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

Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now.

Hi, good afternoon.

Thank you for taking the time to join us for the Denver City Council meeting today.

Today is Monday, September 22nd, 2025.

Tonight's meeting will be interpreted into Spanish.

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

Of course, gladly.

Hello, everyone.

Thank you for having us.

My name is Sam Guzman with the COC.

And along with my colleague Jasmine, 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.

Thank you.

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting, Monday, September 22nd, 2025.

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

Council members, please join Council Member Flynn 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.

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

We also recognize that government, academic, and cultural institutions were founded upon and continue to enact exclusions and erasures of indigenous 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.

Madam Secretary, roll call.

Council members Lewis.

Twelve members present.

Seeing none, the minutes.

Oops, I think we need a second on that.

Do you have a second on those minutes?

The meetings stand approved.

Announcements, council announcements.

Are there any announcements?

Let's start with Council Member Hines.

Thank you, Madam President Pro Tem.

If you don't know, uh this is a fabulous week for budget hearings.

Um and uh we'll have uh hearings throughout most of the week, uh, basically nine to five all all day uh for the week.

Um but it this is a um obviously we'll have more than just the budget hearings.

Uh I do want to uh let everyone know that um most council members are part of the Denver budget book club, and uh Wednesday we'll be um hosting a big beautiful book club.

Um at on Wednesday, it will be at Whittier Cafe and uh it technically is scheduled from 3:30 to 7.

I know that uh I'll be there as soon as I uh leave the um our last budget hearing of that day.

But um, but I will be there in person.

I won't be the only council member, there'll be others uh there as well.

Um also want to share with you that uh the City Park West registered neighborhood organization is having their annual meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Um that is at uh St.

Joe uh in the Russell Pavilion.

So if you're a resident of City Park West, um there is a big beautiful meeting for you um right there at uh 6 p.m.

Uh but the biggest uh most beautiful event of uh the week will be uh the book lovers ball.

If you um uh are a fan of our library, please uh do consider um the book lovers ball this Saturday.

Um it will benefit the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation.

Thank you, Madam President.

President Pro Tem.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Sawyer.

Thank you, Madam President Pro Tem.

Just wanted to remind everyone that this coming Sunday morning is our community cleanup.

Um we do this twice a year.

We clean half of our parks and repaint a number of our bus stop benches uh in district five.

So join us um this Sunday morning, Montclair Rec Center, 8:30 a.m.

Uh, grab some breakfast and some supplies and then head on out to help us clean up our parks and our bus benches in District 5.

Last year we had about uh a little over 400 volunteer hours um from this event.

So uh it's a really big, exciting, wonderful um opportunity for community members to come together and we just want to say thank you to Parks and Recandati, um, who are our partners in this.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Watson.

Uh thank you, President Pro Tem.

Uh, this Friday from 7 30 to 9 a.m.

Um the Friends of Manual are hosting an annual breakfast.

It's one of the largest events in support of the Thunderbolts on the East Side, ensuring that our communities can come together and celebrate all of the great wins of our students and student families.

So please come and join us from 7 30 until 9 a.m.

on September, Friday, September 26th for the annual Friends of Manual breakfast.

Thank you, Council President Pro Tem.

Thank you.

Councilman Cashman.

Yeah, thank you, Madam President Pro Tem.

Um I want to let folks know that uh uh we're uh Councilwoman Gonzalez Gutierrez and I uh and our staff have been uh uh hosting uh a number of community engagement events uh all summer long.

Uh actually the staff's been tabling at a bunch of private events over 40.

And uh the past few weeks we've had a series of in-person interactive community engagement workshops looking at how we can improve the city's relationship with its residents.

Uh the next one will be coming up in Southeast Denver Wednesday, October 15th, 6 to 8 p.m.

at Cook Park Rec Center, uh 7100 Cherry Creek, South Drive, Monaco, and uh Cherry Creek.

Stop by uh, always a good discussion uh with other interested neighbors on uh how the city can do better by you.

And so please uh do that.

And we will have a final virtual session on Wednesday, October 29th, 6 to 8 p.m.

And uh more details to come on that particular meeting.

And then uh uh moment of personal privilege.

Um today is uh my granddaughter Asher's 21st birthday.

She is a junior at the University of Indiana, uh studying law and public policy, and she'll be embarrassed when I tell you this since she was a little girl.

I would refer to as the sunshine of the entire universe.

And in recent years, that has morphed to the acronym SODIU.

So so do you happy birthday.

I hope you have a grade 21.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tem.

Oh, that's sweet.

Uh thank you.

Councilman Flynn.

Um thank you, Madam President Pro Tem.

