City Council - Regular Meeting

Recording in progress. You Good evening. We will call the Auburn City Council meeting for Monday, April 20th, 2026 to order. And we will begin with the land acknowledgement. We would like to acknowledge the federally recognized Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, the ancestral keepers of the land we are gathered on today. We thank them for their immense contributions to our state and local history, culture, economy, and identity as Washingtonians. Tonight's meeting will be held both in person and virtually. Now, if you will please rise and join us in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Please be seated. And Hannah, will you please call roll? Deputy Mayor Tracy Taylor, here. Council member Ammer, here. Council member Baldwin, here. Council member Lot here. Council member Rakes here. Council member Sturgis here. Council member Clinton Taylor here.

Thank you. All right, we will move to appointments this evening. Um, we have a few. The first one. Item A is for municipal court judge, city council to confirm the appointment of Matthew Labour to Auburn Municipal Court judge position number one for a three-year appointment term from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2029. Is there a motion? Council member Sturgis, I'd make a motion to excuse me appoint uh Judge Matthew Laya to confirm the appointment. Confirm. I apologize. Thank you. Is there a second? Council member Ammon.

A second, ma'am. Thank you, Council Member Sturgis.

All righty. Um, yes, I would like to make a motion to confir You've You've made the motion. Sorry. Um, the recommendation is to uh move to confirm the appointment of Matthew Labour to Auburn Municipal Court judge position number one for a three-year appointed term from January 1st, 2027 to December 31st, 2029.

Yes. So, we've we have the motion and the second. Did you want to speak to your motion? Thank you or thank you so much. I I'm very excited to uh vote in favor. Um myself personally, uh the judge's qualifications and integrity came through in his um uh presentation last week. What I really loved is that you could feel um he's got a huge track record for fairness and community trust, especially with I haven't met too many people where you can reach out to every person he's worked with in the last 5 years and get such positive um feedback of how much joy there was in working with this person. But what I personally was able to take away was the the feeling of empathy weaved throughout um the his ability to use his head and heart in making decisions and helping folks to um improve their lives going forward. So, and being held accountable.

Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from council? Council member Baldwin. Thank you, Mayor. Um I was curious, Council Member Sturgis, who did you have a chance to speak with? Council member Sturgis, what are you talking about? Council member Baldwin, in your recommendation, you said that all the people that you heard from who had worked with them in the past five years had glowing feedback. So, I was curious which individuals those uh in our SFA today. Council member Sturgeis.

Sorry. Thank you. in our special focus area today. Um when Candace, our director of HR, gave the update on the municipal court um and prepping us for tonight, she went through uh the reviews or the uh reference um and the background investigation process that we did for the court uh for the judge um and uh went through a detailed explanation of how his um referrals came back and what the um references shared about him. Uh and so that was what my intention was with my comment and also then also I did say specifically what I felt in observing his presentation last week

and I do believe that at last week's meeting uh there was reference to glowing reviews coming from the uh not only the references but others that Matthew Labour had worked with. There any other questions or comments? All those in favor of the appointment or the confirmation of the appointment of Matthew Labour to Auburn Municipal Court judge position one for a three-year term appointment from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2029. Please say I. I. I. I.

All oppose, please say no. The confirmation passes. Thank you. All right. Next, transportation advisory board city council to confirm the reappoints of Tyson Hipman Hipman and Derek Ronfeld to the transportation advisory board for a three-year term expiring December 31, 2028. Is there a motion to approve uh Deputy Mayor Taylor? Thank you, Mayor. I move to approve the reappoints of Tyson Hifman and Derek Ronfelt to the Transportation Advisory Board for a three-year term expiring December 31st, 2028.

Thank you. Is there a second? Council member Rakes. I'll second that, Mayor. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Taylor. Uh very excited to see uh this coming back in and um and congratulations for their reappointments to Tyson and to Derek. Thank you. Thank you. Questions or comments from councel? All those in favor of the appointment of Benjamin R. Oh no, excuse me, down one too far. The reappoints of Tyson Hifman and Derek Ronfeld to the Transportation Advisory Board for a three-year term expiring December 31st, 2028. Please say I. I.

All oppose, please say no. Motion carries. Next is item C. Auburn Junior City Council. City Council to confirm the appointment of Benjamin Rolls to the Auburn Junior City Council for a two-year term expiring August 31st, 2027. Is there a motion? Deputy Mayor Taylor. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, I move to approve the appointment of Benjamin Rolls to the Auburn Junior City Council for a two-year term to expire on August 31st, 2027. Thank you. Uh, is there a second? Council member Taylor. Thank you, Mayor. I second that. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Taylor.

Uh once again, our student leaders coming through. A lot of kids are very interested in what governance looks like and we harness and appreciate that curiosity and I'm glad to see more of them get involved. Thank you. Thank you. Questions or comments from council? All those in favor of the appointment of Benjamin Rolls to the Auburn Junior City Council for a two-year term to expire August 31st, 2027, please say I. I. All oppose, please say no. Motion carries. Hannah, do we have any agenda modifications this evening? No, your honor. We do not.

