[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] I don't [Music] I don't want you. I don't know if you I don't want you wait for me. [Music] I don't know if you don't want to wait for me. I don't know if you I don't want you away from me. [Applause] I don't know if you I don't want you. I don't want nothing. I don't want you for me. [Music] I don't want to [Music] wait for you. Hey, [Music] hey, hey. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Hey, [Music] hey, hey. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] [Music] [Music] Heat. [Music] Hey, Heat. [Music] Down. [Music] Hey. Hey. Hey, hey, hey. [Music] [Music] The regular meeting of the Aurora City Council, October 20, 25 20 October 20, 2025 is called the order. Uh, will the clerk please call the role? >> Mayor Kaufman >> here. >> Council member Bergen >> here. >> Council member Kums, >> present. Present. Council member Gardner >> here. >> Council member Hancock. Council member Trinsky >> here. >> Council member Cassell >> here. >> Council member Lawson. >> Council member Medina >> here. >> Council member Mayor Perent >> here. >> There's a quorum. >> Please join me in an invocation. Oh Lord our God and our father, we come to you and we ask that you would look upon this particular gathering tonight to keep us safe and guide us in our decisions. Bless our city with honorable citizens, industry, sound education, and good government. Unite our community together even though we come from different backgrounds. We pray that there be justice and peace in our city. Give the city council and citizens the wisdom, direction, and sensitivity to the business and proceedings before us tonight. Hear us uh therefore as we commit this meeting to the help of the entire community. Amen. Uh please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America indivisible indivisible for liberty and justice for all. >> Justice for all. >> Uh land acknowledgement. Uh city of Aurora acknowledges that we gather on the territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne Udarapo and Lakota peoples past and present. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that made up the state of Colorado. Indigenous peoples have remained committed uh to the stewardship of this land over many centuries. As these words of acknowledgement are spoken and heard, the ties that these nations have to their traditional homelands and to their vital place in the ecosystem are renewed and reaffirmed. And we are called to be better stewards of the land we inhabit as we continue to work to meet the needs of our entire community. Uh executive session update. Uh during executive session, we discussed u um easement u in terms of real property uh um acquisition. Um approval of the minutes of October 4, 2025. Motion is in order. >> Mayor, I move to approve the minutes. >> Been moved by Mayor Prom, seconded by >> Bergen. Second by council member Bergen to approve uh the minutes from October 4th, 2025. Uh discussion. I see no discussion. Call for the question on the approval of the minutes from October 4th, 2025. >> Yes. >> Thank you, Tinsky. Mayor Kaufman. >> Yes. >> Mayor Perim Sunberg. Council member Hancock, Council Member Lawson, and Council Member Mario. >> The motion passes with eight yes votes and three absent. >> Uh the next um question before us is the adoption of the minutes from October 6, 2025. Um motion is in order. >> Mayor, >> council member Burger. >> Motion to approve the October 6 minutes. >> It's been moved by council member Bergen, seconded by >> Council Member Cass to approve the October 6, 2025 minutes. Uh discussion. Seeing no discussion, call for the question for the adoption of the October 6, 2025 minutes. KDME Jinsky. >> Okay, Mayor Kaufman. >> May. >> The motion passes with eight yes votes. >> Uh, next. Um, the next item before us is the adoption of the agenda. Uh, motion is in order. Mayor Council member >> Bergen I know motion approve the agenda >> moved by council member Bergen seconded by >> Sunberg mayor prom sunberg to approve the agenda discussion seeing no discussion call for the question on the adoption of the agenda KDM Mayor Kaufman, >> mayor vote yes. >> The motion passes with ATS votes. >> Next question before us is the adoption of the consent calendar on motions items number 9 C1 to 9C4. Motion is in order. Mayor Mayor moved by mayor Sunberg. Second by >> somebody >> I said cased by council member Cass. Um discussion. I see no discussion then and call for the uh call for the question on the adoption of the consent calendar on motions item number 91 to 9C4. >> Thank you Jansky. >> Mayor Kaufman. >> The motion passes with eight yes votes to adopt the consent calendar promotions. >> Uh next question before us is the adoption of the consent calendar and resolutions and ordinances. Item number 10 A1 to 10 A10. Uh motion is in order. >> Mayor Jinsky. >> Council. >> Motion to approve item 10 A1 to 10 A10. >> Move by Council Member Majinski. Seconded by >> Bergen. That's by Council Member Bergen. Uh to approve the consent calendar on uh resolutions and ordinances item number 101 to 10810. Uh discussion. I see no discussion for uh council members. >> Yes. I'd like to remove 10 A5. >> Is there further discussion? And the question before us is the adoption of the consent calendar on resolutions and ordinances. Item number 10 A1 uh to 10 A4 and item number 10 A6 to 10 A10. Uh discussion. Seeing no discussion. Call for the question on the consent calendar on resolutions and ordinances as amended. >> KDME. Yes. You may prom. Thank you. with seven yes votes to adopt the consent calendar for resolutions and ordinances with item 10 A5 removed. >> Um would the clerk now please read the tile to item number 10 A5. >> Item 10 A5 is resolution 2025118 accepting submission of the ROAR Police Department facial recognition accountability reports in accordance with CRS 24183024. Um, brief presentation by staff. >> Hey, good evening, Mayor and Council. This is Commander Chris Poppy from the police department. Want to make sure you can hear me before I get going. >> Doing good. >> Sounds great. Um, I presented to you a couple weeks ago. I'll give you a very brief overview summary of what we're working to accomplish with this uh proposal. Uh over the last several years, the police department's been working to develop a program that would implement the use of facial recognition technology. This is following what was required of us in Senate Bill 22-113. Like I said, we've been working on this for a couple years. We didn't just jump into this. We took our time to make sure that we developed a program that was both uh responsible, accountable, and provided transparency. The um facial recognition would be used as an additional biometric method to identify those who are unknown during criminal investigations. We have already put together a proposed policy which has been attached for your review. Within that policy, we've listed out the authorized uses, but we've also listed out the reasons that we would not use that. I'm going to highlight those for you because I think the unauthorized uses are are almost more important. We will not use it to violate constitutional rights of the fourth or 14th amendment. We will not use it to harass or intimidate any individual or group. We will not use it for civil civil immigration enforcement. We also will not use it for ongoing surveillance or persistent tracking without the authorization of a judge through a court order search warrant. Our program is uh part of the accountability and responsibility part of that is following best practice and within that we are not only uh implementing peer review but we're even implementing additional layers to ensure that we don't have any errors with our leads. That would include uh review by multiple users and supervisors. What will be put out by this is only a tip or a lead. I think the most important part of this is a facial recognition uh exam and a lead is just that. It's not probable cause. It doesn't lead us to arrest anyone. It doesn't uh it requires considerable additional investigation to validate if there is any credibility to that lead just like we would do with almost anything else we receive. We're we have a a robust plan to train not only our users of the system, but we're taking it above and beyond best practice and we're going to train every detective who would inherit a lead on facial recognition investigative um processes. We've evaluated the costs and the uh finance department within the police department is working to ensure that that is within our means. Really the biggest thing with facial recognition is is crimes occur every day and our officers do a great job of not only identifying witnesses and victims and doing interviews and collecting evidence, but we're oftentimes finding video of our suspects or of other people who might help us push cases forward. Uh we we get those videos and photographs on a daily basis. This is a tool that allow us to efficiently compare those against libraries of known people. either with the use of uh Lumen, which is a tool we're already using. We just are not using the facial recognition component, or with a secondary vendor called Clear View AI that would allow us to also search against publicly available open-source social media, uh media publications, anything that is open source. These are things we can already search. we just it would be very time consuming. The use of these tech this technology will absolutely uh three things I'm hoping and our our policy is built on will enhance productivity, increase crime solvability, and ultimately