In May 2014, the City of Auburn was awarded a $532,000.00 Competitive Floodplain Management and Control Grant (Agreement No. G1400661 – Mill Creek Restoration Project) from the Washington State Department of Ecology appropriated through the 2013 Washington State legislature under §3069 of the Capital Budget for purchase price and real estate transaction costs and pre-construction activities (invasive species removal) for the Mill Creek Wetland 5K Ecosystem Restoration Project. The Auburn City Council adopted Resolution No. 5083 on July 21, 2014, authorizing the purchase of approximately 21.12 acres of land comprised of four (4) parcels from Willis M. Calhoun and Carolyn M. Calhoun, husband and wife, adjacent to Mill Creek within the corporate municipal limits of the City of Auburn, King County, Washington. The City of Auburn purchased the 21.12 acres from Willis M. Calhoun and Carolyn M. Calhoun for $511,979.04 utilizing the awarded Competitive Floodplain Management and Control Grant. The City of Auburn utilized remaining awarded grant funds to support needed pre-construction activities that consisted of invasive species removal. The Washington State Department of Ecology required the City of Auburn, as a condition of grant acceptance, to execute and record deed placing a restrictive covenant on the purchased properties. The recorded deed restriction – restrictive covenant is intended to enable floodplain protection and/or restoration and to prevent future development of the affected parcels of land.

The deed restriction and legal description were reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office and the Washington Department of Ecology. Resolution No. 5330 is currently scheduled for City Council consideration at its December 4, 2017 regular meeting. If approved by the City Council, the deed restriction will be signed by Mayor Backus and recorded with the King County Recorder’s Office and transmitted to the Washington State Department of Ecology.