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

Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now.

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 for having us.

Hello, everyone.

My name is Sam Guzmán.

Um joining you virtually through Zoom, and along with my colleague Jasmine, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish.

Thank you very much, Sam.

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of March 23rd, 2026.

It's in my car.

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

Congratulations to the flag for the United States of America.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

The Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the Ute, 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 this land through generations.

Here Gilmore.

Here.

Romero Campbell.

Here.

Sawyer.

Here.

Torres?

Here.

Watson.

Here.

Madam President Sandoval?

Here.

Twelve members present.

There are 12 members present.

Council has a quorum.

Approval of the minutes.

Are there corrections to the minutes of March 16th?

Seeing none, the minutes stand approved.

Council announcements.

Are there any announcements for members of Council?

Yes, Madam President.

Yeah, Councilmember Cashman.

Yeah, I'd like to uh uh congratulate the uh mighty mighty University of Denver Pioneers men's hockey team for uh winning the national uh collegiate conference championship and they will be playing this coming weekend in the NCAA National Championships up in Loveland, Colorado.

So uh as I am always want to say, go piles.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Alvidres.

Thank you.

And on a similar note, we finally get to say Go Denver Summit FC.

That's really exciting.

So this Saturday, March 28th, is they are actually have already been playing for anybody that didn't realize that.

But this Saturday is our first home game at Powerfield at Mile High.

They'll be hosting the game against the Washington Spirits.

Kick off is at is at noon at Powerfield at Mile High.

Gates open at 10 a.m.

It's a really exciting time to go watch our first home game with our first women's, or not maybe first, but currently our only women's professional sports team.

So we're excited to uh attend and go Denver Summit FC.

Thank you.

Council Pro Temer Murray Campbell.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh, two things.

We are having uh Welshire is going to celebrate a hundred years this year, and we are doing a golf tournament in large community celebration on June 5th.

If you are interested and people have been asking and want to play in that golf tournament, go to Denver Golf.

It's on June 5th in the morning.

Um and we've done a historic designation, and we're just waiting for the national to hear back from the national um historic registration for the golf course.

It is a Donald Ross course, which I did not know before this, but he is a very famous and very uh renowned uh golf course designer um that did this over a hundred years ago.

Um, and then on uh secondly, um I would also like, and I think there you will probably make a statement or others would make a statement as well, but I think the events of last week and the um the news of Cesar Cabas and the Harms Bless You and the harms um that he has done in um with Dolores Huerta and some and other young people and women um is heartbreaking for community heartbreaking, and I appreciate the um the press conference that you held last week.

Uh but on a very personal note, um my dad was a farm worker.

My dad worked the fields.

He he he harvested sugar beets, and my brother-in-law um worked the fields in multiple states with his family for many years until he went to college.

And you know, um my husband accessibility shortcut is also quite all right, has also um done uh labor and work in the fields, and I think that as devastating as it is, um the work that the movement held, the work that it represents for um for workers' rights, the how it represents all the things that I grew up knowing and upholding.

I don't want to be marred by what has happened.

Um, and I think that you know, my pain, the disappointment within just Latino community.

I think it goes well beyond.

I know that there are many people that I spoke to this weekend um as well that are also really devastated by this news.

And so it's just more of an acknowledgement that I want to make of um this is about all of us.

This was a hero, somebody that we lionized in our community.

Um, and it feels so incredibly devastating.

Um, but that it's not just within Latino community, it's it's I think everyone and what that means for how I think and want to talk about the impact of a movement moving forward is just it's a lot of time to sit with it.

I think I'm still processing.

I look forward to a community process of how um we as a city and as a state um think about what that impact is moving forward, and I love the idea of a C SIP weather day and what that name looks like moving forward.

You know, um again, I think a broader community conversation would do us all good and well and very healing.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Council Woman Torres.

Thank you so much.

Um just want to share uh for District 3 community come out and meet DA John Walsh this Wednesday from 5 30 to 7 at the Westwood Community Center.

Uh we're partnering with Southwest Denver Coalition, Mikasa Resource Center, and the Far East Center to get to know what the D what the DA's office does, who DA Welsh is, um hope to see folks there.

Um and I also want to share my congratulations.

I know West High School is celebrating their hundredth year building celebration this year, um, and uh actually events are on uh Thursday evening at the school.

So thank you.

Nice uh councilmember Cashman.

Councilmember Cashman.

Yeah, thank you.

On April 1st, 6 to 8 p.m.

at Cook Park Recreation Center, District 6 is housing our Meet the City Academy in the community.

We'll have 30 city agencies and outside partners like Denver Water, XL Energy, a whole bunch of good folks there to uh talk to you in person, get your questions answered about what's going on with city plan, city projects, uh what's up with XL Energy, and are they gonna be able to keep the lights on?

A whole bunch of good good folks to talk to.

Again, that's Cook Park Rec Center, uh, 6 to 8 p.m.

on April 1st.

Thank you, Madam Press.

Thank you.

Council Watson.

Uh thank you, Council President.

