Auburn City Council Meeting - March 23, 2026
Auburn City Council Meeting - March 23, 2026
The Auburn City Council held a regular meeting on March 23, 2026, at 6:00 PM at 1225 Lincoln Way. The meeting opened with proclamations for Parkinson's Awareness Month (April 2026) and Women's History Month (March 2026). The consent calendar was approved with items removed for separate discussion, and the council received updates on vacant commercial buildings and the Auburn Fire Department's 2025 year-end report.
Consent Calendar
- The consent calendar was approved as amended, with items 2 and 3 (lease amendments with AFTA and the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce) pulled by staff for further work, and items 5 and 6 removed by councilmembers for separate discussion. All other routine items (minutes, lease amendment with chamber, commission appointment, airport lease amendment, professional services agreements, and subdivision improvement agreement) were approved by roll call vote (6-0).
Items Removed from Consent Calendar
- Item 5: Tile Placement Recommendations from SHAAC – Councilmember Holmes expressed strong support for the tiles honoring Charlie Yu, Harriet Crandall, Key Chin, Leadership Auburn, and David Albright (whose son and wife were present). The motion to approve the recommendations passed unanimously.
- Item 6: Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Use Policy – Councilmember Amara highlighted the need for the policy to be a living document, given rapidly evolving AI technology. She urged that the City Manager have access to technology expertise for decision-making and noted concerns about data governance and external changes to AI provider rules. She moved approval, and the item passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Sandy shared a story about trying to use the on-demand bus service on a Friday night, finding it closed at 7 PM, and noted the lack of Uber in Auburn. She urged expanded hours for the on-demand bus to reduce drunk driving.
- A speaker promoted Placer County 4-H summer camp, highlighting youth leadership and the program's recovery after flooding and COVID.
- Additional announcements included: The Vault opening on March 27 at 4 PM; Protect American River Canyon cleanup on April 18; and the Canyons Endurance Run from April 24–26, expected to bring thousands of visitors.
Discussion Items
- Vacant Commercial Building Update – Economic Development Director Jonathan Wright reported on progress since December 2025. Staff issued four nuisance abatement notices; three property owners are responding. Work has focused on the Mary Bells and Happy Hour buildings (old town), where the owner fixed deteriorating bricks and will repair a broken window. A commercial vacancy registry has launched, a signage ordinance is under development, and a window art program is being considered to improve perception of vacancies. Councilmember questions touched on the time investment (several hours per case) and interest in converting upper floors to residential (staff noted current code allows apartments). No property owner interest in tenants was reported yet. Council praised efforts and encouraged continued progress.
- Auburn Fire Department 2025 Year-End Report – Fire Chief John Rogers presented a detailed report. In 2025, the department responded to 2,311 incidents: 1,487 EMS calls (64.3% of total), 60 fires (2.6%, including 25 structure fires and 20 vegetation fires), 459 good intent calls, 155 service calls, 98 false alarms, and 42 hazardous conditions. Call volume decreased 6% from 2024, but the 10-year trend shows steady increase (average 2,214 per year). Average code 3 travel time within city limits was 3 minutes and 52 seconds. The busiest time was 8 AM to noon; 73% of calls occur between 8 AM and 8 PM. Mutual aid: AFD provided aid 258 times, received aid 282 times (first year since 2020 receiving more aid than given). Back-to-back calls: 579; simultaneous calls: 295. Significant fires included a multifamily fire on High Street (May 29), a residence on Aolia Drive (August 25), and another on High Street (October 21). Personnel supported the Palisades incident in Los Angeles for 10 days, generating $79,000 in reimbursable revenue. Training: 1,421 hours completed. Prevention: 43 vegetation complaints, 178 burn permits, 14 real estate inspections for very high fire hazard zones. The Baltimore Ravine Shaded Fuel Break Project treated 120 acres under budget. Public education: 33 events reaching 4,400+ people. Personnel updates: new firefighter Jeff Costa; Firefighter Sims recognized. The Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 recognized Foothill Firearms as Business of the Year, Bill McKenzie as Member of the Year, and Steve Miller for 63 years of service. A new joint operations agreement with Placer Hills took effect in December 2025. Council commended the department for dedication and safety efforts.
Key Outcomes
- Items 5 and 6 (tile recommendations and AI policy) were approved unanimously.
