OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Denver, Colorado/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting - June 17, 2024: Housing Connector, Denver Health Tax Referral, and Juneteenth Proclamation

City Council — Monday, June 17, 2024
BodyDenver, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, June 17, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:26:07

Original source
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.

0:25

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:26

Today's meetings being interpreted into Spanish.

0:29

Sam and Ruth, would you please introduce yourselves and let our viewers know how to enable translation on their devices?

0:37

Yes, thank you very much for having us.

0:40

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:42

My name is Sam Guzman with the CLC.

0:45

And along with my colleague Ruth, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish.

0:50

I'll now give the instructions on how to access interpretation.

1:21

Yes, you pura escuchar.

1:22

And so you're more preferable.

1:24

Muchas gracias.

1:25

Thank you very much.

1:26

Thank you, Sam.

1:28

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, June 17th, 2024.

1:32

Council members, please rise as you are able to join Councilwoman Gilmore in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:54

Thank you.

1:55

And um please join Councilwoman Gilmore as she leads us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement.

2:01

The Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the U Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples.

2:11

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

2:20

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

2:28

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

2:40

May this acknowledgement 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.

2:54

Thank you very much.

2:55

Madam Secretary, roll call, please.

3:00

Flynn.

3:06

Albitris.

3:11

Here.

3:11

Heinz.

3:12

Here.

3:12

Cashman.

3:13

Here.

3:14

Lewis.

3:14

Present.

3:15

Parody.

3:16

Romero Campbell.

3:18

Sanovo.

3:19

Sawyer.

3:20

Here.

3:20

Watson.

3:21

Here.

3:21

Madam President.

3:22

Here.

3:25

Ten members present.

3:27

There are 10 members present.

3:28

Council has a quorum.

3:29

Approval of the minutes.

3:30

Are there any corrections to the minutes of June 10th?

3:35

Seeing none, the minutes stand approved.

3:37

Council announcements.

3:38

Are there any announcements today?

3:44

Councilwoman Lewis.

3:47

Thank you so much.

3:48

Let me find my announcements.

4:05

And also we will be celebrating Juneteenth officially at the city this Wednesday, so folks have a day off, not us though.

4:20

And so this is just a heads up for my constituents who are interested in joining us at our town hall.

4:25

And then finally on Sunday, we will be marching in in pride.

4:36

So that's it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████24%
Racial Equity███████████████████19%
Homelessness███████████11%
Revenue/Taxation█████████9%
Infrastructure and Engineering████████8%
Public Health Policy████████8%
Budget Equity Analysis███████7%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Elections Administration██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting - June 17, 2024

The Denver City Council met on Monday, June 17, 2024, at 3:30 PM in the Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber. Ten members were present (Alvidrez, Flynn, Gilmore, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Hinds, Kashmann, Lewis, Sawyer, Torres, Watson); three were absent (Parady, Romero Campbell, Sandoval). The meeting included resolutions, bills for introduction and final consideration, a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth, and a public hearing on a zoning change that was re-referred to committee.

Consent Calendar

  • Resolutions adopted en bloc (10-0): 24-0720 (DPS solar canopies, $2.65M), 24-0725 (Ballpark General Improvement District hearing), 24-0726 (Colfax Mayfair BID renewal), 24-0727 (Santa Fe BID renewal), 24-0734 (18 Chevy police vehicles, $1.44M), 24-0735 (Turkish Airlines lease), 24-0736 (Johnson Controls HVAC maintenance, $2M), 24-0719 (Gary Johnson reappointment to DOTI Advisory Board), 24-0728 (Evans School Urban Redevelopment Plan hearing), 24-0730 and 24-0731 (Mayoral appointments), 24-0721 (solid waste trucks, $819K), 24-0722 (HUD grant for 16th Street Mall, $750K), 24-0723 (tree maintenance amendment, $231K), 24-0737 (Safe Routes to School, $793.8K), 24-0738 (street dedication), 24-0739 (Peña Station plat), 24-0740 (ADA ramp repairs, $2.63M), 24-0741 (Persistent Drunk Drivers grant, $150K addition).
  • Bills for final consideration passed en bloc (10-0): 24-0691 (TECP workforce program, $306K addition), 24-0700 (Leprino Foods permit revocation), 24-0701 (Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant, $575.7K).

