ABDC question sent back to committee

After exhaustive discussion about Councilman Larry Beer's proposal to put out bids to privatize the Aurora Business Development Center, the issue was ultimately directed back to a city committee.

Amid questions regarding the proposal's efficacy and purpose, Beer defended the concept as a way to address the city's long-term structural budget issues.

"If we were to contract out … That wouldn’t be unusual at all. Throughout the state of Colorado, that’s more common than not," Beer said.

But some council members objected to the proposed measure for economic and procedural reasons.

In the end, the question will return to the city's Planning, Economic Development and Redevelopment Committee, where questions regarding a potential Request For Proposal will be addressed. What's more, issues regarding the specifics of the center - which provides counseling services for small, start-up businesses in the city - will be further explored at the committee level.

Domestic partnership benefits for same sex couples

On the question of adding same sex partners to the city's current definition of family members for insurance benefits, the discussion was relatively brief.

Mayor Ed Tauer called for an abbreviated debate, and encouraged council members to reserve lengthy comments for the final verdict when the issue proceeds to regular session.

"Let’s say there are six votes to move that forward … If that were to happen, everybody will have a chance to comment on that on the floor … We’re really voting on do we want to put it forward to the floor," Tauer said.

The subsequent discussion was light, as Councilman Bob FitzGerald provided one of the sole comments.

"I will make statements opposing this on the floor," FitzGerald said.

The vote saw five council members voting yes, with Mayor Tauer providing the tie breaking pro-vote. The question will proceed to the city council floor during regular session.

Registration and Maintenance of Vacant Residential Properties

The proposed ordinance, which would introduce requirements for lending companies to register and upkeep foreclosed properties, has failed to attract a unified approval from lending representatives, banks, business representatives and other parties involved in the process.

Councilman Bob FitzGerald, who championed the measure, spoke briefly of its background.

"The origin of this … was innumerable foreclosures throughout the state and particularly in Aurora that were detracting from the neighborhoods," Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald added that initial approval for the measure, which would have lenders pay the city a $50 registration fee, had wavered from some corners of the community.

"Members of the credit and lending community – They’re obviously not jumping for joy at this ordinance," FitzGerald said.

In order to give the banking community added time to provide substantive amendments, Councilman Steve Hogan suggested putting the issue on council's next study session and regular session agenda.

"You could schedule this for both study session and for floor action at the next meeting. If the amendments are ready, they can be discussed in study session … If they are agreed to, you can just take them out onto the floor," Hogan said.

The issue will be heard during the Jan. 26 meeting.

And we're off ... with issue updates.

5:30 - Issue Updates

Havana feedback - Councilman Bob FitzGerald - cites concerns about Havana District, B.I.D., Gardens on Havana he's heard from an unspecified "men's club" in Denver. FitzGerald says the group "applauded Aurora for what they've done."

Public Budget Meetings - Councilman Brad Pierce calls for organization of coming public meetings regarding budget questions. "I wonder who's doing what to who and when," Pierce said.

Councilwoman Molly Markert adds that there are several public meetings on tap for the different wards. Her community meetings will include input from the budget office.

After further discussion, Jason Batchelor from the city's budget department agrees to give input during the separate meetings.

Budget informational meetings are on tap for the last two weeks in January.

Unusual letters - Mayor Tauer discusses an odd letter he received from a board applicant who complained about receiving a financial disclosure form; another that complained that he was not allowed to play soccer on a tennis court at Utah Park; yet another about a resident dissatisfied with their house; and finally, a letter from the Rocky Mountain Rail Authority asking for $5,000.

"We contributed to their first round on the basis that it was a one shot deal," said Councilman Bob Broom regarding the request. Since the budget process for the year is completed, Broom said "(their) chances of getting anything from us are worse than slim to none."

The council agrees to draft a letter explaining this year's budget constraints and clarifying the city's budget process.

City Council - Study Session Jan. 12

Making up for lost time

5:00 p.m. Happy new year from the Aurora Room at the AMC. Tonight's session, the first of 2009, is slated to tackle several leftover issues from 2008, including the question of domestic partner benefits for same sex couples, an ambitious registration program for foreclosed properties in the city and the possible outsourcing of the city's Business Development Center in an effort to diminish the current structural revenue gap.

All in all, the agenda promises some exciting follow-ups to questions left from last year.