Denver City Council Regular Meeting – December 9, 2024

The Denver City Council met on December 9, 2024, in two sessions (3:30 PM and 5:30 PM) to consider resolutions, bills, and public hearings. The meeting included a consent agenda, discussion of a contract with the Caring for Denver Foundation, postponement of a lease for a navigation center, introduction of a flavored tobacco ban, and public hearings on a landmark designation, a rezoning, and the Denver Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Plan of Development. Council approved most items with broad bipartisan support, except for one dissenting vote on the DDA plan and one on the flavored tobacco ban publication.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Approved the minutes of December 2, 2024 (Item 24-1778).
• Resolutions adopted en bloc (12-0): 22 items including contracts for Energize Denver services (Touchstone IQ LLC – add $12,107,899), electric buses at DEN ($976,000 grant), Oracle software ($989,438), US Bank commercial card program, emergency restoration services, natural gas transportation, heavy-duty truck parts, electronic health records software, data aggregation platform, recreation center coatings, two alley dedications, healthy food programs, My Spark program, Caring for Denver Foundation contract (one-year term), Behavioral Health Solutions Center (add $5,210,000), TRUA program administration ($10,193,757 with The Community Firm and $875,000 with Jewish Family Service), and Denver Rescue Mission case management (add $700,000).
• Bills placed on final passage en bloc (12-0): Revocation of St. Joseph’s Hospital revocable permit (24-1642), ReCAST youth violence prevention evaluation (24-1368, add $147,937), and SUN Co-Responder program (24-1675, add $307,490).

Public Comments & Testimony

• 3:30 PM session: No public comments.
• 5:30 PM public hearings:
  • Landmark designation (24-1591): One speaker (Alejandra Castañeda) spoke in opposition; no speakers in favor.
  • Rezoning (24-1314): No public speakers.
  • DDA Plan of Development (24-1660): Eight speakers (Kourtny Garrett, Aubrey Wilk, Dorit Fischer, Jerry Glick, David Roberts, Lisa Pope, Sal Tripodi, Patrick Walton) spoke in favor; no opposition.

Discussion Items

1. Caring for Denver Foundation Contract (Resolution 24-1520)

• Councilmembers Torres, Gilmore, Parady, Watson, Lewis, and Sandoval spoke about the contract, which was previously postponed. Torres noted the contract was reduced from five years to one year to allow time for citywide review of all sales-tax-funded entities. Several members read letters from community organizations supporting Caring for Denver. The resolution was subsequently adopted as part of the consent agenda.

2. Quebec Hospitality Lease for Navigation Center (Resolution 24-1619)

• Councilmember Lewis expressed frustration over the lack of a comprehensive plan for the All In Mile High initiative, particularly the concentration of shelters in District 8. She urged a no vote. After discussion, Councilmember Flynn invoked Council Rule 3.6 to postpone the item to December 16, 2024, to allow time for further negotiation and a plan. The postponement was granted without a vote.

3. Flavored Tobacco Products Ban (Bill 24-1765)

• Sponsored by Gonzales-Gutierrez, Lewis, and Watson. Councilmember Flynn voted against ordering publication, stating the bill was not ready. The bill was ordered published by an 11-1 vote (Flynn nay), with a courtesy public hearing scheduled for December 16, 2024.

4. Downtown Development Authority Plan of Development (Bill 24-1660)

• Following a public hearing with eight supporters, council members debated project criteria. Councilmember Parady expressed concern over the absence of explicit labor and climate sustainability criteria and voted no. Councilmembers Alvidrez, Watson, and others supported the plan, emphasizing the need for inclusive downtown investment. The bill passed 11-1 (Parady nay).

5. DDA Boundary Amendment (Bill 24-1659)

• Companion bill to 24-1660, initially postponed to after the vote on 24-1660. Passed unanimously (12-0) following the DDA plan approval.

Key Outcomes

• Caring for Denver contract approved as part of consent agenda (12-0).
• Quebec Hospitality lease postponed to December 16, 2024.
• Flavored tobacco ban ordered published (11-1); public hearing December 16, 2024.
• Landmark designation for 4450 N. Tennyson St. (Currie/Dryer Cottage) approved (12-0).
• Rezoning for 1401 N. Fairfax St. (from U-TU-C to U-RH-3A) approved (12-0).
• DDA Plan of Development approved (11-1).
• DDA Boundary Amendment approved (12-0).
• Bills for introduction (24-1711, 24-1712, 24-1713, 24-1634, 24-1644, 24-1588) all ordered published.
• Pre-adjournment announcements: Future public hearings scheduled for December 16, 2024 (flavored tobacco and zoning code amendments) and January 6, 2025 (rezonings for 950-970 N. Federal Blvd. and multiple properties). Deadlines for protests: December 30, 2024.