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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting May 20, 2024: Proclamations, Resolutions, and Zoning Introductions

City Council — Monday, May 20, 2024

BodyDenver, Colorado

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, May 20, 2024

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:26:43

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

Welcome to your Denver City Council.

0:07

Please stand by.

0:08

Full coverage of your Denver City Council begins now.

0:31

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:32

Today's meetings being interpreted into Spanish.

0:35

Alejandro and Elizabeth, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to enable translation on their devices?

0:43

Of course.

0:44

Thank you very much.

0:44

My name is Alejandro Arrieta.

0:46

Thank you for your pieces as I provide instructions in Spanish.

0:51

Gracias por tener.

1:20

Thank you very much.

1:21

Thank you very much, Alejandro.

1:24

Welcome to Denver City Council meeting of Monday, May 20th, 2024.

1:28

Uh, Council members, please rise as you're able and join Councilman Cashman in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:41

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:49

Thank you very much.

1:50

And please join Councilman Cashman as he leads us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement.

1:55

Now the Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe peoples.

2:05

We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado.

2:14

We honor elders past, present, present, and future, and those who have started this land throughout generations.

2:21

We also recognize the government, academic, and cultural institutions were founded upon and continue to enact exclusions and erasures of indigenous peoples.

2:33

May this acknowledgment demonstrate a commitment to working to dismantle ongoing legacies of oppression and inequities and recognize the current and future contributions of indigenous communities in Denver.

2:48

Thank you very much.

2:56

Present Flynn.

2:57

Here.

3:24

Seeing none, the minutes stand approved.

3:26

Council announcements.

3:27

Are there any announcements today?

3:30

Councilwoman Parody.

4:08

But it's the morning of my night of May 30th, um, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

4:12

Um, I'm working on also um setting some dates that are not on weekdays because I know everyone can't make those.

4:18

Um, probably doing them on the weekend at playgrounds.

4:21

Um, I'll bring my kids, you bring your kids, but Thursday, May 30th.

4:23

Um, if you want to try to come find me.

4:25

Um, I'm pretty easy to find on social media and all that.

4:28

And uh yeah, I'll leave it at that.

4:31

Thanks, guys.

4:32

Thank you.

4:32

Councilwoman Romero Campbell.

4:36

Thank you, madam president.

4:37

Um, I just wanted to invite uh folks to come to the safety town hall that will be held in Southeast Denver, District 4.

4:46

Uh, this Thursday at 5 30.

4:49

It's gonna be at Life Gate Church.

4:51

Um, doors open at 5 p.m.

4:54

Uh, and that's pretty much it, but thank you.

4:57

Um thank you, Madam President.

5:00

Thank you, Councilman Cashman.

5:01

Yeah, thank you, Madam President.

5:03

I want to let uh folks in District 6 know that tomorrow night at 5 30 p.m.

5:08

Tuesday, the 21st at Cook Park Recreation Center.

5:12

We'll be having our uh District 6 Academy in the community.

5:16

Uh rather than this be uh uh a seminar on a particular topic, we're gonna have about 20 city agencies and departments present to answer questions from from the community.

5:28

Uh, we'll have uh parks and rec, uh police fire and sheriff, Denver Human Services, our climate office, the public library, clerk and recorder, Office of Children's Affairs, the District Attorney's Office, Public Health and Environment, and a whole bunch more.

5:45

Uh, we expect to have Mayor Johnston there to offer brief introductory remarks, but the uh uh bulk of the evening will be spent for a chance for you folks to come out and uh get your questions answered and uh find out what's going on in city government.

6:01

Uh Cook Park Recreation Center on uh Cherry Creek Drive South, just east of Monaco Street.

6:08

Thank you very much.

6:09

Thank you.

6:10

Councilwoman Alvideris.

6:12

Thank you so much, Council President.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Safety█████████████████████21%

Veterans Affairs██████████████████18%

Procedural█████████████████17%

Mental Health Awareness█████████████████17%

Community Engagement█████████████13%

Public Health Policy████████8%

Public Transportation██2%

Land Use Zoning██2%

Affordable Housing█1%

Summary of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting – May 20, 2024

The Denver City Council met on Monday, May 20, 2024, at 3:30 PM (with a recess and reconvening at 5:30 PM). The session included three proclamations, approval of multiple resolutions en bloc, introduction of a zoning change bill, and council announcements. All 13 council members were present initially, with one absent for the evening session.

