Denver City Council Meeting: March 9, 2026 – Proclamations, AI Plan Review Contract, and Elyria Swansea Rezone Approved
Denver City Council Meeting: March 9, 2026
The Denver City Council convened on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 3:30 PM for its regular session, with 11 members present (Alvidrez, Flynn, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Hinds, Kashmann, Lewis, Parady, Romero Campbell, Sawyer, Torres, Watson) and two absent (Gilmore, Sandoval). The meeting included adoptions of proclamations, a block vote of consent items, discussion and votes on two called-out resolutions, and a required public hearing on a zoning change in Elyria Swansea.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of March 2, 2026 were approved without correction.
- Proclamation 26-0244 (Recognizing the 50th Annual Denver March Powwow) adopted 11-0.
- Proclamation 26-0253 (Honoring Retired Denver Police Officer Barbara Cisneros during Women's History Month) adopted en bloc 11-0.
- Resolutions adopted en bloc (11-0):
- 26-0177: Amendatory agreement with The Salvation Army for meals at micro-communities (add $851,236; new total $1,964,267).
- 26-0178: Loan agreement with Archway Investment Corp. for 150 affordable rental units at 5375 W 10th Ave ($7,500,000).
- 26-0179: Revival and amendatory agreement with Work Options for Women for micro-community meals (add $950,443.44; new total $2,039,585.44).
- 26-0172: Amendatory agreement with Midwest Connect LLC for mailing services (add $800,000).
- 26-0173: Revenue agreement with W.J. Dickensheet & Associates for impound vehicle auction services.
- 26-0185: License agreement with Cellco Partnership (Verizon) for an in-building small-cell DAS at the City and County Building.
- 26-0180: Eighth amendatory agreement with Versaterm Public Safety US for software support (add $472,110).
- 25-1981: Second amendatory agreement with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless for food access and nutrition education (add $203,789.75).
- 26-0170: Grant agreement with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Ryan White Part A HIV services ($2,135,483).
- 26-0171: Grant agreement with Caring for Denver Foundation for Peer Support Supervision and Technical Assistance Hub ($506,389).
- 26-0187: Amendatory agreement with Colorado Designscapes for golf course concrete/landscape restoration (add $1,500,000).
- 26-0188: Amendatory agreement with Denver Concrete Works for golf course services (add $1,500,000).
- 26-0189: Amendatory agreement with Colorado Designscapes for golf course restoration/repair (add $1,000,000).
- 26-0169: Dedication of North Jason Street as public right-of-way.
- 26-0181: Dedication of four parcels as public right-of-way (West Evans Ave, South Cherokee St, South Bannock St, Public Alley).
- 26-0143: Contract with RoadSafe Traffic Systems for 2026 Pavement Marking On-Call ($10,482,009).
- 26-0158: Grant agreement with RTD for Central Corridor Vision and Alternatives Analysis ($964,000).
- 26-0174: Dedication of a public alley (bounded by South Washington St, East Cedar Ave, South Clarkson St, East Bayaud Ave).
- 26-0183: Contract with Karsh Hagan for on-call marketing/communications at Denver International Airport ($6,375,000).
- 26-0212: Revocable permit to ULC CLT, LLC for encroachment at 5375 W 10th Ave.
- Bills for final consideration placed upon final passage en bloc (11-0):
- 26-0151: Access and Use Permit Agreement with Public Service Company of Colorado for utility infrastructure at 39th Avenue Greenway.
- 26-0153: Second Revival and Amendatory Agreement with Community College of Denver for Denver Construction Careers Program (add $300,000; new total $1,081,962).
- 26-0154: Capital equipment purchase from Airport Enterprise Fund.
- 26-0139: Relinquishment of an easement at 1100 N Federal Blvd.
- 26-0138: Relinquishment of a sidewalk easement at 2500 E 2nd Ave.
Public Comments & Testimony
Public testimony occurred only during the required public hearing on Council Bill 26-0062 (see below). No general public comment session was held; the next session was announced for March 16, 2026.
Discussion Items
Council Resolution 26-0158 – RTD Central Corridor Vision and Alternatives Analysis Grant
- Councilmember Lewis questioned the relationship between the study and RTD's planned repair work on the Welton Street corridor (L line). DOTI Transit Director David Krutzinger stated the study would not delay RTD's safety repairs and that permits for RTD's work are independent. RTD Board Director Michael Guzman emphasized that RTD's downtown rail reconstruction must start in 2026 to avoid losing federal funding, and that the Welton corridor repairs can proceed concurrently with the study. Councilmember Watson noted a coordinated letter from RTD, the Mayor's office, and DOTI confirming no timeline conflict. The resolution was adopted en bloc later.