All right. Thank you. All right. We will move to public comment. This is a place on the agenda where the public is invited to speak to the city council on any issues. There is particip participation available both in person or submit uh submitted written comments in advance. Hannah, I do believe we have some written comments that need to be uh written into the record. Yes, the city clerk's office received written comments from Jolene Rhodess, Billy Heatherington, Peter Hosagawa, Ronald Morgan, Bonnie Helms, and James Delay. All of which were forwarded to mayor and council prior to the meeting and we do not have anyone online.

Thank you. That was my next question and you knew that. All right. Uh since we have the written comments and council, you have all received those. We will move to in-person comments. Uh if anyone would like to speak, please raise your hand. You come forward to the podium. Please give your name, your city of residence for the record, and please limit your comments to three minutes. And Hannah will start the clock uh right there. And that will uh give you notice of how much time you have left because at the end of your three minutes I will ask you to wrap it up. Is there anyone that would like to speak this evening? Please come forward. Name and city of residence for the record.

Sarah Rose and we live in Auburn right down by Veterans Memorial Park. There has been a lot of crime out there and I haven't addressed it last time but it's getting worse since they met next door two houses down and they they got the house the drug house out of there but there's been crime ever since and it's getting really really bad. We have they come around Sixth Street to the alleyway. I think it's still an alleyway but they come through it and they're speeding. They're high and they won't stop and we need something done because they're now they're breaking into our house, breaking our sheds and then it's daily that's happening into our shed and we want to get something done and I don't know what else can be done but something needs to happen.

Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to speak this evening? Yes, please come forward. Name and city of residence for the record. Hi, my name is CC Collins, um, residents of Federalway. I'm here to express my support for battery energy storage system project. This initiative will create hundreds of family substanding jobs in Auburn through construction and long-term operation. Additionally, BEST will help reduce electricity costs for Auburn customers and contribute to cleaner air by enhancing our energy for in infrastructure. Thank you for your time and your consideration.

Thank you. I think we have someone that's that's wants to be next.

Hi there. My name is Luke Anderson. live here in Auburn. Um, good evening. Uh, I'm here tonight to express my support for the best ordinance. Uh, as a neighbor, I'm interested in reliable and robust infrastructure that our community community can depend on. As extreme weather events and energy instability become a greater concern every year, uh, strategies strategies like these are necessary to ensure our safety and ability to respond to emergency situations. It isn't any more complex than that, at least if I was only here as a neighbor. I'm also here as a journey inside wire electrician with a local 46. Uh, speaking as a professional and expert in building and maintaining systems like those being addressed, uh, I'm hope I might contribute something different to the discussion. From a jobs viewpoint, my industry needs work. Construction generally has suffered for years now. uh passing the BAS ordinance would open up our community for some desperately needed jobs that also build the infrastructure we depend on. From the view of an IBW trained electrician, I'm here uh here to emphasize that the number one factor in a successful BAS buildout is to lead with quality and craftsmanship. That is what the IBW stands for. I'd be proud to build these systems to the highest standard and to do my part in keeping Auburn's lights on and affordable. Uh, thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Good evening everyone. Uh, I'm Peter Hagawa. I live in Seattle and I'm the director of strategic campaigns and renewable energy policy for IBW Local 46. I work for Luke. Um, uh, I also serve on the Green New Deal oversight board for the city of Seattle and we've I through that I've learned a lot about climate resilience. Um, we had over 400 people die in the heat dome. Um and um uh our members are being hired to install backup battery systems in wealthy people's homes all across our community. Um a lot of tech executives evidently don't want their power to go off and uh as a union we don't want to see people lose their power. Um we did a listening campaign with other unions. We heard testimony from uh homeare workers who told us that it is there's for many of them it's not easy to move the people who they take care of uh in in the case of a climate disaster climate emergency heat dome and so it's very important that we have backup power systems in our community um and that's one of the reasons we're asking you to support battery energy storage in Auburn. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Is there anyone Oh, we still have the wine. Hi, good evening. Julian Lowe, local government affairs manager with Puget Sound Energy, Seattle, Washington. Uh, good evening, Mayor Bachis, Deputy Mayor Taylor, Council Members. For over 150 years, PSSE has served the region by by providing safe, reliable energy for our customers. Over the decades, we've modernized our grid and best our battery energy storage systems are way to continue that work. Tonight, PSSE urges the city council to approve ordinance 7014 that provides a permitting pathway for residential, commercial, and utility scale best so we can continue providing safe, reliable, and clean energy to customers in Auburn and throughout our service territory. Demand for power is growing, especially during summer heat waves and winter cold snaps. During those times, PSSE can use the energy stored in batteries to continue serving our customers instead of buying more expensive power on the market. This will help PSSE avoid outages. By 2030, the greater Northwest region, including Washington State, will need 9 gawatts of new power, which is currently the size of the electric load of the state of Oregon. Bess are an important part of PSC's plans to provide reliable power our customers expect while delivering more of the clean energy required by Washington's aggressive clean energy requirements. By 2030, PSSE projects a need for 1500 megawatts of energy storage or enough electricity to power several hundred,000 homes. Currently, PSSE's efforts include residential batteries like our PSSE flex battery program where over 700 customers are providing energy under the grid with batteries and electric vehicles in their homes. Also, uh we are planning to build smaller community-sighted batteries and utility scale batteries. Best have the potential to solve important energy challenges. we all care about like providing backup power when you experience an outage, help uh businesses manage their usage and much more. Best

