[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
>> WE'LL CALL TO ORDER TONIGHT'S CITY OF THE WHOLE FOR THE AUBURN
[2. MINUTES]
CITY COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 2, 2026.CITY COUNCILORS SHOULD HAVE THE MINUTES FROM THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FROM MAY 19TH. ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THOSE MINUTES. MOVE TO APPROVE.
>> MOTION TO SECOND. ALL IN FAVOUR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED. AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
[3. WATER WORKS BOARD]
WE HAVE ONE VACANCY. TERM BEGINS JUNE 22, 2026 AND ENDS JUNE 21, 2032. WE HAVE INCUMBENT BRAD WILSON WHO SERVED ONE PARTIAL AND TWO FULL TERMS. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE RICHMOND GUNTER.
>> SECOND. >> HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND FOR RICHMOND GUNTER. ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS.
THE. >> A SUPERB CHOICE AND I WILL SUPPORT IT BUT WE ARE SO BLESSED.
WE HAVE A DOCTOR AND A LAWYER AND A CHEMICAL ENGINEER AND A DOUBLE E AND DIESEL MECHANIC. WE HAVE QUITE A SLATE.
I COULD HAVE SUPPORTED MOST ANY OF THEM IN FACT PROBABLY ANY OF THEM. SO WE'RE BLESSED IN AUBURN AND WHAT A GREAT SLATE. THESE ARE BUSY PEOPLE.
THESE GUYS HAVE THINGS TO DO. AND THEY FEEL HONOURED AND ENCOURAGED TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S AMAZING.
I STARTED GOING THROUGH THE REPUBLICS, AND I KNOW I SPEAK FOR THE REST OF THE DAIS UP HERE, BUT IT JUST BLEW ME AWAY.
SO I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR THOSE THAT ARE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR
IT IS CERTAINLY ENCOURAGING THAT SO MANY OF OUR CITIZENS DO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT, AND THAT'S ENCOURAGING. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO SHE COULD SELECT ONE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
ALL IN FAVOUR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED?
[4. CITY CODE – POLITICAL SIGNS]
WE WILL CONFIRM THAT LATER ON IN THE AGENDA.CITY CODE POLITICAL SIGNS. CITY MAYOR MANAGER CROUSE.
>> YES, MAYOR. I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. WE DISCUSSED THIS A LITTLE BIT AND DIDN'T DELIBERATE IN THE PACT MEETING BUT I TALKED WITH MOST OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY, AND WE HAD A LIGHT DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO IN THIS MEETING OR KIND OF CLARIFICATION OF POLICY A LONG TIME AGO IN THE CITY CODE WERE SOME SIGN REGULATIONS REGARDING THE DISPLAY OF POLITICAL SIGNS.
AND THEY WERE PUT IN PLACE TO REQUEST THAT 30 DAYS PRIOR TO ANY ELECTION THAT THEY COULD GO UP.
AND AT SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION, THEY WOULD BE REMOVED.
AND I AM ONLY REFERRING TO PRIVATE PROPERTY.
THERE ARE REGULATIONS IN PLACE THAT REMAIN TRUE TODAY THAT SIGNS OF ANY SORT THAT ARE NOT GOVERNMENTAL SIGNS UNLESS WE HAVE SOME ORDINANCE THAT HAVE AN EXCEPTION ARE NOT ALLOWED ON OUR PROPERTY, PA, STREETS ET CETERA. BUT BASED ON A SUPREME COURT CASE IN 2015 CALLED REED VERSUS TOWN OF GILBERT, THE SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY WHICH IS EXTREMELY RARE RULED IN FAVOUR OF REED AND SAID THAT ALL SIGNS HAVE TO BE CONTENT-NEUTRAL.
AND SO FROM A SIGN REGULATIONS HAVE TO BE CONTENT NEUTRAL.
AND SO THEREFORE WHEN THE SUPREME COURT PASSED THAT, IT MADE ASPECTS OF OUR POLITICAL SIGN REGULATIONS BECAUSE IT'S CALLED OUT DIFFERENTLY VERY MUCH NOT ENFORCEABLE.
OUR LEGAL TEAM HAS KINDLY ASKED OVER TIME AS WE EVALUATED THIS WITH PLANNING STAFF AND SO ON IS TO GENTLY REMIND CITIZENS THAT WE HAVE THIS LAW. BUT IT IS NOT ENFORCEABLE.
