Denver City Council Meeting: June 10, 2024 – Proclamation on Gun Violence Awareness and Consent Agenda Approval

The Denver City Council convened on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 3:30 PM with 10 members present (Alvidrez, Flynn, Gilmore, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Kashmann, Lewis, Parady, Romero Campbell, Sawyer, Torres) and three absent (Hinds, Sandoval, Watson). The meeting included the Pledge of Allegiance, a land acknowledgement, approval of prior minutes, council announcements, and a proclamation declaring June as Gun Violence Awareness Month. A block vote approved a consent agenda of over 20 resolutions and bills, including contracts, grants, and settlements. The meeting adjourned at 4:14 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Resolutions adopted en bloc (24-0680, 24-0696, 24-0697, 24-0638, 24-0702, 24-0711, 24-0695, 24-0699, 24-0703, 24-0704, 24-0705, 24-0706, 24-0707, 24-0708, 24-0709, 24-0710, 24-0595, 24-0698, 24-0724, 24-0770, 24-0771): Included a marketing partnership with United Airlines ($1,545,450), chair purchases for the Colorado Convention Center ($1,131,527.92), a lease amendment at Denver International Airport, a land purchase in Globeville ($2,350,000), online training content services, tree maintenance and planting contracts (multiple vendors totaling over $10 million), behavioral health services with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless ($1,000,000), a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area grant ($844,851), a Governor’s Emergency Education Relief grant ($1,700,000), and two liability settlements ($100,000 for a Denver Police Department claim and $400,000 for a Denver Sheriff’s Department claim).
• Bills on final consideration passed en bloc (24-0633, 24-0654, 24-0681): Approved a sewer use permit for a property outside city limits, relinquished a utility easement, and amended an intergovernmental agreement with the Mile High Flood District.
• All items were approved unanimously (10 ayes, 0 nays).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the meeting.

Discussion Items

• Proclamation 24-0752 – Gun Violence Awareness Month: Councilmember Kashmann read the proclamation into the record, citing numerous statistics: more than 44,000 Americans killed by guns annually (120 per day), 97,000 wounded each year; in Colorado, 71% of firearm deaths are suicides, and gun deaths increased 48% from 2013 to 2022; in Denver, 88 people died by homicide in 2023 (71% by firearm), and 233 were shot but survived. Councilmembers Kashmann, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Lewis, Gilmore, Parady, and Sawyer spoke in support, sharing personal stories and calls for stronger gun laws, including a ban on assault weapons and changes to state laws that hinder gun buyback programs. The proclamation was adopted unanimously.
• Called-Out Resolutions:
  • 24-0724 (GEER II grant): Councilmember Lewis commended the $1,700,000 grant for pro-social youth programs (summer employment, pop-up events, Night Moves program, tutoring) as a positive use of funds, especially in light of gun violence concerns.
  • 24-0770 and 24-0771 (Liability settlements): Councilmember Lewis explained she called these out to ensure transparency, noting the total 2024 taxpayer dollars for city settlements now reaches $3,026,000. Councilmember Parady reminded that city council can speak with claimants after cases are fully resolved.

Key Outcomes

• Proclamation 24-0752 adopted unanimously (10-0).
• Consent agenda (all resolutions and bills on final consideration) adopted/passed unanimously (10-0).
• Bills for introduction (24-0691, 24-0630, 24-0663, 24-0700, 24-0701) were ordered published, with required public hearings set for July 8, 2024, on rezoning cases (24-0630 and 24-0663). Protests must be filed by noon on July 1, 2024.
• Next meeting: The council will hold public hearings on July 8, 2024, for the rezoning items, as announced by Council President Torres.