Aurora Council meeting erupts amid debate over Human Relations Commission dissolution

CLARIFICATION: It was Councilmember Francoise Bergan who moved to postpone final action until September on the question of whether to dissolve the HRC. Who sponsored the question was omitted from an earlier version of this story.

AURORA | After a tumultuous Aurora City Council meeting Monday night, lawmakers might not eliminate the Aurora’s Human Relations Commission after accusations were made that the proposed dissolution was just an act of “retribution.”

“This whole process started because Council directed staff to consolidate and or eliminate boards and commissions to save money,” Councilmember Curtis Gardner said during the meeting. “That’s clearly not what this is, because all the rest of the eliminations that were up for a vote last time, none of them moved forward, other than the (Independent Review Board). Based upon the reasons given tonight, this is clearly retribution.”

The long-standing commission and numerous other city panels have for months been facing possible elimination under a comprehensive review focusing on efficiency and savings to the ailing city budget.

The HRC’s mission and focus has been as a wide-ranging sounding board for community issues linked to the city’s diversity, race-relations and life-quality for people with disabilities.

Two weeks ago, city lawmakers agreed on a narrow vote to dissolve the commission.

On Monday night, the debate resurfaced among accusations, primarily lodged by Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky, of city commission rife with partisanship, financial mismanagement, and disrespect. Proponents of keeping the HRC said those arguments appeared to be contrived as some kind of personal vendetta against the mission or members, and that the HRC remains one of the city’s more active and valuable community bodies.

The city council does not meet in person, a decision arrived at amid a year-long public battle among city lawmakers and city-council-chamber protesters. The protests are linked to lawsuits and demands of discipline against police for the 2024 officer-involved shooting of Kilyn Lewis.

The HRC rebuttal started Monday night with Amy Wiles, the HRC chairperson, speaking during public comment and breaking down the monthly cost of the HRC to the city, which is approximately $1,200 with staff time included. She explained that the volunteers’ work almost doubles what the city receives. 

“The combined value of the HRC volunteer hours through meetings and events totals $18,619 annually,” she said. “This represents a savings for the city of $6,619. This figure does not include additional time we spend preparing for events, coordinating with nonprofits or engaging directly with community members. The HRC plays a vital role in building bridges, fostering community connections and representing Aurora’s commitment to its diverse population.”

The boiling point came after Mayor Mike Coffman made a motion to switch the monthly commission to quarterly instead of eliminating it. 

Councilmember Steve Sundberg immediately said that he had an issue with the group donating $2,000 to The Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, a nonprofit organization that offers legal services to immigrants. 

Jurinsky then said that she had an issue with the group having  “put on” a “partisan” candidate event and only inviting one party, referring to the group’s minutes from May 7. She referred to a city council candidate-related event. The Aurora City Council is not a partisan board and those elected do not disclose their political parties on ballots, although partisan politics has played a prominent role in the city council for the last several years.

“They held and promoted a partisan candidate gathering that alone, right there, should be automatic grounds for termination of this commission,” Jurinsky said. 

Wiles, a registered Democrat, is also currently running for city council against the incumbent Sundberg, a registered Republican, in Ward II. Jurinsky, a registered Republican, is also running as an at-Large incumbent this fall.

In the meeting minutes for May 7, there is a section that lists upcoming events. The list includes “council candidate this Friday” at 6 p.m. at Parkside Eatery. This event was advertised on social media and on fliers as a candidate get-together for area Democrats. However, it was not publicly sponsored nor promoted by the HRC in any way, HRC members said. 

The HRC also did not fund it, Wiles said. She said the event was brought up in the meeting and added to the minutes. Other events were also listed, including ones that the HRC doesn’t sponsor or promote.

The events listed in the minutes from May included an HRC-sponsored and funded Know Your Rights event, a partially sponsored Global Fest, and an HRC-sponsored and partially funded Aurora Pride event.

The events also listed a virtual presentation from the Community Advisory Council (CAC), which is a part of the Aurora Consent Decree, and is not sponsored or publicly promoted by the HRC. 

Jurinsky went on to list her additional complaints.

‘It is absolutely unacceptable for a committee member of any committee to be so publicly disrespectful, quite frankly, towards council members in their role as a Human Relations Commissioner,” Jurinsky said.

Jurinsky has repeatedly criticized former commissioner Aaron Futrell for calling her and Sundberg “out of touch” in a 2023 Facebook post.

Wiles said Jurinsky once called her directly and demanded she “shut him up” or risk seeing the HRC abolished. The comments were tied to email exchanges made available to the Sentinel between Wiles and Jurinsky that date back to November 2024. 

Futrell later left the commission but continues to volunteer. Jurinsky acknowledged in recent emails that Futrell is no longer a member, but she has continued to cite his behavior in her criticisms of the HRC.

“Mr. Futrell has not been on this commission in two years,” Councilmember Alison Coombs said later in the meeting in response to Jurinsky’s claims. “So if you’re trying to say that his behavior is a reason to abolish this commission, he’s not even on this commission.”

Jurinsky said that the commission activist pointed out in the minutes that they had a vote to spend $250 on snacks for a Know Your Rights event. 

“Essentially, to help people evade law enforcement, which is an exact policy of a sanctuary city,” Jurinsky said. “This commission has turned totally to activism, to hatred, to divisiveness. Supporting everything that this council goes against, that this council has voted for, that this council has stood for. This commission has been hijacked.”

Commissioners are appointed by the city council and essentially serve at their pleasure, according to city rules.

The events typically have the Aurora Police Department in attendance, Coombs said. The Aurora Police have done multiple Know Your Rights events, including one in February, with Police Chief Todd Chamberlain recently partnering with the African Leadership Group and Congressman Jason Crow to host one.

“It is important that our community members understand their legal rights,” Coombs said. “When we live in a diverse community where people may be subject to unique legal situations, we should be making sure that they know their legal rights, and that’s not a sanctuary policy to make sure people know their legal rights.” 

Gardner, Coffman and Coombs all reminded fellow city lawmakers that they can change rules and appoint the commissioners as they see fit. 

“We have the ability to control the bylaws,” Gardner said. “We have the ability to control who sits on the commission. So if we don’t like those things, change them. But to single out one board and commission for elimination under the guise of efficiency is disingenuous at best.” 

Councilmembers Sundberg, Françoise Bergan and Stephanie Hancock vocally supported Jurinksy, citing the same reasons for eliminating the group as her. 

Councilmember Amsalu Kassaw voted to eliminate the commission during the last meeting but stayed silent this meeting after Wiles revealed a letter of support he wrote for the commission. 

“Thank you so much for reaching out and, of course, for doing such a fantastic job engaging with the community,” Councilmember Amsalu Kassaw wrote in a letter to the HRC, according to Wiles. “Your commitment to bringing people together is truly appreciated. Please continue to do the great work we are here to support each other and building a stronger and more connected community.”

Councilmember Angela Lawson said she served on the HRC briefly, and she remembers the history and mission after talking to Barbara Shannon-Bannister, a founder of the HRC. She said she might not always agree with the group, but she does think many of the programs are beneficial. 

“I feel like Councilmember Jurinsky’s comments kind of alluded to the true intention in trying to eliminate this commission,” Councilmember Crystal Murillo said. “I think we’re clear that this is one of our more active commissions, very involved for a number of years. And I don’t understand why I would get rid of it.”

Bergan made a substitute motion to delay the vote on the future of the HRC with additional parameters and possible suggestions for restructuring. The city council members voted unanimously on Bergan’s motion.

The task of determining the commission’s future was postponed until a Sept. 22 council meeting, allowing time for city staff to make changes to suggest to council.