THIS CAME UP AT A COUNCIL MEETING THE REQUEST AS TO WHY WE ARE NOT ENFORCING IT. IT'S BECAUSE WE LEGALLY CAN'T.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS IS THIS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO CONSIDER REPEALING THIS PORTION OF THE ORDINANCE? YOU WOULD BE REPEALING OUT OF CITY CODE.
THREE PIECES OF IT. IT'S ABOUT THE 30-DAY PROVISION.
30 DAYS PRIOR IT HAS TO BE REMOVED SEVEN DAYS AFTER AN ELECTION DATE AND/OR AFTER A RUNOFF.
AND THEN IT ALSO REGULATES THE SIZE OF THEM TO BE 32 SQUARE FEET. AND SO IT CAN CERTAINLY REMAIN ON THE BOOKS. BUT IT'S UNENFORCEABLE WHAT OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR SIGN ORDINANCE HAVE BEEN LEFT ALONE.
WE WILL PROBABLY MAKE SOME MAJOR REVISIONS OF THAT WHEN WE REVAMP THE ZONING ORDINANCE WHICH IS NOT UNDERWAY BUT NOT THE ZONING ORDINANCE AT THE MOMENT. SO WHILE WE'RE REWRITING SECTIONS WE WILL CLEAN UP THE SIGN ORDINANCE PORTIONS OF THAT TOO. BUT PORTION OF THAT ARE ONLY REGULATED IN CITY CODE. NOT ONLY THE ZONING ORDINANCE SENDS YOU BACK TO CITY CODE. SO JUST CURIOSITY WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO. IF YOU LOOK BEHIND OUR NORTH 171 A LARGE COLLECTION OF POLITICAL SCIENCE.
CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF WE DO NOT STORE THEM BACK THERE.
[00:05:02]
EVENTUALLY WE ARE GOING TO THROW THEM AWAY IF PEOPLE DON'T PICK THEM UP, BUT OUR INSPECTION SERVICES TEAM IS EXCELLENT.THEY DOCUMENT EVERY SIGN WE TOUCH.
THEY TAKE A PICTURE OF IT TIME AND DATE STAMP IT AND SO ON.
AND WE REALLY TRY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE ON IT.
BUT THIS IS A MATTER OF WE HAVE A MUNICIPAL ELECTION COMING.
QUALIFICATION BEGINS JUNE 9TH AND TO CREATE LESS CONFUSION FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED IT'S CURIOSITY FROM MY SEAT BUT
COUNCIL CAN DO WHAT IT WISH. >> AND TO CLARIFY INSPECTION SERVICES PICKS UP ON THE RIGHT OF WAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION THERE.
WHEN THEY'RE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY BASED ON THIS CURRENT RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT I KNOW IT'S NOT CURRENT ANYMORE 11 YEARS AGO WE DO NOT PICK THEM UP OFF OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
WE SOMETIMES HAVE LEFT NOTES THAT SAY WE'RE ASKING YOU TO COMPLY AND SO ON BUT THIS ELECTION SEASON WE HAVE DONE
NONE OF THE ABOVE. >> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, COMMENTS.
IF IT'S UNENFORCEABLE WE SHOULD REMOVE THAT FROM THE ORDINANCE.
COULD BE CONFUSING TO FOLKS, SO. I THINK POTENTIALLY WE PUT OUR STAFF IN AN AWKWARD POSITION TO ENFORCE SOMETHING THAT'S UNENFORCEABLE, AND THAT WOULD CREATE ANGST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE PERSON WHO IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE. SO IT'S MY BELIEF THAT WE NEED
TO REPEAL. >> WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN CONSIDERING AN ORDINANCE AT THE NEXT MEETING TO DO JUST THAT? IT WOULD JUST BE SIMPLE LANGUAGE STRIKING, AND I CAN SEND AUTO EMAIL IN THE INTERIM WITH EXACTLY WHAT IT WOULD READ JUST DELETING. WHAT IT WOULDN'T LEAVE IN CITY CODE IS IT TALKS ABOUT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 6 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCES. IT'S UNLAWFUL TO ERECT OR DISPLAY SIGNS ON CITY OF AUBURN OR CITY INCLUDES INCLUDING PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY, TREES, LIGHTS, POLES, ALL THAT WOULD REMAIN IN THERE BUT THE REST OF IT WOULD BE STRUCK.
AND IT ALSO DOES SAY THAT THE CANDIDATE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE AND VOLUNTEERS AND SIGN CONTRACTORS TO PUT THEM IN THE RIGHT SPOT. WE WOULD LEAVE THAT AS WELL.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> JUST ASK A QUESTION.
