[music] [music] [music] Hey, [music] hey, hey. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] [music] >> [music] [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] [music] >> [music] >> Hey, hey, hey. The regular meeting of the Aurora City Council for Monday, March 9, 2026 is called to order. Would the clerk please call the role? >> Mayor Kaufman >> here. >> Council member Andrews >> here. >> Council member Bergen here. Mayor Pro Timkim Kums, >> Council Member Gardner >> here, >> Council Member Hancock >> here. >> Council member Horton >> here. >> Council member Jackson >> present. >> Council member Lawson >> here. >> Council member Medina >> here. >> Council member Wilds >> here. >> There's a quorum. >> Please, please join me in an invocation. Oh Lord, our God and our father, we come to you and we ask that you 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'll be justice and peace in our city. Give the city council, the citizens and citizens the wisdom, direction, and sensitivity to the business and proceedings before us tonight. Hear us, therefore, as we commit this meeting to the help of our entire community. Amen. >> Amen. >> Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Land acknowledgement. The city of Aro acknowledges that we gather on the territories and ancestral homelands of the of the Cheyenne, Ute, Arapo, and Lakota peoples, past and present. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado. Indigenous peoples have remained committed 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. Um, next uh question before us says the adoption of the agenda. Motion is in order. Oh, no. We need approval of the minutes. >> Um, there are no minutes to be approved. >> Number six, we don't we have minutes from last meeting. >> No, Pete. We We don't have them complete yet. >> They're not ready yet. Sorry. Okay. >> Thanks. >> Our city attorney stands corrected. >> I stand corrected. >> Mayor, >> uh, Council Member Bergen. >> Motion to approve the agenda. >> It's been moved by Council Member Bergen and seconded by >> Hancock. Second by council member Hancock to to uh to for the the motion to adopt the agenda discussion. Uh seeing no discussion call for the question on the adoption of the agenda. >> I'm a yes. I'm not yet in the east. >> Okay. Thank you. Mayor pro u Mayor Kaufman. >> Yes. >> Council member Horton. >> Yes. Council member Jackson. >> Yes. Okay. The motion passes unanimously to adopt the agenda. uh prior prior to uh starting uh public comment period, I'd like to state uh that to [clears throat] the members of our audience uh both here and watching at home that I don't approve of the uh sometimes rude and offensive uh behavior of some of the individuals who will be speaking this evening. uh under the advice of our city attorney, I'm very limited on what I can do and some um uh sometimes they're looking the individual speaking not are looking for the an opportunity to sue the city claiming that I violated their first amendment right to free speech and the courts unfortunately have been sympathetic in awarding them damages at taxpayers's expense. As I exercise my own First Amendment rights, please know that I personally find uh their speech as offensive as you do. Public uh public comment period. >> The first person is Tanya Tabachek, followed by Ryan Stitzel. Katie, he's going to read the decorum statement. >> That's not it. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I thought he was finished. No. Please proceed. >> Tanya Tabachek followed by Ryan Stitzel. >> It's true. >> Okay. Then Ryan Stitzell followed by John Kloan. Hello, my name is Ryan Stitzel. I live in Ward 1 and I'm here about the same persistent problem that the community has been bringing to your attention for quite some time now. Of course, you know that I'm a member of the Denver Aurora Community Action Committee and that we have an outstanding unmet demand for you to get rid of this racist, corrupt police chief, Todd Chamberlain. We have brought you the evidence of his racism as an officer in other cities. We've brought you evidence of lies and cover-ups following the murders of a number of our black neighbors. And we have brought you the families of those murdered neighbors to plead with you to do the right thing. It is abundantly clear that this man is unfit for his position and untrusted by the community. You must at this point know this. Still, he remains employed though. So I wonder if you need yet another example of his contempt for the community he claims to serve. Members of this council have hosted multiple events in the community to discuss Aurora's thoughts on police oversight. Even Kaufman, the slime ball, managed to show his face at these events and at least pretend to listen to what the community wanted. But Todd Chamberlain, however, showed no interest in hearing the community. He was nowhere to be seen. Turns out Todd was going rogue. He was busy scouring the city for anyone remotely resembling community that was willing to buy into his latest insulting scheme. This last week, Todd proudly announced the results of that secret project of his, the APD community response team. Funny considering the fact that neither the community nor the elected city council representatives that were were consulted in the creation of this team. And what is the purpose of this team? Is it to allow the community to provide input on the functioning of APD? No. Chief Chamberlain is perfectly clear that the community at large has no place in this team or anywhere near the levers of power that control their police force. You see, in his eyes, the problem between police and community boils down to the community ignorance. He thinks we're upset at the cops because we simply don't understand what they're doing. This is a vile distortion of the truth. The community understands all too well what the police are doing. We are the ones that live with the aftermath of what they are doing in our communities every day. We console the crying mothers and celebrate birthdays for children that will forever be 14 years old. We don't need a response team that soaks up APD talking points and regurgitates them around the community. We need full community control over the police. and we need Todd Chamberlain to pack his bags. I encourage anyone who supports the removal of Todd Chamberlain to contact our organization and join us in one voice to say, "Time's up, Todd." Thank you, [applause] >> John Kan. John Kan followed by Dela Jordan. Okay. Dela Jordan followed by Paul Nelson. I got you. >> Okay. Dela an Jordan, 70 years old, disabled, a senior, a person at rest. Yes, I was here on the 24th of February. I'm here to discuss the Aurora Regional Navigation Center and the Aurora Police Department. I thought that when I came here what two weeks ago and requested help from the city and the Aurora Police Department that I could get them to talk to me. That did not work. Actually, it got worse. I was here the 24 the 23rd that night. The next morning I was assaulted. I believe that was that the assault was in retaliation because I did come here and I did complain. All I wanted was for, the owner, and the top staff members to talk to me, to explain to me why the bad things that happened to me was happening to me. When I came into that shelter, I didn't realize that I was signing away my rights. I did not sign away my civil rights. I have every right to be there and to be treated like a person and not an animal. Okay. Uh when I got up the next morning, I went into the large d um dining room. As I walked into the area, there were two white males that was yelling, screaming at me, calling me all kinds of ugly female names and told me not to come into the area. Told me that someone named Matt told them to fire me. As I began to do what I was supposed to be doing, which is serving coffee, I serve like 350 cups of coffee to homeless people every day. And both people enjoy the service that I give. As a matter of fact, on Valentine's Day, a homeless person gave me a $50 bill because they thought the service was so good. As I began to serve the coffee, the two men continued to harass me, call me names, and told me to leave. Then they started telling another female that was there to get rid of me. Do whatever it took, but get me out of there. This female decided that she was going to Oh, my time is over. But I am still requesting a meeting with the mayor, the uh chief of police, the owner of the place, and I can't remember, but my time is up. I'm still requesting that meeting. and I will get in contact with my congressman I believe whose name is Crow and my senator who I believe name is Bennett [applause] Katie. Can I get your information please? >> Paul Nelson. Paul Nelson followed by Cassandra Hill. >> Paul's not here. >> Oh, okay. Thank you, Cassandra Hill, followed by Aayante Anderson. Hello, Aurora City Council. My name is Cassandra Hy. I am with the Denver Aurora Community Action Committee, otherwise known as DAG. And I'm here tonight along with many of my neighbors to demand the city council fire police chief Todd Chamberlain. His actions prove that he is incapable of leading our police department toward the accountability and transparency our community desperately needs and has been demanding for years. Todd Chamberlain's latest initiative, the so-called APD community response team, is not a step toward reform. It's propaganda. According to the department's own website, this is a group of people handpicked by Chamberlain