have benefits to Auburn residents and businesses. Installing BEST will help the men and women in our building trades who you've heard from this evening who live here in Auburn and throughout our region. I know you've heard concerns about safety. Safety for our customers, employees, and our system are paramount to PSSE. Our state's energy code has some of the strongest safety regulations for best which were developed by first responders, engineers, and other key stakeholders in the energy industry. PSSE also values our experience with Valley Regional Fire Authority and we've had positive conversations about BAS uh to date as well. Thank convened thankfully by uh your staff by committing to innovation now. our best uh projects and other work to modernize the grid are creating a better better energy future for us all. I'd like to just extend a final uh thank you to uh Jason Alexandria and Gabriel for their diligent work uh on this. This is a very quality piece of legislation and I urge your support. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to speak this evening?

Final time. Yes, please. Hi, Council Bonnie Helms. Um, I'm not from Auburn. My mom lives here. She's up on Lee Hill. My, uh, brother lives here with his wife and baby. Um, I live in Yelm. Um, you guys, I don't know if you've been able to review. Puallup just closed a school down for the rest of the year because the best caught on fire in their new portables. Um that was announced on Friday. Um on the 15th they were saying or excuse me on the 13th when they were it was so this happened on spring break. None of the kids were in the building. Thank God. Um but on the 15th they were saying that there was so there was so much damage water acid environmental that nobody could even enter the building without personal protective equipment. So, this was a single rack that burned as far as I can. I asked Julian, he hadn't heard about it, but um and it's news to me to as of today. So, I'm really going to ask you guys to take a pause. Um there are no setbacks in your regulations. I like some of the best regulations. I like the 125% decommissioning. I think that's great. It's stronger than the King County ordinance for sure. I appreciate the tiered system. I do think that we need to maybe put a cap on how much do we want all 9 gawatts of what we supposedly need to be right here in Auburn. Maybe we need to talk about that. That's not in the regulations. I've also sent you guys um some suggestions. Planning commission had talked about maybe doing a subcommittee and it sounded like we were a little confused about the process of could we vote on the regulations to put them forward and vote on a subcommittee, but they couldn't do both. So, they just did one. So, I'm going to ask you guys tonight to make a subcommittee to study best, to talk about setbacks, to talk about actual responsible decision-making, and not listening to people who are paid to be here. I'm I'm here because I care about

Auburn. I I read all of the words on the board back here, and sustainability is in there. The environment's in there. Yes, the economy is in there. These don't sustain jobs. They they bring in construction, maybe one person. A lot of them are monitored remotely by CCTV and battery monitoring systems. So there's not even going to be serving people here in Auburn. These like need to be like taken out every few like five years and be like revamped because the batteries degrade so fast. You are talking about putting real risk in addition to the crime risks and the other problems that are already going on in Auburn. You're going to add to them. We we don't know what we're doing right now. You guys need to stop tonight. Ask for a subcommittee to be formed. I'm happy to also present additional information. You guys have been getting information to the community for a long time. Everybody here has a responsibility to make a good decision tonight to protect the rest of the the community. Don't Pal doesn't even have like regulations and stuff in place yet. Pierce County is working on that. This is your guys' opportunity to do it and do it the right way. So don't passing tonight. Thank you guys.

Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to speak this evening? Final time. Anyone else like to speak this evening? All right. Excuse me. We will close public comment and we will move to the consent agenda. All matters listed on the consent agenda are considered by the city council to be routine and will be enacted by one motion in the form listed. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Deputy Mayor Taylor. Thank you, Mayor. I move to approve the consent agenda. Thank you. Is there a second? Council member Ammer. I second. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Taylor.

Consent agenda. uh consists of minutes from the April 6th Council meeting, claims vouchers uh back dated April 1st, April 2nd, also April 8th, along with payroll vouchers uh dated for from March 26 through April 8th that are listed in the consent agenda in your agenda now. Thank you. There any questions or comments from council or any items you would like removed for separate consideration? Right. All those in favor of the consent agenda, please say I. I. I.

All oppose, please say no. The consent agenda passes. Moving to ordinances. Ordinance number 699, an ordinance relating to critical area ordinance update amending section 16.10.010, 16.10.020, 16.10.030, 16.10. 10.040 16.10.050 16.10.070 16.10.080 16.10.090 16.10.100 16.10.110 16.10.130 16.10.140 and 16.10.150 of the Auburn City Code. And no, I won't read those again if somebody missed one. Uh, is there a motion?

