Davis residents have a desire to preserve the open-space and agricultural areas of their community; it was this thinking that led to the passage of Measure J in2000.Measure J requires voter approval for any proposed urban developmenton open-space or agricultural land and is currently on track to expire in2010.Whether the measure will be renewed or not will be determined by theDavisCity Council. Because of this,the upcomingCity Councilelection is attracting a great deal of attention fromDavis locals who want candidates to make their positions on Measure J clear.The six CityCouncil hopefuls have thus far avoided doing so at City Council meetings.

The city of Davis is trying to decide where it should grow. A report detailing potential housing development sites inDavis was presented to the Davis City Council and Planning Commission in a joint meeting Tuesday.The report lists 36 sites inDavis that could be developed as housing before2 013. “This is a tool for the City Council,but it‘s also the means by which the City Councild etermines what growth policy they‘re going to pursue,“ said planning commission chair Greg Clumpner. The study and report were completed by the Housing Element Steering Committee,a15-member body appointed by members of the City Council. The sites were ranked by how well they met a set of principles selected by the steering committee, including whether they promoted a compact urban form,were close to existing facilities and were close to campus.The committee also evaluated sites based on whether they could provide compact,high-density housing and promote walking and bicycle use.

If you’ve ever been to a UC Davis football or basketball game, at some point you’ve most likely heard the following cry over the PA system: “Make some noise for the UC Davis Da-a-ance Team!!” While these ladies may only be the main attraction during halftime and timeouts during the games, they will take center stage this Friday and Saturday night at the fifth annual UC Davis Dance Team Showcase. “We’re on campus at various events throughout the entire year,” said senior co-captain and exercise biology major Shannon Thompson. “But that’s us supporting another team. This is our show.” The showcase will be held at Veterans Memorial Theatre at 23 Russell Blvd., starting at 7 p.m. both nights. A silent auction will also take place, with items up for bid ranging in everything from wine bottles to Kaplan prep courses to signed High School Musical memorabilia. But the main feature of the show will be the dance team’s performance.

TODAY PostSecretDavis exhibit 10a.m.to3p.m. Griffin Lounge,MemorialUnion Learn what secrets UC Davis students and staff are keeping at this awareness exhibit.Sponsored by Students Against Sexual Violence. UC Davis Blood Drive 10a.m.to5p.m. Freeborn Hall Save a life and get a free pint of ice cream while you’re at it! Donating only takes about an hour,but the good karma vibes last all day.

In the Apr.22 edition of The California Aggie,the editorial titled “4/20at UCSC” stated that “While the university has outwardly condoned the event,they do not deny its existence.” The correct statement should have read, “While the university does not condone the event,they do not deny its existence.” The Aggie regrets the error.

Joint meeting of City Council and Planning Commission Presentation from Housing Element Steering Committee on potential housing sites was presented to the council members and commissioners.The report ranked 36 potential sites located in Davis that could be developed or redeveloped into housing. Report included overview of the committee’s 13-month process of collecting community input, identifying sites, establishing goals, ranking sites and adding recommendations.The report was approved by the commission Mar.20.C ouncilmembers and commissioners asked questions of the steering committee chair and vice chair, then provided comments on the report and individual sites.Council members and commissioners were not legally allowed to comment on sites that presented a conflict of interest. No action was taken.The presentation and report were informational.The report will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and the City Council separately in future meetings.

Having little Fluffy or Tinkerbell on your lap while you drive might soon be a crime. The Assembly Appropriations Committee voted Wednesdayto send legislation to the assembly floor that aims to make it illegal for drivers to hold any animal on their lap while driving. State RepresentativeBill Maze (R-Visalia) first proposed the bill to the Transportation Committee in February. The committee passed it on to appropriations earlier this month to approve the creation of a new $35 traffic fine.

Animal rights activists should consider leaving their red paint at home before attending the next PETA protest,as state legislators are now calling for the protection of university animal researchers. AssemblyBill2296,authored byState RepresentativeGene Mullin(D-South San Francisco) and sponsored by theUniversity ofCalifornia,calls for a limiting of various tactics used by anti-animal research extremist groups that compromise the safety of university professionals.The decision to write the bill was triggered by various attacks,including arson,bombings,vandalism and harassment on researchers both in their homes and at work.

Yes,they are identical twins fromCanada.And yes,they are also lesbians.But audience members got to see another side of musical duo Tegan and Sara when they took the stage Monday night at Freeborn Hall. Despite the darkly melodic tones of their latest albumThe Con,Monday’s show took a positively lighter-hearted approach as sisters Tegan and Sara Quin took breaks to talk to the audience in between songs.Exchanges of sibling banter,hockey debates,talks of “Jacuzzi bum sex” and an unexpected wardrobe change accompanied the set.It was a personal touch from the two in an attempt to connectwith everyone in the audience and evoke a more intimate and casual living room-vibe,regardless of the venue’s actual size.

LIVE MUSIC Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags,Kris Anaya Today,9p.m.,$3,21 Old Ironsides inSacramento The six-pieceAmericana rock band brings greetings fromPortland,using the catchiness factor to draw in country and rock fans alike.Look to anything from Jimmy Buffet to the Jayhawks for parallels. Body or Brain,Week Long Project Friday,7p.m. Turtle House B’s are pretty popular these days – think about bears,beets or“Battlestar Galactica.“ Well I’ll be bouncing my behind to the beats of both “b” bands,and you best be also! Techy pop punkers Body or Brain give the impression thatNapa is a pretty happenin‘ place.In actuality,they probably sit in their rooms listening to Blink182and writing upbeat jams all day for lack of more fun things to do.

Today “Plant-Mediated Indirect Competitionbetween Insect Herbivores – Implications for Weed Biological Control“ James Nechols 122Briggs,noon to1p.m. Sponsored by the entomology department “L-Peach – A Crop Model That Can Be Useful to Horticulturalists,Physiologists,Molecular Biologists and Breeders“ Ted DeJong 3001Plant and Environmental Sciences,12:10to1p.m. Sponsored by the plantsciences department

The sound of metal clinking carries through the hallway as two students help bring out long pieces of steel through Bainer Hall. The students place the structures inside of a perimeter marked by white tape. The UC Davis Steel Bridge Team, better known as team “Chrome Ollie,” is setting up and about to practice assembling their steel bridge for the upcoming Mid-Pacific Regional Competition on Apr. 26 at the Mondavi Center’s Parking Structure from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30. The steel bridge contest brings out other teams in the region to compete against each other in the design and formation of scale-size bridge structures. While the competition can be stressful, it can also be fun.