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Finance Committee approves stopgap agreement with Aurora Regional Economic Alliance for SSA‑1 events through 2025
Summary
The Finance Committee approved an ordinance authorizing an agreement to give Special Service Area 1 funds to the Aurora Regional Economic Alliance to run downtown events through Dec. 31, 2025, with budget oversight and reporting requirements.
The Aurora Finance Committee on Aug. 28 approved an ordinance authorizing an agreement with the Aurora Regional Economic Alliance to spend Special Service Area 1 (SSA‑1) funds on downtown events through Dec. 31, 2025.
The move, described by Chief of Staff Shannon Cameron as “a transitionary approach to allow us to give SSA1 funds to the Alliance to execute things like First Friday events,” is intended to keep downtown events operating while staff and council review reinstating a Downtown Aurora Association or other longer-term arrangement.
Cameron told the committee the agreement allows the Alliance to make purchases under $1,000 directly but that any single expenditure above that threshold would require separate approval; she said the Alliance has prepared event budgets that the city would approve before larger expenditures. Committee members pressed whether the $1,000 threshold was too low given rising costs. Vice Chair Carl Franco said a higher threshold might be appropriate; Cameron said holiday decorations and other larger efforts would be covered by separate, preapproved budgets.
Committee members also asked about the contract period. Cameron said the agreement runs through Dec. 31, 2025, but there could be expenses that “bleed into 2026” for billing or event delivery and that staff expect to bring a follow-up proposal to council in January. Alderman Edward J. Bugg asked for a full accounting of Alliance expenditures; Cameron said Alliance leadership is due to report to council and that staff would schedule a report “within 30 days.”
The committee voted 5‑0 to approve the ordinance. Motion: by Alderman Dan Barredo; second: Alderman Edward J. Bugg. Outcome: approved, 5‑0.
The agreement is presented as an interim measure to ensure downtown businesses and events continue while staff and council consider a longer-term governance or service arrangement for downtown programming and holiday decorations.
