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Council delays change to Oil and Gas Advisory Committee membership after members raise influence concerns
Summary
Council introduced an ordinance to clarify membership categories for the Oil & Gas Advisory Committee but voted 7–3 to continue the item to July 27 so staff can supply more background on industry and landowner participation and potential outside influence.
City staff presented an ordinance intended to clarify—not change—the membership categories for Aurora’s Oil and Gas Advisory Committee and council voted to continue the item for more information.
Jeffrey Moore, the city’s manager of the Energy and Environment Division, told the council the committee was created in 2015 and consists of three membership categories: five resident citizens, three industry representatives with operations in Aurora, and three surface or mineral owners. Moore said the proposed amendment would explicitly state that industry and surface/mineral representatives are not required to be residents, which he said was the original intent but was not explicit in the ordinance text.
Council member Horton moved to continue the item two weeks to the July 27 meeting to allow members to review a fuller scope and history and to guard against the “undue influence” of outside companies. Horton said she wanted time to do due diligence after reviewing materials ahead of the meeting.
Council member Hancock asked whether the concern was undue influence from nonresident company representatives; Horton confirmed that was part of her concern and said she wanted clarity about commitments made by prior councils. Council member Bergen questioned the need for a continuance because, Bergen said, the existing practice already allowed nonresident representatives for those categories.
After discussion, the motion to continue passed 7–3. Council members Bergen, Hancock and Lawson voted no. The item will return to the July 27 council meeting with additional materials from staff.
The ordinance language remains unchanged pending the continuance; staff said the changes are intended only to make the residency exceptions explicit and to align the code with prior practice. The continuation preserves the opportunity for public input when the item is reintroduced.
Next steps: the item will be on the July 27 council agenda for further discussion following staff follow-up requested by council members.