Two uh two items.

Uh we're doing a lot of proclaiming here lately.

Uh I have one on consent, but I just want to mention it that uh for Hispanic Heritage Month.

There's a proclamation on consent honoring uh the service of uh retired Denver police commander Rudy Sandoval, 40 years of service to the city.

Um he was a Greeley native uh Navy veteran and joined uh DPD in 1970 and retired in 2010, rose to the rank of captain before spending the final seven years with the dream and plum assignment of commander of police district four in glorious southwest Denver, where every police officer wants to be at some point.

Uh but I just want to congratulate uh Rudy on this recognition.

Uh the second uh item, uh Madam President Pro Tem is that in recognition of the start uh last week, I believe, of uh Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, uh I've asked the uh General Services Department to light the city and county building this week in gold, which is the color for uh child childhood cancer awareness month, and I'm reminded as uh council members Gilmore and uh Cashman will remember in within our first few months of service up here.

We watched a nine-year-old boy, uh son of a member of our city council family, Rita Contreras, her son, uh Nate Nathaniel Contreras stand at that podium, and is clear as a bell, talk to us about his life and his meaning and his love of Legos and his struggles and how he went through it all with a smile.

Nine years old, and you remember that vividly uh and he died shortly after that.

So when you go out this for this next week and you see the city and county building at night lit up in gold, think of Nathaniel and think of all those other young people who never who will be forever young.

One of them is my brother Dennis, whose picture is right here on my desk, who died 61 years ago at the age of 15 of cancer.

And I know that next week, uh Council President Pro Tem is going to have a proclamation on uh recognizing uh Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'm sorry, that's a little difficult for me.

No, I thank you for sharing.

Um Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Thank you, uh Madam President Pro Tem and thank you, Councilman Flynn, for lifting those things up and um heart goes out to you.

Um so one thing uh my colleague, Councilman Cashman.

Um he skipped over a pretty important one that we actually have before the 15th, where we're doing these neighborhood workshops that he spoke of with the registered neighborhood organization.

Um I guess citywide tour that we're doing.

So we'll actually be in Northwest Denver on October 7th.

He very um strategically skipped over that.

I think it was a shot at me a little bit, being from the north side.

So anyway, we'll be October 7th from 6 to 8 at Oslan Rec Center, which is off of 44 Bennavajo Street.

Thank you, Madam President Pro Tem.

Thank you.

Can you give it a minute?

There are President I just uh Councilman uh Darren, I gave too much of a pause for that.

Councilman Cashman.

My colleague, it is not on the uh, it's not on your city or voice.

Well, it's on the poster, but it's not listed with the details.

Thank you for the catch.

Appreciate that.

You'll be banned from Southeast Denver.

Okay.

Um anything else?

All right, here we go.

There are no presentations.

There are no communications.

There are three proclamations being read this afternoon.

Council members, Alvidres, Gilmore, Gonzalez Gutierrez, and Torres, will you please join me in reading Proclamation 251402?

And I start.

This is proclamation 251402 recognizing Denver's gathering of tribal and indigenous communities at the third annual fall tribal convening happening this week, September 24th through the 26th, 2025.

Whereas the third annual Denver Fall Tribal Convening serves as a transformative platform for tribal and indigenous representatives, leaders, advocates, organizations, and community members to come together, share knowledge, and collaborate on cultural and climate resiliency, environmental stewardship, and traditional ecological knowledge.

And whereas the convening will take place Wednesday, September 24th, through Friday, September 26, 2025, with day one hosted at the Denver Botanic Gardens, Mitchell Hall, day two at the Denver Indian Center, and day three at CSU Spur Hydro Building each day running from 7 30 to 5 7 30 a.m.

to 5 o'clock p.m.

And whereas this is the third annual tribal convening builds and extends upon two previous tribal convenings hosted by the landmark preservation in community planning and development as part of the department's American Indian and Indigenous Peoples Historic Context Study, and whereas this convening aims to build relationship with tribal and indigenous community members, both in Denver and living outside of the state, acknowledging the historic ongoing ties 48 tribes have to the land now known as Denver.

And whereas the City of Denver, oh, I bet.

Whereas the City of Denver recognizes the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge and perspectives into all areas of local government, from historic preservation to environmental and climate solutions, particularly through the work of the of Denver's Office of Climate Action Sustainability and Resiliency, CASAR, and the implementation of the Tribal Communities Climate Justice Program.

And whereas the convening aims to foster collaboration and innovation in addressing environmental and climate justice challenges while amplifying tribal and indigenous voices and enhancing community resilience in the face of climate emergency and whereas this event will provide opportunities for community to gather, network, share best practices, and engage in meaningful discussions that honor the unique cultural heritage and contributions of the original peoples of Colorado.

