Denver City Council Meeting - January 6, 2025

The Denver City Council met on Monday, January 6, 2025, beginning at 3:30 p.m. and adjourning at 7:29 p.m. in the Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber. Council President Amanda P. Sandoval was absent; 12 members were present. The meeting included proclamations, a consent agenda of over 30 resolutions and bills, a separate vote on a needle exchange ordinance, public hearings on two major rezonings, and adoption of a proclamation welcoming the 119th National Western Stock Show.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of December 23, 2024 approved.
• Proclamation 25-0005 recognizing January as Denver Blood Donor Month and Vitalant's lifesaving work (sponsor Sawyer) adopted unanimously (12-0).
• Proclamation 25-0006 welcoming the 119th National Western Stock Show (sponsor Watson) adopted (11-0, Lewis and Sandoval absent).
• Resolutions (adopted en bloc, 12-0):
  • Contract with PCL Construction Services ($72,625,546) for Physical Access Control System (PACS) replacement at Denver International Airport (815 days).
  • Contract with W.W. Clyde & Co. ($22,179,130) for Runway 17R-35L pavement rehabilitation and lighting upgrade at DEN (238 days).
  • Master Purchase Order with W.W. Grainger ($12,000,000) for MRO supplies and PPE (citywide, through 2029).
  • Master Purchase Order with Golf and Sport Solutions ($650,000) for golf course bunker sand (citywide, through 2029).
  • Amendment with UnitedHealthCare ($100,000,000 addition, new total $265,000,000) for employee medical plan options.
  • Contract with ConvergeOne ($10,724,438) for Carbyne Apex 911 telephony system support.
  • Second Amendment with Parsons Transportation Group ($1,079,974 addition, total $25,220,979) for Colfax BRT design.
  • Multiple street dedication resolutions (parcels in Districts 1, 3, 8) and revocable permits for patios at Sushi Den (1487 S. Pearl) and Ototo (1501 S. Pearl), and for staircases at 2020 W. Barberry Place.
  • Plat approval for Peña Station Townhomes Filing No. 1 (District 11).
  • Contract name change from Russell + Mills Studios to RVE, Inc.
  • Amendments extending contracts for My Outdoor Colorado Coalition with Lincoln Hills Cares, Denver Youth Program, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver (442 days each, no cost change).
  • Third Amendment with WellPower ($1,091,988 addition, total $4,305,541) for STAR program clinicians (through 2025).
  • Contract with The Salvation Army ($1,113,031) for meals at micro-communities (through 2025).
  • Third Amendment with Volunteers of America ($140,000 addition, total $700,000) for permanent housing voucher case management.
  • Amendment with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless ($480,040 addition, total $1,200,093) for respite care.
  • Second Amendment with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless ($3,377,000 addition, total $10,131,000) for Supportive Housing Pay for Performance (SHP4P) program.
  • Second Amendment with Burgwyn Residential Management ($200,000 addition, total $1,000,000) for permanent supportive housing at Fourth Quarter Apartments and Ruby Hill Residences.
  • Fourth Amendment with Urban Peak Denver ($1,910,000 addition, total $5,700,000) for youth shelter and services (ages 12-24).
  • Grant agreements with HUD: Community Development Block Grant FY24 ($6,603,841), HOPWA FY24 ($4,053,292), Emergency Solutions Grant FY24 ($562,654), HOME FY24 ($2,615,517.62).
• Bills for Final Consideration (passed en bloc):
  • 24-1776: IGA with RTD ($250,778) for Ecopass program for city employees.
  • 24-1807: Amendment to increase formal bidding threshold to $150,000, informal to under $150,000.
  • 24-1773: Grant from Colorado Automobile Theft Prevention Authority ($951,750) for metropolitan auto theft task force.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jesse Parris (representing multiple community organizations) spoke on both public hearings (24-1588 and 24-1644). He expressed opposition to rezonings, warning of gentrification and unintended consequences, and asked for specific details on planned developments and traffic impacts.
• Lindsay Lyda (land use attorney for 2001 S. Dahlia LLC) spoke in favor of rezoning 2001 S. Dahlia Street to SMX-5A rather than the proposed SMX-3A, citing proximity to transit and existing entitlements.

Discussion Items

• Needle Exchange Ordinance (24-1791): Councilmember Alvidrez introduced a bill to remove limitations on needle exchange and treatment referral programs. Councilmember Sawyer expressed concerns based on resident experiences and noted the bill sponsors were unwilling to compromise. Councilmember Flynn cited concerns about removing distancing requirements and caps. The bill was ordered published on an 8-4 roll call vote (Ayes: Gilmore, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Hinds, Kashmann, Lewis, Parady, Torres, Watson; Nays: Alvidrez, Flynn, Romero Campbell, Sawyer).
• Public Hearing 24-1588 – Rezoning 950 & 970 N. Federal Blvd: The proposal rezones from E-MX-3 (with overlays) to C-MX-8 in Sun Valley (District 3). Staff (Rob Haig) presented consistency with Comprehensive Plan 2040, Blueprint Denver, and West Area Plan. The sole public speaker, Jesse Parris, raised concerns about gentrification. Councilmember Torres expressed support, noting the West Area Plan's height guidance and potential for BRT on Federal Boulevard. The bill passed 11-0.
• Public Hearing 24-1644 – Near Southeast Area Plan Implementation (multiple properties in Goldsmith, University Hills, Indian Creek, Virginia Village, Washington Virginia Vale): Staff (Fran Peñafiel, Joe Green, Fritz Clauson) presented a legislative rezoning to implement recommendations from the 2023 Near Southeast Area Plan, focusing on improving design standards in centers/corridors and rezoning former Chapter 59 properties into the Denver Zoning Code. The proposal rezoned hundreds of parcels to SMX-A series and other districts. Councilmember Kashmann offered an amendment to remove a 12-acre former CDOT site at Arkansas and Birch (already rezoned in 2020) and to adjust a date and document number; the amendment passed 11-0. Public speakers included Jesse Parris (general opposition) and Lindsay Lyda (requesting higher height for her client). Council discussion included detailed questions from Councilmember Flynn about preserving existing entitlements and Planned Building Groups (PBGs). Council sponsors (Kashmann, Sawyer, Romero Campbell) emphasized matching current entitlements and encouraging future applicant-driven rezonings for additional height. The bill as amended passed 11-0.

Key Outcomes

• All consent resolutions and bills adopted/passed en bloc (12-0, with Sandoval absent).
• Needle exchange ordinance (24-1791) ordered published after a divided 8-4 vote; final consideration scheduled for later meeting.
• Rezoning 24-1588 (950 & 970 N. Federal Blvd) passed 11-0, allowing up to 8 stories with mixed-use.
• Rezoning 24-1644 (near Southeast area) passed 11-0 as amended, implementing the Near Southeast Area Plan for hundreds of parcels in Districts 4, 5, and 6.
• National Western Stock Show Proclamation adopted; Paul Andrews, CEO, noted over 700,000 attendees and $170 million economic impact; the show runs January 11–26.
• Upcoming hearings announced: January 27, 2025 – required public hearing on 24-1772 (2000 S. Bannock St. rezoning), with protests due by noon, January 21; February 3, 2025 – required public hearing on 24-1797 (zoning code map amendment process).