Auburn City Council Appoints Advisory Members and Approves Business Licenses

During the Auburn City Council meeting on July 22, Mayor Ron Anders highlighted several key decisions and appointments that will shape the city's future.

The council reappointed Jamie Brady and appointed John Whitworth to the Green Space Advisory Board, with Brady beginning his second full term. The mayor expressed gratitude for the service of outgoing board member Art Chapellka. Additionally, Vanessa Echols and Jennifer Lovern were appointed to the Auburn Planning Commission, filling the vacancies left by resigning members Wendy Birmingham and David Wisdom.

In a significant move, the council approved alcohol beverage licenses for two local businesses: Beignets and Brew at 147 North College Street and Tidore Flame Pizza at 196 North Donahue Street. The council also restructured a housing rehabilitation loan for a property at 1137 Wrights Mill Road.

Another notable decision was the approval of salary increases for the city council and the mayor pro tem, raising their monthly pay from $600 to $1,250 and $1,500, respectively. These adjustments, the first since February 2006, will take effect in November for the newly elected council members in 2026.

The council postponed a decision on the conditional use for the Grand Junction event space at 1027 East Glen Avenue, following concerns raised by Councilman Tyler Adams regarding overflow parking. The staff has been tasked with working with the developer to address these issues.

The Interlude Auburn performance residential development at 1397 North Dean Road was approved, marking the third iteration of this multi-unit project. The council also approved the consolidated plan for 2025-2029 and the 2025 annual action plan for the community development block grant program, which allocates over $700,000 annually to support low to moderate-income individuals in the community.

Lastly, a tax abatement was granted to Korea Fuel Tech America, which is investing $4 million in its facility and creating 17 new jobs in Auburn. This expansion reflects the city's commitment to fostering local economic growth.

Mayor Anders encouraged residents to engage with their council representatives for any questions regarding these developments.