City Council - Regular Meeting

Recording in progress. Begin with the land acknowledgment.

Oh, excuse me. Deputy Mayor, would you turn your mic on for us?

That might help. Right.

Thank you very much.

Sorry. You want me to start again? We can start again. Alright. Good evening. We'll call the Auburn City Council meeting for Monday, 05/18/2026 to order, and we'll begin with the land acknowledgment. We would like to acknowledge the federally recognized Muckleshoot Indian tribe and 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 council meeting will be held both in person and virtually. Now if you will all 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.

Rebecca, could you please call roll? Deputy Mayor Tracy Taylor? Here. Council Member Amir? Here. Council Member Baldwin? Here. Council member Lot. Here. Council member Rakes here. Council member Sturgis here. Council member Clinton Taylor

here.

Thank you, Rebecca. We have one proclamation on the agenda this evening, I'm so going to move to the podium. And it is National Public Works week, so Director Ingrid Galb, would you mind joining me up at the podium please? Fun fact, this is my favorite department. Just kidding, all of the departments are my favorite.

Okay, mayor's proclamation. Whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities, and services that are of vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and to public health, high quality of life, and well-being of the residents in Auburn. And whereas these infrastructure facilities and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals who are engineers, technicians, specialists, and maintenance employees at all levels of government and the private sector, and who are responsible for rebuilding, improving, and protecting our nation's transportation, water supply, sanitary sewer, storm drainage, airport and city's fleet and other structures and facilities essential for our community. And whereas it is in the public interest for the community of Auburn to gain knowledge and maintain an ongoing interest in understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs. And whereas the year of 2026 marks the sixty sixth annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the American Public Works Association.

And now, therefore, missing, Mayor Nancy Backus, Mayor of the City Of Auburn, do hereby proclaim the week of May 17 through the twenty third, twenty twenty six as National Public Works Week in the City Of Auburn and urge our residents to join with representatives of the American Public Works Association and government agencies in activities, events, and ceremonies designed to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers, technicians, specialists, and maintenance employees, and to recognize the substantial contributions they make to protecting our national health, safety, and advancing quality of life for all, dated this 05/18/2026. Ingrid?

Thank you. There you go. Thank you. Uh-huh.

Alright. Just a few words. So thank you, deputy mayor, counsel, and mayor for the recognition. I would say that public works often is not really noticed out there in the public and we kind of like it that way. We don't really want to be noticed. But there's nothing that happens in this city that doesn't happen without public works supporting it. And the staff that are there when there is crisis, they are the staff that you want out there helping this community to recover and to deal with the situation that is going on. And I couldn't ask for a better team. I think those of you that have been on the Public Works tour or been through Civics Academy have seen the dedication and the enthusiasm that the Public Works team have for serving this community and so I want to thank you for that recognition.

Okay, Rebecca. Do we have any agenda modifications this evening? No, we do not. Thank you. Now we will move to public comment. This is the place on the agenda where the public is invited to speak to the City Council on any issue. The public can participate in person or submit written comments in advance. Rebecca, did we receive any written comment?

Yes. We did. The city clerk's office received one written comment from Tina Simmons, which was forwarded to mayor and council prior to tonight's evening

or tonight's meeting. Excuse me. Thank you. Rebecca, is there anyone online that's requested to comment? No. There's not. Fabulous. Okay. So now we'll open it up to in person public comment. We ask that you, if you'd like to speak, to come to the podium, state your name and city of a residence for the record, and please limit comments to three minutes. Rebecca has a timer over there, and she'll start when you begin to speak. Is there anyone that would like to provide public comment this evening? Come on up to the podium, state your name and your city.

Hello. My name is Dylan Gedert. I am in Lake Tops, Washington, and I'm here to speak about the concern about e bikes in our parks. I'm 17 years old. I go to Green River Community College, straight a student, and I ride an e bike myself. I'm an owner of one myself, and I find it very fun. Now there's a place and a time to ride, and these kids, they're fairly young. They're not my age, and they don't really know the laws, and they're not really knowledgeable. And so they tear up these parks, and the parks are there to have fun. They're from everyone, not just them.

