The Auburn City Council convened on July 13, 2026, at 2:30 PM (regular session began after closed session) at 1225 Lincoln Way. The meeting included commendations, consent calendar actions, public comments, and several council business items: appointment of an interim city manager, process for filling a council vacancy, a six-month review of a fire sub-joint operations agreement, designation of an opportunity zone, and adoption of revised council rules. Notable actions included approval of the Pacific Avenue and Pleasant Avenue Bicycle Improvement Project with an added pedestrian lane, and a resolution to seek opportunity zone designation.
The consent calendar was approved unanimously (4–0) after Items 7 and 10 were removed for separate discussion. All other items (1–6, 8–9, 11–12) were approved en bloc. These included:
Public Works Director Angel Dean reported that only one bid was received (Central Valley Engineering & Asphalt Inc., $195,215.90 including 10% contingency). Councilmember Amara expressed concern about lack of competition but acknowledged staff time and risk of higher costs if rebid. The project is consistent with previous bids. Motion to approve passed 4–1 (Councilmember Amara voted no).
Director Dean presented plans for a class‑4 bike lane (reduced to class‑2 due to funding limits). Councilmember Dowden Calvio proposed adding a 4‑foot pedestrian lane (12 feet total: 8 for bikes, 4 for pedestrians) at minimal additional cost, within the 10% contingency. Councilmember Rodel Harris inquired about safe routes to school; sidewalks remain a long‑term goal. Public comments: Sue (supportive, asked about tie‑ins), Alex Anderson (supported but raised concerns about mixed‑use safety and dog leashes), Bob Peterson (Sierra Foothills Cycling Club, 327 members, supported but wanted physical barriers from traffic), Steve Boswell (regional resource). Staff noted seven supportive emails. Councilmember Dowden Calvio emphasized alignment with the Active Transportation Plan (adopted May 2026) and use of Local Transportation Fund monies ($955,000+ for FY 2025‑26). Motion to authorize contract with contingency, including pedestrian lane, passed unanimously.
Council discussed filling the vacancy left by Councilmember Mike Holmes (died June 27, 2026). Staff recommended appointment rather than special election due to short remaining term. The timeline: applications open July 14, due August 10, appointment at August 24 meeting. Councilmember Rodel Harris requested allowance for resumes and cover letters. Motion to proceed with appointment process passed unanimously.
Fire Chief John Rogers presented a review of the agreement effective January 1, 2026. Key metrics: 241 battalion chief responses in six months (14/month increase); 185 combined years of chief officer experience; shared procurement (turnout gear discounts); joint pump/ladder testing across 5 stations; standardized after‑action review and decontamination procedures after lithium‑ion incidents. Challenges included learning curve across city and district processes. Council thanked staff for the report.
Economic Development Director Jonathan Wright explained that the current opportunity zone (Old Town/Downtown) sunsets at end of 2026. A new census tract (06061020300) along Highway 49 corridor is eligible. Designation would allow tax deferrals for capital gains invested in the zone. The city must apply to the state by Go Biz; competition is high. Council expressed strong support and passed the resolution unanimously.
Council discussed proposed updates adopting Rosenberg's Rules of Order. Several amendments were suggested by Councilmembers Rodel Harris and Dowden Calvio, including: clarifying attendance/teleconference language, allowing city manager/city clerk to cancel meetings for lack of business (in consultation with mayor), and clarifying abstention language. The item was continued to the next meeting on consent after revisions are incorporated.
Recording in progress. Are you ready, Madam Clerk? Good evening, everyone, and welcome. We are returning from closed session with nothing to report. And we'll go ahead and call to order this regular session of the Auburn City Council on July 13th, 2026. Madam Clerk, roll call, please. Councilmember Amara. Present down Calvio. Present. Ridel Harris here, Mayor Davis. Here. Thank you very much. Councilmember Rodel Harris, will you please lead us in the pledge? Yes, please stand. I pledge a leader to the buttons of face of America. Thanks to the Republic for which stands. All right, thank you very much. Before we move into the commendations and acknowledgments, I'd like to pause and defer to Councilmember Dowden Calvio for a moment. Thank you very much, Madam Mayor. I appreciate the opportunity. Everyone is aware that we lost Councilmember and former mayor Mike Holmes on June 27th. He passed away after a short stay in the hospital. I'm going to be requesting a moment of silence in a moment, but I and I also wanted to request that we adjourn tonight's meeting in his memory. Mike was first elected to the city council in 2002. It was actually during that election that I was running for re-election. So we were on the same ballot. And that was really my introduction to Mike. And it was not long after he had retired from a distinguished career with the U.S. Navy, where he served as a captain. Mike was re-elected to City Council in 2006, 2010, and again in 2022. He was mayor in 2005 and in 2008. Mike was a service-focused, Mike was service focused. He truly was. He wanted Auburn to be the best that it could be for our future. And this is evidenced by his political and volunteer service. And he was steadfast on historical preservation. All of us on this council know, yes, know how uh dedicated he was. But um Mike came from a long family of homes. We kind of joked about this, and I still joke with it with his brother about it. I think my family beat his by two years here to the Auburn area. But he understood the importance of preserving and really focusing on historic preservation and uh his legacy will live on definitely by the many projects that he helped to foster, not only on City Council, but as a rotary member and a member of the U.S. Navy League as well. Um so and I know he did a lot of veteran stuff besides the Navy League. So, you know, we certainly are going to miss Mike. Uh his memorial service will be this Saturday as evidenced here, uh, July 18th at 10 a.m. at Gold Hill Gardens. I'm sure it'll be a lovely service, and several of us will be speaking at that service as well. And so with that, Madam Mayor, I'd like to request a moment of silence. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Absolutely, thank you so much.