. Welcome to. Um, folks who have never been in this, in these chambers before family friends, uh, colleagues welcome to uh, the davis city council chambers. Um, kind of a brief outline of how we're going to move forward with some of the items here this evening before we continue on with our regular um, meeting as I imagine you all know we are here to, uh, recognize um, chief darren pitel on his service to our community, um, and we're also here this evening to, uh, welcome and swear in uh our new police chief todd so welcome to both of you. So what way will kind of go run a show? Um, we the city has a proclamation for chief patel. Uh, we'll go through that proclamation. Uh, we'll have chief by talking to the podium, say some words, uh, and then we're going to, we have um, representatives from the police department here who are going to um, who are going to address the council and our and our community. Uh, we have lucy, uh, brazil from congressman, mike, thompson's office, who is here. Uh, who will be, um, presenting a federal proclamation? Uh, we have our uh cecilia aar. Curry. Uh, who is here? Nice to see you. Thank you for coming and we have lizette marshman who's here from senator bill dodds office. They will come up after uh, with another um, state proclamation for chief patel. And then, uh, the last proclamation, this evening, we have um, from the county, we have terrorists. Uh thronson, who is here uh representing supervisor ferrex, who spent a lot of time obviously with chief pitel while he was on this council and all of our snow who was here, representing, uh, supervisor prevents this office. Uh, the proclamation side of things. Uh, with that we will then move on to um swearing in our new police chief. Uh, chief todd henry. Uh, he'll be sworn in by, um, karen pitel this evening. Um, after that, we will then go to public comm. We normally, don't do public comment on, um, proclamations on evenings. When we do proclamations. The only exception to that is when we are welcoming somebody on board or somebody's retiring going out, we do um open up the chambers and welcome public comment. Um related to what we're talking the population that are here receiving. So um, if you're here for that, that will be right at the end. Um, once we conclude the public comment related to the ceremonial presentations, we will then uh, invite chief itel family, whomever down to the front of the lecture. And here, we'll get some photo opportunities with the other representatives from, uh, senator thompson's office, um, uh, council member council member, since you, I got a curry and folks down at the front, we'll do photos and we'll go from there. I am going to um start with the city proclamation for uh chief darren bell. Chief, darren pel, who grew up in davis, began his career with the city of davis in 1983 at the age of 14 as a cadet with the davis police department. Chief pel advanced through the ranks as a bike enforcement officer. A parking enforcement officer, a police aid in provisional police officer before official will be coming and police officer in 1991. He then continued to the ranks of sergeant. Lieutenant captain assistant chief before taking on the role of police chief on DECEMBER 31st 2015. Chief pel created a culture in the davis police department that prioritizes a serve with pride and force the law and guard individual human rights approach and received the multicultural community council administration of justice award for creating and implementing the alternative conflict, resolution process that allows for peaceful conflict resolution and mediation served jeep pitel citywide incident commander in the co 19. Pandemic. Guiding the city or organization through uncharted waters such as shelter, in place, social distancing, and mask mandates over the course of 2 years. Starting in MARCH of 2020. Chief pitel has faced challenges with courage and resilience always placing the welfare of our city and its residents above all. He has also guided the city and department through several complex community tragedies, including the loss of police officer, natalie corona, ad the response to a series of stabbings and homicides in the spring of 20223. Years of dedicated service with the city chief darren pel's legacy leads department of well-trained and prepared to move forward in confidently. While he has more than earned his retirement, where he plans t spend time teaching playing with his grandkids and drinking fine wine. Now, therefore we the council on behalf of the people of davis, hereby recognized the 41 years of outstanding service police chief, darren pel gave to davis community and wish him well in retirement. Thank you, and welcome. You know? I actually did not prepare uh, anything to say, uh, so I have to wing it like normal. Um, thank you so much. It is been just an absolute pleasure to work with the council, all of you and all the previous councils have been so lucky, um, both, uh, working in the administration, and it's a police chief to work with. So many council members and mayors who, uh, really, really do a good job and, and governing the city. And, the the, uh city manager, uh, and previous city managers that I've worked with have all done a fabulous jobs, very supportive of the pd and, uh, you know, being a part of the city management team for so many years has been a true pleasure. I I don't think that most people on davis. Understand, you know how dedicated the members of the city management team are to uh ensuring that davis is a great place to live work. Go to school and research children and everybody has in doing that, and then of course, there's the davis police department, um, an organization that I've been a part of for a long time and uh, and I've truly truly enjoyed working with the members of the police department, um, both, uh, you know, starting out and, uh, you know, having a great time being a cop out in the streets and, uh, making the community safer and then, of course, moving up the ranks and, you know, ultimately being the police chief here but of the police department. They're the best inn in the area. Um, we do a tremendous job of hiring the best personnel and and making sure that they have the training that they need and uh, caring for the philosophy of this city today. I think that served the community, very, very well. So, it's been a pleasure and a true pleasure, and, uh, I have been retired. Now, a couple of weeks. For all the members of the police department wondering, what it's like to reach the end. It's as good as you think it's going to be it it's been a the weird uh, both not working, not having the same responsibility. But uh, retirement is is very, very nice and happy that I made it. So thank you so much. Chief. All right, so before we uh, we move on t the next proclamation or or to invite um, jean lion up from the police department to turn to up on the diets, uh, first for any, um, comments, um, for chief um, chief pitel. I, uh, I know that you like public fanfare. Probably about as much as I do. But you really, really deserve this recognition this evening. Um, I was thinking about it. I was coming here tonight and I'm I'm the junior member on council. I've been here for a year and a half and I would say me 1 of the real highlights for me being on council, has been getting to know you and