OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting Summary – January 13, 2025

City Council — Monday, January 13, 2025
BodyDenver, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, January 13, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

Please stand by.

0:09

Full coverage of your Denver City Council begins now.

0:25

Thank you for joining us.

0:27

Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish.

0:30

Sam or Alejandro, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to enable translation on their device?

0:38

Yes, of course.

0:39

Thank you for having us.

0:40

Hello, everyone.

0:41

My name is Sam Guzman with the CLC.

0:44

And along with my colleague Alejandro, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish.

0:49

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

1:36

Thank you very much, Sam.

1:40

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025.

1:45

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

2:01

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

2:18

Thank you, Madam President.

2:19

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

2:28

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

2:36

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

3:22

Here Sawyer.

3:30

Here.

3:34

Cashman.

3:35

Here.

3:36

Lewis.

3:36

Present.

3:37

Harady.

3:38

Here.

3:39

Romero Campbell.

3:40

Here.

3:41

Torres.

3:42

Here.

3:42

Watson.

3:43

Here.

3:44

Madam President.

3:46

Here.

3:47

Thirteen members present.

3:48

There are 13 members present.

3:50

Council has a quorum.

3:53

Approval of the minutes.

3:54

Are there corrections to the minutes of January 6th?

4:00

Seeing none, the minutes stand approved.

4:03

Council announcements.

4:05

Are there any announcements this afternoon from my colleagues?

4:15

Seeing none, there are no presentations.

4:47

Proclamation number 25-0036, standing together for a unified Denver.

5:00

City and County of Denver is dedicated, whereas the city and county of Denver is dedicated to being a beacon of inclusivity, equity, and opportunity for all who live, work, visit, uh, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, or socioeconomic status.

5:10

And whereas Denver thrives because of the diversity of its residents, whose rich cultural, religious, economic, and educational contributions strengthen the very foundation of our community.

5:22

And whereas Denver has long stood as a champion for civil rights, ensuring protections for immigrants, refugees, and asylums to live with dignity, call upon emergency and public safety resources without fear, and build safer, stronger neighborhoods together.

5:37

And whereas our city has been steadfast in defending the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ plus individuals, people with disabilities, communities of color, and religious communities, and will continue to oppose any threats or actions that seek to diminish their protections and well-being.

5:56

And whereas Denver commits to bold and innovative innovative efforts to safeguard our environment, improve the mental, physical, and behavioral health of all residents, protect reproductive autonomy, and ensure that our actions today build a sustainable city for the next seven generations.

6:15

And whereas the city of Denver celebrates the contributions of immigrant refugee, LGBTQ plus, people with disabilities in all marginalized communities, reaffirming our our unwavering dedication to the safety, inclusion, and success.

6:32

And whereas we recognize the interconnectedness of all Denverites, understanding that the prosperity of our city depends on fostering equity, empathy, and mutual respect for every resident.

6:45

And thank you, Colin.

6:48

Go ahead, madam.

6:49

Go ahead.

6:52

And whereas Denver remains vigilant against any efforts that threaten constitutional protections, civil rights, or access to the vital resources that uplift our most vulnerable populations.

7:04

And whereas through the strength of local initiatives, community partnerships, and resilience, resilience of our residents, Denver has consistently demonstrated its commitment to addressing systematic inequities and creating opportunities for all and acknowledge the catastrophic impact of any loss of funding for critical family services programs like federally supported education, food, health care, and housing.

7:36

And whereas we pledge to work alongside agencies, city agencies, nonprofits, and community members to build a Denver where everyone belongs and where equal equity and opportunity are shared by all.

7:54

And whereas this proclamation serves to call to action for all Denverites to join in creating a community rooted in compassion, collaboration, and hope for a brighter, more inclusive future.

