Vanguard Analysis: Davis’ Cafeteria Cash Out Plan Dwarfs That Paid by Other Cities
One of the hottest topics in the recent MOU’s that the city has approved from fire and the management group has been the issue of the cafeteria cast-out plan. The cafeteria cash-out plan applies to those employees who are covered under the health plan of a spouse. Since they do not need to take that particular benefit, the city compensates them in cash payouts to the tune of nearly 18 thousand dollars per year.
The new contracts only partially address this issue. The fire contract proposes a 20% of reduction of the cash payment maximum over the three year MOU. The management group contract proposes no changes for existing employees but a $500 maximum payment for new employees.
By E. Roberts Musser – 
Rich Rifkin is kind enough on his 
Readers of the Opinion Section of the Davis Enterprise were treated once again to claims by members of CHA (Choices for Healthy Aging), an Astroturf group that is a front for the Covell Village developers to push their massive senior housing project on the lower third of the Covell Village site.
Back in October, the Davis City Council opted against a third part review of city actions involving the refinance of DACHA by a 3-2 vote. The majority of council, opted instead to focus city efforts on saving DACHA which was in critical danger of defaulting on the city’s loan that could cause the homes to go into foreclosure.
We have had a busy week this week and we are just now getting to the City Manager’s State of the City Address. Bill Emlen concluded his speech suggesting that he saw his critic in the audience and poking fun at the fact that he had a critic, but the fact is, he needs a critic. The average person listening to his speech might have thought the city was on top of key issues and problems.
For those who have been following the budget and firefighter saga in Davis, it should have been little surprise that Davis Enterprise Columnist Rich Rifkin on Wednesday would write that the MOU agreement between the city and firefighters “doesn’t solve long-term mess.”
A series of strange circumstances led the Davis Planning Commission to need to make a determination that the public convenience or necessity will be served by authorizing issuance of an alcohol license for Westlake IGA Market. The Commission did so by a 4-0 vote and added findings that there would be an enhanced economic viability of the neighborhood and such an issuance would not interfere with the enjoyment of the surrounding neighborhood.
Last week a California circuit issued a ruling on the use of Tasers. The court limited the use of Tasers to situations where a suspect poses an actual threat. The court ruled that simply disobeying orders or acting strangely is not enough. Those officers who fail to adhere to these rules can be sued for excessive force.
In Sunday’s Davis Enterprise, Mayor Pro Tem Don Saylor and Councilmember Stephen Souza write an op-ed in which they argue that the contract ratified on December 15, 2009 by City Council with the Davis Professional Firefighters Association, Local 3494 “is a fair deal for city employees, taxpayers.”
Yesterday we listed out the most read Vanguard Articles of 2009, today I select most important news stories or commentary from my perspective. I have chosen a list of the most important from my perspective stories, most of which the Vanguard either covered exclusively or broke the news for. I have put them in chronological order rather than ranking them in importance.