Auburn City Council will return Thursday to an electricity contract it delayed earlier this month while also considering a new three-year agreement with city firefighters, a full property tax exemption for qualifying disabled veterans and several traffic changes across the city.
The council’s business session begins at 5 p.m. at Memorial City Hall. The agenda comes after several weeks of debate over city expenses, downtown parking, police technology and other municipal costs.
One unfinished issue is Auburn’s next electricity supply contract.
Council unanimously tabled a proposed four-year agreement with ENGIE on Sept. 10 after members questioned the jump from the city’s current electricity rate and asked for more information about variable-rate alternatives. The proposed fixed rate of 9.089 cents per kilowatt-hour represented a substantial increase from the roughly 6.55 cents the city pays for most accounts.
Councilor Craig Diego estimated during that meeting that the higher rate could add roughly $180,000 in electricity supply costs, while Comptroller Mary Beth Leeson acknowledged the city had already exceeded its previous electricity budget. Council members ultimately wanted a clearer comparison between fixed and variable pricing before making a decision.
The ENGIE agreement is back on Thursday’s agenda as a tabled item. Staff continues to recommend a 48-month contract at 9.089 cents per kilowatt-hour, running through Sept. 30, 2030. The city has more than 100 electric meters.
New firefighter contract includes raises, staffing changes
Council will also consider approving a new collective bargaining agreement with Auburn Professional Firefighters Local 1446.
The proposed three-year agreement would run retroactively from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. Negotiations began in January ahead of the previous contract’s expiration June 30.
Firefighters would receive 3% wage increases in each contract year. The agreement also changes staffing provisions and increases the employee share of health insurance premiums by 1.25 percentage points in each year of the contract.
The employee contribution would rise to 16.25% beginning July 1, 2026, 17.5% in 2027 and 18.75% in 2028.
The contract sets minimum staffing for firefighters, lieutenants and captains at 65 positions, including 62 line positions and three day-staff positions. The city would be required to call in employees on overtime when staffing falls below 12 under provisions spelled out in the agreement.
City Manager Jenny Haines is recommending approval. City documents say savings from reduced staffing requirements and higher employee health insurance contributions will offset some of the cost of the annual raises.
Disabled veterans exemption comes up for vote
Another issue discussed earlier this month will reach council for a decision Thursday.
The city is proposing to opt into a new state-authorized property tax exemption that would fully exempt the primary residence of qualifying veterans considered permanently and totally disabled because of their military service.
The city assessor’s research identified 10 properties that would currently qualify, representing about $1.72 million in assessed value.
Because exempting those properties shifts the tax burden rather than eliminating the underlying levy, staff estimates the change would increase the tax rate for remaining city taxpayers by about 0.76 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The estimated impact on an average home is $1.45.
The issue was previewed at council’s Sept. 10 meeting, when Haines confirmed the exemption would return Sept. 24 for a formal vote.
If approved, the exemption would take effect beginning with the Feb. 1, 2027, taxable status date.
New stop signs, trailer restrictions proposed
Council will also get a first look at two changes to Auburn’s traffic code.
One would prohibit unattached trailers from being parked on city streets and in city parking lots. Police Sgt. Greg Gilfus said complaints involving utility, construction, recreational, boat and car trailers have increased over the past several months.
Current city code generally leaves police without an enforcement option when a legally registered trailer is parked without being attached to a vehicle. The proposed ordinance would allow police to ticket or remove those trailers.
A second ordinance proposes new stop controls at three intersections.
North Marvine Avenue and Ross Street Extension would become a three-way stop after police observed speeding and motorists failing to stop for pedestrians near a walkway used by students traveling to and from Herman Elementary School.
Capitol and Perry streets would become a four-way stop. Police records show eight crashes there since June 2021, including four involving injuries.
A stop sign would also be added on Drummond Street at North Hunter Avenue following safety concerns raised by residents. Six neighbors signed a letter regarding visibility and vehicle speeds in the area.
Downtown parking remains unresolved
Downtown parking isn’t listed as a formal action item Thursday, but it has become a recurring issue before council and could again surface during public comment.
Residents and downtown business owners have repeatedly criticized Auburn’s expanded Pango-based pay-to-park system, raising concerns about cost, complexity and accessibility for people without smartphones.
Regenerations owner Sue Waby has called for two hours of free downtown parking, with enforcement focused on motorists who exceed the time limit. No policy changes were made at the last meeting, although city officials were arranging a meeting with Waby to discuss her concerns directly.
Thursday’s meeting also follows council’s approval last week of a nearly $1 million, five-year agreement with Axon for police body cameras, Tasers and digital evidence services. That vote led to a separate discussion about improving how Auburn receives and tracks Freedom of Information Law requests across city departments.
Council will also consider a routine resolution establishing standard workdays for municipal employees for state retirement reporting purposes.
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