I wanted to take a moment um to thank uh Coach Bailey.

Um, most folks that live on East Side know that Coach John Bailey has been engaged with our community um for many decades.

On a weekly basis, um, you could find the Colorado Black Round Table hosting events and discussions on all topics.

Um this past weekend, um, Coach Bailey held an event elevating um black women and their role within the African American community, highlighting um sororities and the good work that they do and honoring, I think up to 15 of these amazing women providing actual certificates, a massive luncheon of about 70 folks, and that was just this past weekend.

Uh this morning, I had the honor to sit on a panel with Councilwoman Gonzalez Gutierrez and a whole host of other folks, um, the DA Walsh, um, Director Gardner to discuss uh public safety within our communities.

Um pause to say that because oftentimes um the folks in our community that does do so much to bring our communities together, we don't take a moment to thank them.

And so, Coach Bailey, if you are watching, know that weekend after weekend, all of the good works that you do to bring us together, not just in dialogue, but also in action, your work is appreciated.

Thank you so much for hosting that summit this morning with community members and with folks who actually are implementing and executing on a regulatory environment that impacts how we live our lives and how free we are as a city.

Thank you, Madam President.

Council um Councilmember Gimley.

Thank you.

Um I appreciate um Council Pro Tem uh Romero Campbell um bringing up what transpired uh last week and beyond the movements that we're talking about.

I'm also hopeful um that this will begin a broader conversation of especially powerful men and those who protect them, including women, and knowing that historically the Catholic Church, government, and others have intentionally protected and hid predators that are in our families, in our communities, and it's not enough to acknowledge and then rename things, a deeper reflection and introspection of how these systems get set up and how everybody is complacent for decades in the silencing and the abuse of women and children, and we're seeing that also play out live with the expansion of detention centers, with what we're allowing to happen in our society.

And so um having been one of those survivors and having experienced also the what goes along in a family and the protection of the church.

If we don't bring that to light, we're not gonna help the people who are struggling right now today that it's okay for them to also speak out.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um I'd also like to, if everyone could join me in wishing Pro Tem Romero Campbell a happy early birthday.

Their birthday is on the 25th.

And I'd also like to wish Councilwoman Pardy a happy early birthday, whose birthday is March 27th.

So hope you all have a great birthday week.

Umorrow I'd like to ask everyone to stop by Highland Rec Center, 2880 Oceola Street to give feedback and have your voice heard regarding the unlocking housing choices.

The goal of this project includes allowing more housing choices and updating um design requirements and preserving our existing homes and more.

Seeing no other members in the queue, there are um I'd also like to welcome Councilmember Hines to the meeting.

Thank you.

There are no communications.

There are two proclamations being read at this afternoon.

Councilmember Torres, would you join me in reading proclamation 0378?

Yes, uh proclamation commemorating Cisepue deas the Lotus Huerta is credited for the rallying cry, CI se puede, which means yes, it's possible, or yes, we can.

This is the rallying cry that's most closely associated with the United Farm Workers Movement, and for many, it has become the empowering cry of multiple generations.

And whereas Dolores Huerta was born on April 10th, 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico, but spent most of her early life in the Central Valley of California, where she connected to the worker movement that she would fight tirelessly for, becoming a transformative figure in the farm labor movement.

And whereas Dolores Huerta so routinely was spoken in connection with Cesar Chavez, must be honored in her own right as an inspirational force because not only did she lead with honor and dignity in pursuit of justice, she did so while being the target of sexual abuse and intimidation.

And whereas Dolores Huerta, Ana Morguya, and Deborah Rojas recently broke their silence about the abuse they endured as young girls and young women by Cesar Chavez.

We affirm our solidarity with them, recognizing their courage in coming forward and the profound impact of the harm they experienced.

And whereas communities across the country feel the devastation at these accusations and the reality that these powerful women held silence for so long.

We turn back to C Sepuebe and remember we have the power and responsibility to persist.

And whereas Dolores Huerta, a heroin in so to so many and about to turn 96 years old in sharing her pain, also revealed something so important that it is never too late to tell your truth.

And whereas Dolores Huerta will forever be associated with her lifelong fight standing up for farm workers, women, children, women, children, immigrants, LGPTQ rights, reproductive rights, and all social justice movements.

We lift up the many generations who carry forward every moment's mission.

Now therefore, it now therefore be a proclaimed by the Denver City Council that the Denver City Council hereby recognized recognizes March 31st, 2026 as Cisepuede Day, 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.

Councilmember Torres, your motion to adopt.

I move that the proclamation 26-378 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council.

I'll start with you, Councilwoman Torres.

Sure, thank you so much.

I'm usually sponsor the CISAR Classic Proclamation each year, and we're usually also talking about the farm worker movement, how Denver acknowledges and participates in a march and parade.

Not just about the namesake, but around about all of the people affected and the generations of family members that to this day speak to their roots as being family members of farm workers or to what might be happening today to farm workers, to people who provide our meat, our vegetables, our food, everything that we rely upon.

Hands have actually grown cultivated and mastered each of that cultivation.

