Aurora City Council Meeting – November 4, 2025

Note on Date: The transcript states the meeting occurred on Monday, November 3, 2025, but the provided timestamp is 2025-11-04 20:13:02. This summary uses the given timestamp date (November 4, 2025) per instructions. The discrepancy is noted.

The Aurora City Council held a regular meeting on November 4, 2025. The meeting included a public hearing on amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) regarding the Accident Potential Zone (APZ) district, introduction of an ordinance to extend the 1% marijuana sales tax for the SAVE youth gun violence intervention program, and a motion to reconsider a consent calendar item on appointments to the Public Defender Commission. Council members also gave community reports.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (October 20, 2025): Motion by Councilmember Hancock, seconded by Councilmember Casal. Passed unanimously.
• Adoption of Agenda: Motion by Councilmember Bergen, seconded by Councilmember Lawson. Passed unanimously.
• Consent Calendar on Motions (Items 9C1–9C2): Motion by Councilmember Bergen, seconded by Councilmember Lawson. Passed unanimously.
• Consent Calendar on Resolutions and Ordinances (Items 10A1–10B13): Motion by Councilmember Morgan, seconded by Councilmember Coombs. Passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sal Perdomo (Titan Development) spoke in support of the APZ text amendment (Item 11A). He stated that Titan is the contract purchaser of a 76-acre vacant parcel in the APZ district, slated for light industrial and commercial uses, and urged council approval. He thanked staff for working with Buckley Space Force Base to address concerns.

Discussion Items

• Item 11A: Public Hearing – Ordinance 2025-103 (APZ District Amendments)

  • Staff presented (Jeremiah Fedig). The proposal adds light manufacturing as a permitted use and makes cleanup items including dimensional standards and accessory uses (short-term rentals, home day care, home occupations). Buckley Space Force Base supported the changes after two items were removed. The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval on October 22, 2025. Councilmember Coombs asked if Buckley’s operations would be unaffected; staff confirmed yes. Councilmember Sunberg asked about child/adult day centers as accessory uses; staff clarified they are only permitted as accessory to existing residential and would not allow large gatherings. Public hearing closed; motion by Councilmember Lawson, seconded by Councilmember Drinsky. Passed unanimously.

• Item 12A: Introduction of Ordinance 2025-102 – Marijuana Sales Tax for Youth Violence Intervention

  • Staff (Jessica Prosser, Director of Housing and Community Services) introduced the ordinance to continue the 1% marijuana sales tax dedicated to the SAVE program (focused on gun violence intervention). Councilmember Lawson expressed strong support, noting a five-year term with a clause allowing council to make changes. Councilmember Gardner opposed the tax (8 yes, 1 no) because he disagrees with singling out one business type (marijuana) and prefers funding from the general fund. Councilmember Coombs raised questions about prevention vs. intervention and how youth are identified for the program; staff explained that providers also do prevention, and identification comes from police detectives, analysts, and social network analysis of gun violence incidents. Motion by Councilmember Lawson, seconded by Councilmember Drinsky. Passed 8–1 (Councilmember Gardner opposed).

• Reconsideration of Consent Calendar Item 9C2 (Public Defender Commission Appointments)

  • Councilmember Bergen moved to reconsider item 9C2 (appointment of three members to the Public Defender Commission without interviews). She stated it was not clear on the consent agenda that the appointments were without interviews, and she wants to interview candidates. Councilmember Drinsky noted only three applicants (the reappointees) after four months of public advertisement. Councilmember Coombs questioned whether this would set a precedent for all boards/commissions; Councilmember Bergen argued the Public Defender Commission is very important. Councilmember Hancock preferred to reopen the application period to attract more candidates, especially attorneys (two of three open slots require attorneys). The City Attorney clarified that council interviewing commissioners is permissible as long as it’s conducted like other board interviews and does not involve directing the commission. Motion to reconsider passed 7–3 (Councilmembers Coombs, Gardner, and Medina opposed). Council then directed staff to reopen applications for one month and return with a list of candidates; interviews are tentatively scheduled for December 15, 2025.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted: Minutes of October 20, 2025 (unanimous).
• Adopted: Agenda (unanimous).
• Adopted: Consent Calendar on Motions (unanimous).
• Adopted: Consent Calendar on Resolutions and Ordinances (unanimous).
• Approved: Ordinance 2025-103 (APZ UDO amendments) (unanimous).
• Approved on First Reading: Ordinance 2025-102 (marijuana sales tax extension for SAVE program) (8–1, Gardner opposed).
• Passed Motion to Reconsider: Item 9C2 (Public Defender Commission appointments) (7–3, Coombs, Gardner, Medina opposed). Council directed staff to reopen applications for one month and schedule interviews for December 15, 2025.

Council Reports

• Multiple councilmembers reported on community events, including: Community Baby Shower at Dayton Opportunity Center, AEDC A-List dinner, grand opening of Fire Station 18, Piccadilly I-70 interchange ceremony, Habitat for Humanity homeownership project, Association of Defense Communities conference in Monterey, tour of Aurora Public Schools, and upcoming town halls. Mayor Kaufman announced he will post a weekly list of food banks on his Facebook page until SNAP is fully funded, and encouraged voting in the Downtown Development Authority election.