City Charter Review

The Aurora City Council’s Charter Review Ad Hoc Committee is considering potential changes to the City Charter, which would be presented to the full City Council and then to Aurora voters for approval. Residents, business owners and other partners are encouraged to share with the committee their thoughts and ideas on the City Charter in general, or on specific proposals that have come forward at committee meetings (see the Charter Proposals section on this page for more details):

• Updating charter language to be gender-neutral
• Changing municipal elections to even-numbered years
• Removing the mandate for municipal elections to be non-partisan
• Establishing rules for vacancy committees
• Changing council members' positions from part-time to full-time
• Changing probation timelines and promotion eligibility in the Aurora Police Department
• Allowing for additional deputy and division chief positions as the Aurora Police Department grows
• Expanding the potential for lateral hires in the Aurora Police Department and Aurora Fire Rescue

Aurora voters approved the City Charter in 1961 following a Charter Convention, and the charter has been revised periodically through votes of the public. The charter governs such areas as form of municipal governance; municipal elections; Mayor and City Council powers, terms, salaries, responsibilities and qualifications; initiative and referendum process; city manager powers and duties; budget process and financial administration; and more.

Three public hearings were held Saturday, March 18; Tuesday, April 11; and 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 23. The public hearings are available for viewing at YouTube.com/TheAuroraChannel.