Denver City Council Meeting – March 17, 2025

The Denver City Council met on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 3:30 PM in the Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber. The meeting included two proclamations, several resolutions and bills passed en bloc, a postponed reappointment, a split vote on funding for 16th Street Mall activation, and a public hearing on a large-scale rezoning in the Near Northwest area. All 13 council members were present (Councilmember Hinds arrived late; Councilmember Lewis attended virtually).

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Minutes of March 10, 2025 (25-0347) approved unanimously.
• Proclamation 25-0359: Recognizing the 49th Annual Denver March Powwow (March 21–23, 2025 at the Denver Coliseum) adopted 13–0.
• Proclamation 25-0361: Celebrating Nowruz (Persian New Year, March 20, 2025) adopted 13–0.
• Resolutions adopted en bloc:
  • 25-0254: Agreement with The Fax Partnership ($870,000) for small business support during East Colfax BRT construction.
  • 25-0255: Amendment with Garage Door Specialties Inc. (+$500,000) for door services at Denver International Airport.
  • 25-0248: Appointment of Andrew Turner to Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund Advisory Board.
  • 25-0252: Dedicating two City-owned parcels as public right-of-way in District 10.
  • 25-0258: Agreement with Jewish Family Service of Colorado ($2,856,000) for Rapid Rehousing Program.
  • 25-0358: Settlement payment of $800,000 to the Estate of Duane Manzanares, Jr. (police liability claim).
  • 25-0220: Letter of Understanding with Union Pacific Railroad ($5,284,125) for purchase of 1430 14th Street in Auraria.
  • 25-0259: Amendment with Globeville Redevelopment Partners (extension and added parcels).
• Bills for final consideration passed en bloc:
  • 25-0219: Authorizing property acquisition for East Colfax BRT (condemnation authority).
  • 25-0235: Filing fee change for Board of Adjustment.
  • 25-0226: Intergovernmental agreement with Denver Health & Hospital Authority (two-year, tax fund administration).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public Hearing on Council Bill 25-0086 (Near Northwest rezoning): Two speakers testified.
  • Jesse Paris (representing multiple community organizations) expressed general support but asked whether jobs created would be locally owned or outside businesses. He previously opposed what he called "gentrification as usual."
  • David Pardo (District 7 resident, former District 1 resident) supported the rezoning but raised a specific concern about the DO8 overlay at 3746 North Clay Street, which he believed could prevent construction of a fourplex on that lot. He urged careful application of overlays.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 25-0251 (Crime Prevention & Control Commission reappointments): Councilmember Lewis moved to postpone to March 24, 2025, to allow the administration to break up the appointments. The postponement passed 12–0 (Councilmember Torres absent).
• Resolution 25-0191 (Downtown Denver Partnership activation funding): A late-filed resolution to amend a contract with Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc., adding $1,500,000 (new total $1,900,000) for 16th Street Mall reopening activities. The rules were suspended to allow late filing (13–0). Debate ensued:
  • Councilmember Parady voted against, citing budget priorities and constituent needs (shelter, rental assistance) over activation funding.
  • Councilmember Hinds (District 10) supported, arguing downtown vitality benefits the entire metro region and funds city services across all districts.
  • Councilmember Watson supported, noting his 30-year career downtown and the need to triple down on downtown revitalization.
  • Councilmember Lewis expressed concern about downtown vacancies and the need for a broader strategy (e.g., housing) beyond activation.
  • Council President Sandoval noted the contract was amended in committee to address concerns, and she supported.
  • Councilmember Alvidrez opposed, citing the recent $500 million voter-approved DDA funding for downtown.
  • The resolution passed 10–3 (Alvidrez, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Parady nay).
• Council Bill 25-0260 (Emergency telephone charge increase): Called out by Councilmember Parady for discussion. She praised the Department of Safety for bringing the adjustment forward and explained it allows shifting costs from the general fund to a dedicated fund, freeing up flexible dollars. Councilmember Flynn questioned whether future increases would be automatic; Andrew Damron (Denver 911 Director) clarified that increases would be based on budgetary need, not automatically tied to PUC rates. Flynn expressed preference for council approval on future increases.
• Council Announcements: Multiple members announced upcoming community meetings, including bond discussions, barbershop talks, Quebec Corridor meetings, and the 38th Avenue corridor study.

Key Outcomes

• Reappointments postponed: Resolution 25-0251 postponed to March 24, 2025 (12–0).
• 16th Street Mall activation funding approved: Resolution 25-0191 adopted 10–3.
• Bills for introduction ordered published: Including Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a city holiday (25-0261), Denver Health Tax Fund authorization (25-0298), Barnum rezoning (25-0249), emergency telephone charge increase (25-0260), Wazee Street rezoning (24-1312), and parks fund transfer (25-0221). Future required public hearings set for April 14, 2025 (Barnum and Wazee).
• Near Northwest rezoning passed: Council Bill 25-0086 (amending zoning for 1,088 parcels in Chaffee Park, Sunnyside, Highland, and Jefferson Park) adopted 13–0. The rezoning implements the Near Northwest Area Plan by adding the Active Centers and Corridors Design Overlay (DO8) and rezoning former Chapter 59 properties into current Denver Zoning Code districts.
• Next meeting: Monday, March 24, 2025, at 3:30 PM.