Regular Session - Ceremonies

Arbor Day celebrations announced - Friday, April 17: Ceremony at Jewel Elementary School. Saturday, April 18 at 8 a.m. - Tree planting ceremony at Utah Park.

Holocaust Awareness Week - Mayor Ed Tauer proclaims monthlong memorial. Dan Stenerson, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Shalom Park retirement community, thanks the council for its formal recognition. 

long term budget issues

Budget officer highlights long term budget issues for 2010: 

Revenue change - "We’re down about 3.2 percent vs. 2008 – We’re trending a little bit below, but not enough to make us revise those projections."

2010 Outlook:

Revenue side – we’re looking at about 2 pc increase over projected 2009 levels

 Construction – continued weakness in development activity

Overall, current indicators do not show a sharp recovery.

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Workshop topics

Councilman Bob FitzGerald suggests Spring Workshop topics, including:

- Federal stimulus money update.

- Financial forecasts

- Capital projects updates

- AEDC primer

- Convention and Visitors' Bureau update

- Aurora Parking Update

- Tour of "emergency bunker" under the city's justice center

- Update on Amendment 54 (litigation pending).

Special Study Session - April 13

4:15 -- A special study session touting an agenda tackling a bond purchase agreement, potential ballot issues and other 2010 budget issues is underway.

Issue updates -- Mayor Ed Tauer shares a letter he's received from King Soopers hinting at a strike.

Council approves examination of funds for Chambers Plaza Library

Following a suggestion from Councilwoman Renie Peterson, the city council directed staff to look at reserve funds to provide more than $30,000 to keep the Chambers Plaza Library open until the end of the year.

The money would help cover the cost of hiring two temporary employees who would not draw benefits. Last week, the facility's landlord offered to cover rent costs for the upcoming year.

"Right now there’s above $20 million in policy reserve. I want to ask all of you to please consider keeping this open until the end of the year," Peterson said.

The suggestion drew support from other council members.

"It seems to be a relatively affordable amount – the policy reserve is there for this," said Councilman Larry Beer. "Even beyond the importance of the Chambers Library to the community it serves … I’m also mindful of the other tenants in that shopping center. If we are working really hard to develop and grow and expand businesses of every size … I think the last thing we want to do is … cause yet another vacant store front in a shopping center."

Following counsel from City Attorney Charles Richardson to allow staff to properly study the impact of such a withdrawal on the city's bond rating, the council agreed to widen the scope of the potential source for the funds. Staff will look for other sources and will update council next week.

Still, the prospect of making an exception for the library drew some hesitation from council.

"We keep on saying that we can’t afford to do every program all the time. I’m struggling with this … we’re getting away from our idea," said Councilman Brad Pierce. "We just have to bite the bullet and make some tough decisions."

Despite the misgivings, the council voted overwhelmingly to have staff look for the requisite $30,000 plus in different city funds.

Study Session - April 6

Welcome to your live feed from Aurora's April 6 council meeting!

On the agenda for tonight's study session: decisions regarding grants from Great Outdoors Colorado for various projects within the city, the reappointment of members to various city committees, the official name of the Prairie Waters Project Purification facility and the approval of a capstone ceremony by a local Masonic lodge.

I will also be twittering updates from the meeting, so look for info on the Sentinel Twitter page!