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

Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now.

Take the time to join us for the Denver City Council meeting.

Today is Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish.

Sam or Jasmine, would you please introduce yourself

and let our viewers know how to enable translation on the device?

Yes, thank you.

Hello, everyone.

Good afternoon.

My name is Sam Guzman with the CLC joining you virtually through Zoom.

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.

Buenas tardes a todos.

Mi nombre es Samuel Guzmán con la CLC

y juntamente con mi colega Jasmine

estaremos interpretando la reunión de hoy al español.

Si se une con nosotros virtualmente a través de Zoom,

por favor busquen su pantalla un icono de globo

that says interpretation.

Open that button and select the option to listen in Spanish.

If you are with us and are right in the camera,

please search in the bottom and find an assistant

that can give us an audio to listen in Spanish.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Sam.

Welcome to the Council of the Council of January 20th, 2026.

Council members, please join Council Member Taurus in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The Honours, please join Councilman Lichlis as they meet us in the Denver City Council

on Acknowledgement.

The Honours and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory

of the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples.

We also recognize 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.

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.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good night, Secretary.

Will call.

Members, Gonzales Gutierrez.

Louis.

Okay.

Capitres.

Here.

Flynn.

Here.

Gilmore.

Here.

Heinz.

Cashman.

Here.

Parity.

Here.

Romero-Campel.

Here.

Sawyer.

Here.

Torres.

Here.

Watson.

Here.

Here. Watson? Here. Madam President Sandoval? Here.

12 members present. There are 12 members present. Council has a quorum. Approval of the minutes. Are there corrections to the minutes of January 12th?

Council Member Gilmore? Yes, Council President. Thank you.

This afternoon I sent an email to you and my city council colleagues asking that there be a correction to the minutes for last week.

We were shared the written testimony received during the public hearing on 24-1704.

And as everyone can see, there were six additional public written testimonies to this bill during the public hearing.

And for transparency, I ask that the number and the names be listed of the public who submitted written testimony on the bill so that it's actually within the minutes.

It could be as simple as saying X number of letters were received in support of the bill and X letters were received in opposition of the bill.

And hopefully folks will agree that this is a good idea because the written testimony already gets attached to Legistar.

And it's public access anyway, but it's not clear for the public who signed up to speak on those hearings if their testimony was recorded into our minutes.

Because their name nor the number of written testimonies shows up anywhere in our minutes.

and that 25-1704 was the first and only public hearing bill to receive written testimony this year so far in 2026.

And so this transparency change could be implemented, and it won't affect any other 2026 minutes.

Thank you. I'm going to defer to our legal counsel, John Griffin.

Jonathan Griffin, Deputy Legislative Counsel.

So what you're proposing, Councilman Gilmore, is a change to our protocols, not a correction to the minutes.

That's something that's usually discussed either at an ops meeting or at a budget and policy meeting.

So it would be best to bring any of those changes because there's a lot of issues that I'm aware of from talking to our council secretary and our media people that might require further changes to the rules or to our procedural.

Okay. I will certainly do that.

I guess when I had asked about this last week, it didn't seem like the legal advice, it seemed like it was an administrative change.

It was just creating transparency.

It wasn't any difference in procedure that we would follow.

It's just being more transparent for the public.

And so, I guess, John, when we, in the past with Marquesia, et cetera, previous parliamentarians, I seem to recall that at least in the script, it was very clear how many written testimonies we were receiving.

Do you know if that was included in the minutes or not?

Jonathan Griffin, Deputy Legislative Counsel, I do not know if those were included in the minutes.

I do know that during COVID, as we were encouraging people to conduct more written testimony, that we were asking at the time that members read all of it.

And so it might have been reflected during COVID times because that was a COVID-specific change in our policy.

Well, for transparency, it seems like it's administrative because it's already in Legistar.

folks have already shared their testimony, but if it needs to come to operations, we'll hear from

others in the queue and follow accordingly. Councilmember Perry? Yeah, I just wanted to clarify

the part about which I think you just said about are these comments all in Legistar attached to

the, okay, so there is at least a public record for people to go and see that their comment was

are saved. Okay, thank you. That helps me feel better about it. That's all I want to ask. Thank you.