Deputy Mayor Taylor. I guess I'll grab on this one. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I move to approve ordinance 69.99, please. Thank you. Is there a second, Council Member Baldwin? I'll second. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Taylor. Thank you, Mayor. This ordinance will update Auburn's critical areas regulations, thus ensuring consistency with state law and best available science while improving clarity, predictability, and long-term protection of critical areas. Thank you. There any questions or comments from council? Right. All those in favor of ordinance number 69.99, please say I. I. I.

All oppose, please say no. Ordinance number 699 passes. Ordinance number 7014, an ordinance relating to battery energy storage systems amending sections point sections 18.07.020 18.23.030 18.35.030 chapter 18.29 and establishing two new sections 18.04.174 and 18.31.240 of the Auburn City Code. Is there a motion to approve? Council member Sturgis. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I move to approve ordinance number 7014.

Thank you. Is there a second? Deputy Mayor Taylor. A second. Mayor. Thank you. Uh, Council Member Sturgis. Yes. This ordinance will create new development regulations for battery energy storage systems, also known as BES. Uh the proposed regulations have been developed closely with the community and industry experts with the intent of providing opportunities for infrastructure that will improve the overall reliability of the electrical grid while addressing considerations for safety, safe sighting, construction, and operation of bus within the city of Auburn.

Thank you. I'm going to call on um community development director Crumb.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh, deputy mayor, city council members, just as a reminder for the record, uh, Auburn city code currently has no development standards or regulations for, uh, battery battery energy storage systems. Uh, through prior city council action, there is a moratorum in place uh, on the um, receipt uh, processing and approval of energy storage systems. That moratorum will expire on May 11th uh 2026. So in a few weeks. So tonight's uh council decision will determine whether there are regulations in place post that moratorum date of May 11th.

Okay. Questions or comments? Council member Ammer. So I'm in supporting the ordinance 7014. I understand that the new technology can feel uncomfortable at first. We have seen this before. When electricity was introduced, people were scared of it. When cars first came out, people thought they were dangers. When the internet start, many people were unsure about it. But over time, people understood these technology and now and saw how uh useful they are. Right now our code as uh director indicate doesn't clear define how these uh project could be review the uh where they where they can go or what safety standard apply that create risk for the city and confusion for the community. The ordinance give us clear rules so we can support innovation while protect our community. That's about we can prepare and moving forward. It's a smart.

Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Council member Baldwin.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh in light of the recent uh fire that did happen, I believe at Fucci Junior High, um that school is in fact closed indefinitely and that was something that had been shared with us. If anyone knows me, you know that I care deeply about climate issues. I care about resilience in our communities. I care about good, strong paying jobs uh within those communities. Uh and I do care about safety. And so trying to find a balance in that. I think that our our city has done incredible work to get us to the current iteration that we're at. But I would like to ask Director Crum, can you tell us in the language as it stands today uh what the status would be for schools that would be requesting Can you repeat the question?

Sure. With the code and ordinance as it's being proposed tonight, if there was a school or educational facility, would that be uh allowed uh permitted or sorry, would it be permit? Would it be allowed with permit? Would it be administrative or would it be not allowed for school facilities within Auburn? So, the proposed code uh would I'd have to double check. So, it would be allowed as an So, a type three facility it so it depends, right? There's three different tiers. Um so so type three would uh only be allowed in institutional zones

uh through a conditional use permit, not administrative. Um but it it might depend on the type of application you're you're speculating on. Okay. There any other questions? Council member Sturgis, I just had a question for Director Crumb. Um, in regards to the comment uh the public comment in uh for the um subcommittee uh what is the status on that as where it landed or does it need to have approval from city council in order to be created or is that something that the planning commission can just move forward with?

It does not require city council approval. uh where the meeting on April 7th ended is that uh city or uh planning commission is going to move forward with a exploration of a committee at their next meeting on May 5th that is on the agenda and the topic for discussion. Um, as was mentioned tonight, uh, there there was, uh, some desire for planning commission to continue to, uh, look at the regulations and standards and perhaps continue to refine and perfect overtime. Wonderful. Thank you. Other questions? Deputy Mayor Taylor.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, I have a few I mean, just a few thoughts around this. For one, um it comes to safety and everybody questions whether or not these are safe, what they would do to a community. Um I know PSSE has worked diligently with uh Vera in this. We've heard from Vera on their stance with best and how they would respond, including all first responders within our community and fewer outages obviously help our our grid. Um, I did a little research on some best energy systems right now that are in certain areas. One of which in Scadget County, Kitap County, Snowom, Mission, Arlington. Um, we heard from Julian Lowe from PSSC tonight talking about how safety is paramount. And coming from a union family, my mom, my dad, myself, I can't in good faith look at our our our union workers and say, "Sorry guys, can't do that." Um, I'm in support of jobs and I'm in support of clean energy for our community and I'm in support of this ordinance. Thank you.

Thank you. Other questions or comments from anyone that hasn't spoken yet? Okay, council member Lot.