Consent Calendar

Minutes of May 13, 2024 – Approved unanimously.
Resolutions adopted en bloc (12-0, Alvidrez absent):
- 24-0590: Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District appointments (Anthony Jordan, Carrie Newman).
- 24-0591: Denver Immigrant and Refugee Commission appointments (Victoria Ballerini, Mazza Farajallah, Alejandra Peralta, Michaely Rosas).
- 24-0596: Denver Community Corrections Board appointment (Andrew Zavaras).
- 24-0597: Denver African American Commission appointments (Stephanie Laing, Elia Martin).
- 24-0600: Software licensing agreement with Submittable Holdings Inc. for $1,685,880 (grant management system, citywide).
- 24-0605: Purchase and sale agreement with Denver Community Church for $4,000,000 for property at 333 & 375 S. Zuni St (District 7).
- 24-0592: CDOT grant of $13,750,000 for a High Line Canal Underpass at Yale Ave (District 4).
- 24-0599: Contract with Jalisco International, Inc. for $9,991,726 for stormwater infrastructure (Districts 3 & 7).
- 24-0601, 24-0602, 24-0603: Dedication of public alleys/streets (Districts 1, 7, 10).
- 24-0604: Contract with Downtown Denver Events, Inc. for ice skating rink and beer garden at Skyline Park (District 10).
- 24-0609: Mayoral appointment of Manish Kumar as Executive Director of Community Planning and Development.
- 24-0593: Hazardous materials contract with Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. up to $15,000,000.
- 24-0594: Amendment with WeeCycle adding $87,560 (total $583,029.20) for nutritious food/infant formula.
Bills for final consideration en bloc (12-0):
- 24-0564: Relinquishing a portion of utility easements at 19182 E. 62nd Ave (District 11).

Proclamations

24-0683 – Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week (May 19–25, 2024): Adopted 13-0. Recognized the Denver Health Paramedic Division, which responded to nearly 130,000 911 calls last year and transported nearly 80,000 patients. Multiple council members shared personal stories of EMS lifesaving, and Dr. Steve Federico and Chief Gary Skevich accepted the proclamation.
24-0685 – Memorial Day (May 27, 2024): Taken out of order and adopted 13-0. Council members Watson and Flynn sponsored; Watson spoke of his brother PFC Darren Watson who died by suicide after Desert Storm. Flynn noted Fort Logan National Cemetery has 157,219 interments as of March 2024. Jared Stepp of VFW Post One Foundation accepted.
24-0684 – Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month (May 2024): Adopted 12-0 (Flynn absent). Proclamation highlighted that 1 in 5 women suffer from pregnancy-related mental health disorders, 75% never receive care, and maternal mortality rates are highest among Black and Native American birthing populations. Council members Parady and Lewis shared personal experiences. Drs. Kristen Acker, Patrice Harston Pete, and Galena Rhodes accepted on behalf of the Colorado Perinatal Mental Health Project.

Discussion Items

Resolution 24-0520 – Funding Agreement with Elevation Community Land Trust: Approved 10-0 (Alvidrez, Flynn, Watson absent). Provides $975,000 to acquire 1520 Trenton Street (13 existing rental units) to be converted to affordable condominiums. Councilwoman Lewis asked about relocation for former tenants; it was noted the property was sold after tenants were informed, and they were not offered purchase options.
Bill for Introduction 24-0617: Zoning change for 4340-4350 South Monaco Street in Southmoor Park (from B-4 with waivers to PUD-G 34). Ordered published with a required public hearing set for June 17, 2024. Protests must be filed by noon on June 10, 2024.

Key Outcomes

All three proclamations adopted (EMS Week, Memorial Day, Maternal Mental Health Awareness).
Resolution 24-0520 (Elevation Community Land Trust) adopted.
Consent agenda (all other resolutions and bills) adopted en bloc.
Bill 24-0617 (zoning change) introduced and public hearing scheduled.
Council announced upcoming community events including a safety town hall (May 23), District 6 Academy (May 21), and office hours.
Meeting adjourned at 5:52 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to your Denver City Council. Please stand by. Full coverage of your Denver City Council begins now. Good afternoon, everyone. Today's meetings being interpreted into Spanish. Alejandro and Elizabeth, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to enable translation on their devices? Of course. Thank you very much. My name is Alejandro Arrieta. Thank you for your pieces as I provide instructions in Spanish. Gracias por tener. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Alejandro. Welcome to Denver City Council meeting of Monday, May 20th, 2024. Uh, Council members, please rise as you're able and join Councilman Cashman in the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. And please join Councilman Cashman as he leads us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement. Now the Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe peoples. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado. We honor elders past, present, present, and future, and those who have started this land throughout generations. We also recognize the government, academic, and cultural institutions were founded upon and continue to enact exclusions and erasures of indigenous peoples. May this acknowledgment demonstrate a commitment to working to dismantle ongoing legacies of oppression and inequities and recognize the current and future contributions of indigenous communities in Denver. Thank you very much. Present Flynn. Here. Seeing none, the minutes stand approved. Council announcements. Are there any announcements today? Councilwoman Parody. But it's the morning of my night of May 30th, um, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Um, I'm working on also um setting some dates that are not on weekdays because I know everyone can't make those. Um, probably doing them on the weekend at playgrounds. Um, I'll bring my kids, you bring your kids, but Thursday, May 30th. Um, if you want to try to come find me. Um, I'm pretty easy to find on social media and all that. And uh yeah, I'll leave it at that. Thanks, guys. Thank you. Councilwoman Romero Campbell. Thank you, madam president. Um, I just wanted to invite uh folks to come to the safety town hall that will be held in Southeast Denver, District 4. Uh, this Thursday at 5 30. It's gonna be at Life Gate Church. Um, doors open at 5 p.m. Uh, and that's pretty much it, but thank you. Um thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Councilman Cashman. Yeah, thank you, Madam President. I want to let uh folks in District 6 know that tomorrow night at 5 30 p.m.

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