it'll increase safety for the community and for our officers. The end goal is to get criminals prosecuted and bring justice to our victims. Um, I I think one of the biggest things that that I want to emphasize is there's being a victim of a crime is lifechanging, but when the victim knows that the crime's been solved, I think it's equally life-changing. We want to ensure that we're doing our best job to to bring justice to our victims. That concludes my very brief overview, and I'm more than happy to answer questions. Um, in addition to that, if if I may, um, I I don't understand all the technology behind this, so I've uh asked a couple um consultants to be on the line with me. Joseph Cortezy is is online with investigative technology consultants, and Scott Geyser is on the line with uh Clear View to answer any specific questions. So I'm going to I'm going to proceed with uh questions to staff which would include the consultants and then I'll once that concludes then we'll go to general discussion. Uh so questions of staff. Uh council member Komes. >> Um yeah. So have the APD folks had any conversation? I know there was an assurance that all data would be protected and not shared and not sold. Have be sold? Have any conversations been had about the numerous lawsuits against Clear View AI specifically um in the multi-millions of dollars specifically related to unauthorized use and sale of uh images that were collected as part of their technology. I I think I can answer that without clear view, but the this the vendor does not keep our images. We use them for comparison purposes. They're not maintained in their database. Those probe images that we would call them, they're maintained within our our chain of evidence, but they're not maintained within the vendor's database. If that answers your question. Um, I mean, I guess my question, and maybe this is more a discussion point, is how can we trust that considering that they've utilized images and collected images in an unauthorized manner in the past and been found guilty of that in courts and required to settle again multi-million dollar lawsuits. >> To Mayor Poppy, let me let me grab that real quick. >> Go ahead, Mr. Sulty. >> Thank you, Mayor. Please show the city attorney. So, uh, council member Cubs, I familiar with some of those lawsuits and a lot of those lawsuits were issued the first impression where the the company took a position where they believe that's where the the courts would land on and the courts did not and so they've amended their ability to or they've amended their pattern in practice on how they collect and store data. Now, for us using it, we would not be subjecting the city or the police department uh to liability um by how they collect their images because we they are a vendor um and they are having to be using their general counsel to make sure they're they're gathering these images from the public view in accordance with the law. But that that so again you know uh courts of first you know issued the first impression those were those who came from and my understanding is and commander to you can correct me wrong. Clear View has followed every court order they have received. They have changed their practices. They are in compliance uh with the with the the law as it's come down. >> Council, do you have further questions of staff? >> I think everything else remaining will be a discussion point. Thank you. >> Very well. Further questions of staff. Uh thank you. Uh motion is in order and then we'll go to general discussion. >> Need a motion to approve item 1085. >> Moved by council member Jeriski, seconded by >> Bergen. Second by council member Bergen. Discussion council member Combmes. >> Um yeah, Mayor. So, I'm not totally sure um City Attorney Schulty um where you're drawing uh your information from, but I think a particularly concerning lawsuit, which is not seem to be one where they simply complied, um was in relation to Illinois and their privacy laws that they had in the state of Illinois, of which Clear View collected over three billion photographs. um with their facial recognition software and which were collected in a way that was not in accordance with existing law. And so for me, it's very concerning whether or not they subsequently complied after being sued. Everybody has to take all the effort to sue them first before they comply with a law that was already on the books. It's not like they were failing to comply with some law that just suddenly came up. And so I think that it's deeply concerning that we would be looking at contracting with a vendor that has demonstrated um that they will violate the law and wait to be sued to then comply. >> Let me just say I think Commander uh Poppy went over uh the situations that what we would not do and I think that's important from a civil liberties standpoint. Uh further discussion Uh uh seeing none uh call for the question on the adoption of item number 1085. >> KDM yes. >> Okay. The motion passes with five yes votes, two no votes from council member Kums and council member Medina and then with three council members absent. >> Would the clerk now please read the title to item number 12 A? Item 12 A is introduction of ordinance 202589, an ordinance of general improvement district 1207, Cherry Creek Racket Club, adopting an operating budget establishing the tax levy and appropriating sums of money to defay expenses and liabilities for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 2026 and ending December 31st, 2026. >> A brief presentation by staff. I'm sorry, >> mayor. Sorry, real quick. I just want to uh remind all council that 12A through 12F you guys are going to be sitting in your exeicio capacities um on behalf of the boards um or the districts as listed in the ordinances. >> Very well. Um, representation by staff. Uh, beg your pardon. Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Andrew Jameson. Excuse me. Um, make you pardon. I'm having uh AV problems. I'll uh go camera off. Um these are the G ordinances for the 2026 budgets. Excuse me. Uh this is the set the mill levy for the budget for the 2026 GS for the Cherokee Rack Club. Uh, excuse me. Apologize. I need to collect myself. Um, this uh budget goes along with the rest of the budget process to set the mill levy for these general improvement districts uh that we collect the property tax to pay off debt associated with these uh fences. I do beg you pardon this evening. Um, questions of staff. So, this is an existing uh GI and it's it's a what the exterior fences. Is that is that what you're referring to? >> Yes. So, these are existing general improvement districts that have projects associated with them. Uh, for example, Cherokee Racket Club is a masonry fence. >> Okay. Um and they've the debt uh so basically this the budget uh authorizes the tax levy to uh collect the tax and then pay for the debt associated with these projects. >> Very well. Uh questions of staff. Uh seeing none, a motion is in order. >> Mayor motion to approve item 12A. >> Moved by Council Member Jerinsky. Seconded by >> Sunberg. Second by Mayor Pertim Sunberg to approve item number 12A. Discussion. Seeing no discussion, call for the question on the adoption of item number 12. >> KDM. Yes. >> The motion passes with seven yes votes. >> Right. Now, please please read the tile to item number 12B. Item 12B is introduction of ordinance 202590, an ordinance of Cobblewood General Improvement District 1, 2016, adopting an operating budget establishing the tax levy and appropriating sums of money to defay expenses and liabilities for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 2026 and ending December 31st, 2026. >> A brief presentation by staff. >> Thank you, Mayor and Council. This is for the Cabo General Improvement District with a similar setup to collect the property tax levy to pay out the debt associated uh with this particular G. It is for a street that was then uh given over to the city of Aurora to uh maintain thereafter. >> Questions of staff? Seeing none, motion is in order. Mayor >> motion to approve item 12B. Moved by council member Jinski, seconded by >> second by council member Cassau to approve item number 12B. Uh discussion. Seeing no discussion, I call for the question uh on the adoption of item number 12B. >> Council member Jinsky. >> Yes. Sorry, Kitty. The motion passes with seven yes votes to adopt item 12B. >> 12 for the question. Oh no, sorry. With the clear now, please read the title to item number 12 C. >> Item 12 C is introduction of ordinance 202591. Um, an ordinance of Aurora Conference Center General Improvement District number 2-201 adopting an operating budget establishing the tax levy and appropriating sums of money to defay expenses and liabilities for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 2026 and ending December 31st, 2026. >> Representation by staff. >> Thank you, Mayor and Council. Uh once again this is a establishing budget to collect a mill levy uh for the Aurora Conference Center Gistrict. >> Question is staff. Um call for the question. Uh I'm sorry. Uh motion is in order. >> Mayor motion to approve item 12 C and KDME. Yes. >> Moved by council member Jesus. Seconded by >> Sunberg. Council member second by Mayor Pim Sunberg to approve item number 12 C. Discussion. Seeing no discussion, call for the question on the adoption of item number 12 C. >> Council member Bergen. >> I'm a yes. Sorry. >> Thank you. The motion passes with seven yes votes to adopt item 12 C. >> Now, please read the title to item number 12D. Item 12D is introduction of ordinance 202592, an ordinance of Pier 7 general improvement