HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-13-2025 MinutesCity Council
* * Study Session
CITY OF Municipal Services Special Focus Area
T TRT T��� �T October 13, 2025 - 5:30 PM
lJ B V .l �I City Hall Council Chambers
WASHINGTON
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Deputy Mayor Cheryl Rakes called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Council
Chambers of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Study Session Meeting was held in person and virtually.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present: Deputy Mayor Cheryl Rakes, Hanan Amer, Lisa Stirgus,
Tracy Taylor, Clinton Taylor, and Yolanda Trout -Manuel. Councilmember Kate Baldwin
arrived at 5:32 p.m.
Mayor Nancy Backus and the following staff members present included: City Attorney
Jason Whalen, Assistant Chief of Police Samuel Betz, Director of Community
Development Jason Krum, Director of Public Works Ingrid Gaub, Director of Parks,
Arts, and Recreation Julie Krueger, Recreation Manager Kevin Witte, Recreation
Program Coordinator Monique Hokett, and City Clerk Shawn Campbell.
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
There were no modifications made to the agenda.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS
A. Auburn Area Connect Chamber of Commerce Council Update (Krum) (10
Minutes)
A presentation to update on events, connections made, and impact made on
the community
Executive Director Kacie Bray of the Auburn Area Connect Chamber of
Commerce, provided Council with an update on their 2025 Recap including the
economic development contract, business connect events, Auburn Area
Connects Spotlight awards, ribbon cuttings, golf tournament, ways they are
connecting the Auburn brand, and the new website.
Council discussed the Leadership Institute, success measurements,
coordinating with City updates, events promoted, website tracking,
collaborating with the City on City -sponsored events, tourism, business
retention, Chamber engagement, and Downtown Area in connection with the
Chamber.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Teen Programming through Auburn Parks, Arts, & Recreation (Krueger) (15
minutes)
Director Kruger, Manager Witte, and Coordinator Hokett provided Council with
a presentation on the Parks, Arts, and Recreation Teen Programs, including
the after -school program, transportation to the Recreation Center, community
partnerships, Late Night program, teen programs, youth sports program, and
staffing.
Council discussed scholarships for events, school partnerships,
communications from schools, retention rates, AmeriCorp staffing, busses from
West Auburn High School, input from participants, program wishlist, teen
takeover, number of teens the faculty could service daily, volunteer staff, teen
summer jobs, connection between the Senior Center and the teen center,
donations, and needed supplies.
B. 2023-2025 Crime Statistics Update (Caillier) (15 Minutes)
Assistant Chief Betz provided Council with an update on the 2023-2025 Crime
Statistics including calls for service, the reporting districts, crime types by
district year to date, regional comparison data, average daily population of
SCORE, booking by agencies, juvenile crime, shooting incidents in 2025, use
of technology, and staffing.
Council discussed the CRT Team, crime reporting, notices of criminals in the
area, juvenile crime, decrease in statistics, speeding and street racing, text
messages to 911, response times and crime by district. Areas that Council
wanted additional information on are time spent on active crime, shooting
incidents in 2024 and 2023, and incorporating stats in the Municipal Services
SFA Meetings.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. 2026 VRFA Fee Schedule Presentation (Krum) (10 Minutes)
Tim Day, VRFA Deputy Chief, and Mark Horaski, VRFA Chief Financial Officer,
provided Council with an overview of the 2026 Valley Regional Fire Authority
(VRFA) Fee Schedule, including the statutory basis for fees, the calculation
framework, the incident data, the asset list, development growth, existing asset
cost basis, capital improvement plan, future assist cost basis, fee schedule
scaling, residential scaling, proposed change to the fee schedule, and the
comparison study.
Council discussed the impact on affordable housing, the impact on individual
builders, the reduced tax levy on existing taxpayers, billing, and levy dollars.
B. Resolution No. 5860 (Whalen) (15 Minutes)
A Resolution amending the City of Auburn Fee Schedule to adjust for 2026
Fees
Directors Krum, Krueger, and Gaub provided Council with an overview of
Resolution No. 5860 including the attempt to have a cost recovery model, and
proposed changes to the fee schedule.
Council discussed driving range fees, Traffic Impact Fees, downtown land use
fees, and World Cup preparations.
C. Ordinance No. 6995 (Krum) (10 Minutes)
An Ordinance continuing the moratorium enacted on May 10, 2025, pursuant
to Ordinance No. 6978 and as amended by Ordinance No. 6995 on the
acceptance, processing, and/or approval of applications for building and land
use development for Energy Storage System facilities (ESS) proposed to be
located in any zone within the City of Auburn
Director Krum and Manager Teague provided Council with an overview of
Ordinance No. 6995 including a background of the moratorium, requested
extension on the extension of the moratorium, and the proposed timeline.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was
adjourned at 8:01 p.m.
APPROVED this 3rd day of November 2025.
LLJ
CHERYL RAKLS DEPUTY MAYOR Shawn Campbell, City Clerk