and the office to meet with AP privately. The public and even members of this council were kept in the dark until it was a done deal. This panel is being sold as a way to improve communication, but its structure reveals its true purpose. They only meet by monthly behind closed doors with no public oversight. These individuals will receive information from the police department only when appropriate. The chief is not going to this group to listen to the community or provide transparency. He is curating a small group of residents to hear his side of the story. is not meant to foster genuine dialogue. If Todd Chamberlain were truly interested in strengthening understanding of the community, as he claims, he would be talking to the parts of our city most affected by police actions. Where are the voices on this panel of those who have been brutalized by the police? Where are the family members of those who have been killed by the police? They're absent. And that absence tells us everything. It tells us that Todd Chamberlain does not want to hear from the residents of the most critical perspectives. He wants a friendly audience he can control. It's not community engagement. It's controlled opposition. Todd is pretending to create reform so he can maintain his power and his paycheck. All while the real issues fester. Talking to the community doesn't do anything if APD isn't listening and there's no action behind it. We must remember that Aurora Police Department is under a state consent decree because of a long and tragic history of failures. Aurora residents have been demanding change for years. Instead of submitting to that, Chief Chamberlain creates a secretive panel to continue to spread his propaganda. Even Council Member Wilds said or criticized its lack of transparency, stating she wasn't aware of it being formed. If our own elected officials are kept in the dark, how can the public possibly trust this process? This brings me back to my central question. Why is Todd Chamberlain still in his position? The citizens of Aurora have been loud and clear in our demand for him to be fired. We have been asking you to act. Council members, the choice is yours. You can continue to allow Todd Chamberlain to cover for his abusive and murderous police officers with reformative gestures like response team. Or you can do your job and represent the community. The people of War One amount. We are watching. We're organized. And we will remember who stood with our community and who stood with a chief who prioritizes his cop friends over the safety and trust of this city. Fire Todd Chamberlain and give community control to the people. >> [applause] >> Aante Anderson followed by Anne Still. Uh Katie, before you start my time, ma'am, I have texted Congressman Jason Crowe on your behalf and his district director, and they have asked me to give their contact directly to you to respond to your concern. All right. Good afternoon. Yesterday, the world recognized International Women's Day. Across the globe, people celebrated strength, leadership, and resilience of women. But here in Aurora, there are mothers who experience yesterday very differently. Because while the world was celebrating women, there are mothers in this city who are still grieving. I've often quoted scripture in Isaiah 1 and 17 says, "Learn to do right, seek justice, defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless, and plead the case of the widow." That scripture is not complicated. When injustice happens, we are all called to confront it. And today, I want to center the women whose voices must never be ignored in this conversation. The mothers because there are mothers in Aurora whose sons are not here to celebrate them. Their sons cannot call them. They cannot hug them. They cannot say thank you mama any longer because their lives were taken during encounters with the Aurora Police Department. We know their names. You know their names. And behind those names are the mothers who have had to endure the unthinkable. Those who carried a baby for nine months, those that raised them and loved them. And then because of the Aurora Police Department, they had to bury them. While the world celebrates women, these mothers are left holding grief. Empty seats at dinner tables, birthdays now feel like memorials, and a justice system that often moves slower than the pain caused than pain those families carry. Some of this council, particularly those who are MAGA Republicans, continue to accept campaign support and political backing from the police union and then turn around and act surprised when accountability becomes difficult to deliver. Let us call it what it is. When elected officials take political support and donations with the very institution they are supposed to oversee, the public has every right to question whether the system is truly being held accountable. That decision to take those contributions sent a message. It sent a message to the grieving mothers. It sent a message that you are protecting an institution that was more important than rebuilding the trust of our community. >> [snorts] >> Scripture tells us to seek justice and defend the oppressed. Justice does not begin by listening to the loudest political donors of your campaign. The mothers of Aurora should not have to beg their government for justice. Justice should already be standing beside them. [applause] And still Ann and Still followed by Median Schoffner. >> Okay. Median Schoffner followed by Kyoa Lewis. So, I'mma come back up and talk to you on the second round since I had to change my dialect because of how we wanted to open the meeting this evening. So, I'm going to come up here and tell you exactly what frivolous lawsuits do not do. Frivolous lawsuits do not require a government to change course because they violated the constitutional rights of the people they are supposed to serve. You say that you care about taxpayer dollars, yet your leadership keeps guiding this city right into lawsuit after lawsuit. So my question is, who really is in fact protecting the taxpayer? Because leadership like this is not how you protect a taxpayer. When this council [clears throat] decided to remove public comment and violate the First Amendment, you should have been grappling with that harder than we did. Yet, you find yourself in your feelings because you settled a lawsuit that you swore to your constituency you would never do. Your city attorney came to the table of mediation. He didn't have to do that. We were ready to go to trial, but your city attorney under the guidance of your leadership decided it was better to mediate and figure out how we can reinstate the comment of the people to ensure that everyone in fact does get to express their first amendment right. So I ask again, who really is about protecting the taxpayer when you have leadership that continues to freely escort this city into multiple lawsuits? When we did that settlement, we issued a joint statement advising that we were encouraged that we were able to come to settlement to understand the importance of democracy. And now we are seeing the reality of the leadership that this was never about democracy. This was about control and not care. But at the end of the day, this podium has much more power than any deis that you can erect in this room. So, as we continue to navigate into these conversations and we continue to show up to participate in democracy, we're going to say you're welcome even though you refuse to say thank you. And if you attempt to suppress the voices of your people again, you will find yourself back in that same courtroom trying to figure out what exactly you're going to do to protect the taxpayer. So to everyone watching, I just want to say that I don't affirm the leadership that you heard when this meeting started, and I'm just as offended as you are. [bell] >> [applause] >> Kyoa Lewis, followed by Laura Mclofflin. [clears throat] We are at war. A lot of y'all are targeted. Only 99% I mean only 1% of you are actually safe. I say that not as a threat from me but a threat from my father. Our father, our Abba. Y'all, as we get ready, as we get ready, just know that we come as humble as possible, but y'all have allowed time to [clears throat] continue to go on and on with the killing of people here. This is the one one of the most evil cities cities in the United States, right? People say Aurora is great. I feel sorry for the people who are trying to make it great but actually get swallowed up by the people who are just pure evil. You know who you are and there's some missing here but majority of y'all are here. It's happening. The world's the war is coming. It is. I don't say that as a threat. I say that as a spiritual factual statement. It's about to happen. There's only so much that we can do to calm the people down. We're tired. I get up here and I pray over y'all all the time because it tells us to, but it also tell us to be wise and don't be fools. When that day comes, when that day comes, that's all I can say. It's going to be so glorious. [clears throat] It's going to be so glorious. [snorts] It is. I'm grateful for the ones that do stand up. But Dian has did quite a number outside and doesn't even have the same power that y'all hold. And she does it from the bench, from the chairs. I see Ally, she does the same thing. Allison, I was rooting for you. I'm not saying you did anything bad, but I hope everything is going good right now. I understand that you're under the spiritual