district 2-209 adopt adopting an operating budget establishing the tax levy and appropriating sums of money to defer expenses and liabilities for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 2026 and ending December 31st, 2026. >> Representation by staff. >> Yes. Thank you, mayor and councel. Uh this is uh the 2026 budget for Pure Point to collect property taxes to cover the debt associated with a sewer system. >> Questions and staff. Seeing none, a motion is in order. >> Mayor, motion to approve item 12D. Andrew, you're doing a great job. It's been okay. Thank you, Andrew. It's been moved by um council member, second by >> Hancock. >> Second by council member Hancock. Uh discussion. >> Uh seeing no discussion, call for the question on item number 12D. >> KDS. >> Thank you, Cass Member Gardner. The motion passes with seven yes votes to adopt item 12D with council member Gardner absent and council member Hancock present. >> Now raise the read the talent to item number 12E. >> Item 12E is >> okay. So hold on one second. So how many everyone's got a vote who's on. So I want to make sure with council member Hancock on that would have made us go to nine and we only had eight votes or seven votes. >> Did not vote and he did not answer for my request for his vote. >> Okay. I just want to make sure that if anybody was on they they need to be registered as absent on this side because within ordinance. So okay. >> Hey Pete. Hey Pete. I don't see him on the list of attendees right now. Council member Gardner. >> Okay. So who didn't Okay. So who are we missing? I thought Lawson was missing. Is she >> Lawson? Council member Mario and then it was council member Hancock, but she joined during this vote before the vote and then council member Gardner was not here for the vote. So those two pretty much swapped. >> Okay. So we have eight with the mayor. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Sorry, mayor. >> Um I'm sorry. Where were we? Did the clerk um >> Yes, it passed. >> Did you read that? Okay. But item number 12 A E >> Item 12 E is introduction of ordinance 202593, an ordinance of general improvement district 1, 2008, adopting an operating budget establishing the tax levy and appropriating sums of money to defree expenses and liabilities for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 2026 and ending December 31st, 2026. >> A brief presentation by staff. It's another general improvement district for its 2026 budget to uh collect property tax to pay the associated debt. Thanks. >> Um questions of staff. Seeing none, motion is in order. >> Mayor motion to approve item 12E. >> Moved by council member Dinsky. Second by >> Bergen. Second by council member Bergen to approve item number 12E. Discussion. I see none. Call for the question on the adoption of item number 12. >> Council member Dinsky. >> Yes. >> Council member Hancock. Thank you. >> And the motion passes with seven yes votes for item 12E. >> Would now please read the title of the item number 12 F. Item 12F is introduction of ordinance 202594, an ordinance of general improvement district 3208, adopting an operating budget establishing the tax levy and appropriating sums of money to defer expenses and liabilities for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 2026 and ending December 31st, 2026. >> Representation by staff. >> Thank you, mayor and council. Uh once again, this is another 2026 budget to collect property tax to pay off associated debt with this G. >> Questions of staff? Uh seeing none, motion is in order. >> Mayor motion to approve item 12F. >> Moved by council member Jinski, second by >> second by council member Cass to approve item number 12 F. Discussion. Seeing no discussion, call for the question on the approval uh of the adoption of item number 12. >> KDM. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Council member Mario, are you I see that you're on now. >> She replied in the chat yes. >> Okay. And your vote is that yes also. Thank you. The motion passes with eight yes votes to adopt item 12. >> Now please read to item number 12G. Item 12 G is introduction of ordinance 202595 adopting and operating the capital improvements project budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 2026 and ending December December 31st, 2026. >> Uh presentation by staff. >> Good evening, mayor and members of council. Um Tyler Phillips, budget program manager in the budget office. I'm filling in for Greg Hayes today. Um, there are three ordinances associated with the 2026 budget. There's the adopting, the appropriating, and the tax levy. This summary pertains to all three items 12G, 12H, and 12 I. These ordinances represent the culmination of extensive work by staff and council, including numerous ward meetings, two public invited to be heard sessions at formal meetings, several information sessions with council, the delivery of the proposed budget at the end of August, and the related presentations in September, the review and recommendation by the citizens advisory budget committee and other citizen committees, and last but not least, the ever so exciting Saturday workshop. Uh the tax levy ordinance generally sets the certification of the property tax mill levy and the adopting and appropriating ordinances set the budgetary spending limits at various levels of detail. Staff are available for any questions you may have. >> Very well. So um let's we'll do 12G uh 12H 12. Uh in terms of the staff presentation covered all three. Am I correct? >> Correct. >> So then questions on those three but we'll have to vote on them individually. So, uh, questions of staff on item 12GH and I, uh, seeing no question, seeing no, um, uh, further questions of staff. Motion is in order on item number, um, 12G. >> Made our motion to approve item 12G. >> Moved by council member Jinski, second by Hancock. >> Second by council member Hancock to approve item 12 G. Um, motion is in order. >> I mean, call for the question maybe. >> Oh, wait. I just I'm sorry. I just did that. Yeah. It's it's late. >> Katie. So, >> um, discussion. Uh, seeing none, uh, call for the question on number 12G. and Katie Crystal or Council Maria did say yes in the chat just for the record. >> Yes, thank you. The motion passed with unanimously with eight yes votes. >> Um now please read the title number 12H. >> Mayor motion to approve item 12H. Council member, you have to >> We still need to call it up for >> We have to read the read the time. >> Yeah. >> Item 12H is introduction of ordinance 202596 appropriating sums of money to defer expenses and liabilities for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 2026 and ending December 31st, 2026. >> Motion is in order. >> May your motion to approve item 12H. >> Moved by Council Member Diski, second by >> Bergen. Council member Bergen to approve item number 12. Discussion. Seeing no discussion, call for the question on item number 12H. >> Katie, I'm a yes. >> Thank you. >> And council member Mario, >> she said yes. >> Katie. Yeah, >> that's what I was about to say. Thank you. The motion passes unanimously with eight yes votes for item 12H. Now, please tile to item 12 I. >> Item 12 I is introduction of ordinance 202597 establishing the tax levy and all taxable property within the corporate limits of the city of Aurora, Colorado for the tax collection year beginning January 1st, 2026 and ending December 31st, 2026 and authorizing a temporary property tax credit for 2026. >> Motion is in order. May >> motion to approve item 12. Moved by council member Driski, second by >> second by council member to approve item number 12 I. Discussion >> seeing no discussion call with the question on the adoption of item number 12. >> KDM. Yes. >> Thank you. And council member Mario did say yes. >> Yes in this chat. Yes ma'am. Mayor Pin Sunberg. Thank you. The motion passes unanimously with eight yes votes. >> Good. Now, please read the title to item number 12J. Item 12 J is introduction of ordinance 202598 amending section 581 of the city code of the city of Aurora, Colorado relating to an increase of the E911 search charge and adding section 582 to the city code of the city of Aurora related to the city's manager's authority to adjust fees. >> Um, brief presentation by staff. >> Good evening, mayor and council. This is Scott Newman, the chief information officer. Um, this ordinance will allow the city to adjust our uh monthly E911 search charge to the uh rate of $2.17 per line per month effective uh February of 2026. Um, the city did not adjust our E 911 s charge for over 10 years. We did adjust it in 2014, I'm sorry, excuse me, 2024. However, um we adjusted to the median range that was uh charged by other entities across the state at that time. However, in 2025, the average search charge rate charged by most entities was $2.7 per line. So, the city is still behind most of the other organizations across the state. By adjusting this to the uh limit of $2.17 per line, uh we are bringing our uh annual, excuse me, monthly search charge into the line with what most of the entities will be charging in 2026 forward. As the city clerk also uh laid out for council, this will also provide the ability for the city manager based on their discretion to adjust the search charge on an annual basis in conformance with the limits that are established by the Colorado Public Public Utilities Commission. And with that, I'll take any questions. >> First of staff. >> Seeing none, motion is in order. Mayor Mayor, I approve we adopt item 12 AJ J. It's >> been moved by council member Hancock, seconded by Cherninsky. >> Second by Council Trinsky. This is