Votes at a glance: Council approves hangar refinancing, consolidates polling place and authorizes property sale; directs public-safety design checkpoint
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Summary
The Auburn City Council took several formal actions during the March 3 meeting, approving refinancing and property-sale orders and adding a council checkpoint for the public-safety building design and cost estimates.
The Auburn City Council took a set of formal actions at its March 3 meeting. Below are the orders, motions, movers/seconders and vote results recorded in the public minutes.
Refinance Hangar No. 5 loan (Order 1903032009): The council authorized the finance director to execute an agreement with the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport to refinance the outstanding principal on Hangar No. 5 for 20 years at 0% interest. Jonathan Labonte (airport director/transportation director) briefed councilors on the hangar's operating losses and the airport board's desire to make the debt service more manageable while marketing the property for future tenants. Motion: moved by Councilor Platt, seconded by Councilor Weisner. Vote: 6 in favor, 0 opposed; motion adopted.
Consolidate polling place for June school budget validation referendum (Order 3030032025): The council authorized the city clerk to consolidate to one polling place for the June 10, 2025 school budget validation referendum. City clerk estimated the consolidation (including absentee voting) would save about $4,000. Motion: moved by Councilor Walker, seconded by Councilor Milks. Vote: 6 in favor, 0 opposed; motion adopted.
Authorize sale of 15 Academy Street and 261 Main Street (Order 2103032025): The council authorized the city manager to sell two parcels (Parcel ID 230-132 / 231-004) to the developer identified in the sale agreement (Arbortown Center Apartments LLC). The sale price is $50,000 for both lots combined; $10,000 had been put in escrow previously. Council heard public comment from a resident who asked for clarity on TIF capture, the credit enhancement agreement and community benefits. City staff said the developer had met required conditions to reach this stage; staff noted the TIF is a 25-year district, that the credit enhancement is capped at $1,000,000 and that capture/percentage details would be provided as a follow-up. Motion: moved by Councilor Walker, seconded by Councilor Weisner. Vote: 5 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention; motion adopted.
Public safety facility: council checkpoint on final design and cost (Order 2023032025): The council directed that the final design and construction cost estimate for the new public safety facility on Minot Avenue be submitted to the council for approval prior to proceeding to construction. Councilors and staff emphasized that the referendum approved by voters remains binding and that this order establishes a council-level checkpoint to consider updated estimates before construction starts. Motion: moved by Councilor Whiting, seconded by Councilor Platt. Vote: 6 in favor, 0 opposed; motion adopted.
Ending: Councilors adopted the orders as recorded and directed staff to provide requested follow-up materials (title and escrow details for the property sale; capture percentage for the TIF credit enhancement; and final design and cost materials for the public-safety facility when available).
