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Record of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting July 28, 2025: Bond Referrals and Xcel Franchise Debate

City Council — Monday, July 28, 2025
BodyDenver, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, July 28, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 8:33:29

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:01

Hey Denver, it's time for the weekly general session of your Denver City Council.

0:09

Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now.

0:28

Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for taking the time to join us for Denver City's Council meeting.

0:35

Today is Monday, July 28th, 2025.

0:39

Can't believe how fast the summer's gone by.

0:41

I don't know if everyone feels that way, but sure feels that way for me.

0:45

Sorry, taking a little moment, personal privilege.

0:48

It's already gonna be August.

0:50

Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish.

0:53

Sam or Alejandro, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to enable translation on their devices?

1:01

Yes, of course.

1:02

Thank you for having us.

1:03

Hello, everyone.

1:04

My name is Sam Guzman with the CLC.

1:07

And along uh with my colleague Zoo Zuly today, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish.

1:15

Please allow me a quick minute while I give instructions in Spanish on how to access interpretation.

1:46

Uh in the camera, for favor, busquo se la derecha.

1:57

Thank you very much.

1:59

Thank you very much, Sam and Zuly.

2:05

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting on Monday, July 28th, 2025.

2:10

Council members, please join Councilmember Torres in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:36

Council members, please join Councilmember Torres as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement.

2:41

Thank you, Madam President.

2:42

Uh 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.

2:51

We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado.

2:58

We honor elders past, present, and future, and those who have stewarded this land throughout generations.

3:48

Here Cashman.

3:51

Lewis.

3:51

Present.

3:53

Here.

3:54

Romara Campbell.

3:55

Here.

3:56

Lawyer?

3:56

Here.

3:58

Here.

3:59

Watson.

4:01

Madam President Sandoval.

4:02

Here.

4:05

Thirteen members present.

4:06

There are 13 members present.

4:12

Council has a quorum.

4:14

Approval of the minutes.

4:16

Are there any corrections to the minutes of July 21st?

4:21

Seeing none, the minutes stand approved.

4:24

Council announcements.

4:25

Are there any council announcements this afternoon?

4:32

Councilmember Alvidus, why don't you start us out?

4:35

Thank you, Council President.

4:36

Um, I just wanted to share that Wednesday, July 30th.

4:40

We will be meeting for our Color of Law Book Club at our regular location at Habitat for Humanity at 430 South Navajo Street.

4:48

So excited to continue reading this book.

4:50

And also wanted to share some district seven residents along with my colleague here, Councilman Cashman's residents are working on the Washington Park Stakeholder Group, and that will be meeting on the 31st at 530 via Zoom.

5:05

If you need any more information, you can reach out to district uh district seven at Denvergov.org.

5:10

Thank you.

5:10

Thank you.

5:11

Next up, we have Councilmember Flynn.

5:13

Uh thank you, Madam President.

5:15

Just uh wanted to mention that uh there is a uh incoming junior at Mullen High School who is uh doing some work for his advanced placement government class, and uh his assignment was to shadow uh local some local government uh people and for some strange reason he ends up with me.

5:34

And so uh I wanted to introduce Jackson Conda.

5:37

Uh if you could wave sitting next to my age Stacy Simonet, and in the course of the interview, discovered he lives about two blocks down the street from me.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████10%
Utility Franchise Agreement██████████10%
Energy And Environment██████████10%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Contracts And Procurement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting - July 28, 2025