how you have run your police department and a lot of people don't realize, you know, when you're on the outside or you're a community member, you don't really know what goes on behind the scenes and then suddenly when you're on council and we really do learn a lot more ad I am just deeply indebted to the way you have run your department to the compassionate way that you engage in policing policing and I'm particularly way that you and the mmbers of your department have responded to mental health crisis. It's a model for how policing should be done and I'm deeply grateful for that. Um, I'm also really, really appreciative of the fact that you bring to bear this wonderful combination of policing expertise and legal knowledge, and that's great to have together to have someone in your capacity, who brings to bear a strong understanding of the law is incredibly helpful to this I just want to thank you and tell you how much. I hope that you truly continue to enjoy your retirement but don't get too happy drinking a lot of wine. I hope you'll come back and consult with us and you might even decide you want to run for elected office. At some point. Who knows? But I'm just so appreciative of everything you've done and I, I, I want to thank you for all of your hard work and dedication. Thank you. Elected office, come just a picture. Uh, 2 patel, uh, a relationship. Got off to a rocky start. Uh, that there MAY or MAY not have been some raised voices on zoom, uh, and it's interesting, you know, over the last couple of years, uh, as as I've gotten to, to watch you in action, and in some cases, watch you read the signal, particularly very trying times. I've seen what immense skill, you bring to your position and depth of care. You have for this community and those 2 things together are very powerful to care about something deeply and then to mobilize the skill um to, to take care of what you love. So much is, is truly unique. Uh, I know these last 2 years have been very challenging for the community especially last year, uh, and you carried us carries on the, on your shoulders through that very trying time. Um, and I think I think I speak for everybody here. Certainly for myself think for our community when I say that uh we are deeply and I think internally grateful for your cool head, your quick mind your, your heart during that time. Um, you know, I was thinking the other day, just like, what the measure of life. Well, lived is and this is starting to sound like a eulogy so I'll let me uh, just speed up its not uh, but, you know, it's uh, when you think about lived for me. Um, of people that you protect that you sort of carry through their suffering and their pain and uh people that MAY not even know that you're protecting them. Is, uh, tremendous accomplishment. I think any 1 of us in this room would be really proud to say that we spent a career, um, decades on decades dedicated to to protecting lives of well-being of others. So, uh, thank you so much for what you've given to the city. Thank you for the that we've worked together and what I've learned from you. And luck and there's a hope. Thank you. Bye, bye. I will turn to council member partito. Okay, so I was I was really hoping that there'd be a slideshow with the 41 years and especially the 14 year old um, darren pitel. Um, maybe we can still like bring that up before we're done. Um, so I wnt to say thank you. Uh, I first met yu, uh, probably the lowest point in my life and at a time where, you know, you, you know, 1 of those instances, where you absolutely dn't wnt to meet the police, right? So this was when my son was a victim of a hate crime, and you were so wonderful. And so warm and it was a, a time of a lot of, um, uncertainty for my family and how we were going to be the police. And it was, um, I'm so very grateful for how tat was handled. And since then you've worked with, uh, my nonprofit with the davis phoenix coalition, and have, you know, showed up for all of the crazy ideas that we've, um, put forth in the support of those ideas. And so, I, again very grateful and then when I um, came on council as council member neville, said it really opened my eyes to of depth what the police department does, and the seriousness of the items that you have to deal with. And I know there were some uh, mention of, you know, some of the major things that you that you were in charge of. But I know that you took care of so much more than that and had to deal with so much more than that. Um, and the and that you were able to hold on to you know, just hold the community in that optimism is just it's wonderful, right? And in 2018, when we were going through the reimagining policing, which was vry challenging for the entire community, uh, you through that and um, and I wrote an article called, uh, good police. Chief is hard to find. And so 1 of the things that I wrote was emp, entropy of social justice for the balance of power to become unbalanced in working with police chief. Darren kytle. I am grateful that that balance tips in the positive direction. So thank you. COUNCILMAN Partida. Yeah, thank you. Um, I realize or I just realized that we're sort of seated in order of longevity on the council and that was not intentional. But with donna indicated, uh, yu know, that it's only been a year and a half or so. I, I had mentioned to mike, uh, just before this meeting, I said, are any with this with tonight? Are any of the department heads? The same as when I was first on the council 8 years ago and I think the answer now is no so uh, we've worked together a lot darren um uh, over the last 8 years, um and known each other uh, even before that. Um, and uh, and obviously, we have a lot of uh, uh friends in common uh, through growing up in town. Probably second only to, to mike, uh, have you and I had the opportunity to work together incredibly closely over the years? Um, mike sort of has no choice, uh, but to work with the city council members, um, know, and as the community can probably uh, uh, guess the times when the council is working very closely with the police, chief are typically some of the toughest times in our community and some of the toughest times for us as elected leaders um, as you know, I turned 40 uh, in the police station, uh uh on the night that uh that natalie corona was murdered and of course, uh, as last year, um, we were working so incredibly closely and I was able to see, uh, have a front row, seat to, to your leadership, uh, uh, during that ongoing crisis. But those are just 2 of the most high-profile examples. Uh, we had, uh, 2 major rounds of of dealing with sort of police reform and community oversight, uh, over the and at every turn I became more and more impressed by your knowledge your thoughtfulness, your openness to ideas your creativity, to try to find ways to make things work, and at eery single 1 of those uh times. I'm incredibly proud. Now, looking back at what we did as a community and of the role that the policy makers played in that, but you know, when when other communities, for example, in 2020 murder of george, floyd were dealing with police reform. Uh, so many communities. So many political folks. Made these grand pronouncements about what they were going to do. The the the police department said we're never going to go along with it and eventually was done or