The Auburn City Council met on October 13, 2025, to discuss and provide direction on a retail commercial cannabis ordinance and introduce an ordinance establishing entertainment zones in Old Town and Downtown Auburn. The meeting also included proclamations, consent calendar approvals, and a continuation of the public hearing for building code amendments.
Right. That works. Sorry for the tight delay there, Mayor Amara. You may begin the meeting. Okay, so welcome to the October 13th City Council meeting. Can I have the roll call? Council member Riddell Harris. Here, David, here, down cell the out, President Holmes. Mayor Amara. President, can we all please stand for the pledge of legions? I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. And to the Republic of which stands. Sorry about the delay, but um thank you for your patience. The first uh order um point of order is uh Mayor's commendation proclamation and acknowledgement. So I have a two proclamations. The first one I would like to call this is the indigenous uh the indigenous people's day, and I'm calling um John Williams, who are you here to represent for you. So this is the indigenous People's Day, October thirteenth, twenty twenty-five. Whereas our community is the home to many Native people from all across this country. It is time to recognize this day as a day of remembrance of their ancestors and the deep contributions that all Native Americans have made. Whereas their traditions inspire the ideals of self-governance, determination that are the framework of our nation today. Whereas the indigenous people have made significant contributions to the cultural tapestry of America with their music, language, arts, um, agriculture, and medicine teachings. Whereas our home, the city of Aufford is the ancestral home of the Nassina Nicene. Thank you. My do people living here for generations despite great and adversity, including slavery, starvation, disease, and broken trees. Whereas we cannot change the past, but we must realize and remember the pain suffered by so many throughout our history. This is why we're joining many other cities across this country to publicly recognize this original people and advance a holy, a fuller true and complete understanding of all their history. Now therefore, I Sandy Amara, mayor of the City of Auburn on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim October thirteenth, twenty twenty-five as Indigenous Peoples Day in the City of Auburn. Okay. And uh I would like to say uh thank you. I hope this is the beginning of a government to government relationship. We're the United Auburn community. And last week um we're still here. And these are not means without people. Thank you. Why do we start with that? Next one is the National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15th to October 15th, uh 2025. And I'd like to call Tomas, and um if someone if there's anyone else that would like to come up and be a recipient, then we'll call we'll have a picture after as well. And I also need help from our vice mayor if you're going to help us help me get through this over. Oh great. Okay. So whereas National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from September 15th to October 15th to honor history, culture, and contributions of American Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. And whereas the observation began in 1968, has Hispanic Heritage Month and was expanded in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15th, chosen because it marks the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico with Chile celebrating there shortly thereafter. And whereas the Americans have enriched our communities and our nation through deep traditions of family, faith, hard work, public service, and cultural expression, strengthening the fabric of cities like Auburn for their leadership, entrepreneurship, and migrant heritage. And whereas the city of Auburn recognizes and celebrates the invaluable influence of Hispanic and Latino residents, past and present, whose diverse contributions continue to shape Auburn civic, economic, and cultural life. And whereas by honoring Hispanic Heritage Month, we affirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive community that embraces diversity as a source of strength and pride. Now, therefore, I stand for Amara, mayor of the city of Auburn, on behalf of the city council, do hereby recognize September 15th through October 15, 2025 as National Hispanic Heritage Month in the City of Auburn and encourages all residents to celebrate and honor the enduring legacy and cultural richness of our Hispanic and Latino communities. So happily I didn't have it in the head. And I didn't see many Latino Hispanic communities here, but over the last week I've actually looked back at the 1950s census, which is the census that is public now, because I think every time it's all years they release information and I look at the names of the Mexicans, Mexican people and also people from Spain and other Latin American countries that were here in 1950 working on the railroad um part of the program. So I'm just reminded that also uh we have been here uh that long grabbed well. So it is feeling really good to be recognized and for all of us to celebrate uh the traditions of kind of you know then continue celebrating them as well.