The Denver City Council convened on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 3:30 PM for a regular session that extended past midnight. Key actions included advancing a $950 million general obligation bond package (Vibrant Denver) to the November 4, 2025 ballot, order-of-publication for an Xcel Energy franchise agreement, approval of a zoning change in Elyria Swansea, and numerous consent agenda items.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved for July 21, 2025 (25-1088).
  • Proclamation 25-1090: Honored the Blackhawks Youth Organization for 25 years of service; adopted unanimously (13-0).
  • Resolutions en bloc (approved 13-0): Contracts for workforce development with Eckerd Connects ($5.7M), airport cleaning with All Star Staffing ($1M), energy performance with McKinstry Essention ($2.6M), glass repair with EAP Glass ($625K), sidewalk program construction with Milender White ($25M) and SEMA Construction ($50M), Abo Group contract assignment, Dream Center Denver parolee reentry ($549K), Center for African American Health nutrition grant, and Daikin roof-top units for Hall of Education ($796K).
  • Bills for final consideration en bloc (passed 13-0): Renaming Department of Excise and Licenses to Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (25-1002, 25-1003), establishing state grant fund (25-0971), Boettcher Concert Hall soundboard purchase (25-0972), easement relinquishment at 2833 Welton St (25-0974), donation of 36 refurbished Chromebooks to micro-communities (25-0951), and intergovernmental agreement for competency beds at city jails ($2.5M, 25-0963).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Required Public Hearing (25-0803): Jesse Parris spoke in opposition, questioning affordable housing guarantees, traffic studies, and parking. No speakers in favor. Sam Leger and Peter Wall were available for questions.
  • Courtesy Public Hearing on Bond (25-1053–25-1060): 118 individuals signed up; 60 minutes allotted. Speakers included:
    • Supporters: Elleni Sclarenitis (Sand Creek Massacre Foundation supporting American Indian Cultural Embassy), George Lim (Santa Fe Drive BID), Dustin Baird (tribal embassy), Porter Sturno and Ryder Perry (skate park), Carlos Herrera (Montbello Placita), Christiano Sosa (Santa Fe streetscape), Kurt Weaver (Sloan's Lake).
    • Opponents: Jeff Helgerson (bike/pedestrian safety), Peter Piccolo (Bicycle Colorado), Stevenson Farnsworth (5280 trail), Alex Yukhananov (affordable housing, police training center), Rebeca Perez, Christina Carlson (Urban Peak), Kevin Doyle (Park Hill Park), Rachel Brennan, Samuel Schooler (bike infrastructure).
    • Neutral/Other: Katherine Jenkins, Jessica Cordell, Avi Stopper, Katelyn Stenger, Margot Gonzalez.
  • Courtesy Public Hearing on Xcel Franchise (25-0922, 25-0987): 30 minutes allotted; 19 speakers. Testimony in favor from Nate Bernstein (Climate Jobs Colorado), Jennifer Gremmert (Energy Outreach Colorado), James Gillespie (Servicios de la Raza). Opposition from Jeff Ackerman (former PUC chair), Marilyn Ackerman, Ellen Reath, Kathy Obear (Together Colorado), James Smelley, Sharon Battle, Moshe Kornfeld (Colorado Jewish Climate Action).

Discussion Items

  • Zoning Change 25-0803 (4235 N Columbine St & 2535 E 40th Ave, Elyria Swansea)

    • Staff report by Robert Haig (CPD): Proposed rezoning from I-A/I-B to I-MX-3, aligning with Elyria Swansea neighborhood plan (three-story height limit). Property is 4.6 acres, vacant former truck driving school. Received support from five RNOs; one public comment in support.
    • Councilmember Watson noted long community process and need for housing. Affordable housing agreement to follow ERA guidelines (8% at 60% AMI or 12% at blended 70% AMI). Passed 12-1 (Lewis opposed).

  • Vibrant Denver Bond Package (25-1053 to 25-1060)

    • Overview by Patrick Riley (Finance): $950M package across five ballot questions (transportation, parks, health/human services, city facilities, housing/shelter). Community outreach included 7,600 contacts, 6,200 surveys, 50 meetings, resulting in 59 named projects.
    • CFO Nicole Doheny explained that $950M is the maximum without raising taxes, based on debt capacity, triple-A rating, and delivery within six years.
    • Extensive council questions on capacity, project costs (e.g., 8th Avenue Viaduct estimated at $89M, 6th Avenue Viaduct $50M for pre-positioning), housing allocation ($50M for affordable housing development), and equity considerations.
    • Amendment 1 (Sawyer): Added $18M for 13th/14th Avenue safety improvements (Colorado to Quebec) offset by reducing housing/shelter funds from $64.3M to $46.3M; increased transportation total to $446.42M. Passed 8-5.
    • Amendment 2 (Parady): Proposed broader multimodal improvements from Grant to Quebec, funded by reducing cultural institution allocations ($3M each from DCPA, Botanic Gardens, Art Museum, Nature & Science), Echo Lake Lodge ($7M), and 6th Ave Viaduct ($12.6M). Failed 5-8.
    • Amendment 3 (Alvidrez): Proposed adding $25M for elections facility, increasing city facilities category to $277.43M. Failed 4-9.
    • Final votes: 25-1060 (companion ordinance) passed 10-3; 25-1053 (transportation) passed 10-3 after amendments; 25-1054 (parks) passed 10-3; 25-1056 (city infrastructure) passed 11-2; 25-1057 (housing/shelter) passed 12-1; 25-1055 (health/human services) passed 13-0. All ordered published as amended.

