Denver City Council Regular Meeting - October 7, 2024

The Denver City Council met on October 7, 2024, with all 13 members present. The meeting opened with a land acknowledgement and approval of the September 30th minutes. Councilmembers made announcements about upcoming events, including celebrity crossing guard participation, community cleanups, and a virtual safety academy. A presentation recognized the Colfax Marathon's community impact, and two proclamations were adopted honoring the Chicano movement and Servicios de la Raza. One resolution failed while a consent block passed.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from September 30, 2024, approved without correction.
• A block of resolutions and bills on final consideration was adopted 13–0, including Resolution 24‑1344 (liability claim settlement). Councilmember Lewis had previously called out that resolution, noting that the $95,000 settlement brought the total 2024 city settlement expenditures to $4,978,411.29.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were heard during the formal meeting. A general public comment session was scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.

Presentation

• Denver Colfax Marathon Government Relay: Andrea Dowdy, representing the Colfax Marathon, presented. She noted the marathon is in its 18th year, with 25,000 runners in 2024 and an economic impact of approximately $4 million. It is a top‑25 marathon weekend in the U.S. and the largest in the Rocky Mountain region. Over the last five years, participating charities raised more than $3 million, and the marathon gives $150,000 annually to charity. City and Denver Public Schools teams won multiple awards; the Denver Fire Department team earned the brass nozzle award for the fifth consecutive year. Checks were presented to the Denver Fire Department Foundation and Sobriety House.

Proclamations

• Proclamation 24‑1237: Honoring Rudolfo “Corky” Gonzalez and the legacy of the Chicano movement. Co‑sponsored by Councilmembers Gonzalez Gutierrez (granddaughter of Corky Gonzalez) and Alvidres, the proclamation recognized his work founding the Crusade for Justice, his poem “Yo Soy Joaquin,” and the movement’s impact on civil rights and cultural pride. Several councilmembers spoke, highlighting their own connections to the Gonzalez family and the movement. The proclamation was adopted 13–0.
• Proclamation 24‑1345: Honoring Servicios de la Raza in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month. The proclamation noted that 199,460 Denverites identify as Hispanic/Latino and that the organization served 93,643 individuals last fiscal year, with 94% of its 118 staff identifying as Latino/Hispanic/Chicano/Indigenous. CEO Rudy Gonzalez accepted, describing the organization’s growth from near dissolution to the largest Chicano‑founded grassroots nonprofit in Colorado. The proclamation passed 13–0.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 24‑1164: Approving a purchase and sale agreement for a residential re‑entry facility at 5070 West 44th Avenue. Councilmember Torres questioned Director of Real Estate Lisa Lumley, asking whether the city would proceed if the purchase price were not supported by an appraisal. Lumley replied “maybe” and stated that in this instance the appraisal did not meet criteria, but the city’s lease (through June 2034) would remain in effect regardless of the sale. The mayor’s office requested a “no” vote. The resolution failed with 0 ayes and 11 nays.

Key Outcomes

• Proclamation 24‑1237 adopted 13–0.
• Proclamation 24‑1345 adopted 13–0.
• Resolution 24‑1164 (re‑entry facility purchase) failed 0–11.
• Consent block (including Resolution 24‑1344 and multiple other items) adopted 13–0.
• A public hearing on Council Bill 24‑1209 (zoning change for 10353 East Mississippi Avenue) was scheduled for Monday, November 4, 2024, with protests due by October 28, 2024.