erased. Okay. To adopt item number 12J. Uh discussion. I see no discussion. Call for the question on the adoption of item number 12J. >> Katie. Yes. >> And C Mario. Yes. Katie. Thank you. The motion passes unanimously with eight yes votes. >> Will the clerk now please read the title to item number 12K? >> Item 12K is introduction of ordinance 202599 amending certain sections of chapter 138 of the city code of the city of Aurora, Colorado relating to rates and connection fees for the provision of water, sanitary sewer and waste water services. >> A brief presentation by staff. Good evening, mayor and council. Uh my name is Kat Lukaton. I'm the deputy director of business services for Aurora Water. Uh this ordinance is to adjust our 2026 rates and fees for water, waste water, sewer, and storm water. Um as a reminder, uh the utility does operate in a cost of service basis. We do analyze the rates and fees annually uh to make sure that we avoid the rate shock. Uh that can happen when rates and fees are uh um not adjusted annually. Um we also operate on a cost of service which is just to recover the cost to run the utility. Uh and we do not make a profit. Uh the ordinance uh is asking um a 5% increase on water rates, an 8% increase on sewer. Uh our sewer rates are consistent with our city uh wastewater service or metro water recovery. And then 5% on uh an increase on storm water rates. >> Questions of staff >> and Oh, >> oh, go ahead. I'm sorry. >> No, no, you're okay. Thank you. Uh then for fees, uh as a reminder, connector turn fees are paid as a onetime basis to connect into the utility system. Uh they are meant to offset uh capital project costs uh meant for development and to retire uh debt that the city of Aurora has borrowed to expand the system. Uh what we are proposing for 2026 are water rates increasing 5% uh for single family commercial and irrigation, no increase for multif family connection fees and a 20% increase um for sewer uh which is part of a three-year um 20% increase which will end in 2026. uh we are anticipating uh some uh we are currently undergoing a cost of service uh comprehensive cost of service um study for the utilities. So um we do anticipate the fees will increase next year for sewer but not to the rate that um the past 3 years uh have entailed. So with that if there is any questions on rates or fees I'm happy to answer >> questions to staff. Thank you. Uh seeing none uh motion is in order. >> Mayor, I approve we adopt item 12K. >> Moved by Council Member Hancock, second by >> Sherinski. >> Second by Council Member Trinsky to approve item number 12K. Uh discussion. Seeing no discussion, call the question on the adoption of item number 12. >> KD. Yes. >> Thank you. and council member Mario voted yes. Mayor Pro Tim Sunberg. >> Mayor Pro Tim Sunberg, are you on? >> Yes. Sorry. >> Thank you. >> The motion passes unanimously with eight yes votes. >> Uh with clear now, please read the tile to item number 12 L. Item 12 L is introduction of ordinance 2025100 amending sections 1381 151 138 154 138 256 and 138 259 of the city code pertaining to the prohibition of the installation of graywater treatment works and the use of all gray water. >> A brief presentation by staff, please. >> Good evening, mayor and council. Marshall Brown, general manager of Aurora Water. Uh this ordinance is a result of state legislation associated with graywater systems. As a reminder, our rural water for the last 15 years has had a water reuse system called Prairie Waters where we recover, recapture, and reuse essentially all of the indoor water use in the city. Um and consequently since uh the time we created Prairie Waters, we've had an ordinance prohibiting graywater systems. Graywater systems would be redundant to what Prairie Waters is and therefore we prohibited those as we are charging our customers for a centralized reuse system instead of um separated individual systems. What this uh ordinance proposal does is tightens up city code. Just making it clear that graywater systems are not allowed except by uh special exception. Um if a a development or commercial entity comes in outside of our area to collect water for prairie waters, we could grant an exception. So that's what this does. prohibits where we can collect the water for prairie waters. Therefore, customers wouldn't pay twice to recapture and reuse their uh used water and makes us consistent with the new state legislation. >> Questions of staff. Seeing none, thank you, Marshall. A motion is in order. >> Mayor motion to approve item 12 L. been moved by council member Jensky, seconded by >> Bergen. Second by council member Bergen to approve item number 12 L. Uh discussion. >> I see no discussion. Call the question on the adoption of item number 12 L. >> Katie, I'm a yes. >> Thank you. Council member Bergen, >> I'm a yes. >> Thank you. The motion passes unanimously with eight yes votes. >> The record again, just so it's on the record of the recording, council member did vote yes. I know it was eight, but just want to make sure it's clear for the record. Thanks, >> with the cler. Now, please read the town to item number 12 M. Item 12N is introduction of ordinance 2025101 amending section 146265C2 of the unified development ordinance pertaining to local landmarks and properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places. >> Brief presentation by staff. >> Thank you. Uh good evening mayor and council members. This is Chris Gettys. I'm the historic preservation specialist for the city. I presented in study session two weeks ago uh regarding this uh item. Uh this is a text change to separate the national register designation from the local landmark designation process to make it uh more transparent. Uh this was requested by the state historic preservation office in 2021 at our quadrrenial review uh for federal and state compliance and I am here to answer any questions uh if you have them. Questions of staff. Seeing none, motion is in order. >> Mayor so moved. >> Moved by council member Kum, seconded by >> Jerinsky. >> Second by council member Jerinsky to approve item number 12M. Discussion. Seeing no discussion, call for the question on the adoption of item number 12 M. KDM. Yes. and Council Member Maria voted yes in the chat. >> The motion passes with unanimously unanimously with ATS votes. >> Thank you. >> With the cler now, please read the title to item number 16A. >> Item 16A is discussion of possible action regarding future inerson or virtual council meetings and changes to council roles. And mayor, we have two individuals who'd like to speak on this item. >> Very well. >> Okay. First is Porsha. Porsha, go ahead. You have three minutes. >> You have three minutes. >> Hi. Sorry. I'm just going where it is quiet. Uh so in regards to um agenda item 16A um with if you guys are going to go back in person or virtual or whatever I was, you know, thinking about this on the way up and precoid uh there was not an option to be virtual. We were in person. So to me it seems that since COVID happened, we got past that. we were back in person and then I don't know if we remember why we went back virtual. It's because we had several council members who don't want to deal with their constituents and that's really really sad. Um I think being virtual makes everything take longer. I think it's more difficult and I think that honestly your constituents want to see you in person. You know, I think that this is your job and if you are not required to if you you don't have to be at home, then you should be in person. I can understand, you know, we live in Colorado, winter months, uh bad weather, maybe then you have a virtual meeting for an actual reason other than because you don't want to face your constituents. So, shout out to uh council member council member Mario, council member Kums, and council member Medina because they continue to show up for their constituents. You guys could really learn something from that. So, I personally think that there's no reason why you guys can't be in person. That's why you have that whole city council uh building down there that cost millions or billions of dollars. I don't know how much. Go back in person. Face your constituents. So, I'll just let you sit with that for a minute. It's a privilege for you to be a council member. I think a lot of you have forgotten that. And guess what? There's some upand cominging candidates and they are ready. They are hot on your tail. So much so that I've heard some uh council members, Sunbird have been pulling out uh yard signs. that is uh illegal the last I heard, the last I knew. So, I'm going to need you guys to do better. Also heard uh potentially Council Member Cass has been doing the same. Are you that afraid? Are you that afraid that you have to try to go and uh what's the word? Um like mess up other people's stuff, vandalize other people's stuff. seems like a pretty, you know, scary move to me. So that's all I have to say. >> Next is Median. Median, go ahead. You have three minutes. >> So it is not lost on anyone that this vote comes at a politically convenient time. An election is coming up in a couple of weeks and some of you are on the hook for this virtual nonsense that's been curated for what is supposed to be a body of governance. The part that you fail to understand is that your constituency are not puppets. We pay attention. Your constituency is smarter than you've ever given them credit for. and history will never be kind to those who dodged accountability. So, you voting in restoration of an in-person public meeting is not going to convince anyone that you did not stand on June 