OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting - January 27, 2025

City Council — Monday, January 27, 2025
BodyDenver, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, January 27, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, January 27, 2025.

0:10

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

0:20

In the United States.

0:34

Council members, please join Councilmember Gilmore as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement.

0:40

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

0:51

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

0:59

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

1:06

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

1:17

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

1:34

Thank you.

1:34

Madam Secretary, roll call.

1:40

President.

1:42

Romero Campbell.

1:43

Here.

1:47

Flynn.

1:48

Here.

1:49

Gilmore.

1:50

Here.

1:50

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

1:52

Here.

1:52

Heinz.

1:53

Here.

1:53

Cashman.

1:54

Here.

1:54

Parody.

1:55

Here.

1:55

Sawyer.

1:56

Here.

1:56

Torres.

2:00

Watson.

2:01

Hair.

2:02

Madam President.

2:04

Here.

2:06

Twelve members present.

2:08

There are 12 members present.

2:11

Council has a quorum.

2:13

Approval of the minutes.

2:14

Are there any corrections to the minutes of January 21st?

2:21

Seeing none.

2:22

The minutes stand approved.

2:24

Council announcements.

2:26

Are there any council count announcements from my council members this afternoon?

2:35

Councilwoman Sawyer.

2:36

Thank you, Madam President.

2:38

Just wanted to let all District 5 residents know that we will be doing our annual community open house.

2:44

So once a year we kind of get ask all of our uh uh agencies to come together.

2:49

Um it's at the George Washington High School Library on Tuesday the 11th.

2:54

Um please come and join us.

2:55

It's an open house format, so there's not gonna be any kind of anything formal presentation-wise, but it's a great opportunity for our residents to come and ask each of the city agencies themselves about questions when it comes to what is happening on my streets, what is when is my street going to be repaved, what is the deal with trash?

3:12

Um, all of those different kinds of things.

3:14

So please come and join us.

3:15

It's Tuesday, February 11th at the library at George Washington High School.

3:19

Thanks.

3:22

Councilmember Watson.

3:23

Uh thank you, Madam President.

3:25

Uh, want to inform the community.

3:26

We are engaging in a community-informed discussion on uh February 4th, Tuesday, February 4th, from 6 to 7 p.m.

3:35

It's on the fair election fund, um, which is the fund used to make sure that um candidates running for office within Denver City Council, Denver City and municipal races that we have a fair and balanced process to run.

3:49

We want to hear your feedback and your input.

3:52

It will be at the Glenarm Rug Center in five points at 2800 Glenarm Street, and this is uh next Tuesday, February 4th, from 6 to 7 p.m.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Miscellaneous████████████████████████24%
Procedural███████████11%
Zoning█████████9%
Education█████████9%
Community Engagement███████7%
Climate Resiliency██████6%
Cultural Heritage█████5%
Land Use Zoning█████5%
Historic Preservation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting - January 27, 2025

The Denver City Council met on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 3:30 PM in the Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber. The meeting included approval of minutes, announcements, proclamations, resolutions, introduction of bills, and two public hearings on zoning changes. Notable outcomes included the failure of a contract amendment with Kaiser due to a $13 million discrepancy, the unanimous adoption of a proclamation supporting Denver's bid as a gas planning pilot community, and the failure of a rezoning for 3801 East Florida Avenue due to concerns over green space protection.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of minutes (25-0100).
  • Adoption of Proclamation 25-0012 (Supporting Denver's Gas Planning Pilot Community Bid).
  • Adoption of resolutions en bloc: 24-1874 (Workday contract), 25-0010 (Peña Station South plat), 25-0011 (Stanley Consultants contract), 25-0110 (DOTI liability settlement), 25-0015 through 25-0017, 25-0021, 25-0023, 25-0025 (HIV/AIDS and shelter contracts), and liability claim resolutions 25-0101 through 25-0109 (police department settlements). All passed with 12 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent (Torres).
  • Postponement of four Salvation Army resolutions (24-1649, 24-1650, 24-1703, 24-1775) to February 3, 2025, per Council Rule 3.6.
  • Final passage of Bill 24-1869 (easement relinquishment near Wynkoop and 40th) en bloc.
  • Ordering of publication for bills 25-0014 (RTD EcoPass), 25-0013 (rezoning 1709 N Williams), 25-0030 (rezoning 1628-1630 S Ogden), and 25-0018 through 25-0020 (HIV/AIDS contract amendments).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public testimony was offered during the general public comment session or the public hearing for Bill 24-1772 (one signed-up speaker did not appear).

