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Record of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting - November 18, 2024

City Council — Monday, November 18, 2024
BodyDenver, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, November 18, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Welcome to your Denver City Council.

0:07

Please stand by.

0:09

Full coverage of your Denver City Council begins now.

0:27

I think Freddie.

0:28

Hello, everyone.

0:29

My mic is a lot of memory.

0:30

Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish by Sam or Alejandro.

0:35

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

0:41

Yes, of course.

0:42

Thank you for having us.

0:43

Hello, everyone.

0:44

My name is Sam Guzman from the CLC.

0:48

And tonight uh Fabiola will be uh joining me in interpreting today's meeting into Spanish.

0:54

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

1:27

And thank you very much.

1:32

Thank you very much, Sam.

1:36

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of November 18th, 2024.

1:43

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

2:09

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

2:17

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

2:27

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

2:37

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

3:11

Thank you, Councilmember Hines.

3:22

Here Gilmore.

3:25

Here.

3:28

Cashman.

3:29

Lewis, present.

3:31

Harody.

3:31

Here.

3:32

Romero Campbell.

3:33

Here.

3:34

Sawyer.

3:34

Here.

3:35

Torres.

3:36

Here.

3:36

Watson.

3:37

Here.

3:38

Madam President.

3:39

Here.

3:42

Thirteen members present.

3:43

There are 13 members present.

3:45

Council has a quorum.

3:47

Approval of the minutes.

3:48

Are there corrections to the minutes of a November 12th?

3:54

Seeing none, the minutes stand approved.

3:57

Council announcements.

4:00

Are there any announcements before I ring read my very long one?

4:04

Councilwoman Gilmar.

4:07

Thank you, Council President.

4:21

And that on uh last Friday, we in the Green Valley Ranch community celebrated the opening of an indoor swimming pool for the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood.

4:33

And so that's been um a long time in the making, sometimes to make sure that these capital projects get built and get built right.

4:42

It takes um some years to do that work.

4:45

And so it was a $15 million bond project, and I think by the time with cost um escalations, etc.

5:00

Um, it's closer to a $19 million uh project, but from an equity standpoint, it's so important that we have uh access to swimming and recreation, but also on a serious note that uh especially children of color are much more higher um uh statistically to die from a drowning because they don't have access to a swimming pool close to home with swimming lessons, and so this is very important for the far northeast community, and just want to thank uh the voters and then my constituents who came out and we had a wonderful time and are very excited about this development.

5:36

And so uh thank you, Council President.

5:39

Thank you.

5:40

How exciting.

5:41

Council Pro Tem Romero Campbell.

5:43

Thank you, Madam President.

5:45

I just wanted to say um thank you to Give Five and the Mayor's Office and um the Office of Children's Affairs who came out to the Tamarack Family Shelter on Saturday, and there was a large event to be able to connect families to um more and additional resources, um, signing up for child care um for SNAP uh service benefits and services.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Zoning████████████████████████24%
Procedural█████████████13%
Community Engagement█████████████13%
Community Planning██████████10%
Affordable Housing█████████9%
Public Engagement███████7%
Transportation███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Public Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting - November 18, 2024