  • Xcel Energy Franchise Agreements (25-0922, 25-0987)

    • Presentation by Shannon Gifford (Mayor's Office) and Cindy Patton (DOTI): 20-year franchise renewal for use of right-of-way; utility relocation benefit saves city an estimated $3B over term. Separate Denver Operating Agreement for airport services.
    • Opposition from community groups (Together Colorado) argued for binding companion agreement on low-income assistance, climate resilience, and data sharing. City officials noted changed legal landscape and existing programs (PUC-regulated).
    • Council debate centered on lack of binding commitments in the associated D-DIG MOU (non-binding). President Sandoval expressed distrust of non-binding agreements. Councilmembers Kashmann, Watson, Flynn expressed frustration with Excel's responsiveness.
    • Voted 8-5 to order published (first reading): Alvidrez, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Hinds, Lewis, Parady opposed. Final passage required by August 11, 2025 for November ballot.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Proclamation 25-1090; numerous consent resolutions and final consideration bills; zoning change 25-0803 (12-1).
  • Referred to Voters (November 4, 2025 bond): Ballot questions 25-1053 (transportation, $446.42M), 25-1054 (parks, $168.75M? Actually $174.75M – check minutes: 25-1054 ordered published as is without amendment, so value remains at $174,750,000? Need to verify from agenda: Parks bucket was $174,750,000; the amendment that passed (Sawyer) only affected 1060, 1053, and 1057. So 1054 unchanged. Similarly 1055, 1056 unchanged. 1057 amended to $46.3M. 1060 amended with added project for transportation and adjusted totals.)
  • Ordered Published (First Reading): Xcel franchise agreements 25-0922 and 25-0987 (8-5); pending final vote.
  • Postponed: Resolution 25-0978 (West Publishing database) to August 4, 2025.
  • Future Public Hearings Set: August 4, 2025: Broadway GID (25-0917) and Modernizing Parking Requirements (25-0684, 25-0685); August 25, 2025: Barnum rezoning (25-0994).

Meeting Transcript

Hey Denver, it's time for the weekly general session of your Denver City Council. Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now. Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for taking the time to join us for Denver City's Council meeting. Today is Monday, July 28th, 2025. Can't believe how fast the summer's gone by. I don't know if everyone feels that way, but sure feels that way for me. Sorry, taking a little moment, personal privilege. It's already gonna be August. Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish. Sam or Alejandro, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know 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 uh with my colleague Zoo Zuly today, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish. Please allow me a quick minute while I give instructions in Spanish on how to access interpretation. Uh in the camera, for favor, busquo se la derecha. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Sam and Zuly. Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting on Monday, July 28th, 2025. Council members, please join Councilmember Torres in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members, please join Councilmember Torres as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement. Thank you, Madam President. Uh 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. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado. We honor elders past, present, and future, and those who have stewarded this land throughout generations. Here Cashman. Lewis. Present. Here. Romara Campbell. Here. Lawyer? Here. Here. Watson. Madam President Sandoval. Here. Thirteen members present. There are 13 members present. Council has a quorum. Approval of the minutes. Are there any corrections to the minutes of July 21st? Seeing none, the minutes stand approved. Council announcements. Are there any council announcements this afternoon? Councilmember Alvidus, why don't you start us out? Thank you, Council President. Um, I just wanted to share that Wednesday, July 30th. We will be meeting for our Color of Law Book Club at our regular location at Habitat for Humanity at 430 South Navajo Street.

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