Of course, I support using measure O money to create a buffer adjacent to the city, and I think most council candidates would. But those properties are not available. The land adjacent to Davis is essentially all owned or optioned by big Sacramento developers including Gidaro, Tsakapolous, Ramos, and others.

Even with eminent domain, we could not afford to purchase the properties with the available Measure O money. As a result, we have a choice: We can do nothing, or we can take what we can get. The City Council’s approach is consistent with the language and intent of the initiative.

On open space generally, I would try to find ways to leverage public money by working with the Yolo Land Trust, Yolo County , Solano County , UC Davis, and other relevant governmental and non governmental organizations. Projects that I would look to as models in this regard are the McConeghy Ranch property at Kidwell (which created a development-free zone between Davis and Dixon, an agricultural buffer, and bicycle paths between the two cities), and the Dowling Farm Preserve (which preserved 650 acres between Woodland and Davis, including Swainson’s Hawk habitat, in an agreement between the Yolo Land Trust, Woodland, and Dowling). These private/public ventures could present tremendous opportunities not available through public efforts alone. I would look for other opportunities to acquire conservation easements, agricultural preservation easements, etc., and thus avoid the need to acquire the full title to relevant properties.

Furthermore, we don’t need to purchase every acre of land to preserve open space. We just need to control strategic parcels around freeway interchances and around existing infrastructures. We need to be strategic.

We must remember that we need money in the budget to accomplish these types of projects. That is another reason why it is essential that Measure G passes, and that Davis balances its budget.