IF THE CANDIDATE PUT A SIGN IN THE WRONG SPOT,S ARE YOU GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE SIGNS FIRST BEFORE THE CITY
ACTUALLY PICKS THEM UP? >> IF THEY'RE THERE IN THE MOMENT, THEN WE ASK THEM TO MOVE T BUT IF THEY'RE NOT THERE, WE USUALLY UNLESS THEY'RE LARGE SIGNS, WE REMOVE THEM AND PUT THEM BACK HERE. AND A LOT OF TIMES OUR INSPECTION SERVICES TEAM WILL REACH OUT TO CANDIDATES.
WE TRY NOT TO DO THAT BUT WE HAVE SOME TIME SOME FOLKS THAT ARE PRETTY INCONSISTENT ABOUT OUR SCHOOL PROPERTIES, ET CETERA, AND TO BE FAIR TO EVERYBODY, TO EVERY BUSINESS, EVERYTHING WHEN IT'S ON PUBLIC PROPERTY THEY TYPICALLY GET REMOVED. BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE A KIND CONVERSATIONABLE AND WHEN THEY'RE RIGHT ON THE LINE AND SAY YOU CAN MOVE THIS A FOOT OVER PLEASE AND GET IT OUT OF THE RIGHT OF WAY, YOU KNOW, ONE LEG IN ONE LEG OUT.
WE TRY TO BE REASONABLE. >> OKAY BECAUSE THE REASON I'M ASKING THAT IS BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME SIGNS PUT UP RIGHT ACROSS.
BUT THEY WERE SITTING, LIKE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS PRIVATE PROPERTY OR WHAT'S NOT CITY PROPERTY IN THAT LOCATION RIGHT ACROSS THE FRONT OF IT RIGHT THERE.
SO THE SIGNS WE PUT UP BUT WAS PUT UP CLOSE TO THE WOODS BACK THERE. SO IS THAT, WAS THAT.
>> IN FRONT OF WHICH PORTION ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
>> YEAH. I HAVE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK.
THE THE CITY AUTHORITY ALSO HAS PROPERTY THAT FALLS UNDER SIMILAR THINGS. OUR RULE OF THUMB FOR PEOPLE IS THE FURTHER BACK FROM THE CURB LINE THE BETTER.
YOU ARE AUTOLY IF YOU HAVE UTILITY POLES IT NEEDS TO BE BEHIND THAT OR YOUR WATER METRE BOX.
SOMETIMES THOSE ARE IN THE BACK OF THE RIGHT OF WAY.
IS THAT ACCURATE, KEITH? YEAH.
SO WE TRY TO ASK PEOPLE IN THEIR RESIDENCIES TO KEEP THAT BEHIND
WELL, THAT MAKES SENSE. MAYBE THAT PROPERTY BELONGS TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. OKAY.
>> IT DOES FEEL LIKE OUR ELECTION SEASONS BECOME LONGER AND LONGER AND WE'RE IN A PERPETUAL STATE OF POLITICS WHICH IS IS EXTRAORDINARILY EXHAUSTING TOO TO THE AVERAGE PERSON WHILE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE ANY SIGN ORDINANCES AND AN INDIVIDUAL HAS A RIGHT TO PUT A POLITICAL SIGN IN THEIR YARD AND LEAVE IT THERE FOR AS LONG AS THEY WOULD LIKE COULD WE OFFER SOME I GUESS GUIDANCE TO CANDIDATES ON REASONABLE
[00:10:04]
TIMEFRAMES JUST ON OUR CANDIDATE INFORMATION PAGE OR SOMETHING TA COMMUNITY STANDARD THAT WE WOULD LIKE THE GENERAL STANDARDS SIGNS WOULD GO UP AROUND THIS TIME AND WOULD LIKE TO TAKE YOUR SIGNS UPAFTER THE ELECTION. >> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH WITH THINGS THAT ARE BLACK AND WHITE, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH SOMETHING
LIKE THAT? >> ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO CALL IT A POLICY BECAUSE OF COUNCIL THAT'S WHAT YOU DO, YOU SET POLICY. BUT YOU WOULD NEED, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY IF WE WANT EVEN FOR THAT TO BE A RULE OF THUMB, A GUIDELINE, WHATEVER, WOULD HAVE YOU ADOPTED AS A GUIDELINE TO PUT IT IN THERE. AND IT JUST MEANS YOU'RE ASKING NICELY. HEY, RIGHT NOW OUR CANDIDATE RESOURCE GUIDE WE JUST PUT OUT YESTERDAY HAS THE CURRENT RULES IN THERE. AND IF YOU ADOPT NEW RULES, WE'RE GOING TO ADJUST THAT GUIDELINE.
