Denver City Council Meeting – February 23, 2026
Denver City Council Meeting – February 23, 2026
The Denver City Council met on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 10:30 AM (Mountain Time) for a regular session that included proclamations, consent agenda items, and three public hearings on zoning changes. The meeting began with a land acknowledgment and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by council announcements and the adoption of two proclamations. The council then considered a block vote on consent items, later reconvened for required public hearings, and concluded with the passage of all three zoning bills.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from February 17, 2026.
- Adopted Proclamation 260197 honoring the African American Kwanzaa tradition in Denver (13-0 vote).
- Adopted Proclamation 260202 recognizing February 2026 as Black History Month (11-0).
- Adopted Proclamation 260198 honoring the life and legacy of Norman Strickland Early Jr. (11-0).
- Passed a block of resolutions and bills on final consideration including:
- Council Bill 260128: Financial reporting to City Council.
- Council Bill 260125: Amending law enforcement officer identification requirements (commented on by Councilmembers Alvidres, Lewis, Watson, and Sandoval).
- Council Bill 260103: Approving the Southwest Area Plan.
- Council Resolution 260122: Purchase order for replacement vehicles for Denver Police Department (discussed fleet management and underfunding).
- Council Resolution 260109: Microsoft software licensing for Denver County Court (raised concerns about ICE contracts).
- Council Bill 260096: Updating property tax rebate program to address gentrification (commented on by Councilmembers Sawyer and Gilmore).
- Numerous other bills and resolutions passed unanimously (13-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Council Bill 25-2020 (2001 S. Acoma rezoning): One speaker (Andrew Ulry, property owner) answered questions; one speaker (Jesse Paris) asked about AMI levels, traffic, parking, and community benefits. Overall, two comments in support, one in opposition received by staff.
- Council Bill 26001 (12150 E. Andrews Drive rezoning): Two speakers: Peter Hines (Open Arms Assisted Living) described the need for expanding affordable assisted living for Medicaid and low-income residents, noting 63 additional beds planned. Jesse Paris voiced support after hearing details on AMI and parking.
- Council Bill 25-1069 (Tramway block rezoning): Thirty-nine speakers registered; many testified in support or opposition. Supporters included nonprofit tenants (Family Theater Company, Viva Wellness, Denver Youth Program, etc.), community members, and organizations like Historic Denver, Colorado Nonprofit Association, and Habitat for Humanity. They stressed the importance of preserving the historic tramway building, maintaining affordable office space for nonprofits, and building 63 units of deeply affordable housing. Opponents (including nearby residents) raised concerns about building height (four stories), parking, traffic, loss of sunlight, and inadequate community outreach. A protest petition signed by neighbors representing 19.7% of the land area fell short of the 20% threshold for a supermajority vote.
Discussion Items
- Council Announcements: Covered a range of topics including upcoming town halls, a data center community meeting, the halt of Native dance programming at the National Western Stock Show, recognition of Black History Month and the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, and updates on detention centers and the Denver Kwanzaa tradition.
- Proclamations: Councilmembers Lewis (Black History Month and Kwanzaa) and Watson (Norman Early) read detailed proclamations, with many councilmembers offering personal reflections on community resilience and the fight for justice.
- Rezoning Hearings:
- 2001 S. Acoma: Staff explained consistency with adopted plans (Comp Plan 2040, Blueprint Denver, Evans Station Area Plan). The proposed CRX-5 zoning allows up to five stories; the applicant plans five market-rate townhomes. Some councilmembers questioned the timing, as the Southwest Area Plan (which designates this area as urban center) has not yet been adopted.
- 12150 E. Andrews Drive: The rezoning from SMU-3 to MX-3 will permit expansion of an assisted living facility from 30 to 63 beds, adding a type-3 residential care use. Staff noted the project aligns with equity goals in the Far Northeast Area Plan and provides services for residents below 60% AMI. Councilmember Lewis apologized for the group-living text amendment that created additional hurdles.
- Tramway Block (Cole neighborhood): The most complex rezoning, converting Chapter 59 zoning to a PUD to preserve the historic tramway building, allow continued nonprofit offices, and build affordable housing on a vacant lot. Staff detailed the PUD’s three subareas, the affordable housing plan (100% of units income-restricted, with a mix of 30% to 60% AMI), and the extensive mediation process that did not resolve height concerns. Councilmembers questioned parking (48 spaces planned, shared parking), design (brick facade), and the impact on neighbors. The council ultimately focused on the legal criteria (consistency with plans, public interest, PUD standards) and the preservation of the building and services.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: All resolutions and bills on final consideration passed unanimously (13-0).
- Council Bill 25-2020: Approved 11-0. The rezoning will allow a five-story mixed-use building on a single-family lot near the Evans light rail station.
- Council Bill 26001: Approved 11-0. The rezoning enables expansion of affordable assisted living beds in Montbello.
- Council Bill 25-1069: Approved 11-0. The PUD rezoning facilitates preservation of the tramway building, continuation of 15+ nonprofits, and construction of 63 income-restricted apartments in the Cole neighborhood.
- Next Steps: A required public hearing on the Southwest Area Plan (Council Bill 261003) is scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone. Thank you for taking the time to join us for Denver City's council meeting. 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 their devices? Yes, of course. Thank you. Hello, everyone. Thank you for having us. 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. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, February 23rd, 2026. Council members, please join me in the pledge of allegiance. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the land that we got 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. Here Cashman. Here 13 members present. There are 13 members present. Council has a quorum. Approval of the minutes. Are there corrections to the minute for February 17th? Seeing none, the minutes stand approved. Council announcements. Are there any council announcements this afternoon? Councilwoman Albidrasan to start us off. Great. Thank you, Mr. President. I want to invite everyone to attend a performance by Modus Theater in District 7 this Saturday at 1 p.m. at HQ, located at 60 South Broadway. Modus Theater is a Denver-based nonprofit that brings powerful autobiographical monologues to the stage and does improv theater. This is an improv theater performance. Which are improvise live on stage by MODIS Theater Playback Ensemble. This event creates a space for transforming, for transformative listening and civic dialogue at a time when immigrant communities face harmful rhetoric. Come witness how these stories change lives and learn about your neighbors. I think that's something that's really important and appreciate his support of that measure. I also just want to acknowledge that this is the same administration that in 2024 came to us for millions of dollars worth of incentives for a data center in the GES community and don't want to erase that past. Finally, I also want to acknowledge the people of Mexico during this deeply complex and painful moment. I think a lot of us have seen what is playing out on social media and on the news currently with extreme violence. This reality is that the impacts of organized crime and drug trafficking do not stop at the border. The United States also plays a huge role in this shared crisis through the demand for drugs that fuel cartel power, through the flow of weapons that too often make their way south, and through political decisions that reverberate far beyond our own communities. We must be honest about that interconnected responsibility. And my heart is with the families that are trying to stay safe and trying to have food and water and fuel during this time. It's been really heartbreaking to see a beautiful place that I love, Puerto Vallarta, in flames, and I just want to acknowledge that. Thank you, Councilburg.
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