And whereas the city of Denver is committed to supporting self-determination of Indigenous communities by and promoting initiatives that reflect their wisdom and knowledge in our collective efforts to conserve and protect the environment and ensure sustainable and resilient future thinking, seven generations ahead.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council, Section One, the Council of the City and County of Denver fully support Denver's third annual Denver Fall tribal convening as a historic cultural event that brings together community and fosters collaboration.

City Council supports furthering partnerships with tribal and indigenous communities across the region and within Colorado through the integration of indigenous stewardship in systems of government.

Section two, that the clerk of the city and county of Denver shall affix the seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation, and that a copy be transmitted to the Denver Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency, Community Planning and Development, Denver's American Indian Commission, and the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs.

There we go.

Thank you.

I move that proclamation 25 1402 be adopted.

And it has been uh second, it has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council.

I'm going to start with uh with you, Councilmember Gilmore.

Thank you so much, Council Pro Tem Romero Campbell.

Really appreciate it.

I had shut it off.

I'm so sorry.

Um thank you, Council Pro Tem Romero Campbell.

Uh I really appreciate uh the partnership on this, and this has been a lot of work by our city agencies.

Um it's so important that we try to bring folks together, and I really have to commend um uh Val Herrera, um, and Victor Um Romero's Gatone, and they have worked so so hard along with um community planning and development uh and others, and this is historic.

Uh next year is going to be the 150-250 commemoration, the 150th anniversary of the state of Colorado and the 250th commemoration of the United States.

And uh people always say that history has a way of circling around and and touching again, and I think we're very much seeing that, and so um very supportive of this tonight uh and looking forward to the remarks um for the acceptance.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Councilmember Alvidres.

Thank you so much, Council Pro Tem.

Um I just wanted to reiterate those um thank yous to City Stafford and especially Val and Victor who have done so much work.

I think it takes a work to build relationships where people can trust to talk to government, and I go through that in my district every day.

But that those relationships that have been cultivated are changing our history and our trajectory.

So thank you so much for that leadership, and this makes me really proud to be a Denver resident.

All of our Denver residents should be proud of the work that they're doing.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Um do we have anybody else in the queue?

I just will say real quick, um, thank you, Councilmember Gilmore, for bringing this forward.

Um, and I'm honored to uh to uh co-sponsor this with um the other council members.

Uh again, these things don't come together without a lot of work um and a lot of time and effort, and I just appreciate the thoughtfulness that is going into the convening and the locations and the agenda.

So I look forward to being able to connect um with folks this week.

And with that, um, Madam Secretary roll call, council members parity, councilmember, can you repeat that?

Aye, Sandoval.

Aye.

Alvidros.

Aye, Flynn.

Hi.

Gilmore.

Aye, Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Aye, Hines.

Hi.

Cashman.

Sawyer, aye.

Torres, aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Pro Tem.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce and announce the results.

Twelve eyes.

Twelve eyes.

Proclamation 25 1402 has been adopted.

Uh we have time for the proclamation acceptance.

Uh, Councilmember Gilmore, who will you be inviting up?

Oh, thank you, Council Um Pro Tem Romero Campbell.

Um, I'm gonna be inviting uh Val Herrera up.

Thank you, City Council.

May I first ask for our tribal community members in the room if you are able and willing to please stand as I accept this proclamation.

Thank you.

Anyone that wants to stand.

On behalf of the CASER office, I want to thank City Council for your support and advocacy for tribal communities of Denver and for our environmental systems.

This week, Castor will host Denver's third annual Fall Tribal Convening focused on climate resiliency and indigenous stewardship.

We will have a series of panels and presentations throughout the convening along with a youth group that will host a mycelium healing workshop, among many other things.

This convening will continue the work and relationship building that CPD Landmark has worked on the past three years with this community.

I'd like to thank the community for their contributions and engagement to make this convening possible.

I would also like to thank our internal agencies, including CPD Landmark, Denver Parks and Recreation, and HRCP for working with and supporting community co-creation and opportunities.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Yes.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Council members, Alvidres, Gilmore, Gonzalez Gutierrez, Torres, will you please join me in reading Proclamation 251403?

So this is a proclamation 251403 in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day in the city and county of Denver.

Whereas the state of Colorado defines Indigenous as having descended from people who were living in North America prior to the time from Europe from Europe began settling in North America, being an enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian tribe or being a lineal descendant of a tribally enrolled parent or guardian.

