# UPDATE: Challenges Presenting Our Petition to Aurora City Council
**1,000+ Signatures Collected - Working to Get Heard**
Dear Supporters,
Thank you for your incredible response to our petition to save Kevin the rooster and reform Aurora's ordinances. **We now have over 1,000 signatures from Aurora residents** - proving this is a genuine community concern about both animal welfare and local governance.
We want to update you on the challenges we're facing in getting our petition properly presented to Aurora City Council.
## CURRENT SITUATION
**We're experiencing difficulty exercising our right to petition local government.**
### LIMITED PUBLIC ACCESS
Aurora City Council has suspended in-person public comment periods indefinitely. According to the City's website, meetings are being "conducted virtually until further notice" with public comment only available through a phone line.
### COUNCIL SPONSORSHIP REQUIREMENT NOT WORKING
Aurora requires citizens to find a council member to sponsor their petition. Our documented attempts include:
- **Contacted every council member at least twice over the past month**
- **Used multiple contact methods: email, phone, and certified mail**
- **Received substantive responses from only 2 out of 11 council members**
- **Both responsive members stopped communicating after initial contact**
This creates a difficult situation: Citizens cannot directly address council, but securing council sponsorship has proven extremely challenging.
### NO CLEAR ALTERNATIVE PROCESS
When we've asked about alternative ways to present our 1,000-signature petition, we haven't received:
- Clear timeline for restored public comment
- Alternative petition presentation procedures
- Explanation of current options for citizen participation
- Response to our formal inquiries about next steps
## WHY THIS AFFECTS ALL AURORA RESIDENTS
**This extends beyond Kevin's story to broader questions about citizen participation in local government.**
### Democratic Participation Concerns:
Recent reporting shows that Aurora residents are facing:
- Limited access to council members
- Reduced opportunities for public input
- Unclear procedures for citizen petitions
- Virtual meetings that limit community interaction
### Your Petition Rights:
As citizens, we have constitutional rights to:
- Petition government for policy changes
- Participate in local democratic processes
- Have our collective voices heard on community issues
- Access our elected representatives
## STATUS OF OUR PETITION
**1,000 Aurora residents have signed a petition about municipal ordinances, but we're having difficulty getting it officially presented.**
### Timeline of Our Efforts:
- **June 2025**: Started collecting signatures for ordinance amendments
- **July 2025**: Reached out to all council members seeking sponsorship
- **Ongoing**: Continued attempts to find proper channels for petition presentation
- **Present**: Over 30 days seeking clear path forward
## NEXT STEPS
We're exploring several options to move forward:
1. **Continued Outreach**: We'll keep trying to connect with council members who might be willing to help
2. **Procedure Clarification**: We're seeking clear guidance on proper petition presentation processes
3. **Community Support**: We're grateful that so many residents care about both Kevin's story and citizen participation
4. **Professional Guidance**: We may seek advice on navigating local government procedures if needed
## MEDIA COVERAGE
Our story is gaining attention:
- **CBS Colorado** has expressed interest in covering both Kevin's story and the citizen participation aspects
- **Westword** has reported on our efforts and the challenges we're facing
- The story is resonating with people who care about both animal welfare and community involvement
## HOW YOU CAN HELP
### 1. KEEP SHARING
Please continue sharing our petition. This is about both Kevin's story and the broader principle that community voices should be heard.
### 2. CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
- Mayor and Council office: 303.739.7015, [email protected]
- Politely ask about procedures for citizen petitions
- Express your support for accessible democratic processes
### 3. PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS
- Virtual meetings include public comment via phone: 855.695.3475 (press *3)
- Consider calling in to express support for citizen participation
### 4. STAY INFORMED
We'll continue updating you on our progress and any developments in getting our petition properly presented.
## DOCUMENTATION FOR TRANSPARENCY
We're keeping detailed records of our efforts to ensure transparency about the challenges we're facing. This documentation includes:
- All contact attempts with council members
- Responses (or lack thereof) from city officials
- Timeline of our efforts to follow proper procedures
- Media coverage and public interest in our cause
This record-keeping helps us stay accountable and ensures we can accurately report on our experience navigating the petition process.
## LOOKING FORWARD
We remain optimistic that we'll find a way to present our 1,000-signature petition to Aurora City Council. Kevin's story has touched many people, and the broader issues about heritage breed conservation and reasonable municipal ordinances deserve community discussion.
We understand that local government can be busy and complex, and we're committed to working within proper procedures. We just need clarity on what those procedures are in the current environment.
Thank you for your continued support. We'll keep you updated as we work to navigate the process.
Together for Kevin and community participation,
Heather and Liliana Krueger
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**Next Update:** We'll share any progress in finding the right channels for petition presentation and continue covering our story in the media.
**Questions?** Feel free to reach out through this platform or social media.
**Our Goal:** To work constructively with Aurora City Council to address community concerns about municipal ordinances while ensuring all residents can participate in local democracy.