Aurora council narrows alcohol at recreation center to community rooms, requires off-duty officers

The Aurora City Council on Sept. 9 approved a municipal alcohol policy amendment that confines alcohol use at the Aurora Recreation Center to defined community rooms and explicitly prohibits alcohol in recreational spaces such as the gym.

City Manager said the draft returned with targeted revisions from the prior meeting, including a narrowed definition of "community room" and a prohibition of alcohol "in the recreational spaces" while allowing it "only in the community rooms." The policy also was amended to require security staffing by off-duty AMPD officers where available; if none are able or willing, event organizers must provide security that meets the same background-check requirements, the manager said.

Council members discussed the changes and confirmed the policy is intended to keep alcohol out of areas used for general recreation while allowing managed use in reservable community rooms. A council member asked whether the recreation area prohibition includes the gym; staff confirmed it does. The resolution was offered for adoption as item 7.1 (resolution 2025-2016) and the council voted to approve it.

The measure requires event organizers to comply with the off-duty-officer requirement or provide equivalent vetted security and to meet background-check standards. Staff will implement the revised definitions and security procedures as part of managing reservations and events at the recreation center.

The council concluded the item with a recorded motion that carried. No fiscal figures or effective date beyond the resolution reference were specified during the meeting.