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Aurora council to vote on consolidating, eliminating boards, commissions

By Kyla Pearce August 10, 2025 | updated 15 hours ago

Medina, Coombs (copy)

FILE PHOTO: Aurora City Councilmembers Ruben Medina and Alison Coombs look out at the audience from the council dais at a meeting on Jan. 13, 2025.

Denver Gazette file photo

Aurora City Council members plan to vote Monday night on the removal of several boards and commissions in an effort to consolidate the significant number of them, 28.

They will also vote on consolidating several other boards and commissions and amend membership provisions for two.

The boards and commissions up for cut Monday night include: Independent Review Board; Human Relations Commission, Veterans’ Affairs Commission and Youth Commission, according to agenda documents. 

Additionally, Aurora’s Parks and Recreation, Open Space and Golf Course Advisory committees would be combined into a single Parks, Recreation and Open Space Advisory Board. The Arts and Cultural Boards would be combined into a Cultural Services Commission.

Membership provisions would also change for the Immigrant and Refugee Commission and Library Board. 

Each of these ordinances will be voted on separately. 

Removing and consolidating boards and commissions is meant to “enhance coordination, reduce redundancy and improve the allocation of resources,” according to meeting documents.

Aurora has 28 boards, commissions, committees and authorities composed of almost 300 resident volunteer positions appointed by city councilmembers. As of November, there were 56 vacancies. 

The conversation started in a meeting in November, with City Manager Jason Batchelor citing councilmembers’ concerns about board redundancy and member vacancies. 

Batchelor called the Independent Review Board “functionally defunct,” saying its purpose was duplicative of the Civil Service Commission, providing civilian oversight of police and fire. 

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Aurora’s Veterans Affairs Commission, made up of 12 members, advises the council as to the concerns of veterans in relation to transportation, housing and employment. 

Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky, who is a veteran, said in May that Arapahoe County has a “wonderful” veteran’s service office and she hasn’t used Aurora’s commission.

The 15-member Human Relations Commission disseminates information and educational material to “eliminate prejudice, promote human relations and investigate complains of this nature,” according to the city’s website.

In May’s study session, Batchelor said the kind of work done in the commission is outside its purview, and there are other ways for people to report those types of issues.

Aurora’s Youth Commission, made up of 22 members, advises the council and other city bodies on the interests of youth in the city, according to the city’s website. Its mission is to “better the well-being of Aurora’s youth through representation, service and action.”

Councilmember Francoise Bergan said in May that it would be more effective to have youth slots on various boards and commissions rather than have a commission solely dedication to youth. 

Also Monday night, the council will hold a public hearing on an ordinance regarding setbacks and easement around plugged oil wells.

Monday night’s study session is open to the public via livestream at 5:30 p.m. The public comment listening session, which councilmembers voted to bring back in the most recent meeting, will start at 6 p.m.

The regular meeting of the council will follow starting at 6:45 p.m.

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

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Kyla Pearce

Reporter

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