Summary

Council confirms municipal judge

AuburnJul 20, 20263 min read

At a glance

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The Council unanimously confirmed Sara Watson to Auburn Municipal Court Judge Position No. 2 for a three-year term starting January 1, 2027. Members also approved a franchise for Astound Broadband, several grant and contract actions, and an increase to a public works contract for ARC upgrade and repairs.

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City Council

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TransportationPublic SafetyCommerceEnvironmental

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What this means

The biggest decision was confirming Sara Watson as Auburn Municipal Court Judge Position No. 2 for a three-year term beginning in 2027. The Council also approved a broadband franchise, accepted or applied for several grants, and increased funding for a public works contract tied to ARC upgrade and repairs. A proposed independent audit of the city’s automated license plate reader program failed on a 3-4 vote, so that review will not move forward from this action. The meeting also included public comment and reports from the Mayor and Council.

Key decisions

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Confirmed Sara Watson as Auburn Municipal Court Judge Position No. 2 for a three-year term from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2029.
Approved the consent agenda, including a $55,000 increase to the maximum authorized contract amount for Public Works Contract No. 26-03 for ARC Upgrade and Repairs.
Passed Ordinance No. 7024 granting Astound Broadband, LLC a wireline telecommunications franchise.
Adopted Resolution No. 5912 extending the lease with Rainier Flight Services, LLC.
Adopted Resolution No. 5917 to accept and spend grant funds for City Bicycle Programs.
Adopted Resolution No. 5919 to apply for and, if awarded, accept a Public Works Trust Fund Loan for the East Valley Highway Widening Project.
Adopted Resolution No. 5920 accepting a grant award from the State of Washington via the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Adopted Resolutions No. 5921, 5922, and 5923 to apply for grant funding for Brannan Park renovations, playground replacement at Veteran’s Memorial Park, and playground replacement at Terminal Park.
Rejected a motion to direct an independent third-party compliance audit of the city’s Automated License Plate Reader program; the motion failed 3-4.

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Meeting information

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07-20-2026 City Council Meeting

Jul 20, 2026, 7:00 PMCity Hall Council Chambers, 25 West Main St, Auburn WA 98001completed

Agenda

CALL TO ORDER
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to acknowledge the Federally Recognized Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, 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.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
ANNOUNCEMENTS, MAYOR'S PROCLAMATIONS, AND PRESENTATIONS
APPOINTMENTS
A. Municipal Court Judge City Council to confirm the appointment of Sara Watson to Auburn Municipal Court Judge Position No. 2, for a three-year appointed term from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2029
Decision: APPOINTMENTS
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
PUBLIC COMMENT
This is the place on the agenda where the public is invited to speak to the City Council on any issue.
CORRESPONDENCE
CONSENT AGENDA
All matters 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.
A. Minutes from the July 6, 2026, City Council Meeting
attachments=1 | reports=1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
B. Minutes from the July 13, 2026, Study Session Meeting
attachments=1 | reports=1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
C. Claims Vouchers (Thomas) Voucher #483861 through Voucher #483937 dated June 10, 2026 in the amount of $802,893.79 Voucher #483938 through Voucher #484052 dated June 17, 2026 in the amount of $5,830,304.31 Voucher #484053 through Voucher #484059 dated June 18, 2026 in the amount of $1,110,931.70 Voucher #484060 through Voucher #484060 dated June 29, 2026 in the amount of $32,442.00 Voucher #484061 through Voucher #484172 dated July 2, 2026 in the amount of $1,958,911.56 Electronic Fund Transfers in the amount of $4,122.38 and four wire transfers in the amount of $1,709,536.15
reports=1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
D. Claims Vouchers (Thomas) Voucher #484173 through Voucher #484326 voided due to accounts payable batch error Voucher #484327 through Voucher #484479 dated July 15, 2026, in the amount of $9,710,125.36 Electronic Fund Transfers in the amount of $16,237.45 and three wire transfers in the amount of $981,680.36
reports=1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
E. Payroll Vouchers (Thomas) Payroll check numbers 539848 through 539856 in the amount of $217,926.78, electronic deposit transmissions in the amount of $3,219,207.09, for a grand total of $3,437,133.87 for the period covering July 2, 2026 to July 15, 2026
reports=1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
F. Public Works Project No. CP2227 City Council to approve an increase of $55,000 in the total maximum authorized contract amount for Public Works Contract No. 26-03; Construction of Project No. CP2227, ARC Upgrade and Repairs
attachments=1 | reports=1
Decision: CONSENT AGENDA
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
ORDINANCES
A. Ordinance No. 7024 (Gaub) An Ordinance granting to Astound Broadband, LLC, a Washington Limited Liability Company, a franchise for Wireline Telecommunications
attachments=1 | reports=1
Decision: ORDINANCES
RESOLUTIONS
A. Resolution No. 5912 (Whalen) A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City, a First Amendment to the Lease dated October 7, 2024, with Rainier Flight Services, LLC
attachments=2 | reports=1
Decision: RESOLUTIONS
B. Resolution No. 5917 (Krueger) A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Auburn and the Cascade Bicycle Club to accept and expend Grant Funds for the operation of City Bicycle Programs
attachments=2 | reports=1
Decision: RESOLUTIONS
C. Resolution No. 5919 (Gaub) A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to certify the application for, and, if awarded, accept and administer a Public Works Trust Fund Loan from the Washington State Public Works Board to finance construction of the East Valley Highway Widening Project (CP2311)
attachments=3 | reports=1
Decision: RESOLUTIONS
D. Resolution No. 5920 (Caillier) A Resolution accepting a grant award from State of Washington, via the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission
attachments=3 | reports=1
Decision: RESOLUTIONS
E. Resolution No. 5921 (Krueger) A Resolution authorizing the submission of an application to the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board for grant funding assistance for renovations at Brannan Park as provided in Chapter 79A.25 RCW, Title 286 WAC, and other applicable authorities
attachments=1 | reports=1
Decision: RESOLUTIONS
F. Resolution No. 5922 (Krueger) A Resolution authorizing the submission of an application to the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board for grant funding assistance for playground replacement at Veteran’s Memorial Park as provided in Chapter 79A.25 RCW, Title 286 WAC, and other applicable authorities
attachments=1 | reports=1
Decision: RESOLUTIONS
G. Resolution No. 5923 (Krueger) A Resolution authorizing the submission of an application to the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board for grant funding assistance for playground replacement at Terminal Park as provided in Chapter 79A.25 RCW, Title 286 WAC, and other applicable authorities
attachments=1 | reports=1
Decision: RESOLUTIONS
MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
At this time the Mayor and City Council may report on significant items associated with their appointed positions on federal, state, regional and local organizations.
A. From the Council
Decision: MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
B. From the Mayor
Decision: MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
ADJOURNMENT