The Denver City Council met on April 7, 2025, with 12 members present (Gilmore absent) to consider proclamations, a block of routine resolutions, and two public hearings on zoning changes. Key actions included adopting proclamations for National Donate Life Month and a UNICEF Child Friendly City bid, approving dozens of contracts and appointments en bloc, and voting on two rezoning requests: one in Villa Park (passed 11-0) and one in Athmar Park (failed 1-10).
Villa Park Rezoning (25-0046):
Athmar Park Rezoning (25-0153):
Proclamations: Councilmembers shared personal stories on organ donation (Sandoval, Alvidrez) and celebrated the Child Friendly City initiative (Kashmann). Councilmember Parady noted the irony of celebrating UNICEF while U.S.-funded weapons were used in Gaza.
IT Staffing and Detention Contracts: Councilmember Lewis called out Resolution 25-0371 (Securus) to note improvements: two free phone calls and one free 10-minute video call per week for incarcerated individuals. Councilmember Gonzales-Gutierrez thanked the Sheriff for progress on free calls.
Villa Park Rezoning Debate: Councilmember Torres highlighted the difficulty of achieving affordability without clear city pathways and supported the rezoning because the affordable housing plan (20% of units at 110% AMI, 99-year covenant) addressed displacement concerns raised by CPD’s memo. No other council members questioned it deeply; the vote was 11-0.
Athmar Park Rezoning Debate: Extensive debate over the GNA, which was signed only hours before the hearing and did not include binding affordability or community benefits beyond existing code requirements (parking, height under 40 ft, attached garages). Councilmembers Alvidrez, Hinds, Sawyer, and Sandoval criticized the RNO’s lack of legal counsel, the last-minute nature, and the precedent it would set. Councilmember Parady supported the rezoning because the zone district itself (I-MX-3) was appropriate for the location, regardless of the GNA. Councilmember Flynn questioned CPD’s reliance on a 25-year-old neighborhood plan and the characterization of a bus route as “transit corridor.” Councilmember Alvidrez noted that the RNO felt ignored and that the language of support letters echoed gentrification rhetoric. The rezoning failed 1-10.
Please stand by. Full coverage of your Denver City Council begins now into Spanish. Into Spanish. Sam or Alejandro, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to translate how to enable translation on their devices? 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. Please give us a second while we um give the instructions in Spanish. Thank you very much, Sam. Welcome to Denver City Council meeting of April 7th, 2025. Council members, please rise as you are able and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation. Under God with liberty and justice for all. Council members, please join Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement. Thank you, Madam President. The Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe 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, Councilmember. Madam Secretary, we'll call. See none. The minutes stand approved. Council announcements. Are there any council announcements at this afternoon? Councilmember Parady. And because we're the citywide representatives, we're sort of taking it to a citywide focus and trying to think about looking for the greatest needs in the city, the greatest areas of equity. So we would really love people to show up. Even if you went to one of your district bond meetings, um, come to the outlarge meeting as well. We would love to see you there. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Cashman. Thank you, Madam President. And uh for the blessings of uh residents around the city. This will be my next to the last time to announce this as the date is approaching on Wednesday uh Tuesday, April 16th. Uh the uh District 6 uh Academy in the community will come to Cook Park Recreation Center at 7100 Cherry Creek Drive South. We will have about three dozen city agencies and nonprofit partners in the same room at the same time to uh hear your concerns, answer your questions, take your compliments, and uh try to direct you in the way you need to. So I hope you will all show up April 16th, 5 30 to 7 30 p.m. at Cook Park Recreation Center, District 6 Academy in the community. Thank you, Councilmember Cashman. Councilmember Sawyer. Thank you, Madam President. Um, just wanted to flag for any residents, property owners or residents who are not property owners but who are registered to vote who live in Cherry Creek. Um we are having a conversation about um potentially creating a general improvement district in the Cherry Creek Statistical Neighborhoods. We have a number of information sessions that are coming up. Just wanted to flag for everyone. Um if you live inside the business improvement district, but you are a resident of Cherry Creek. Uh join us on Tuesday night, April 15th at 5 30 p.m. online.