Denver City Council Meeting – November 25, 2024

The Denver City Council met on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 3:30 PM in the Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber. All 13 members were present. The meeting covered a consent agenda of routine approvals, individual items called out for discussion and amendment, a proclamation for World AIDS Day, and a combined public hearing on two ordinances creating a new Manufactured Home Community (MHC) zone district. Council also sat as boards for four General Improvement Districts, approving their 2025 budgets and work plans.

Consent Calendar

• Approved en bloc (13-0): 28 resolutions and bills on final consideration, including:
  • Contracts with BlocPower, LLC ($1,000,000) and Lincoln Technical Institute ($1,000,000) to train Denver's heating and cooling workforce in heat pump technologies (Resolutions 24-1521, 24-1522).
  • Airport services contracts: Wiggins Junction, LLC for towing ($4,522,163); SHI International Corp for Microsoft licenses ($8,500,000); Advanced Network Management, Inc. for hardware/software ($16,000,000).
  • Legal services amendment with Kaplan Kirsch LLP, appointment of Jonathan Cappelli to Denver Housing Authority Board, surety bond with Travelers ($500,000), grant writing services with Point b(e) Strategies ($50,000 addition).
  • Infrastructure contracts: SEMA Construction (wastewater), WM Curbside (household hazardous waste, +$200,000), AECOM Technical Services (Peoria multimodal, +$40,410).
  • Housing and shelter contracts: 94 permanent supportive housing units at 901 Navajo Street ($73,694,595), psychological evaluations ($600,000), Maple Star Colorado (child safety, +$175,000), U.S. Motel Denver North (non-congregate shelter, +$1,000,000), Empowerment Program (trauma-informed care, +$1,027,324), Unaccompanied Refugee Minor program ($2,384,800.93).
  • Property purchase at 1339 W Cedar Ave and 1250 W Maple Ave ($3,550,000).
  • 2025 Operating Plans and Budgets for 13 Business Improvement Districts (Old South Gaylord, Cherry Creek North, Cherry Creek Subarea, Downtown Denver, Colfax, West Colfax, Federal, Bluebird, Colfax-Mayfair, Santa Fe, RiNo, Five Points, Denver Tourism).
  • 2025 Annual Appropriation (Long Bill), Liability Claims fund transfer ($5,499,483), capital rescissions ($6,895,558), new Sidewalks Enterprise Funds, Parks grants transfer, COVID fund allocation adjustment.
  • Repeal of excess parking process in Lower Downtown Historic District.
  • Denver Health operating agreements for FY2024 (amended +$71,776.13) and FY2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• 14th Street General Improvement District (GID) Hearing: One speaker, Aaron Sanchez, urged Denver to invest in clean rivers, streets, schools, homeless shelter maintenance, tree planting, and statues promoting peace. No opposition speakers.
• RiNo Denver GID Hearing: Sarah Crawse, Executive Director of the RiNo Denver GID, spoke in favor of the 2025 budget and work plan and offered to answer questions. No opposition.
• Gateway Village, Sun Valley GID Hearings: No public speakers.
• Manufactured Home Community Zoning Public Hearing: Seven speakers testified in favor of Council Bills 24-1369 and 24-1370, including representatives from Justice for the People Legal Center, Monte Vista mobile home park residents, Longview renters association, Globeville Swansea Coalition, and Teatro Colectiva Community Land Trust. They emphasized the importance of protecting affordable housing for immigrant and low-income communities, the need for better infrastructure (lighting, drainage), and the opportunity for resident ownership. No opposition speakers.

Discussion Items

• Heat Pump Workforce Training Contracts (Resolutions 24-1521, 24-1522): Councilmember Alvidrez noted excitement about green jobs and expressed concern about for-profit institutions, but supported the resolutions because the city will own the curriculum. Both adopted en bloc.
• Quebec Street Navigation Center Lease (Resolution 24-1619): An amendment corrected the council district from 9 to 8. Councilmember Lewis then moved to postpone the item to December 9, 2024, citing concerns about lack of investment and programming at all-in-mile-high sites in District 8. The postponement passed 13-0.
• Pedestrian Mall Assessment Amendments (Bills 24-1599, 24-1605, 24-1606): Councilmember Watson offered amendments to set the 2025 assessments to zero for the Consolidated Larimer Street, Broadway Viaduct, and 22nd Street/Park Avenue West pedestrian malls, because the newly organized Ballpark General Improvement District (GID) will assume responsibility and the mall districts may be dissolved. All amendments and the published-as-amended bills passed 13-0.
• Manufactured Home Community Zone District (Bills 24-1369 & 24-1370): Staff presented the proposed text and map amendments. Councilmembers Torres, Alvidrez, Flynn, and Watson spoke in support, highlighting years of planning and resident engagement. Key concerns addressed included the ability to expand parks onto adjacent parcels (possible under other zone districts) and the need for translated materials and accessible community meetings. An amendment to Bill 24-1370 added an effective date of December 16, 2024, to align with the text amendment.
• World AIDS Day Proclamation (24-1721): Councilmember Watson read the proclamation, and several councilmembers shared personal stories. The proclamation was adopted 13-0. Acceptance speeches were given by representatives from It Takes a Village and Colorado Health Network.

General Improvement District Budgets

Council reconvened as the Boards of Directors for four GIDs and adopted their 2025 work plans and budgets:

• 14th Street GID (District 10): $604,655 revenues, $595,930 expenditures – maintaining amenities and holiday lights. Adopted 13-0.
• Gateway Village GID (District 11): $1,835,355 expenditures, $445,722 revenues, 10-mill levy – landscape improvements and maintenance. Adopted 13-0.
• RiNo Denver GID (District 9): $2,602,239 expenditures, $1,972,328 revenues, 4-mill levy plus capital charges – continued development of Arkins Park and creative hub. Adopted 13-0.
• Sun Valley Denver GID (District 3): $86,000 expenditures, $87,000 revenues, 6-mill levy – administrative and maintenance activities. Adopted 13-0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: All 28 resolutions and bills on final consideration were adopted/placed upon final consideration and do pass by a 13-0 vote.
• Resolution 24-1619 (Quebec Navigation Center): Amended and postponed to December 9, 2024 (13-0).
• Bills 24-1599, 24-1605, 24-1606: Amended to zero assessments for 2025 due to Ballpark GID assumption; ordered published as amended (13-0).
• Bills 24-1369 & 24-1370 (Manufactured Home Community Zoning): Adopted as amended (effective December 16, 2024) by a 13-0 vote for the block. Amended 24-1370 to add effective date (12-0, Hinds absent).
• Proclamation 24-1721 (World AIDS Day): Adopted 13-0.
• GID Resolutions (24-1556, 24-1557, 24-1558, 24-1559): All adopted 13-0.
• Next Meeting: Council will hold a public hearing on December 2, 2024, for a petition to exclude property from the Colfax Mayfair Business Improvement District.