HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-12-2026 MinutesCITY OF
UBURN
WASHINGTON
CALL TO ORDER
City Council
Study Session
Finance & Internal Services SFA
January 12, 2026 - 5:30 PM
City Hall Council Chambers
MINUTES
Deputy Mayor Tracy Taylor 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 Tracy Taylor, Hanan Amer, Kate Baldwin,
Brian Lott, Cheryl Rakes, Lisa Stirgus, and Clinton Taylor.
Mayor Nancy Backus and the following staff members present included: City Attorney
Jason Whalen, Assistant Chief of Police Samuel Betz, Director of Public Works Ingrid
Gaub, Parks, Arts, and Recreation Director Julie Krueger, Director of Finance Jamie
Thomas, and City Clerk Shawn Campbell.
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
Councilmember Amer moved and Councilmember Stirgus seconded to suspend
Council Rules of Procedure Section 2.2(C) to allow for final action at a Study Session
meeting.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 7-0
PUBLIC COMMENT
No one came forward to speak.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS
A. Auburn Symphony Orchestra — 2025 Annual Report (Krueger) (15 Minutes)
Gabi Galloway, Executive Director of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra and
Wesley Schulz, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Auburn Symphony
Orchestra, provided Council with a presentation on the 2025 Annual Report,
including Board member recruitment, grant funding, subscriber sales and
single event ticket sales, and programs.
Council discussed the upcoming performances, suggestions on an audience's
first performance, subscribers, regional access, and return on investment.
FINANCE AND INTERNAL SERVICES DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. 3rd Quarter 2025 Financial Report through September 2025 (Thomas) (20
Minutes)
Councilmember Amer, Chair of the Finance and Internal Services Special
Focus Area, chaired this portion of the meeting.
Director Thomas provided Council with an overview of the 3rd Quarter 2025
Financial Report including General Fund revenue, tax revenue including
Property Tax, Retail Sales and Use Tax, Business and Occupation Tax, and
other taxes. She also discussed licenses and permits, intergovernmental
revenue, charges for services, fines and penalties, and interest and investment
earnings, expenditures, ARPA Funds update, and Real Estate Excise Tax.
Council discussed costs for repairs at the Auburn Golf Course.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. Resolution No. 5886 (Mayor) (30 Minutes)
A Resolution adopting the 2026 State Legislative Agenda
Councilmember Stirgus moved and Councilmember Amer seconded to adopt
Resolution No. 5886.
Mayor Bakus provided Council with a brief overview of the suggested
Legislative Priorities.
Council discussed tort liability, tiny home villages, flock camera usage, criminal
justice sales tax, impact fees, and paid family medical leave changes.
Councilmember Baldwin moved and Councilmember Rakes seconded to
amend the Legislative Priorities by removing the 1 st and 3rd bullet point from
Labor and Workforce Impacts.
Council discussed the impacts.
AMENDED MOTION FAILED. 2-5, Councilmembers Baldwin and Rakes voted
in favor.
MAIN MOTION CARRIED. 5-2, Councilmembers Baldwin and Rakes voted
against.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Deputy Mayor T. Taylor, Councilmembers Stirgus, and Councilmember Amer shared
their reports.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was
adjourned,4t 7:09 p.m.
aAPPRTLO,
2nd day of,.FeUruary, 2026.
DEPUTY MAYOR Shawn Campbell, City Clerk