Yeah, when I looked into this, my concern was that there's a real startling lack of real world data. This is new technology. There's not a long history. There's not a track record of of twocale large commercial operations. a lot of them over time demonstrating that they're not going to have a lot of runway issues. And you know, we talk about examples up here. Moss Landing, how California evacuated 1,500 residents because of a a meltdown, a runaway fire system. And it was the largest lithium ion cleanup in the United States for EPA's history. And so, you know, I don't want to be a test bed for a new technology. I'd rather see this out and see some hardcore real world data showing that it's proven technology before greenlighting it in Auburn and have our residents face an issue where they have to evacuate because there's an accident.

Other questions or comments? Council member Baldwin.

Thank you, Mayor. Excuse me. I think as we've heard tonight it's clean until it's not right because I think if you look at the school in Palip those students may not be returning to that school this year. uh the Moss landing site. I was looking earlier and there was an article in MIT that had come out in I believe 2025 that was years after the original event which referenced that people were still not allowed in which I thought was interesting. Um and wanted to find more information about I want us to do this. I do think we need regulations. I do think we need to have energy storage systems in Auburn, but I want to make sure that we're taking the time to to get all of the questions answered for the community before we do the hard commit. I think if we look at the schedule, our moratorum isn't currently over until May 11th. I think we have time if we wanted to have a little bit more discussion and go deeper. I know from my perspective, I'd like to have a few more conversations in light of what's happened in our neighboring community just about for those types of facilities where we would have either youth or people who maybe have physical um disabilities or issues. Are there going to be supporting requirements to make sure that there are um fire systems, fire suppression systems? That was one of the things noted in the article about the Palip School, which was that the benefits in that circumstance were that school was not in session, that they did have fire suppression and that it prevented it from spreading uh further in the building. However, as noted, you know, there are also concerns about um being able to do that clean up and get kids back in school. So, I would like to be able to take time as a council and make sure that we are fully going

through and looking at all of the use cases that we are putting into our new policy going forward for things like facilities where people maybe can't get away if there was an event. If we have um whether it's daycarees or whether it's schools or whether it's hospitals, there are different types of energy backup that exists and making sure that we're allowing the right ones to be in the right places where if there were an any type of thing that could go wrong that we are always putting the most vulnerable populations first and foremost in our considerations. and have we included in our policies things like those suppression systems and have we looked at those facilities where people maybe are not as physically able to evacuate if necessary. So from my perspective I would motion that we bring it back to the next study session for additional discussion.

Okay, there is a motion to bring back to the next study session. So that would be to table the motion. Correct. Is that what you're asking? I would like to table it for the next study session for some additional discussion. But bearing in mind that we do have that time frame for our moratorum. So to table it to a date specific would be to our next council meeting for consideration which would be Monday May 4th. Is that correct, City Attorney Whan?

Yes, Mayor. It would be for that date. This motion would require a second and would require a majority vote. Is there a second on tableabling the Get back to this? Uh, is there a second to tableabling ordinance number 7014 to the May 4th city council meeting? Um, Council Member Lot, I'll second it. Thank you. Council member Baldwin, would you like to speak to your motion?

Yes. Uh, I think we've heard tonight that we have need for these facilities in our community. I recognize that and I want to honor that and make sure that we are putting a plan together that does it and does it well and that other communities look to us to say that's the model that we want to follow. And I think just in light of what's happened with our neighboring community and making sure that we take a second look and make sure we haven't missed anything that we're double-checking our facilities that are covered and how that would be set up. I know I would feel more comfortable having a chance to spend more time with it before we make a decision tonight.

Any questions or comments to the motion on the floor to table? Council member Ammer and then council member Sturgis. My comment, I'm scientist. I believe a reality and fact. We know about the disaster. No, it's on. It's on. I can speak with my scout voice. I believe in dangers and as uh council mentioned that we need to be prepar for disaster again mine at any time will blow out that people if they're not prepared they cannot leave I'm sorry I just realized that uh a motion to table is not debatable

correct okay Yes. My apologies, council. That is it is not a debatable motion. So, all those in favor of tableabling ordinance number 7014 to the May 4th city council meeting, please say I. I. I. All oppose, please say no. No. No.

Okay. I believe it was three in favor, four against. Therefore, the motion does not pass. All right. We still have the original motion on the floor, which is to uh approve ordinance number 7014. Council member Sturgis, I believe you had comments you wanted to make. Okay.

Thank you. And I needed to start my comment with just a question for Director Crumb, if that's okay. Um I I know that this month is one year for me being as a council member um since my appointment and I remember hearing the acronym BES early on and saying what the heck is that and so I I know it's been at least a year or barely a year now that I've been researching it and learning about that. So I would say valid that's not a huge amount of time but I know I've spent a lot of hours researching it since then. Um so just can you do you by chance recall off top which study sessions or how many study sessions and how many count uh that you've brought the best moratorum and best topic to us in the last year cuz I in my recollection it's been a minimum of twice and so I'm just feeling that um we have had plenty of time to do our research and that you know we we should have been able to be prepared for tonight is my opinion. So I'm curious if I'm remembering that correctly or not.

