Aurora City Council drops restricting public recording, limits speakers at the lectern

AURORA | Aurora city council members on Monday backed off of a proposal to restrict how the public could photograph city council meetings, and lawmakers instead limited how many people can speak simultaneously near the council.

The resolution was the latest salvo in the ongoing battle between lawmakers and family members and supporters of Kilyn Lewis, a man fatally shot by police last year. This time, lawmakers agree to restrict the number of people who can stand at the lectern on the council floor at the same time .

The resolution passed with Councilmembers Crystal Murillo, Alison Coombs, Ruben Medina and Angela Lawson opposed. The change will limit speakers to one person at a time at the lectern in the “council well” unless they have a child or a physical disability and need assistance. 

“If you ever come to one of my meetings, you’ll see I have no podium, purposely, from day one, because of the power dynamics. Everything I do is in a circle of chairs, so we are all equal,” Medina said, referring to his city council town meetings. “I allow people, whether they agree or disagree with me, to speak their mind, speak their truth, because again, it’s about us working collectively together to solve problems.”

The city council has struggled with protesters linked to the death of Lewis for almost a year.

Lewis was fatally shot May 23, 2024, by an Aurora SWAT officer during Lewis’ arrest at an Aurora apartment complex. The arrest was linked to attempted murder charges in Denver. Arapahoe County prosecutors said SWAT Officer Michael Dieck did not break any laws during the shooting. Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said internal investigations revealed Chamberlain did not break any police policies during the shooting. As police were yelling at Lewis to surrender during the parking-lot confrontation, Dieck fired at Lewis as he was raising his arms and hands. Lewis was holding a cell phone in his hand, and Dieck told investigators he thought it was a gun.  

Since then, friends, family members and activists have protested during, before and after Aurora city council meetings, sometimes shutting them down and spending hours speaking to or in front of the city council.

City lawmakers have increasingly restricted how the public addresses the city council without specifically targeting the Lewis coalition of about a dozen regular participants.

The resolution on Monday initially had a section prohibiting cameras or any other recording device in the “well” of the council chambers and obstructing views in the audience with tripods live-streaming during the “public invited to be heard” session before the council meeting. It would have also restricted the media from photographing in the area, but Councilmember Francoise Bergan, the measure’s sponsor, decided to delete that section. 

“It was a bit confusing as the intention was not to preclude a speaker from videotaping or taking a photo,” she said in an email to the Sentinel before the meeting. 

City Attorney Pete Schulte described the “well” of the chamber as the floor space between the front row of the auditorium seating and the dais where city council members sit. 

The part of the proposal that passed will allow only one person at a time at the lectern on the council floor when the public is addressing the council at the dais. 

Last month, MiDian Schofner, one of the regular Lewis protesters, invited people to stand with her at the lectern. The group stood together in the “well” throughout the public listening session. The group has similarly moved onto the council floor numerous times over the past 10 months.

In addition, the new measure will no longer require city lawmakers to give a 24-hour notice when attending meetings virtually.

In the most recent meeting, more than half of city councilmembers attended the “public invited to be heard,” and the city council meeting virtually from the same building. The Sentinel requested a list of the city council members who failed to give the required 24-hour notice at the last meeting that they would attend virtually, and not in person. Councilmembers Danielle Jurinsky and Steve Sundberg did not give the notice required by current city council rules. 

Although Councilmember Alison Coombs said the rule was not strict, and it is common for council members not to give a formal notice. 

Under those new rules, council members are not obligated to be on the dais for the public comment portion of the meeting. The rules, however, require a 24-hour notice if they intend to attend the rest of the city council meeting virtually.

At the meeting on Monday, most city council members were missing from the dais, again, with less than half of them there in person. Councilmembers Curtis Gardner and Crystal Murillo attended virtually all day, including the study session, while Councilmembers Jurinsky, Bergan, Stephanie Hancock and Sundberg all attended the meeting virtually from another room at city hall. 

Sundberg attended the “public invited to be heard” but left the dais for the meeting. Councilmember Amsalu Kassaw attended the meeting, but was virtual for the “public invited to be heard.” 

More city 2025 city council candidates were in the audience than on the dais during the meeting. As many as 18 people have indicated they will run for a city council seat this fall during the city’s municipal election. 

“If you are not required to show up to hear the public speak, then what is the role of the city council?” City Council candidate Alli Jackson told lawmakers during the public comment period for the resolution.