Whereas the Denver City Council recognizes that the Indigenous peoples have lived and flourished on the lands known as the Americas since time in memorial, and that Denver and the surrounding communities are built upon the ancestral homelands of numerous Indigenous peoples to include two land-based sovereign nations, the Southern Ute, Mountain Ute, and the no Southern Ute Mountain Ute and the Ute Mountain Ute, 49 traditional tribes with legal and historic standing, and is home to the descendants of approximately 150 tribal nations and whereas the homelands and communities of the Arapaho and Cheyenne peoples along the banks of the Cherry Creek and South Platte River confluence gave bearing to future encampments of newcomers that would become the birthplace of the Mile High City.

And whereas the Denver City Council acknowledges that the land upon which the city stands was not legally transferred under the 1861 Fort Wise Treaty due to the lack of proper signatures as required by U.S.

law, resulting in the illegal transfer of lands, and whereas the Northern Cheyenne and Northern Arapaho peoples were forcibly removed from their homelands to make way for this illegal occupation, a legacy of displacement and injustice that remains uncorrected.

And whereas on March 24th, 2025, the Denver City Council unanimously passed CB 25-0261, officially designating the second Monday of October of each year as Indigenous People's Day in Denver, Colorado.

And whereas the Denver City Council honors the resilience and survivance of Indigenous people despite historical and contemporary barriers that seek to extract, displace, and destroy, and recognizes that it is because of their tenacity and stewardship of knowledge, land, science, philosophy, arts, and culture, that the city of Denver has developed and thrived.

And whereas the Denver City Council acknowledges that ongoing harm caused by the illegal transfers of land under the 1861 Fort Wise Treaty and the reforced removal of Indigenous peoples, and that to promote the health, wellness, and safety of current and future generations of the Indigenous community, it is of paramount importance to repair both historical and ongoing harm.

And.

Whereas the Denver American Indian Commission has advocated for and successfully passed a paid city holiday for Indigenous People's Day to honor the cultural and foundational stewardship of Indigenous people to our past, present, and future, and to promote education to the Denver community about the historical and contemporary legacy of Indigenous people.

And whereas on Monday, October 13th, the first annual Indigenous People's Day will be commemorated and celebrated in the city and county of Denver.

This recognition is a small step forward in the city to fully acknowledge the intentional role that the government had in the Sand Creek massacre, relocation, and many other events that have yet to be accepted as their responsibility and a part of the genocide of the people.

And whereas on Monday, October 13th, during the first annual Indigenous People's Day, the Living Land Project, which was envisioned through outreach with the American Indian Community in partnership with the Denver Parks and Recreation and the Office of Climate Action Sustainability and Resiliency will officially groundbreak an area in the South Meadow of City Park that has been designed to incorporate medicinal plantings, creation of multiple gathering spaces, and an arbor.

This space designed by the American Indian community will be a welcoming space for this community to safely gather, harvest medicines, and practice their own way.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council, section one, that the Denver City Council celebrates and honors October 13th, 2025, the second Monday in October as Indigenous People's Day.

Section 2 that the clerk and recorder of the city and county of Denver shall affix the seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation and that a copy be transmitted to the Denver American Indian Commission, the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs, Denver Indian Center, Denver Indian Health and Family Services, Denver Indian Family Resource Center, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives, Task Force of Colorado, Spirit of the Sun, My Auntie's Closet, Tall Bowl Memorial Council, People of the Sacred Land, Project Mosaic, and Native Futures Collective.

Thank you.

I move that proclamation 25 1403 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council.

And I'll start with you, Councilmember Gilmore.

Uh thank you, Council President Pro Tem.

I really appreciate again uh the partnership of my colleagues and uh when we uh started working on this together, it was over a year ago, and uh the former co-chairs of the Denver American Indian Commission, um Shannon Alcott and Raven Payment had reached out to my council office um and wondered if we would help them enact policy that would move Indigenous Peoples Day from a commemorative event to an actual paid city holiday.

And so folks might ask, um, you know, what's the big deal?

Why does this matter?

Well, uh, in my 10 years in government and working on policy, it matters a lot to go from something that's commemorative to an actual paid city holiday where there's a day off for city employees, but it's an also a mark in time to make sure that we're making sure that the facts, that the truth are shared with community, that we're listening to the stories that people are telling us, and we're also listening to those next generations in what they need to be successful in our city.

And so through this process of working on um getting Indigenous People's Day to be a paid city holiday, there were many conversations and gatherings that happened, and I have to really um give thanks and appreciation to Shannon Dennison with Denver Mountain Parks because your work and your openness, especially working with Bill and Rich Talbow, with Ms.

