Denver City Council Meeting: May 12, 2025

The Denver City Council convened on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 3:30 PM in the Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber. The meeting included proclamations, adoption of numerous resolutions and bills via consent agenda, a required public hearing on a zoning change for affordable housing, a courtesy public hearing on the National Western Center Equestrian Center project, and a separate discussion and vote on an intergovernmental agreement for a women's soccer stadium. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 PM.

Proclamations

• 25-0715: Recognized May 2025 as Myositis Awareness Month. Sponsor: Sandoval. Adopted 13-0.
• 25-0716: Recognized World Facility Management Day 2025. Sponsor: Alvidrez. Adopted 13-0.
• 25-0719: Honored Denver’s First Crime Director Joseph Moomaw (consent). Adopted en bloc 12-0 (Sawyer absent).
• 25-0717: Honored the Powers family for multi-generational service to the Denver Police Department. Adopted 12-0 (Sawyer absent).
• 25-0718: Recognized Michelle Jeske for 23 years of service to the Denver Public Library. Adopted 12-0 (Sawyer absent).

Consent Calendar (Resolutions and Bills on Final Consideration Approved En Bloc)

The following items were approved in a block vote (12-0, with Councilmember Sawyer absent):

• Resolutions:
  • 25-0584 (purchase of eight EV shuttle buses for DIA, $3,097,772.88)
  • 25-0585 (program management support for Consolidated Rental Car Facility at DIA, $150M, 10 years)
  • 25-0586 (purchase of five support vehicles for DIA Fire Department, $9,615,640)
  • 25-0571 (reappointment of Stacie Loucks to DURA)
  • 25-0582 (aggregate raw materials purchase for Denver Asphalt Plant, $1.2M)
  • 25-0587 (aftermarket auto parts purchase, $3M, 3 years with extensions)
  • 25-0590 (lease amendment for storage at 4650 Steele Street, $16.3M total)
  • 25-0565, 25-0566, 25-0567 (dedication of public alleys)
  • 25-0572 (staff augmentation for traffic engineering, $3M, 3 years)
  • 25-0573, 25-0574 (sign replacement on-call contracts, $5.99M and $4.42M)
  • 25-0576 (concrete panel replacement, $820,190)
  • 25-0578 (pavement marking on-call, $10.7M)
  • 25-0580 (revocable encroachment permit for patios at 1616 Market Street)
  • 24-1871 (access agreement for groundwater monitoring, non-financial)
  • 25-0588 (Crime Victim Compensation grant, $1M)
  • 25-0641 (land acquisition for 4280 N. Columbine Street, $3.74M)
  • 25-0568, 25-0569, 25-0570 (dedication of street parcels in Council District 9)
• Bills on Final Consideration:
  • 25-0520 (reappointment of Jane Feldman to Board of Ethics)
  • 25-0550 (multifamily housing revenue bonds for The Rose on Colfax Project, up to $8.5M)
  • 25-0551 (amendment to correct fund name for capital equipment purchase)
  • 25-0553 (amendment to add Medical and Dental Self Insurance funds)
  • 25-0589 (property exchange with ACM Park Hill JV VII LLC)
  • 24-1728 (amendatory agreement with Denver Public Schools for behavioral health programming, $1.72M)
  • 25-0546 (amendatory agreement with University of Colorado Hospital for HIV/AIDS services, $598,299 added)

Public Comments & Testimony

No general public comments were recorded. Public testimony was heard during the required and courtesy public hearings (see below).

Discussion Items

1. Council Bill 25-0600 (Scrap Metal Regulation)

• A bill to amend Chapter 45 of the Municipal Code to regulate scrap metal purchases by junk dealers. Councilmember Watson moved to postpone to May 19, 2025, for additional stakeholdering. Postponed 13-0.

2. Council Bill 25-0455 (Fleet Equipment Purchase)

• A bill authorizing capital equipment purchases from the Planned Fleet Special Revenue Fund. Councilmember Parady questioned the lack of electric vehicle alternatives. DOTI’s Nick Williams responded that charging infrastructure limitations prevented EV adoption at this time. The bill was ordered published.

3. Council Bill 25-0469 (Housing Code Enforcement – Relocation Assistance)

• A bill amending Chapter 27 to allow the manager of public health and environment to order relocation assistance when a dwelling is unfit for habitation. Sponsors Lewis and Watson expressed support, noting collaborative work with tenant groups and DDPHE. Ordered published.

