OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Denver City Council Meeting: Police Contract & Waste No More Debate - September 8, 2025

City Council — Saturday, September 13, 2025
BodyDenver, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateSaturday, September 13, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 7:49:51
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

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.

0:25

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

0:32

Tonight, today is Monday, September 8th, 2025.

0:36

Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish.

0:39

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

0:45

Of course.

0:46

Yes.

0:46

Thank you for having us.

0:47

Hello, everyone.

0:48

Buenas tardes.

0:49

My name is Sam Guzamano with the CLC.

0:53

And along with my colleague Jasmine, we'll be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish.

0:58

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

1:42

Thank you very much.

1:44

Thank you very much, Sam.

1:47

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, September 8th, 2025.

1:52

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

2:02

And to the Republic for which it stands.

2:05

One underground.

2:15

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

2:20

The Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho peoples.

2:50

May this acknowledgement 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.

3:02

Thank you, Madam Secretary.

3:04

We'll call.

3:06

Council members Alpites.

3:08

Here.

3:09

Flynn.

3:10

Here.

3:11

Gilmore.

3:12

Here.

3:14

Here.

3:14

Heinz?

3:15

Here.

3:16

Cashman.

3:16

Here.

3:17

Lewis.

3:18

Present.

3:18

Farody.

3:19

Here.

3:20

Romero Campbell?

3:21

Here.

3:22

So Sawyer?

3:23

Here.

3:23

Torres?

3:24

Here.

3:25

Watson.

3:26

Here.

3:26

Madam President Sandoval?

3:28

Here.

3:31

Thirteen members present.

3:33

There are 13 members present.

3:35

Council has a quorum.

3:37

Approval of the minutes.

3:38

Are there any corrections to the minutes of August 25th?

3:43

Seeing none.

3:44

The minutes stand approved.

3:46

Council announcements.

3:47

Are there any council announcements this afternoon?

3:51

Councilmember Sawyer.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Environmental Protection████████████████████████████████████████40%
Procedural███████████████15%
Economic Development████████████12%
Miscellaneous██████6%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Community Engagement█████5%
Public Safety███3%
Land Use Zoning███3%
Transportation Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, land acknowledgement, roll call (13 members present), and approval of minutes. Council announcements included various community events, cleanups, and a 'budget book club' series. Two proclamations were adopted: one honoring crossing guards and another recognizing September as National Blood Cancer Awareness Month. The consent calendar included numerous resolutions and bills passed in a block. Key discussion and action items involved several land use and development agreements, most notably the approval of the Globeville Library and affordable housing project at 4965 N. Washington St. The most contentious item was the approval of the Denver Police Protective Association collective bargaining agreement (2026-2028), which passed 9-4 after extensive debate. Public hearings were held on a rezoning, an amended urban redevelopment plan for 27th and Larimer, and the 'Waste No More' recycling and composting ordinance. The 'Waste No More' bill was heavily amended and ordered published. Proclamations honoring retiring city employees Penny May and Andrea Alba were also adopted.

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 the Denver City Council's meeting. Tonight, today is Monday, September 8th, 2025. Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish. Sam, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to enable translation on their devices? Of course. Yes. Thank you for having us. Hello, everyone. Buenas tardes. My name is Sam Guzamano with the CLC. And along with my colleague Jasmine, we'll be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish. Please allow me a quick minute while I give instructions in Spanish on how to access interpretation. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Sam. Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, September 8th, 2025. Council members, please join Councilmember Sawyer in the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands. One underground. Councilmembers, please join Councilmember Sawyer as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement. The Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho peoples. May this acknowledgement 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, Madam Secretary. We'll call. Council members Alpites. Here. Flynn. Here. Gilmore. Here. Here. Heinz? Here. Cashman. Here. Lewis. Present. Farody. Here. Romero Campbell? Here. So Sawyer? Here. Torres? Here. Watson. Here. Madam President Sandoval? Here.

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