Del Marie Dolknife, with others in the community, and your vast knowledge about Buffalo, but really your humility in being willing to learn what you don't know, and to make a lot of apologies that were maybe for things that you didn't personally do, but that you're representative of those who caused great harm, and that's a huge role of responsibility that those who are paid by the government, those who represent the government hold space for that.

And I have to thank Shannon for that work, Shannon Alcott, and Raven Payment, and then also Ms.

Cecilia Bulbear and her mentorship and her leadership in community always making sure that folks are following as best as possible the old ways, knowing that a lot of the old ways have been lost due to colonialism, white supremacy, um not having religious freedoms and first amendment rights in this country, and so there's a lot of work to do, but I think that there's a lot of excitement within the community at this time as well.

And so um want to thank my colleagues for their support and ongoing uh commitment to the community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember uh Torres.

Thank you, Madam Pro Tem.

Um, this effort was an honor to work on.

Uh thank you, uh Councilwoman Gilmore and all of my colleagues who helped.

Um, and just want to acknowledge all the members of the current commission, um, some I know who are with us tonight, um, but Thomas Allen, Treni Birch, Cecilia Bulber, Nicole Foster, Brendan Morrison, Teddy McCullough, and Desirea Richards.

Um, thank you for serving on the commission.

I appreciate all your hard work.

That is a volunteer gig and um so important.

Um, and I also want to say that we can't overlook why we had a ceremonial holiday in the first place.

Um we stand on shoulders in this work.

Um, this holiday was established on October 3rd, 2016.

Um now, Clerk Lopez, um, then council rep for district three, Paul Lopez, uh, was the sponsor, but the energy behind it was absolutely the Denver American Indian Commission, and in the face of very real opposition uh for members of the administration.

Um, then co-chairs, Memingua Flying Earth and Alicia Goodsoldier, along with commissioners Derek Brown, Stella Clarasco, Benito Concha, Jacqueline Asai, Donna Lafferty, uh, Christina Badhand, Camimi Lilac, Merv Tano, Venus Boatner, and Michelle Perez.

Um, I don't want uh our uh recognition of this day to go without also mentioning those folks who put a lot on the line to advocate for um for the original ceremonial holiday.

Um thank you, Madam Proten.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Councilmember Gonzalo Scutieris.

Thank you, Madam President Pro Tem, and thank you, Councilman Gilmore for asking uh us to join you on this uh proclamation as and also being able to join in the work in in creating the holiday um and you know it's one of those things that that you really wish you didn't have to do, these kinds of things, right?

Because of the atrocities, because of um the loss of of culture for many people, right?

And and um, I am grateful um that there is this partnership, and I think that seeing not only it in words and in the celebration of a holiday and recognition of of people, um, but we're seeing how it is playing out as we just the previous proclamation.

Right, right?

Is that that is that is the action that is um taking place, and I hope that there is ongoing action going forward, that it's not us doing you know, always, you know, proclamations are incredibly important, and I'm honored to be part of these.

Um, but I want to make sure that we're also um taking those next steps and actually bringing forward um the policies, the um recognition, the um changes that need to happen to ensure that um we're not forgetting, but that we're also making progress.

Um so I thank you for for letting me join on this, and um thank you, Madam President Protem.

Thank you.

Um, I would just like to add I really appreciate um again council member uh Gilmore bringing this forward and being able to co-sponsor it with uh council members Torres Gonzalez Gutierrez and Alvidres and Sandoval.

Um I I eloquently said, and I think um I look forward to being there on October 13th um in City Park to be able to celebrate with everyone.

Uh with that, Madam Secretary, roll call, council members parity.

Council Marty.

I think she's having trouble with her volume.

We can't hear you.

Councilmember.

I don't think it's on my end.

Oh, here it is.

Say that again.

I reduced her to surge.

Councilmember Standable.

Great.

Aye, I'll be addressed.

Hi, Flynn.

Hi, Gilmar.

Aye, Gonzalez Gutiérrez, aye, Heinz, Cashman.

Sawyer, aye, Torres, aye, Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Pro Tem.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

Twelve eyes, 12 eyes.

Proclamation 25-1403 has been adopted.

We have time for the proclamation acceptance.

Uh, Councilmember Gilmore, who would you like to invite up?

Uh, thank you, Council President Pro Tem.

Um, Miss Cecilia Bullbear is here to um accept and say a few words at the podium.

She's on the Denver American Indian Commission.

We also have um Teddy McCullough here and um Brandon as well.

If if you'd like to come on up and say a few words, but if you wouldn't mind introducing yourself, Miss Bull Bear.

And you come by.