And so if there was a way, or a place to have these kids ride or to make them knowledgeable about what they're doing, that would be great. You know, I remember back in 2020, all I used to do is play video games. It's it's nice to have something to ride or to do something outside to enjoy our beautiful creation by our lord, and it's just nice to ride something instead of being addicted to video games all day. Now I I I'm getting a motorcycle endorsement soon, and I think that should be encouraged be be for everyone. And

Hi, my name is Melissa Gadert, I'm Dylan's mother. You know, look at these kids and I look at the older kids, older teens let's say versus the younger teens, right? And the younger teens, you know, if they had an influencer or a teen that can actually lead them, educate them, educate safety, and even educate them what our parks and our environment is, and how to keep it clean, and how to make it a place for everyone to enjoy. I don't think there should be an issue because these electric bikes, you know, I get I get it that some of them it could be illegal on the road, you know, and I know some of them have been not very safe in using these bikes by doing wheelies, running out in cars, maybe endangering other people. But there are responsible kids out there.

And I look at the kids today. You know? He's right. This is a junior in high school who's on the dean's list at Green River Community College. Yeah. I'm gonna brag about my child. He's a straight a student. You know? He's been raised well. And to have a little bit of fun, there's not roller skating rinks out there. There's not movie theaters. There's not a an arcade to go to like what I did in the eighties. There isn't a mall to go hang out in. You can't go swimming. There's nothing for these kids to do.

This is a place to get off of those video games and not sit there and do things with killing people like Fortnite and to get them outdoors and even to be involved in their communities. He wants to be here. He wants to be I don't know if you need an influencer, something like Logan Taylor, like in Seattle, or like a mister beast as everybody's heard. They influence kids, and if these kids had someone that led or worked with them even they did monthly cleanup parties at parks or just be involved with the community and teach safety, you know, and have a place for them to ride like a Swan Creek or to Holly Mountain Bike Trail

I'm gonna need you

to wrap

grow up to be just amazing contributors to our our our community and to the city of Auburn and even to the younger children

Okay.

That are also wanting ebikes. So that's why we came to speak. So thank you for your time. Thank you, mayor.

Thank you, councilor.

We've never been to one of these before, so this is, like, really

new to us.

Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

Thank you.

And sorry for going over.

Sorry. Anyone else like to speak? Anyone else like to speak this evening? Please take to the podium and state your name and city of residence.

I thought a lot of people were gonna talk up here. Oh, hat is off to Dylan. These people talk since. I am terrified of e motorcycles. They are not bicycles. They're not licensed. The little kids go. I call them the after school gang. They gather after school. Mom and dad don't know what they're doing.

Maybe. Their parents buy them these things and they go in a gang right up Lakeland Hills Way past my kid's house. My daughter had to face off with them. They simply were coming at me out here on a street, nine of them. The one in the front doing a wheelie every time he got a chance scared the pants off me.

If one of these people hits me on my sidewalk and throws me into the street or my mailbox or my neighbor's square lock major mailboxes, I will be badly injured. If they go into the street, They can be hit by a car. They shoot in front of me on a bicycle, and when they see the front of my bright red truck, they hit two brakes and they go to their knees. I saw a man laying at midnight one night by my mailbox and he was in a lot of pain, broken collarbone, police and fire and they ripped his shirt off. It was February.

I thought it was about 30 degrees out. It is so dangerous. I care about our kids. I want them to be safe. My neighbors are going crazy. In five months, I must have talked to 20 people. They say exactly the same thing. I will not tell you, I won't repeat what some of the big guys have said. One said it today. They said, I wanna kick their little asses.

I want want it to stop. We are frantic. My neighborhood has five issues and they're big, but nothing is more terrifying to us than these little kids, an eight year old boy coming around a corner on Auburn Way South, and I could not believe it. I don't know where his parents went. I know that it was after school. It's 03:00 in the afternoon. It's terrifying. We have a police department and it needs to stop. If we have to go to the station, to the state of Washington, if we have to go to Olympia, do it. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else like to speak for public comment? Okay. All right, Rebecca. Do we have any correspondence this evening? No, we do not. Right. Alright. We will get down into 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. Do we have a motion? Council member Amher.

I make a motion to approve the consent agenda.

Do you

have a second?

Council member Baldwin. I will approve or second the

Consent agenda? Yeah.

It's been a long Monday.

Start of the week. All good. Thank you. Council Member Amher.