warfare. You're dealing with a lot of people who are under a demonic spiritual warfare hold. Reuben, same thing to you. Rob, I know really nothing about you. >> [applause] >> Laura Mclofflin, followed by KOT. [clears throat] [clears throat] Hello. June 1st, 2023. Eighth grade 14-year-old Jordel Richardson was murdered by the Aurora Police Department. The police were in pursuit of a [clears throat] shoplifter. They were quite aware that they were chasing children because it was said in the body cam. We as a community watched the officer tackle Jordel and in seconds of tackling this 14-year-old child, the officer shot him in the abdomen. Why were they chasing a child believing it was a shoplifter with a gun out in the first place? [clears throat] Blows my mind. After shooting Jordelle in the stomach, a minute and 30 seconds went by before the officers even said, "Let's do CPR." Did two chest compressions and stopped. All while you can hear Jordelle dying. [snorts] And this was called justified. For the life of me, I cannot understand how this murder is just called justification. I've watched his family place a plate at an empty seat for Thanksgiving where he will never be able to enjoy the meal. I have attended actual birthday parties put on by his family where he is not there to blow out the candles on his birthday cake. and balloons are sent up to heaven to let him know he is still loved and murdered and so much more. [clears throat] Less than a year later on May 23rd, 2024, we watched as a community Kylin Lewis with a cell phone in his hand raising his arms and bending his knees to lay down on the ground. and he never made it to the ground because in seconds he was shot in the abdomen by Aurora Police Department who say they were serving a warrant that in fact they that was not the case. The [clears throat] warrant wasn't even signed. But this was just called justified. Say what you want about Kylin Lewis, but I am here to give a different narrative. He was a protector and a friend to my daughter and kept my daughter safe through a troubling time in her life. Just a few months later on October 4th, 2024, Corey Dillard was murdered by the Aurora Police Department suffering a mental health crisis. The media released an unfalse story which once again we watched on camera was untrue and this was called justified as you killed a war victim. Just a few months later, February 8th, 2025, we watched Jaylen Sebrun murdered by the Douglas County Police Department shot seven times in his back in seven seconds with a legal registered firearm by an officer that never identified himself and has murdered multiple other people. Just a few months later, Ray Jean B, and please forgive me, I don't want to slander his name, was assaulted by a war police officer and he and it was called deescalation. And then we watch this officer gun him down. This is a pattern to be To be honest, it's been going on for decades. I have so much more to read, but you can read those dates. [bell] This is a problem. A problem. [applause] K dot. K dot followed by Francisco Sodto. Nope. Sorry. You're You're the second person. >> Second person. Okay. >> K dot. Cameraman. Can I get a closeup? [clears throat] So, the person that I'm holding in my hand right now, you guys have tried to hide. And I'm not talking about the current city council. Um, I'm talking about, you know, the old city. I don't know the the old [ __ ] that keep messing up. Um, and you know who you are. So, I've filed to request this guy's picture. And guess who this guy is? This is Officer Mike Deak. This is the bastard who killed Kylin Lewis, my cousin, my cousin's brother, our family member. So this is on record now currently. This is the guy who did it. So Michael Deak, you can't hide anymore. You can't hide in the equipment room because I know that's probably where the [ __ ] you're at right now. You can't hide [snorts] uh in Colorado Springs with your six dogs and your wife named Cindy. >> Yeah, I can say that. I can absolutely say that. [ __ ] boy. All public information. It's all It's all in there. So, at the end of the day, do the right thing [clears throat] and fire this [ __ ] immediately. I'm done. Thank you, Kevin. [applause] >> Francisco Sodto, followed by Tanya Tabachek. >> [clears throat] >> Yeah, I got a concern. On uh February 14th uh 2026 on Valentine's Day, there was a meeting held about drones and um I guess the flock style cameras um for the city of Aurora. But when I I just had happened to stumble upon that meeting because I was going to the main library and I looked on the website on the city website it said that meeting was cancelled or it was like the mayor's meeting or something like that and on social media it wasn't advertised. So I think a lot of people in Aurora didn't know about it. [snorts] I I didn't I didn't get no email about it. Um, so it it obviously was intentional that that meeting probably wasn't, you know, promoted for a reason. And then, uh, I attended the meeting and asked some questions about requesting, uh, public records of flock cameras and drones. And, uh, the police officer that was there that day, he said, um, he said, "Oh, um, that's not our department. He didn't know too much about it, but the whole purpose of that meeting was about transparency and doing a public records request is a big part of government transparency. So, somebody from that department should have been there. Um, but yeah, I I don't I don't understand why somebody from that police department can come to the meeting and speak with the public. anybody in this room could do a public records request and get body cam footage uh you know and do any type of uh get any type of documents. So, but I could see that the mayor was very upset when I attended that meeting, asked questions and pulled out my phone and started recording. And I seen you take a picture of me. So, I don't think that was uh I think I I think you were pretty upset about me recording that meeting cuz there was nobody from the city that was recording that meeting and it wasn't posted on YouTube. So, that's what I have to say about that. And uh Ruben Medina, you usually get back to me very quick and I texted you twice about to look into that meeting and you never got back to me. So, you know, I I don't know what happened there. you know, usually you get back to me right, you know, pretty soon and you have helped fix some things in the neighborhood. So, I I don't Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what happened with that. [snorts] Um, but yeah, that's all I got to say. Also, uh 311's not doing a really good job. They've hung up on me when I've called and complained. And, uh, when I ask for the employees names, they give me a nickname. They don't even give me their actual government name. So [snorts] yeah, that's all I got to say. [bell] >> Tanya Tabachek. [applause] The last one. >> Good evening, Mayor and [snorts] Council members. I was not going to maybe talk tonight, but ironically enough with the transparency that I feel is not really transparent with council. I just thought it was ironically, and I've talked to uh Mayor Pro Tim Kums about this, but I just thought it was ironic to hear about this uh chief's community response team. Yeah. And I asked a couple of you guys if you knew about it and you said no. Said that it's been between Mr. Bachelor and the chief. And you know I'm very interested in getting involved in certain things and then I was heard by there was applications. I didn't see anything and I'm always on Facebook. I'm always looking at things and when I was looking at that I was just getting kind of agitated because we always wanted to be transparent with our community and so forth. to me that I don't know what this response thing is going to do or whatever whoever is it. I would like to know who exactly is on this and what exactly they're going to be doing. And then I do have a statement uh regarding my thoughts to it. My thoughts is activists have a right to talk regarding whatever they want to say. this new community h chief's uh area with this newsletter that he's putting out to me is not open and not transparent in public via um everyone involved. To me it's select people. If you want to get real people involved and people to listen and talk to the chief and so forth, you need to get the people that are really voicing. They have they're not scared to say what they want to say. They say what they want to say and they have the facts and stuff to back them up. I've not done that and I am feel bad about it. But I am just more and more becoming more realized that you guys as a city council, you're in charge of you guys give us information to everybody in the city and it seems like that's not happening. Thank you. [applause] That was the last individual. Uh the um motion is in order um for the adoption of the consent calendar on motions item number 10 A1 to 10C2. >> Mayor >> uh Council Member Medina. >> Yes. I'd like to pull 11 A8. >> We're not there yet. >> We'll go to the the next [clears throat] need a motion for >> motion. Mayor, >> what's that? >> Motion to approve 10 A1 through 10 C2. It's been u moved by um council member Bergen uh to move um the consent calendar on motions item number 101 to 10 C2. >> Second. >> We need a second. >> Second here. >> Yeah. >> Second. >> Oh, okay. Seconded by Mayor Prom. Um discussion. >> Mayor. >> Uh Council Member Medina. >> Yes. I'd like to pull 118. Maybe not yet. >> Not yet. We We need to We need to wait till the