Good afternoon.

Thank you.

It's an honor to be here, and I'm really thankful that Indigenous Day is really important for us.

Every little event that we have, we always try to honor people, and um, and take care of each other.

And first of all, we're human beings, and then we become uh different races, but um, I just want to thank you because I'm honored to be on the Denver American Indian Commission, and um there are people here that are like Teddy, he's on the commission too, and um we just are really honored to be approved and acknowledged for the October 13 that we'll be celebrating, but I call us um the first nations of North America because um we are nations, we are tribal nations, so we're proud.

I like Teddy to say something more.

All right, uh hello, everyone.

My name is Teddy McCullough.

I was not prepared to say anything, but I'll just uh thank the council for uh their work on this, and uh we're very excited for the Denver American or the uh Indigenous People's Day event on October 13th, which is coming together well, and we hope to see you all uh there if you're able to make it in City Park.

There we go.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Flynn, will you please read proclamation 25 1400?

Uh yes, I will, Madam President Frotem, thank you.

Uh Proclamation 25-1400 honoring Joyce Newfeld for her service to community ministry, whereas Joyce Newfeld joined community ministry as a board member in 2001, quickly stepping into a leadership role by setting up a clothing bank, becoming the school food drive ambassador, 5K walk coordinator, and liaison to the Garden Park Church.

And whereas, because of her determination for community ministry to serve more individuals experiencing hardships, Joyce was elected board president in 2006.

And whereas in 2008, Joyce was appointed interim executive director after the board recognized her leadership and vision, as she guided the board in setting strategic goals and assessing community needs.

And whereas, upon her appointment as permanent executive director in 2009, Joyce demonstrated her value through hard work, organization, and innovative leadership, launching the monthly newsletter, implementing a client survey, prioritizing fundraising, promoting self-determination by transitioning from prepackaged food bags to a self-choice pantry model, enhancing marketing strategies, building community partnerships to grow healthy food, healthy food gardens, and participating in grocery store rescue efforts.

And whereas in 2011, Joyce created the food exchange resource network, which increases the volume and quality of food offered to hunger relief organizations through collective food acquisition, coordinated food delivery and storage, shared best practices, and building waste-reducing systems, and whereas when COVID-19 pandemic interrupted critical statewide services for the most vulnerable populations, Joyce found ways to safely continue operations, fostering a sense of community during a dark time.

And whereas Joyce helps people meet their own needs in a way that is dignified and respectful, helping them find their own service-oriented niche in the community, and ensuring people feel included.

And whereas members of the community, staff, and the board of directors value Joyce's many admirable qualities, including her courage for always striving to do the right thing, her constant grace under tremendous pressure, her steadfast resilience, and her unwavering commitment to the community.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council Section 1, that the Denver City Council hereby recognizes Joyce Newfeld for her years of dedication to community ministry and her relentless service to the people of Denver.

Section two that the clerk and recorder of the city and county of Denver shall affix the seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation and that a copy be transmitted to Joyce Newfeld and Community Ministry.

Thank you.

Councilmember Flynn, your motion to adopt proclamation 25-1400.

I move that proclamation 25-1400 be adopted.

Great.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council.

Councilmember Flynn.

Thank you, Madam President Pro Tim.

Uh community ministry is one of the anchor institutions in our part of town in Southwest Denver.

It has a very long and uh storied history with a lot of the other institutions in our in our part of town.

It started uh after some uh some women from Brentwood United Methodist Church, they're on Irving and Jewell went to a conference on affluence and poverty, and started to look around Southwest Denver and saw that the College View neighborhood was one of the neighborhoods on that list at the conference, and we're moved to do something about it.

And they were joined by uh some uh nuns from uh the sisters of Loreto at the Loreto Heights College and some students there.

They approached the churches in the area, and by 1967, I believe eight churches in Southwest Denver banded together and incorporated uh I think it was called College View Ministry at the time, uh later became Southwest Community Ministry.

Um and I think at one time, or is it now there's 30 churches involved in community ministry, and I think the uh the uh Joyce has been a driving force behind behind them for almost 25 years.

I've known Joyce since I come on council.

Uh, she's a constituent of council district two.

Um I know this because she's in my email all the time and uh with with promotions and outreach for community ministry.

We've done fundraising for her, we've uh contributed to her.

Uh I remember when we did a Christmas Eve uh ecumenical service at the chapel in Loreto Heights College in 2018, and we took up a collection for for community ministry there, so they're always always active, always looking for new ways to serve.

But most importantly, when they had the opportunity to acquire a permanent home because they've moved around so many times over almost 60 years.