But also it was, I think, an irresponsible thing for us just to leave a vacuum when there's so much to be said.

And even in talking with my husband, we talk about it a lot because I'm also a survivor.

And while not every man may be guilty of having made an advance on a girl or a woman at some point in their life, every single woman has experienced it.

Every single one has experienced an unwanted advance.

And it's hard to live with that as a norm.

As something that only we have to deal with.

So I want to thank my colleagues.

Councilwoman Lewis texted me and said, are we doing something in honor of the Lotus?

And I said we are.

So thank you for also thinking of that.

And just to all of my colleagues for just being very strong, and this is a pretty shaking moment for a lot of us.

And we're still trying to figure out how we absorb it, how we make sense of it.

And how we continue to raise up the stories of people who have been violated.

So thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Councilwoman Alvidres.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Council Tours, for bringing this forward.

It has been a very shocking week, but not surprising.

Stories like this are something that I've grown up hearing that I have experienced, and we cover up for people, and I think like councilwoman Torres said, it's something that everyone has ex women have experienced.

And how we rise up in this moment and how the you all have already risen up and reached out to community and realize like this isn't an us decision, this is a we decision, and this is a time where we get to reach in and talk to our elders in the community.

Some of some of the people at this table have met both César and Dolores.

Um have met one of them.

I have I never had that opportunity, but my grandparents were also farm workers, and they died extremely young because of the working conditions of being a farm worker.

My mom was orphaned at the age of six years old.

Um, and that's something I think about a lot.

Uh, how so much work has gone to fight for the working conditions of the my parents alone and how we have to continue to fight for the working uh people today, just thinking about the slaughterhouse in Greeley, where they are protesting right now for their working conditions, and it's more relevant now than ever.

And I think another important thing that I've taken away from this moment is it's never about any one person, it's never about us as council members or the mayor.

It's always about the people, and it's about the people working together to collectively work towards change.

And this was a big reminder for me that you know this movement is still a great move.

And leaders and people in power are not perfect.

And how do we hold them accountable?

And how do we acknowledge that the people that show up that work every day that come and testify that take time to come to city council that email us?

You know, I've gotten many emails just today from constituents concerned about things, those are the people that are making movement and deciding each each and every one of the people watching this right now is someone that is changing our world in a way that you want to see it better, and I hope that we continue to rise to that occasion and hold the men in our communities accountable and call out to a lot of men that reached out to me over the last couple of weeks to talk to me about their feelings or to see how I was feeling.

I'm very grateful for the men in my life, um, and and challenge them to call out other men because you've seen it, you hear it when we're not in the room, when we are in the room, how men talk about women, how we get catcalled, how you talk first about the way we look, then the words that we say, then our minds.

I feel like the women around this table also get criticized for maybe how their hair is or what jewelry they put on.

Whereas the men on this table won't have to ever deal with that.

And so I really just want to call out to the men in our community to do better, and if you're doing well, call out the others when they're don't use the bro code.

It's time to stand up for the women in your lives more now than ever, and so that's my ask to the community today, and my gratitude towards the sponsors, my gratitude towards Lolores and other women that spoke up because I know how hard it is and how challenging it is.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Council Co.

Thank you.

Um, thank you, Councilman Furz for coming up with the idea of a proclamation.

I'm usually the sponsor in my council district of the Cesar Chavez parade, and my council office has been working on the March since January.

We helped get chairs, we help get the stadium, we help get podium, we help I helped make sure that it was a historic um event back when I was a council aide working for council member at Sonosa.

I have one of their awards in my office from the Cesar Chavez Peace and Justice Committee.

I have their shirt on from 2019 when I got that.

Um I think for me, um, as I said the other day, this is so painful and personal, and we're trying to make some sense of it, which I don't think we're gonna be able to.

Um, and I just want to acknowledge the group of us who came together last Wednesday.

I when I met with the mayor, I said this is not a decision I can make, this isn't a decision you can make.

We have to base it in community.

Um it when we came up with Cise Puede Day, the elders around the room said yes.

Um, and when we asked for a press conference, they said yes.

So this is rooted in what we are needing right now is a moment of mourning, and I feel like I lost someone in my life.

Um at the same time, I think it's important, as we've all said, that we remember the labor movement and remember what that meant, and um and it would who it was built by.

It was built by the farm workers who labored in the fields from sunrise to sunset by families who sacrificed everything so their children could have a better life.

My dad was a Tamalero.

My grandpa worked and cut a hay meat packing plant in Globille.

My grandma picked pinto beans in Brighton.

Um, and when she did, she ended up with cancer.

And my two aunts and my uncle who were being pinto being pickers also had cancer.

My dad died of pancreatic cancer.

Cancer runs rapid in my side of the family.

Um, and I don't I think it has to do with pesticides, them being exposed to pesticides when they were migrant farm workers.

Um I just want to say to the organizers of all the movements who risk their safety and to demand fairness and respect that this legacy, as councilwoman Alvider said, it belongs to you all, belongs to us, belongs to the next seven generations.