next motion is made on uh paragraph 11. So, we're on paragraph 10 right now. Motion on the floor is approved. Motion. >> Okay. To see 10 C2. Okay. Um >> yeah. >> Uh further discussion. Seeing none, call for the question on the adoption of the consent calendar on motions. Item number 10 A1 to 10 C2. >> Mayor Kaufman. Mayor Vess. Council member Horton. >> Yes. >> The motion passes unanimously to adopt the consent calendar for motions. >> Uh motion is in order for the adoption of the consent calendar on resolutions and ordinances item number 11 A1 to 11B2. >> Mayor >> uh mayor Pim. Um I move to adopt ale item 11 a1 through 11 A7 and 11 B1 um through 11B2 with item 11 A8 pulled. >> Okay. Uh it's been moved by Mayor Pam, seconded by >> Bergen. Second by council member Bergen uh to approve uh the consent counter resolutions and ordinances. Item number 11 A1 to 11 A7 11 B1 to 11 to um to 11B2. Um uh discussion seeing none. Um should I pull that one >> on this motion? >> Okay. Um >> um >> call for question. >> Uh call for the question on adoption of the consent calendar resolutions and ordinances as amended. >> Council member Horton approved. Sorry Katie, I can't figure out escribe here at home. So >> that's okay to do next time. >> Thank you. Um the motion passes unanimously to adopt the consent calendar for resolutions and ordinances with item 11 A8 pulled. >> Clerk now please read the title to item number 11 A8. Item 11 A8 is resolution 202620 directing the city manager or designate to provide an annual reporting and evaluation of the tobacco and age restricted hemp retail licensing ordinance and other related matters. >> Uh motion is in order [clears throat] to approve 118 moved by council member Gardner. Goodbye. >> Sorry, Council Member Bergen, but uh a brief uh staff presentation. >> Yeah, this is a uh resolution that was brought forward by Council Member Gardner regarding reporting related to the uh tobacco and age restricted psychoactive products ordinance. Um and it has some requirements uh with regards to the annual reporting. >> Okay. Uh questions of staff. Seeing none, does it I'm sorry. Uh, Council Member Hackard. >> Sorry, I didn't have my mic on. Um, [clears throat] >> can I ask? >> Oh, yes, please. >> Okay. So, Trevor, can you tell me if such a resolution is approved, how long would it take for the reporting that is asked for here to actually come to fruition? >> Yeah. So, the uh first it has three points with regards to reporting. Um so the summary of enforcement activity conducted pursuant to the ordinance. Um and similarly compliance outcomes observed during the reporting period and uh I think uh and then it has a third one regarding uh data trends and these um you know certainly the the enforcement activity would be available once the program stood up. So I think what you're referring to is perhaps a timing issue uh with regards to you know implementation of the ordinance and how long we'd see actually effects from compliance activities. Um, and so when you're talking about the surveys, uh, which I assume this would reference like Healthy Kids Colorado surveys, uh, it may be some period until kind of those compliance efforts, uh, plan out, you know, for example, catching uh, the vendors that are selling to youth and then uh, taking um, enforcement action against them. Additionally in the ordinance you have some provisions regarding like spacing of retailers and such which may take a number of years till you see kind of impacts from that. >> So it would be reasonable to expect that it could be two three four years before we would actually see some data that we could you know pull from that that shows results of this. >> Yeah I guess it depends on what we encounter out there. So if you have like for example a single retailer that is routinely selling to youth and we address that you could see more perhaps more immediate impacts within a year or two on that. Uh but uh you know some of this is about density of retailers. So you wouldn't see a reduction in the density of retailers and any corresponding um um you know reduction in youth if you know if you correlate those two um probably for a number of years because existing retailers would be grandfathered in. Thank you, >> Mayor. Council Gorder. Um, >> Trevor, did not section 6-523 of the ordinance uh require an annual report to city council about the effectiveness of the ordinance? >> It does. Yep. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Mayor. >> Further questions, Council Member Bergen. >> Okay. So, can you can you tell us what data you said the data from from the um the public health surveys would not be available for years, but the other data is available. >> Yeah. So maybe to clarify that so those survey the healthy kids Colorado survey from what I understand is done every two years and what I was referencing is you may not see uh benefit from some of the strategies involved with the ordinance you know for a period of a number of years. So it's going to for example it'll take us 6 months probably roughly to to get the whole plan activated and everybody licensed. uh that's the estimate that I'm using and then you're going to have compliance checks after that and then you'll catch you know some retailers in that um then you'll have you know some surveys I don't know when the next survey is so you've got kind of these lagging indicators on these surveys so it's just a note note for the record that you may not see in the next year you know real strong solid impact from >> and then on the enforcement activity that you can actually track though correct >> yes >> okay so you can track the enforcement activity and then any complian science you can track as well. So the only issue is really the the um youth trend data. >> That that's correct. Yeah, I think that's just some notes on on when you could expect that data to maybe show some results. >> And then I guess back to council member Gardner, you posed the question about in the original ordinance that there is reporting requirements. So I what what is is there anything else missing council member Gardner besides the youth data trends? >> Council member Gardner. >> So this is really a question back to Trevor, but Trevor, you're bringing up one specific report that may or may not be available and nowhere in this resolution does it require the use of that specific reporting tool. Is that correct? >> Uh that's correct. Yeah, that one's not. >> Okay. So, so again, you're bringing up one specific reporting tool, and this is an answer to your question, Council Member Bergen, that that isn't required. It says, "Available youth access trend data derived from governmental public health surveys or enforcement data sets that are specific to the city of Aurora or where city specific data is not available from recognized regional or state data sets that include the city. So, again, a report is being brought up that that's not required by this." So, frankly, I'm not really sure why. Um, but that's an answer to the question. There's no specific trend data that's required by this. >> Okay. Mayor >> uh council member >> and then Trevor, is is this really a heavy lift for you or is this doable? >> Uh >> with with the fact that council member Gardner said it's not you're not required to have the other >> Yeah, I think that that was kind of the survey that I was aware of that I had in mind and I think if there's other surveys we could certainly pull that data and present it. Um I I don't know one specifically off the top of my head, but you know, we'll we can >> So it would it won't be a a major problem >> as far as presenting this data and I don't think I don't believe it would be >> and I mean I think it's good to have data. So I I I support it with that clarification that it's not necessarily um required until they have that data. >> Okay. >> Further questions of staff? See, um I'm sorry. Um who's it? Council member Medina. >> Yeah, just a couple things. Can I >> continue this to the next council meeting? I'd like some more clarification around the data piece, like who's going to gather the data. When's it going to be >> more? >> Let me defer to the city attorney. >> So, currently, uh mayor, we have a motion on the floor that's been properly seconded as in currently in debate. That motion would have to be withdrawn by council member Garner and a substitute motion. You could make a substitute motion to continue this matter to the February or the March 23rd council meeting which would then have to be seconded and then you all would vote about whether or not to accept that substitution to debate that motion. >> Okay. So, >> so a substitute motion. Are you making a substitute motion council Medina second move by council member Medina as a substitute motion to the gardener motion to move uh 11 to adopt 1188 uh to what is a date certain >> March 23rd >> March 23rd uh is there a second >> second >> it's been seconded by mayor prom u uh discussion on the medina motion >> so this is not under the merits this is just whether or not to accept this as a substitute motion Then if it's accepted, you will debate whether or not you should grant the motion for continuance. So this vote right now will be whether or not you want to take the motion that council member Medina made and replace it with the one council member Gardner made. Right. It's a two-step process on a substitute. >> Okay. So uh discussion on the Medina substitute motion. >> Mayor, >> uh mayor for >> just this bill as council member