Um, when they had the opportunity, I think in 2019, 2018, to get a permanent home uh at uh 1700 block of South Zunai near the Garden Park Church, I believe, uh, City of Denver, and some private fundraising.

Uh we were able to put together a grant from the city and private fundraising so they can purchase their home and not have to worry about being moved around constantly, and and not have to worry about paying rent and having a permanent home for people to come and select their food or their clothing.

It's uh is it 1755, I believe, South Zunai.

Um it's in Councilwoman Alvidres' district, not in my district, but it could have been.

It's only a couple blocks from my district.

But what a tremendous asset community ministry has been to the people of Southwest Denver, many zip codes, uh many neighborhoods for many many years.

And for Joyce to be stepping down, uh they're losing they're losing a dynamo, I believe.

And uh I wish you luck in your retirement, and I know I'll be seeing more of you even though you're stepping down.

Uh, but thank you for your service, Joyce.

I asked my colleagues to join me in congratulating her and supporting this proclamation.

Thank you, madam president pro Tim.

Thank you.

Councilmember Alvidris.

Thank you, Council Pro Tem, and thank you, Councilman Flynn, for bringing this forward.

It has been such an honor to see the work that you do there, Joyce at community ministry, and to see the people that are lining up just to get food, just to get their basic needs and the creativity behind the model where you can go in and feel like you're going to a grocery store.

And not only that, but the first time I went, there was all a wide array of services, including they had pet food that day, and so I really appreciate your connecting to the community there and talking to me about.

We don't have a Vietnamese speaking person, and there's a lot of people coming with that need and like trying to figure that out and having such a diverse staff and diverse volunteers.

So that effort has been something that I didn't even know existed, and I'm just an Athmart Park, just one neighborhood down, but the people that really have that need know where they can find those resources.

So thank you for all your years of work and the work will continue, and we're here to support and take the torch and make sure we're still serving community a long time to come and make you proud.

Thank you so much for all the work that you do, and thank you, Councilman Flynn, for bringing this forward.

Thank you, Council Pro Tem.

There we go.

Thank you.

Madam Secretary, roll call, Council Members Parity.

Aye.

Sandoval.

Hi.

Alvidrez.

Aye.

Flynn.

Aye.

Gilmore.

Aye.

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Aye.

Hines.

Aye.

Cashman.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Torres.

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Pro Tem.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

Twelve eyes.

Twelve eyes.

Proclamation 25-1400 has been adopted.

We have uh time for the proclamation acceptance.

Uh, Councilman Flynn, who would you like to call forward?

Um, thank you, Madam President Pro Tem.

Oddly enough, it's George Newfeld.

Come up and uh and actually, Joyce, if you could talk about the place of community ministry in the in the heart of Southwest Denver and its role, please.

All right.

Well, first of all, thank you all for this honor of recognizing my work in this way.

It's kind of odd for me after all these years.

Um, when I in 2008, when I stepped in as executive director, I thought I would my goal was to work myself out of a job.

At that time, food insecurity, there were one in four people were food insecure.

And so I thought I'll work myself out of a job.

No one will be food insecure again, and here I am 17 years later, and we're at one in eight people are food insecure, and I expect that's going to be getting worse as the snap and Medicaid benefits are withdrawn from people.

But at community ministry, we serve everyone in the Denver metro area.

We expanded that during COVID because so many food pantries closed, and we feel honored that we were able to do that.

We continue to do that to this day.

Um, food insecurity does continue to be a problem, so I guess I would like to encourage you to encourage your constituents to vote for LL and MM, the new measures coming up on the fall ballot, because we need to keep feed feeding our kids, feeding our kids at school, because if you can't eat, you can't think, you can't learn, and it affects their families too.

So while we try to get rid of food insecurity, it's still here.

And so I encourage you to help your food pantries in the best ways you can at community ministry.

We say we can feed a family of five for five dollars for five days.

And so when you're taking that Starbucks or whatever you're doing, you know, think about all the food pantries in your area and how we can expand your resources and give that money there just one time or two times or 10 times.

Thank you.

I do joy.

Madam Secretary, please read the bills for introduction.

In the Finance and Business Committee, 25-1277, a bill for an ordinance approving a proposed amendment to project funding agreement between the city and county of Denver, Adams County, Colorado, and Denver Urban Renewal Authority, modifying project scope and exhibit six that allows for additional right-of-way reimbursements with no change to the amount or duration of the agreement in Council District 9.