Okay. The consent agenda. It's minute from April 27 study session meeting. Minute from May. Setting the date for the public here hearing for Lake Meridian Water District front franchise. And from the two claims and factual and payroll as mentioned in the agenda.

Counselor, are there any questions or any requests for to remove any of the items to be considered separately? No? All those in favor for the consent agenda, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The consent agenda passes. Alright. We have no unfinished business, but it is to my understanding that we do have an item for new business. Council Member Lott.

Yes. Thank you, deputy mayor. Per the council rules, I submitted a item for discussion forty eight hours in advance. So, this last Friday and and what I'd like to do today is move and that the mayor work with the city staff to coordinate a future study session and that would be to consider contracting with a third party entity to conduct comprehensive and periodic audits of the flock system. And so, what I'm asking for today is to is to have that consideration with the mayor and the staff work on a future study session date.

Okay. Thank you, member council member lot. Is there a second council member amber a second. Okay. Alright. So we have council member Amber seconding the motion. Is there any discussion? Council member Baldwin.

Yes. I would just add that we have as a council body been receiving different communications over the past few months from members of our community who have been asking us as a body to look at how we can ensure that flock cameras aren't doing anything that could be leading to harm within our community. I think that having this conversation and taking the time to discuss in study session is a great first step, to making sure that we are responding to those requests. Thank you.

Council member Amher. My understanding there is the state law coming, which will be great. So as a council, we support transparency and accountability, but again, it's good to have it in study session to see the to review it from legal, public safety, and staff, and even that question they will have like the long term cost especially we're going through the budget. So it would be okay to see it and hopefully when we have the study session will be when the law will be coming so we will be with the law. Any other? Council Member Rakes.

Thank you. I agree with my constituents on this. I think if it eases the public mind, it's worth our while to look into it and see what it you know. Not that we're against the flock cameras or we're against the police department, but having a second. Set of eyes on that to relieve the public, I think would be a good thing for the council.

I'll just add a couple of things while I respect council member lots motion coming forward. I think there is a lot of, there has been a lot of data that's come out. Just recently, some new, I would say, what's the word I'm looking for? Some new language that's come out of the Waspik community as well around APLR cameras. I am not opposed to having a discussion, within our study session.

I think it's obviously something that the the public needs they need to be at ease on how this is working for our city. I know that it takes a lot of staff time to pull this together as well. So anybody else wanna chime in on this before I move forward? Council member Sturgis.

Thank you. Yes, ditto, I agree with the there's no harm in having transparency, having additional conversation, I think it's great. I do just wanna keep reminding folks that we have, each of us have sat down and had one on one training with how the FLoC system works and been educated on the difference of, you know, the cameras that are used for surveillance versus how FLoC works, which is much more of a license plate capture, with, needing an intent to go in and, try to search for a vehicle that is a potential suspect. So it's a critical life saving tool that our officers depend on. And so I'm I'm think that having additional conversation is great.

I just would like to voice my one concern would be in hiring a third party consultant. It just makes me feel like that is that's gonna be a huge cost. I mean, those cost several $100,000. And so of our tax dollars, I'd much rather see that going towards, you know, cleaning up our parks and building a program for e bikes so that kids could have a great after school program to safely ride ebikes and learn the importance of caring for their parks. But I do validate and understand this is a a scary topic for a lot of folks based on fear of not understanding how they're used and getting to see that firsthand like a lot of us get to.

So I support the additional conversation. It's at study session, but I would also want us to be really cautious before we enter into a very expensive contract when we have all of that information as public public record that we could use in the future or use to leverage.

Thank you, council member Sturgis. Anyone else? Council member Baldwin.

Just ahead of any future session, I do want to say that the presentation that we had received for how the cameras work, I had a different takeaway than what you had. With my experience working as a senior advisory architect in technology as part of my day job and doing large systems projects and implementations. The controls that were shown by having a string field be mandatory is something that is very easily bypassed and so I think that this conversation and whatever costs that may arise out of it because we don't have any estimates yet. This is simply a next conversation around making sure that we have good accountability and that we're responsible in this space. Is yet to be determined.

I think all we're entering into with this is what is that next conversation to make sure that we're on top of things for our community. Thank you. Council Member Taylor.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor. So, I want to make sure I'm understanding what what's being asked here is that we are Council Member Lot is requesting that we have a study session to talk about bringing in a third party. Okay.