8:11

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Council of Denver, Section 1, that the Denver City Council and the Mayor of Denver reaffirm our commitment to equity, unity, and inclusion as the cornerstone cornerstone cornerstone of our shared future.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Health Policy███████████████████████████27%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Land Use Zoning███████████████████19%
Community Engagement██████████████14%
Public Safety███████7%
Public Engagement███3%
Zoning███3%
Housing Development██2%
Announcements██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting Summary – January 13, 2025

The Denver City Council met on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 3:30 PM in the Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber. The meeting included proclamations, approval of numerous resolutions and bills en bloc, a contentious debate on amending needle exchange regulations, and three public hearings on zoning changes. All 13 council members were present (with Councilmembers Gilmore and Sawyer attending virtually).

Consent Calendar

  • Resolutions approved en bloc (12-0, with Councilmember Parady absent):
    • 24-1853: Amendatory agreement with Live Nation Worldwide, Inc. (+$425,000).
    • 24-1845: Master purchase order with AM Signal, LLC ($5.5M for ethernet switches).
    • 24-1801: Contract with HDR Engineering for Burnham Yard Planning ($15M, 5 years) – adopted 12-0 with Councilmember Romero Campbell abstaining.
    • 24-1846: Dedicating city-owned parcel as North Federal Boulevard.
    • 24-1856: Revocable permit to West 8th Partners, LLC for encroachments.
    • 24-1861: Contract with Hamon Infrastructure for stormwater improvements ($3.35M).
    • 24-1287: Grant agreement with Montbello Organizing Committee ($1,099,989).
    • 24-1290: Grant agreement with Spirit of the Sun, Inc. ($968,000).
    • 24-1704: Third amendatory with La Raza Services, Inc. (+$2.7M).
    • 24-1850: Second amendatory with Denver Children's Advocacy Center (+$290,000).
    • 24-1852, 24-1857, 24-1858: COLA adjustments for Head Start delegate agencies.
    • 24-1854: Second amendatory with Housing Connector (+$900,000).
    • 24-1752: Grant agreement with USDOT Reconnecting Communities ($35.475M).
    • 24-1849: Grant agreement with CDOT for South Platte River Trail ($11.6M).
  • Bills for final consideration approved en bloc (12-0):
    • 24-1840: Establishing Denver Health and Hospital Authority Tax Fund.
    • 24-1841: Capital equipment purchase for DPHE.
    • 24-1817, 24-1834: Amendatory agreements with CU Denver and Colorado School of Mines (no cost change).
    • 24-1819: Relinquishing turnaround easement at 4498/4496 N Rifle Street.
    • 24-1820: COLA funds for Denver Great Kids Head Start with DPS (+$83,585).
    • 24-1839: Sale of city-owned parcel at 3575 N Chestnut Place for $14,750.
  • Bills for introduction ordered published: 24-1862 (correct fund number), 24-1863 (Community Services Block Grant), 24-1848 (vacating alley at 3715 Chestnut Place).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • On 24-1490 (1000 S Logan rezoning): Three speakers (Sara Graditor, Jesse Parris, Gertrude Grant) spoke in favor. No opposition. The West Washington Park Neighborhood Association expressed support via a community benefits agreement.
  • On 24-1491 (1691 Chestnut Place rezoning): One speaker (Jesse Parris) opposed, raising questions about use, parking, and community benefits.
  • On 24-1581 (1090 N Hooker rezoning): Two speakers (Jesse Parris, Jamie Aguilar) opposed, citing gentrification, displacement, and lack of affordability measures. The Villa Park RNO did not take a formal position.

