OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting: Proclamations, Resolutions, and Public Hearings – September 23, 2024

City Council — Monday, September 23, 2024
BodyDenver, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, September 23, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Please stand by.

0:04

Full coverage of your Denver City Council begins now.

0:20

Thank you for joining us.

0:22

Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish.

0:26

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

0:36

Yes, of course.

0:37

Thank you for having us.

0:38

Hello, everyone.

0:39

This is Sam Guzman with the CLC.

0:42

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

0:48

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

1:10

Oh, prima se boton IDAI selection.

1:15

Muchas gracias, and thank you very much.

1:18

Thank you, Sam.

1:20

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, September 23rd, 2024.

1:26

Council members, please rise as you are able and join Council Member Watson in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:41

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

1:50

Council members, please join Councilmember Watson as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement.

1:57

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

2:08

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

2:16

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

2:23

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

2:34

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

2:48

Thank you, Councilmember Watson.

2:50

Madam Secretary will call.

2:56

Here Gilmore.

2:58

Here.

3:07

Here.

3:10

Sawyer.

3:11

Here.

3:12

Torres.

3:13

Here.

3:13

Watson.

3:14

Here.

3:15

Madam President.

3:17

Here.

3:19

Twelve members present.

3:20

There are 12 members present.

3:23

City Council has a quorum.

3:25

Approval of the minutes.

3:27

Are there any minutes or corrections to the meeting of September 16th?

3:36

Seeing none, the minutes stand approved.

3:39

Council announcements.

3:40

Are there any council announcements this afternoon?

3:45

Councilman Alvidres, go ahead.

3:49

Thank you, Council President.

3:50

I have two important announcements to share today.

3:53

First, I want to highlight an opportunity to celebrate the heritage of the Hispanic Latino Chicano communities in Denver.

4:01

Governor Jared Pullis and History Colorado are inviting everyone to participate in shaping a new museum dedicated to Latino history in Colorado.

4:09

The event is September 24th, so tomorrow at 5 30 to 7 30 at Girls Inc.

4:14

on 1498 Julian Street.

4:16

This is free and open to the public.

5:00

Although none of these schools are currently slated for closure, the outcome of these meetings will shape the future of our education system.

5:06

And I urge everyone to attend.

5:09

Together, we can turn these challenges into an opportunity for our children to thrive.

5:13

Thank you, Council President.

5:14

Thank you.

5:15

Thank you.

5:16

Next up, Councilwoman Sawyer.

5:18

Thanks, Madam President.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing█████████████████████████25%
Procedural██████████████14%
Land Use Zoning██████████10%
Community Planning█████████9%
Community Engagement██████6%
Racial Equity█████5%
Homelessness█████5%
Urban Renewal█████5%
Public Safety█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Denver City Council Regular Meeting – September 23, 2024

The Denver City Council convened on September 23, 2024, at 3:30 PM in the Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber. The meeting included proclamations honoring community leaders, adoption of numerous resolutions on consent, and four public hearings on land use and development items. Key votes included approval of a $197 million East Colfax BRT construction contract, a $1 million EPA grant for home electrification, and two rezonings and a development agreement for the Cherry Creek West project. Council also debated equity in shelter services and postponed two urban renewal bills pending a related public hearing.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of September 16, 2024.
  • Adopted 18 resolutions en bloc (vote: 12-0, with Councilmember Hinds absent). These included:
    • 24-1153: $1 million EPA grant for Healthy Homes Electrification in Districts 8 & 9.
    • 24-1155: 2-year extension of SolarCorps Fellowship Program with GRID Alternatives (no added cost).
    • 24-1156: $4 million incentive agreement with Turkish Airlines for nonstop Istanbul service.
    • 24-1157: $32 million increase to Anglin Civil snow removal contract at DEN (new total $89.5 million).
    • 24-1158: $8 million increase to Aramark landside snow removal contract (new total $29 million).
    • 24-1138/1139: Mayoral appointments to 14th Street GID and Colfax BID.
    • 24-1147/1148/1149: Purchase orders for tires and PPE from Purcell, Galls, and L.N. Curtis.
    • 24-1152: Appointments to Community Corrections Board.
    • 24-1078: $197.3 million contract with Kraemer North America LLC for East Colfax Avenue BRT (Districts 5,8,9,10).
    • 24-1159/1160/1161: Street dedications in Districts 1, 4, and 3.
    • 24-1127: $6.76 million loan to Albion Apartments for 170 affordable units.
    • 24-1165: Amendment to Elevation Community Land Trust ARPA spend-down terms.
    • 24-1178 & 24-1180: Amendments with Renewal Village Housing Corporation converting 26 shelter units to supportive housing (net increase to 134 units).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • During 24-1108 (Welton redevelopment): Five speakers: Keith Pryor (Five Points Historic Cultural District) and Stephen Bennett (Curtis Park Neighbors RNO) spoke in favor, citing community outreach and need for affordable homeownership. Jesse Parris (candidate HD8, fusion studios resident) raised questions about AMI levels, traffic, and BID tax impacts. Tracy Huggins of DURA delivered staff report. Norman Harris (Five Points BID) supported, noting 70-80% AMI target and hope for local preference.
  • During 24-0997 (3300 Irving St rezoning): Huong Dang (District 1 resident) spoke in favor, supporting small business growth but urging pedestrian safety improvements. Jesse Parris spoke in opposition, asking about uses, AMI, and pedestrian safety.
  • During 24-1025 (Cherry Creek West rezoning): 11 speakers: Amy Cara (East West Partners) led with presentation. Kevin Matthews (YIMBY Denver), Luchia Brown (YIMBY Denver), Lou Raders (Cherry Creek Steering Committee), Walter Armer (Cherry Creek North resident), Ryan Keeney (EMB Denver), Andrew Schmidt (small business owner), David Pardo (YIMBY Denver), Adam Estroff (YIMBY Denver), and Nick LeMasters (Cherry Creek Area Business Alliance) all spoke in favor, emphasizing affordable housing, walkability, and community benefits. Jesse Parris spoke in opposition, asking about traffic study, AMI levels, and affordability guarantees.
  • During 24-1137 (Cherry Creek West development agreement): Anna DeWitt (teacher, YIMBY Denver) and Luke Miller (Denver New Liberals) spoke in favor. Jesse Parris spoke in support if affordability is guaranteed.

