Auburn City Council Meeting: Police Report, Fireworks, Proclamations (April 27, 2026)

The Auburn City Council met in regular session on April 27, 2026, at 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA. Councilmember Holmes was absent, and the mayor reported nothing from closed session. The meeting opened with proclamations recognizing May 2026 as Bike Month, honoring Placer High School's Division III basketball champions, and adjourning in memory of Al (Alair) of Mr. Cherry Records. The council approved the consent calendar, received the 2025 Police Department Annual Report, and voted 3-1 to authorize the City Manager to contract for Fourth of July fireworks and begin fundraising.

Proclamations and Recognitions

• Mayor Kelly Davis proclaimed May 2026 as Bike Month in Auburn, highlighting the city's active transportation culture, the forthcoming Active Transportation Plan, and the Auburn Trails Alliance. Three Bike Valley volunteers were recognized for providing free bike valet services at events.
• Placer High School boys' and girls' Division III Sac-Joaquin Section basketball champions were recognized. The girls won their first title since 1990 and carry a cumulative GPA of 3.7; the boys won their first since 2018.
• Councilmember Amara honored Al (Alair) of Mr. Cherry Records, who recently passed away. He opened the shop in 1983 with $500 and a personal record collection, later expanding to downtown Auburn; it is the longest continuously owned and operated record shop in the Sacramento region. The meeting was adjourned in his honor.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously by roll call: Resolution appointing Bill Pennington to the Sustainability Advisory Committee as the member representing an environmental protection organization.
• Approved unanimously by roll call: Resolution consenting to and approving an amendment of the ground lease at Auburn Municipal Airport (Hangar 71) and authorizing the City Manager to sign all documents.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Charlie Engen, an Auburn resident and Firewise community leader, expressed concern about five additional "no dumping" signs installed on March 3 at the old factory ruins on Brewery Lane. He stated that in four years of daily use he has never observed illegal dumping there—only seasonal landscaping debris—and that approximately 30 nearby residents confirmed no dumping history. He said he contacted Public Works Director Mengul Dean on March 4 and has not received a response. He questioned whether the signage level was proportionate to actual need, provided photographs, and requested staff review and feedback. The Council directed staff to follow up.
• Following Mr. Engen's testimony, council members offered announcements (kudos for the Canyons run, a recap of the Cap-to-Cap trip to Washington, D.C., and promotion of Music on the Square), but no additional public commenters came forward.

Discussion Items

2025 Police Department Annual Report

Chief Brian Morrison presented the Auburn Police Department's 2025 performance. Key statistics included:

• 17,076 patrol calls for service and a little over 1,000 police reports; crime clearance rate increased 2% over 2024; total and felony arrests declined while misdemeanor arrests increased; crimes against persons decreased significantly.
• Average response times: 4 minutes 18 seconds for priority one calls (target under 5 minutes); 4 minutes 31 seconds for priority two calls (target under 10 minutes); approximately 15 minutes for priority three calls (target under 20 minutes). Community feedback via Q-hit was nearly at the 90th percentile positive.
• Officers initiated 7,843 proactive calls for service (area checks, traffic stops, business checks, security checks).
• Chronic homelessness decreased from 14 in 2024 to 6 in 2025; four individuals were placed in permanent housing. The chief credited CSO Williamson's persistence in offering services at every encounter.
• Traffic: 2,324 stops (8% decrease from 2024); 320 citations, 233 for moving violations; nearly 26% fewer traffic collisions; Grass Valley Highway between Nevada Street and Lincoln Way had the most collisions. A grant application to the Office of Traffic Safety is pending.
• DUI enforcement: 110 arrests; average blood alcohol content 0.18; average age 36; Officers Collins and Berthelsen each made over 25 DUI arrests and will receive the MAT Award.
• Criminal investigations: 348 cases and 70 arrests; 77 warrants; over 100 suspected child abuse reports; 25 forensic interviews; over 20 commercial sexual exploitation of children cases; over 23 internet crimes against children cases; 7 active cold cases.
• Juvenile probation: 93% of cases originated in city schools; 28 referrals to probation.
• Property/evidence: 4,446 booked items; 1,598 items booked in 2025; 753 destroyed or returned.
• Code enforcement: 261 incidents; 136 cases opened and 129 closed, up from 89 incidents in 2023.
• Dispatch: 26,658 calls answered; 93% of 911 calls answered within 15 seconds, exceeding California's 90% standard.
• Volunteers: 18 volunteers, 20 community events, 1,259 live scans, 604 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs collected, and a new Senior Shop Safe program with Grocery Outlet (5 events).