it was a huge conflict. And what did we do in davis? We did what we do often, which is we get the best minds together, we try to come up with a reasonable solution and so, you know, I know that there's folks out there in our community that probably are thinking boy they're really, they love their police in davis. Oh, we don't like the police very much. I think, folks need to know. I don't know how much you love hearing this, but darren progressive police chief. Um I I remember this was just before I was elected. I remember we were doing a picnic day. Uh, a recap and uh, somebody asked the police chief. Wll, you know, marijuana has been legal now. Uh, uh, how does that affect? Uh, picnic day and police calls? And he says, look when we show up, and we see a bunch of beer bottles and stuff, we know, hey, we, we should be ready for something. If we open the door to a party on picnic we smell is weed, smoke. We probably at least know, we're not going to be in a fight right now, right? And that's coming from our police chief. I'm paraphrasing. I'm im certain, but, but it's pretty close. Um, and as we, you know, I recall as we were working through, um, some of the uh, police reform difficult, heavy issues that I actually I I leaned upon you for assistance in some of what I put forward because hey, am I getting this right? Am I at least correct in my assumption and and and you sent me logical edits, right? I mean, it's just, it's that type of thoughtfulness. And then, of course, I go back to, um, these tragedies in our especially uh, as mayor when we had this serial killer, I remember telling anyone who would listen at the time, who was asking me? How's it going? What's going on? Telling him how are to have a police chief. That is so knowledgeable. It was said before knowledgeable of the law that will incredibly important as we were uh as we were moving toward closing that case and so we are just so lucky to have anyone who's willing to serve our community for so long. Um and and so lucky to have the the mark that you've made on our community is it's absolutely a former colleague said everything's been said, but not by everyone so I won't take up too much of your time but no I I can't. Um, say enough about um, how honored I have been to work with you. Uh, when I came on the city council, I was elected in the height of pandemic and and 2020 uh and 1 of the first meetings that I that I, when I was on board, he was with, uh, chief pitel and I remember having some conversations with you in that meeting and 1 of the pieces. I think that resonated with me think you've heard it here across the board, um, ad it was also right around the murder of george floyd, right? And that was into a lot of the conversations that we were having and it was at the forefront of a lot of what was happening at that time. Um, and I remember there was a conversation that we had where you continually encouraged me and said to me, you have to tlk to the officers, you have to be able to understand where they're coming from what they're going through and not just directly related to what was happening at that time. Um, not just, you know, what was happening in around policing. Um, and that's 1 of the pieces that I I, I took to heart and through my conversations, um in ride alongs in in downtown 1 officers walking by, was this sense of I'm setting up here and I'm an elected official. I have no idea what it means to be standing there in a uniform, um, having weight of a community on, on your back. Um, and I um, step back and think about the just in my short 4 years of being here, um, the text messages that have come forward of the things that you carried on a that when i received them. And it wasn't everything obviously floored me and had a hard time moving past that. Um, and I think the strength um, that you had uh, to do that. And the way that you carried yourself um in a calm cool collected way for us is so important because when we were freaking out, or or worried about what's happening in our community, with a lot of the things that we've heard up here tonight, or other things that, uh, never made the newspaper, uh, we relied on on you, right? To help us get through that, and the way that you, that's the piece that that really sticks to me and I, I don't know. Um, I know chief henry is going to do an amazing job. Uh, but I I I I step back and just think about your ability to do that. Um, the other piece for me, uh, and we've heard this again, this evening is when we would go through uh, strategic plans or police items or things would come for. An ordinance would happen or 1 of the first things that I we would talk about. Was like, so, what else is h? What other departments doing and the vast majority of the time, the conversation was it's things that we're already doing. Ahead of the curve on this, right? And it's because of u, your progressiveness in policing uh, that got us to that point without sacrificing the safety of our community. And I think that's that balance. So important and you struck it so well. Um so it has been uh an honor to work with you. Um I imagine I'll still be texting. You uh as I have since you've uh, not not been the police chief um and I and I am I'm proud to, to be able to set up here tonight, um, and reflect on the 4 years, we spent together. So thank you so um you deserve all of this and and more. And I'm, I'm really hope that you're enjoying continue to enjoy it. Um, okay, so with that I on my sheet I'm instructed that darren is to stay up near, te das is al proclamations to read. So chief. Pel I know we never said you don't want to you know be in the front but welcome you up. Now we're going to welcome gene lion uh gene is a representative from the police department. We welcome her up to like turn to uh say a few words. Welcome to g. Colleagues in the all the fine people here shows you will come home. For those of you who don't know, me, my name is JUNE lion and I probably serve as the deputy director for services for the davis police department here. I've had the pleasure of working with chief pel for many years. Would you like to sit down? You don't have to stand. This make me all the morning nervous. Like it very much but I'm doing my best. We'll do that. Tonight and over the last few weeks, we've all had a lot of time to listen to all about cheap parties and move in 41 years of service. All about the promoting ranks through the ranks all the way up to police chief. All of that is education. There's many accolades and accomplishments ad it's not notable leadership, qualities all the many highs and lows that has navigated the department through all of those outward facing things that the chief must do. But what you haven't heard about are the things that achieved those behind the scenes, things probably you thought nobody noticed. Things that quite frankly, not many people have proven to see is like arriving to work at the crack of dawn, every morning. West wing. Building many times. Um, oclock in the morning. Leave till well after 1800 or quite a bit later. If it was a tuesday, know, you know, as a sergeant, he created all of the department's policies from probably scraps of paper that you found lying around. Yep, the other the maintenance policy is literally until the day of the retired. Ollie 1, step ahead of the law. He encouraged