Gardner and or this ordinance as council member Gardner and I had discussed recently um included a lot of stakeholding with a lot of different groups. Um, and so I would just like to see the ability to have the conversation about this resolution that also includes perspectives of multiple stakeholders. >> Further discussion, >> Council Member Gardner. >> Yeah, it's it's really telling um that we pass an ordinance that requires annual reporting and then when we try to define that annual reporting, all of a sudden there's all this chaos. Um it really tells me a lot about what the actual intent of this ordinance is. Um and so uh because of that I >> further discussion on the um Medina substitute motion. >> Uh seeing none call for the question on the Medina substitute motion. [cough] >> Mayor Kaufman. Mayor Council member, thank you. The motion passes with nine yes votes, two no votes from council member Gardner and council member Lawson. >> I know this is going to sound duplicative, but now that that motion on the on the table on the floor is now to continue this item till March 23rd. So, we do need another vote on the actual motion that is pending and >> and we don't need a second motion. >> We just need to call for the question. Well, mayor, I do want to further discuss. Yes, because you said we couldn't discuss the merits, right? So, council member Gardner, the issue is not the request for specifics on the reporting. Um, I think >> from the stakeholders that I have spoken with, [snorts] they fully support having specifics on the reporting. They just had questions on some of the language and making sure that it's fully inclusive of all of the stakeholders. A lot of the language really only talks about what industry wants and what industry was looking for in the ordinance. So really the opport what I would like is just the opportunity to talk through how can we make sure the rest of the resolution more inclusive of all of the stakeholders. It's not about whether or not the reporting and specifying the reporting is a valid request. >> Further discussion >> mayor >> uh um council member Bergen then council member Hancock. Council member. >> Um, yeah, I'm always for having more stakeholder input as I did before on the original um, ordinance to make sure that we heard from the business community. So, I'm fine with that. I think it's extremely important that we do track the data. So, that is what I'm interested in. >> Council Hancock, >> and I just, you know, the the ordinance, we've already moved forward on that. And I I know that Trevor, you have some reporting in there. And I thought before today we had come to a really good place with the ordinance where it was without us being the nanny state also protecting young people keeping in mind business concerns as well. And so I thought we were at a good place. I am um very interested in us having valuable and really good reporting around it. you know, being sure that we are fair and that we are being equitable in terms of how we're tracking how our young people are being impacted and also how our businesses are being impacted as well. So, um, we can have that discussion and for the date certain so that we can be sure that we're in a good place. But I think from the very beginning, I thought the the ordinance was was a wellthoughtout ordinance for the record. [clears throat] Further discussion uh on the Medina motion. Uh then the question before us uh is um uh the the motion to move item number 11 A8 to uh continue it to March 23rd. Um further discussion seeing none uh call for the question. >> Mayor Kaufman. Mayo chess. [clears throat] Council member Jackson. Thank you. I just got it. Thank you. The motion passes with 10 [clears throat] yes votes, one no vote from Council Member Gardner to continue this item to the March 23rd council meeting. >> Clerk, now please read the tile to item number 12A. Item 12A is public hearing consideration of ordinance 2026 approving the 13th Avenue Station urban renewal plan and creating two tax increment financing areas. >> There might be on this one. I don't know because these are public hearings. >> Public hearing is now open. Presentation by staff. >> Good evening. I'm Jennifer Rosco from Planning and Business Development. Tonight you're conducting a public hearing and considering an ordinance to adopt an urban renewal plan for the 13th Avenue station area. The primary purpose of the plan is to facilitate residential development on vacant and underutilized [clears throat] land surrounding the station. With this plan and the associated tax increment financing areas, the city and AURRA are seeking to use incremental tax revenues to assist with funding infrastructure. The main investment, a bridge over the Tgate Creek, will enable new workforce and affordable housing on two infill locations on Aurora's Rline. Without the city and Aurora Authority efforts to overcome the access challenges, the land at 13th Avenue station will remain vacant and underutilized. The plan delineates two tax increment financing areas within the urban renewal area. Area one would include property south of Tolgate Creek. Area two would encompass the RTD property north of Tolgate Creek. According to the plan, the available incremental revenues include 100% of city taxes, including property tax, use tax, sales tax, and lodgers tax, 100% of mile high flood district property tax, 70% of Aurora public schools property tax, and 65% of Arapjo County property tax. Approval of the ordinance would signify council approval of the 13th Avenue Station urban renewal plan and would establish the urban renewal area and the two associated tax increment financing areas. Thank you. >> Uh does anybody wish to speak on this issue? >> Katie, does anybody wish to speak on this issue? >> No. >> Uh >> questions. >> Uh questions to staff? Seeing none, um the public hearing is now closed and a motion is in order. >> Mayor, >> mayor prot. >> Uh move to adopt item 12A. >> It's moved by Mayor Prom, seconded by >> second. >> Second by council member Horton uh to approve item number 12A. Um further discussion, >> mayor. >> Uh council member Bergen. Um yes, just on again on the bridge. Um can you um elaborate on what the cost will be? >> This plan provides a mechanism to fund the bridge. The original cost estimate on the bridge was $8 million. Additional engineering has been ongoing. The cost is likely to increase. That number has not been finalized yet. And we are hopeful that within the structure of this plan, we'll be able to accommodate the increased cost. Thank you. Further discussion uh further questions of staff here. >> Um >> Okay, good. Let's make sure it wasn't just me. >> Uh motion is in order for the adoption of item number 12A. >> You already did. >> No, now we're voting on it. We had the motion. Now we're voting on 12 A. >> Y >> he's asking for motion. >> Oh, sorry. Question. >> City attorney is uh stands corrected again. [laughter] >> Okay. That was confusing me. >> The motion. No, the motion already. It was made by mayors and seconded by Horton. So now we're call I stand. Correct. >> Mayor stands corrected. >> I [laughter] stand. >> Um I call for the question on the adoption of item number 12 A. >> Mayor Pro Tim. >> We're one for one. >> The motion passes unanimously to adopt item 12A. >> Click. Now please read the title to item number 14 A. >> Item 14A is introduction. I mean, I'm finalizing of ordinance 202506 for a zoning map amendment to reszone approximately 3.91 acres of land to medium density residential district located south of the intersection of East Joel Avenue and South Juliet Street. Um let's see uh presentation by staff. >> Uh Mr. Mayor, this uh this item is in the second reading and we are here uh only for uh to answer questions if you might have >> questions to staff. Seeing none, a motion is in order. >> Sorry. Um sorry, I think we were just a little confused because we voted last time. So move to approve item 14. Moved by Mayor Prom, second by >> second. >> Second by council member WS to approve item number 14A. Discussion. >> Seeing no discussion, call for the question on the adoption of item number 14A. Council member WS. The motion passes with nine. Yes votes, one no vote from council member Hancock to adopt item 14A. >> Um, will the clerk please read the title item number 17A? >> Item 17A is consideration to appoint one member to the Civil Service Commission. >> Uh, motion is in order. >> So, mayor, >> nomination is in order. >> You can do however council wants to do it. You can do nominations or you can make a motion to appoint. I'll leave that to whoever makes the first motion on how you want to do open for nominations or make a direct appointment. >> Mayor, >> um, council member Berg >> motion to um, appoint Josh Rudell. So move by council member Bergen. Second and um, well >> second by >> seconded by >> Hancock. >> Second by council member Hancock to appoint Josh Redell. >> Do we do discussion or can >> uh, discussion? >> Mayor. >> Uh, council member Bergen. >> Um, yes. I think um all four candidates um obviously that we ranked um interviewed today um appreciate all their interviews. I do uh think that Josh Roell really rose uh to the occasion and and was very thorough in his um in his answers and I think would be a very fair um unbiased person very objective in that position. Further discussion, >> mayor. >> Um, I'm sorry. Council member Lawson. >> Council member Hancock. >> I just wanted to concur with council member uh Bergen's