In Q&A, the chief outlined plans to relaunch the Citizens Academy, create a department strategic plan, re-establish a Chief's Advisory Council, explore a youth advisory council, and form a 501(c)3 for canine/drone programs, outreach, and officer wellness. He discussed a potential teen court (used historically for tobacco and minor offenses), a volunteer parking-meter warning program (prior interest fizzled), and Highway 49 improvements contingent on the pending grant. On homelessness, he confirmed services are offered to those in cars, camps, or on the street, and CSO Williamson will hold office hours. He reported no incidents related to the downtown entertainment zones. Regarding Flock license plate readers, he said two cameras were stolen over the weekend and found in a canal (non-functional), data is shared only with California law enforcement agencies (not federal or out-of-state), and a Flock transparency portal link will be added to the city webpage within the next couple of weeks.

Fourth of July Fireworks Event

The City Manager requested authorization to contract with Pyro Spectacular and the Gold Country Fairgrounds for July 4th fireworks and direction to begin fundraising. Last year the Chamber of Commerce opted out, and the City produced the show at a total cost of about $21,000, raising about $18,000 and leaving the City out of pocket about $3,500. This year the Fairgrounds offered a no-cost rental (a savings of about $6,000), and the vendor estimated a 10% increase due to tariffs, bringing the estimated cost to about $20,000. Councilmember Amara opposed the proposal, arguing community events should be community-led, no community group stepped forward after over a year of notice, and the City should not become the producer of high-liability events; she said she would support other July 4th celebrations. Councilmember Down in Calvio supported the event, citing the nation's 250th anniversary and the safety benefits of a controlled display over illegal backyard fireworks, and made the motion. The motion passed 3-1, with Councilmember Amara dissenting and Councilmembers Down in Calvio, Ridell Harris, and Mayor Davis voting aye.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved unanimously (Bill Pennington appointment; Hangar 71 ground lease amendment).
• Fourth of July fireworks contract authorized by a 3-1 vote; City Manager directed to begin fundraising and to continue seeking a nonprofit to take over the event.
• Staff directed to review the Brewery Lane no-dumping signage concern and respond to the resident.
• Commitment that the May 11, 2026 budget presentation will include Public Works information, addressing a council request for an annual report similar to the Police Department's.
• Upcoming community events announced: Music on the Square (Fridays, 6-8 p.m., through September), Kidapalooza (May 14), Youth Advisory Commission downtown event (May 16), Art Walk (June 7), movies in the park this summer, and economic development town hall postponed to late summer.

Reports

• City Manager Report: The manager met with interim Gold Country Fairgrounds CEO Andrew Trygg on coordination and floated placing a city representative on a community panel; no commitment yet, but a request was made through Senator Nilo to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture. The marketing/graphic design consultant search drew about 70 submissions; the top three were interviewed and contracts will proceed. Marketplace on Elm (250 Elm) is scheduled to open in time for Mother's Day. The Canyons run brought over 1,800 runners to the city April 24-25. May 3-9 is Professional Municipal Clerks Week (a resolution will thank City Clerk Amy), May is Building Safety Month, and June primary election materials are arriving.
• Future Agenda Items: Councilmember Amara requested a Public Works annual report; the City Manager committed to include a summary in the May 11 budget presentation.
• City Council Committee Reports: Councilmember Amara reported DBA's Music on the Square kickoff, the Sustainability Committee's budget work, and Streetscape's 5-8 year tile supply outlook, with a request for replacement tiles during sidewalk projects (including in front of City Hall). Councilmember Down in Calvio reported legislative positions from Pioneer Community Energy and SACOG, an update to the endurance capital pillar in Central Square (removing defunct races) proposed in the budget, Cap-to-Cap meetings in Washington, D.C. (attended by three representatives, with the Mayor the only one sent by the City), and Cal Cities actions, including opposition to a taxpayer protection ballot measure that would reduce jurisdiction funding. Councilmember Ridell Harris reported the Youth Advisory Commission's May 16 jewelry exchange and karaoke event, Kidapalooza participation, the Placer County Eat Well app pairing restaurants with food-insecure residents, and Sierra College's June 2 workforce summit featuring an NVIDIA keynote. Mayor Davis announced the economic development town hall postponement to late summer, movies in the park this summer, and Old Town Art Walk on June 7.