Denver City Council Meeting – January 12, 2026

Denver City Council convened on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 10:30 AM. The meeting included a land acknowledgement, roll call (13 members present), approval of prior minutes, council announcements, two proclamations, a consent calendar with multiple resolutions and bills, and two required public hearings. Key topics included recognition of retiring City Treasurer Steve Ellington, honoring the West East Neighbors United coalition for a community benefits agreement, a contested park maintenance facility plan funded by RISE bonds, and a zoning correction for a property in Central Park.

Consent Calendar

• Council Resolution 25-2059: Resolution to establish 44 parcels as public right-of-way in Stapleton Filing No. 45 (amended from No. 49 to correct a drafting error). Amended and adopted (11 ayes).
• Council Resolution 25-2112: Amendatory agreement with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless to continue housing services at All-In Mile High Shelters and micro communities. Questions from Councilmember Lewis (continuity of care, performance metrics) and Councilmember Watson (outcomes measurement). Adopted as part of block vote.
• Council Resolution 25-2070: Seventh amendatory agreement with US Motels Denver North, Inc. for STAR program units and non‑congregate shelter. Councilmember Lewis requested a full list of motels owned by the provider. Adopted as part of block vote.
• Multiple other items (including proclamations and bills on final consideration) were approved in a block vote of 13 ayes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• During the afternoon general public comment session (held before the regular evening meeting), a speaker requested donations for a family with a one‑month‑old who needed shelter.
• Public Hearing – Council Bill 25-1704 (Cuernavaca Park maintenance facility): Six individuals signed up to speak. Stefania Eskridge (former deputy executive director of Parks and Recreation) opposed the plan, arguing that the RISE bond originally promised $7.9 million for each of two maintenance shops (District 1 and District 11) and that the current proposal diverts $5.4 million from District 11 (Montbello/Green Valley Ranch) to District 1. She described the proposed Northeast satellite facility as a "glorified tough shed." Scott Gilmore (former councilmember and community member from Montbello) echoed that the template shop model used at Rosedale and Central Park cost $7.9 million, while the Cuernavaca facility has grown to $13.3 million, creating inequity for the growing Northeast area. Other speakers either did not have recorded remarks or were not transcribed.

Discussion Items

• Proclamation 26-0014 – Steve Ellington Retirement: Recognized 37 years of service as City Treasurer. Councilmembers praised his responsiveness and steady leadership. Adopted unanimously (13 ayes). Steve Ellington accepted the proclamation, thanking staff and noting plans to visit remaining Colorado craft breweries.
• Proclamation 26-0021 – West East Neighbors United: Honored the coalition that negotiated a community benefits agreement for the NWSL stadium. Councilmembers Alvarez, Hines, Torres, Cashman, and others commended the inclusive, cross‑neighborhood effort and noted that the agreement includes robust sustainability and equity standards. Adopted unanimously (12 ayes). Co‑chairs and steering committee members spoke, thanking council and emphasizing the importance of community‑led engagement.
• Council Bill 25-1704 – Park Building Plan at Cuernavaca Park: The proposed maintenance facility (11,000 sq ft operations building, plus equipment and storage buildings) would serve as a regional headquarters for the Northwest and Downtown maintenance districts, replacing a rented space at Park Avenue. A satellite facility in Green Valley Ranch (Northeast District) is planned for $2.5 million. Debate focused on how the $15.8 million RISE bond bundle was split ($13.3 million for Cuernavaca, $2.5 million plus land acquisition for Green Valley Ranch). Councilmember Gilmore argued that the bond documentation and micro‑priority spreadsheet showed equal $7.9 million allocations, and that the shift shortchanges a high‑need community of color. Parks staff (Joel Clark, Jill Kaufman, Emily Ziegler, Nicole Doheny) explained that projects within a bundle are scoped based on operational needs, not equal splits; that the Cuernavaca site is constrained and must be two stories; and that the satellite facility will reduce drive time for staff serving the Northeast. Councilmember Parity requested documentation of how the $15.8 million was originally scoped. Councilmember Flynn noted the lack of a comprehensive master plan for maintenance facilities. After a motion to postpone to March 16, 2026 failed (1‑11), the bill passed 11‑1 (Councilmember Gilmore dissenting).
• Council Bill 25-1991 – Zoning Correction at 8250 East 40th Avenue: The property was mistakenly zoned OSA (public open space) during the 2010 citywide rezoning. Staff (Fran Peña Fiel) recommended rezoning to IB (Industrial Business) to correct the error. The site is currently vacant and used for parking/storage by the owner, who has been paying taxes. The rezoning is consistent with Blueprint Denver, the Central Park Boulevard Station Area Plan, and the Central Park Development Plan. Councilmembers Torres and Lewis asked about the error and ownership. Passed unanimously (11 ayes).

Key Outcomes

• Proclamation 26-0014 (Steve Ellington) adopted unanimously.
• Proclamation 26-0021 (West East Neighbors United) adopted unanimously.
• Council Resolution 25-2059 adopted as amended (filing number corrected).
• Council Resolution 25-2112 and 25-2070 adopted as part of block consent vote.
• Council Bill 25-1704 (Cuernavaca maintenance facility) passed 11‑1 after failed postponement. Parks Department will provide council with: 1) the breakdown of irrigated acres per maintenance district, 2) documentation of the original $15.8 million scope for the RISE bond bundle, and 3) a list of all motels owned by the US Motels provider.
• Council Bill 25-1991 (zoning correction) passed unanimously.
• Next regular meeting will be Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. holiday). General public comment sign‑up opens Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 5 PM.