I know I often talk about the seven generations, but it really does belong to the next seven generations.

Um we will take meaningful action to ensure that values of dignity, safety, and respect guide what comes next.

That's something that I am staying true to.

Um, but this proclamation, this this whole experience has been super devastating for me personally and to my family.

It's pretty much everyone talks about.

And at the same time, I was asking my daughter about this the other day, and she said in certain communities, people don't even know who Cesar Chavez is, but they sure know who the president is.

They sure know who Epstein is.

So we have to call out those names as well and hold those individuals accountable because we're taking down a pillar of our community, a brown person, and at the same time, we're not holding other people accountable at the same time.

So I just want to say that out loud as well, because it's fascinating how people don't know who our who our heroes are, but we know who the other people are.

Um, because we're just not talked about in the media as much.

I've mentioned that before.

So with that, thank you all for hearing this out, and I'm glad that we have um like my shirt says yes, we can.

The time is now.

Madam Secretary, we'll call.

Councilmember I'll leave this.

Hi.

Flynn.

Hi.

Gilmore.

Aye.

Gonzalez Cutieres.

Aye.

Heinz.

Hi.

Cashman.

Aye.

Lewis.

Aye.

Parody?

Aye.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Torres?

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Sandoval.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the vote and announce the results.

13 ayes.

13 ayes.

Proclamation 0378 has been adopted.

Council member um Torres and I made the decision that we're not going to ask anyone to come up and accept the proclamation, that we're gonna keep it ourselves and we're gonna send it a copy to Delores Huerta, and we're gonna send a copy to her foundation and the other foundation that was made in the announcement to help the survivors of the victims.

So that's what we'll be doing is we'll be mailing the proclamation out.

Councilmember Gonzalez Cutieres and Heinz, would you please read proclamation 0377?

Proclamation number 26-0377.

A proclamation commit commemorating Naruz.

Whereas the Denver City Council recognizes and celebrates Naruz, which commenced on the spring equinox on Friday, March 20th, 2026, and celebrated for 13 days.

And whereas Meruz, meaning new day in Persian, is an ancient celebration of revival, marking the triumph of light over darkness and the rebirth of spring.

Celebrated for millennia, Noruz is an over 3,000-year-old celebration observed across many ethno-leantic uh linguistic and cultural communities, creating a shared sense of hope and renewal among those who celebrate it.

And whereat?

Noruz brings together family and friends through feasts, community festivities, and music.

For centuries, on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year, people gather around bonfires, jumping over the flames, and a ritual that leaves behind the sickness, sorrow, and darkness of the year, and welcomes rebirth in the coming year.

And whereas the Half to send table, one of the cult central components of Nerus festivities is an arrangement of seven symbolic items that begin with a Persian letter S and set forward positive intentions for the new year.

Wheat with barley or lentil sprouts represent renewal and growth.

Germinated wheat pudding represents abundance and strength.

Dried polyaster represents love and wisdom.

Garlic represents health and protection against evil.

An apple represents beauty and good health.

Crushed sumac berries represent the triumph of light over darkness.

Vinegar represents age, patience, and wisdom.

And whereas on the 13th and final day festivities, commonly known as Nature Day, friends and family gather outdoors and picnic, hoping to cleanse their minds and year of all evil thoughts through joy and laughter.

And whereas Noruz is a unifying celebration that transcends borders.

It is celebrated by over 300 million people across Iran.

I'm gonna take my time here.

And embraced by Kurdish, Turkic, Uyghur, Parsi, and Disporia populations worldwide.

The traditions of Noruz have prospered for generations, adapting to political change, conflict, and distance.

The rituals connect people with their heritage and preserve a sense of cultural identity, underscoring their unifying power in our interconnected world.

And whereas Nauruz symbolizes collective spirit and harmony by bringing together people of different backgrounds, religions, and traditions.

We recognize and honor the courage and resistance of immigrants and communities from Nauru's celebrating countries who enrich Denver with their traditions, talents, and prevailing hope.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council that the Denver City Council hereby recognizes Noruz as a day of renewal, unity, and celebration, and honors those around the world who continue to fight for freedom.

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.

Thank you.

Councilmember Heinz, your motion to adopt.

I move to adopt proclamation 26-0377.

Thank you.

Comments by members of the council, Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Thank you, uh President, and thank you, Councilman Heinz, for joining me on this.

I'm honored to get to read the Noruz proclamation now for a third year in a row.

Noruz ushers in spring and encourages encourages us to let go of all of our bad thoughts from the previous year and look forward to the promise of the new one.

I wish all families celebrating this holiday a happy new year.

Thank you, Madam President.

Councilmember Hyde.

Thank you, Madam President.

I also want to thank my colleague, Councilmember Consolus Gutierrez for uh for co-sponsoring the proclamation and also for the third year in a row sponsoring a um an event that was actually held right here in Par Widener.