Council Resolution 26-0105 – AI Guided Plan Review Platform (ComplyAI)
- Robert Peak (Denver Permitting Office) presented: Module 1 (intake only) costs $4,591,740 through 3-1-2031; Modules 2 and 3 are optional. The tool checks for basic deficiencies (e.g., signatures, north arrow) to reduce intake time from ~30 minutes to ~10 minutes per review, with a goal to increase first-round acceptance from 37% to 80%.
- Councilmember Lewis confirmed modules 2 and 3 are unfunded at this time.
- Councilmember Parady urged a follow-up in one year to assess effectiveness and compare costs to hiring staff.
- Councilmember Alvidrez expressed concerns about accuracy, budget cuts, and questioned whether the cost could be better spent on staffing; she voted no.
- Councilmember Hinds clarified the AI is not generative but uses logic for data formatting, and supported the efficiency gains.
- Vote: 10 ayes (Alvidrez nay), adopted.
Council Resolution 26-0184 – HDR Engineering AGTS Maintenance Facility Expansion
- Councilmember Sawyer abstained citing a family member employed by HDR.
- Vote: 10 ayes, 0 nays, 1 abstention (Romero Campbell abstained? Actually minutes show 10 ayes, 1 abstention – Romero Campbell abstained. Transcript shows Sawyer said he would abstain, then roll call: Alvidrez aye, Flynn aye, Gonzales-Gutierrez aye, Hinds aye, Kashmann aye, Lewis aye, Parady aye, Torres aye, Watson aye, Romero Campbell aye? Wait, transcript: "Council members. Aye. Aye. Albitres. Nay, Flynn, aye. Gonzalez Gutierrez. Aye. Cashman. Aye. Lewis. Aye. Parity. Aye. Sawyer. Aye. Torres. Aye. Watson. Aye. Madam Prote Romera Campbell. Aye." That shows Sawyer voted aye despite earlier statement. Minutes show 10 ayes, 1 abstention (Romero Campbell). There is discrepancy – minutes say Romero Campbell abstained, transcript says she voted aye. We'll report as per minutes: 10 ayes, 0 nays, 1 abstention (Romero Campbell).)
Required Public Hearing – Council Bill 26-0062 (Zoning Change at 4631 N Josephine Street, Elyria Swansea)
- Staff report: Edson Ibanez (Community Planning & Development) recommended approval to rezone from PUD 335 to U-RH-2.5 (urban row house up to 2.5 stories). The site (9,484 sq ft) was a remnant parcel from I-70 expansion; the community land trust Tierra Collectiva will develop four affordable homeownership units (income restricted to 80% AMI, 99-year land lease). The plan is consistent with Blueprint Denver and the Elyria Swansea Neighborhood Plan.
- Public testimony: 11 speakers all in favor, including residents, Tierra Collectiva staff, and a former CDOT commissioner. They cited the need to repair harm from displacement caused by I-70, the affordability of the land trust model, and community support. No opposition.
- Council member comments: Councilmembers Watson, Lewis, Alvidrez, and Pro-Tem Romero Campbell praised the community-led effort and noted this is part of a larger pipeline of 23 more homeownership units and 220 rentals.
- Vote: 11 ayes, 0 nays – passed.
Key Outcomes
- Proclamations adopted: 50th Annual Denver March Powwow (March 20-22, 2026) and St. Patrick's Day Parade (March 14, 2026).
- Resolutions adopted: All consent agenda items (18 resolutions) and the three called-out resolutions (26-0184, 26-0158, 26-0105) passed.
- Bills on final consideration: All six bills passed en bloc.
- Zoning change (26-0062) approved: Allows four affordable homes on a remnant parcel in Elyria Swansea.
- Future hearing announced: April 6, 2026, for Council Bill 26-0176 (rezoning at 17600 E 56th Ave and 4991 N Telluride St). Protests due by noon on March 31, 2026.
- Meeting adjourned at 6:36 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Denver City Council meeting today is Monday, March 9th, 2026. Tonight is being interpreted into Spanish. Sam or Jasmine, uh, would you please introduce yourself and let the viewers know how to enable translation on their devices? Yes, of course. Thank you for having us. Hello, everyone. My name is Sam Guzman. With the CLC, joining you virtually through Zoom. 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 very much. I have a gavel. So we're gonna use my cup. Um welcome to the Denver City Council meeting on Monday, March 9th, 2026. Council members, please join Council Member Sawyer as they lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Under God, liberty and justice for all. Council members, 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 Yu Cheyenne and Arapahoe peoples. We also recognize the 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 stewarded it, stewarded this land through 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 Heinz. Here. Flynn. Here Gilmore. Gonzalez Gutierrez. Here. Lewis. Here. Parity. Here. Romera Campbell. Here. Sawyer? Here. Watson. Here. Eleven members present. There are is that right? Yep, there are. Oh, that's right. There are 11 members present. Uh Council has a quorum. Approval of the minutes. Are there any corrections to the minutes of March 2nd? Nope. Seeing none. The minutes stand approved.
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