You are remembering correctly. We have brought um the subject dedicated just to the subject of best twice. Um I don't remember the exact date but it was uh sometime last year uh originally um I think in conjunction with the original um action for the moratorum um and then most recently

thank you and that goes to my comment of this you know I would be fearful of our moratorum running out us not having thoughtfully planned regulations in place because the examples provided tonight of the puallup school fire as well as the Moss um fire uh in California are examples of uh counties or cities not having regulations in place. And when I reviewed the regulations that you guys have proposed, it seems very thoughtful, very conservative to make sure that planning and and building is done in a safe way and that the that it's not done from a space of greed in corporate America. So that's just my point of view.

Thank you, Council Member Baldwin. Thank you, mayor. I just want to clarify that while we have had a moratorum on BEST, while our staff have been working on putting this policy together, I don't believe that council has had access to the full language of the proposed policies and ordinance up until April 9th. So, that would be what, less than two weeks ago for the actual language that's being presented here tonight. I do think it's a reasonable thing to say if we're going to put this in place, it's one thing to talk about it. It's one thing to say, "Oh, we have a moratorium while staff works on it. We can be in that status for a year." But when council has had the materials of what it will actually be for less than two weeks, I don't think that means that we have had a considerable amount of time to spend with it, look at it, and see if there's anything that we would want to add, change, adjust, or make recommendations on. I think staff has done a terrific job getting it to its current state, and I don't think that taking an extra session or two is egregious in any way, shape, or form when it comes to making sure that we do right by the people that will benefit from putting these things in place from a resilient standpoint, from a job standpoint, but also making sure that we do it in a way that keeps our public safe. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Council member Lot. Yeah, I'll add one more incident which was Warwick, New York and and maybe prior to my arrival on council. This was studied, but they've had three fires at that facility and one was after the lithium system was upgraded. And so I don't see this as some tried andrue tested medium for Auburn and and I you know people can say that the science works and that it's been tested safe but until I see see a masscale real world application and I see very limited or near zero thermal runaway fires I think it's a risk that right now until it's a proven technology we shouldn't be doing. You shouldn't be risking the residence.

Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Right. All those in favor of ordinance number 7014, please say I. I. All oppose, please say no. No. No. All those abstension. Okay. All right. We have four yes, two no, and one abstension. Therefore, the motion passes. Okay. Ordinance number 7017, an ordinance amending the city's 2025 through 2026 bianial budget. Is there a motion? Yes. Council member Lot.

I move to adopt. Move to approve. Approve ordinance. Ordinance 7017. Thank you. Is there a second? Council member Ammer. I second. Mayor. Thank you. Council member Lot.

Yep. Uh ordinance 7017 is a true up the fourth budget uh fourth budget amendment for the 2025 2026 bianium. And this is essentially a true up carrying us over into 2026. And this carries forward unspent 2025 budget authority, adjusted capital project budgets, recognizes new program programs and new revenue sources, adjusts existing programs, and makes adjustments related to the 2025 flood impacts. Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from council? All those in favor of ordinance number 7017, please say I. I.

All oppose, please say no. Ordinance number 7017 passes. Ordinance number 7019, an ordinance amending chapter 2.14 of the Auburn City Code to provide necessary updates and housekeeping amendments in preparation for the opening of the Auburn Municipal Court. Is there a motion? Council member Sturis. Thank you, Mayor. I move to approve ordinance 7019. Thank you. Is there a second? Council member Reikkes. I'll second that, Mayor. Thank you, Council Member Sturgeis.

Thank you, Mayor. On October 6, 2025, council approved ordinance number 7002 establishing the Auburn Municipal Court with an effective date of January 1st, 2027. The proposed amendments authorize a second municipal court judge for the court, um establish the salary of the municipal and prom judges, and address additional housekeeping matters. Passing this ordinance will allow the mayor to appoint a second judicial officer who will also uh be subject to council confirmation. Thank you. There questions or comments from council. All those in favor of ordinance number 7019, please say I. I. All oppose, please say no.

Ordinance number 7019 passes. Moving to resolutions. Resolution number 58.95, a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement between the city of Auburn and the Port of Seattle to accept and expend grant funds for economic development. Is there a motion to approve? Council member Taylor. Thank you, Mayor. I move to adopt resolution 5895. Thank you. Is there a second? Council member Ammer. I second. Thank you, Council Member Taylor.

Thank you, Mayor. This resolution would allow the city to accept grant funds to extend assistance to small businesses through resources such as Green River Small Business Development Center, enhance the economic development website and social media presence to attract new businesses, and collaborate with Kin Valley Economic Development Group on air and space workforce development. Thank you. Any questions or comments? All those in favor of resolution number 5895, please say I.

I. All oppose, please say no. Resolution number 5895 passes. Excuse me. We will move to mayor and council member reports. At this time, the mayor and city council may report on significant items associated with the reported positions on federal, state, regional, and local organizations. And we will begin with our deputy mayor.