9th and vote for these meetings to go virtual indefinitely through the duration of the civil litigation of Kylie Lewis. We are going to make sure that the constituency is reminded how we got here. Francois Bergen, you made the motion and so that will catch up to you when it's time for you to lean back in and ask to be a leader. Danielle Derinsky, you doubled down and you ensured that the community understood where you stood on the motion to go virtual. It was actually your idea to keep this virtual until the civil litigation was resolved. And each and every one of you, including the mayor, voted in favor with the exception of Allison Ruben Medina, and Crystal Mario. This is that phase of accountability that you don't get to run from because you cannot undo what you've already done. This was unconstitutional. And in the presence of your city attorney, you did this without hesitation. So each and every one of you will have to reckon with the fact that you broke the law. You will be held into account and your constituency has had to sit through performative measures of a meeting simply because you don't want critique. When you all are sitting in these spaces, you are not in a space of power. You are in a space of responsibility. And somewhere several of you got lost on that. The people you serve are the ones who are in power because on November 4th, they actually get to exalt the only power that exists. Those who are voted in to serve are to do so responsibly. We will not forget the ones who turned away and we will make sure we remember on November 4th at the ballot mark. >> Your time is up. >> That was the last speaker. >> Thanks, >> Mayor. >> Um I'm going to go first. So >> um this is my I'm the sponsor of this proposal and uh look I realized um there was a concerted effort to disrupt our meetings to make it impossible to do our jobs. People uh that weren't refused to follow the rules uh even at the expense of other people. those citizens that wanted to speak. Often times people not from uh this city uh were the ones that vi were the worst violators of the rules uh and uh we were not able to conduct our business. I know that I'm hoping that that has passed and that uh that we can move forward um with in-person meetings and um that is my motion to to um uh to go back to inerson meetings. Uh moved by the mayor, seconded by >> mayor, can I can is it >> Yeah, Pete, go ahead. >> So, just just to make sure it's clear. So, what what I would the motion should be is that we revert back to the council rules as written, um which will include going back in person for votes. And mayor, did you want to make it specific on which meeting we do go back? Is it going to be on November 3rd or November 17th or which >> that would be uh the next regular meeting. >> So, November 3rd. All right. So, the motion would be to return to the council rules as written on November 3rd. >> Is that acceptable to you, mayor? >> Yes. >> Okay. Who's a second? Is that council member Goons? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. Moved by the mayor, seconded by Council Member Co. Discussion. >> Uh, mayor. uh mayor prom >> you know I haven't had a problem with going back but um you know when certain people know that there there are guidelines and structures in place for the benefit of everyone speaking publicly uh and they just blow those off happily. Uh you know if you have three minutes they'll take seven. And what what concerns me more is when other people from the public aside from a certain group want to speak, >> you know, little clicking motions with plastic is in the background, coughs, interruptions, laughter. Um, so that complete disrespect and literally almost elbowing out other people to speak, you know, is is shameful. And um, you know, if if if that's not adhered to, I wouldn't mind going back virtual. But that's got you have to respect other people in the public and their and their viewpoints and their time to speak. >> Mayor Jinsky, >> Council Dress. >> Yeah, thank you. I would just like to address the two speakers um who just spoke. So, first of all, admittedly, one lives in Douglas County and one lives in Denver County, and this is what we're seeing over and over and over again. Um and to the first speaker, uh Porsche out of Douglas County, um she made slanderous comments. She boldly accused, uh two council members of stealing people's signs without any proof. So, this is what we're seeing over and over and over again. We're reading it on social media. There's no photos. They get up. They say whatever they want. They lie about us. They slander us. And to that first speaker, Porsche of Douglas County, I would like to correct the record. We originally went um virtual, not because we didn't want to face our constituency, which you are not. You live in Douglas County, but um there was viable threats, physical threats. I was surrounded in the lobby of the AMC um after some things got heated one night. Um and that was witnessed by council member Mario who had to admit that who had to admit that she heard that um to the police. So the first time we went virtually actually was because of violent threats by more than one individual made to me. Um I walked away. It was actually council member Mario who walked up alongside me that night and her and I walked to the parking garage together. So I want to correct the record on that. The first time we went virtual was because of violent threats. There's also been sexual threats made against me, by the way, but nobody nobody seems to care about that. Um, there's been violent threats against me made against me. Council member Mario had to admit that to the police. There's been sexual threats made against me. Today, I was driving around the city. It was so windy. People signs were flying everywhere. There were signs flying everywhere. Soccer club, car wash, buy your house for cheap. signs were flying everywhere. It was so windy today. So, this is the type of behavior that that makes me not one Aurora resident. If anything, I get emails I get emails from Aurora constituents who say, "Danielle, stay virtual. It's not worth it. It's not worth it. These people have threatened you. They continue to threaten you. They lie about you. They they target you. They attack you on and on and on. They they make it so you can't conduct city business." And then listening to these speakers, one from Douglas County, one from Denver County, I'm that's supposed to make me want to not one Aurora speaker called in tonight on this agenda item and said, "Please come back in person. I have a whole list of emails of Aurora residents, my constituents, telling me to stay virtual." So, you know, I'm on the fence. I'm on the fence. I'm gonna be very honest. >> Council work. >> Uh, so I really do appreciate the idea, but you know, however, what we are pressing is go beyond respect and uh rule following. So, the traits and you know, behaviors uh that I witness are just simply unacceptable for me. you know we all understand that uh civic discussion is are are healthy as long as they're you know conducted with uh without abuse or intimidation. So what are the solution that you know I don't have any problem but what I see is not really you know a healthy discussion a trade that I see every day. So how are we going to change that? So that's you know my concern right now. >> Council member Morgan. >> Uh yes mayor. Um I would like to make a substitute motion that we return in person on November 17th. Um, it's the substantive motion by Council Member Bergen, moved by Council Bergen, seconded by Well, >> Mayor, let me let me ask real quick. Would are you willing to accept that as a friendly amendment, Mayor? >> Yeah, I would accept that as a friendly amendment. >> Okay. Uh, Council Member Kun, are you okay with that? >> No. >> No. >> Okay. Okay. Then it's not Okay. >> So, we need to vote on We need to vote on accepting the substitute motion before we can debate it. So yeah, >> but you can Yeah. Okay. So um uh substitute motion by council member Bergen uh seconded by >> Jurinsky. Okay. >> Um seconded by um >> So this this first vote will be to accept to be able to debate it. So that's what we're going not on the merits, but this is going to be are we gonna allow this substitute motion to replace the one that you made, mayor. >> Okay. Uh >> I thought it was a friendly amendment. No, because council member did not accept it. Council member Mario and she seconded mine. Got it. >> Council member Mario. Uh >> I I had a um I was going to respond to the original motion, but um since I'm able to uh have my audio fixed, I I don't support the um the substitute motion, but I would like to be called on if and when we do discuss. Okay. Um uh further discussion to the substitute motion. Uh seeing none, call for the question on the substitute on the Bergen substitute motion. >> And what you guys are voting on is whether or not you want to replace the the motion made by the mayor with the one that council member Bergen just made. Then you'll debate that. >> Okay. >> Okay. So to the motion. >> So voting yes. If you want to go with my motion, >> correct >> to to to replace. Correct. Then we would be debating your motion uh before it went to a final vote. >> Well, we're debating her motion and voting on it right now. Right. >> So, right now is to we again the the way the substitute motion process work and and we haven't done these a lot, but before it was wrong. We have to you guys have to vote as a body to accept the new substitute motion to replace the one that you were debating by the mayor. So this first vote if it's passed by majority it will