employees. A career development manual, which to shows emotional process. When he became chief, he allowed our team to recreate our department mission statement. It is something we could all get high in the college and even time during team building workshop, we were trying to work. Things mission statement and it wasn't coming out very well. And 1 employee said, I just want to come to work and do my job with some pride. And somebody else said i can't I I can't even memorize it. Some thought, which came up with sure with pride and force along regard, individuals human rights. You even know it. We came up with the shortest instruction manual for what to do when you go to any of the davis community. You checked and responded to the department's public facing. He's with email just about every day and read every case that was taken right before. A patrol briefing. Dispatch meetings had an open door policy which is really unheard of in his final. You reminded employees of the importance uh to leave our wellness program. Care of each other. Chief, when I think of the work that you put in over the years, there is 2 words that come to mind. First 1 is leadership. And then I mentioned things that happen behind the scenes and most people don't have the privilege to sue, all of the things that you do. But that I saw. I saw this initiative do. Hard choices you made. I watched if you did the hard things that we need to quietly and expect nothing in return and I learned a few things about being a leader for example. I learned to listen and to allow people to be heard. I to have tough conversations. Because of ignoring and minimizing issues, which will benefit no 1. And the most important 1 at all, I learned a vision. Ownership of mission and ownership of personal and departmental accountability. word is legacy. You didn't know this about chief. He really a teacher at heart that he won't chase you down to teach you. You have to work for it. But if you are fortunate enough to be beneficiary of the zeros of experience, definitely better off for it. Because I know that I am and I'm truly grateful. The department better off when you found it. You work hard to teach and prepare this team. Well, and you left us a train to department, when we retired. We well trained and ready for the challenge. Ready? For your legacy machine. Thank you for your years of service for your friendship. For everything, you've taught me and the rest of this team both on purpose and through your quiet behind the students actions. So very fortunate to witness. Gene. Uh, I will now welcome up to electron, lucy brazil, lucy brazil is the representative from, uh, congressman mike thompson's office. Welcome hi chief pitel, I'm lucy brazil. I'm here on behalf of congress and mike thompson. I have for you, a congressional record statement uh congressional records. Human is pretty cool. What is red in here. Uh, is read into the, uh, constitutional record, which means it will be a part of our country's history, as long as we are a country and have a constitution. So that's pretty cool. Maybe we get a couple more rooms. Um, anyway, I want to say as someone who is born and raised in davis and that I love you of how we grew up in and so I think you very much for the leadership that you've given our city and that you've given my family and our community. And on behalf of congressman thompson, who's in dc voting today wanted to do this to you. And thank you so much. Thank you lucy, please. Be sure to thank congressman thompson on our uh, next up, we will welcome. Um, assembly members to see a curry and was that marshman from senator dodd's office? Welcome. Think. Well, you know, there's a lot of things to be said about, uh, police department and I can only think of leadership that you have shown in this community. And I get choked up because, um, 1 of the things as a public servant as assembly member council member many, a time we just take things for granted until we have some adversity in our community and then it comes to mind. Thank goodness of their and so I want to thank you for your leadership, all the things that you've done for this community all the training you've done. And I want to thank you for the gentleman that in the back of the room. Bcause a couple of times I was at your office and they were right there and they were protecting our community and making sure that we had a place that we could call home and our family to call home. You never ever turn your back on 1 person not once and you answered questions. I always knew that when you there's something in davis's happening, I can pick up the phone or text you and you got back to me the blink of an eye and helped me because I knew you were secure here in town. So I want to thank you for all the work you've done. We truly appreciate it and um, my team, my team here in davis just knows that they're going to call you and make you and I but this gentleman right here, I think we got get him under our thumb, too. I'll give you my phone number. I get done here. Yu know, I'm sure we're in good hands. But again, thank you very much for all the service in the middle. Good evening to you patel. Was that marshman again with senator bill dodd. Um, want to impart a few words from him. U I want to thank you for honoring the value and importance and building the community partnerships with all levels of organization you often work with the building those relationships with the residents of the community of which you and your department serve. The day with community will continue to have both the trust and protection of the department, and none of the none of which could really exist without the relationships, you've built. Thank you for your leadership and thank you for doing that bridge for us and happy with them. Thank you. So much for the resolution. To keep it in mind. So thank you very much. Thank you so much. Thank you. Uh and next up we have um tara thronson from supervisor luis square's office and all of our snow from supervisor prevents his office. Welcome. Good evening. It's a pleasure to be here. I'm here. As we saw on behalf of our bosses. Supervisor ferris california. It's fulfilling his duties on the seaside board of directors and it's super supervisor prevents us a bit under the weather so we didn't want to spread that love with each night but um it is truly an honor to be here with you. And uh, so supervisor for since you've been with this, city for so long. He has in so many capacities as a resident as a, a commissioner member as a city council member as mayor now, as county, supervisor, and 1 of the themes that has come out through his you is your thoughtful responsiveness to any pressing issue. I mean, it can be from code enforcement to obviously as we're dealing with community tragedies as we've heard throughout tonight. But 1 of the things that we're really taking away is your, and we heard already tonight is your leadership with the department here. Has been centered around fostering, strong community relationships, and by cntering the people and doing the people's work. That's really led to changes that have directly benefited the safety and well-being our community members. Um, so your positive impact and lgacy with the davis police department will be felt for so many years, so we're so grateful for you. Thank you. Uh