Aurora City Council is gearing up for its first meeting of 2024 on Monday, during which council will try out a new format for meetings and discuss an array of topics facing the city including upgrades to the council chambers. 

At council’s last meeting of 2023, members voted to pass a resolution amending meeting times. Previously, study sessions and regular meetings began at 6:30 p.m. and occurred on alternating Mondays. 

With the passing of last year’s resolution, regular meetings and study sessions will happen on the same Mondays every other week, with study sessions beginning at 5:15 p.m. and regular meetings starting at 6:30 p.m.

At Monday’s study session, council will appoint and reappoint several members to boards and commissions — including to the General Employees’ Retirement Board, which administers the pension plan for general employees.  Historic Preservation Commission appointments will also be made. It reviews and makes recommendations to council about potential landmark status for historic sites and other properties.

They will also appoint new directors to the Aurora Capital Leasing Corp., which assists the city in purchasing, leasing and acquisition of property.

Councilmembers will hear updates on the Paul Tauer Council Chamber accessibility improvements project, which was approved in December 2022 to receive $750,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The project will include adding a ramp option to the main council entrance to the council floor and improve access to the dais from the council floor. 

Other appointments will include city representatives to 24 outside agencies, including Aurora Mental Health, Aurora Sister Cities and Visit Aurora. Members are set to vote whether or not to reappoint two members of its Planning and Zoning Commission.

The study session will be held virtually and is open to the public beginning at 5:15 p.m. at AuroraTV.org and Youtube.com/TheAuroraChannel.

The regular council meeting begins shortly afterward, at 6:30 p.m., in the Paul Tauer Aurora City Council Chamber, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy. The regular meeting can also be viewed at AuroraTV.org and Youtube.com/TheAuroraChannel.

At the regular meeting, councilmembers are scheduled to approve several zoning plans and make statements about Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month.

Council will also vote on an ordinance requiring all property owners serviced by a lead or galvanized service lines to replace those lines. 

The Lead Service Replacement Program, established by Aurora Water, will replace the lines for free or property owners can do it at their own expense, according to agenda documents about the ordinance.