And so uh actually not third year in a row, third year in the row for the proclamation, uh, but uh uh but this has been a tradition, um I don't think it was last year, but uh either way, um I uh I just I think it's amazing that we can um uh we could think beyond our neighborhood, beyond our community, and reach out to others and other communities and learn more about them and break bread and um and determine uh how other humans are not that different than us.

So um so thank you, uh Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez, thank you to the uh to the Persian community for being here and also um at the uh at the uh at the event last week.

Thank you, Madam President.

Yeah, thank you both so much for bringing this, and I just um I just wanted to say that the Persian community has been in my heart so much given what's happening in Iran.

I know people are just going through it worried about folks who are in Iran sometimes.

Um and I just um and I know that there's been you know many years of um if you are someone who still has family there having a difficult time going home to visit.

Um I know I have friends who are not necessarily in touch with our loved ones, and it's just devastating.

And the fact that that is, you know, at the hands of our government is also devastating.

So sorry.

So um, yeah, happy noros, hoping for a better year.

Thank you.

We now have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance.

Council members, who will you be inviting up to accept the proclamation?

Madam President, the rule call.

Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry.

Council members Albitares.

Aye, Flynn, aye.

Gilmore, Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Aye, Heinz?

Aye, Cashman.

Aye.

Lewis.

Aye.

Parity.

Aye.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Torres.

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Sandoval.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting answer results.

Thirteen ayes.

Thirteen ayes.

Proclamation 0377 has been adopted.

Now we have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance.

Council members, who will you be inviting up to accept the proclamation?

Yes, I'd like to invite up Rena Haidery, a first generation Iranian American who has worked at the Denver City Attorney's Office as an assistant city attorney for the past five years.

Rana also assisted in Denver's Noruz celebration last week in this very room in Parwitner.

And I also want to um invite up Sana Kolki, a first generation Iranian American student at the University of Denver, uh, and the author of today's proclamation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for this meaningful proclamation.

I am so honored to receive this proclamation, especially this year, in light of everything going on.

Persian New Year, as council person hines said, is about renewal and growth and starting fresh.

And I think especially this year, it is important to know that the people of Iran will persevere and they will hopefully in this no ruse be able to follow the light and start fresh and just have some renewal in their lives.

Persian New Year is all about family and gathering, and it is one of the most beautiful and honestly inclusive holidays.

It is open to everyone, and it was so special to be able to join Councilman Hines and Councilwoman Gonzalez Gutierrez and the mayor in their event on Wednesday last week.

Hi.

Thank you so much for inviting me to accept the Notice Proclamation today.

Growing up in Denver, I've always tried my best to share my Persian heritage with others, and I'm so humbled to be able to take part in this year's Nota celebrations.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Secretary, please read the bills for introduction.

Uh 25-0934, a bill for an ordinance concerning the approval of a proposed facilities lease number 2026, Colorado Convention Center Fire Alarm Project between Denver Public Facilities Leasing Trust 2026, Colorado Convention Center Fire Alarm Project as Lissey of certain real property constituting a portion of the existing Colorado Convention Center and the City and County of Denver as Lessor and a proposed lease project purchase agreement number 2026 Colorado Convention Center Fire Alarm Project between Denver Public Facilities Leasing Trust 2026 Colorado Convention Center Fire Alarm Project as Lessor and the City and County of Denver as Lessie in conjunction with the issuance of certificates of participation series 2026 and documents related thereto authorizing officials of the city and county of Denver to take all actions necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby ratifying actions previously taken, providing other matters relating thereto, and providing the effective date thereof.

And from the South Platte River Committee, a bill 26-0292, a bill for an ordinance relinquishing an easement in its entirety, reserved in ordinance number 347, series of 1981 recorded with the Denver Clerk and Recorder at Book 2407, pages 241 through 243, located at 2777 North Zuni Street.

Thank you, Madam Secretary.

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

Councilmember Flynn, will you make the motions for us this afternoon?

Uh yes, I will, Madam President.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Now I'll do a recap.

Under resolutions, Council Resolution 0241 has been called out for comment and a vote by Councilmember Alvidres.

Under bills for introductions, 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.

Yes, I will.

Thank you, Madam President.

I move the council resolution 26-0241 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council.

Councilmember Albidrez.

Actually, just had a question around why we decided to reduce this service when it seems like we need grants more than ever.

Anyone coming in?

You can just introduce yourself for the record.

Hi, Gatalina Flores, Department of Finance.

Councilwoman Alvides, I missed the last part of your question.

It looks like we're reducing the amount of services we can provide for the departments to apply for grants, and I'm curious why the people need to apply for more grants right now.

So I was curious just what was the decision there.

That's a great question.

We've reduced the contract scope just to right size it and eliminate the retainer that was in the contract.

So instead of paying for the retainer going forward, we will not pay for the retainer going forward.

Okay, that makes sense.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Secretary, we'll call on council resolution 0241.

Council members albedares.

Aye.

Flynn.

Aye.

Gilmore.

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Aye.

Hines?

Aye.

Cashman.

Aye.

Lewis.

Aye.

Parity.

Aye.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Soares.

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Sandoval.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting announcing the results.

