The Aurora City Council met on Monday, April 20, 2026, for a regular meeting that began with an invocation, land acknowledgment, and Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including a failed vote on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Aurora Police Department and the GEO-operated ICE processing center, extensive public testimony on police accountability and youth surveillance programs, and unanimous approvals of several consent items and an annexation. The meeting also included updates on the executive session regarding labor negotiations, a brief health emergency for Councilmember Bergen (who later left), and council member reports.
Public comment periods featured over 40 speakers on multiple issues:
Councilmember Horton presented the MOU, explaining it establishes guidelines for APD response to emergencies and criminal incidents at the GEO facility. He noted it provides guardrails on resource allocation and discretion for the incident commander. Chief Todd Chamberlain joined remotely and stated that the MOU gives APD more authority and an established incident command system. He claimed that approximately 60-70% of the 1,000 detainees have criminal backgrounds, a figure later contested by public speakers who cited ICE data showing only 22% with criminal records.
Councilmember Coombs raised concerns about information sharing during protests and First Amendment protections. Councilmember Jackson asked how the MOU aligns with a recent emergency resolution limiting APD cooperation with ICE. The chief responded that the MOU is about community safety, not immigration enforcement. Multiple council members expressed skepticism about the data provided and the lack of transparency. Following extensive public comment, a motion to approve was made by Mayor Pratem (?) and seconded by Hancock. The motion failed with 6 no votes and 4 yes votes.
Councilmember Wiles moved to continue these items to May 4, 2026, citing numerous community concerns and a planned joint virtual meeting with the developer on April 29. She said the community needed more information. Councilmember Bergen questioned the delay given prior approvals and a planned grocery store. The motion passed unanimously.
Staff presented a petition for annexation of a 2.496-acre parcel at 22201 East 26th Avenue, with initial zoning as I-1 Industrial. The Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval. All three items (annexation ordinance, zoning ordinance, and annexation agreement) were approved unanimously after brief discussion.
The regular meeting of the Aurora City Council for Monday, April 20th, 2026 is called to order. Would the clerk please call the roll? Mayor Kaufman. Here. Councilmember Andrews. Present. Councilmember Bergen. Here. Councilmember Coombs. Present. Councilmember Gardner. Here. Councilmember Hancock. Here. Councilmember Horton. Councilmember Jackson. President. Councilmember Lawson. Here. Councilmember Medina. Here. Councilmember Wiles. There's the quorum. Calming you. 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, good government. Unite our community together, even though we come from different backgrounds. We pray that there will 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, therefore, as we commit this meeting to the help of the entire community. Amen. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado. Indigenous people 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 upon to be better stewards of the land we inhabit as we continue to work to meet the needs of our entire community. 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, our God, indivisible, and justice for all the executive session update. During executive session, we discussed labor negotiations. Motion is in order for the approval of the minutes from April 6, 2026. Mayor. Motion to approve the minutes. Moved by Councilmember Bergen, seconded by Hancock. Second by Councilmember Hancock to approve the minutes of April 6, 2026. Discussion. I've seen no discussion call for the question on the approval of the minutes from April 6, 2026. Mayor Kaufman. Councilmember Andrews.