replace the motion that you made mayor with when the one that council member Bergen made then you guys continue to debate that one. It could be amended and so forth >> and then we vote on the Okay. >> Then you would vote on the mayors after the debate. Correct. >> I don't remember doing it that way in Congress but could congress be wrong >> every day. >> I guess so. >> Okay. Um >> I'm sorry. Who's that? Okay. There's no debate on there's no debate on this particular. >> Okay. There's no Okay. So, >> I just want to ask Well, I just wanted to ask Pete a question. >> Okay. Please. >> Um Yeah, I'm not debating Pete. I just want to know um if if this vote passes to return in person on November 17th. Can we keep can we keep this item on the agenda? >> Sure. >> Okay. >> As and I'll tell you, you guys can give me direction. uh any one of you. I I had stopped putting it on there until um until I had a member of council ask and so the mayor had asked for it to be on tonight, but we could definitely keep it on. You can also if this if let's get to the substitute motion, see if we get there and then you guys can still change different parts of your rules if you want to change anything that are in your regular rules if we do go back in person. So, let's handle the whether or not >> Pete, we would still have the option if we vote yes for this. um we would still have the option as individuals to remain virtual um until we feel comfortable. >> Sure. >> Every council member under your current rules has the ability just giving me 24-hour notice to the city clerk by just an email saying that I'm going to ask me virtual um and you you can that's correct. >> Thank you. Okay, mayor, please proceed. I'm ready. >> Okay. To well, call for the question then on the the Bergen substitute motion. >> Katie, I vote yes. Mayor Kaufman may >> council member Mario. >> This is >> on the the actual >> this is on the mayor. is whether or not we're going to replace the mayor's motion with what the one that council member Bergen made and then we'll debate that and then vote on the merits of the Bergen motion if this passes. >> Sorry, I thought I already voted no. So that's why I was confused. >> Oh, we hadn't gotten the vote. Okay, so it sounds like you're no on the substitute motion. Okay. >> Yes. Thank you, >> Council Member Medina. >> No. The motion passes with six yes votes, three no votes from council member Kums, Medina, and Mario. So now the motion's been substituted and we are on the council member Bergen motion. >> Okay, this is kind of strange. >> So um discussion on the Bergen motion. Mayor, >> Council Bergen, >> I'm just trying to make a compromise and I think if we um look at going on the 17th um it just makes um sense to get the majority there. >> Okay. And and I supported I mean okay because I think that there are individuals uh particularly the call today I think that we're trying to use this uh as an election issue. I mean and uh that that I think it was inappropriate um in in challenging individual campaigns. >> Um further discussion. >> Pete. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um because I am the one who made the original motion to stay virtual until we had a ruling in the civil case with Kylin Lewis. Um we've since uh gained another lawsuit uh Holmes versus Aurora. Can I I would like an update on where we are at um in the court proceedings on both of those civil cases. >> Okay. So again, I'm going to I'm going to what I since we're not in exec, right? We're not going to go in exact session. I'll I can put that on the next >> basically where where are we at? >> I I will I'll give you public information. So right now the uh the Kylin Lewis lawsuit um there were eight claims that were filed against the city. Uh the city was successful in in uh defending five of those eight and the uh well six they filed six motions to dismiss. Five of them were agreed to by the plaintist lawyer uh and they dismissed those out of the lawsuit. We now have three left. We filed an additional motion to dismiss that we are waiting for the court to rule on to try to get the issues down I think down to two of the eight that they originally filed. will then move into discovery and that process and we're several months if not a year or two out uh before going to trial on that case. The first amendment lawsuit we are still set for trial currently uh the week before Thanksgiving. U we did get a notice from the court last week that we are double set and there was a case with a higher priority uh that is scheduled to go and so they had offered some dates. I know many of you had told me that you weren't going to be available uh the week after Thanksgiving to get you to move your your stuff around. Yeah, I so I let the court know about that and so it looks like we have a scheduling conference with the federal district judge on Thursday uh probably looking into into January, middle of January, end of January before that trial gets reset. Um so that's where we are on those two civil cases and anything else we'll we could Zach. >> Okay, I appreciate that update. Thank you. Further discussion see you >> council member Mario. >> Thank you. Um, I just wanted to to clarify um, uh, some of the comments that Council Member Durinsky made. Um, when I when when that meeting occurred and there was a vote um, to go virtual, you know, I deferred to her and and um, how her sense of safety and supported going virtual. Um but there were many concerns that I still have had with the process um of being virtual. Um and you know I think that in and of itself was is has been used as the political tool um to to silence folks who um don't agree with the majority. I myself um have been a recipient on this council many times not being able to provide dissent, not even being able to give an opinion um on many agenda items um with uh an administrative move to call for the question. So, um, yeah, I, you know, I think it's just ironic that that's the, um, I guess rationale, um, when, when the public has every right to be upset, um, and to voice their opposition and when they keep getting denied that opportunity. Um, as far as I have been aware in this country that that that was allowable. Um and um yeah, I mean I just many many times myself, Council Member Kums, Council Member Medina have just not been able even to participate in discourse. Um so when you talk about you know democratic values and process like this is the last body um that um I think uh really um really I think should be opining on that. But um again uh yeah and and to to my comments or to u the the sequence of events there wasn't any admitting to anything um when somebody asked me how I felt. I was concerned about the situation. I didn't observe um any particular uh uh what do you call it interactions between council member Jerinsky and others but I heard shouting and frankly I wasn't sure if that came from council member Jerinsky or the other party. Um I did tell her that um you know I hope no violence comes to her um and that I do I do believe in. So yeah, uh definitely want to clarify um the circumstances from that night. >> Point of let me go to council briefly and then we got to get >> well point of order please. Mayor C >> I are we not voting on on my motion >> that is on >> I don't know where this is going. >> Yeah it's just getting misconstrued at this point. I mean, >> so into the order. Yes. Mayor and Council Bergen. Any debate at this point should be on the Bergen motion. Nothing else. >> I'm sorry. >> The Bergen motion. Uh U Council member Kums. >> Well, you called on. >> What? >> I'm sorry. >> You had called on me. >> Okay. Council member, I'm sorry. >> So, I'm going to call for the question. >> Okay. The motion is to call for the question. >> That is completely ridiculous. I had my hand raised first. >> My board I was first in the order. >> Council member, would you mind if uh she she has an opportunity to speak? >> Uh if she's going to lie about me like council member Mario, then I absolutely want a chance to defend. >> Just to clarify that mayor, my name was called. I think I deserve the opportunity to as you have offered >> council member right now >> to speak to the Bergen order. >> Speak to the Bergen. have allowed other people to respond when their name >> call for the question. >> I'm just going to go to the question right now. I need a second. >> Thank you, Jinsky. >> Jerinsky, >> this was the administrative move. >> You're a liar. You heard what they said to me and that's why you said I hope no harm comes to you. >> You're acting like it's >> Katie. I'm a yes. >> I'm a yes. Katie, who's the second? >> Jerinsky. >> I don't know. It's hard. Are you the second? I know it's hard. It's hard. >> The second >> I made the second to stop seconded. Mayor, not debatable. It requires two/3. How many I need to know how many council members we actually have right now >> on on because I don't know who's if everyone is still here. So if we have with the mayor, we have nine, then I'm just trying to make sure because it's two/3 vote. So Katie, are we are we still at uh nine with the mayor >> right now? The only two that are absent it looks like are Council Member Gardner and Council Member Lawson. So, yes. >> Okay. So, it requires six yes votes to call for the question. >> Okay. Council member Trinsky made the motion. Who's is there a second? >> No, you made the motion and Bergen seconded it. >> No. Uh, you made the >> You made the call for the question. >> Well, I thought it was taken away from me when Council Member Kums threw a fit. So, >> you making the motion? >> I'm making the motion. And uh who's uh