Denver City Council Meeting - February 10, 2025

The Denver City Council convened on Monday, February 10, 2025, at 3:30 PM in the Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber. The meeting included a proclamation honoring Negro League history, individual call-outs and discussions on several resolutions and bills, a block vote on numerous consent items, and postponements of a micro-community contract and a rezoning bill. Council adjourned at 4:38 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of February 3, 2025 (25-0163).
• Adopted en bloc (13-0) the following resolutions: 25-0075 (Bibliotheca self-check machines), 25-0079 (Lipski Group public art at DEN), 25-0080 (AtkinsRéalis financial consulting at DEN), 25-0081 (G2 Secure Staff lease amendment at DEN), 25-0082 (Frasca & Associates financial consulting at DEN), 25-0085 (APTIM climate rebate administration), 25-0072 (Tymesha Watkins reappointment to Citizen Oversight Board), 25-0073 (TruePoint Solutions Accela support), 25-0074 (Verizon cellular service), 25-0076 (EP Blazer auto parts), 25-0083 (UKG Kronos for Sheriff's Dept), 25-0084 (UKG Kronos for Police/Fire), 25-0095 (land purchase at 1060 S. Emporia Street), 25-0077 (Center for African American Health grant), 25-0088 (Volunteers of America family shelter), 25-0089 (The Delores Project rapid rehousing), 25-0118 (Monroe Village micro-community), 25-0119 (Steele Village micro-community), 25-0093 (Merrick & Company design at National Western Center).
• Placed on final passage en bloc (13-0) the following bills: 25-0040 (classification and pay plan changes), 25-0061 (Morrison Road property acquisitions), 25-0026 (Denver Health opioid pain management), 25-0027 (Denver Health addiction medicine phone line expansion), 25-0028 (DPS substance misuse support positions).
• Ordered published the following bills for introduction: 24-1676 (campaign finance), 25-0096 (parks legacy fund transfer), 25-0090 (Denver Health child welfare medical services), 25-0091 (Medicaid eligibility incentive).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were heard during the meeting.

Discussion Items

• Proclamation 25-0164: Councilmember Watson sponsored a proclamation honoring Denver's role in Negro Baseball League history and its connection to the Historic Five Points neighborhood. Former Council President Elber Wedgeworth and Lashida Sayers accepted the proclamation, highlighting the African American Heritage Calendar and the 2021 All-Star weekend displays. The proclamation was adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 25-0095 (Parkland Purchase): Councilmember Sawyer called out the resolution to celebrate the city's purchase of 1.94 acres at 1060 South Emporia Street in the Windsor neighborhood for $750,000, funded by the Parks Legacy Fund and a $75,000 contribution from Denver Parks Trust. She noted this was the first such acquisition in District 5 and a promise kept to voters. No further questions were raised.
• Resolution 25-0077 (Center for African American Health): Councilmember Lewis called out the resolution but offered no substantive comments or questions.
• Resolution 25-0088 (Volunteers of America): Councilmember Lewis asked about the program's location. Chris Lowell (HOST) confirmed the program operates at the Sand and Sage Motel and will shift to the new Theodora Family Hotel in May 2025. Lewis had no further questions.
• Resolutions 25-0117, 25-0118, 25-0119 (Colorado Village Collaborative Micro-Communities): Councilmember Alvidrez called out the three resolutions as a block, focusing on 25-0117 (La Paz Micro-Community). She questioned the 120-person capacity figure, which Chris Lowell explained as 60 units flipping once per year. Alvidrez noted that as of December 2024, only 97 people had been served and 12 exited to housing, expressing confusion about projections. Midori Higa (HOST) described the new Housing Central Command model that will integrate referrals from all All In Mile High sites, aiming for 950 housing resources. Alvidrez also cited an underspend due to delayed opening and the absence of a safety manager position in the current contract. She moved to postpone 25-0117 to the next regular meeting, which was granted.
• Bill 24-1676 (Campaign Finance): Councilmember Lewis called out the bill for questions. She expressed concern about the lack of a cost estimate for debate facilitation. Andy Secaris (Clerk's Office) and Councilmember Sawyer explained that the “shall” language requiring an RFP was removed to allow flexibility, and that costs could be covered by the Fair Elections Fund or contingency, with two budget cycles available before the 2027 election. Councilmember Parady asked about the conflict-of-interest language for debate moderators; Assistant City Attorney Shabaga stated it derived from federal presidential debate rules. Parady requested the federal regulation. The bill was ordered published with a required public hearing on February 18, 2025.
• Bill 25-0086 (Zoning Reclassification): Councilmember Parady called out the bill to postpone it. She explained she needed to connect with a property owner in the affected area (Chaffee Park, Sunnyside, Highland, Jefferson Park) and did not want to amend the application on the night of the vote. The bill was postponed to February 18, 2025.

Key Outcomes

• Proclamation 25-0164 adopted unanimously (13-0).
• Resolution 25-0117 (La Paz Micro-Community) postponed to February 18, 2025, per Councilmember Alvidrez's call-out.
• Bill 25-0086 (Zoning) postponed to February 18, 2025, by a unanimous vote (13-0).
• Block vote for all other resolutions and bills on final consideration passed unanimously (13-0).
• Bills for introduction (24-1676, 25-0096, 25-0090, 25-0091) ordered published.
• Next meeting: Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 3:30 PM (due to Presidents' Day holiday on February 17), with a required public hearing on Bill 24-1676 (campaign finance).