The Aurora City Council will vote on a lease and operator agreement for a homeless navigation camp at Monday night’s meeting. If approved, a Denver-based nonprofit will oversee the campus, which will provide various services to the city’s homeless population. The lease term is initially three years, with the option to extend for up to 10 years.
In addition to the homeless navigation campus vote, councilmembers will also consider a resolution regarding public comment rules. The resolution, sponsored by Councilmember Curtis Gardner, would eliminate the ability for people to call in to speak, requiring all public comment to be done in person. It also outlines guidelines for signing up to speak at meetings and limits public comment on agenda items to 30 minutes.
The decision to remove call-in public comment follows an incident in early September where a speaker from California made derogatory comments towards various groups. Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky has expressed concern over the current system allowing for non-residents to participate in public comment and has indicated that changes to the system are being considered.
Additionally, Councilmembers Stephanie Hancock and Danielle Jurinsky will propose ordinances at the meeting. Hancock’s ordinance addresses the removal of lost or stolen shopping carts, while Jurinsky’s ordinance ensures public access to the Aurora Reservoir is maintained during special events. Both proposals aim to improve the aesthetics and accessibility of the community.
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