AND IF CANDIDATES 6°ED, WE WILL NOTIFY THEM OF THE CHANGE.
>> BUT IF WE WANTED IF THE COUNCIL WISHED TO OFFER RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU WOULD STILL WANT US TO APPROVE THOSE.
>> CORRECT. IF YOU WANTED IT TO COME FROM THE CITY COUNCIL IT'S NOT THAT THE STAFF IS OUT THERE.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OFTEN THINK THE STAFF MAKES UP ALL KINDS OF RULES AND REALLY YOU'RE THE POLICY MAKERS.
AND SO I WANT TO BE SURE THAT IT'S NOTED THAT THE COUNCIL
REQUESTED THIS. >> SO WOULD THAT DISCUSSION HAPPEN PERHAPS WHEN IT'S BEFORE US IN TERMS OF CREATING SOME TYPE OF SUGGESTED ETIQUETTE OR WHATEVER.
>> YES. I THINK I MIGHT GO AHEAD AND TRY TO DRAFT SOMETHING AND YOU GUYS WOULD BE WELCOME TO TWEAK IT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO IT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
THERE WILL BE TWO ACTIONS. ONE UNDER ORDINANCES TO REPEAL AND A SEPARATE ACTION UNDER PROBABLY JUST REGULAR RESOLUTIONS. YOU CAN SAY, WELL, IT'S A CEREMONIAL TYPE THING OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT IT HELPS IF WE HAVE SOMETHING IN WRITING FROM THE COUNCIL ABOUT WHAT THEIR DESIRE AND INTENT IS AND MEMORIALIZES IS. SO WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT AND
YOU CAN ADJUST IT. >> I GENUINELY THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE RUNNING FOR OFFICE THAT MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO PUT THINGS UP.
I'LL EMAIL YOU THE DRAFT ORDINANCE AND WE'LL GET WORKING AND IF YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL FEEDBACK TO ME ABOUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN A GUIDELINE AS I GET STUFF OUT THERE, PLEASE
SUBMIT TO ME DIRECTLY. >> THANK YOU.
AND WE'LL LOOK AT THAT ON THE 16TH.
[5. QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA]
ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA FOR THE CITY MANAGER. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING FOR US OR IF THATCHANGINGS ANYTHING? >> NO, SIR.
>> MR. GRISWOLD. >> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE MAYOR TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO KIND OF UPDATE THE COMMUNITY ON WHERE WE STAND ON THE 2040 PLAN IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER IT WAS A TREMENDOUS EFFORT BY LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF OUR CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT IN OUR
VARIOUS COMMITTEES. >> I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP. IT'S TECHNICALLY NOT A COMP PLAN. MORE JUST A PLAN BUT I UNDERSTAND HABITS ARE HARD TO BREAK.
BUT ANYWAY WE GET THE POINT. CITY MANAGER AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE FIRST DRAFT. WE BELIEVE THAT BY THE FOURTH OF THE JULY END OF THE MONTH OF JUNE WE WILL HAVE A DRAFT FOR THE COUNCIL TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT. AND THAT WILL BE THE STARTING POINT FOR WHAT THE FINAL REPORT IS.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS COUNCIL TO ADOPT BEFORE THIS TERM IS OVER WITH, SO THAT WOULD BE THE END OF OCTOBER.
THE CITY MANAGER DID BRING A DIFFERENT DELIVERY STYLE.
AN IDEA SHE HAD JUST A COUPLE DAYS AGO THAT I THOUGHT HAD SOME VALUE TO IT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN FRONT OF YOU AS FAR AS HOW WE PROVIDE THIS FOR THE PUBLIC AT THE END OF THE DAY.
SO NEXT FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THE COMMUNITIES MET CAME UP WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION, AND THAT HAS TO BE CULLED INTO A PLAN. AND I THINK THE GOAL THE MAYOR IS TALKING ABOUT A FORMAT CHANGE IS TRY TO NOT MAKE THIS A LARGE BOUND ACADEMIC DOCUMENT AND SOMETHING VERY UNDERSTANDABLE FOR ALL CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, ELECTED OFFICIALS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT IS EASY TO FOLLOW THAT THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FROM THOSE GROUPS ARE VERY CLEAR AND SUCCINCT AND WE DON'T HAVE 10 TONNES OF NARRATIVES THAT GO WITH IT.
IT'S VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT IT IS AND VERY READABLE.
[00:15:02]
ANYONE ELSE? IS THERE A MOVE TO ADJOURN
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.