13 ayes.

13 ayes, council resolution 0241 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 for block vote, and you'll 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 for adoption and the bills and final consideration for final passage on the floor?

Yes, Madam President.

Thank you.

I move the resolutions be adopted and bills on final consideration be placed upon final consideration and do pass in a block for the following items.

All appear to be 26.

Uh 239, 240.

Clunky process here.

242.231.

Thank you.

232.

233.

238, 236, 144, 225, 234.

205, 204.

Thank you.

It has been moved and seconded.

Madam Secretary, we'll call.

Members Albitares.

Aye.

Flynn.

Aye.

Gilmore.

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Aye.

Hines?

Aye.

Cashman.

Aye.

Lewis.

Aye.

Parity.

Aye.

Romera Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Torres?

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Sandoval.

Aye.

Secretary closed voting announced the results.

13 ayes.

13 ayes.

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

Tonight there will be a courtesy public hearing on council resolution 0246, approving a contract with Axon Enterprise Inc.

for 150,000 with an in date of 331 2027 to provide an automatic automatic license plate reader recognition ALPR system that includes 50 cameras at the necessary and the necessary hardware, software, and additional equipment citywide.

If there are no objections from members of council, we will recess in top 530.

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.

Hey Denver, here's what's happening around the mile high this week.

The 5280 Jazz Orchestra is Denver's hottest new big band, igniting the scene with electrifying energy and top-tier musicianship.

This powerhouse ensemble was born from their passion for big band jazz and a desire to bring it roaring back to life.

Charlie from Bruised Beers and a representative from So Damn Good a Cheese Shop will walk you through this amazing guided pairing of four bruised beers and four different cheeses.

So damn good will also be bringing extra cheese and accompaniments for you to purchase and take home as well.

Laugh your craft off is a series of craft workshops where you can make things with artists while comedians tell jokes.

Transform simple sheets of metal and strands of colour wire into vibrant handcrafted flower pins.

Brighten up your favorite jacket, spruce up a tote bag, or create a thoughtful gift for a friend.

It's finally here.

The new Denver Summit Football Club's inaugural game is happening at Empower Field.

Tickets at Empower Field are sold out, but there are watch parties all around town where you can help cheer on Denver's newest soccer team.

Step inside Meow Wolf Denver for a one-of-a-kind yoga experience that moves you through the elements.

Earth, water, fire, air, and ether.

This class invites you to ground, flow, ignite, expand, and dissolve into spacious awareness.

Stay up to date with what's happening in Denver by following our socials.

And you can always ask our chat bot Sunny online or by text.

Another thing we see in our daily routine is overflow cardboard boxes or recycling material.

We see bags on the side of the cards, huge piles of boxes along the side of the cart.

Those won't be picked up.

We pick up about 900 to 1200 carts a day.

It slows down the process of us having to get out and break it down.

The City and County of Denver, they allow you an extra recycle part.

Just call 311 and they'll have no problem with getting another card out to you.

So that way you can put all of your recycling and make sure that it goes to the right place.

By bouncing light off of an item, a computer then identifies different types of plastic.

As the material moves down the conveyor line, a small burst of air is directed at the identified plastic to eject it into the proper area.

Clark is our amp robotics robot.

He was the nation's first recycling robot using artificial intelligence to sort materials.

This is an ingenious way to sort all the aluminum cans that pass over the eddy current.

Explore the passes of the cycle of recycling of all these articles in particular.

Typically, the vases of papel don't accept for recycling, because the revestimate plastic that is more resistant and impermeable.

The material plastic is a center for the fibers of paper and fards and transport to the paper.

Genial.

In primary, piensa verde.

Inscreve in our service residencial de recolection semanal de residuos for compostage and permit to recycle and compost our material that produciers.org diagonal recycling.

Are we past tipping points?

That is a very big question.

Because what I see is that humanity, especially right now.

We have been very bad at living within our means.

It doesn't really depend on how much water there is or isn't in Colorado.

Growth is going to continue in the West.

So water for municipal use is much more valuable than water for agricultural use.

I think that's why you're seeing a lot of buy and dry where they're buying up farms and moving that water to the city.

You can support much more humans on an acre foot of water than you can agriculture.

So there's a lot of pressure on agriculture to change and to move.

Because bluegrass uses about the same amount of water as crops.org to learn more and sign up.

Once enrolled, learn how to script, plan, produce, and record your very own podcast.

The knowledgeable staff can help you at any point and offer guidance to make sure you are making professional content.

In fact, I recorded this from inside their studio.

Thanks for watching.

And if there are any city services you want to learn how to take advantage of, leave a comment down below.

Do you live in Denver?

We know you want to stay updated on all the things that make our city great.

Sign up for the Denver Local.

A newsletter with all the info you need from your local government in one place.

Signing up is easy at DenverGov.org slash Denver Local.

You can also follow Elevate Denver for exclusive video content on our YouTube channel.

And broadcast on Denver Channel 8, Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

Connect to your city.

Connect with community with the Denver Local and Elevate Denver.

