At Monday night’s Aurora City Council meeting, councilmembers will vote on a resolution that, if passed, will allow police to use facial recognition technology.

The resolution moved forward from a study session in early October, with Councilmember Alison Coombs opposing it and expressing concerns about the “broad” scope of investigative use.

Facial recognition technology would give police opportunities to enhance productivity, crime solvability, effectiveness and safety, according to council documents.

Aurora Police Cmdr. Chris Poppe said facial recognition technology would not allow police to detain somebody simply by a photo match but would allow investigators to use the technology as they would fingerprint technology or eyewitness testimony — to guide investigations.

In 2022, Senate Bill 22-113 laid out rules for law enforcement agencies that want to use facial recognition. Per the bill, APD has to have permission from the council to implement it.

The department is also required to hold at least three public meetings to hear community feedback and consider any issues raised at the meetings.

On APD’s website, there is a webpage about the department’s facial recognition use proposal, including a public feedback link.

Councilmembers will also decide Monday if Housing and Community Services can accept an award from the Department of Local Affairs for a down payment assistance program, according to council documents.

Aurora applied for Proposition 123 funding through DOLA to expand its down payment assistance program, which provides eligible first-time homebuyers with financial help that can go toward down payment and closing costs.

The award of more than $700,000 will help Aurora provide down payment assistance loans to 24 households, council documents say.

Also Monday, councilmembers will vote on the 2026 proposed budget of $1.3 billion and the next fiscal year’s pay table for employees.

At Monday’s study session, councilmembers will vote on an ordinance establishing a socioeconomic impact permit, designed to prevent overconcentration of certain retail sales and services that disproportionately target low-income communities.

Business types that would fall under the permit include pawnshops, vape and smoke shops, rent-to-own stores, marijuana retail stores and liquor stores.

Monday night’s study session is open to the public via livestream at 5:15 p.m. The public comment listening session will start at 6 p.m. and the regular meeting of the council will follow at 6:45 p.m.

Meetings are livestreamed at the Paul Tauer Aurora Council Chambers, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, and on AuroraTV.org, YouTube.com/TheAuroraChannel and cable channels 8 and 880.