yeah. So I spoke with supervisor friends earlier today. He he apologizes, he can't make it, but he doesn't want to get you sick when you retired. So, um, uh, so, but he did want me to emphasize that he really appreciates the responsiveness. Um, that's been mentioned a lot, but if there's repeating whenever, you know, our office reached out to you, you responded and so we really appreciate that. With us, uh, to help deal with, you know, help constituents, um, and help members of this community, and he also wanted me to emphasize that, you know, davis, the community of davis generally has a very specific idea o what they want from their government and from the police. Um, and he really appreciates that you, you you matched that they have high standards and you reach those standards and even exceeded them. Um, and you definitely took the community through a lot of tough times. So on behalf of both supervisor, fur. And supervisor forenza, we want to present this and wish you well in your retirement cn I have a lot, a lot of stuff to carry out of here tonight? That's for sure. You got to need some help. All right, so, um, that wraps up our our buck proclamations for chief pel before we move on to uh the swearing in of um our new police chief, todd henry. Um I'd love for everyone to give another huge round of applause and appreciation for the and pel my understanding that uh, chief pl is going to swear in our new police chief todd henry. All right, raise your right hand and repeat. After me, I state your name. Hi todd henry. Do you solemnly swear do solemnly? Swear that? I will support and defend and defend the constitution of the united states, the constitution of the united states and the constitution of the state of california in the constitution of the state of california against all enemies, against all enemies, foreign, and domestic foreign and domestic. And the welfare true faith and allegiance and will bear true faith and allegiance to the constitution of the united states, the constitution of the united states and the constitution of the state of california that I take this obligation freely. Education without any amount of reservation. Without reservation or purpose of evasion or for pacific. And will well, and faithfully discharge well, and faithfully discharge the duties upon, which your back down, which on the mountain. You. Is there do we have time to a couple words real quick? Yeah, congratulations. Chief. I'll turn the mic over to you. Thank you. Um thank you. I'm extremely honored i feel privileged for this opportunity. Um you know I kind of threatened mike with a 45-minute powerpoint on my vision and what we were going to try and accomplish but he said it would be the shortest tenure of any chief. It's all refrain from that but I did think about what I was going to say if I came up here. Um, and I did think about hey, I'm going to talk about my vision and where I think we're going as a police department. But really I came back to a saying that, um, I've always found to be very true. Is that if we do hard things, we don't do them alone. I am no different. Everything that I've accomplished of value, I've accomplished by support of so many different people. Anything the police department accomplishes is going to be done as a team, anything that the city accomplishes is going to be done in collaboration and that's an important element. And so instead of creating a vision uh, which we've already submitted our strategic I think it's already documented pretty well. Um I wanted to give some thanks real quick. I might exceed the 2 minutes by the way. You're welcome. I won't gabble you uh so and it's, it's a tough act to follow. There's no question about it. Um, but I think, first and foremost, I do want to thank, uh, chief pitel. Um, well, first of all, he hired me as a deputy chief. So I'm pretty thankful for that. Uh, but I think more importantly to, u, he has been a mentor, been a partner and he has been a friend and he has dmonstrated a way to lead from a place of love and compassion. And that's been repeated I think multiple times tonight. But watching him uh, go through very complex. Decisions. Very difficult decisions. Very difficult problems ad how he has always put this community. First has been nothing short of inspirational, and it's been a guide to me, as to how I should be a police chief in how to lead the police department within the city of davis. And so I'm very appreciative for his 41 years of service. But more importantly, his mentorship along the path. I also want to thank the community of davis, um, few years ago, I showed up in this community has absolutely ebraced me with open arms. I've made amazing, relationships and friendships um, and it's been impressive. And when I got into davis, there's a very traditional davis itroduction, it is. Hi. My name is and I've been in davis for 20 years, 25 years, 35 years, but I tought that was very symbolic of davis, because sometimes we're references very special, and unique, and sometimes that could be in a negative competition, but I think it is absolutely a positive thing. And people have pride in being part of this city, they care about this city and for a police chief that is so critical. Because, said before, if we want to accomplish difficult things, we need to do it together and it is much easier to do it when you have a community who absolutely cares and so I'm very grateful for that. I also want to thank the davis police department. Um, I feel extremely lcky and I feel extremely proud on a daily basis, the women and men of the police department, do very difficult things and they do it in a very thoughtful and compassionate manner. Um, and I feel lucky shoulder-to-shoulder with them. As we move this department into the future, it's an absolute blessing. Um, I also want to thank council and city manager, mike webb. Uh, this position requires a lot of trust, and I understand that, and I appreciate it. And I'm very thankful for the working relationships that I've had in the 2 years that I've been here uh, and I look forward to the future and ten final but not last uh it's my family. I'm not going to walk look over there because I'm going to get a sweaty eyeballs. I'm here tonight and the things that I have been able to achieve the successes I have seen have absolutely been a direct result of my family. Their and unquestionable support of me. Made the difference. And I feel very lucky and blessed to have them in my lives, uh, because this job can be challenging and there's been highs and lows, they've always been there to support me and so I'm thankful for that. And uh, to close this up. I know probably gone too long already. I wish I could stand here in my closure years for this 1. I wish I could stand here and say I'm gonna make the right decision as chief every single time, but I am a human and that's probably not but what I can promise and this community and the police department is I will absolutely embrace this job with everything that I have. The city's important to me is police department's important to me and that is 1 thing. I can absolutely urge to help bring to the table. So thank you very much. Thank you, uh, before we move to, um, to public comment on this item, I'm going to turn to my colleagues up here for some brief, uh, comments if they have any and