Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Aurora City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, September 28, 2026, with all members present except Councilmember Bergen (attended virtually) and Councilmember Hancock. The meeting was dominated by public testimony against the proposed Trident Vantage Data Center, followed by discussion and votes on several ordinances including opposition to Proposition 132, repeal of mandatory minimum sentences per the Camp Simons decision, creation of a socioeconomic impact business license, and refinancing of certificates of participation.
Data Center (Trident Vantage) – Over 60 speakers, including residents, students, seniors, and community organizers, overwhelmingly opposed the proposed 860,000‑square‑foot data center near 48th Avenue and E470. Key concerns included:
Police Accountability – Multiple speakers, including family members of victims (e.g., LaRonda Jones, Kylan Lewis’s mother), called for firing Police Chief Todd Chamberlain and implementing a civilian police accountability council. They cited cases of Corey Dillard, Kylan Lewis, and Rayjon Belt Stubblefield, alleging a pattern of police violence and lack of accountability.
Proposition 132 (Fentanyl penalties) – Several speakers, including representatives from the ACLU and No on 132 campaign, opposed the measure, arguing it would increase incarceration without funding treatment, cost the state hundreds of millions, and disproportionately affect people of color.
Other Topics – One speaker opposed the Flock ALPR contract; one raised concerns about the city’s consent decree monitor (IntegraSure); one spoke about a personal case in municipal court.
12A2 – Resolution opposing Proposition 132 – Council debated whether to oppose the state ballot measure that would increase penalties for fentanyl offenses. Councilmember Lawson and Councilmember Hancock spoke against opposing it, citing accountability for traffickers. Councilmember Horton and Mayor Pro Tem Coombs supported the resolution, arguing incarceration does not treat addiction. The resolution passed 8‑2 (noes: Hancock, Lawson).
12B1 – Ordinance repealing mandatory minimum sentences (Camp Simons compliance) – The second reading of an ordinance to remove mandatory minimum sentences for low‑level offenses (e.g., retail theft) following the Colorado Supreme Court’s Camp Simons decision. Mayor Kaufman proposed an amendment to retain a mandatory three‑day minimum for retail theft between $100 and $300. The amendment was defeated 4‑6. The underlying ordinance passed 7‑3 (noes: Bergen, Hancock, Lawson).
15A – Socioeconomic impact retail license – Final reading of an ordinance creating a supplemental license for businesses that tend to over‑concentrate in lower‑income areas (e.g., vape shops, payday lenders). Councilmember Gardner and Councilmember Hancock argued it was anti‑business; Mayor Pro Tem Coombs defended it as a tool for retail mix. Passed 8‑2 (noes: Gardner, Hancock).
14A – Refinancing certificates of participation – Authorized refunding of the 2017 series for Central Recreation Center, not to exceed $23 million. Approved unanimously.
No further business was heard, and the meeting adjourned.
The regular meeting of the Aurora City Council for Monday, September 28, 2026 is called to order. Would the clerk please call the roll? Mayor Kaufman. Here. Councilmember Andrews. Here. Councilmember Bergen. Mayor Pro Tim Coombs. Present. Councilmember Gardner. Here. Councilmember Hancock. Councilmember Hancock? Here. Councilmember Horton. Here. Councilmember Jackson. Here. Councilmember Lawson. Here. Councilmember Medina? Here. Councilmember Wiles. Here. There's a quorum. Please join me in a moment of silence. An invocation, oh Lord, our God and our Father. We um come to you and we um ask that you look upon this um particular gathering tonight to keep us safe and to guide us in our decisions. Uh bless our city with umorable citizens and um industry and education and good government unite our community together, even though uh 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, uh direction and sensitivity to the business and proceedings before us tonight. Uh, hear us therefore as we uh commit uh this meeting to the to the help of our entire community. Uh please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republican one nation under God, indivisible for liberty and justice for all. Land acknowledgement, the City of Aurora acknowledges that we gather on the territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne Ute, Arapaho, 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 acknowledgment are spoken and heard, the ties that these nations have to their traditional homelands and to and to their vital place in the ecosystem are renewed and reaffirmed, and we are to called to be better uh stewards of this land uh of the of the land we inherited uh as we continue to work to uh meet the needs of our entire community. Um executive session updates uh during executive session we discussed real property issues. Um next motion uh the first motion before us is the adoption of the agenda. Oh no, we're approval of the minutes, Mayor. Oh, I'm sorry. No, Pete. No, sorry. Mayor. Uh Mayor Pro Tem. Um I am confused because it does say approval of minutes next. Mine has approval of the minutes lined down.