Auburn City Council Meeting - August 25, 2025
Auburn City Council Meeting - August 25, 2025
The Auburn City Council held a regular meeting on August 25, 2025, at 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA. The meeting included proclamations, a consent calendar, public comment, and a major discussion on commercial cannabis activities. The council directed staff to conduct public outreach and workshops before drafting an ordinance.
Proclamations & Commendations
- Hunger Action Month Proclamation: The council recognized September 2025 as Hunger Action Month in Placer County. Andy (representing the Auburn Interfaith Food Closet) accepted, noting the organization serves about 90% of food-insecure residents and is at a high watermark of service. He expressed concern about potential policy changes affecting food budgets.
- Commendation for Fire Service History Preservation: Carol Kramer and April McDonald Loomis were commended for researching, organizing, and preserving historical records of the Auburn Fire Department and for publishing a comprehensive history book in June 2025. Chief Rogers highlighted the 18-month effort involving retired firefighters.
- Adjournment in Memory of Jimmy Wall: The council adjourned in memory of Jimmy Wall, a community figure known for supporting racing and the Soap Box Derby.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimously approved (4-0) with a roll call vote. Items included:
- Approval of minutes from July 14, 2025, and August 11, 2025.
- Authorization to declare surplus PPE and donate it to Yuba College Fire Academy.
- Release of rights under a deferral agreement with Heart of California Corporation regarding Mikkelsen Drive.
- Authorization to purchase a Challenger 12,000 lb capacity 2-post vehicle lift for $14,135.76, with a budget adjustment.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Staff Member: Thanked the chamber of commerce and staff for a kickball game and food truck fiesta, noting the city team will defend their trophy next year.
- Councilmember Holmes: Suggested exploring a cultural district designation for Auburn, citing the symphony, Auburn State Theater (closed due to asbestos repairs), and arts events. He requested staff follow-up.
- Public Speakers on Cannabis:
- Colin Madeira (Auburn resident): Expressed support for recreational and medical storefronts, citing tax benefits and personal relief from chronic illness. Shared positive experience living near a dispensary in Sacramento that was a good neighbor.
- Jared (public commenter): Urged the council to move forward quickly, noting that residents already purchase cannabis in other cities (Colfax, Grass Valley) and Auburn is losing tax revenue. He stated public support is known and further delays are unnecessary.
- Cinnamon Pryor (downtown business owner): Supported cannabis in single-tenant buildings due to odor control. Preferred prominent locations (like Provisions in Grass Valley) to deter nefarious activity. Suggested a substantial application fee to qualify serious applicants.
- Jacob Schmidt (Sacramento dispensary owner): Expressed interest in opening a dispensary in Auburn. Highlighted that local purchases currently benefit other economies, and a flagship store could capture I-80 traffic. Emphasized strict state regulation and on-site security. Offered to help draft the ordinance.
Discussion Items
- Commercial Cannabis Activities & Land Uses: Economic Development Director Jonathan Wright presented a detailed overview of state regulations, local options, and staff recommendations.
- Staff Recommendations: Allow retail storefronts and delivery only; prohibit cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, testing, micro-business, and event licenses. Proposed three potential zones: Nevada Street, Palm Avenue area (with buffers from E.V. Cain), and High Street corridor. Recommended using a combination of regulatory permits, development agreements, and an RFP process. Suggested one retail storefront license per 7,500 population and one delivery-only license per 10,000 population.
- Council Discussion:
- Councilmembers agreed public workshops are needed before drafting an ordinance.
- Preferences were expressed for retail and delivery only, not cultivation or manufacturing.
- Concerns about location: Councilmember Davis opposed the Palm Avenue sites directly across from E.V. Cain and near Auburn Gymnastics (hundreds of children). Council concurred to remove those three parcels from consideration.
- Councilmember Rodell Harris favored the RFP process for greater control over operator quality.
- The council directed staff to hold at least two public workshops (one in-person, one virtual) by the end of October 2025, plus an online survey to gather broader input.
- Topics for public input: whether to allow cannabis, types (retail/delivery), medical vs. recreational or both, appropriate locations, and criteria for the RFP (e.g., appearance, security, community investment).
- Police Chief Brian Morrison: After touring a Grass Valley dispensary, he reported no significant crime increase attributed to the business, crediting robust security and operator vetting.
City Manager Report
- Employee of the Year: City Clerk Amy Lynn was named employee of the year. She will be honored at the Chamber's Celebrate the Community event on September 25.
- Kickball Trophy: The city team won the chamber's kickball tournament for the second consecutive year.
- Work Anniversaries: Recognized employees with significant service years in August, including Andy Ferkin (19 years, Public Works), Tony D'Ambrosia (13 years, Fire), and others.
- Meeting Schedule: Regular meetings in September and October; November 10 meeting scheduled (none on Nov 24); December 1 for council reorganization, December 8 for regular business, then dark until January.