A third party audit.

Okay. And okay. So, what would that cover? I mean, we haven't gotten to the study session but I'm kind of wondering like, what would that conversation be like? What would that look like?

Council member Lott, could you elaborate a little bit more to your motion on that? What that conversation would look like?

Yeah. I'd like the city to conduct some research and come back to us with some options and if they can find pricing and just evaluate how it would work. I know other cities have enacted this, and and I know other cities have found the money to do this within their existing budgets. And we recently found $46,000 to pay for the mayor's attorney's bills. So I'm sure if we if there's a will, there's a way with finding the money for this. But until the city does the research

That I mean

till the city does the research and comes back to us with options

That's

in their analysis, then then that's what

the station's for. Member Lott, the the personal attack was

It's a fact.

Inappropriate. It was inappropriate. This had nothing to do with the flock camera system. So, let's stay on point here. Council member Taylor.

Thank you. I guess I I I mean, I'm not opposed to the conversation. I just I know that Council Member Lot probably has given us some thought and I appreciate him bringing this forward. I just wanted to know kind of like what we would be discussing in terms of the third party. So, because the study session usually is pretty intense and it's pretty in-depth conversation.

So I guess my concern would be, again, I'm open for the conversation and again, as my colleagues have said, transparency, I just would be concerned about us turning this into not saying that it is or would be but you know attack on the flock hams and so if this is a discussion specifically about how I mean specifically about bringing in that third party to do that, then, I'm open for hearing what that could look like and whatever that supporting you know, materials or comments that might be brought in to support that conversation but not really to, you know, because again, to council member Sturgis' point, we all have had a pre extensive presentation by the police chief and assistant police chief on what the flock cams were and what they were capable of doing and not. And I mean, yeah, to council member Baldwin's point, anything can be manipulated. I mean, we're talking about technology here, but I wanted to make sure that we're kind of staying on the point about what's being asked about for the specific study session. That's all. That was the only reason why I asked that question.

Council member, I have a question to your motion. You're talking about other municipalities that have had our third party audits. Can you list any of those? Can you can you provide any of those?

Yeah. I'll provide a list after the session.

Fabulous. Okay. I will look forward to that. Any other discussion? Council member Amher.

My understanding that what will bring, we will have, there is there is law coming from the state Washington. So we should see what's the law. Then after that, we'll be talking about the audit because personally, I didn't want to hire audit company because my understanding there is company start sending these email like they're recruiting for money for themselves. I would not like to create moneymaker from the camera while I know and allowed when I was reading the motion, the language saying give them full access, usually in police department not full access. They will get as an auditor like the we in this city get audit for accounting, and they will report also auditing not something new to the city.

So I want to be clear for that.

Councilmember Taylor.

Thank you deputy mayor. I think what I heard here was that most majority of us are in agreement with having the study session. So at this point I think we're getting in the weeds and talking about what ifs and could be's. So if we're all in agreement with that, I mean, I don't know what else we're talking about.

Okay. So then any other discussion? Fabulous. Alright. The motion on the table is council member Lot wanted to move that the mayor work with staff to coordinate a future study session for consideration for contracting with a qualified independent third party firm to conduct a comprehensive periodic audit of the city's utilization of the flock a p ALPR system to ensure compliance with applicable law. Alright. Hearing no further discussion. I will call this matter to a vote. All those in favor say Aye. All those not opposed.

I hear none. Alright. So, the motion passes, and we will continue to move forward with a study session in the future, with giving ample amount of time to staff to create the presentation. Alright. Moving on to regular business. We've got resolution fifty eight ninety seven authorizing the mayor to execute an updated interlocal agreement with King County to accept funds in the amount of 2,121,000 to purchase the Seuss Creek Botanical Garden property. Is there a motion? Council member Baldwin.

I would move to adopt resolution number fifty eight ninety seven.

Thank you. Is there a second council member Rakes? I'll second that. Thank you. Alright. Council Member Baldwin.

Thank you, deputy mayor. Resolution number 5,897 would authorize the mayor to execute an updated interlocal agreement with King County to accept funds in the amount of $2,121,000 purchase the Seuss Creek Botanical Garden property. This is the first of a set of resolutions we'll be hearing on the topic tonight.

Alright. Council, any questions or comments? Council Member Baldwin.

