Aurora City Council adopts new public-comment schedule, prioritizes city residents

The Aurora City Council on Feb. 10 approved a resolution amending its rules of order to move a televised public-comment listening session before the council meeting, shorten the on-site window for comments and prioritize Aurora residents when signing up to speak.

Council members passed the resolution as amended 7-3 after more than an hour of debate about whether the changes limit free speech or simply preserve the council’s ability to conduct agenda business. The measure was moved by Council Member Durske and seconded by Council Member Hancock.

Supporters said the change is intended to reduce repeated disruptions during televised meetings while preserving an opportunity for public input. “Denver has a separate session right before their council meeting that begins at 05:00 and they only do 30 minutes,” City Attorney Pete Schulte told the council, describing the Denver model the resolution mirrors.

Opponents said the amendments are content-driven and risk excluding voices that organizers have used to press the council on policing and public-safety issues. “We are changing this every single meeting,” Council Member Gomes said, arguing the repeated rule changes create confusion and make participation less accessible.

Council Member Gardner offered an amendment that was accepted as friendly and incorporated into the final language. Under the amendment, the city meeting start time was changed from 7:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.; the public-comment listening session will run 6:00–6:40 p.m. (previously proposed as 6:30–7:10 p.m.); and the sign-up window for speakers was adjusted so callers must sign up earlier (moving the deadline earlier in the evening).

The final ordinance text also instructs staff to prioritize speakers who show identification listing an Aurora address; the resolution said the city will not require residents to show identification to speak but that those who do present Aurora addresses will be placed earlier in the signup order.

Council members who voted against the measure — Council Members Coombs, Medina and Murillo — said the change could be used to marginalize persistent critics and limit the council’s exposure to public pressure on matters the council does not control, such as criminal prosecutions. Supporters said the rules preserve a 40-minute total window for public input but place it outside the middle of televised meetings so council can proceed with agenda business.

The resolution was presented as Item 11A2 (Resolution 2025-16) and will take effect under the amended schedule announced by the council.

Details of the amendment, including the revised start time and signup window, were read into the record before the final vote so the public and staff would know the version of the resolution being adopted.