Denver City Council Meeting – April 7, 2025 (3:30 PM – 7:50 PM)

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).

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of April 1, 2025.
• Adopted Proclamation 25-0476 (National Donate Life Month) – 11 ayes, 1 abstention (Sawyer).
• Adopted Proclamation 25-0478 (UNICEF Child Friendly City) – 12 ayes.
• Approved Resolution 25-0306 (James Everett to Civil Service Commission) – 10-1 (Lewis nay).
• Approved Resolution 25-0379 (Mayor’s reappointments to Commission on Aging) – 11-1 (Lewis nay).
• Approved en bloc the following resolutions and bills (12-0):
  • 25-0378: Exclusive marketing partner contract with HCA HealthONE ($2,009,085)
  • 25-0382: Amendatory agreement with Poetic Kinetics for public art (+$886,320, new total $1,636,320)
  • 25-0385: Flatiron Dragados for DIA wildlife hazard mitigation ($8,434,872.69)
  • 25-0386: Fire apparatus purchase amendment (+$33,681.20)
  • 25-0281 through 25-0292: Eleven IT staffing contracts (each $6M, except Eight Eleven Group at $14M)
  • 25-0371: Securus Technologies for detention facility telecom ($2,006,780)
  • 25-0380: Mayor’s appointment to American Indian Commission
  • 25-0383: RTD transit-oriented development planning grant ($2M)
  • 25-0389, 25-0393: Appointments to arbitrator panel
  • 25-0364: Revocable permit at 740 N Lafayette St
  • 25-0365, 25-0366, 25-0368: Alley dedications in Districts 5, 4, 5
  • 25-0369: Red Rocks integrated construction contract ($35M, 3 years)
  • 25-0370, 25-0372: Concrete repair contracts ($1,992,676 and $721,050)
  • 25-0374: Traffic engineering staff augmentation ($3M, 3 years)
  • 25-0339: Bayaud Works non-congregate shelter extension (200 units, no cost change)
  • 25-0375: Harm Reduction Action Center syringe access amendment (+$239,376)
  • 25-0377: Urban Peak rapid rehousing for youth ($2.7M, 3 years)
  • 25-0475: Settlement payment of $35,000 for police liability claim
  • 25-0367: Alley dedication in District 9
  • 25-0328: Fifth amendment with Denver Health (+$6,496,442.74)
  • 25-0337: Sewer easement relinquishment at 3800 N Xanthia St
  • 25-0334: South Platte River channel boundary adjustment
  • 25-0384: Bill for ordinance on electrified mobility rescission/appropriation ($100,000)

Public Comments & Testimony

Villa Park Rezoning (25-0046):

• Charles Keener (applicant) spoke in favor, stating plans for five townhomes (four market-rate, one deed-restricted at 110% AMI), emphasizing community engagement and “missing middle” housing.
• Jesse Parris (Black Star Action) opposed, warning of gentrification and asking for guarantees against involuntary displacement.
• Lawrence Whitney (Villa Park resident) supported, noting the vacant lot would otherwise become a costly single-family home.
• Jamie Aguilar (neighbor) initially opposed but became neutral after hearing the affordable housing plan; criticized the confusing zoning process.
• James Warren (Villa Park Green Team) supported, citing neighborhood beautification efforts and the lot’s blight.

Athmar Park Rezoning (25-0153):

• David Pardo supported, saying a vacant lot is best used for housing.
• Drew Cartwright (nearby property owner) opposed, arguing 24 townhomes are too many, citing flooding, traffic, parking, and lack of transit access.
• Nathan Adams (applicant) supported, noting zero displacement, housing diversity, and a newly signed Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) with the RNO.
• Alec Sowers (Red T Homes) supported, detailing the company’s green building standards and extensive outreach since 2023.
• Richard Taylor (Athmar Park Neighborhood Association board) explained the GNA process, stating the RNO dropped opposition because the rezoning seemed likely to pass; the GNA was not voted on but accepted via email.

Discussion Items

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.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted Proclamations: National Donate Life Month (25-0476), Child Friendly City (25-0478), Colorado Ladies of Lowriding (25-0477), Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr (25-0479).
• Resolution 25-0306: James Everett appointed to Civil Service Commission (10-1).
• Resolution 25-0379: Reappointments to Commission on Aging (11-1).
• Block Vote: All remaining resolutions and bills on final consideration passed 12-0.
• Council Bill 25-0046 (Villa Park rezoning): Passed 11-0 (Gilmore and Kashmann absent). The property at 3115 W 8th Ave is rezoned from E-SU-D to E-RX-3, with a concurrent affordable housing plan requiring one unit (20%) at 110% AMI for 99 years.
• Council Bill 25-0153 (Athmar Park rezoning): Failed 1-10 (only Parady in favor; Gilmore and Kashmann absent). The property at 627 S Lipan St remains zoned E-SU-B.