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 24-0676: Housing Connector contract ($5M) – Councilmember Lewis requested follow-up data on the Ballpark GID (24-0725). On the Housing Connector item, Councilmember Sawyer expressed opposition, citing unsustainable ARPA funding and a lack of a long-term budget plan; she noted the pilot had a 100% success rate but contrasted it with a 73% failure rate for other All In Mile High sites. Councilmember Alvidrez supported the contract but asked for outcome data. Councilmember Watson supported it, calling it a proven program. Councilmember Gilmore voted no, citing lack of transparency on the All In Mile High budget. President Torres supported it. Vote: 8-2, with Gilmore and Sawyer voting no.
  • Resolutions 24-0742/0743: Elevation Community Land Trust ($1.605M funding agreement + $3.36M loan for 62 income-restricted homeownership units at 2907-2915 Welton St.) – Councilmembers discussed deed restrictions, equity caps, and 99-year affordability. Councilmember Watson asked about prioritization policy for displaced residents. Vote: 10-0.
  • Resolution 24-0744: Archway Investment Corporation loan amendment (+$1M, total $4.85M for 154 income-restricted units at Mosaic Campus) – Councilmember Lewis asked about cost increases due to mold and asbestos remediation. Vote: 10-0.
  • Bill 24-0747: Sidewalk Program delay to January 1, 2025 – Councilmember Lewis asked for explanation; DOTI’s Nicholas Williams stated the delay allows proper billing setup. Councilmember Hinds expressed frustration about broken sidewalks and liability concerns; Williams noted the city is in a “purgatory phase” and will use other funding for worst repairs. Bill was ordered published with a public hearing set for June 24.
  • Bill 24-0717: Denver Health sales tax increase referral (0.34% for voter approval) – Councilmember Flynn voted no, calling sales tax regressive and urging a regional solution. Councilmember Alvidrez supported, citing urgency for homeless health. Councilmember Hinds supported despite concerns about cumulative tax rates. Councilmember Lewis clarified this is a referral to voters, not an increase. Councilmember Watson noted the state’s responsibility. Councilmember Gonzales-Gutierrez supported, emphasizing equity. Councilmember Kashmann supported, urging high voter turnout. President Torres sponsored, stating the city’s obligation. Vote: 9-1, Flynn dissenting.
  • Proclamation 24-0809: Juneteenth, Freedom Day – Councilmembers Watson and Lewis read the proclamation, with Watson giving a historical overview of slavery, Reconstruction, and voting rights. Norman Harris and former Councilmember Herndon accepted, urging intentional celebration and addressing economic disparities. Adopted 10-0.
  • Public Hearing: Zoning change for 4340-4350 S. Monaco St. (Bill 24-0617) – Councilmember Watson moved to re-refer to Land Use, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee due to improper noticing. Vote to re-refer: 10-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 24-0676 (Housing Connector) adopted 8-2 (noes: Gilmore, Sawyer).
  • Resolutions 24-0742/0743 (Elevation Community Land Trust) adopted 10-0.
  • Resolution 24-0744 (Archway Investment) adopted 10-0.
  • Bill 24-0747 (Sidewalk Program delay) ordered published for June 24 public hearing.
  • Bill 24-0717 (Denver Health tax referral) ordered published 9-1 (nay: Flynn).
  • Proclamation 24-0809 (Juneteenth) adopted 10-0.
  • Bill 24-0617 (zoning) re-referred to committee 10-0.
  • All consent items approved 10-0 en bloc.

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. Sam and Ruth, would you please introduce yourselves and let our viewers know how to enable translation on their devices? Yes, thank you very much for having us. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Sam Guzman with the CLC. And along with my colleague Ruth, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish. I'll now give the instructions on how to access interpretation. Yes, you pura escuchar. And so you're more preferable. Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. Thank you, Sam. Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, June 17th, 2024. Council members, please rise as you are able to join Councilwoman Gilmore in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. And um please join Councilwoman Gilmore as she leads us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement. The Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the U Cheyenne and Arapaho 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, and future, and those who have stewarded this land throughout generations. We also recognize that government, academic, and cultural institutions were founded upon and continue to enact exclusions and erasures of indigenous peoples. May this acknowledgement 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. Madam Secretary, roll call, please. Flynn. Albitris. Here. Heinz. Here. Cashman. Here. Lewis. Present. Parody. Romero Campbell. Sanovo. Sawyer. Here. Watson. Here. Madam President. Here. Ten members present. There are 10 members present. Council has a quorum. Approval of the minutes. Are there any corrections to the minutes of June 10th?

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com