Auburn City Council Meeting - August 11, 2025

The Auburn City Council met on the evening of August 11, 2025, to consider a consent calendar, council business items, and reports. Key actions included approval of youth advisory commission appointments, adoption of the short-range transit plan, and authorization of a sewer service agreement for a property at 85 Lincoln Way. The council also received the annual park impact mitigation fee report and heard public comments.

Consent Calendar

• Items 2 through 8 on the consent calendar were approved by a single roll-call vote with no discussion. These included:
  • Second reading of an ordinance allowing short-term rentals in the Central Business District.
  • Approval of the response to the Placer County Grand Jury report.
  • Authorization of city property as surplus (two 2019 Ford E450 vehicles).
  • Acceptance of a storm drain easement at 333 Sacramento Street.
  • Permission to advertise for the 2025/2026 Road Maintenance Project and CEQA exemption.
  • Authorization of the Notice of Completion for the Auburn Pump Stations SCADA Upgrades Project.
  • Approval of the SB 1 Road Repair and Accountability Act project list for FY 2025-2026 (item 8 was later discussed separately).
• Item 1 (Youth Advisory Commission Membership Appointments) was removed from the consent calendar at Councilmember Holmes' request for discussion. After explanation by staff that two of the three appointees were adults to help manage the 14 youth members, the council voted unanimously to approve the appointments by resolution.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A resident expressed concern about drivers failing to use turn signals, calling it a public safety issue.
• Sarah Liebert spoke on behalf of Kids Palooza, promoting the upcoming kickball match at the Food Truck Fiesta on August 15, 2025.
• Rabbi Mendel Weinbaum thanked the city for its support and announced the formation of a new Jewish community in Auburn.

Discussion Items

• Item 8 – SB 1 Road Repair and Accountability Act: Councilwoman Davis inquired about including bike lane striping on roads being repaved. Public Works Director Mendell Dean confirmed that roads wide enough would be striped for bike lanes as part of a cohesive plan, not piecemeal. The council approved the project list by resolution (unanimous).
• Item 9 – Auburn Recreation and Park District (ARD) Annual Park Impact Mitigation Fee Report: Kale, ARD representative, presented the annual report. The city-ARD trust fund balance is $187,465. Completed projects included pickleball courts (multi-use) costing $224,000, with $70,000 in mitigation fees. Upcoming projects include a new playground for ages 1-5 at Recreation Park (estimated $120,000), an ADA path of travel extension, and an emergency exit at Rec Park ($40,000). Other updates: gym roof replacement due to truss failure ($659,000, insurance-covered), scoreboard at Begs Field, and a retaining wall at Ashford Park. Councilmembers expressed support and thanked ARD.
• Item 10 – Adoption of the Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP): Mendell Dean presented the five-year plan, noting coordination with other transit agencies. Key recommendations already implemented include extending hours to 7 p.m. to match Placer County Transit. The cost per hour dropped from $110–125 to $70.71 (lowest in the region). Fare recovery ratio rose to 30% (previously below 10%). Expansion into the Bowman area is under consideration. The council adopted the plan by resolution (unanimous).
• Item 11 – Services Agreement for 85 Lincoln Way: Economic Development Director Jonathan Wright presented a request to authorize the City Manager to execute an extended services agreement for sewer service to a 7-acre parcel outside city limits but within the sphere of influence, with direction to initiate annexation once the general plan update is complete. Councilmember Riddell Harris asked about consequences if annexation fails; Wright confirmed service would continue under the agreement. The council approved the resolution (unanimous).

Key Outcomes

• Youth Advisory Commission: Three new members appointed by resolution (unanimous).
• SB 1 Project List: Approved by resolution (unanimous).
• Short-Range Transit Plan: Adopted by resolution (unanimous).
• Sewer Service Agreement for 85 Lincoln Way: Authorized with direction to initiate annexation proceedings (unanimous).
• Consent Calendar (Items 2-8): Approved en bloc by roll-call vote.
• The council received and filed the ARD Annual Park Impact Mitigation Fee Report.

Other Reports

• City Manager Report: Updates included the Station A Post Office reopening as a museum/visitor center (city pledged $2,400 over two years for lease), fireworks donations totaling $19,000 (city contributed $3,500 of authorized $9,000), Pancakes with a Purpose event on August 16, and repairs to the City Hall side entrance driveway collapse. Solar project at police department to start by end of month.
• Council Committee Reports: Councilmember Riddell Harris attended Placer County Economic Development meeting; Councilmember Davis reported as ARD liaison; Councilmember Holmes attended Solid Waste Task Force (discussed bin cardboard program, Eat Well app, mattress pickup, organics composting, and MERF construction) and Sustainability meeting, and noted that the Domes were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.