then we'll turn to city manager. Mike webb. Looking this way here. Great. I'm first at each time tonight. So welcome to your new job. Um it is been great already working with you getting to know you. I am so thrilled tonight to meet your wife and your son because I've already heard so much about you guys. I don't know if but I had the privilege of being at a conference and we talked about you the whole time. We didn't really talk about city council stuff. We talked about you, we talked about parenting and and just his love for you, you know, and hw much he cares about you and how important you are to him. So I'm so glad to see you there tonight. I'm just really looking forward to work. You're going to do and I know that you're going to be a great person to partner with. So welcome. Thank you. Customer base. Yeah, 2. Good things really quick. Uh, so, you know, I think toughness brought up the word compassion, a lot chief. And, uh, I think, you know, when we think about police officers, those 2 qualities together, is what we look for, especially in the leader. Uh, you know, the first time I met, uh, chief henry and we shook his, he just about crushed my hair. Turned to jelly. Uh, so toughness, check, uh, and then sew right off that happened. I just started shaking my head. I better get to the gym and so the next time, we shook had noticeably lightened up the grip which compassion check, you know, but uh a little does he know that I'm, I'm hitting the gym hard, I don't know if you've noticed but yeah. The other thing I want to say is that there was a particularly tough week at city council received some, um, some threats, uh, some some very difficult, uh, things to here and uh I I presume on his own, we're cognizant regardless, uh, chief henry reached out of us ad and uh just checked in about how we were doing, of course, I use the opportunity to talk to the office about policy and stuff like that. but, you know, it, uh, it was meant so much to, to feel like, okay, you just kind of cares, you know, you just wants to see how we're doing. He knows that this is a tough job, but we're in this together like you said and that reflects who you are as a human being. And I think we're uh we're really excited to have him looking forward to to working together. Sure, I think that I when I first met you was in a public setting somewhere and um and I think you were talking to every single person at that public setting. And they were all telling you how long they had been and davis. I could, I could tell from where I was at. Um, but I noticed tat I, I nticed how you were making those people feel and, and you culd tell that they uh felt like they were being heard and they were having a talking to you. And I just I thought he's a keeper um because it's it is a tough, it is a tough community, it's a great community and what makes it a great community is that people as you said are proud to be here and they and they hold us to high standards and so I think that yu are up to that challenge and so welcome. Customer arnold. Yep. Uh, of course, I recall, uh, meeting you when we were right in the middle of 1 of the toughest times that our community has ever gone through. Hopefully, 1 of the toughest times will ever go through, uh, in 2023. Uh, and I recall, you know, we were at like a press conference and I'm looking and I recognized everybody and then you're standing right there. I'm thinking who's this guy? He looks like he, he looks like he means business. But uh, uh, uh, and so meeting you and I asked said, oh yeah, he's you know, darren's dealing with us, dealing with the community, on the case. And that in itself was comforting. And then we know how, uh, um, effectively the the the team responded to that uh, uh horrific set of events and it's been mary, a dull moment since, um, some of my colleagues alluded to other uh we've had some that the community is widely aware of some that were more. Targeted toward us um, uh, other investigations of things that have gone on and communications that have, uh, that that you've made to to families. Um, uh, you you've really stepped into and embraced this role already. And so um, we're just very fortunate uh, to have somebody of your caliber uh, stepping in seamlessly into this position. Council member arnold. Um yeah. Obviously um, I think the first time I met um, chief henry, I was in chief pel's office and I came out and you were running around packing stuff up because you were hurrying to go. I want to say your daughter's swimming or somebody at the door was swimming and the look on his face, I had to get out of here. I got to go see her swimming. He was rushing around trying to get things done to get out to be with his family, um, and took the time to stop himself to me. Um, and there's, um, I think from from someone, who's in your hole and I, we, we, I experienced this with cheap pelo. Um, you guys family who has kids, who's going through, what you go through on a daily basis as a police chief and then what all of us go through collectively, um, and the lens that you look through when you have family, is a different lens and I think, um, that is what has stuck out to me. A tremendously. Um, and I think I'm gonna assume that the your left and to my right are parents or in-laws, whoever it is, and I would say to all of you and to your wife and to your children. And to be fortunate to have um, chief henry uh, in your life. Whether it's a son or husband or father. Um when when yu were brought on, I'm a chief looked at me and said, I I think I have the guy who's going to be the next chief. Um, and and over the course of 2 years, uh, you more than, um, took over that role and I think not just in uh, in other communities. When a police chief is hired you, oftentimes go through a process, um, that is wrong that's drawn out often times. It's not a very comfortable conversation. Um, and as we witness, when you were appointed to, to the chief, um, of this department, um, that didn't happen. Um, people all across the board. Um, were excited to have you there and we're excited to have you take over and leave this department and safeguard our community. So um, I can't all right. Thank you enough already for the work that you've done forward to um, to the years ahead. Thank you. Um, okay, so now I'm going to turn t city manager, mike webb uh, who has a few comments. And then I'll turn to uh the folks that are here this evening for public, comment, uh, city manager, web, thank very much mayor. Chapman city council. Retired, chief pel and chief henry. Uh and everyone here tonight, jst, you know, you see from the uh, how how full the room is tonight, just, you know, in all the, uh, the accolades forth that have come forward, the very top comments and, and so forth from everyone here, uh gene, you know, your your comments, I think we're very poignant, you know, representing the views of of yu but also I think, uh, the, the department, um, first with respect to, uh, to, uh, chief henry, I'll start there. Um, I, uh, you know, the decision to, uh, higher executive team members, ranks. Uh is not are not are made lightly and sometimes they're not easy ones. But I will tell you the uh, appointment of um, chief henry, to the, our police chief job was probably about the easiest decision. I've been able to make as a city manager um, and