Yes, thank you. Ahead of getting into this set of resolutions, I just want to take a minute and give a deep and profound thanks to Morris Kagan who has brought this opportunity forward to our city. And I had been trying to find the right way to honor this opportunity. And what I kept coming back to was a quote that always used to make me think of, my mother, which is, it comes from the Roman statesman, Marcus Cicero, who is known to be a famous orator and philosopher. And he said, if you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.

And what we're gonna see in the opportunity of acquiring these gardens is going to be a unique and profound opportunity for our community to have a third place where people can go and be in nature and enjoy that simple and balanced life that was spoken to thousands of years ago and so I think it's just. I'm just so excited. I'll probably say more and as we go through the other ones, but I'll just stop there with this one.

Thank you.

Alright all those in favor for resolution 5,897. Please say aye. Those opposed? Resolution fifty eight ninety seven passes. Thank you. Alright. Resolution 5,900 authorizing the mayor to execute on behalf of the city, a purchase and sale agreement with Morris Kagan for real property commonly known as Seuss Creek Botanical Garden and Heritage Center. Is there a motion? Council member Taylor.

Thank you, deputy mayor. I moved to adopt resolution 5,900.

Is there a second council member lots?

I'll second that

council member Taylor.

Thank you, deputy mayor. I just would like to read this quick background for those that have not had an opportunity to get a little bit more backdrop on what's happening here. The Sioux Creek Botanical Garden property is a well established community asset that has long served the Auburn area and surrounding communities as a valued local attraction, educational resource, and site of historical and environmental significance. Both miss Skagen and the city share the goal of preserving and protecting their properties, conservation values, plant collections, historic features, and the broad public benefits it provides to the Auburn community and the region. These benefits include open space preservation, environmental stewardship, educational programming, and cultural historical environment into my colleagues comments as well.

I echo the same thing. I think that this is great for the city. Great glad to see that the city and missus Gagan are on the same page about this and excited about keeping this as they would say, keeping it in the family.

Thank you, Councilmember Taylor. All right. Questions and comments. I'm gonna start real quick because I've been thinking about this all day and very similar to Councilmember Baldwin, I had to write it down because I I was seriously just overjoyed when we heard that this was gonna happen. So the fact that you're willing to work with the city to help preserve a space for future generations is an incredible gift to our community.

It speaks not only to your vision for the garden, but also to your commitment to making sure that it continues to serve the public for years to come. I also appreciate that the foundation will continue to play a role in operating and caring for the garden and moving forward. That partnership continued stewardship will help preserve the heart and the character that makes Seuss Creek so beautiful. So thank you. Alright, counsel. Those in favor for resolution 5,900, please say Aye. Those opposed. Resolution 5,900 passes. Thank you. Alright.

The right. Let's move to resolution 59. Oh, one. It's a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute on behalf of the city and an operating agreement for services with Seuss Creek Botanical Garden Foundation for continued operations, improvement, and maintenance of the Seuss Creek Botanical Garden and Heritage Center. Is there a motion? Council member Sturgis. Thank you, deputy mayor.

I move to adopt resolution fifty nine zero one. Is there a second? Council member Baldwin.

I'll second. Council member Sturgis.

Thank you, deputy mayor. The Seuss Creek Botanical Garden Foundation has provided exceptional stewardship of the botanical garden, and this resolution will help ensure the continuation of that important work. The city is pleased that we can support the ongoing care and preservation of the garden, and, we are so excited to have it stewarded and, kept the heart alive throughout this partnership.

Thank you. Council member Sturgis. All those in favor oh, wait. Questions and comments? No? Okay. All those in favor for resolution fifty nine one, please say I opposed. Right. Resolution fifty nine one passes. Alright and now resolution fifty nine seven authorizing the mayor to execute on behalf of the city, a lease termination and surrender agreement with Classic Helicopter Corp. Oh, wait. Can I take a moment for a second though? And we wanna give it a pause and invite mister Skegen. Would you like to say a few words?

I want to thank all the wonderful people at the city of Auburn's government who worked so very, very hard over the months to put all of this together for us. It's a tremendous gift to me personally. I I just wanna say that this particular land was acquired by my great grandfather in 1889, and at that time, it was Section 3, so Abraham Lincoln had given the odd number of sections of to the Northern Pacific Railroad. So he had purchased it from the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1890 for $9 an acre. So it's obviously gaining the value, but it's very important to me to know that what he walked across future generations will be able to do what he did enjoy the land for all the future generations.

