The Aurora City Council will tackle several issues facing the city at its study session and regular meeting Monday evening, including the city’s position on a state bill regarding indigent defense, a call on CDOT to fix I-225 and a resolution to require the public to come to meetings in-person if they want to comment. 

At the study session, the council is scheduled to discuss whether or not to adjust city’s official position on several federal and state bills, including one to prohibit flat fees for defending indigent clients. 

At a Federal, State and Intergovernmental Relations Policy Committee meeting, committee members voted to oppose the bill, which, if passed, would ban municipal governments that prosecute domestic violence cases from using flat-fee contracts for indigent defense services.

It would require cities to instead pay contractors hourly at the same or higher rate that the state pays for its public defender services, according to the draft bill from sponsor Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora.

The council will also vote on moving forward with the 2024 spring supplemental ordinance, which shifts the city’s budget, addressing projects and expenses that need extra funding or inter-fund transfers. 

For example, the ordinance moves $1.3 million from the city’s general fund to capital projects for future courthouse improvement projects. The supplemental requests will adjust the 2023 and 2024 city budgets.

At the council’s regular meeting, Mayor Mike Coffman will bring forward a resolution calling on the Colorado Department of Transportation to study and create a solution for “the unsafe traffic conditions” on northbound I-225 between East 2nd Avenue and East Alameda Avenue. 

Agenda documents state there have been crashes in the area due to a bump on the road causing drivers to lose control of their vehicles.

Councilmember Curtis Gardner will bring forward a resolution amending the rules of order and procedure for city council to move all public comment to in-person speaking from the podium.

Currently, members of the public who wish to speak at meetings can attend in person or speak remotely via videoconference or telephone. 

The amendment would get rid of the ability for the public to speak remotely and require that they come in in-person to speak. 

Additionally, the council will finalize an ordinance to increase the E-911 surcharge on phone services.

The study session will be held at 5:15 p.m. in the Aurora Room of the Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy. 

The council’s regular meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Paul Tauer Aurora City Council Chamber, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway.

Both meetings will also be live streamed at auroraTV.org and Youtube.com/TheAuroraChannel. They will also stream live on cable channels 8 and 880 in Aurora.

Those who want to speak during ‘Public Invited to Be Heard’ must submit a speaker slip by 6:30 p.m. Monday, the day of the meeting. Anyone who wants to comment on an agenda item must submit a speaker slip before the city clerk reads the title of the item.