who's the second >> Bergen Katie? I'm yes. It's >> a non non-debatable motion. Uh call for the question. >> Mayor Kaufman. >> Mayor Bas. >> Council member Hancock. Thank you. Council member Mario. >> No, I just want the the record to reflect my no. But nonatable motion in the meeting minutes >> that it's accurate that I did not lie about conversation. >> Oh, you didn't. >> That's fine. I'm not debating that non-debatable motion. >> You did. >> That's council member Medina. Where's my devil? This is me. Okay. >> Council member Medina. No. The motion passes with six yes votes, three no votes from council member Kums, Medina, and Mario to end debate and vote on the on the substitute motion. >> Okay. So, the motion on the floor now is to return is it is a Bergen motion to go return to to the meetings as council rules stay beginning on November 17th. We want to change anything else with different parts if we can do it after this vote. So that's the vote is whether I have to go back in person November 17th as the rules are currently written. >> All the question we're we're voting. >> That's all. >> Yep. Voting in motion. >> Voting. >> Mayor Kaufman. >> I vote yes. >> Dinsky, did you say no? >> I said no. >> Thank you. >> Council member Mario. >> Yes. Council member Medina. >> Yes. >> The motion passes with seven yes votes and two no votes from council member Kums and council member Jerinsky to return on November 17th and revert back to the council rules >> reports. Uh council member Kums. So, well, real quick, Mayor, if there's if if you guys if there's anything else that you guys want to change at this point, I know you had some of you had had talked to me about having the listening session still virtual. This would be the time to do that. >> Are there is there are there any other motions? >> Are there any other motions? >> Cames, you're muted. >> So, give me a moment. I would move that we return not only the uh council meeting but also the public comment listening session to in person. Um if we're going to have the meetings in person, it does not make a lot of sense to be in person for study session, virtual for listening session, in person for council meeting. um right in person for executive session. If we're going to say that we're more effective in in-person meetings, which I believe we are, um then I move that we move all of our meetings to the current to match the current council rules which include that everyone or that's right. You're right, Pete. The current council rules saying that public comment is >> right. Okay, fine. public comment listening session >> right now it's everything's in person public listening sessions in person everything is back to what it was prior to June is where we are now >> okay >> that is what I would like okay so nothing >> nothing is virtual >> so right now if anybody wanted to change anything else it would take a twothird because you would be suspending your written rules right now you're as written rules as written that's where we are right now >> so everything's going to be in person starting November 17th including the public comment listening session. >> Okay. Thank you for clarifying. >> Yep. >> Okay. Are any other uh motions, discussion? >> Uh seeing none, uh regarding reports. Uh council mayor, just real quick. Sorry, >> Council Member Bergen. >> So, if we have any disruptions at the meeting, you will then call for us to go virtual. >> Well, it takes a vote. I I'll call for the vote. >> Right. But if you have the vote. >> Sure. >> Yep. That everything that we we did in the past, Council Member Bergen, that if if there's a disruption and whatnot, we and we have to uh the same thing the same rules will apply as as before. >> Council member reports. >> Thanks, Mayor. Um there's several things. Um, I think the first thing that I came into this meeting with on my mind was actually something that I saw um this weekend, which was a member of our Colorado indigenous community who reminded us that land acknowledgments should come also with action, with decisions to actually repair the harm that was done by violent colonization and genocide of indigenous people in this country. And so in reflecting on our own land acknowledgement, I felt that it was really important to recognize that piece as well, right? That words are words. Um, and that actions also matter. Um, and over the course of this meeting, particularly the recent course of this meeting, it's become clear that there are a number of other things that also need to be addressed. Um, namely that for council member Murio to point out the ways in which um some members of this council have been systematically silenced by procedural actions used by the current supermajority that is held on this council. That that's to be mentioned and then people are going to turn around and use those exact tactics is shameful. It's ridiculous. It does not represent I support you no matter what your party is. You can print that on as many pieces of literature as you want. It's not your action. When you call people of other parties demonic, when you use your supermajority to remove their items from the agenda, when you use your supermajority to shut them down for just trying to comment at all, that is not supporting people no matter their party. That's not unifying. That is not leadership. Okay? It's pettiness. And there has been more than enough pettiness on this council. also pettiness to call council member Murio a liar because council member Jerinsky when you told me council member Murio walked me out and she said this and this I believed you and so I supported going virtual because you said hey I've been threatened and I said that's a problem and I don't support you being threatened when I then later asked council member Murio about it she said no I didn't hear any threats but I heard a lot of shouting as what she just reported that is what she reported to me contemporaneously So, I just want that to be on the record. Um, and to also say that it's only people who do not live in this city who want to see us go back to meetings in person. I do know some people that live in this city that have expressed frustration with the way that our meetings have gone. That's true. But there's a bunch of people who live in this city right now, including people who called in during the public comment listening session, which maybe some of y'all just weren't listening to, to say they wanted the meetings to return to in person. >> There also have been people, there was someone who messaged me after those comments and said, "I don't call in to talk to council because I know they're not going to listen." Okay, so these things go both ways. Some folks think I'm not going to be heard because other commenters. A lot of folks in this city think I'm not going to bother engaging with this council because they will never listen to me. And so we need to recognize both of those perspectives and quit playing games. show up, listen, do our jobs, and certainly not carry on with this rhetoric that pretends toward unity or mutual respect and yet never ever in action does it. Mary muted I want to remind the me members about uh no personal attacks as to the rules. Um council member Gardner, >> council member Jerinsky. >> I Nice of you to remind the council of that after her very passionate uh report. Mayor, so I'm just going to stay in this tone because when I raise my tone, people tend to think I'm unhinged or something. So we'll let her be passionate. I'll just stay at this tone. Um, I'm not sure why a council member would tell me that they hope no physical harm comes to me if they didn't hear that physical harm was going to come to me. So, that's why we went virtual, but I'm happy to come back in person. We'll see how long it lasts. The only reason we have a land acknowledgement is because we have a mayor who does it even though there was six votes against reading a land acknowledgement. Um I hope you all like my tone. Have a blessed evening. Happy birthday Charlie Kirk um this past October 14th. God bless America and go out and vote. I don't have enough. >> Thanks, Mayor. Um, yeah, not just again back to what I said earlier. I mean, I don't know how you're going to argue with somebody about what they did and did not do. So, that's kind of an interesting angle to take, but I guess this is a big joke. um as we can see all the seriousness that um my colleagues are are taking um in in this public comment uh the few minutes that you know I think myself and others actually get to speak. Um so yeah, I just I I'm I really can't wait for us to be in person. Um again it's going to get pushed till after the elections which again if you um are pointing the finger that this is a political move to do XYZ and then to do that um you know I think is disappointing but yeah I mean really not sure what else to say. This is I'm sure people love watching our meetings. It's kind of a mess. Um it's a little embarrassing. Actually it's really embarrassing. Um, yeah, that's all. >> Uh, council may pretend Sunberg. >> Thanks, Mayor. Very brief story uh that indicates uh and reflects, I think, who I am as a person and my character. I was at Home Depot last week buying some steak post to hang up a banner and I told the guy in the um landscape area, I had one of these and three of these. When I got to my vehicle, I noticed I had one of these and four of these. So, I took the one physical state back into the store and I let him know that I was incorrect and I paid for it. And uh he said he he said, "Thank you." And he was a little incredulous. And then he said, "Well, I hope you don't work for corporate." And