Thank you, mayor. Uh since our last meeting, I had an opportunity to really kind of get deep in with our uh community both regionally and here uh in Auburn. So, I serve as the alternate on Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee where on April 8th, we discussed the proposed sewer rate increase coming from King County and the long-term affordability concerns tied to those increases. On April 11th, I attended the festival of Vasaki uh along with several other council members on the dis today. Uh, I'm especially grateful to our student representatives who took us around and showed us and introduced us not only to their school but also to uh some of their um some of their traditions and that was a lot of fun to learn and connect with them. I also joined the National League of Cities Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on April 20th where we continue to work on advancing conversations around the back to basics bill and the importance of sustained federal investments here in our local infrastructures. And closer to home, on April 14th, I participated in Valley Regional Fire Authorities governance board interviews where we selected a new fire chief. And on April 18th, I joined many volunteers at Clean Sweep, helped paint and spread wood chips at Game Farm Park, and it was really fun to be out there. And lastly, I would briefly like to acknowledge a community member, a little personal for me because I served with her on the Seator Foundation board. So over the weekend, I I attended the service for Amy Hatcher. And while I want to be mindful of um the mayor because she's also probably going to say something, I want to speak to her community heart, her willingness to give and what she has done and established in this community. It's a sad story. Um, I'm deeply hurt and sad for her family, but she lived a long and beautiful life and she became a very dear friend and it was a beautiful ceremony. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Rakes. Thank you, Mayor. Um, your microphone, please. Sorry. Um I attended all last week the Main Street conference in Oklahoma along with um our mayor that was there for a while. Um it was very good to to see um how they wanted the government to get involved with the Main Street program and the suggestions that they had. Um I will say it was a very good conference. Thank you, Council Member Baldwin.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh, as noted by our deputy mayor, I was attending the Viseeki uh, celebration which was beautiful and colorful and uh, we got to enjoy many delicious things while there and as noted, thank you to the students who took us through and explained the meaning of the cultural traditions that they shared with us that day. Um, I also attended the Good Eggs Breakfast where we heard a presentation from Clint Stein, who's the Columbia bank chair, uh, CEO and president, uh, which was, uh, fascinating to hear what's going on within that industry. And then on Saturday, April 18th, I also attended our clean sweep where I had the pleasure of, um, doing a lot of plantings uh, at Veterans Memorial Park. So hopefully it's looking a little bit better in the neighborhood. Uh and something that we can look forward to. I believe our um local master gardeners are going to also be doing some plantings there in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States. So things to look forward to this year. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Lot. I don't have a lot to report other than I I did go to the clean sweep and I had to laugh because it was the exact same park and the exact same duties as last year. And so I actually saw other people there last year and and had a good time as we loaded up the dumpsters with um with hedge trimmings and um proceeded to get pretty dirty. So it was a good time. Thank you, Council Member Taylor.

Thank you, Mayor. Um I did too um as well attended the good egg breakfast um last Wednesday and it was interesting to hear from the CEO from uh Columbia bank on his insight about the current economic landscape from a national perspective and as well as regionally and locally um and some of the trends that he's seeing happening and he shared with us some of his um kind of personal insights on where he sees things going over the next few I thought that was uh real interesting. It's, you know, that's part of my day job, too. So, it was really great to hear from somebody who's working in that industry on the direction that things are headed or look like they're headed in the next uh few years.

Thank you, Council Member Sturgis.

Thank you, Mayor. Um on April 8th, I had my um bi-weekly one-on-one with Deputy Mayor. So, thank you very much. Um and uh on April 9th I attended the ribbon cutting um that the DAC put on for Hawkers which is the new sports bar down on Auburn Way um and Main Street, which was fantastic. Really excited to have them. Um and they are not just Seahawks, they are pro all Seattle sport or Washington sports. So they've got a little bit of everything in there. Um on April 10th and April 20th, I had open office hours and met with a total of six constituents um in the community. Uh learning more and hearing more about the concerns from uh the best um project as well or regulations as well as um the EIS study happening in uh the Mount Reineer Vista area. And then I was out of town last week. Uh today we had our special focus uh group meeting for municipal services and uh we revisited having emergency management come back onto a study session um in the near future to give us the recap on the floods in tandem with um our parks and wreck as well so that we can get a good recap of the key learnings and the the successes and the true impacts. Um and then uh we also talked about um an upcoming uh study session. Parks is going to really showcase the senior navigator role um and do a deep dive into all of the services and resources that are available for seniors with that um role that we have that's funded by a partnership grant. And then um Chief Collier uh reviewed with us um the uh some followup from Council Member Baldwin's questions last week with uh the reporting um for aggressive use of force or use of force um in which I'll be following up with through email and then um also is uh working in preparation to have our officer wellness

program overview at the next study session. And then um Candace gave a great update on uh our court um again reminding us about uh tonight u the appointment, but she um had some great discussion with us on pre-filing uh diversion research and how to really bring together a focus group with the new judge, with the mayor, um with uh uh law enforcement and um some of the human services team to make sure that we've uh we're doing um some planning for pre diversion uh in addition to community court and standing up the court. Thank you, Council Member Ammer.

