OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting Summary: December 2, 2024

City Council — Monday, December 2, 2024
BodyDenver, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, December 2, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, December 2nd, 2024.

0:07

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

0:20

One nation under God's for all council members, please join Councilmember Watson as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement.

0:35

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

0:43

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

0:51

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

0:56

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

1:05

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

1:19

Thank you.

1:24

Gilmore.

1:26

Aye.

1:36

Here.

1:40

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

1:41

Here.

1:42

Heinz.

1:43

Here.

1:43

Cashman.

1:44

Here.

1:45

Parity?

1:46

Here.

1:47

Romero Campbell.

1:48

Here.

1:49

Sawyer.

1:49

Here.

1:50

Torres.

1:51

Here.

1:51

Watson.

1:52

Here.

1:53

Madam President.

1:54

Here.

1:56

Twelve members present.

1:58

Twelve members present.

1:59

Council has a quorum.

2:02

Approval of the minutes.

2:03

Are there any corrections to the minutes of November 25th?

2:10

Seeing none.

2:10

Are the minutes stand approved?

2:13

Council announcements.

2:15

Are there any announcements from our colleagues today?

2:20

Councilman Sawyer, start us out.

2:22

Thanks, Madam President.

2:23

Um, just wanted to flag for the residents of District 5, particularly the residents of Windsor.

2:28

Um, that there is a long time coming project that is finally gonna um hit the ground.

2:33

It's in the construction phase now, and that is for improvements to the Highline Canal from Parker Road um out to Havana.

2:41

So there's gonna be a community meeting on Tuesday, December 10th at 6 p.m.

2:46

This is virtual.

2:47

Um, you can find all the information and where to sign up and all those things um on our social media, Denver Council 5.

2:54

Um, but want to just let people know about it.

2:57

Please join us um be in that way you'll be able to ask questions of Parks and Wreck in the Highland Canal Conservancy.

3:02

It's really exciting development.

3:04

This is finally happening.

3:05

Thanks.

3:06

Thank you.

3:07

Next up, we have Councilman Torres.

3:09

Thank you, Madam President.

3:10

Um, just want to share with community that uh Raizis Brewery that we all know and love, and if you don't know it, you will love it as soon as you go.

3:18

Um, they're celebrating their fifth anniversary, so I want to just give them a shout-out, but also invite folks to their birthday party.

3:24

They'll be celebrating this Saturday, December 7th at 5 30 p.m.

3:28

And you can always expect amazing music.

3:30

Um they're brewing up some special brews, um, some birthday cake and community artists, but just a lot of fun.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement█████████████████████21%
Land Use Zoning██████████████████18%
Community Planning█████████████13%
Business Improvement Districts███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Contracts And Procurement█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting – December 2, 2024

The Denver City Council convened at 3:30 PM on Monday, December 2, 2024, in the Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber. The meeting included the approval of consent agenda items, two proclamations, and three public hearings on rezoning and a business improvement district exclusion. The meeting adjourned at 10:01 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • The council approved a block vote for 13 resolutions and 28 bills on final consideration, including:
    • Resolution 24-1768: Memorandum of Understanding with Denver Fire Fighters Local 858 to require four-person staffing on fire apparatus companies (no fiscal impact).
    • Resolution 24-1635: Three-year amendment with Denver Film Society for movie screenings at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (no additional cost).
    • Resolution 24-1653: $12 million contract with WJ Advisors LLC for financial management consulting at Denver International Airport (DEN).
    • Resolution 24-1654: Revenue contract with AGI Ground, Inc. for fee-based meet-and-assist services at DEN.
    • Resolution 24-1655: $1,528,381 amendment for hosting/maintenance of flydenver.com at DEN.
    • Resolution 24-1656: $15.5 million master purchase order with Zivaro, Inc. for hardware/software/technical support at DEN.
    • Resolution 24-1487: $500,000 on-call contract with Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. for emergency security personnel.
    • Resolution 24-1633: Ninth amendment with Skillsoft (US) LLC for online training content (no cost change).
    • Resolution 24-1643: Second amendment with Roth Property Maintenance adding $5.1 million for janitorial services (total $31.55 million).
    • Resolution 24-1672: Second amendment with KG Clean, Inc. adding $575,000 for janitorial services (total $5.225 million).
    • Resolution 24-1673: Amendment with Base Tactical Disaster Recovery, LLC adding $1,551,782 for FEMA grant administration (total $2,025,642).
    • Resolution 24-1674: Acceptance of $12,670,592 FEMA Shelter and Services Program grant.
    • Resolution 24-1636 through 24-1641: Dedication of city-owned parcels as public rights-of-way in Districts 7, 3, and 1.
    • Resolutions 24-1661 through 24-1670: One-year extensions for 10 restoration/ecological service contracts (no cost changes).
    • Resolution 24-1671: $1 million GOCO grant for Skyline Park improvements.
    • Resolution 24-1289: $1,059,797 grant to Sewall Child Development Center for Healthy Food for Denver's Kids.
    • Resolution 24-1645: $350,000 amendment with Colorado Legal Services for free eviction legal services (total $1,817,520).
    • Resolution 24-1646: $700,000 amendment with Colorado Poverty Law Project for free eviction legal services (total $3,055,152).
    • Resolution 24-1647: $300,000 amendment with East Colfax Community Collective for housing navigation/language access (total $1,060,000).
    • Resolution 24-1651: $806,243 amendment with The Community Firm for TRUA call center (total $1,565,224).
    • Resolution 24-1652: Third amendment to Master Credit Agreement for affordable housing near transit.
    • Resolution 24-1658: $2,106,665 grant from Caring for Denver Foundation for DPD Co-Responder Program.
    • Bills 24-1596 through 24-1607: Approval of 2025 annual costs for various pedestrian mall and streetscape local maintenance districts.
    • Bill 24-1608: Relinquishment of a portion of wastewater easement at 4602 South Syracuse Street.
    • Bill 24-1612: $1 million amendment with Downtown Denver BID for 16th Street Mall renovation furnishings.
    • Bill 24-1593: Amendment to extend benefits to part-time county court magistrates.
    • Bill 24-1623: Rescission and appropriation of $3,575,000 for Denver Public Library capital project (acquisition of 1339 W Cedar Ave).
    • All consent items passed 13-0 (Councilmember Lewis arrived during the 5:30 PM session and attended virtually).