In Denver, the road most traveled is uh full of potholes.

Fear not worried, traveler.

Denver's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is ready to fix the problem.

To report a pothole, call 311 or go online at PocketGov.org.

Click on the button, report a problem, fill out the quick questionnaire, and within 72 hours, crews will be sent to fix the problem.

Call 311 or go online at PocketGov.org.

Your time is valuable.

That's why we're making it even easier to do business with a city.

Just check out our new online services hub.

One click and you'll find a world of services at your fingertips.

Question about street sweeping?

Check.

Trash collection schedules.

Check.

Report an issue in your neighborhood.

You bet that's a check.

You can even find out where the snow plows are in your area.

So don't spend time searching.

Just check out our one-stop shop at the online services hub at DenverGov.org.

In this episode of How to Denver, we'll show you how to find and enroll in a class at a Denver Recreation Center.

Denver's 30 recreation centers offer a variety of classes and activities for all ages and skill levels, including swim lessons, personal training, and adaptive cooking classes.

To locate a rec center near you, visit DenverGov.org slash recreation.

To start, click on activities.

Make sure you're in the current season.

Then browse the online activity guide for a list of available classes and activities by either location or program area.

Next, head to the online service center and log into your account.

If you don't have an account yet, creating one is quick and easy.

Be sure to check the age restrictions and location.

When you're ready, click enroll and select the participant.

Have your payment information handy as classes fill up quickly.

Thanks for watching.

And if there are any city services you want to learn how to take advantage of, leave a comment down below.

Denver's Hot Crosswalk signals are helping us cross streets more safely.

Just press the button to activate the flashing yellow warning lights so drivers are alerted to slow down and stop.

Giving pedestrians a safe way to cross.

Visit DenverGov.org slash Vision Zero.

On this episode of How to Denver, how to adopt or surrender an animal from the Denver Animal Shelter.

Adopting an animal can be one of the best and happiest decisions you make.

To see a full list of animals available for adoption, visit DenverGov.org slash animal shelter.

Adoptions happen frequently.

So if there's an animal you're interested in, visit the shelter in person to see if that animal is right for you.

When you arrive for a visit, you will need to provide documentation with a current address.

The shelter also recommends a consultation to make sure the animal you're interested in will be a good fit.

Adoption fees include the cost to spay or neuter as well as necessary vaccinations and a one-year pet license.

Both dogs and cats need to be licensed in the city.

Fees vary, and you can check the shelter website for more information.

This page also displays lost pets if you're looking for your fur baby that has gone missing.

If you need to surrender an animal, whether it's your pet and your circumstances have changed, or if you found an animal and you're not sure what to do with it, you can bring it to the shelter any time.

There's also an after hours kennel available that will keep the animals safe until staff arrives in the morning.

Thanks for watching and make sure you subscribe for more how-to videos like this.

And if there are any city services you want to learn how to take advantage of, leave a comment down below.

On this how to Denver, how to sign up for a My Denver card.

A My Denver card is for Denver residents ages 5 to 18 and unlocks a wide range of benefits and features.

More on that in a moment.

But first, getting your hands on a My Denver card is very easy.

You can register online at DenverGov.org slash My Denver Card.

Click Online Service Center and fill out the necessary form.

Cards will not be mailed, so you will need to go into a rec center to pick up the card.

Cards can be picked up at 28 of Denver's 30 rec centers.

Just see someone at the front desk to provide some brief information.

Then after a quick photo, you'll be all set with your new card.

Once you have your card, that's when things get exciting.

The card replaces a library card and can be used to access Idea Labs, get homework assistance, or just check out books at any Denver Public Library branch.

Your My Denver card also gets you access to any Denver Rec Center in addition to a wide range of programs.

Find out more at DenverGov.org slash recreation.

And lastly, show your My Denver card at the zoo, botanic gardens, or any museum for possible discounts, or even free admission.

Restrictions and limitations vary for each site.

Thanks for watching, and make sure you subscribe for more how-to videos like this.

And if there are any city services you want to learn how to take advantage of, leave a comment down below.

Your time is valuable.

That's why we're making it even easier to do business with a city.

Just check out our new online services hub.

One click and you'll find a world of services at your fingertips.

Question about street sweeping?

Check.

Trash collection schedules?

Check.

Report an issue in your neighborhood.

You bet that's a check.

You can even find out where the snow plows are in your area.

So don't spend time searching.

Just check out our one-stop shop at the online services hub at Denvergov.org.

Hey Denver, here's what's happening around the mile high this week.

The 5280 Jazz Orchestra is Denver's hottest new big band, igniting the scene with electrifying energy and top-tier musicianship.

This powerhouse ensemble was born from their passion for big band jazz and a desire to bring it roaring back to life.

Charlie from Bruised Beers and a representative from So Damn Good a Cheese Shop will walk you through this amazing guided pairing of four bruised beers and four different cheeses.

So damn good who will also be bringing extra cheese and accompaniments for you to purchase and take home as well.

Laugh your craft off is a series of craft workshops where you can make things with artists while comedians tell jokes.

