AURORA | The city’s annual contract with the Aurora Economic Development Council came under scrutiny for its funding sources during Monday’s regular Aurora City Council meeting.
The agreement, which was unanimously approved by council members, said the city will pay AEDC $450,000 this year for services to retain, expand and attract companies to Aurora.
Ward IV Councilman Charlie Richardson said he was disappointed to see half of that money come from the city’s water fund. The rest of the money comes out of the city’s general fund.
“Can someone answer me as to why money is coming from the water fund to support this group?” he asked during the meeting.
Andrea Amonick, manager of Aurora’s Urban Renewal Authority who also works with AEDC, said economic development results in more water customers.
“What I hear from that is the water fund feels it’s necessary to stimulate the creation of the need for water. Is that what I’m hearing you say?” Richardson asked. Richardson said he would like all of the funding to come from the general fund in the future.
Richardson also proposed an amendment to the contract that would not allow AEDC employees to “conduct any activity that could be perceived as either supporting or opposing the election of any member of the Aurora City Council” during workweek hours. That motion died on the floor without a second from another city council member.
Richardson said he supported the city’s agreement with AEDC, but wanted to bring up issues he had with the contract during the council meeting because it did not go through a study session first.
The AEDC said it is estimated to create or retain at least 1,200 jobs annually in Aurora. AEDC President and CEO Wendy Mitchell told Richardson at the meeting that jobs created by AEDC are reported to council’s Planning and Economic Development policy committee on a regular basis.
Aurora may expand special taxing district for Gaylord
A public hearing was held at Monday’s council meeting to approve a petition from the landowner to include more land in a general improvement district to help facilitate the financing of public improvements associated with the Gaylord Rockies project.
Aurora City Council members unanimously approved the proposal at the meeting and no one spoke against the expansion during the public hearing. The land the hotel is set to be built on near DIA is owned by a single entity, LNR CPI High Point LLC. In 2011 when the election was held to create the district, the corporation was the only voter in that election.
Last year Adams County Judge Ted C. Tow III said that Aurora violated the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) with an election process that did not include enough voters to approve the special tax district to finance the project.
The judge explained in his ruling: “Not one person who may ultimately pay the tax was permitted to vote on this tax increase. The only vote cast was on behalf of an entity that, at most, would be responsible for collecting the tax.”
Aurora officials have long contended the hotel will be mostly used by tourists and travelers rather than by residents.