AURORA | Aurora proposes charter amendments aimed at modernization and clarity
Aurora voters will decide five amendments to the Aurora City Charter, touted as ways to modernize outdated provisions, improve clarity and promote fairness. One ballot question is reserved for residents and businesses along part of the East Colfax corridor.
The proposed changes span a variety of topics, from gender-neutral language to council vacancies and term limits.
- Question 3B: Gender-neutral language
If approved by voters, one of the proposed ordinances would update city charter with gender-neutral language. Many places in the city charter have gender-specific terms that would be updated without altering the intent or meaning of any provision.
The question is whether several articles should be amended to replace gender-specific language with gender-neutral terms to promote clarity, equality, and consistency.
- Question 3C: Council vacancy procedures
Another ordinance addresses how vacancies on city council are filled, depending on the timing of the vacancy.
A council may appoint a qualified person to serve for up to two years, or call a special or regular election. This change would clarify when appointments versus elections are used and would likely influence political decisions about when members resign.
- Question 3D: City manager residency
Currently, the charter requires the city manager to reside within city limits. A proposed amendment would eliminate that requirement, giving the city council discretion to decide residency conditions at the time of appointment.
City staff said the provision can be considered outdated compared to some other cities. With email, remote meetings, and digital tools, the city manager could be effective living nearby rather than being required to live within the city itself.
- Question 3E: Holding multiple public offices
This amendment would remove a ban that prohibits elected city officials from holding another elected public office.
If approved, it would allow city council members to serve in more than one part-time elected position. This would not apply to full-time roles like mayor or county commissioner due to constitutional restrictions.
- Question 3F: Term limits for council members
The proposal clarifies term limits for ward and at-large council members. Currently, the charter does not distinguish between the two, requiring a councilmember who has “termed out” after 12 years in a ward seat to take a break before they can run for an at-large seat. If approved by voters, ward and at-large term limits would be considered separate.
- Special district ballot question in northwest Aurora, Downtown Development Authority Election
There are two related proposals for the DDA for residents within the boundary, which aim to revitalize the East Colfax corridor.
The boundary encompasses the stretch of the Colfax Corridor between Yosemite Street and Oswego Street, and from East 14th Avenue to East 16th Avenue.
The first question asked of voters in the area will be if they want to establish a Downtown Development Authority, which will serve as the legal and financial backbone to help revitalize that downtown area.
The second question would be whether the residents in the area would want to finance the DDA with Tax Increment Financing (TIF), where future increases in property and sales tax revenue would be captured and reinvested within the DDA boundary.