Aurora City Council Meeting – May 18, 2026

The Aurora City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, May 18, 2026, starting at approximately 6:05 p.m. After roll call, an invocation, and the Pledge of Allegiance, the council approved the minutes of May 4, 2026 (7 yes, 0 no) and the meeting agenda (unanimous). The meeting was marked by extensive public comment, at times disruptive, and culminated in the adoption of a controversial resolution directing the Aurora Police Department to align its communications with existing city policies, restricting the posting of mugshots and suspect names before adjudication except in public safety emergencies. The council also unanimously advanced two annexation resolutions and an eminent domain ordinance for the Colfax Bus Rapid Transit project.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of May 4, 2026: Approved with 7 votes in favor. (Mayor Kaufman, Councilmember Andrews, Mayor Pro Tem Coombs, Councilmember Hancock, Councilmember Jackson, Councilmember Lawson, Councilmember Wiles; Councilmember Bergen and Councilmember Gardner were not audible initially but later confirmed.)
• Adoption of Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• Consent Calendar – Motions (Item 10 C1): Approved with 9 yes votes.
• Consent Calendar – Resolutions (Items 11A1, 11B1, 11B2): Approved with 8 yes votes (after pulling Item 11A2 for separate discussion).

Public Comments & Testimony

The public comment period included speakers for and against the APD communications resolution, as well as testimony on broader police accountability, community safety, and racial equity. Several speakers expressed full support for the resolution, arguing that APD’s social media posts often contained editorialized language that prejudiced suspects before trial, fueled racist comments, and undermined due process. Others, including residents and business owners, opposed the resolution, stating that withholding mugshots and suspect names until conviction would reduce public safety and transparency.

• Katie Edwards (Ward 5 resident) urged the council to support food trucks as economic development, noting a parking lot at Hampton and Chambers that now hosts vendors without city funding. She questioned the proposed rule of one truck per 15,000 sq ft and asked how making it harder for a veteran food truck operator prevents human trafficking.
• Jeffrey McFarland (Ward 1 resident) criticized the council’s focus on decorum and argued that protected speech includes profanity. He called for the firing of Police Chief Todd Chamberlain and accused APD of failing to protect Black residents.
• Justin Hands described a May 21, 2025 SWAT raid on his home based on a false 911 call. He stated he intends to sue the city.
• Kirk Manzanares promoted his “Positive Aurora Community Movement” (PACMO) and urged unity. He called for active listening and love, not judgment, for those with mental health struggles.
• K. Dot (speaker) and Coyoa Lewis celebrated the high school graduation of Kylan Lewis Jr., son of Kylan Lewis fatally shot by APD. They expressed gratitude for the passage of SB 26‑190 (police accountability legislation) and warned they will continue to push for further reforms.
• Medine Schaffner thanked the council for passing Resolution 11A2 but called it “only a start.” She stated that the community has a long way to go and expects stakeholding on broader accountability measures.
• Veronica Sebron and Ellen Wu criticized the council for allowing racist comments and systemic neglect of racial justice.
• Several other speakers (Tristan Houst, N West, Alondra, Veronica Jones, Ayante Anderson, Shannon Peterson) spoke in favor of Resolution 11A2, emphasizing the need to ensure APD only posts factual information and to stop the “unchecked power” of the police department.
• Councilmember Hancock read an email from a resident who said they no longer feel safe attending meetings due to “profanity, disrespectful comments, bullying, and threats.” Councilmember Hancock also called for a moment of silence for persecuted Christians worldwide.

During public comment, one speaker (Justin Hands) was removed by security after disrupting the meeting. The council recessed twice (at 6:05 p.m. and 6:35 p.m.) to restore order.

Discussion Items

Item 11A2 – Resolution 2026‑55 (APD Communications Policy) The original resolution directed the city manager to implement a policy requiring APD to follow established city communications workflows and to refrain from posting mugshots or suspect names on social media until a guilty plea or conviction, unless a public safety emergency exists. A substitute motion was introduced after staff reported that existing policies already applied to all departments. The substitute replaced the first clause with a directive to follow existing policies and added an exception for emergency public safety concerns (e.g., wanted persons, threats to public safety).

Council Debate:

• Councilmember Bergen argued the resolution stifles the police chief’s First Amendment rights, bypassed the Public Safety Committee, and that restricting timely public safety information could harm residents.
• Councilmember Lawson echoed that transparency and mugshot release help neighbors protect themselves and that the city manager lacks expertise to approve posts.
• Councilmember Hancock called the resolution a direct attack on Chief Chamberlain and said it would make Aurora less safe; she cited dozens of constituent emails opposing it.
• Councilmember Wiles said she was conflicted but ultimately supported the resolution because APD’s posts have included editorialized language (“terrorized the neighborhood”) that creates liability and division, despite repeated requests to “just state the facts.”
• Councilmember Horton argued the resolution is “mundane” – merely aligning APD with city communications policies – and that due process is essential to avoid lawsuits and protect the city’s budget.
• Councilmember Medina noted that the District Attorney’s office raised concerns that APD posts (e.g., citing “extensive criminal history”) could taint a jury pool and prejudice prosecution.
• Mayor Pro Tem Coombs emphasized that the amendments create specific public safety exceptions (e.g., when a suspect is released pre‑adjudication) and that the policy does not prevent factual information, only personal opinion and political innuendo.

The substitute motion passed by a vote of 6 yes to 3 no. Councilmembers Bergen, Gardner, and Lawson voted no. After further public comment, the final resolution (as substituted) was adopted by a vote of 6 yes to 4 no. Councilmembers Bergen, Gardner, Hancock, and Lawson voted no.

Item 13A – Eminent Domain for Colfax Bus Rapid Transit Project Staff presented an ordinance authorizing the city to exercise eminent domain to acquire necessary easements for the Colfax BRT project (improvements along Colfax Avenue from I‑70 to I‑225). Staff emphasized that eminent domain is used only as a last resort after good‑faith negotiations. The council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance.

Items 15A and 15B – Annexation Resolutions Two resolutions were presented, finding that petitions for annexation of two sets of parcels (20.491 acres owned by 7 N LLC at South Gun Club Road and East Bayod Avenue, and 46.6 acres owned by PCG Holdings LLC at the southeast corner of Gun Club and Bayod) are in substantial compliance with state law. Each resolution sets a public hearing for June 22, 2026. Both resolutions passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of May 4, 2026 approved (7 yes).
• Agenda adopted unanimously.
• Consent Calendar – Motions (Item 10 C1) approved (9 yes).
• Consent Calendar – Resolutions (Items 11A1, 11B1, 11B2) approved (8 yes).
• Item 11A2 – APD Communications Policy: Substitute motion passed (6‑3), and final resolution adopted (6‑4). The policy requires APD to follow all city communications policies and, absent a public safety emergency, to withhold mugshots and suspect names from social media until a guilty plea or conviction. The city manager will define emergency exceptions.
• Item 13A – Colfax BRT Eminent Domain adopted unanimously.
• Item 15A – Annexation Resolution (7 N LLC parcels) adopted unanimously; public hearing set for June 22, 2026.
• Item 15B – Annexation Resolution (PCG Holdings parcels) adopted unanimously; public hearing set for June 22, 2026.
• Council reports included updates on a decorum rules committee meeting (May 26), moment of silence for the San Diego Islamic Center shooting and for persecuted Christians, and announcements of upcoming town halls and community events.
• Additional public comments following council reports reiterated support for police reform and criticism of the council’s handling of racial equity.