assessment of Joshua. I thought he was the most well-rounded. Stood up the best. Didn't file any previous lawsuits against the city. um had uh you know he was a real standup guy and I really appreciate his thoroughess on filling out the application completely. He was one of two who did that which is very telling in such a position like the civil service commission and I um support his appointment. >> Further discussion >> mayor >> I'm sorry who I have a question for the city attorney. Um, if we wanted to appoint more than one of these individuals, um, what would be the process um, if we wanted to remove a current member um, and appoint two of the individuals that we interviewed today? >> Okay. So, under the city charter, the city council uh at their purview can remove a border commission member uh for any reason except those that are protected under law. Um and so all it require is you to choose one of the members on the civil service commission, make a motion to remove that person, second debate and vote, and if six or more of you concur, then that person would be be removed and then you could appoint somebody else tonight because it is on the agenda. And so right now the current motion on the floor is to appoint Josh Redell as the current commissioner. You could still do that or you could point another name or or however you want to do. We can handle that first and you can do that next or you can ask to pull this one and do that first. It's just kind of whatever council's prerogative is. >> Okay. Or if we wanted to do that, um, could we appoint this individual now and then >> have it on the agenda for a future meeting to remove an additional member and appoint one of the individuals we uh we interviewed, one of the other individuals we interviewed today. >> You can do that as well >> and just have to have it on [clears throat] the agenda, correct? >> Yeah. I mean, it's on the agenda tonight. So, because you're dealing with the Civil Service Commission, so if you wanted to do it tonight, you could. I know it's so it's not listed to remove somebody, but again it's the civil service commission is on the agenda. There's enough notice that you all would be talking about the civil service commission tonight. So if that motion was made now, it hasn't been made yet, but the motion on the floor is to appoint Mr. >> Rell. So the the she mayor would just to through the contact of the city clerk then would uh pro that would provide notice if it were on the next agenda. So, if it's not done tonight, then we would say on the next council meeting on March 23rd, we would add a 17 under paragraph 17. Uh, consider the membership of the civil service commission appointment. >> Uh, that's what it would say. >> Could she give notice tonight that it's going to be on the agenda? >> She can. I mean, if if you want to, you don't have to. It just needs to be on the agenda. >> Yeah. Mayor Pro Tim, you can work with my office to put this on the agenda. You don't have to make the motion tonight. You can put it on anytime before the next council meeting. >> I'm sorry. Okay, thank you. [clears throat] Um, >> appreciate the city manager. It takes eight members of council to remove somebody from the civil service commission. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Further, >> I'm sorry. >> Um, I do, mayor, I just I would say that, you know, I do agree um that the interview went really well um with Mr. Redell. I thought he was very thoughtful. Um, but I think that there were a number of people who also provided thoughtful interviews. So, I just would like the opportunity to appoint uh more than one person. I understand obviously that there would need to be conversation with my colleagues prior to um just removing someone, but I wanted to understand what that would look like um if we wanted to do that moving forward. >> Very well. Um further discussion on the motion for uh Joshua Dale to the Civil Service Commission. Uh, seeing none, uh, call for the question on, uh, I guess the appointment of Joshua Dell to the Civil Service Commission. >> Mayor Kaufman, Mayor Vess. The motion passes [clears throat] with nine yes votes, two no votes from Council Member Andrews and Council Member Horton. Um, would the clerk now please read tile to item number 17B? >> Item 17B is appointment of new associate judge and new relief judges. >> Um, without objection, I'd like to to um divide this up to the associate judge position first and then the relief uh judge. >> No objection, you can do that. >> Without objection, then we'll discuss. Uh nominations are in order for the associate judge position. >> Mayor, >> uh Mayor Pat. >> Um I move to appoint Ari Kiver. I don't know if I'm saying that quite correctly, but their his application was phenomenal. >> Um it's been moved by Mayor Prom, seconded by >> Second. Seconded by Council Member Medina. Um I'm sorry, who was that individual? Jackson. Who was the name of the individual? >> Uh, Ari um C H or K R. I'm like it's K R I C H I V E R. I don't know how to say it correctly. >> So I don't want to >> butcher it. >> Okay. Um I'd like to offer a substitute motion uh for um Troy Moyer. Uh, I was very impressed uh with um his um Troy Johnson. >> No, Mer O Y Moyer. >> Moyer. >> Uh he was uh recommended by um a professor at University of Denver Law School and I thought the letter was very impressive. Uh Troy possesses the exemplary character and service orientation necessary to serve the people of Aurora. on the bench. He will deploy his considerable emotional intelligence and wisdom as a judge in service of his community. >> Mayor, point of order. >> Very well. >> Um, uh, I thought that we when we were putting forward a substitute motion, we weren't discussing correct merits. >> Yeah. Very well. >> So, so the mayor has put put a we had the motion on the floor for Mr. Kersner. Am I I can't And now the mayor is is offering a substitute motion for Troy Moyer. That requires a second and then a vote to actually replace that name into the into the motion that's pending. Then you would vote on whether or not to appoint him. >> So this first I need a second on we need a second on the substitute motion on Moyer. >> Uh motion fails for lack of a second. Oh >> yeah. >> Well, I was going to make a second. >> Okay. Well, >> well, [laughter] council member Bergen moved by the mayor. Um, count second by council member Bergen. >> Okay. >> Discussion. >> So, yeah. So, now the vote will be on whether or not to replace the name, not to vote on the merits. >> So, all you're doing is voting on whether or not to replace Troy Moyer with the name that was originally put forward by Mayor Prom. >> Further discussion. Seeing none, call for the question on the substitute motion. Mayor Kaufman. >> Mayor Roz, >> Council Member Lawson. >> The motion does not pass with five yes votes, six no votes. the yes votes from C mayor Kaufman, Council Member Andrews, Bergen, Gardner, and Hancock. >> Okay, so now the that substitute motion failed. So we're back to re um >> Critver as the motion to appoint is is now pending. So we're back on that motion and it's still in debate. >> Discussion on the motion, >> mayor. May >> um so there were quite a few things about this application and the letters that were impressive to me. I think the one that is the most relevant to municipal court other than general knowledge of municipal law and procedure which was laid out by several people was the ability to take uh complex legal uh topics and explain them in clear and understandable language. um many of our defendants are not represented by council and even for those that are this is many people's first contact with the court and so I think that uh jurist who's able to really break down what's happening in clear and understandable language would be a great asset to our court but in addition um the letters just again and again talk about fairness willingness and ability to work with people in opposition very effectively as well as um really strong legal analysis and legal practice. Um so I just from reading the many letters I was incredibly impressed with the picture um that the recommenders presented um of this candidate. >> Further discussion seeing none I call for the question on the uh mayor pro Tim motion for is it re Ki >> Ari Kitver. >> Okay. Um, call for the question. >> Mayor Kaufman. >> Uh, Mayor Vess. >> Do you think by changing the process? The motion passes with 10 yes votes, one no vote from council member Hancock. Very well. And let me let me just say that and for the next time um none of us u have are lawyers, none of us have served as officers of a court and we have a chief municipal judge uh who I think we can certainly get all these obligations but I think it would be good to have a nomination uh from the our chief judge as to who he believes would be best in the courtroom. >> Mayor >> uh council member Bergen. Yeah, I maybe I'm mistaken, but I always thought that there was a recommendation given in the past. Is that incorrect? >> As set forth within the city's code, um the requirement for my position is to nominate um at least two names. Um for the last, I believe, two selections for the associate position, we've put up four names. So, I nominate and then it would be left to council [clears throat] to appoint. >> Did you eliminate any names or did we just get all the names that uh that applied? >> We had 52 applicants, mayor. >> Okay. So, >> we interviewed 17 people. >> Okay. >> And so, as Judge Day stated, uh to change