25-1279, a bill for an ordinance amending ordinance number 400, series of 2008, as subsequently amended by ordinance number one six five nine series of 2024 and ordinance number 1208, series of 2025, thereby amending the boundaries of the Denver Downtown Development Authority in the South Platte River Committee 25-1272, a bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 1252 West Byers Place in Valverde in Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 25-1283, a bill for an ordinance vacating a portion of Alley abutting 190 North St.

Paul Street, 162 North St.

Paul Street, 3160, East 2nd Avenue, and 165 North Steel Street with reservations.

Council members, this is your last opportunity to call out an item.

Now I will do a recap.

Under resolutions, Council Resolution 25, 1404 and 251405, have been called out in a block for comment by council member parity.

Under bills for introduction, no items have been called out.

Under bills for final consideration, no items have been called out.

Under pending, no items have been called out.

Madam Secretary, please put the first item on our screens.

251404, a resolution authorizing and approving the expenditure and payment from the appropriation account, designated liability claims, the sum of twelve thousand five hundred dollars and no cents, made payable to Bradley S.

Friedberg, PC, and Mariah Biggs in full payment and satisfaction of claims related to the civil action captioned Mariah Biggs and the City and County of Denver.

251405, a resolution authorizing and approving the expenditure and payment from the appropriation account designated liability claims, the sum of $20,000 and no cents made payable to the Will Height Law Firm C O L T A F and the estate of Laura Lopez de la Rosa in full payment and satisfaction of the claims related to civil action captioned.

The estate of Laura Lopez Laura Lopez by and through her daughter Sabrina Reyes and the estate of Vincent Weinberg and the City and County of Denver.

Councilmember Parity, please go ahead with your comments on council resolutions 25-1404 and 25-1405.

Thank you, and I just want to make sure the audio is okay.

Yes, we can hear you fine.

Great.

So first I want to read a comment on behalf of Councilmember Lewis, who um is absent tonight, but um would wanted to call these items off with the following statement.

Um so she says after consistent feedback from my constituents, I see it as my responsibility to ensure that the public is aware of every tax dollar being approved as an expenditure and payment of funds for a settlement with the city and county of Denver.

Um my office, Councilmember Lewis's office is tracking every dollar by department and has a running total with the approval of 251404 and 251405 tonight.

The city will approve settlements in cases involving the Denver Fire Department and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure in the amounts of twelve thousand five hundred dollars and twenty thousand dollars respectively.

This brings the twenty twenty-five total for taxpayer dollars and city settlements to six million three hundred forty nine thousand dollars.

This funding is drawn from a liability claims pool of money that is refilled when necessary from the city's general budget.

Um, and she continues.

I would further comment by mentioning that this amount constitutes more than one tenth of the current year's budget shortfall and was money we could have used to lessen the impact to personnel and services in the city.

Um we must therefore pay extra attention to this budget environment that we're watching out for how the city spends our money and making decisions for the future with this knowledge.

Um, and actually the I don't have any additional comments to add to that on my own behalf.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you.

This concludes the items to be called out.

All bills for introduction are ordered.

Oops.

This concludes the items to be called out.

All bills for introduction are ordered published.

Council members, remember that this is a consent or block vote, and you will need to vote aye.

Otherwise, this is your last chance to call out an item for a separate vote.

Councilmember Flynn, will you please put the resolutions and proclamations for adoption and the bills on final consideration for final passage on the floor?

Uh yes, I will.

Uh Madam President Pro Tim, thank you.

I move that the resolutions and proclamations be adopted and bills on final consideration be placed upon final consideration and do pass in a block for the following items, all series of 2025.

1401, 1081, 1275, 1276, 1264, 1265, 1266, 1267, 1026, 1404, 1282, 1258, 1269, 1270, 1273, 1274, 1280, 1281, 1284, 1405, 1226.

Well, that's a long one.

1260, 1262, 1247, 1248, 1249, 1029, and that is all.

It has been moved and seconded.

Madam Secretary, roll call.

Council members parody.

Aye.

Aye.

Albidros.

Aye.

Flynn.

Aye.

Gilmore.

Aye.

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Aye.

Heinz.

Cashman.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Torres.

Aye.

Quatson.

Aye.

Madam President Protem.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

Twelve ayes.

12 ayes.

The resolutions and proclamations have been adopted and the bills have been placed upon final consideration and do pass.

We have no public hearings this evening.

On Monday, October 20th, 2025, Council will hold a required public hearing on Council Bill 25 1272, changing the zoning classification for 1252 West Buyers Place in Valverde.

Any protests against Council Bill 25 1272 must be filed with a council office no later than noon on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

City Council will provide a half hour general public comment session to hear from the public on city matters, except for any matter that is scheduled for a legally required public hearing.

There being no further business before this body, this meeting is adjourned.