Thank you so very much.

Thank you. Deputy mayor, if you like, we can move resolution number five nine zero eight to before five nine zero seven. Okay. To make it more clear for the record. Sounds good.

Well, I've got a million different papers. So yes, we can definitely do that. Alright, we can definitely do that. Can we take a brief recess though we were going to do some pictures with mister Skagen so he doesn't have to sit through the rest of our council meeting. Is there oh, my bad. Alright. Well, then we'll do one more. Resolution 5,908, resolution authorizing the mayor to execute on behalf of the city, a purchase and sale agreement with the Seuss Creek Botanical Garden Foundation for the acquisition of real property used for Seuss Creek Botanical Garden And Heritage Center. Do I have a motion? Council Member Taylor.

Thank you, Debbie Mayor. I move to adopt resolution five thousand nine eight.

Thank you. A second. Council Member Baldwin. I will happily second. Alright. So, we've got a motion and a second. Council discussion. Anything? Comments? Council member Surgess.

Thank you. I just wanna make a comment. The generosity of, you bringing this forward as an opportunity for our city. Just I know echoing all of our, I can't tell you enough that we were also excited for today's council meeting as we were preparing for the agenda over the last several days. There is such a special to know the history of how your grandfather, great grandfather inquired the land and then now you're you're wanting to be able to make sure that this is enjoyed for future generations is just something that it's a it's a huge testament to folks who come here to create a better life for their family and hand down a legacy for many more to come.

So thank you so much for what you're doing for our city. We are proud to get to steward it on your behalf going forward.

Thank you council member Sturgis. Alright, all those in favor for resolution of five nine zero eight, please say aye. Aye. Those opposed. Resolution five nine zero eight passes.

So we'll go back, deputy Mayer, to 5907 Thank you. When you're back on. Appreciate it.

I had multiple agendas printed out, and so I had them pay for something stuff. So I apologize.

Okay, we will resume our council meeting and we will get back to business with resolution. Fifty nine zero seven. It's a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute on behalf of city, a lease termination and surrender agreement with Classic Helicopter Corp. Do we have a motion? Council member Amher.

Make a motion to adopt resolution number 5,907.

Do I have a second? Councilmember Taylor.

I second that motion.

Thank you. Councilmember Amher. I know all these are good one, I get this one, but that's okay. Giving quick notes and good faith, but unsuccessful effort by the tenant to secure replacement aircraft that would allow them to continue to operate in Auburn Municipal Airport. We had classic helicopter in, has he provide helicopter tour and flight training at Abner Municipal Airport since 2020.

He was lease aircraft, the aircraft being sold. He did not he wasn't able to replace it, so the the the best for to terminate the contract. It will be good for the city and for the owner, so I encourage all my counsel to approve it.

All those in favor for Resolution 5,907, please say aye. Those opposed? Alright. Resolution of fifty nine zero seven passes. Thank you. Alright. We'll move on to mayor and council member reports. At this time, City Council may report on significant items associated with their appointed positions on federal, state, and regional and local organizations. We will start with council member Rakes.

Thank you. On this weekend, I attended Pet Palooza, which is just always a great great event. We had a really good time and actually the crowd was really good considering what the forecast was supposed to be, but it actually turned out pretty nice. So and then on Sunday, I attended the Lakota chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as they laid an updated grave marker for a lady named Sarepta that served in the Civil War for one year as a nurse in the US hospital division, then continued three years of volunteer. She never got recognized because women didn't really get recognized then, and later when they tried to give recognize her, they had to have served two years.

But they finally got it passed, and they had a very nice little ceremony for him. She passed away April 29 at the age of 83 in Auburn.

Thank you council member Baldwin.

Thank you deputy mayor. My main item that I think many of us got to attend was the ground big, pardon me, groundbreaking for the new Auburn Avenue Theatre which is a exciting you know exciting change coming to our downtown streets and I think everybody wishes it would be you know magically there tomorrow, but we're gonna have a few months between now and the ribbon cutting for the doors to swing open, but it's something that is highly anticipated and happy to announce that it will be underway. So, keep

an eye out.

Thank you,

Council Member Baldwin. Council Member Lot.

