HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-12-2021 Minutes City Council Study Session Finance,
Technology and Economic Development
* Special Focus Area
CITY OF wM e * April 12, 2021 - 5:30 PM
Virtual
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I. CALL TO ORDER
Deputy Mayor DaCorsi called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
II. Virtual Participation Link
A. Virtual Participation Link
The City Council Meeting was held virtually.
B. Roll Call
Councilmembers virtually present: Deputy Mayor Claude DaCorsi, Bob
Baggett, Larry Brown, James Jeyaraj, Robyn Mulenga, Chris Stearns and
Yolanda Trout-Manuel. Councilmember Trout-Manuel left the meeting at
8:00 p.m.
Mayor Nancy Backus, Innovation and Technical Support Specialist Danika
Olson, Police Chief Dan O'Neil and City Clerk Shawn Campbell were in
Chambers.
The following department directors and staff members attended the
meeting virtually: City Attorney Kendra Comeau, Senior City Staff Attorney
Harry Boesche, Director of Community Development Jeff Tate, Director
of Public Works Ingrid Gaub, Director of Parks, Arts, and Recreation Daryl
Faber, Director of Finance Jamie Thomas, Director of Administration
Dana Hinman, Assistant Finance Director Kevin Fuhrer, Director of Human
Resources Candis Martinson, Director of Innovation and Technology
David Travis, Capital & Construction Engineering Manager Ryan Vondrak,
Senior Project Engineer Matt Larson and Outreach Program
Administrator Kent Hay.
III. AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. Facility Needs Assessment and Master Plan— Draft Final Plan Briefing (Gaub)(45
Minutes)
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Senior Project Engineer Larson introduced Julie Bassuk and Beth
Batchelder from Makers Architects. They provided Council with a project
overview, project goals, major findings and recommendations, alternative
analysis findings, initial draft recommendations, updated
recommendations, facility maintenance recommendations, a draft phasing
and financing plan, facilities maintenance funding, a capital spending plan,
a draft financing strategy, potential impacts to the General Fund and the
Utility Fund, the benefits of the plan, and the final steps for the Facility
Needs Assessment.
Council discussed the differences in the initial plan and the amended
recommendations, the size of property needed for a police campus, timing
of funding, plans for the current Justice Center, community use of ball
fields, outsourcing services and eligible purchases with bond funding.
B. Ordinance No. 6817 (Tate)(30 Minutes)
An Ordinance amending Chapters 2.22 and 9.50 of Auburn City Code as it relates to
camping on City property, providing for an admonishment process and administrative
appeal
Director Tate provided Council with a presentation on Ordinance No. 6814.
He explained why Staff is bringing the proposed ordinance before Council,
he shared photos and videos of an encampment that is typical of
encampments around Auburn, the immediate required responses, factors
to consider after an encampment is cleaned up, a map of known
encampments locations, cost of cleanup in the last 6 months, estimated
future costs, comments from residents, business owners, and the Police
Advisory Committee, the availability of the Auburn Community Court as a
diversionary court, the sheltering services available in the community both
locally and regionally. If staff has a trespass option, it will only be used if
there are services available and not accepted and the individual also
refuses to leave the area.
Attorney Boesche provided Council with the different scenario if someone
is issued an infraction opposed to an criminal citation. Chief O'Neil
described what a trespass admonishment looks like from the police
interaction side.
Christian Faltenberger, General Manager of the Outlet Collection thanked
the Staff and Council for allowing him share on behalf of the local business
owners. He stated the property owners are working together to maintain
their properties. Local businesses receive complaints daily regarding the
aggressive panhandling and garbage near their properties. He encouraged
the Council to use all the tools available to maintain City owned property.
He asked Council to hold all residents accountable.
Debbie Christian, Executive Director for the Auburn Food Bank
encouraged people to not give to people who are panhandling, she stated
services are offered to people through the shelter. Ms. Christian
encouraged Council to hold all residents accountable.
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Council discussed services people need, unhoused people that
have died, the impacts of homelessness, the cost of housing, living wage
jobs, the diversion program of Community Court, the living conditions in
the encampments, the impact on the environment, capacity for providing
services, other jurisdictions with similar ordinances and how the City is
dealing with the mental health concerns.
Deputy Mayor DaCorsi called for a 7 minute recessed at 8:08 p.m. The meeting
reconvened at 8:15 p.m.
IV. FINANCE, TECHNOLOGYAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Ordinance No. 6814 (Thomas)(30 Minutes)
Draft B&O Tax Code
Councilmember Baggett presided over this section of the meeting.
Director Thomas presented Council with proposed Ordinance No. 6814.
She explained the purpose of the proposed Business and Occupation
(B&O)Tax. She reviewed the General Fund forecasts, expected
expenditure growth and revenue growth, she reviewed the considerations
for balancing the budget, options for budget cuts, proposed B&O square
footage tax, an alternative tax structure, and the pros and cons of
the proposed options.
Council discussed sharing the burden across many businesses, increasing
needs within the General Fund, why warehouses are charged differently
then other types of businesses, services that the City would not be able to
offer if there was not sufficient revenue and budget cuts.
V. OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS
There were no other discussion items.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was
adjourned at 9:12 p.m.
APPROVED this 19th day of April, 2021.
CLAUDE D\&TORSI, DEPUTY MAYOR Shawn Campbell, CityClerk
P
Agendas and minutes are available to the public at the City Clerk's Office, on the City website
(http://www.aubumwa.gov), and via e-mail. Complete agenda packets are available for review
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at the City Clerk's Office.
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