So with this

change to minutes standard operating procedure and being

an addition to rather than a correction or

an error because this is usually our opportunity to correct

an error in the minutes or a correction in the minutes.

The minutes of January 12 stand approved in the current form and you're welcome to take

this rule to operations just like when we change any other procedure or rule. We don't

usually do it during the call out of the minutes. Seeing no other announcements. Are there any

announcements for members of council? Thank you, Madam President. Just two reminders. The

first one is we continue to do our January blood drive at Vitalant over in Lowry. So January is

National Blood Donor Month. If you have the opportunity to go over there and donate blood

and help us save lives, that would be fantastic. We know that blood donations go down significantly

over the holidays, but the need is still there in January. So if you can help us out by going

and donating blood, we'd really appreciate it. The second one is that our annual District 5

open house will be held February 10th. That's a Tuesday, 5.30 p.m. at George Washington High

School upstairs in the library. So please join us if you can. You'll have an opportunity to connect

directly with city agencies and ask all your questions directly of the people who are making

those decisions for you. So please join us. Thanks. Thank you. Councilmember Gilmore?

I wanted to let District 11 residents know that the meeting indeed was moved.

for the Far Northeast Maintenance Shed, where the amount has been reduced greatly.

That new meeting will be in person at the Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center,

and that will be on Thursday, February 3rd, from 5 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.

We recommend that residents in Green Valley Ranch specifically,

especially the community around the Kitt Middle School, show up.

You all were promised a park and maintenance facility many, many years ago, and this will be your opportunity to speak with Parks and Rec employees directly to find out where the money went and what their plans are.

Thank you. Council Member Watson?

Thank you, Council President. On Thursday, January 22nd from 5.30 to 7.30 p.m., we are hosting, along with Council Member Lewis's office, District 8 and District 9, the Park Hill Park Open House, our third open house, will be at Smith Elementary School at 3590 Jasmine Street.

once again on Thursday, January 22nd, 5.30 to 7.30 p.m.

Council District 9 and Council District 8, along with our friends at DPR,

will be hosting our Park Hill Park Open House, the third one,

at Smith Elementary School, 3590 Jasmine Street.

Please come on out to engage with neighbors and with Denver Parks

to ensure that Park Hill Park is built the way that you want it to be built.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

So you know that council members in queue, I'd like to have a announcement that the Sloan's

Lake Boathouse is having its third open house Thursday, January 29th from 5 to 6.30 at the

Sloan's Lake Boathouse which is 4700 with Byron Place.

The design team will share how community input shaped the plan and answered questions on

the facility.

Seeing no other members in the queue, there are no presentations, there are no communications,

there are no proclamations being read this afternoon.

Madam Secretary, please read the bills for introduction.

Read now to be filed.

Okay, go ahead.

Sorry about that.

No problem.

A letter dated January 13, 2026 from Nicole C. Doheny, Manager of Finance, notifying City

Council of the Department of Finance's intent to issue city and county of Denver General

Obligation Bonds Series 2026A-B in a par amount not to exceed $410,075,000 Series 2026A-B

bonds. The Series 2026A-B bonds will fund vibrant Denver bond projects approved by Denver

voters in November 2025. Thank you. Madam Secretary, please read the bills for introduction.

From the Community Planning and Housing Committee, 25-2138, a bill for an ordinance changing

the zoning classification for 1965 Verbena Street and Old East Colfax.

25-2163, a bill for an ordinance amending the Denver Zoning Code, align the code with

state mandates and incentives, and improve procedures for this alignment.

25-2164, a bill for an ordinance amending Chapter 59, Zoning, of the Denver Revised

municipal code by aligning certain standards with the Denver Zoning Code as a result of

state mandates and incentives. 26-0007, a bill for an ordinance amending the effective

date of adopted ordinance number 20250854. From the Finance and Business Committee, 25-2149,

a bill for an ordinance amending ordinance number 400, series of 2008, as subsequently

amended by Ordinance No. 1659, Series of 2024, Ordinance No. 1208, Series of 2025, Ordinance

No. 1279, Series of 2025, Ordinance No. 1427, Series of 2025, and Ordinance No. 1606, Series

of 2025, thereby amending the boundaries of the Denver Downtown Development Authority.

