 "In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it."
-- Marianne Williamson --
 In partnership with the Auburn School District, the City of Auburn in the coming months is holding a series of neighborhood meetings throughout our six policing districts. Each meeting will be focused on listening and creating solutions to the public safety issues so many of us are facing in our everyday lives. We want to hear from you!
The first series of meetings will be held in October on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a Saturday session for folks who can’t make it during the week. As you’ll see below, each meeting is scheduled to coincide with residents who live within that police district – we want to make these as hyper-local as possible so we can best address the needs of that neighborhood and community! But don't worry -- if you're not quite sure of your district (use the link below to check), you can attend what makes the most sense for your address and your schedule!
Attending the meetings will be Auburn School District Superintendent Alan Spicciati, city councilmembers (two or three at each meeting), city and school district staff, and me - all of us ready to listen, help and answer questions.
This first set of meetings is meant to be more listening than dialogue – we want to hear what’s happening in your neighborhood, and we want to hear it all. I understand these conversations will be difficult, but it’s important we have them. We’ll continue this meeting series throughout the year and beyond, building upon ideas and solutions. This is OUR CITY!
I'll see you there!
District 1: Evergreen Heights Elementary School Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
District 2: Dick Scobee Elementary School Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
District 3: Lea Hill Elementary School Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
District 4: Pioneer Elementary School Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
District 5: Mt. Baker Middle School Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
District 6: Chinook Elementary School Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
All districts welcome: Auburn High School Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, 2 - 4 p.m.
 On Tuesday, I had the honor of testifying in front of the Washington State Supreme Court. There is a proposal in front of them that would significantly change the case loads for public defenders working with indigent defendants in all courts within the state - Auburn included. Auburn is required by law to pay for public defenders. The testimony I provided is below. There will be another hearing in November, and I will be there, too!
Good morning, Chief Justice Gonzales and Justices.
My name is Nancy Backus and I’m proud to be the Mayor of Auburn. The City of Auburn opposes the proposed changes to Washington Supreme Court public defense standards.
Auburn’s Chief Prosecutor and the Supervising Attorney for Public Defense share the apprehensions of the majority of local jurisdictions that the suggested modifications to the caseload standards would have a catastrophic impact on both the City and our Public Defender.
This would necessitate nearly a tripling of our current public defense attorney staff over the next few years, resulting in a requirement of nearly 20 attorneys which would be impossible to fund. For our current indigent defense caseloads, the City of Auburn paid over $900,000 based on the ability to assign 400 cases per attorney. We estimate this cost would almost triple to meet the 150 cases per attorney threshold. We also believe in restorative justice and have a community court that is very successful.
Even with funding, the scarcity of qualified candidates for both prosecution and defense roles has been a critical issue over the past three years.
The stark reality is that the legal field lacks sufficient attorneys to implement such significant changes within a limited timeframe. Both the City of Auburn’s Prosecutor’s Office and the Public Defense firm struggle to maintain current staffing levels.
Regarding the time required to defend against a misdemeanor offense, it is widely acknowledged that the complexity of the case dictates the duration.
There is an assertion that defending a misdemeanor that does not proceed to trial averages 13.8 hours. This is inaccurate.
Our data suggests that a serious misdemeanor, a DUI or Domestic Violence case that is resolved before trial, typically requires 7 to 8 hours. Conversely, a straightforward misdemeanor can be resolved in approximately 3 to 4 hours.
We agree that attorneys representing indigent clients must have adequate resources and time to provide effective representation, however the proposed caseload standards, without careful planning and state-level funding, would severely hinder our offices and the court’s operational capacity.
In 2023, with a team of five full-time prosecuting attorneys the City of Auburn prosecuted approximately 2,100 cases. Concurrently, Cayce & Grove, Auburn’s contracted public defense firm, employed eight full-time defense attorneys to manage appointed cases, including courtesy representation at arraignments and jail hearings.
