Denver City Council Meeting - April 28, 2025

The Denver City Council convened on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 3:30 PM in the Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber, with 13 members present (Councilmember Torres attending virtually). The meeting featured two proclamations, a block vote on 30 resolutions and bills, and council announcements. All items were approved unanimously (13-0). The meeting adjourned at 4:16 PM.

Council Announcements

• Councilmember Gilmore announced the disappearance of a community member and urged continued sharing of information.
• Councilmember Sawyer thanked about 80 volunteers for a District 5 cleanup day, and promoted upcoming meetings for East Park (April 29) and the Holly traffic study (May 6).
• Councilmember Lewis announced a District 8 town hall on May 10, the Quebec Corridor Task Force survey, and a Park Hill Golf Course survey closing May 18.
• Councilmember Torres invited the public to Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Westwood on May 3-4.
• Councilmember Gonzales-Gutierrez announced a coffee conversation in District 4 on May 2.
• Council President Sandoval promoted First Friday on Tennyson Street on May 2.

Proclamations

25-0604: Proclamation for Renaming Civic Center Station to Wade Blank Civic Center Station

• Sponsored by Councilmember Hinds, co-sponsored by Councilmember Parady.
• Honored Reverend Wade Blank, founder of ADAPT, for his disability rights activism, including the 1978 "Gang of 19" sit-in that led to Denver becoming the first U.S. city with accessible buses.
• Councilmembers Hinds and Parady spoke in support, emphasizing the importance of accessibility and honoring the original activists.
• Representatives from Atlantis Community and RTD accepted the proclamation, noting it will be used as part of RTD's formal renaming process, with a committee expected to begin work next week and a recommendation by end of summer.
• Adopted unanimously (13-0).

25-0605: Proclamation Recognizing National Youth Violence Prevention Week (April 28 – May 2, 2025)

• Sponsored by Councilmember Lewis.
• Noted that an average of 700 young people under 25 are directly affected by gun violence annually in Denver, and that firearm violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S.
• Councilmembers Lewis, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Gilmore, Watson, Alvidrez, and Sandoval spoke, calling for investment in youth, affordable housing, healthcare, and community programs rather than detention.
• Youth leaders from Denver Game Changers (Imani Shannon, Chloe Yazar, EJ) accepted the proclamation, emphasizing the need for action and resources.
• Adopted unanimously (13-0).

Consent Calendar

All resolutions and bills on the consent agenda were approved en bloc by a 13-0 vote. The block included:

Resolutions (25 items):

• 25-0493: Fourth amendment with McKinstry Essention, LLC for community solar and EV chargers – increase of $2,460,000 (new total $46,760,000).
• 25-0495: Grant agreement with CDOT for guardrail upgrades on Peña Boulevard – $890,487 through 2035.
• 25-0496: Contract with Hensel Phelps Construction Co. for Central Utility Plant maintenance at DIA – $7,000,000 for 5 years.
• 25-0497: Contract with UPM Mechanical, LLC for CUP maintenance – $3,000,000 for 5 years.
• 25-0498: Contract with Diversified Body Acquisition LLC for auto body repair at DIA – $2,500,000 for 5 years.
• 25-0499: Second amendment with Marsh USA LLC for airport insurance program – increase of $16,300,000 (new total $52,809,586).
• 25-0428: Amendment with Gartner, Inc. for technology contract optimization – increase of $550,000 (new total $1,000,000), extended to Oct 31, 2025.
• 25-0480: Appointment of David Berton to the Board of Adjustment (terms through June 2025 and 2028).
• 25-0481 through 25-0487: Appointments and reappointments to the Santa Fe Business Improvement District (Michael Vela, Sasha Zanabria, Andrea Barela, George Lim, Jim Stevens, Kristina Sablatura, Russell Brown) – terms through March 2028.
• 25-0501: Amendment with Xerox Corporation for copier and managed print services – increase of $3,000,000 (new total $10,500,000), extended to Dec 31, 2029.
• 25-0502: New contract with Xerox Corp. for copier services – $7,000,000 through July 31, 2034.
• 25-0503: Third amendment with KG Clean, Inc. for janitorial services – increase of $1,700,000 (new total $6,925,000), extended to Apr 20, 2026.
• 25-0504: Third amendment with Roth Property Maintenance, LLC for janitorial services – increase of $9,100,000 (new total $40,650,000), extended to Apr 30, 2026.
• 25-0505: Contract with KONE Inc. for conveyance maintenance – $3,000,000 through Mar 21, 2028 with two one-year options.
• 25-0458: Contract name change from Flatiron Constructors, Inc. to Flatiron Dragados Constructors, Inc. – no change in amount or length.
• 25-0488: Street dedication of a parcel as West 10th Avenue near Xavier Street (District 3).
• 25-0489: Street dedication of two parcels as North Speer Boulevard near 14th Avenue (District 10).
• 25-0494: Third amendment with J&K Trucking LLC for hauling services – increase of $1,000,000 (new total $11,000,000), extended to Nov 8, 2025.
• 25-0492: Amendment with Diversified Body Acquisition LLC for firetruck repairs – increase of $500,000 (new total $950,000).
• 25-0506: Contract with The Gathering Place: A Refuge For Rebuilding Lives for micro-community operations at 1375 Elati Street – $1,100,000 through Dec 31, 2025.
• 25-0540: Loan agreement with The Empowerment Program, Inc. for 70 permanent supportive housing units at 1777 Franklin St – $3,150,000 for 60 years.
• 25-0490: Street dedication of a public alley bounded by 29th Ave, Firth Court, Speer Blvd, and Bryant St (District 1).
• 25-0491: Street dedication of a public alley and North Santa Fe Drive near 3rd Ave (District 7).

Bills for Final Consideration (2 items):

• 25-0457: Ordinance extending sunset dates in Chapter 28 to October 31, 2026.
• 25-0456: Ordinance authorizing purchase of a Type 3 Wildland Fire Engine from the Wildland Fire Reimbursement Fee Program Special Revenue Fund.

Bills for Introduction (1 item):

• 25-0500: Ordinance amending Chapters 6 and 32 to align marijuana licensing with state law and clarify receiver requirements – ordered published.

Key Outcomes

• All 30 items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously (13-0).
• Two proclamations were adopted unanimously (13-0).
• The meeting adjourned at 4:16 PM.