that process, it would take an ordinance to amend the city code, which the mayor has uh contacted my office about. So, that may be forthcoming. It's up to the mayor, but that that could happen. And again, as the charter dictates council to change it by ordinance to the city code. >> Okay. Uh motion is an order for a uh to nominate or appoint a new relief judge. >> Mayor, >> I'm sorry. Uh Council Member Horton. >> Yeah. I would like to um put forth Allison Foley's name. If if I may clarify, it's my request that city council appoint all of the relief judges as nominated. um it would be left to your prerogative if you wish to take each of them individually >> but as we've done in the past um and has been practice for quite a long time with our court with the relief judges I'm asking that you appoint the full group of relief judges >> it is it is appropriate and customary for us to appoint all of the relief judges as requested because they they >> very well okay motion council >> yes um motion to point. Allison Foley, Eric Hutchkins, Troy Johnson, Zachary Phillips, Jennifer Tor Torington. >> Did I get them all? >> You did. >> It's It's been moved by Council Member Bergen and second by >> Hancock. Second by Council Member Hancock >> as associate judges. Uh, >> no. I'm sorry. As relief >> uh to um for the um to approve the Bergen motion uh on relief judges. Is there further discussion? >> Mayor >> uh may >> um I just want to clarify from judge day. You wouldn't have put any names forward to us for either the associate position or the relief position that aren't people that you would think would do well on the court. Correct. >> Absolutely not. After this set of interviews, um these people um stood out to the entire interview committee and it was the unanimous um recommendation of the interview committee. >> Okay. To uh we're back to the motion uh to the Bergen motion uh on relief judges. >> Mayor, I believe Council Member Horton is trying to speak. >> I'm sorry. Uh, council member Horton's motion. Oh, council member Horton, I'm sorry. >> Yes. Uh, just a point of clarification for judge day. U, can you explain in terms of um that institutional knowledge of that best practice and the rationale behind it? Thank you. >> Further discussion >> as she has a question. >> I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry, Judge Day. Council member Horton, if you're asking for the >> That was a question. >> The practice of what we've done in the past as relates to nominating the entire group. Um, that's been custom and practice for our court for quite some time. Our court is in need of additional relief judges to the number that we proposed before city council. We need five more relief judges because we've lost relief judges to either jurisdictions or other jobs. Um, so we're in need of of five relief judges at this time. >> Okay. Thank you, Judge Day. >> You're welcome. >> And and Judge J, you might just for the new council members just kind of explain what relief judges do briefly. >> Yeah, the relief judges cover our traffic division um every single day. It's um a half time um division morning only and then they also cover um for as a need basis when an associate judge is out. We're also using our relief judges to preside over currently um another division, division 4. And so that's why we need more um relief judges, but they cover when an associate judge is out for either planned vacation, unplanned um absences as well. >> Further discussion Uh, seeing none, um, call for the question on who was it on the bargain motion on relief judges. >> Mayor Kaufman, >> mayor, >> council member Andrews. Thank you. The motion passes unanimously to appoint the new judges as motioned by Council Member Bergen. >> Thank you very much for your consideration. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh reports. Uh Council Member Andrews. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh first of all, happy Women's History Month. Uh second, I attended a meeting at the opportunity center uh with black civic engagement um trying to work together to uh a strategy to bring Ward One together in different ways. Um I then went to the Aztec Tattoo in Ward One where I got to meet with students from New Americas where they got to learn how to remove tattoos um from gang members. Um, and the last thing is public safety meeting on March 12th at 11:00 a.m. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Member for Tim Kums. >> Mayor, thank you. Um, first, um, just want to let folks know that we will have our next atlarge town hall meeting um, on May 5th. um and still working on topics uh with my colleagues. Um also certainly happy women's history month and international women's day. Um I was able to yesterday attend uh the uh Kasa Immigrante Health Bazaar at La Plaza in Aurora. Um for International Women's Day, there were um over 550 uh screenings given to folks who came out um for different health screenings. Um there were vaccines available. There were providers there for folks to just be able to learn more about healthc care providers. um and the uh consulate offices for El Salvador and Mexico were there and I was able to deliver a proclamation on behalf of the city of Aurora. Um and finally, the rules committee um the first meeting of the rules committee will be held on Tuesday, March 24th at 5:30 p.m. um in the Aurora room. There will be public comment. Um, and we will be talking about the agenda items we want to have moving forward, but also beginning the conversation on uh the conduct of meetings, the um order of the meetings as well as decorum um both from council and the community. >> C uh council Gardner. >> Thanks, Mayor. Um, I just wanted to say a thank you to um staff that supported our buildup Aurora ranking roundups. Um, they in a lot of cases nights, weekends, uh, things like that. And, um, they did they did a really great job, I think, of um, explaining some of those projects to, uh, the public, but really the better part was the feedback that we got back. And, um, you know, so I just want to say thank you to the residents that attended, to my colleagues. I know a lot of you came to some of those, um, as well, so thank you for that. Um, and kind of looking forward to next steps. >> Thank you, Council Member Jackson. >> No updates. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, Council Member Horton. >> Hello. Oh, can you guys hear me? >> Yes, >> I will assume so. Okay. Um, hi everyone. Um, so a few updates in terms of the past two weeks. I was able to tour the real time information center um at the APD headquarters and highly encourage my colleagues to um do that tour. I appreciate the time of the APD officers who walked me through and answered my many questions. uh also attended a annual um Black History Month lunchon and uh had my first uh board meeting with the Fitz Simmons Innovation Campus. Uh, and then lastly, um, this past Friday, I attended the, uh, state of the region, um, 2026 Adams County Regional Econ Economic Partnership. Learned a lot about energy and walked away a little bit more confused, um, meaning I have a lot more questions to ask and to learn when it comes to, um, energy and how it impacts our city. In terms of what's upcoming, um I was I did have a scheduled around animal welfare town hall for this Saturday. However, that is going to be postponed. Um so I will let the public know as soon as another date is scheduled for that conversation. Uh on the 21st of March at the Saturday from 9:30 to 12:30, uh there is a follow-up conversation around the community development corporation uh which is the entity uh to be developed alongside the downtown development authority. Um that conversation is still mostly tailored for our nonprofit partners that work in Northwest Aurora. However, it is public and you know more the marrier um in terms of really determining what this um entity is going to be structured looks like um and its ultimate impact in ward 1. Um that will be at the ABC community hub at the old Paris Elementary School building from 9:30 to 12:30. Um and so thanks everyone for your time. >> Council member WS. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I wanted to start off first by thanking Lieutenant Colonel Tyler Hughes this past week and I was um, honored to be made an honorary commander at Buckley Spaceport Space. So, feel free to call me commander going forward. Um, I'm excited to work with him the entire year to learn more about Buckley Space Force Base. And then also wanted to send out a shout out to his wife, Lieutenant Colonel Anne Hughes. He talked extensively about her and [clears throat] um I was very excited to learn more about her and him as I move forward this year. Um also attended the Black History Lunchon. I was able to bring my three-year-old granddaughter um so that she could be surrounded by the greatness in that room. I'm not sure that she absorbed it all, but we'll keep bringing her back so that she's aware of um all of the greatness that exists within our city. I wanted to remind everybody that this weekend there's also the she plays which is the free sports trial day at the Southeast Rec Center. So that is on Sunday. And then obviously I wanted to honor international women's day which was yesterday. Um we have amazingly strong women in our community that include moms, grandmas, sisters, aunts, daughters, etc. who are the backbone of our community. Not only do many of them come here to address and advocate for others at these meetings, they show up in other meetings, they volunteer their time at schools, um, out on the sports field. And then of course I would be remiss not to acknowledge the over 100 girls in Iran who were killed in a bombing who unfortunately will never be able to grow to be women and be honored in the future as well as 5-year-old Hind Rajab Hamada who demonstrated more bravery than most adults do every single day. Thank you. >> Uh Council Member Medina. >> Thank you, Mayor. So, I attended the uh grand opening of the fire station 9 that was uh opened uh this Saturday. Um also the uh unveiling of the fastest lightning logo that they utilized. Uh that fire station has served Aurora since 1979 and uh was definitely due for a renovation. Uh everybody got to have a tour was very well attended by community. Also my town hall will be tomorrow uh March 10th. Uh, I will have code and housing. Thank you. Uh, Council Member Hancock. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, just wanted to let everyone know that my town hall is this Thursday, uh, at noon's. We'll be starting off with a 6:00 to 6:30 networking half hour and then we will have our meeting um, following that featuring pros. We're going to talk a lot about what's going on at Utah Park and the pool and the updates that we're doing over there. Um, I'll also be attending State of the Base this week uh at the I believe at the Aurora. Where is it? >> Here. >> Here. It's here. We usually have it over at the hotel, but this year it's going to be here. So, I'm looking forward to um participating in that. And also I went to an unexpected treat on Saturday or actually Sunday. The Aurora Singers. Did you know that we had this group here? They've been here for 50 years. I did not know that. It was an unexpected pleasure to uh go to this event. All these folks are volunteers and they had a delightful performance. I didn't know what to expect, but they sang like show tunes and did Broadway stuff and it was just delightful. And one of their members who they honored, she just recently passed away, Irene Chase, she was a beloved audience member of the Aurora Singers for many years. She passed at the age of 102 and she sang with the Aurora Singers until she was in her 90s. So, I mean, there is life after retirement. So, if you're a singer and you want to join this group, they often have auditions. You can go to the www.uroras singers.org website. They have rehearsals on Tuesdays and they're always looking for people to join the group, which I think is pretty cool. Um, so with that, that is my report. Mayor, >> thank you, Council Member Lawson. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I just have my two town halls. I have one tomorrow at Central Rec Center. It'll be at 6:30 to 8 and then I'll have one at Heather Gardens on March 21st at 10:00 and we'll have Pete Schulty. He'll be presenting at both of those. I'm hoping >> I'll be at the second. >> Okay. >> I'm handling tomorrow. He's in. >> Okay. All right. So, we'll have both of them [laughter] there. So, um I hope everybody can attend. Okay. >> Council Bergen. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um few things. We had uh planning economic development um committee meeting um in the past week. Also um E470 roadway committee which is separate from the board meeting management and finance. Um I also attended the buildup um Aurora ranking roundup that was over at the Southeast Rec Center. Um I forgot that it was not just people from W 6. It was actually from you know all over the city. So um I think there were more people from the rest of the city than from my own area. >> [laughter] >> I was not okay, but no, it's good. Um, also had a meeting with uh the executive director at E470 and the Colorado Motor Carriers Association. Um, and then of course um want to make a couple announcements. Um, as mentioned um by Council Member Wilds, Sunday is she plays Aurora Sports Trial Day and that's also at the Southeast Rec Center uh from 12 to 4. I'll be there. And then um my town hall is on the 18th of March uh which is a Wednesday from 6:00 to 8 at Heritage Eagle Bin. >> Well, thank you. And uh I would encourage um um our residents to go to I put most of my a lot of my activities down on my Facebook page and that is at uh Mike Kaufman Facebook. Uh it will come up. Uh public invited to be heard. Tanya Tabachek followed by Aayante Anderson and mayor and council members. I forgot to mention earlier about I know that we brought back public right to speak uh to speak in the podium. However, um my mom is currently and has been for like 3 or 4 days been at the Aurora Vance Healthcare uh rehab place. And as you all know, she does like to talk. >> Yes. >> So, it would be nice if we could give that get that back the public right to be via the phone. um so that she could voice her opinion when she and there's other residents, a lot of other residents I see are rehab homes that uh have a right to talk and say what they want to say and unfortunately she would love to be here tonight and speak her mind, but again she's going through a tough time right now and she would love to talk and would like that respect to be endured to her. Thank you. Aante Anderson, followed by Dela Jordan. >> Mayor Kaufman, no report. See you in two weeks. >> Dela Jordan, followed by Median Schaer. Median Schaer followed by Ellen Woo. >> [cough] [clears throat] >> Because the work that we do, we proudly follow the lead of the families that we are supporting. So I am going to read words to you from Londa Jones, the mother of Kylin Lewis. Kylin's birthday is on March 18th. And I won't get to celebrate him by singing happy birthday. won't get to see his one-of-a-kind smile, hear him laugh, or feel his bear hug. I have to accept the gruesome reality that I'll never get to see or feel these things again. I highly urge you, council members, to wake up and get motivated and activated. I'm heartbroken and really angry about this reality that I have to live with for the rest of my life. I have to celebrate him by releasing balloons to the heavens. That's all she has left. When Kylin Lewis was murdered by the Aurora police, this city created a narrative of him as if we were better off because he was not here. A member of this council created a narrative that somehow someway a call in and a plea for justice transformed us into terrorists and other nonsensical names. It's also been 201 days since Ray John Belt Stubblefield was murdered by the Aurora police. I was an eyewitness [clears throat] and to this day I have not been asked to give my account of what happened. There is a leadership problem with the Aurora police. The police, as I've mentioned before, is an output of the culture of leadership that a city provides. Todd Chamberlain has recently said that he wants to create a community response team, but I'm curious if you all listen to or understand the language he's using as he's going out into the community. I was just at a meeting and I leaned in with curiosity to see what he would say. Your chief of police is still creating division. So his efforts of a community response team are clearly performative. And at this point to everyone that is on this current council, you are putting his comfort above everyone that he has harmed. Why does he get comfort when this mother has to release balloons? It's not right. >> Ellen Woo. Change does not happen when systemic barriers are present. For change, the barriers need to be removed and replaced with people, policies, procedures, ideas that believe in change and will make those changes happen. Life stories, lived experiences, storytelling need to be and should be fueling the ch the changes. Life stories and lived experiences are the basis of community voices. Storytelling is a form of healing and path to change. Community voices are necessary to address the community needs for sustainability and equitable outcomes. Community voices are necessary to be part of all discussions. Community voices are the voices of the people. Change cannot and should not be directed by those that um seek political gain nor personal gain. Change needs to be a collaboration and true partnership amongst all parties with accountability and transport transparency and especially with community voices as the driving factor. Demonstrating accountability and transparency involves not making decisions without community voices heard or in isolation or after the decision has decision has been made. Breaking systemic barriers requires the deliberate identification and elimination of deeply embedded instit institutional structural and policybased obstacles that perpetuate inequity and unsustainability. True change involves redesigning the underlying rules of the system. Some key aspects to removing systemic barriers, targeting lockin mechanisms. Systemic barriers often rely on lock on lock in effects where infrastructure regulations and cultural norms reinforce each other. Dismantling these requires changing the rules of the game rather than just playing it better. Structural and policy reform. This involves dismantling specific barriers such as exclusionary zoning or outdated financial me methods prevent equal access to resources. Proactive elimination to actively identify and eliminate these barriers rather than just offering for instance temporary accommodations. >> That was the last individual. Uh, seeing no further business be before the Aurora City Council meetings adjourn. [music] [music] Hey, [music] [music] hey, hey.