AURORA | City lawmakers are slated to resume discussions on a bevy of controversial issues Monday night, including a contentious proposal from August that would dissolve the city’s long-standing Human Relations Commission, with lawmakers making accusations about political retribution and partisanship.
The long-standing HRC, which addresses issues of diversity, race relations and quality of life for residents with disabilities, has faced elimination for months as part of a citywide review of boards and commissions. Earlier this summer, council narrowly voted to dissolve the group.
On Aug. 25, debate flared again. Councilmember Curtis Gardner said the push to disband the HRC was retaliatory, not budget-driven.
To single out one board and commission for elimination under the guise of efficiency is disingenuous at best,” he said.
Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky, a Republican, accused the HRC of partisanship, mismanagement and disrespect. She cited a May 7 meeting where commissioners discussed a Democratic candidate event and criticized a $250 approval for snacks at a Know Your Rights forum, calling it “activism” and “divisiveness.”
HRC chair Amy Wiles, also a city council candidate, rebutted the claims, noting the group’s $1,200 monthly cost is offset by volunteers’ work valued at $18,619 annually.
She said the commission never sponsored the partisan event Jurinsky referred to. Wiles, a Democrat, is running for council against incumbent Republican Steve Sundberg, who also supported dissolving the HRC.
Jurinsky also referenced past social media posts from former HRC Commissioner Aaron Futrell, though council members pointed out he resigned two years ago.
Councilmember Alison Coombs said Know Your Rights events are regularly attended by Aurora police, arguing the programming is about education, not sanctuary policies.
Mayor Mike Coffman proposed shifting HRC meetings to quarterly rather than disbanding the commission. Councilmember Françoise Bergan then moved to delay a decision while staff explore restructuring options. That motion passed unanimously.
The meeting unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing public protests over the 2024 police shooting of Kilyn Lewis, which has kept council sessions virtual.
Several councilmembers spoke in support of the HRC.
Councilmember Angela Lawson cited its historical mission. Councilmember Crystal Murillo called it “one of our more active commissions.” A letter from Councilmember Amsalu Kassaw, revealed by Wiles, praised the HRC’s community work despite his earlier vote for dissolution.
Jurinsky, Sundberg, Bergan and Councilmember Stephanie Hancock argued the group has lost credibility. Gardner, Coombs and Coffman urged reform rather than elimination.
The council will revisit the issue tonight for first-reading consideration.
Special fines for non-English speaking city court trial absences
Interpreter fees imposed on defendants who miss city court jury trials are going to more than double, while some city council members think the hike is discriminatory.
“I remain concerned that this increases a fee that specifically only applies to people who need interpretation,” Councilmember Alison Coombs said. “We should be looking at fees that apply to any person who fails to appear, rather than penalizing individuals based on language.”
The fee is up for final consideration tonight among lawmakers.
The fee, essentially a fine, for people who fail to appear for a jury trial in Aurora’s municipal court that requires a translator will now go from $35 to $90, but the judge does have the ability to waive the fee if the individual is considered indigent or if there are extenuating circumstances, according to Candace Atkinson, Aurora court administrator.
While city officials did not cite how many cases might be impacted by the change, nor how many jury trials are affected by defendants not appearing, city officials said the annual financial impact of the proposal is only $500.
For example, if an individual gets in a car accident or needs to go to the hospital, the fee can be waived, she said.
District and county courts receive funding for their translator programs through the Office of Language Access, which is funded by the state.
“The Colorado Judicial Branch is committed to providing court users with meaningful access to the courts at no cost, regardless of the language they speak,” the state website states.
Municipal courts, on the other hand, pay for translation services from their own budget.
Aurora courts do impose a failure to appear fee of $25, and a $75 warrant fee, for all situations when an individual fails to appear for a court hearing or jury trial.
“We had one person that failed to appear for jury trial twice, and it was over $1,800 both times, because it was a special language,” Atkinson said. “So that’s why we looked at changing.”
Atkinson said some court cases can require multiple interpreters for witnesses or other people involved in the case, and that’s why some jury trial’s need for an interpreter can be so expensive.
The road to big fines for parents
Aurora parents could face fines of $250 or more if they let their kids drive dirt bikes on city streets and property, under a proposed ordinance headed to the Aurora City Council Monday night for first reading.
The measure would make it illegal for parents or guardians to “knowingly permit anyone under 18 to operate or ride an off-highway vehicle in violation of existing city restrictions.”
So-called “dirt bikes” are small motorcycles intended for off-road recreation. Most do not meet minimum street-regulations, but minors are prohibited from driving any motorized vehicles on city streets and public roads without a valid driver’s license.
Parents who plead or are found guilty of the proposed measure would face a minimum fine of $250, according to the bill language. The new measure would levy penalties separate from those imposed for infractions by the minor dirt-bike driver.
City officials said in legislation details that the proposed change was prompted by a rise in accidents and injuries tied to dirt-bike riding by minors in Aurora and the surrounding region.
Despite current prohibitions on off-highway vehicle use in city streets, sidewalks, open spaces and business areas, officials said minors continue to ride with little resistance.
Let’s see, Jurinski is opposed to a Human Relations Commission. Hmm, could it be that she can’t stand anything that provides information about individual rights? Heck, the police department provides this training! Perhaps she doesn’t want people to know their rights. That way she can bully them unfettered by laws. Once again, she manufactures a supporting event that the commission held for a candidate. It turns out to be false, just like the story she made up about TdA overrunning an apartment complex. Why is she still there? We need to vote her out of office, so we can get something done and not be distracted by her vile drama!
I didn’t “resign” — I chose to step down from the HRC to take a ministry role. Big difference.
Let’s set the record straight:
• The HRC did not sponsor that Democratic candidate event. A local community member did. Listing it in the minutes doesn’t make it ours.
• The chair has been a faithful steward of the HRC’s budget — full stop.
These repeated attacks on the HRC trace back to a single comment I made about Jurinsky being out of touch four years ago. Still dragging this up is not only petty — it’s obsessive. As seen again last night, she simply can’t resist reacting to me, even when I say nothing about her. At this point, it’s bordering on “Stan-ish.”
The HRC is vital for our community. The political theater surrounding it? Pure distraction. It’s time to move on and let the commission do its work.