I have a lot to read, so be prepared. I was selected by AWC board during their meeting on action day to serve on the forensic investigation council and was officially appointed by government uh Bob Ferguson and my meeting will be this Friday. I'm so excited. I will come back to report. And finally, I get my appointment from the exe King County Executive Jeremiah uh for the children and youth advisory board as I will be represent sound city association and both these rule. I'm so honored to represent our city. Uh deputy mayor mentioned our meeting with Fera where we had the interview and select the new fire chief. I also this is where the excitement I attend the public work and utility tour on Friday. It was VB VIP tour because I was the only council who respond. The weather was so great. So I encourage all the council member who have not scheduled it yet to do that because it's different. We went to different places. It was very helpful to see the facility and understand how things work especially water treatment and how different from side to side. And I we often take these service for granted and we forget how much work happened behind the scenes. This tour really helped me to understand a lot of things and it was again also good opportunity to show appreciation to our staff and that we appreciate their important work they do every day. So I'm really appreciate them and please say thank you to them. Beside I just I want to say that I find my hiding spot in case zombie will attack. So you may want to take this tour. Seriously,

the zombie attack. Bet you haven't sat through many council meetings where that was a term used in the council meeting.

Thank you, council. uh going over a few of the items. Deputy mayor mentioned the public issues committee through the sound cities association where I am the uh representative for the city of Auburn. There was significant discussion as we had mentioned in the last council meeting about potential rate sewer rate increases. The current monthly rate for the King County portion is $62.66 66 uh which and with a 12.75% increase would raise that amount to $70.65 cents per month. The sewer rate is forecasted to continue rising by double digits through 2032, resulting in the monthly sewer rate doubling by 2032 and more than tripling by 2042. Uh SCA members have expressed concerns about how multiple years of double-digit rate increases, particularly when compounded with other utility rate increases, impact affordability for rateayers. The SCA regional water quality committee that uh council member Ammer serves on. The caucus has suggested that SEA submit a sewer rate response letter and that is being worked on right now by SCA staff. There was also discussion of perhaps providing a an SCA position on the Sound Transit Enterprise Initiative. Staff are tracking Sound Transit's enterprise initiative and possible impacts to SCA members across the region and there is a vote expected by the end of May by the Sound Transit Board. Uh there was question as to whether PIC members may be interested in recommending that the SCA board release a statement calling on Sound Transit to prioritize a regional system. I also attended the ribbon cutting for Hawker Bar and Grill on Thursday, April

9th. Very excited to have them in town. Friday, April 10th, I attended the King County Regional Homelessness Authority Board retreat where we were there to strengthen relationships with the new King County Executive as well as the new Seattle mayor and foster deeper connections among board members and staff. We wanted to make sure that new board members understood KCHA's kind of wild history. I will say key milestones that have been met as well as where the agency is today and where it is heading to ensure board members understand the built for zero framework as the guiding approach for regional efforts to reduce unsheltered homelessness and to align on board committee structure. There was discussion of creating a finance committee which I think is a very good idea to make sure that there is a smaller group that is intensely focused on the finances. Right now most of the finances for King County Regional Homelessness Authority do come from the city of Seattle and King County with uh some funds coming in from the east side. City of Auburn does not fund KCHA right now. Although I am a representative for Sound Cities Association on the KCHA board. And the reason for that is because the dollars that we have are limited in the city of Auburn to work on removing people from homelessness. And those dollars right now are better spent at the local level. When KCRA has the bandwidth and the capacity to move more than just within the city of Seattle, we will have that discussion council on whether we want some of the funds to go to KCHA. uh but right now until they can provide

the same or better services than we have been providing here I don't see a need to spend our dollars in that way. Uh on Saturday, April 11th, I attended the special celebration of Indian art and culture. Mayors from throughout the region were invited to the celebration at the Indian consulate by consul Gupta. It was a lovely event with much singing and dancing and celebration of the arts. I did attend Sunday through Monday the Main Street America conference where I was able to attend how to leverage heritage tourism with revitalization which I thought was a very timely topic uh appropriate topic since we are colllocated with the Muckleshoot Indian tribe. Preservation isn't just about buildings. It's about people. And we want to honor the relationship people have to place. On Wednesday, April 15th, I attended the MountBaker Middle School AVID or advancement via individual determination presentation by students in sixth through 8th grades. I was in the audience with parents, teachers, and faculty. That was an amazing presentation. and I was so proud of our students and the successes that they are having in the classroom. So kudos to them. Also, congratulations to the new Valley Regional Fire Authority, Chief Tim Day. He will do a wonderful job in replacing Chief Brad Thompson. Uh don't forget empty bowls on Friday, April 24th from 11 to 1 at Grace Community Church. Celebration of life that we had for Amy Hatcher. You did a beautiful job, Deputy Mayor. I I can't top that. But also a celebration of life for former Miss Auburn, uh, 2022 Helen Carrie Everett, who

passed away at the age of 22 from a very aggressive gastric cancer. So, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of both Amy and Carrie. Uh, thank you to everyone that was involved in Clean Sweep. And we have no reason for a closed session or an executive session this evening. So we are adjourned. Thank you.