Denver City Council Meeting – October 28, 2024

The Denver City Council convened on Monday, October 28, 2024, at 3:30 PM for a regular session that included the approval of consent items, four proclamations, and two required public hearings – one on a zoning change for 401 North Delaware Street in Baker and the other on the Mayor's Proposed 2025 Budget. The evening session featured extensive public testimony on the budget, with over 50 speakers addressing homelessness, enforcement, guaranteed income, and transportation funding. The meeting adjourned at 8:38 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of October 21, 2024 (24-1503) approved.
• Resolutions (en bloc, 12-0 vote, with Councilmember Lewis absent):
  • 24-1346 through 24-1353: Concession agreement extensions for Quiznos, Hotch Potch Snack Shoppe, Villa Pizza, McDonald's (multiple), Mod Market, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory at Denver International Airport (DIA) as part of the Excellence in Service (EIS) Program.
  • 24-1354: Amendment with Street Source Marketing & Communications, LLC adding $9,700,000 (new total $14,700,000) for joint marketing at DIA.
  • 24-1355 through 24-1359: Amendments with FCI Constructors, Hensel Phelps, Milender White, PCL Construction, Turner Construction each adding $10,000,000 (new total $30,000,000) for on-call construction at DIA.
  • 24-1360: Contract with Alstom Transport USA, Inc. for $288,709,933.55 to operate and maintain the Automated Guideway Transit System at DIA through 2031.
  • 24-1378: Amendment with Keller Rohrback LLP to continue as special counsel for opioid multi-district litigation through 2026.
  • 24-1380: Resolution setting a public hearing on December 2, 2024 for exclusion from Colfax Mayfair Business Improvement District.
  • 24-1386: Appointment of Temi Osifodunrin to the Human Rights and Community Partnerships Advisory Board.
  • 24-1240: Grant from Colorado Division of Criminal Justice for $869,384 for East Colfax Safer Streets Collaborative (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design).
  • 24-1363: Dedicating parcel as North Tennyson Street right-of-way (District 3).
  • 24-1364: Amendment with SP Plus Corporation adding $4,500,000 (new total $9,500,000) to manage seven parking lots and three garages in District 9.
  • 24-1365, 24-1366: Contracts with U.S. Engineering Construction and Murphy Company for $15,000,000 each for citywide mechanical services.
  • 24-1374: Contract with Village Exchange Center, Inc. for $820,511 to facilitate food distribution for newcomers.
  • 24-1371: Dedicating a public alley in District 1.
• Bills for Final Consideration (en bloc, 12-0 vote):
  • 24-1334: Authority to acquire property for Mill Levy 20 Signals Project (Monaco: Magnolia to Mexico) in District 6.
  • 24-1335: Authority to acquire property for Sanderson Gulch Trail Multi-Modal Safety Improvement Project in District 7.
  • 24-1150: Discontinuing Human Services Citizen Review Panel (state law compliance).
  • 24-1277: Amendment with Denver Health and Hospital Authority for WIC services under Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Initiative.
  • 24-1288: Amendment with Regents of University of Colorado adding $291,289.28 (new total $759,081.50) for healthy food programs.
  • 24-1305: Agreement with Denver Health for $999,900 to coordinate care for homeless persons connecting to Roads to Recovery project.
  • 24-1296: Contract with Mile High Flood District for $2,500,000 for Weir Gulch drainage design (District 3).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Proclamation 24-1504 (Afterschool Programs): Lakeisha Hodge (Struggle of Love Foundation) and parent Sierra Don expressed gratitude for out-of-school-time programs, noting 90% of youth served are eligible for free/reduced lunch, and 720 hours of programming annually.
• Proclamation 24-1505 (Spina Bifida Awareness): Nan Alonso (Executive Director, Spina Bifida Association of Colorado) highlighted that approximately 1,700 Coloradans live with spina bifida, and the association is the only resource in the state.
• Proclamation 24-1506 (Dale Coski): Family and colleagues (Chief Thomas, James Marseille, Aisha Rousseau, Lori Kaczynski) shared memories of her advocacy for disability rights, including creation of the Denver Disability Parking Enforcement Program, which became a national model.
• Proclamation 24-1508 (Day of the Black Girl): Dr. Plashawn McCune, youth board members, and parent Veronica Crespin Palmer spoke about the African American Young Ladies Summit (AAYLS) program, describing it as a safe space for Black girls. Youth speakers shared personal experiences of bullying and loss, emphasizing the program’s transformative impact.
• Public Hearing on Mayor's 2025 Budget (54 speakers): The majority of speakers urged Council to defund the Street Enforcement Team (SET) and transfer funds to the Department of Housing Stability (HOST), citing data that in 2023 SET made 2,134 contacts with only 41 instances of resource provision (1.9%). Speakers also advocated for funding the Denver Basic Income Project ($2.5 million), the STAR program (additional $650,000), rental assistance (increase to $25 million), and adding residential health inspectors. Some speakers, including business owners and residents, testified in support of SET, saying it improved safety and provided compassionate outreach. A few speakers also addressed transportation funding, climate protection fund, and affordable housing.

Discussion Items

• Bill 24-1376 (Downtown Development Authority fund): Councilmember Sawyer moved to postpone to November 12, 2024, to avoid confusion with election ballot measures. Motion passed 12-0.
• Bill 24-1370 (Manufactured Home Community rezoning): Councilmember Alvidrez initially moved to postpone one week but withdrew the motion; the bill was ordered published with a public hearing set for November 25, 2024.
• Public Hearing 24-1093 (Rezoning 401 N Delaware Street, Baker): Staff report by Rob Haig (CPD); applicant Bruce O’Donnell and owner Amanda Precourt spoke in favor, noting 13 community meetings and a Good Neighbor Agreement. One speaker, Jesse Parris, opposed, citing lack of AMI level and traffic study. Council voted 13-0 to approve the rezoning from U-RH-2.5 to U-MX-2X.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved (12-0).
• All resolutions and bills on final consideration passed en bloc (12-0, with Lewis absent for initial vote; later votes included Lewis).
• Proclamations adopted:
  • 24-1504 (Afterschool) – 12-0.
  • 24-1505 (Spina Bifida Awareness) – 12-0.
  • 24-1506 (Dale Coski) – 13-0.
  • 24-1508 (Day of the Black Girl) – 13-0.
• Bill 24-1376 postponed to November 12, 2024 (12-0).
• Bill 24-1093 (zoning change) approved 13-0.
• Mayor's 2025 Budget: Public hearing held; no vote taken. Council will consider amendments on November 4, 2024; mayor may accept or veto by November 8; final adoption (or override) on November 12, 2024.
• Next steps: Council announced a required public hearing on November 25, 2024 for the Manufactured Home Community zone district (Bill 24-1369) and related rezoning (Bill 24-1370). Protests for 24-1370 must be filed by noon on November 18, 2024.