Public Comments & Testimony

Public Hearing – Council Bill 24-1373 (3719 North Wolff Street rezoning to OS-B):

  • 19 speakers registered. Three spoke in favor (developer Alan Salsburg, Eric Rymarz, Joey Gargotto) and 16 in opposition.
  • Supporters argued the private swim club would be a community amenity, citing a West Highland Neighborhood Association survey showing 78% support, and noted a signed Good Neighbor Agreement addressing noise, parking, and hours.
  • Opponents (including Richard Rosen, who gathered 116 petition signatures) contended the club would be exclusive (membership buy-in estimated $15,000–$30,000), exacerbate gentrification, remove housing potential, and create noise/traffic safety issues. Several residents stated they were not adequately informed by the developer or the neighborhood association.

Public Hearing – Council Bill 24-1448 (1079 South Hooker Street rezoning to E-TU-C):

  • One speaker, Jesse Parris, spoke in opposition, raising concerns about gentrification and requesting details on affordability, traffic studies, and community agreements. No other public comments.

Public Hearing – Council Bill 24-1625 (Exclusion from Colfax Mayfair Business Improvement District):

  • Seven speakers. Three in favor (property owners Maurice Bennett and Jamie Harris, and Jesse Parris) and four in opposition (Frank Locantore, Hilarie Portell, Richard Barrett, Daniel Murray).
  • The petitioners argued their properties (at 6201 East 14th Ave and 1401 North Leyden St) are at the edge of the BID, face 14th Ave not Colfax, and that the BID's focus on Colfax does not serve them. They stated they would continue maintenance and safety improvements independently.
  • Opponents, including the BID executive director and other BID representatives, argued that exclusion would set a precedent, create a

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, December 2nd, 2024. Council members, please rise as you are able and join Councilmember Watson in the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God's 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 Arapaho peoples. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands and 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 indig of indigenous communities in Denver. Thank you. Gilmore. Aye. Here. Gonzalez Gutierrez. Here. Heinz. Here. Cashman. Here. Parity? Here. Romero Campbell. Here. Sawyer. Here. Torres. Here. Watson. Here. Madam President. Here. Twelve members present. Twelve members present. Council has a quorum. Approval of the minutes. Are there any corrections to the minutes of November 25th? Seeing none. Are the minutes stand approved? Council announcements. Are there any announcements from our colleagues today? Councilman Sawyer, start us out. Thanks, Madam President. Um, just wanted to flag for the residents of District 5, particularly the residents of Windsor. Um, that there is a long time coming project that is finally gonna um hit the ground. It's in the construction phase now, and that is for improvements to the Highline Canal from Parker Road um out to Havana. So there's gonna be a community meeting on Tuesday, December 10th at 6 p.m. This is virtual. Um, you can find all the information and where to sign up and all those things um on our social media, Denver Council 5. Um, but want to just let people know about it. Please join us um be in that way you'll be able to ask questions of Parks and Wreck in the Highland Canal Conservancy. It's really exciting development.

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