Meeting Minutes @ AuroraGov.org

Council Member Wallace asked those present to reflect on the recent passing of Jeffrey Nickelson, Founder and Artistic Director of the Shadow Theater. She related the last post Mr. Nickelson made on Facebook, which read, “Look someone in their eyes today and make sure they know you love them.” and suggested everyone apply these words to their everyday life.

4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF AUGUST 31, 2009

Motion by Markert, second by FitzGerald, to approve the minutes of August 31, 2009, as presented.

Voting Aye: Mayor Tauer, Beer, Broom, FitzGerald, Frazier, Markert, Peterson, Pierce, Sandstrom, Wallace

Abstained: None.

6. CEREMONY

a. Proclamation declaring September 20, 2009 as Norwegian Lundehund Day – Mayor Edward J. Tauer

Mayor Tauer invited Cindy Knox, Arapahoe Kennel Club, President, and Kay Dahlinger to come forward to accept the proclamation. Mayor Tauer read the proclamation declaring September 20, 2009 as Norwegian Lundehund Day. Each guest expressed appreciation for the proclamation, and invited all those interested in attending to the Bark in the Park and Lundefest Too! on Sunday, September 20, 2009 at Expo Park from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

b. Swearing in of newly appointed Boards and Commission members

Name Board or Commission

Teresa Barbo Golf Course Advisory Commission

Greg Echols Building Code & Contractors Appeals and Standards Board

Sharon Robinson Local Licensing Authority

Robert Yett Veterans’ Affairs Commission

Presiding Judge Richard Weinberg administered the oath of office to the board and commission members. Mayor Tauer and City Council congratulated the members and thanked them for their service to Aurora.

7. PUBLIC INVITED TO BE HEARD (non-agenda related issues only)

a. Public Budget Hearing- Public Invited to be heard.

Greg Gibson, Aurora, Colorado, spoke in favor of the continued funding of the Pheasant Run Pool. He brought with him both a total of 155 signatures of support and many of his neighbors. He felt closing City assets was damaging to the community and was contradictory to the City’s mission statement. Mr. Gibson suggested various creative funding options that might be used to assure the pools operation.

Janice Gibson, Aurora, Colorado, spoke in favor of the continued funding of the Pheasant Run Pool.

Lyndal Frye, Aurora, Colorado, spoke in favor of the continued funding of the Pheasant Run Pool.

Craig Hall, Aurora, Colorado, spoke in favor of the continued funding of the Pheasant Run Pool.

April Finney, Aurora, Colorado, spoke in favor of the continued funding of the Pheasant Run Pool.

Erica Beemer, Aurora, Colorado, spoke in favor of the continued funding of the Pheasant Run Pool.

Matt Bennett, Aurora, Colorado, spoke in favor of the continued funding of the Pheasant Run Pool.

William Townend, Aurora, Colorado, spoke in favor of the continued funding of the Pheasant Run Pool.

Sean Brennan, Aurora, Colorado, spoke in favor of the continued funding of the Pheasant Run Pool.

Amber Suarez, Aurora, Colorado, spoke in favor of the continued funding of the Pheasant Run Pool.

Nicolle Brown, Aurora, Colorado, spoke in favor of the continued funding of the Pheasant Run Pool.

Jessica Noe, Aurora, Colorado, discussed the 2010 proposed budget that recommended replacing civilian employees with police officers. She stated the recommendation appeared to comply with the City’s “Two officers-per-Thousand residents” ordinance; however, the ordinance was specifically intended to increase safety and put more officers on the street. She explained the differences in civilian and police officer training and noted the two were not interchangeable.

Renee Rutherford, Aurora, Colorado, expressed concerns regarding being laid off at the end of the year and being replaced by a police officer. She has been working at the Police Front Desk in District 2 with the City for 13 years and noted the training she acquired was very different than that of a police officer; therefore the position could not simply be supplanted.

Vera Jackson, Aurora, Colorado, expressed concerns regarding being laid off at the end of the year and being replaced by a police officer. She stated the replacement of civilian employees with police officers would dramatically reduce quality customer service at the front desk and would create an inadequate police response on the streets.

Council Member Wallace asked Ms. Jackson the number of days she worked a week. Ms. Jackson stated she worked four ten-hour shifts. Council Member Wallace asked if any day was slower than another. Ms. Jackson stated it varied. Council Member Wallace asked if the four ten-hour shifts were consistent with all employees. Ms. Jackson answered affirmatively.

Sharon Holmes, Aurora, Colorado, expressed concerns regarding being laid off at the end of the year and being replaced by a police officer. She stated changing the dynamic of the front desk residents would result in be deprived of quality customer service.

Sonia Skakich-Scrima, Aurora, Colorado, Village Green Neighbors Association, President, informed Council of the importance of keeping the Village Green Pool and City Libraries open. She stated that the educational and recreational benefits lost by their closing outweighed the value of the savings gained, and therefore the City should reevaluate their proposed cuts. Ms. Skakich-Scrima stated her support for the Library GID and noted that the City of Aurora had not had any type of mill levy increase since the 1980s and yet costs have still continued to rise. She called upon all City residents to stand up and vote for the City’s future.

Larry Scrima, Aurora, Colorado, echoed Ms. Skakich-Scrima by advocating the importance of keeping the Village Green Pool open. He spoke about the makeup of a successful community and how the pool’s closure would be harmful to the public. He asked those present in favor of the pool remaining open to stand, noting he collected 100 signatures in favor as well.

Council Member Sandstrom noted Pheasant Run Pool was now located in Ward V as the ward boundaries were changed. She was in contact with Mr. Gibson and a neighborhood meeting would ensue. She heard many good ideas this evening and expressed her hope the residents were willing to work together to mitigate this concern.

Mayor Tauer pointed out Colorado has not increased taxes in the last 20 years; however the cost per service delivered has been going up. Due to the current state of the economy, this was the first year where these concerns have really been considered and each subsequent year would be more difficult. He noted a minimum $5M in additional cuts for 2011 would be realized. That meant a lot of programs would be reviewed in a similar light. Council has been working with neighbors to form their own Metropolitan Districts which would run local resources.

8. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The agenda was adopted as presented.

9. CONSENT CALENDAR - 9a-9d

General Business

a. Consideration to EXTEND A COMPETITIVELY BID CONTRACT to Neve's Uniforms, Incorporated, Denver, Colorado in the not to exceed amount of $68,000.00 for Fire Uniforms and tailoring services through August 2010.

b. Consideration to AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT to Harris Corporation, Englewood, CO in the amount of $60,000.00 for the annual renewal of M/A-COM software maintenance for the Public Safety Radio System through September 2010.

c. Consideration to APPROVE AN AGREEMENT for trade of fully reusable water for shares of Brighton Ditch Company

d. Consideration to APPROVE AN AGREEMENT between the City of Aurora, acting by and through its Utilities Enterprise, and Hale, Trading One Share of the Fulton Irrigating Ditch Company for 20-Year Lease of Fully Reusable Water; and a Water Delivery Contract for Delivery of Fully Reusable Water

Motion by Markert, second by Pierce, to approve items 9a – d.

Voting Aye: Mayor Tauer, Beer, Broom, FitzGerald, Frazier, Markert, Peterson, Pierce, Sandstrom, Wallace

10. RESOLUTIONS

♦ a. Consideration to APPROVE A RESOLUTION of the City Council of Aurora, Colorado, approving an Agreement for the Trade of Water between the City of Aurora, Colorado, acting by and through its Utilities Enterprise, and Dominion Water and Sanitation District

Motion by Broom, second by Sandstrom, to approve item 10a.