4. Council Bill 25-0555 (IGA with Broadway Station Metropolitan District No. 1 – Women's Soccer Stadium)

• This intergovernmental agreement (IGA) provides a framework for the city to support a new women's soccer stadium and associated infrastructure near South Broadway, with a total potential investment of $70 million (land acquisition and infrastructure). The IGA does not appropriate funds but signals city commitment. Council debated extensively:
  • Supporters (Sandoval, Alvidrez, Watson, Torres, Romero Campbell, Flynn, Kashmann, etc.) argued the project would spur economic development, create jobs, advance gender equity, and leverage private investment. They noted the IGA is only an initial step; future appropriations and community benefits agreements (CBA) would be needed.
  • Opponent (Parady) argued the economic impact projections are overstated, that $70 million could be better spent on housing and infrastructure, and that the process lacked transparency regarding potential future tax increment financing (TIF) requests. She voted no.
  • Key points: The city would purchase land and provide infrastructure; the stadium would be owned by the Broadway Station Metropolitan District, not a private entity. A future CBA is anticipated. The vote does not obligate future funding.
• Vote on final passage: 11-1 (Parady nay, Sawyer absent). Passed.

5. Required Public Hearing – Council Bill 25-0411 (Rezoning for Affordable Housing at 589 & 595 S. Lincoln Street)

• A proposal to rezone two parcels from U-TU-B2 UO-3 to U-RH-3A to allow a three-story affordable apartment building (up to 20 units) by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH). The city’s Department of Housing Stability confirmed a signed affordable housing plan requiring at least 20% of units at 70% AMI for 99 years. Public testimony:
  • Support: Multiple representatives from neighborhood associations (Baker Historic, West Washington Park, Lincoln Broadway Corridor) spoke in favor, noting a negotiated agreement with CCH. Some expressed hope for a long-term partnership.
  • Concerns: One resident (Catherine Fontaine) criticized the negotiation process, saying reasonable design requests (street trees, front porches, smoking areas) were dismissed by CCH, and that the agreement only requires 20% affordability, leaving future owners unaccountable.
  • CCH response: They committed to ongoing collaboration but noted that codifying certain design features could conflict with city codes and financing constraints.
• Councilmember Alvidrez (District 7) supported the rezoning, citing the urgent need for deeply affordable housing. The bill passed 12-0.

6. Courtesy Public Hearing – Council Resolution 25-0548 (National Western Center Equestrian Center Project Support Agreement)

• The resolution approves a Project Support Agreement between the city and the National Western Center Authority to provide up to $23.3 million annually (plus a contingent loan of up to $3 million) for design and construction of the equestrian center, hotel, housing, and community facilities. The agreement would run for 35 years post-construction (estimated total $800 million over time). Community benefits include a 1% hotel room night fee (estimated $9 million over 35 years), a 4,000 sq ft community building, and roundup programs.
• Public testimony was mixed:
  • Support (Maria Alcala, Jocelyn Hittle, Kari Black, Nancy Santos) highlighted community engagement, job opportunities, and the dedication of community space.
  • Opposition/Concerns (Candi CdeBaca, Harmony Cumming, Amanda Morian, Jen Winkle, Alfonso Espino from GES Community Investment Fund) argued that the community benefits are insufficient, that the CIF needs more reliable upfront funding (they requested 1% of total investment, about $16 million), and that the process lacked transparency, particularly regarding the hotel fee negotiations. They urged postponement for better terms.
• Councilmembers Parady and Gonzales-Gutierrez called out the resolution for a one-week postponement under Council Rule 3.6 to allow further review. The resolution was postponed to May 19, 2025.

Key Outcomes

• Approved via En Bloc Vote: 16 resolutions and 7 bills on final consideration (all listed above) were adopted unanimously (12-0, Sawyer absent).
• Council Bill 25-0555 (Women's Soccer Stadium IGA): Passed 11-1 (Parady nay, Sawyer absent). The IGA moves forward but does not appropriate funds; future council approvals are needed for rezoning, TIF, and community benefits.
• Council Bill 25-0411 (Rezoning for Affordable Housing): Passed 12-0. The property at 589 & 595 S. Lincoln Street is rezoned to U-RH-3A, enabling a 100% affordable housing project (minimum 20% units at 70% AMI for 99 years).
• Council Resolution 25-0548 (National Western Center Equestrian Center): Postponed to May 19, 2025, per Council Rule 3.6 request.
• Council Bill 25-0549 (Companion fund for NWC): Postponed to May 19, 2025, to align with the resolution.
• Council Bill 25-0600 (Scrap Metal): Postponed to May 19, 2025, for additional stakeholder input.
• Bills for Introduction: All ordered published, including those on micromobility (25-0599), housing code enforcement (25-0469), and RiNo BID renewal (25-0640).
• Next Steps: The required public hearing for the RiNo BID renewal is scheduled for May 19, 2025. The zoning change for 1060 S. Emporia Street will have a public hearing on June 9, 2025.