Nothing to report.

Council Member Amor.

I have a lot to report. I want to make all the talk today. First of all, I attend attend LAV conference which been done by the State of Washington Education Association for the retiree which was great to be there especially with there there is some of the law change which we need to follow-up with it. I call into the King County Regional Water meeting. I attend FIRFA meeting.

Oh, yeah. My calendar was busy. I attend the ground break with everybody. There is photo to document, the other thing there is nothing. I called to Ryan nine and we approved the approved the funding which will be 6,000,000. Yes, I think that's what they have for now. And we had the special meeting for Laugh Board was Wednesday. Thank you.

Councilmember Sturgis? Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Wednesday the sixth, I went to the Auburn Area Chamber Connect event and that was at the White River Amphitheater hosted by Live Nation. It was wonderful and just such a fun event. It was great getting to see their lineup for this year and just another reminder of just such a fun venue we have here right in our, backyard.

So, encouraging everyone to go look at the lineup and go out and enjoy some concerts this season. Also the theater groundbreaking, which was just so, so many people came out. It was so special to get to hear the history, and, be a part of that special day. Last, last week, I attended for, the, DVI task force meeting with SCA, and, it was really awesome. We went through, a lot of great updates on, what is happening in King County in regards to, helping to support victims of domestic violence as well as, help to offenders to be able to get the help and treatment they need.

A special guest we had was David Martin. He is with the King County prosecutor's office, and he leads the domestic violence division and shared just city level data compared to King County, compared to Seattle, the the data of the folks impacted, as well as a lot of special things that the King County prosecutor's office does that we don't get to see behind the scenes where, you know, there's so many challenges we don't think of where a mom is coming to testify doesn't have childcare. And so the prosecutor's office gets pizza and toys, and they babysit in the back office for them so that the mom can be able to go out and and testify. So just really special things also offered. So as a follow-up for counsel's awareness, are gonna be inviting him to one of our future SFA meetings for muni services.

He has a desire to come out and really be able to dive into Auburn level data with us, along with, police chief Callier and our city attorney Jason Whalen. So more to come on that and it was some great learning.

Thank you. Council Member Taylor.

Thank you deputy mayor. I was able to attend the groundbreaking as well as the rest of the council for the new theater and that's exciting. Looking forward to cutting the ribbon and being able to enjoy some events there. It's exciting and yeah, definitely was glad to be able to participate in that.

Thank you. I'll wrap things up with a couple of things. One, I attended the Battlefield Addiction Run to Recovery, an incredible organization centered around hope, healing, and supporting people with their recovery journey. Super uplifting morning there at Rugner Park. It was a lot of fun to attend there.

May 12, of course, the Auburn Theatre groundbreaking. Again, as a former arts commissioner, this is just really incredible work, and our parks parks and arts and rec department did incredible work putting that all together. The whole the whole crew, actually, I don't wanna forget Ingrid, and her team too. So, yes, thank you again for such an amazing day on May 12. May 13, I attended the Sound Transit Town Hall moderated by a Transportation Choices Coalition.

It featured the Sound Transit Board members, King County Council members Stephanie Fain and Mayor McLeod from Tukwila. The discussion was focused on regional transportation. Obviously, it's no secret. Sound Transit, huge budget deficit, and they're trying to figure out how they're going to fund projects with ST 3. There was discussion on ST 4. We all kinda looked at them and we're like, we gotta gotta think about ST 3 1st before we can think about ST 4. So great conversation. A big thank you to the Transportation Choices Coalition for putting that on. And then shortly afterwards, I jumped on the call for the Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee. Again, Sound Transit topic conversation on, their budget deficit.

Also, early conversations about the housing development consortium regarding potential affordability housing levy that council should be aware of coming down the line. Also, May 14, a one on one meeting with council member Sturgis. She discussed her youth advisory board, municipal services special focus area, and some upcoming presentations from staff. And then this past weekend, a big thank you to the parts and arts and rec department. Petapalooza was incredible this year.

I mean, between the vendors and everything else that was happening at Game Farm Park, Clark enjoyed it. We took Clark out for a little enjoyed it. And again, the parks team knocked it out of the park with the, dog trot and everything too. So a big thank you to you and what you continue to do for our community. And with that being said, we have no reason for an executive session and our meeting is adjourned.