At Monday night’s regular Aurora City Council meeting, councilmembers will cast an official vote on a Stage I Water Shortage declaration, as recommended by Aurora Water.

If it passes, restrictions on water use will go into effect the next day, Tuesday, water engineer John Murphy told councilmembers at a recent study session, adding that the urgency is because of “crazy temperatures.”

“Ninety degrees in March is scary for our water supply and for the demand,” he said, adding that people will need to start irrigating their lawns earlier this year, which leads to more water use overall.

Aurora Water officials also plan to ramp up enforcement of those restrictions if they pass, Murphy said.

In the past, enforcement has been gentle, Murphy said. His team reminds people multiple times to follow the restrictions before fining them.

This year, his team will issue one warning. The second violation will result in a $250 fine, and a third violation will result in a $1,000 fine.

Aurora Water officials are working on communication efforts to make sure water customers are aware of the restrictions and the fines for not following them, Murphy said.

“We are in a bad situation,” Murphy said.

Also at Monday night’s regular meeting, the council will hold a public comment session on the 2027 budget. Such sessions happen twice annually, with the second one in 2026 scheduled for August.

At Monday night’s study session, councilmembers will hear updates on the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit Project, which is happening in conjunction with the creation of a Downtown Development Authority to oversee the revitalization of Colfax Avenue in Aurora.

The project has been under study, planning and design since 2012 and a design was finalized in 2024. Construction, bus acquisition and testing are ongoing, according to council documents. Services are estimated to start in early 2028.

Monday’s study session starts at 4 p.m. and the regular meeting will follow at 6 p.m. The regular meeting will take place in the Paul Tauer Aurora City Council Chamber, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, and the study session will be livestreamed in the chamber.

Both meetings are available to watch online at AuroraTV.org and YouTube.com/TheAuroraChannel and on cable channels eight and 880 in Aurora.

The full meeting agenda is available on the city’s website.