Auburn City Council Study Session on Community Wellness – October 26, 2026

The Auburn City Council held a study session on October 26, 2026, from 5:30 PM to 8:04 PM, focusing on the Community Wellness special focus area. The meeting included a presentation from Project Be Free, discussion of multiple ordinances related to telecommunications franchises, the 2027 property tax levy, the 2027-2028 biennial operating budget, and the 2027-2032 Capital Facilities Plan. Extensive debate occurred over the inclusion of a Director of the Office of Equity position and funding for a new police headquarters.

Project Be Free Presentation

• Executive Director Katya Wojcik presented on the Domestic Violence Co-Responder Program. Key points:
  • Partnership with Auburn Police since 2025, funded by AWC ($100,000 in 2025-2026, $50,000 for 2026-2027 from AWC, and $198,902 over two years from House Bill 2015 grant).
  • Policy change in April 2026 mandated officers to refer every domestic violence call to Project Be Free, causing a spike in call rates from 20-40 per month to over 120 per month by June 2026.
  • In the past year, they filed 119 protection orders and served 360 crisis calls.
  • Demographics: primarily female; top languages Spanish, Dari, Russian, Farsi.
  • 77% of clients engage in services; only 1% later declined.
  • Challenges include housing limitations and complex behavioral health cases.
  • Plans to expand to the Auburn YMCA once a week and continue prevention efforts.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were made during the study session. Public hearings on the budget and tax levy are scheduled for November 2 and November 16, 2026.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance No. 7030 (Franchise for NFC Northwest, LLC): Granting a 15-year wireline telecommunications franchise for fiber optic installation in specific areas (Lea Hill, West Hill, near Muckleshoot Casino, and parts of Auburn). Public hearing set for November 2.
• Ordinance No. 7036 (Franchise for Shaw Business U.S., Inc.): Granting a site-specific 15-year franchise for existing conduit in West Valley Highway Corridor. Public hearing set for November 2.
• Ordinance No. 7033 (Property Tax Levy 2027): Establishing a levy of $26,282,992 (1% increase plus new construction). The levy rate is expected to increase to $1.34 per $1,000 due to low assessed valuation growth (0.67%). Public hearing on November 2.
• Ordinances No. 7034 and 7035 (Biennial Budget and Capital Facilities Plan): Director Jamie Thomas presented the proposed 2027-2028 budget, including $125.9 million in 2027 and $130.9 million in 2028 expenditures. The general fund includes new program requests such as $2.5 million debt service for facilities master plan, a rental inspection program, downtown recruitment incentives ($300,000 per year), Axon contract increase ($772,000 per year), and new FTEs for parks and theater operations. The Capital Facilities Plan proposes $31.9 million for non-governmental projects and $74.9 million for general governmental projects, including $87.1 million in LTGO bonds for a new police headquarters and other facilities.
• Office of Equity Debate: Councilmember Baldwin argued the budget does not comply with City Code (Chapter 2.28) which requires a Director of the Office of Equity. He noted the department is now under the Mayor's office with a program manager rather than a director. Other council members (Amer, Taylor, Sturgis) countered that the work continues and the code may need updating. Councilmember Lott requested a legal review of the ordinance. Mayor Backus stated that code updates are planned but not yet scheduled.
• Police Headquarters Discussion: Councilmember Baldwin expressed concern about committing $55 million to a new police headquarters using the new public safety sales tax ($3.4 million annually) without community input on spending priorities. Other members (Sturgis, Amer, Rakes) supported the headquarters as a long-standing priority. Director Thomas clarified that bond funds are one-time and cannot be used for ongoing programs, and that delaying the building would not free up significant funds for other programs due to the nature of bonding.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken; the meeting was a study session.
• Public hearings for Ordinance Nos. 7030, 7036, 7033, 7034, and 7035 are scheduled for November 2, 2026. A second public hearing for the budget is on November 16, 2026.
• Councilmember Lott requested a legal review of the Office of Equity Ordinance; Acting City Attorney Byrne agreed to work with the council on this.
• Deputy Mayor Taylor announced that a review of Council Rules of Procedure will begin at the November 9, 2026 study session. Council members are to submit two topics for discussion by the end of the week.
• Council Reports covered attendance at various community events and committee meetings.