Aurora Council to Cut First Public‑Comment Session to 30 Minutes, Free‑End Session

Aurora City Council advanced a rule change on Monday that would limit the first public‑comment session to 30 minutes and remove any time limit on the second session. Speaking about the change, Councilmember Alison Coombs said the town has ``been extending our time limit on public invited to be heard pretty consistently.'' She added that a shorter opening period would still allow for unlimited comments on non‑agenda items at the meeting’s end.

The current structure reserves two public‑comment periods on each council agenda—one at the beginning and one at the end—each capped at one hour with a three‑minute limit per speaker. The proposed tweak keeps the three‑minute limit but shortens the first 60‑minute slot.

Councilmember Françoise Bergan praised the proposal, while Councilmember Gianina Horton opposed it, though no reason was provided. City Attorney Pete Schulte noted that staff “appreciate the council trying to strike a balance between allowing time for civic participation and completing the business on the agenda.”

The council set the vote for the rule change at its Nov. 23 meeting. If approved, it would take effect in December.

What this means for residents: Residents can expect a shorter opening comment period but broader opportunity to speak after the agenda is set. What’s next: A vote on Nov. 23 will decide whether the change is adopted, with December as the anticipated effective date.