Auburn City Council Meeting - November 10, 2025
Auburn City Council Meeting - November 10, 2025
The Auburn City Council held its regular meeting on November 10, 2025, at 1:30 PM. The meeting included approvals of routine consent calendar items, a public hearing to establish fees for new Entertainment Zones, and a discussion and approval of a Sub-Joint Operations Agreement with the Placer Hills Fire Protection District. The council also received reports from the city manager and council committees.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Arts Commissioner Appointments by Resolution, appointing Oscar V. Merida and Sydney Chavan to the Arts Commission. Approved unanimously.
- Item 2: Professional Services Agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, Amendment No. 1 for labor negotiation services. Approved unanimously.
- Item 4: Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance amending the Auburn Municipal Code to adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Codes with local amendments. Approved unanimously.
- Item 3 (Professional Services Agreement with McGuire Pacific Constructors for wayfinding signs) was removed from the consent calendar by Councilman Holmes for separate discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mayor acknowledged Veterans Day (November 11) and encouraged attendance at the parade and ceremony at the fairgrounds.
- City Manager noted that November 10 is Fire Chief John Rogers' birthday and the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps; the council and audience sang happy birthday and recognized veterans in attendance.
- Councilmember Down announced the Festival of Lights Parade and Western States ticket polling on December 6.
- Councilmember Dowden Calvio suggested the city consider celebrating the nation's 250th birthday in 2026.
- Councilmember Harris thanked firefighters and police for conducting tours for school groups and the youth commission.
Discussion Items
- Item 3: Professional Services Agreement with McGuire Pacific Constructors – Councilman Holmes requested removal to discuss the design of eight large wayfinding signs. Staff explained the signs are 9 feet tall by 8.5 feet wide, require Caltrans permits, a crane for installation, and are funded by ARPA. The contract covers fabrication and installation beyond staff capability. Motion to approve the resolution passed unanimously (5-0).
- Item 5: Public Hearing – Establishing Fees for Entertainment Zones – Economic Development Director Jonathan Wright presented a fee schedule for the new Entertainment Zones in Old Town and Downtown Auburn, effective November 26, 2025. Fees include application, permit modification, reinstatement, inspection, and appeal fees. Participation is voluntary for the 17 ABC-licensed businesses. Discussion covered pro-rating, renewal fees (to be addressed in a future ordinance), and branding (cups, hand stamps). Motion to approve the resolution passed unanimously (5-0).
- Item 6: Sub-Joint Operations Agreement with Placer Hills Fire Protection District – Fire Chief John Rogers presented the agreement for shared administrative, command and control, fire prevention, and related services. The agreement builds on an existing Joint Operations Agreement, aims to reduce duplication, improve efficiency, and develop leadership without additional cost. The Auburn Firefighters Association (Local 4110) expressed support. Council questioned metrics and authority; staff will return with an implementation plan and data collection. Motion to approve the resolution passed unanimously (5-0).
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar items 1, 2, and 4 approved unanimously.
- Item 3 (wayfinding signs) approved unanimously.
- Item 5 (Entertainment Zone fees) approved unanimously.
- Item 6 (Sub-JOA with Placer Hills Fire Protection District) approved unanimously.
- City Manager Report: Recognized awards to Auburn Police Department personnel (Jared Collins, Kimberly Aronda, Lucy Nan, Fred Kaney); announced Michael Panola as a new Certified Building Official; noted the opening of Auburn Steakhouse (Oak House) at 130 Maple Street; acknowledged employee anniversaries; reminded of the December 1 reorganization meeting.
- Future Agenda Items: Councilman Holmes suggested applying for Certified Local Government status to access grants and assistance.
- Council Committee Reports: Councilmember Dowden Calvio visited the Geysers Calpine geothermal facility; Councilmember Harris reported on the youth commission meeting and their interest in skate park improvements; Councilmember Down reported on economic development efforts to support local businesses.
Meeting Transcript
Oh had a bang the gavel. It's not working either. It it is. Do you have the main test test? Check, check, check, check one. Check, check. No. Yeah. It's microphone. Yes. Oh my gosh. It's it's up now. Testing. Testing. Check, check, check, check. Can you turn it up more? Thank you. Okay. Hold on. Check, check, check. Call this meeting to order, please. Um, this is the November 10th meeting, and so everyone, uh roll call, please. Councilmember Radell Harris. Here, Davis. Here. Down Calvio. Present. Holmes. Present. And Mayor Amara. Present. Can we please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge a lead. So good evening. We have um Mayor's commendation proclamation acknowledgments. There are will be none tonight. And there is no um report out of closed session. Thank you so much. Uh and next is the adoption of the agenda. This is a time set aside for council members and or the public to ask for removal, postponement, or a change of the listed sequence of an agenda item. The agenda will be approved by consensus of the council. Anyone on council have one a change? Anyone from the public? Do I have a motion? I'll move approval of the agenda as proposed. Second. Um all in favor? All right. Adopted. Consent agenda.
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