From the Health and Safety Committee 25-2146, a bill for an ordinance approving a proposed

11th Amendatory Intergovernmental Revenue Agreement between the City and County of Denver

and City of Sheridan for fire protection services within the municipal boundary of the City

of Sheridan, Colorado, citywide.

From the Parks, Art, and Culture Committee, 25-2156, a bill for an ordinance amending

Chapter 2 of the Revised Municipal Code of the City and County of Denver by amending Article

8, Division 3, and repealing Article 21 to consolidate the Office of Special Events into

Denver Arts and Venues, and from the South Platte River Committee 25-2144, a bill for

an ordinance approving a proposed fifth amendatory agreement between the City and County of Denver

and Urban Drainage and Flood Control District to the South Platte River downstream of Florida

Avenue construction project. No change to the agreement terms in Council District 7.

Thank you. Council Member Torres? Council Members, this is your last opportunity to call out an item.

Council Member Torres, will you make the motions for us this evening? Yes,

Now I'll do a recap. Under resolutions, Council Resolution 2130 has been called out for questions by Council Member Parity.

Council Resolution 2166 has been called out for questions by Council Member Lewis.

And Council Resolution 2128 has been called out for a vote by Council Member Gilmore.

Under bills for introduction, Council Bill 2138 has been called out for a comment.

Under bill 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.

Resolution 25-3, a resolution approving a proposed master purchase order between the City and County of Denver and Sags Company Inc. for the purchase of police uniforms citywide.

Council Member Parity, please go ahead with your questions on Council Resolution 25-2130.

Yeah, thank you so much. I had a really helpful exchange with the Department of Safety, and if Emily is here, we can just sort of memorialize that because it was super helpful to me. Thank you, Emily.

Good afternoon, Emily Lack, Department of Safety, Legislation and Policy.

Thanks for being here for this. So this is a contract for uniforms, and at first glance, it looked like an increase over previous spending with the same vendor, but there are reasons for that, which I will leave you to explain.

Thank you. And I may phone a friend with my police department and general services colleagues to make sure that we get it all correct.

Essentially, this is a master purchase order for certain types of police uniforms, specifically the class A and class B uniforms.

So the last solicitation or competitive process for police uniforms was run, I believe, in 2020.

And so then in 2021, the contract needed to be changed because of the way that it had been entered into the workday system of record in the city.

So you'll see a 2021 contract date or amendment on there as well.

So the general services team ran a new solicitation in 2025 for these services.

it's important to note that we have now selected a new vendor to provide the Class A and Class B uniforms

compared to the vendor that was selected under the previous solicitation to provide those uniforms.

Under the previous solicitation, there were multiple vendors that were authorized to provide different types of uniform components,

and those would be the companies from whom we purchased.

And so now moving forward, the team has forecast based on the needs that we have in terms of forecasting incoming recruits

and the number of officers that we have on staff and replacement cycles for uniforms

that are governed under the collective bargaining agreement.

And so determine this would be the estimated amount that they're putting forward for the new master purchase order.

Okay. Thank you.

And one curiosity that I have about this is just I don't need to know anything specific about this RFP

since it doesn't close until we vote this through.

But generally speaking, are there companies that compete in this area

or are we sort of looking at one or two?

Like are there lots that provide these uniforms potentially

without needing to know how many bid on this particular RFP?

Elizabeth Hughes, Senior Procurement Analyst, General Services.

When I did this solicitation, I had three responding vendors.

There are other vendors who could provide the information,

but not to the detail that we need or the amount that we needed.

There are at least five to six vendors in the Denver area.

that could. Thank you. And then what does the change to the Blower uniform mean?

Yeah, thank you. Hi, good afternoon, counsel. Michelle, former commander over uniform and supply

ops support and EDI. So the main difference is it's a better durability. The cost is marginal

to comparing other vendors, but it provides more flexibility, more safety. Certainly when we're

thinking about risk management items such as fluid wicking, less likely to maybe burn,

fall apart. So long-term as well, these fade. I'm actually wearing it right now, blower. So

these are less likely to fade and they're just more durable overall, more functionality

for the police department as a whole in that class A and class B segment.

