AURORA | A renewed effort to help residents better understand the role and responsibility of Aurora’s city government has been initiated by one of City Council’s newest members.
At-Large City Councilwoman Angela Lawson is backing a citizens academy to comprised of five sessions to advise Aurorans of their rights and engage them in the responsibilities of serving the city on various boards, commissions and other citizen-led opportunities.
Lawson said she saw a need for the academy following her campaign for city council last fall, where she said some residents didn’t even know who Aurora’s mayor was or what he did for the city.
“I was a part of one in Colorado Springs. I found it to be informative, and it made me want to engage with the city and become more part of the process,” she said.
The measure was approved by Aurora City Council members at a study session Monday, July 25.
City documents show proposed sessions of the academy would include learning about local, county and state government; the mayor and Aurora City Council’s responsibilities; learning about boards and commissions and how homeowners’ associations work; the steps it takes to create city laws; and a mock city council meeting. Each session would have no more than 20 students and would conclude with a graduation ceremony.
Each session would be around two hours and would be held one day every other week.
The $400 requested for the program’s supplies and snacks would come out of the 2017 city budget, according to city documents. Participants would pay $15 for the program.
Aurora At-Large Councilman Brad Pierce asked why the city should charge for the academy, since it doesn’t for other academies the city hosts.
“If people have to pay something, they become more invested and they will have to attend,” Lawson said.