Aurora City Council Regular Meeting – February 11, 2026

The Aurora City Council met on February 11, 2026, to address routine approvals, public testimony, a sign code amendment, commission appointments, and a wide range of community concerns including police accountability, youth tobacco access, and council attendance. The meeting featured extensive public comment and several contested votes.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes and Agenda: Approved minutes from January 26, 2026, and the meeting agenda, both unanimously. Unanimously adopted consent calendar items 10C1–10C2 (motions) and 11a2–11b2 (resolutions and ordinances).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Pam Jeffords (Aurora resident, American Heart Association chair): Urged passage of a local tobacco retail license to reduce youth access to nicotine products, citing that nearly 90% of users start before age 18.
• Jerry Jarenski (former council member): Criticized council members Horton and Andrews, calling Horton’s proposal to observe ICE “protecting criminals” and accusing Andrews of dishonor due to a DUI arrest; questioned the council’s commitment to public safety.
• Anna Harris (partner of Corey Dillard): Described reading the APD Director’s Manual and identifying 11 broken directives in Corey Dillard’s death, but no trial; demanded a clear threshold for accountability.
• Tanya Tabachek: Commended the winter workshop rules discussion; asked whether council chambers remodel would allow in-person meetings and urged reinstatement of call-in options.
• Javier Vargas (Range View High School student): Supported tobacco retail licensing, sharing personal family stories of addiction and observing widespread vaping at school.
• Allie DeWills Marcano (Ward 4 resident): Highlighted ongoing inaccessibility of council chambers; warned against holding the ADA transition plan public hearing in these chambers; called for accessible meeting locations.
• Dayton Romero (witness of Ray John Belt Stubblefield killing): Reported he has not been contacted as a witness by the CIRT process, despite police having his contact; criticized lack of follow-up.
• Hashim Coates: Referenced the June 2025 court order requiring APD to release body‑worn footage of Kylan Lewis’s killing; accused the department of contempt and demanded accountability from Chief Chamberlain.
• K. Dot: Supported Mayor Kaufman’s stance on marking unexcused absences; called out missing council members; urged Councilmember Lawson to return to community advocacy.
• Veronica Sebron (mother of Jalen Sebron): Stood in solidarity with families of police violence victims; opposed ICE wearing masks, which she said escalates situations; demanded proactive de‑escalation and police accountability.
• Cassandra Hill (Denver Aurora Community Action Committee): Criticized the independent oversight process as “controlled opposition”; demanded firing of Chief Todd Chamberlain and community control of police.
• Ayante Anderson: Quoted Luke 12:48; supported marking council absenteeism as unexcused; said democracy requires presence.
• Tracy Gilford (grandparent): Supported tobacco retail licensing, citing that 85% of children could purchase nicotine products from Aurora retailers; called for accountability.
• James Coleman (Colorado Senate President): Committed to partnering on police reform rooted in transparency and equity; acknowledged the pain of families affected by police violence.
• Demetrius Johnson (financial professional): Called for an independent audit of the Aurora Regional Navigation Center (40‑million‑dollar project), citing black mold, pestilence, and high emergency medical costs; demanded oversight of Advanced Pathways and Dominic Security.
• K. Dot (continued): Expressed disappointment in council members who missed a prior meeting; urged Lawson to re‑engage with the community.
• David Nells: Called for an end to police crime; accused Chief Chamberlain of violating due process and the Constitution; demanded firing of the chief and city manager.
• Alfredo Carvajal (Ward 1 resident): Described APD as “deep rot”; called for an open, democratic process to select the next police chief and a civilian police accountability council with subpoena power.
• Maya Wheeler (Ward 5 resident): Spoke in support of naming the ring road after Dr. Barbara Shannon Bannister, citing her decades of service including co‑founding Metro Community Provider Network and the Aurora NAACP chapter.
• Additional public comments (after reports): Anna Harris criticized the council for failing to issue a Black History Month proclamation; Hashim Coates repeated calls to fire Chief Chamberlain; Medea Shaffner demanded more than a resolution on ICE; Veronica Sebron and others stood with families of police violence victims.

Discussion Items

• Sign Code Amendment (Ordinance 2026‑03): Staff presented a proposal to repeal the city property sign allowance (adopted ~18 months prior) that would have allowed large electronic billboards on city land. No applications had been submitted. The planning commission recommended approval. Councilmember Gardner opposed, arguing the business that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars preparing was being treated unfairly. Mayor Pro Tem Coombs countered that the allowance violated the comprehensive plan and contracting rules. The public hearing had no speakers.
• Planning & Zoning Commission Appointment: Two nominees were considered: Stephen Elkins and Robin Becker. A motion to appoint Elkins failed (2–6, with two no votes from Councilmember Bergen and Hancock? Actually motion failed with six no votes, meaning only two yes? Full tally not clear but failed). Then a motion to appoint Becker passed (one no vote from Hancock).
• Civil Service Commission Vacancy: Motion to interview the top four ranked candidates passed unanimously.
• Council Reports: Members updated on town halls, committee meetings, community events, and federal funding successes (e.g., $850,000 for a new fire ladder truck, corridor improvement projects).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: All routine items approved unanimously.
• Street Naming (R2026‑07): Resolution naming the ring road Dr. Barbara Shannon Bannister Road passed unanimously with a friendly amendment to include former councilmember Rennie Peterson’s name. The naming ceremony was scheduled for the next day, February 12.
• Sign Code Repeal (Ordinance 2026‑03): Passed 9–2, with Councilmembers Gardner and Hancock voting no.
• Planning Commission Appointment: Robin Becker appointed (8–1, Hancock no).
• Civil Service Commission Interviews: Top four candidates will be interviewed.
• No formal Black History Month proclamation was adopted, drawing public criticism.
• No action taken on police accountability demands or the Navigation Center audit, though several council members noted ongoing oversight conversations.