Discussion Items

  • Needle Exchange Ordinance (24-1791): Council debated removing the cap on the number of needle exchange programs and the 1,000-foot distance requirement from schools. Supporters (Councilmembers Gonzales-Gutierrez, Parady, Hinds, Torres, Gilmore, Kashmann, Lewis, and Sandoval) cited 30 years of evidence that syringe access programs reduce disease and do not increase crime, and noted that Denver is an outlier among large U.S. cities. Opponents (Councilmembers Flynn, Sawyer, Alvidrez, Romero Campbell, and Watson) argued that removing distance protections could harm children, that existing programs already operate safely, and that the ordinance shifts responsibility to neighborhood organizations. Several councilmembers gave lengthy remarks. The final vote was 8-5 in favor.
  • Zoning Public Hearings:
    • 1000 S Logan Street (24-1490): Rezone from U-RH-3A to U-MX-3 to allow mixed-use, three-story development. Staff reported consistency with adopted plans. The applicant agreed to a community benefits agreement including no east-facing balconies, at least 60 parking spaces, and on-site affordable units (8% at 60% AMI or 12% at 70% AMI). Passed 11-0.
    • 1691 Chestnut Place (24-1491): Rezone from PUD 531 to C-MX-20 to allow broader ground-floor commercial uses, including a veterinarian office. Staff noted consistency with downtown plans. The building is already constructed. Passed 11-0.
    • 1090 N Hooker Street (24-1581): Rezone from E-SU-D1x to U-RH-2.5 to allow row houses up to 2.5 stories. Staff initially recommended approval, but Councilmember Torres highlighted the West Area Plan memo (issued October 10, 2024) stating that individual rezonings from single-unit to higher intensity in West Denver are inconsistent with adopted plans until anti-displacement tools are in place. Councilmembers expressed concerns about gentrification and displacement, noting rapid demographic changes. The vote failed 0-10 (all present council members voted nay; Councilmembers Gilmore, Parady, and Sawyer absent).

Key Outcomes

  • Council Bill 24-1791 (needle exchange ordinance) passed with a vote of 8 ayes (Gilmore, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Hinds, Kashmann, Lewis, Parady, Sandoval, Torres) and 5 nays (Alvidrez, Flynn, Romero Campbell, Sawyer, Watson). The ordinance removes the cap on the number of programs and eliminates the 1,000-foot distance requirement from schools, but adds a mandatory good neighbor agreement process enforceable through licensure.
  • Council Bill 24-1490 (1000 S Logan rezoning) adopted 11-0 (Councilmembers Gilmore and Sawyer absent).
  • Council Bill 24-1491 (1691 Chestnut Place rezoning) adopted 11-0 (Councilmembers Gilmore and Sawyer absent).
  • Council Bill 24-1581 (1090 N Hooker rezoning) failed 0-10 (Councilmembers Gilmore, Parady, and Sawyer absent).
  • All other resolutions and bills on the consent calendar were approved en bloc unanimously (12-0, with Councilmember Parady absent for some votes).
  • Proclamations 25-0036, 25-0037, and 25-0038 (Dr. E. Laquilla Phillips Day) were adopted unanimously.
  • The meeting adjourned at 7:41 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Please stand by. Full coverage of your Denver City Council begins now. Thank you for joining us. Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish. Sam or Alejandro, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to enable translation on their device? Yes, of course. Thank you for having us. Hello, everyone. My name is Sam Guzman with the CLC. And along with my colleague Alejandro, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish. I'll now give the instructions in Spanish on how to access interpretation. Thank you very much, Sam. Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025. Council members, please rise as you are able and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Madam President. The Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the territory, sorry, 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. Here Sawyer. Here. Cashman. Here. Lewis. Present. Harady. Here. Romero Campbell. 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 January 6th? Seeing none, the minutes stand approved. Council announcements. Are there any announcements this afternoon from my colleagues? Seeing none, there are no presentations. Proclamation number 25-0036, standing together for a unified Denver. City and County of Denver is dedicated, whereas the city and county of Denver is dedicated to being a beacon of inclusivity, equity, and opportunity for all who live, work, visit, uh, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, or socioeconomic status. And whereas Denver thrives because of the diversity of its residents, whose rich cultural, religious, economic, and educational contributions strengthen the very foundation of our community. And whereas Denver has long stood as a champion for civil rights, ensuring protections for immigrants, refugees, and asylums to live with dignity, call upon emergency and public safety resources without fear, and build safer, stronger neighborhoods together. And whereas our city has been steadfast in defending the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ plus individuals, people with disabilities, communities of color, and religious communities, and will continue to oppose any threats or actions that seek to diminish their protections and well-being. And whereas Denver commits to bold and innovative innovative efforts to safeguard our environment, improve the mental, physical, and behavioral health of all residents, protect reproductive autonomy, and ensure that our actions today build a sustainable city for the next seven generations.

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