The Denver City Council met on Monday, November 18, 2024, at 3:30 PM in the Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber. The meeting included routine approvals, a proclamation, Council sitting as the Board of Equalization for two pedestrian mall maintenance districts, and public hearings on citywide accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and a zoning change for the Tennyson Center for Children. All 13 council members were present. The meeting adjourned at 8:11 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of November 12, 2024, were approved.
  • Resolutions adopted en bloc (all 13-0):
    • 24-1523, 24-1524: Concession agreement extensions for Connections Newsstand and Greetings from Colorado at Denver International Airport.
    • 24-1526: Master purchase order for Genetec software licenses ($2,225,000).
    • 24-1527: Master purchase order for passenger bridge components ($5,000,000).
    • 24-1510: Amendment to fertilizer purchase contract (add $2,600,000).
    • 24-1514: Conflict counsel contract ($1,000,000).
    • 24-1518: Restoration services contract ($1,000,000).
    • 24-1529: Reappointment of Thomas Allen to Housing Stability Strategic Advisors.
    • 24-1626: Audit contract with CliftonLarsenAllen LLP ($647,431).
    • 24-1512, 24-1517: Dedication of public alleys.
    • 24-1515, 24-1516: CDOT grants for intersection safety improvements.
    • 24-1530 through 24-1536: Eight on-call contracts for green infrastructure landscaping ($2,000,000 each).
    • 24-1537: Contract for 52nd and Emerson Water Quality Facility Phase 2 ($12,304,297.73).
    • 24-1538: Dedication of street and alley parcels.
    • 24-1680: Settlement of $180,000 for a DOTI claim.
    • 24-1478: Amendment to transportation services for homeless individuals (add $850,000).
    • 24-1480: Loan agreement for 190 income-restricted units ($8,550,000).
    • 24-1519: HUD grant for permanent supportive housing ($634,880).
    • 24-1681, 24-1682: Settlements of $15,000 and $17,500 for Denver Police Department claims.
  • Bills for Introduction ordered published: 13 business improvement district budgets (24-1544 through 24-1555, 24-1560), the 2025 Annual Appropriation (24-1539) as amended, a cash transfer to liability claims (24-1540), rescissions from capital projects (24-1541), new Sidewalks Enterprise Funds (24-1542), a cash transfer from parks grants (24-1543), an amendment to COVID relief allocations (24-1561), a parking ordinance repeal (24-1513), zoning code amendments (24-1589, 24-1590), and Denver Health operating agreements (24-1473, 24-1528).
  • Bills for Final Consideration passed en bloc (all 13-0): establishment of Denver Downtown Development Authority fund (24-1376), eight classification and pay plan changes (24-1464 through 24-1470), rescission from General Fund contingency (24-1492), supplemental appropriation for Arts and Venues (24-1493), parks fund transfer (24-1494), condemnation authority for traffic signal (24-1495), facilities maintenance fund rescissions (24-1496), boiler purchase for shelter (24-1497), Colorado Convention Center fund creation (24-1498), relinquishment of two easements (24-1458, 24-1488), building code update (24-1461), Harvard Gulch flood control agreement (24-1462), park construction IGA (24-1483), and healthy food access grant (24-1293).
  • Postponed Resolutions (one week): 24-1509 (psychological evaluations), 24-1521 (BlocPower contract), 24-1522 (Lincoln Technical Institute contract).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • 20th Street Pedestrian Mall (Board of Equalization): No speakers. Staff report presented. No public comment.
  • St. Luke's Pedestrian Mall (Board of Equalization): Three speakers:
    • Parker Semler (representing 11th and Ash LLC and 850 LLC) expressed confusion about assessments, lack of line-item details on capital improvements, and requested reducing the $295,000 assessment to $125,000 (operating costs only) given $387,000 in reserves.
    • Zoe DeQ (co-manager of 1850 Pearl Street) questioned why her properties were assessed over $75,000 and noted the district had over $387,000 in reserves, requesting no assessment for 2025.
    • James Rudy (property manager) complained about lack of maintenance, dead trees, broken pavers, and stated he receives no value for the fees paid. All speakers urged more transparency and accountability.
  • Combined Public Hearing on ADUs (24-1302, 24-1303, 24-1304): Four speakers in favor:
    • Chris Miller (Denver resident) spoke in support of ADUs but noted they cannot solve the housing crisis alone; urged broader housing reforms.
    • Andy Cushion (lives in an ADU) shared his positive experience and emphasized that ADUs provide affordable homeownership opportunities.
    • David Pardo (soon-to-be ADU resident) supported ADUs and noted compliance with state law.
    • Jesse Parris (supporter) asked clarifying questions about the process and confirmed citywide expansion. No speakers opposed.
  • Public Hearing on Tennyson Center Rezoning (24-1313): Three speakers:
    • Alicia Hammett (applicant representative) — available for questions.
    • Mindy Watras (CEO, Tennyson Center for Children) — available for questions, later provided detailed description of services.
    • Steve Fisher (neighbor) spoke in opposition, citing safety concerns about children leaving campus and arguing that campus zoning would remove periodic permit review.