Discussion Items

  • 24-1031 (Salvation Army Tamarac shelter contract): Councilmember Lewis explained her no vote due to inequitable concentration of shelters in District 8 without commensurate services, citing 762 units in a 1-mile radius on Quebec. She noted the contract funds services at Tamarac (District 4) while District 8 shelters lack similar support. Councilmembers Romero Campbell, Gonzales-Gutierrez, and Alvidrez acknowledged the equity concerns but noted Tamarac's importance. Councilmember Parady voted no due to ongoing issues with Salvation Army as provider. Final vote: 9-3 (Lewis, Parady, Sawyer no).
  • 24-1155 (SolarCorps comment): Councilmember Lewis praised the program for successful job placement and retention, and expressed hope to extend similar opportunities to unhoused populations.
  • 24-1078 (East Colfax BRT): Councilmember Sawyer clarified that despite community concerns about center-running BRT, the design is final. She highlighted the need to fund the Business Impact Opportunity Fund (BIO Fund) to support affected businesses along Colfax. She stated she will request budget amendments or submit a direct ask to the mayor.
  • 24-1106/1107 (Welton TIF agreements): Councilmember Sawyer successfully moved to postpone these bills until after the public hearing and vote on 24-1108, as they are companion ordinances. Postponed 12-0.
  • 24-0997 (3300 Irving St): Councilmember Flynn noted discrepancy in staff report (building listed as occupied dental office but actually vacant for 9 months). Applicant Chris Student confirmed vacancy. Council President Sandoval noted earlier rezoning attempt failed, and the applicant worked with neighborhood to propose U-MS-2x, supported by West Highland Neighborhood Association.
  • 24-1025 & 24-1137 (Cherry Creek West): Councilmember Sawyer questioned Amy Cara on financing (no metro district, no LIHTC used), ground lease structure, building heights (max 13 stories across site, but only four buildings at max, others at 8 stories), and affordable housing mix (12% at 60% AMI, integrated units). Councilmember Kashmann pressed DOTI on southbound University traffic improvements; Nathan Pope confirmed awareness and plans for improvements.

Key Outcomes

  • 24-1031: Adopted (9-3). Contract with Salvation Army for $2.57 million through June 2025 for family shelter services at Tamarac.
  • 24-1108: Passed (11-0, Hinds and Torres absent). Approved amendment to Welton Corridor Urban Redevelopment Plan to add 29th & Welton project and create tax increment areas for financing $2.21 million gap. Project: 62-unit affordable for-sale condos (70-80% AMI) by Shanahan Development and Elevation Community Land Trust.
  • 24-1106 & 24-1107: Postponed until after 24-1108 vote. Later passed en bloc (11-0). These approve cooperation agreements with DURA for tax increment financing at 2300 Welton and 29th & Welton.
  • 24-0997: Passed (11-0). Rezoning 3300 N Irving Street from PUD 577 to U-MS-2x, allowing mixed-use neighborhood retail.
  • 24-1025: Passed as amended (11-0). Rezoning 2500 E 1st Avenue from B-3 to PUD-G 36 (max 13 stories) for Cherry Creek West redevelopment.
  • 24-1137: Passed (11-0). Development agreement with Cherry Creek West Development Co. LLC for affordable housing (12% units at 60% AMI, 99-year term), double linkage fee ($12 million estimated), workforce development, and below-market commercial space.
  • Future Hearings: September 30, 2024: Public hearings on West Globeville Metro District plans (24-1168) and Denargo Market development agreement (24-1146). October 21, 2024: Public hearing on rezoning of 1000 Chopper Circle (24-1140). Protests due October 14, 2024 by noon.
  • Adjournment: 8:16 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Please stand by. Full coverage of your Denver City Council begins now. Thank you for joining us. Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish. Sam, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to enable translation on their devices? Yes, of course. Thank you for having us. Hello, everyone. This is Sam Guzman with the CLC. And along with my colleague Alejandro, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish. I'll now give the instructions on how to access interpretation. Oh, prima se boton IDAI selection. Muchas gracias, and thank you very much. Thank you, Sam. Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, September 23rd, 2024. Council members, please rise as you are able and join Council Member Watson in the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Council members, please join Councilmember Watson as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement. The Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is a 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, 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 acknowledgment demonstrate a commitment to working to dismantle ongoing legacies of oppression and inequities, and recognize the current and future contributions of Indian indigenous communities in Denver. Thank you, Councilmember Watson. Madam Secretary will call. Here Gilmore. Here. Here. Sawyer. Here. Torres. Here. Watson. Here. Madam President. Here. Twelve members present. There are 12 members present. City Council has a quorum. Approval of the minutes. Are there any minutes or corrections to the meeting of September 16th? Seeing none, the minutes stand approved. Council announcements. Are there any council announcements this afternoon? Councilman Alvidres, go ahead. Thank you, Council President. I have two important announcements to share today. First, I want to highlight an opportunity to celebrate the heritage of the Hispanic Latino Chicano communities in Denver. Governor Jared Pullis and History Colorado are inviting everyone to participate in shaping a new museum dedicated to Latino history in Colorado. The event is September 24th, so tomorrow at 5 30 to 7 30 at Girls Inc.

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