Such a drastic shift would impede the City’s prosecutorial effectiveness, compromise community safety, and limit the provision of essential resources to address the root causes of criminal behavior.
Therefore, we urge a reconsideration of these standards to ensure the sustainability of our legal system and the welfare and safety of our community. I wish you could hear the cries for help and angry demands from residents of Auburn concerned with crime. The possibility of less prosecution of the most serious misdemeanors due to cost is real if the proposed standards go into effect. My oath of office included protecting Auburn, and that’s why I’m here today!
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Postmark Center for the Arts – AWARD Winning again. The City of Auburn and Johnston Architects received the 2024 AIA Washington Council Civic Design Merit Award in recognition of the City of Auburn’s Postmark Center for the Arts. The award celebrates design excellence in publicly funded projects located in Washington State. Award winning projects reflect the highest standards in sustainability, innovation, building performance and overall integration with the client and surrounding communities.
This is the third award for the Postmark Center for the Arts. Other awards include the Washington Recreation and Park Association Spotlight Award and the King County John D. Spellman Award for Achievement in Historic Preservation (Award for Excellence in Adaptive Reuse). If you haven’t had a chance to enjoy this beautiful building, I strongly encourage you to do so
 Please join us Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. at Game Farm Park Bridge for a ribbon cutting of the new pedestrian bridge linking Game Farm Park and Game Farm Wilderness Park.
As you may know, about half of Auburn's potable water comes from Coal Creek Springs, with a critical transmission main transporting water through Game Farm Wilderness Park and the White River. This pipe, originally built in the 1920s and partially replaced in the 1960s, required urgent replacement of 870 feet under the river. After exploring multiple alternatives, the City opted to install a bridge for the new transmission main, minimizing environmental impact and creating a pedestrian connection between two city parks.
The project is funded by a low-interest state loan, along with City Water Utility and Parks Funds.
 The bridge is at the northeast corner of the park, near the end of the parking lot. Just walk past the bathrooms and amphitheater and it's directly to your left.
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Game Farm Park Bridge, 3030 R St SE
Tuesday, Oct. 1
3 p.m.
The fall 2024 issue of the Auburn Magazine is out and in mailboxes! If you live outside the city limits or prefer to read online, you can also find it on our website.
 I hope you read our cover story, which overviews the wonderful free little library system throughout the City of Auburn: what makes it tick, why it’s so special, and how it positively impacts the lives of our residents – and readers! The story is written by #NextStepAuburn intern Angee Pogosian, and believe it or not, it’s her first magazine story! You can’t tell from reading it, of course, because it’s so exceptional you’d think she’s a pro. Give it a read and then check out the little library in your neighborhood! Our team recently went through and added a bunch of great reading material.
 Switching gears, our Human Services department tells the story of the City of Auburn’s homelessness outreach team and their partnership with HealthPoint in Auburn. For years, a doctor and a nurse have been travelling the outskirts of our city, helping to connect homeless with medical services with as few barriers as possible. The program is funded through federal grants and our team has nothing but positives to say about the partnership. I won’t spoil the ending – give it a read on page 20.
 On page 26, we have a fun story about our police department’s pickle ball team – or should I say teams! What started as a fun way to recreate and get moving has blossomed into a department-wide competition with bragging rights on the line. The sport has quickly become one of the most popular in America and it shows no signs of slowing down! If you face them in the Auburn rec league this fall, they’ll be first to tell you not to take it easy on them!
 And then finally, this fall we’ve got multiple events, programs and classes in our Parks, Arts and Recreation department, including a new food-focused exhibit at the Postmark Center for the Arts. Showcasing works from 11 artists that speak to our cultural relationship with cuisine, this exhibit is sure to give you a better understanding and appreciation of culinary history. Our White River Valley Museum is showcasing Traditional Knowledge (TK), a bedrock of Native culture, with events at the museum and Mary Olson Farm, and we’ve got new seasonal rec programs for youth and beyond.
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