Council suspends further appointments to Human Relations Commission pending rewrite

Aurora City Council voted during a study session to suspend further appointments to the Aurora Human Relations Commission until the council completes a rewrite of the commission’s ordinance and decides the commission’s future structure.

Council member Hancock urged suspension, saying the commission is being rewritten and that it was appropriate to pause appointments until the council determines whether and how to retain the commission. Hancock expressed concern about appointing individuals whose stated interests and activities she described as activist in nature; she said she supports changes to the appointment process that would give council a greater role in selecting members.

Staff told the council the ordinance for the Human Relations Commission is under revision and will be returned to the council for consideration. Some council members said they would prefer to wait until the ordinance is finalized before filling vacancies; others asked that applicants and their materials be made available for review.

The council chair asked if there were objections to suspending appointments; none were sustained, and the suspension was put in place for existing and future appointments until the rewrite is complete. Council member Vergheen said she supported the suspension and asked whether members would be able to review the rewritten ordinance before appointments resume. Staff said the matter will come through the study-session and council process.

No final decision was made on the redesigned commission composition, appointment method or timeline for returning the rewritten ordinance to the council; staff and the sponsor indicated the rewrite is in progress and will come back to council for further consideration.