Council approves cleaned ballot language for vacancy, elective‑office charter amendments

Aurora City Council took several steps Monday to clarify and refer charter changes to voters that affect how council vacancies are handled and whether elected officials may hold more than one elected office.

Ordinance 20 25 55 (item 10 b 4) was amended and adopted; the change revises a ballot question and removes language that would have automatically declared a resignation where an elected official "attains another elective office." The city attorney explained the amendment was intended to prevent a conflict between two proposed charter changes and to offer voters a single, clear ballot question about vacancy procedures and the timing of any special election.

Separately, the council amended and approved ordinance 13 b — a ballot referral concerning elective public office — that would remove a charter prohibition on simultaneously holding more than one elected office and instead allow voters to decide whether a candidate may serve in more than one elected position. That measure was adopted by a recorded vote.

Council also approved ordinance 13 c to clarify that term limits for ward and at‑large council seats are separate and that a member may serve consecutively in both positions subject to voter approval. The council discussion emphasized the measures would appear to voters, who would decide whether they want to separate term‑limit counts and authorize concurrent service in more than one elected office.

Why it matters: These are charter changes that affect eligibility, vacancy processes and term‑limit interpretations for Aurora elected officials. If voters approve the measures in November, the city charter would be revised to reflect the new rules.

Key details: The city attorney described the package as clean‑up and coordination between overlapping ballot language: "If the charter changes included in City of Aurora Ordinance 20 25 57... are approved by the voters... 'attains another elective office' shall be removed from article 3‑7 of the city charter." Council members discussed the timing and the mechanics for special elections under the revised language.

Decisions: The council adopted the amended 10 b 4 unanimously, and later adopted the elective‑office and term‑limit measures for referral to the ballot according to recorded votes in the meeting.

Ending: The measures will appear on the Nov. 4, 2025 municipal ballot if the required procedural steps and deadlines are met; one item (10 b 4) required a follow‑up third reading because it was amended at second reading and staff flagged the July 28 meeting as the next required date for final action.