Committee Reports
- Councilmember: Announced an Active Transportation Plan workshop on September 4 at 6:00 PM for public feedback on proposed maps.
- Youth Commission: First meeting of the year also on September 4.
- SACOG: Councilmember reported a performance review meeting; next meeting will be at Bishop's Pumpkin Farm in September.
- Sustainability Committee: The front lawn hardscape at Beal is progressing; the Resource Conservation District will provide plants. Ribbon-cutting date pending. Also requested two trash cans for the parking lot at the park due to litter.
Key Outcomes
- Cannabis Direction: Council directed staff to conduct public workshops (by end of October 2025) and an online survey to gather community input on commercial cannabis. Staff will return with a summary and draft ordinance based on feedback.
- Removed Locations: The Palm Avenue parcels near Auburn Gymnastics and directly across from E.V. Cain School were removed from consideration.
- Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
- Proclamations: Issued as read.
- Meeting Adjourned: In memory of Jimmy Wall.
Meeting Transcript
So this is the Auburn City Council meeting. I have nothing to report out of closed session, but I would like to call the regular session to order now. Roll call. Councilmember Adele Harris. Here, Davis. Here, down in Calvio. Present. Holmes. Present. And Mayor Amara. Present. Stand for the pledge, please. I pledge on the mouth. Keep lying up here. Thank you for being here tonight. Um, our first item is the mayor's commendation, proclamation, and acknowledgement. And the first one we have tonight is the um hunger action month proclamation. So can Denise Hoffman please step to the podium. Oh Andy. Sorry, Andy. You're more than welcome. Oh, so in the matter, um uh it's a proclamation recognizing September twenty twenty-five as Hunger Action Month in Placer County. Whereas Feeding America, the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States, has designated the month of September 2025 as Hunger Action Month to bring continued awareness that hunger and poverty are issues of serious concern in the United States. And whereas there are Auburn area individuals and families who experience food insecurities and must take difficult must make difficult choices every day of whether to buy healthy food or pay for housing, utilities, transportation, or medical care. And whereas the city council is committed to raising awareness of hunger needs and commends the ongoing efforts of the Auburn Interface Interfaith Food Closet, an agency partner of feeding the foothills and the numerous hunger relief organizations throughout the area who provide no-cost nutritious food to families in need. Um the Auburn Interface Food Closet will be hosting a neighborhood food drive on Saturday, September twentieth, twenty twenty-five. Sandra and Council members, thank you very much for uh entertaining us here today. It's only appropriate that Denise join me on the stage today, as this will be my last time doing this. Uh Denise is going to uh succeed me as the president of the organization come June. She is um shadowing with me for a full year because that way she will hopefully see all the problems once and be able to deal with it. Um for you uh to know we are running about the same level of service this year as we did last year. Uh we have not seen a significant uptick, but we are at our high watermark of ever. Um, and uh we can as far as we can tell, we're touching about 90 percent of the food insecure people in our community at least once a year, but many of them every month. Um we are biggest risk for going into the next year is going to be policy changes and um that are rippling through health services throughout the country and and certainly locally that may tighten food uh uh budgets for the people living at the margin, and as such, drive them to us more often. We are blessed that we do not have significant amount of our money uh based on grants from federal government or state government, so we are in a position to respond. Um and we will thank you. Thank you very much. And the next one is a commendation for the contributions to preserving the history of Auburn's fire service. And I want to call Carol Kramer and April McDonald Loomis to the podium, please. So for the two of you, whereas the Auburn Hook and Ladder Company number one and the Auburn Fire Department have served the City of Auburn with pride and honor for over 170 years, and their legacy represents a vital chapter of the city's history. And whereas Carol Kramer and April McDonald Loomis has dedicated countless hours to supporting Auburn Hook and Ladder Company number one and the Auburn Fire Department by researching, organizing and preserving generations of historical records, photographs, uniforms, equipment, and personal accounts. And whereas their efforts supported the release of a comprehensive historical book in June of 2025 that tells the story of Auburn's fire service from its founding by volunteers to the modern department we know today, ensuring that history is not lost, but instead honored and shared. And whereas, through their work, Carol Kramer and April McDonald Loomis have demonstrated a commitment to community service, historical preservation, and civic pride, enriching Auburn and providing a lasting legacy for future generations. Now, therefore, I Sandra Amara, mayor of the City of Auburn and Vice Mayor, on behalf of the City of Auburn, do hereby recognize and express our sincere appreciation to Carol Kramer and April McDonald Loomis for their outstanding contributions to the preserving Auburn's fire service history and commend both of you for your dedication. Thank you so much. Oh, we're still taking pictures here. Surprise, surprise. Thanks, good job. Uh, when I twist arms and uh ask uh them to contribute, they rise to the occasion. Uh, when I twist arms and uh ask uh them to contribute, they rise to the occasion and April created, and if you haven't seen the book, um a wonderful history that 200, 300 years from now, we will have.
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