Resolve "DashboardController#activity.json is slow due to SQL"

What does this MR do?

Addresses some performance issues related to DashboardController#activity.json and other activity.json requests

Screenshots (if relevant)

• Before

• After

Does this MR meet the acceptance criteria?

• Changelog entry added, if necessary
• Documentation created/updated
• API support added
• Tests added for this feature/bug
• Review
  • Has been reviewed by UX
  • Has been reviewed by Frontend
  • Has been reviewed by Backend
  • Has been reviewed by Database
• Conform by the merge request performance guides
• Conform by the style guides
• Squashed related commits together

What are the relevant issue numbers?

Closes #27375 (closed)