Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment And Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenters raise concerns about Alliance Group and a Mitchell Road property; council holds annexation/zoning items for two weeks
Summary
Public commenters alleged lack of oversight at an "Alliance Group" nonprofit and debated a deteriorating house at 1231 Mitchell Road; the council removed and held three agenda items related to that property for two weeks to allow further review.
During the public-comment period at the June 10 Aurora City Council meeting, speakers raised two distinct accountability concerns that led the council to hold related agenda items for further review.
Rick Lawrence (4th Ward) alleged that an entity he called the Alliance Group lacks transparency and oversight, saying recent resignations from the board and unexplained deposits raised alarms. “This type of board that has no accountability, no oversight, no ability to FOIA to see where the money is going,” Lawrence said, and urged the council to demand answers about city-committed funds.
Separately, Joe Lusk and Dina Weiss spoke about a house at 1231 Mitchell Road that appears on the agenda for annexation and a conditional-use plan. Lusk said the house is “in disrepair” and that his group had voted not to spend money to repair it; Dina Weiss, identifying herself as a financial secretary on the board of directors, said the matter has been under discussion for about 18 months, confirmed an email with zoning director Ed Seben that indicated demolition may be the long-term plan, and said professionals estimated roughly $92,000 in needed repairs.
Because Ward 1 alderman requested more time to meet with petitioners and staff, the council removed items 4.21 (annexation at 1231 Mitchell Road), 4.22 (conditional-use plan and zoning change) and 4.24 (final plat for Aurora Turner's Club subdivision) from the consent agenda and agreed by unanimous consent to hold them at the council level for two weeks. Legal counsel advised that removing items from consent moves them to unfinished business, where the council may later approve, refer back to committee, or take other action.
The council indicated staff will follow up with members of the public on concerns raised during comment where those matters fall within the city’s authority. The held items will reappear under unfinished business at the next city council meeting in two weeks.