just because he's absolutely the right fit uh, for the role and for this community. Um, and that became evident fairly quickly after he started with this is deputy chief and, you know, my hats off to she might tell for getting chief on our team when he did. Um, and for uh the the succession planning that really ensued. I mean, chief henry, you effectively did a 2-year interview um with not only with me but with our executive team with the city council, and with the more importantly, the community at large, um, and uh, my hat's off to you for embracing uh, the role as you have. Uh, I have my back to you right now. It's a little awkward. But um so uh but uh, you're going to do great things, this community, for the department, we're going to continue the legacy of uh, o chief pitel in many ways. And in many ways you're going to have your own flavor in your own, your own assessment and, uh, twist on things and how uh, you, uh, do chief right. And uh and and I have no doubt that you will be extremely successful, uh, at doing that. And I look forward to, you know, the years ahead as we work together uh, and work with the community uh, on uh, the police all that, it can be and will be moving forward. Um, so just a true pleasure and and privilege to have you on our team. Uh, and, uh, really looking forward to the days ahead. Um, uh, im going to be quick about this because otherwise I'll break down and, and tears. So as uh, council member arnold said, so we've had the privilege of working alongside each other fr 27, at least of your 41 years. Um, so a little while about, you know, good chunk of your career but not the whole career and you know my experience also goes back to the times when your mom was in the department moline patel and a lot of folks, MAY not even know that or be aware of it. A lot of folks who have their history you know, know that malign was an important part of our police department and I learned an awful lot from from your mom in the days. And what I will say t you is, you know, your parents raised you chief. Um and it it reflects in your career and how you are as a human being, uh, as a person. Um, and uh, the, the 2 key words that really come to mind when I think of chief our competency and care. Um, so the 2 c's competency and how, how many police chiefs, you know, around, you know, the state, if not the country and the nation, uh, are also uh attorneys, um, write municipal code, they can write ordinances, they can write policy and have it be cogent and make sense in the city attorney says, yeah, this looks great. I have no changes, right? I mean that. Yeah, pretty rare, uh, to have that combination so to have that level of competency, uh, a, a chief that can write that can speak that can engage with, uh, with community groups. Uh, you know that can, uh, you know, break bread with the community and share a meal and uh, just as easily as coming council meeting and doing a formal presentation, that takes some real skill. And so, uh, really important people skills to go with it. Um, you know, how many police chiefs really know the ins and outs of, uh, human resources? Um, and, you know, you have a little inside track on that in your household. I know that um, um, so, uh, you know that but, uh, you know, and then we can talk about budgeting that's, you know, another and darren would love to love to have a much more simplified budget with like, 1 line item that just says, just give me the lot of money and I'll do what I need to do. But um so um, but you know, and the competency is is there in spades. Um, and in care. So care for the department, care for his staff team, uh, care for the city organization as a whole and the community. Uh, and that care was uh, someone who leads, uh, with ethics and with in, in principles. Um, you know, drren is top of mind. Um, who really, uh, uh, took the role on of looking to the future of the department. And again icome back to the hiring of then. Deputy chief henry as darren showing just his extreme extraordinary care for you know, not want, you know, knowing well tat, you know, he's going to retire at some point. Um, but not wanting to leave, you know, sort of uh, the legacy hanging in the wings. So having the uh the foresight to bring in someone of the helper of of chief henry uh ws uh just profound. So you know, we darren, uh, we've, uh, been through, uh, the really good tmes we've been through. You know, the extraordinary tragic times. Missed um, and I'm proud to call you a formerly say they were friends and and now we can maybe hang out some more outside of work than we could before. But um, so just uh thank you to both, uh, chief the chief henry. It's uh, an extraordinary privilege and honor as a city manager and on behalf of our staff team and our management team, uh, to have had the pleasure of working with you, both and looking next chapters ahead. So, um, thank you very much. All right, so now we're going to open up the floor to public comment uh so if you have a public comment on this um item please feel free to to line up come down to like turn. Um you will notice that there is a timer there. Uh we try and especially you know, with a lot of keep the right around the 2-minute mark I really guy mark I really don't want to have to use as a gavl on such a fun night tonight. So you know, but I could do it. Um but yeah, so public comment and we'll welcome our first public commenter. Welcome. Good evening, mayor, chapman council city manager, web. My name is norby kum. I have been a long time, as well as a longtime friend of sheep pel who I finally refer to as darren. 1 of the thing that I wanted to mention that, I don't know if you're aware of it. Council kows that I've lost my wife for best friend. Debbie, before, um, in JULY. They don't know. Darren was the chief and, um, we did was when my wife started wandering off, literally just walking away with dementia that she would just leave out. We're trying to figure out how to track her down, as long as what we worked at the system. As long as debbie could sit in the patrol car and just say my name is debbie maggie, it would immediately pipe in the her name and what darren, ad paul set up was the way that would immediately give my mother-in-law's house that phone number as well as my residence and phone number. And so we always knew that if she ever wandered off and was stopped by a patrol car that, you know, she was in such good hands and that really, really, really meant a lot to me and the other thing I wanted to comment on know, my longtime friend. Um, attorney jeff rice said the close relationship he had with each of the police. She's as well as that always a very supportive of the group that patti fong started. They were saving for racial equality and was constantly willing to support us. Willing to support us. None of our activities. And darren, you will be missed and been such an honor and a privilege to be here. Norby 33 years in davis going on. Um, I just want to take a moment to be here and, and thank you darren. Um, I've been able to work with you in many hats, you know, community member businesswoman, advocate activist council member. Um and mom, which is probably the most important um all the words tonight that's been said about your passion and your caring is true and it is the same over a cup of coffee or in the