Auburn City Council Minutes 3/9/2026
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
March 9, 2026
REGULAR SESSION
A Regular Meeting of the Auburn City Council was held at Auburn City Hall, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA, on Monday, March 9, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. with Mayor Kelley Davis presiding and City Clerk Amy Lind recording the minutes.
CALL TO ORDER/ ROLL CALL
Council Members Present: Sandra Amara, Alice Dowdin Calvillo, Mike Holmes, Rachel Radell-Harris,
Kelley Davis
Council Members Absent: None
Staff Members Present: City Manager Sean Rabé, City Attorney Gary Bell, Public Works Director Mengil Deane, Economic Development Director Jonathan Wright, Asst. Fire Chief Tony D'Ambrogi, Planning Director Tia Klumpp, Human Resources Director Jen Leal, Finance Director Gretchen Hoskins, Building Official Michael Pinola and Police Chief Bryan Morrison.
CLOSED SESSION:
By consensus of the Council without objection, adjourn to a Closed Session:
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR (Gov. Code, § 54957.6.) Name of City Negotiator Attending Closed Session: Gage Dungy, Jennifer Leal, Gretchen Hoskins and Sean Rabé
Employee Organization: All Bargaining Units
Report Out of Closed Session: Mayor Davis stated there was no reportable action.
CALL TO ORDER/ ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MAYORS COMMENDATION/ PROCLAMATION/ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Proclamation for National Nutrition Month
Proclamation for Trisomy Awareness Month and Trisomy Awareness Day
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved as presented by consensus of the Council.
Auburn City Council Minutes 3/9/2026
CONSENT AGENDA:
Items 3, 4 and 5 were removed from the consent calendar for further discussion and separate vote.
1. FY 2025-26 Mid-Year Position Allocation List Correction By Resolution 26-19, approve a correction to the FY 2025-26 Mid-Year Position Allocation List.
2. Acceptance of Donation from the Rotary Club of Auburn By Resolution 26-20, accept a $15,000 unsolicited donation from the Rotary Club of Auburn to be used for amenities for the patio in front of City Hall, and approve a FY 2025-26 budget adjustment.
3. Authorization to Accept Funds from the Middle Fork Project: Fuel Reduction Management Program
Removed from the consent calendar; see item 7a.
2025/2026 Road Maintenance Project - Award of Contract
Removed from the consent calendar; see item 7b.
5. Aeolia Drive Sewer & Water Replacement Project - Notice of Completion
Removed from the consent calendar; see item 7c.
6. Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Dudek for GIS Support Services
By Resolution 26-21, as amended, authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Dudek for GIS Support Services.
Amendment No. 4 to the Professional Services Agreement with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. for On-Call Storm Drain Design Services By Resolution 26-22, authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 4 to the Professional Services Agreement with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. for On-Call Storm Drain Design Services.
*** end of consent calendar ***
By Motion, approve the consent calendar excluding items 3, 4 and 5.
The motion was made by Council Member Dowdin Calvillo and seconded by Council Member Amara and approved by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Amara, Dowdin Calvillo, Holmes, Radell-Harris, Davis
Absent:
2 Auburn City Council Minutes 3/9/2026
7a. Authorization to Accept Funds from the Middle Fork Project: Fuel Reduction Management Program
Council Member Dowdin Calvillo recused herself from this item due to proximity to her home and left the Council Chambers.
By Resolution 26-23, authorize the City Manager to accept Middle Fork Project Fuel Reduction Management Program grant funds to support hazardous vegetation management along the public right-of-way in the Robie Point area, authorize the City Manager to sign any related documents on behalf of the City of Auburn, and approve a FY 2025-26 budget adjustment of $178,000.
The motion was made by Council Member Radell-Harris and seconded by Council Member Amara and approved by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Amara, Holmes, Radell-Harris, Davis
Noes:
Absent: Dowdin Calvillo
Council Member Dowdin Calvillo returned to the dais.
7b. 2025/2026 Road Maintenance Project - Award of Contract Public comment: Peggy Meadows
By Resolution 26-24, authorize the City Manager to execute a Construction Agreement with Pavement Coatings, Co. for the 2025/2026 Road Maintenance Project in an amount not to exceed (including a 10% contingency) $571,038.49.
The motion was made by Council Member Dowdin Calvillo and seconded by Council Member Radell-Harris and approved by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Amara, Dowdin Calvillo, Holmes, Radell-Harris, Davis Noes:
Absent:
7c. Aeolia Drive Sewer & Water Replacement Project - Notice of Completion
Public comment: Peggy Meadows
By Resolution 26-25, authorize the Public Works Director to execute the Notice of Completion for the Aeolia Drive Sewer & Water Replacement Project.
The motion was made by Council Member Dowdin Calvillo and seconded by Council Member Amara and approved by the following roll call vote:
3 Auburn City Council Minutes 3/9/2026
Ayes: Amara, Dowdin Calvillo, Holmes, Radell-Harris, Davis Noes:
Absent:
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Pieter Friedrich spoke regarding the Council's proclamation policy.
Council wished Council Member Holmes a happy birthday.
Mayor Davis spoke regarding the Canyons Race and the PARC Canyon Clean-Up.
Council Member Radell-Harris requested that Item 9 be heard before Item 8.
COUNCIL BUSINESS:
Approval of Highway 49 Roundabout Artwork
This item was presented by City Manager Rabé and April Maynard, Chair of Arts Commission (video presentation available in record).
By Motion, approve in concept the proposed Highway 49 Roundabout artwork from Deanna Marsh and her team as proposed by the Auburn Arts Commission.
The motion was made by Council Member Amara and seconded by Council Member Holmes and approved by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Amara, Dowdin Calvillo, Holmes, Radell-Harris, Davis Noes:
Absent:
8. Unfunded Pension Liability Cost Management
Council received a presentation from NHA Advisors, LLC, and provided direction to staff to return to Council with a recommendation to approve the proposed cost management strategy (IRS Section 115 Trust) for addressing the pension unfunded accrued liability (UAL) associated with the City's Safety and Miscellaneous CalPERS pension plans.
10. 414 Grass Valley Hwy Emergency Storm Drain Rehabilitation Project Public Works Director Deane presented this item.
Public comment: David Burns
By MOTION, determine - by a four-fifths vote - that there is a need for 4 Auburn City Council Minutes 3/9/2026
emergency action to contract for a public project for the 414 Grass Valley Hwy Storm Drain Rehabilitation; and
By RESOLUTION 26-26, find the 414 Grass Valley Hwy Emergency Storm Drain Rehabilitation project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Section 15301 (Existing Facilities); Section 15302 (Replacement of Reconstruction), and approve a FY 2025- 26 budget adjustment of $1,392,109 in the General Fund, Public Works Stormwater budget.
The motion was made by Council Member Radell-Harris and seconded by Council Member Dowdin Calvillo and approved by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Amara, Dowdin Calvillo, Holmes, Radell-Harris, Davis Noes:
Absent:
REPORTS:
11. City Manager Report
City Manager Rabé presented a report to the Council, providing updates and information on relevant matters.
12. Future Agenda Items
Council Member Radell-Harris requested a discussion regarding artificial intelligence. Council Member Dowdin Calvillo expressed interest in receiving a presentation on Bradley-Burns sales tax distribution. Council Member Holmes expressed interest in becoming a Certified Local Government.
13. City Council Committee Reports
City Council Members provided reports on the meetings of their respective appointed committees and commissions.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Davis adjourned the meeting without objection at 7:59 p.m.
Kelley Davis, Mayor
amy fund
Amy Lind
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