Auburn council approves $4 million purchase of 13 acres adjacent to Doug Sanford Park

The Auburn City Council on Dec. 2 approved the purchase of approximately 13 acres adjacent to Doug Sanford Park from the Spencer Family Exempt Trust for $4,000,000. City staff described the property as a unique opportunity to expand youth baseball fields and to align with existing park infrastructure.

City Manager Megan and finance staff told the Council the acquisition was not budgeted. Staff pointed to an unobligated accumulated general fund balance of about $5.7 million at the close of fiscal 2025; using $4.0 million would leave roughly $1.7 million of that balance, staff said. Council members asked whether the funds were available and how a potential 0.65-acre parcel owned by the water board would be handled; staff said the water-board transaction would likely be paid from the same fund at fair market value and take place in a subsequent calendar year.

Supporters said the site would allow construction of fields sized to serve older youth baseball (60/90 fields) and would complement planned improvements at Richland Park. Opposition or concerns raised during discussion centered on budget priorities and alternative uses of the unobligated balance, including downtown infrastructure projects; staff noted sewer work would typically come from the sewer enterprise fund and not the general fund.

Council voted by voice to approve the acquisition. Staff said the transaction fills a long-standing parks opportunity and will be followed by planning steps to incorporate the land into capital projects and park master planning.