- The council received updates on vacant commercial buildings and the fire department, with no formal actions required.
- A future agenda item was requested by Councilmember Amara to explore requiring notification of solar battery installations during the permitting process, to improve firefighter safety. This will be brought back for discussion.
- Councilmember Downing announced a monthly "Coffee with a Council Member" program, organized by the City Clerk, starting soon.
- Councilmember Holmes reported on the Downtown Business Association: Friday night music in Central Square starts May 1 (6-8 PM), Springfest on May 16, and new trash cans. Sustainability presented on e-bike share opportunities.
- Councilmember Downing reported from SACOG and Pioneer meetings, including a tour of West Sacramento and prepay bond savings for electricity purchases.
- The Economic Development Committee's next town hall is May 12.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Uh reporting out from closed session. We have nothing to report. And we'll go forward with calling this regular session of our city council meeting to order at six o'clock, March 23rd, 2026. Councilmember Amara. Present. Present. Here. Uh Mr. Holmes, you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance through the slide. Oh, the United States over the Republic for which it's one nation under liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. And next we will have mayor's accommodations. We have two proclamations tonight. Our first one is for Parkinson's Awareness Month. I think I have guests. You brought some friends. Welcome. All right. This might be a little bit of a tongue twister. All right. Uh proclamation for Parkinson's awareness month. Whereas Parkinson's disease is a chronic progressive neurologic disease and both the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States and the most rapidly growing globally. And whereas over 10 million people worldwide, over one million people in the United States, and well over a hundred thousand people in California are living with Parkinson's disease. And whereas the symptoms of Parkinson's disease may vary from person to person and can include tremors, rigidity, difficulty with balance, walking, chewing, swallowing, and speaking, as well as cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and a variety of other non-motor symptoms. And whereas research suggests that the cause of Parkinson's disease is a combination of genetic and environmental factors not yet fully determined, even as 2024 saw the identification of a biomarker for earlier, more accurate diagnosis, and the passage of the national plan to end Parkinson's Disease Act to accelerate the search for a cure. And whereas volunteers, volunteers, caregivers, nonprofit organizations, medical professionals, and researchers are striving to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson's and their families through outreach, education, and greater access to resources, including Parkinson's specific exercise programs, care partner respite grants, and whereas James Parkinson, who was born on April 11th, described the symptoms most commonly associated with Parkinson's disease over 200 years ago, thus the name of the disease and the designation of the month of April to raise awareness of Parkinson's. Now, therefore, therefore it be resolved. I, Kelly Davis, mayor of the City of Auburn, on behalf of the council, do proclaim April 2026 as Parkinson's Awareness Month and encourage participation in awareness, raising awareness, supporting research, and creating a compassionate community for those impacted by Parkinson's disease. Thank you for coming. Thank you, would you like to say anything? Here's Auburn area. Here in the Auburn area, we have over a hundred people who are members of the uh Parkinson's support group, the care partners, and the person with Parkinson's. And we meet several times uh month, uh once for speakers, once for the care partners alone, once for those who are living alone and have Parkinson's, and we've started to have just an affordable coffee once a month. So we are trying to support those who have Parkinson's, and we thank you all. Thank you, thank you. It doesn't have it. You you make the decision. Okay. All right, next we have a women's history month. We're gonna do a cross the table here because we're a lot of women. Okay, I'll start us out recognizing March 2026 as women's history month. Whereas each March we celebrate women's history month, a time to recognize and honor the many contributions women have made to our community, our nation, and our world. And whereas women have shaped our history and continue to lead in every field public service, education, business, science, the arts, and beyond, and their leadership, whereas their leadership, strength, and determination have helped build stronger, more vibrant communities, and women's history month is also a time to reflect on the progress we've made and to recommit ourselves to expanding opportunity and equity for all now. Therefore, be it proclaimed that I, Kelly Davis, mayor of the city of Auburn, on behalf of the city council, proudly proclaims March 2026 as women's history month, and be it further proclaimed that we encourage all residents to celebrate the achievements of women, past and present, and to support the next generation of women leaders. Thank you very much. All right, moving on to adoption of the agenda. This is the time set aside for council members and or the public to ask for removal, postponement, or a change to the listed sequence of an agenda item. The agenda will be approved by consensus of the council.
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