Summary

Auburn City Council Study Session — April 13, 2026: Police report, critical areas, BESS code, budget amendment, Soos Creek update

AuburnApr 13, 20263 min read

At a glance

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Council held a Municipal Services study session to receive the Police Department Annual Report and to review several ordinance updates (municipal court housekeeping, Critical Areas update, Battery Energy Storage Systems, and the 4th budget adjustment to the 2025–2026 Biennial Budget). Staff also presented an update on the proposed purchase of Soos Creek Botanical Gardens (three related resolutions). The meeting consisted of presentations and discussion; no formal votes or ordinance adoptions are recorded in the minutes.

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City Council

Topics discussed

Budget & TaxPublic SafetyEnvironmentalUtilities

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Key decisions

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Council received the Police Department Annual Report covering use-of-force incidents, pursuit analysis, staffing, crime statistics, training, and related procedures; discussion only, no formal action recorded.
Council reviewed Ordinance No. 7019 (amending Chapter 2.14 related to the upcoming Auburn Municipal Court); discussion included presiding judge, Court Administrator hiring process, and budget implications.
Council reviewed Ordinance No. 6999 (Critical Areas Ordinance update); discussion included proposed changes to stream buffers, vegetative standards, site potential tree height, exemptions, and the critical-area designation process.
Council reviewed Ordinance No. 7014 (Battery Energy Storage Systems code update); discussion included tiered permitting, permissible zones, permit types (administrative vs. conditional), fire/burn-hour expectations, and ongoing inspection requirements.
Council reviewed Ordinance No. 7017 (4th Budget Adjustment to the 2025–2026 Biennial Budget); discussion included fund-balance true-ups, 2025 carry-forwards, new programs with and without offsetting revenues, sales tax changes, and flood recovery impacts.
Council received an update on the proposed purchase of Soos Creek Botanical Gardens (Resolutions No. 5897, 5900, and 5901), including grant funding, appraised value, the Operating Agreement with the Soos Creek Botanical Garden Foundation, land preservation considerations, and parking-area purchase.
No formal votes, ordinance adoptions, or resolutions adopted are recorded in these minutes.

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Meeting information

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04-13-2026 Study Session Meeting

Apr 13, 2026, 5:30 PMCity Hall Council Chambers, 25 West Main St, Auburn WA 98001completed

Agenda

CALL TO ORDER
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
ROLL CALL
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS
MUNICIPAL SERVICES DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Police Department Annual Report (Caillier) (30 Minutes)
attachments=6 | reports=1
Decision: MUNICIPAL SERVICES DISCUSSION ITEMS
B. Ordinance No. 7019 (Martinson) (15 Minutes) 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
attachments=2 | reports=1
Decision: MUNICIPAL SERVICES DISCUSSION ITEMS
AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. Ordinance No. 6999 (Krum) (20 Minutes) An Ordinance relating to Critical Areas Ordinance Update, amending Sections 16.10.010, 16.10.020, 16.10.030, 16.10.040, 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
attachments=9 | reports=1
Decision: AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
B. Ordinance No. 7014 (Krum) (25 Minutes) An Ordinance relating to Battery Energy Storage Systems, amending 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
attachments=9 | reports=1
Decision: AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
C. Ordinance No. 7017 (Thomas) (30 Minutes) An Ordinance amending the City’s 2025-2026 Biennial Budget
attachments=5 | reports=1
Decision: AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
D. Update for the Purchase of Soos Creek Botanical Gardens (Whalen/Krueger) (30 Minutes) Resolution No. 5897, Resolution No. 5900, and Resolution No. 5901
attachments=6 | reports=1
Decision: AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
COUNCIL REPORTS
ADJOURNMENT