public. I'm meeting and while there are definitely death threats and picnic days and everything. You 1 thing that sticks out for me was um, the pepper spray in city which is a heartbreaking having feeling like davis is my home. I this is my first virtually coming to uc davis coming in here and, um, you know, being on the phone with another colleague. And, and of course, you're both crying. And but seeing your face, and the seat of all those students, and all the chaos, and you just exuded piece and they're like, it's going to be okay. You for that. Truly, thank you for that. Um, and then henry, welcome, uh, you to feel. Um, but if all these people trust you and I'm sure we're in a great hands. so and then, thank you, uh, for the support and supporting all of us. So, so thank you guys. Thank you, michelle. Thank you. I'm robert canning and, uh, I'm pleased to represent the uh, davis police accountability commission and thanking chief pitel. Cooperative work with our commission over the last few years and your willingness to answer. Just about any question. We came up with was greatly appreciated you've been open to suggestions, we've made in your cooperation with the audits we've commissioned have been appreciated 2 audits in particular. We commissioned the independent police auditor to um look into mental health crisis and how the police respond if it was in and I'm a psychologist. So um I speak from some experience that the are, u, well trained and incredibly compassionate. Um, some of the examples that the police auditor came up with were just amazing and the amount of care that, that the police officers um, took with um people here in the community, were going through a lot of trouble and I think that's partly to probably mostly do. Do your training and your the model that you've put into place. Um, so we really appreciate that. Um, you've made a lifelong commitment to the city of davis in your tenure, with the department, the mark and, um, good luck in your retirement. I wll say that I haven't been retired. A few years myself not having to get up in the morning to go to work is a real pleasure. Um, keith henry, welcome. We we appreciate your time to come and talk to us and we look forward to working with you, too. So thank you both. Robert. Thank you very champion council members. Name faro. I'm the chief of police in davis and I wanted to come up here this evening. I wanted to congratulate dear on just a wonderful, wonderful career. I know 1 of the 1 of the speakers said something about coming in with 6:00 in the morning and I can test it that because I used to worry about calling there and then I started realizing he's a desk at 6:00 in the morning and that's when I would make my new. So there was always there always available and it just became a very dear friend and darren I made this from the bottom of my heart, you're going the best and I've been around almost so long. Well maybe longer than you have uh doing these jobs and I tell you that in our industry, the chiefs know who the real chiefs, are they really truly do? And they talked? And they talked a lot, and there's a name was always 1 of those that I kind of follow. I calling for advice all the time and you always gave me some really really good advice and todd coming in, you know, you're following in the legacy here but like I said, the chiefs know who the chiefs are and you got another good 1, you got 1. Come in and he's going to represent you really well. And I can just tell you that you went through this year, when we had the savings and I remember seeing todd out there in the morning and then they're over crossing raining, and it's cold and it's wet. We walked in there and you can see the leadership, you can see it, you can see what he was doing and I said the prayer to the guy right there. So I just wanted to tell you that we're really, really proud of your selection for your new chief to send that we're losing darren. It's been a privilege and an honor serve with you and thank you very much for letting me speak to you. And I think with that we are um wrapped up with uh public comment on this item. So what we'll do uh quickly we'll take a a brief uh recess. We'll stop some photos down here in front of the lectern. And then I imagine all of you were staying for the rest of the meeting. That's part of what happens. I mean, it's very exciting. Uh and then we will uh, convene with the with the meeting. Thanks. 2a, which is city manager, brief announcements and well welcome to the manager mike webb. Thank you very much, mayor, city council. Just a couple of updates for you this evening 1 is that we are uh embarking on what is going to become a more uh regular routine of uh pressure washing downtown uh with the extraordinarily positive response that we got during the last, uh, make davis sparkle event, uh, our team, uh, endeavored to, uh, get some quotes from contractors and basically assist us with helping maintain and fire downtown on a more regular basis. So, that starts atually tonight. Uh so uh, starting tonight, uh, later this evening around 10 P.M. Or so, uh, and uh, doing their doing their, uh, pressure washing, uh, in downtown. It's basically the core area. Core of the core. I'll call it d to g and second to third, uh, streets. Uh, and they'll be doing that. We've been working with the businesses the dda association to get word out about this. Uh, and, uh, we're trying to do it in advance of small business saturday and so forth, uh, coming up here. And so we are starting with that sort of, uh, g central, geographic area of the downtown and we're going to continue to assess in advance. You know, other areas that MAY need to be incorporated or added or adjusted over time. Uh we expect to do this on a roughly on a quarterly basis. Uh, but we'll keep keep the feedback in mind as we might need to adapt it over uh, over time. So, but really big shout out to our tam for uh putting this together in a very short order and uh getting that beautifully underway. Uh, so also uh just sort of a update announcement with, with respect to upcoming event later this week, which is unveiling of the public art in honor of uh korean uh, later this week or pm at willit. Um, we do expect. Uh the weather forecast is calling for rain. So we do expect that, uh, we will be utilizing the will it uh, elementary school, multipurpose room? Uh, for that gathering, uh, in light of the rain? Um, and uh, the ceremony will start at 4 p-m at that location. If it's not raining too hard, uh, the group will walk over to the artists installation location at the park next door. Um, is incredible. It's it really is beautiful. It will certainly enhance the park but uh, more more importantly it'll be uh, a lovely memory. It's a cream. Uh, and everyone, uh, in the community to honor him uh, coming up with, uh, next week we do have uh thanksgiving holiday coming up. So the offices will be closed thursday and friday 20th. And 29th, of course emergency services affected by that. Uh, just on wednesday, safe out there with some of the weather we have coming. Uh, and then uh, lastly, another uh announcement that we have our annual candle light, uh, parade and parade and tree lighting on DECEMBER 5th, AUGUST to be there a little bit before that, uh, to gather and to, to prepare and candles, um, uh number of performance