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 25-0009 (Kaiser Health Plan Amendment): Councilmember Flynn noted a $13 million discrepancy between the contract amount in the title and the actual document. The city attorney's office confirmed a reduction had been negotiated but the incorrect amount was filed. The resolution was voted down unanimously (12 nays) to allow for correction.
  • Liability Settlements (25-0101 through 25-0110): Councilmember Lewis highlighted that the 10 settlements total $1,527,500 for 2025, including payments from the Denver Police Department and DOTI claims. She stated she is tracking all settlement expenditures.
  • Proclamation 25-0070 (Lunar New Year): Sponsored by Councilmembers Torres, Alvidrez, and Gonzales-Gutierrez, celebrating the Year of the Snake and recognizing AAPI contributions. Adopted unanimously.
  • Public Hearing: Bill 24-1772 (Rezoning 2000 S Bannock): Staff report from Will Prince (Community Planning and Development) recommended approval to rezone from I-A,UO-2 to C-RX-5. The site is near transit and aligns with city plans. Councilmember Alvidrez supported the rezoning. No public testimony was given. Passed 12-0.
  • Public Hearing: Bill 24-0878 (Rezoning 3801 E Florida): This item had been postponed from previous meetings. Councilmember Kashmann spoke against it, citing a lack of protection for a 50-60 foot deep green space with 50 mature trees along Jackson Street, which conflicts with climate goals. He noted zero outreach to the community. Councilmembers Gilmore and Flynn also opposed. The bill failed unanimously (12 nays).

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 25-0009 (Kaiser) failed; to be corrected and re-introduced.
  • Four Salvation Army contracts postponed to February 3, 2025.
  • Rezoning for 2000 S Bannock (Bill 24-1772) approved.
  • Rezoning for 3801 E Florida (Bill 24-0878) denied.
  • Proclamations 25-0012 and 25-0070 adopted.
  • All en bloc resolutions and bills passed as listed.
  • Next meeting scheduled for February 3, 2025, with additional public hearings on February 24, 2025, for rezoning items 25-0013 and 25-0030.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, January 27, 2025. Council members, please rise as you are able and join Councilmember Gilmar in the Pledge of Allegiance. In the United States. Council members, please join Councilmember Gilmore 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 U 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. 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 indigenous communities in Denver. Thank you. Madam Secretary, roll call. President. Romero Campbell. Here. Flynn. Here. Gilmore. Here. Gonzalez Gutierrez. Here. Heinz. Here. Cashman. Here. Parody. Here. Sawyer. Here. Torres. Watson. Hair. Madam President. Here. Twelve members present. There are 12 members present. Council has a quorum. Approval of the minutes. Are there any corrections to the minutes of January 21st? Seeing none. The minutes stand approved. Council announcements. Are there any council count announcements from my council members this afternoon? Councilwoman Sawyer. Thank you, Madam President. Just wanted to let all District 5 residents know that we will be doing our annual community open house. So once a year we kind of get ask all of our uh uh agencies to come together. Um it's at the George Washington High School Library on Tuesday the 11th. Um please come and join us. It's an open house format, so there's not gonna be any kind of anything formal presentation-wise, but it's a great opportunity for our residents to come and ask each of the city agencies themselves about questions when it comes to what is happening on my streets, what is when is my street going to be repaved, what is the deal with trash? Um, all of those different kinds of things.

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