HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-26-2026 MinutesCITY OF
AtiBURN
WASHINGTON
CALL TO ORDER
City Council
Study Session
PW & CD Special Focus Area
January 26, 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, Assistant Director of Public Works Jacob Sweeting, Arts Program Supervisor
Allison Hyde, Parks Planning and Development Manager Thaniel Gouk, Senior Project
Engineer Jeffrey Bender, Project Engineer Kim Truong, and Deputy City Clerk Hannah
Scholl.
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
An Executive Session was added to the agenda.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Deputy Mayor T. Taylor adjourned into Executive Session per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)(ii)
to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to
which the agency is or is likely to become a party, when public knowledge regarding the
discussion is likely to result in adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency at
5:31 p.m. for 15 minutes. Councilmembers, Mayor Backus, City Attorney Whalen,
Director Gaub, Assistant Director Sweeting, and Project Manager Troung were required
to attend. There was no anticipated action following the Executive Session.
Deputy Mayor T. Taylor extended the Executive Session for 5 minutes at 5:48 p.m.
Deputy Mayor T. Taylor extended the Executive Session for 5 minutes at 5:55 p.m.
Deputy Mayor T. Taylor called the meeting back to order at 6:00 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS
A. Public Art for Theater Plaza and Downtown Park (Krueger) (20 Minutes)
Supervisor Hyde provided Council with a presentation on the Public Art for
Theater Plaza and Downtown Park including a brief background of the project,
solicitation, selection process, and next steps.
The selected artist, John Flemming, provided Council with an overview of his
design process, including conceptual ideas, structural design and dimensions,
materials, and overall site plan.
Council discussed maintenance, dimensions, partnership with Muckleshoot
Indian Tribe, budget, and installation.
PUBLIC WORKS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Parks Capital Project 2025 Recap and 2026 Look Ahead (Krueger) (15
Minutes)
Councilmember Baldwin, Vice Chair of the Public Works and Community
Development Special Focus Area, chaired this portion of the meeting.
Manager Gouk provided Council with an overview of the 2025 Parks Capital
Project Recap and 2026 Project Look -Ahead including completed projects,
grant funds received, upcoming projects in 2026, funding sources, and
maintenance.
Council discussed maintenance, the Downtown Park design, flood damage to
the Auburn Golf Course, and the RAVE Foundation.
B. 2025 End of Year Capital Projects Wrap Up and 2026 Preview (Gaub) (15
Minutes)
Engineer Bender provided Council with an overview of the 2025 Capital
Projects Wrap Up, including 2025 project statistics and current status. He also
discussed several upcoming projects in 2026, including the Auburn Avenue
Theater Rebuild, C Street SW Preservation, 1st Street NE/NW & Division
Street Pedestrian Improvements, R Street SE & 21st Street SE Roundabout,
City Parking Lot Replacement, and Street Lighting Lake Tapps Parkway.
Council discussed the City Parking Lot Replacement project, project
schedules, and the R Street SE & 21 st Street SE Roundabout project.
C. Engineering Design Standards Update (Laub) (15 Minutes)
Assistant Director Sweeting provided Council with an overview of the
Engineering Design and Construction Standards Update including definitions,
background, and purpose. He also discussed the local residential streets
standards, parking issues, and speeding concerns.
Council discussed landscaping standards, emergency services, and
multimodal transportation.
D. Ordinance No. 7013 (Daub) (15 Minutes)
An Ordinance providing for the acquisition by eminent domain of property
located near or adjacent to R Street SE within the City of Auburn, Washington
for Roadway Improvements and related upgrades for Project No. CP2308, R
Street SE/21st Street SE Roundabout; declaring Public Use and Necessity;
and providing for severability and an effective date
Assistant Director Sweeting and Engineer Truong provided Council with an
overview of Ordinance No. 7013 including summary of authorization,
background, and the R Street Corridor Study recommendations. They
discussed the completed projects, projects currently in design, scope, property
needs, project schedule, and next steps.
Council discussed alternative options and outreach to businesses.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. Ordinance No. 7011 (Thomas) (20 Minutes)
An Ordinance amending Chapters 2.46 "Hearing Examiner"; 3.41 "Solid Waste
Garbage Utility Tax"; 3.53 and 3.54 "Business and Occupation Tax and Square
Footage Tax" and the corresponding "Administrative Codes"; 3.62
"Administrative Code for Certain City Taxes"; and 3.88 "Utility Services" of the
Auburn City Code
Director Thomas provided Council with an overview of Ordinance No. 7011
including the proposed updates to City Code.
Council discussed the clarification language.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Deputy Mayor T. Taylor and Councilmembers Strigus, Amer, and Baldwin shared
reports.
ADJOURNMENT
Them.�eing n/further business to come before the Council, the meeting was
adj6ur ed a 44 p.m.
AFC -E'D thysr2h� day of February 2026
AYLOR, DEPUTY MAYOR
-AM�I'Aa
Hannah Schur, Deputy City Clerk