Okay. And then I had a follow-up question to Emily, which she'll get to me after today,

which was just to get a sense of the clothing line item over the last couple of years since we've, you know,

these are usually multi-year contracts and there have been different vendors and everything like that,

but you can follow up with that part.

That was all I had in them.

And yeah, no need to postpone it or anything like that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks, Madam President.

Yeah.

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

Council Resolution 25-2166, a resolution approving a proposed fourth amendatory agreement between

the City and County, Denver, Squire, Patton, Boggs, USLLP to continue to provide outside

legal services for environmental work citywide.

Council Member Lewis, what would you like to do with Council Resolution 25-2166?

Sorry, I wasn't muted.

So originally I called this item off for questions and the city attorney's office has actually been pretty helpful in answering most of these. However, I still have a few more questions and answers that are needed.

And because due to some outside circumstances that I've been made aware of that, I wasn't able to get those questions answered here before tonight.

And so therefore, pursuant to Rule 3.6, I would like to postpone this item 252166 to the next regular council meeting, which is Monday, January 26, 2026.

No motion is required.

Council Resolution 252166 has been postponed to the council meeting on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Madam Secretary, please put the next item on our screen.

Council Bill 25-2138, a bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 1965 Verbena in East Colfax.

As a reminder, if this bill is ordered published today, there is a future required public hearing scheduled.

Because Council must consider this bill sitting as a quasi-judicial body,

any comments cannot discuss the content or merits of this rezoning until the public hearing.

Councilmember Lewis, please go ahead with your comments on Council Bill 25-21-38.

Thank you.

I wanted to mention that this is a rezoning in my district in the East Colfax neighborhood,

and I wanted to encourage folks who live in the vicinity to submit their comments on this rezoning,

either for or against, by emailing the comments to the rezoning at denvergov.org,

and make sure you include the address, which is 1965 Urbina Street, in your email or comments.

I also encourage interested parties to sign up and give testimony for or against the rezoning

when it comes to City Council on February 17, 2026. You can sign up online at denvergov.org.

Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Secretary, please put the next item on our screen,

on our screens, Council Resolution 25-21-28, a resolution approving a proposed contract

between the City and County of Denver and Mark Young Construction, LLC, for the construction

of a new Denver Parks and Recreation Facility at Cornevaca Park.

Council Member Torres, will you please put Council Resolution 25-21-28 on the floor for adoption?

Yes, I move that Resolution 25-21-28 be adopted.

It has been a week and seconded comments and questions from members of council.

Councilmember Gilmer?

I will be voting no on this bill tonight.

It's curious how transparency and accountability has sort of flown out the window on this one.

And I want to thank all my colleagues last week for asking an hour and a half worth of

questions on this one.

It didn't go by the wayside, the questions that were asked.

And per the documents that were shared from Denver Parks and Rec, today it clearly highlights

that the Green Valley Ranch Far Northeast Maintenance Facility was the top priority

for the department.

The maintenance facility improvement study that was attached calculates the estimated

funding needed in 2011 dollars for the Green Valley Ranch Far Northeast Satellite Shop

was estimated in 2011 at 1.8 million dollars.

The study now is outdated.

It hasn't been put on the phasing in to update it, but yet the far northeast is getting only a $2.5 million maintenance shop, when in 2011 dollars it was about that much.

I will be voting no on anything that has to do with the maintenance facilities, and it's

unfortunate that we can't even list out the public speakers from the hearing who spoke

for transparency on this bill.