Discussion Items

  • Board of Equalization – 20th Street Pedestrian Mall: Councilmember Watson moved to reduce the 2025 assessment to $0 because the district will be dissolved (dissolution bill to be heard November 25). Councilmember Hinds supported, noting a new district will be created. Motion passed 13-0.
  • Board of Equalization – St. Luke's Pedestrian Mall: Extensive discussion ensued after testimony. Councilmembers Hinds, Romero Campbell, Parady, Flynn, Sawyer, and Torres asked staff (Brendan Kelly, DOTI) about reserves, planned expenditures (dead tree removal, brickwork, irrigation), board composition, and open meeting compliance. Speakers reiterated lack of transparency. Councilmember Torres suggested mediation. No motion was offered; the assessments were approved as proposed without a vote (minutes indicate "approved").
  • Citywide ADUs (24-1302, 24-1303, 24-1304): Staff presented the amendments to allow ADUs in all residential zone districts, delete 16 redundant ADU-specific districts, comply with state law (HB24-1152) effective June 2025, and maintain existing design standards except for rear setbacks (currently 15-20 ft; state law mandates 5 ft). Council debate centered on the setback conflict with state law. Councilmembers Flynn, Kashmann, and others argued for preserving local standards and expressed intent to seek legislative relief in 2025. Councilmember Hinds noted the city had a two-year stakeholder process. Councilmember Gonzales-Gutierrez confirmed state legislators are willing to work on the issue. After debate, the three bills passed unanimously (13-0).
  • Tennyson Center Rezoning (24-1313): Staff described the request to rezone 2950 Tennyson St and 4421 W 29th Ave from R-5 and B-2 to CMP-EI2 to simplify permitting for the existing therapeutic school and residential treatment facility. The West Highland Neighborhood Association supported; three letters opposed (concerning state licensing, not zoning). Council President Sandoval questioned the CEO about state licensing and safety protocols. Councilmember Gonzalez-Gutierrez confirmed state law prohibits physically restraining children who elope. The bill passed unanimously (13-0).

Key Outcomes

  • 2025 Assessment for 20th Street Pedestrian Mall Local Maintenance District reduced to $0 (13-0).
  • St. Luke's Pedestrian Mall Local Maintenance District 2025 assessments approved as proposed (no motion; approved by default).
  • Citywide ADU text and map amendments (24-1302, 24-1303, 24-1304) passed unanimously (13-0). Effective immediately, allowing ADUs on all residential lots in Denver, with compliance with state law pending further legislation on setbacks.
  • Rezoning of 2950 Tennyson St and 4421 W 29th Ave to CMP-EI2 (24-1313) passed unanimously (13-0).
  • Council Bill 24-1372 (rezoning of 2258 N Perry St) amended and ordered published (13-0) with a public hearing set for December 16, 2024.
  • Councilmember Lewis noted cumulative settlement totals: $5,158,411.29 for DOTI claims and $5,190,911.29 total for 2024 as of this meeting.
  • Next meetings: November 25, 2024 (pending items on manufactured home communities); December 2, 2024 (rezoning hearings); December 9, 2024 (protest deadline for 2258 N Perry St).

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to your Denver City Council. Please stand by. Full coverage of your Denver City Council begins now. I think Freddie. Hello, everyone. My mic is a lot of memory. Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish by Sam or Alejandro. 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. My name is Sam Guzman from the CLC. And tonight uh Fabiola will be uh joining me in interpreting today's meeting into Spanish. I'll now give the instructions on how to access interpretation in Spanish. And thank you very much. Thank you very much, Sam. Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of November 18th, 2024. Council members, please rise as you are able and join Council Member Heinz in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members, please join Council Member Hines 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 the 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. Thank you, Councilmember Hines. Here Gilmore. Here. Cashman. Lewis, present. Harody. Here. Romero Campbell. Here. Sawyer. Here. Torres. Here. Watson. Here. Madam President. Here. Thirteen members present. There are 13 members present. Council has a quorum. Approval of the minutes. Are there corrections to the minutes of a November 12th? Seeing none, the minutes stand approved. Council announcements. Are there any announcements before I ring read my very long one? Councilwoman Gilmar. Thank you, Council President. And that on uh last Friday, we in the Green Valley Ranch community celebrated the opening of an indoor swimming pool for the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood.

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