The Aurora City Council voted to authorize contracts and change orders for ongoing work at RiverEdge Park, approving a combined package that includes jumbotron purchases, supporting structures and paver replacement.

Council members debated the package at length on technical, timing and budgetary grounds before voting to approve the combined resolution (listed in the city packet as 25-07-40). The measure passed on a roll call vote: 8 yes, 3 no.

Supporters said the jumbotrons and infrastructure are required to attract larger acts and make the lawn experience viable; opponents pushed to split the package and defer the larger equipment purchase until staff could seek additional bids, sponsorships or lower-cost alternatives.

Most of the discussion focused on two issues: whether to split the overall change order into separate votes for (a) the support structures, foundations and paver work and (b) the jumbotron and electronics, and whether the city should delay purchasing screens until earlier-season manufacturing windows to seek cheaper pricing. Alderman Barrero and others pressed for more competitive bids, sponsorship opportunities and use of existing screens, while council members including Alderman Bugg and Alderman Buck argued that the combined scope and price are necessary to make RiverEdge competitive in 2026.

Jim Jarvis of the Aurora Civic Center Authority presented revenue scenarios showing potential incremental income if the back lawn were activated for ticketed seating; he estimated net additional revenue from activating roughly 1,000 lawn seats at commonly booked shows could range into the tens of thousands per event, and several sold-out concerts in recent years would have materially benefitted.

Public works Director Jason Bauer told the council the quoted jumbotron supplier had held pricing and that lead time from order to installation is roughly 4–6 months, which supporters said made prompt approval necessary to be ready for early summer shows.

Council actions and outcomes: The council first defeated a motion to amend the combined item by dividing it into two separate votes (the amendment failed 4 yes, 7 no). The original combined resolution (25-07-40, jumbotron purchases and paver replacement) then passed 8 yes, 3 no. A separate change order to Ratio Architects for additional design services (25-07-41) was approved by a later roll call (9 yes, 2 no).

Council members said additional, smaller items tied to RiverEdge (sound system upgrades, fixtures and furniture) will come forward in subsequent agenda items.

With the votes completed, staff said they would proceed with contracting according to the approved scope so the park’s upgraded experience could be offered next season. Several aldermen asked staff to continue pursuing sponsorship and grant options and present updates on procurement and construction progress at future council or committee meetings.