Thank you.

you know the members in the queue madam secretary will call council bill 25 21 28

councilmember lewis in the queue producer yeah councilmember lewis go ahead sorry we're happy

where it's delayed because you're online no it's it's totally fine i understand um so i i wanted

just say a few things because i understand that this item does not touch my district but i wanted

to uplift something on the councilwoman gilmore said last monday and say monday in city council

her neighborhoods of green valley ranch and mount bellow are predominantly black and brown

neighborhoods my office actually keeps track of the demographic data for each of the neighborhoods

within my district and montbello is one of those neighborhoods which is split between district 11

and district eight as you all know um 18.7 percent are almost one out of every five residents in that

neighborhood are black another 29 or 20 excuse me 0.2 percent are latino and another 17.9 are

folks of mixed race these neighborhoods have been his have been historically and traditionally

overlooked and under invested in and i'm glad that the city is bringing a satellite office to this

every of denver but i wanted to ensure that the satellite does not mean an afterthought when it

comes to the design and construction for this facility and that the services that will be

offered are as good or better than anywhere else in the city recognizing that i have the honor of

serving one of the surviving black neighborhoods i'm including park hill which is lucky to have

not one not two not three but four representatives um on council i am more than happy to work with

councilman mcgillmore as well as councilwoman parity as she stated last week to ensure that

parks and rec office will be established out of district eight is sufficient it has sufficient

funding and personnel to ensure that the neighborhood is receiving the highest quality

of services and support from the parks department thank you so much thank you

are there any more council members okay see no other council members

Thank you.

My secretary will call on Council Resolution 2521-28.

I'm so sorry.

Would you mind just recognizing Councilmember Hines before the vote?

Welcome to the meeting Councilmember Hines.

Thank you.

Councilmembers Gonzales Gutierrez?

Aye.

Louis?

Aye.

Alvitres?

Aye.

Flynn?

Aye.

Gilmore?

Hines? Aye. Cashman? Aye. Parity? Aye. Romero-Campbell? Aye. Sawyer? Aye. Torres? Aye. Watson? Aye.

Madam President Sandoval? Aye. Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

12 ayes. 12 ayes. Council resolution 25-21-28 has been adopted. 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 a vote aye. Otherwise this is your last chance to call

out an item for a separate vote. Council member Torres, will you please put the resolutions for

adoption and the bills on final consideration for final passage on the floor. I move that the

resolutions be adopted and bills on final consideration be placed upon final consideration

and do pass in a block for the following items.

25-2111, 25-2130, 25-2155, 25-1980, 25-2129, 25-2131, 25-2158, 25-2133, 25-2145, 25-2159,

25-2160, 25-2161, 25-2162, and 25-2165.

Thank you.

It has been moved and seconded.

Madam Secretary, roll call.

Council Members, Gonzalez-Gutierrez?

Aye.

Lewis?

Aye.

Alvarez?

Aye.

Flynn?

Aye.

Gilmore?

Aye.

Hines? Aye. Cashman? Aye. Parity? Aye. Romero-Campel? Aye. Sawyer? Aye. Torres? Aye. Watson? Aye. Madam President Sandoval? Aye. Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results. 13 ayes. 13 ayes. The resolutions have been adopted and the bills have been placed upon final consideration and do pass. If there are no objections from members of council, we will recess until 5.30 p.m. before convening the regular meeting.

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.

The general public comment session will begin at 5 p.m.

Hey, Denver. Here's what's happening around the Mile High this week.

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy is commemorated in the Mile High City every January with what has grown to be one of the largest MLK Junior Day celebrations in the United States.

This annual event, combining both a march and a parade, hence the name, is the only one of its kind in the nation.

The march goes from City Park to Civic Center Park.

Warm up this winter with a cozy yoga class.

Blake Berger leads a one-hour candlelit vinyasa flow with live music to leave you feeling blissful and balanced.

Each session incorporates a different music style and instrument, so get cozy and get stretching.

Jim Gaffigan is an eight-time Grammy-nominated comedian, actor, writer, producer, three-time Emmy-winning top touring performer, and multi-platform selling recording artist.

And he's coming to Denver.

Get your tickets today.

The 30th Annual Denver Jewish Film Festival is a celebration of three decades of powerful Jewish storytelling and culture.

This year's festival showcases an exciting lineup of films from around the world, highlighting diverse perspectives and meaningful connections to Jewish life.

An Evening of Dancing Horses is known for bringing together the best equestrian talent from around the world.

Enjoy an evening full of formal dressage, reigning, liberty, and other talents performed to live music provided by Spinfony Electric String Quartet.

Get ready to take your taste buds on a flavor adventure at the...