I said, "No, no, it's okay. I just want to do the right thing." So, I don't steal. And you know, this accusing me of stealing yard signs. You know, I do believe in something called karma. and it's not of my nature, but it does demonstrate the desperate and continuously negative nature of certain people out there. That's all they have. And I'm not going to go down that road, but that's all they have, which demonstrates their desperation. So, in my report, I would like to recount that I attended with Councilwoman Hancock the Historic Preservation Society at the VFW Post 360 31 3631 where we recognized the 1955 Big John firetruck. We're all familiar with it. Beautiful vehicle. It's a treasure in the city. That thing was recognized as a type of historical landmark, as was the actual VFW Post 3631 off of Kfax. is a historical landmark now. So, thank you to Chris Gettys and all of her work and her team. Uh, with council member uh Cas and the mayor, I visited uh the Ethiopian Muslim Association of Denver just yesterday and I they were so incredibly gracious and welcoming and ran that program with such excellence uh and just a lot of wonderful and warm people. Uh, fire station 18. Sorry, France Suisburgen Councilwoman, but I've got a new fire station coming to my ward. Much more needed than in her ward. So, uh, >> oh my god, >> people are happy. People are happy. >> And, uh, >> so it's it's desperately needed. And I'm excited so excited about some of the little missing links of, uh, connectivity happening over the next year in Ward 2. just little pieces of roadway that are so important that will actually improve public safety as well like 38th Avenue west from I7 to to excuse me E470 to Tibet. And then uh I have a town hall this Thursday and the topics are going to be our traffic uh safety philosophy within the city, how that's all put forward. Uh we're going to hear about fire station 18 uh from our city manager and chief of the fire department. Uh we're going to hear an update on the consent decree and how that's all going for our city. And we are also going to hear from Chief Chamberlain himself. He will be there to answer questions. So please come to the town hall this Thursday, 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at uh Central Recreation Center. Thank you. >> Uh Council Member Medina. >> Thank you, sir. >> All right. I've only I've only got one thing, which is to appoint uh Megan Ciffing to the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee. Thank you, >> Pastor Hancock. >> Thank you, Mayor. It has been a very busy couple of weeks since we last met um at my town hall. I want to just thank um the all of you who came out. Um my constituents know that I'm very responsive um as I do understand my job which is I work for you and I consistently make myself available. In fact um we I met with a constituent over a business related issue um with some members of tax department to help this business owner understand what his role and responsibility is and to iron out some things. Um, and and I want our community to know that those who are in Ward 4 that I understand perfectly well what my position is and how I do work from you and I uh engage as often as I can as diligently as I can. Uh, Sand Creek, we had a beautiful uh dedication of the Sand Creek ripple um art installation last weekend. The mayor and I were there as well as the Aurora Borealis Festival. It was fabulous. It was out at Painted Prairie this time and the weather was perfect. It was great seeing the kiddos out there with their uh flash holes, their little lights. They gave away um candy corn on these little or not candy corn, cotton candy instead of the little paper. They gave them light sticks and the children were jumping around. They were having a great time. It was so much fun to see those kids um enjoying themselves at the Borealis Festival was a huge success. And big big shout out to um Visit Aurora for putting on such a really welldone event. Um also I met with um a couple other members of the community in the um housing and development area arena. We're going to be dedicating um the uh Habitat for Humanities um building project that's that is in my ward uh on November 1st, which is really exciting. I've watched this progress go from dirt to uh completion and we'll have 20 families that will be in brand new homes that they had the opportunity to be in. And also the mayor and I were at Little Caesar's Pizza this weekend. Uh it's like mayor, I'm not really stalking you. It just happens to be that everywhere you are, I am. Um it's good to see small businesses and even corporate franchises come into our city because the more business we have, the more jobs we provide. that I was talking to and council member Medina was also there as well. I talked to the general manager of that particular franchise store. He employs 24 young people from around the area within walking distance of that store and they're able to have employment, some of them having their first job ever. And I know a lot of us can remember when we got our first job um how important it was to learn leadership and to learn teamwork and how to be on time and to get their first paycheck. Um, so that was really quite great. And I also went to another local business called GG Girls LLC. They work with women and uh young ladies to help them be entrepreneurs. They had a breast cancer awareness fundraiser which was really great to see um the businesses in our community give back in matters that are really important to our community and uh support those who are dealing with cancer in all of its forms. And so I'm looking forward to this week. It is going to be a heck of a week. We've got a lot going on. But remember, you can always reach out to me at stephanie4ura.com or on my website or you can call me at my number directly. Thank you so much, mayor. >> Thank you. Uh I believe Council Member Lawson, is she here? >> No, I don't think so. Um Council Member Bergen. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um also busy couple weeks. Um I first I want to say something about the fire station and I know that Aurora Highlands does need a fire station because they're out in you know the boonies and they need they need a fire station. However, I will just say my area has been waiting 20 years with a huge population and so hopefully we get one soon so our response times improve. Um with that being said, I had uh uh peed planning and economic development. Um, also the infrastructure task force prep meeting, Fitz Simmons budget meeting, also E470 budget workshop, region 9 opioid abatement council, um, and then some meetings with staff and constituents. And then um as I'm a uh the chair of the E470 board um I attended the IBTAtTA conference which is the international bridge tunnel termpike association and E470 um and C dot were the host um the host uh for the city or host city for for the conference over a thousand attendees. I was um privileged to be able to do welcoming remarks. I was also on the bus tour for E470 and then also was on a panel um with uh actually with the Illinois turnpike. So it was E470 and the Illinois turnpike. So excellent conference. Um I was busy from Friday night through Wednesday morning um at that conference. And that is my report. Thank you. Oh, and I I want to add I really hope when we go back in person that people are respectful. the personal attacks are just inappropriate and um I hope that though you know the people that are coming to speak to us are also respectful of others that are in attendance. Um it would be nice to just get back to some um productive uh meetings and some civility. Thank you. >> Thank you. U normally I don't talk about u my individual events. Uh you can go to Mike Kaufman Facebook uh for those. But I I do want to um give a shout out to to a very special uh small business that is How Howdy Homemade Ice Cream. And they celebrated their third anniversary and they are uh they're located in the vicinity of uh Parker and Rapo Road at 6340 South Parker Road, Sweet 101. What is so special about them is that they uh employ uh people with um with learning u disabilities uh uh various uh disabilities um that uh let's see young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities so more than simply learning disabilities and uh in these uh uh I I was not able to go to their third anniversary on Saturday. Uh, but I went on Sunday. I went on Sunday to uh to thank them uh for what they do to give these young people an opportunity that they otherwise wouldn't have to have the the to be able to have the dignity of a job. And they are so excited. And so Ben Kim uh who's been there since they opened. So he's been there for three three years, a dedicated professional employee. um he made my um butter pecan ice cream on a cinnamon cone, you know, with a very big scoop and uh and he's just so excited about the opportunity of being there and being able to work and it's just incredible. But the the business tends to slide in the winter. Obviously, people don't think about ice cream. I want you to think about ice cream because if you don't uh as as the you know demand goes down people are laid off and the more uh productive they are the more people they can hire and to to see these young people with these disabilities uh engaged in work and having the pride of a job is just so it's so exciting and so and it's really really heartwarming. So remember how uh homemade um ice cream uh uh when you're when you're out and about. Uh with that u seeing no further business people before the Aurora City Council meeting is journ. Thanks everybody. [Music]