Transform simple sheets of metal and strands of colour for wire into vibrant handcrafted flower pins.

Brighten up your favorite jackets, spruce up a tote bag, or create a thoughtful gift for a friend.

Get ready, Denver.

Bowl of Zole returns to celebrate Pazole, classic Mexican cuisine and vibrant top shelf agave spirits.

Get ready to be served up traditional and innovative takes on Pazole and Classic Mexican cuisine from the city's top chefs and restaurants alongside more than 300 vibrant agave spirits.

It's spring break already.

If you don't know what to do with the kids or yourself, check out one of Denver's rec centers.

Sign ups for spring activities are open now.

So learn something new like snowshoeing, climbing, or painting.

There's something for everyone.

It's finally here.

The new Denver Summit Football Club's inaugural game is happening at Empower Field.

Tickets at Empower Field are sold out, but there are watch parties all around town where you can help cheer on Denver's newest soccer team.

Step inside Meow Wolf Denver for a one-of-a-kind yoga experience that moves you through the elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether.

This class invites you to ground, flow, ignite, expand, and dissolve into spacious awareness.

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

Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now.

Are we live?

Sorry.

Hi everyone.

Um caught me off guard.

Council will now reconvene from our uh early.

Would you please read proclamation 0380?

Yes.

A proclamation honoring the Be Well and Wellness Initiative.

Whereas for 23 years, the Be Will Health and Wellness Edition Initiative as an initiative of the Foundation for Sustainable Urban Ace has advanced health equity and community wellness across Denver by addressing the root causes of health disparities, disparities through policy systems change, and built environment strategies.

And whereas B Well has engaged and served more than 50,000 Denver residents through community forums, health and resource, health and resource, share fairs, neighborhood walking optics, policy, work groups, and wellness events designed to increase access to services and amplify resident voice.

And we're asked through cross-sector partnerships with schools, small businesses, health care providers, local nonprofits, and city agencies.

B Well has coordinated impactful community events, connected families to critical resources, including food access, housing supports, and health services, and strengthened collaboration across sectors serving historically under-resourced neighborhoods.

And we'reased B Well has convened policy work groups and trained community leaders and block captains to identify barriers within the built environment and advocate for equitable solutions that improve safety, access, and opportunity.

And whereas the initiative programs, including the Face the Moment and Community Driven Wellness Campaigns, have helped mobilize residents, elevate lived experience, and inform policies that promote long-term neighborhood vitality.

And we're as Bewell Center family centers families, particularly children in historically marginalized communities, recognizing that healthy communities are built not only through programs but through sustained systems change, accountability, and collective responsibility.

And whereas the leadership and staff of BeWell demonstrate a deep commitment to collaboration, transparency, and measurable impact, ensuring that community voice meaningful meaningfully shapes the direction of the work.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council of Section One that the Denver City Council therefore recognizes and honors the Bewell Health and Wellness Initiative for 23 years of advancing health equity and serving more than 50,000 residents across Denver and Section 2, be it further proclaimed that the Denver City Council celebrates Bewell's ongoing commitment to building a Denver where every resident, regardless of zip code, has the opportunity to live in a safe, healthy, and commun safe, healthy and connected community.

Thank you.

Councilmember Lewis, your motion to adopt.

I move that proclamation 230380 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council.

Councilmember Lewis.

Thank you.

I'm excited to see all of you in the audience.

I had the pleasure of working with B Well for quite some time.

I think it's probably over a decade at this point, and you all do incredible work in the community.

It's truly grass route to work that you all do with getting folks of block captains in particular to work on issues that are important for them.

And I just have a deep appreciation for you all and the work that you continue to do and wanted to elevate your name on the work that you all are doing for the rest of the community to be able to know about the work that you are doing across Denver and Aurora, quite frankly.

So thank you all so much for your commitment for pouring into our communities, for loving our communities, for loving our families and for showing up and mining the gap when I know it can sometimes be difficult.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Secretary will call.

Council members Heinz.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Albidares.

Hi.

Flynn.

Gilmore.

Aye.

Gonzalez Cutieres.

Cashman.

Aye.

Lewis.

Hi.

Parity.

Hi.

Romera Campbell.

Aye.

Torres.

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Zandoval.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

12 eyes.

12 ayes, proclamation 080380 has been adopted.

We now have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance.

Councilmember Lewis, who will you be inviting up to accept the proclamation?

I will be inviting all of them up to accept the proclamation, but only one person is speaking, so if you all could come so I can get a key little picture of y'all.

Y'all look good.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Alicia Brown.

I am the senior vice president for the Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities, and I serve as the executive director of the B Well Health and Wellness Initiative.

I am honored today to have received this recognition from Denver City Council.

Thank you so much to Councilwoman Chantel Lewis for always supporting us and for being there for us throughout the good and the bad times as we're advocating and encouraging decisions and opportunities for the communities that we serve, as well as when we're celebrating when those things pass.

I also want to say thank you to Councilwoman Gilmore, who has also worked with us for many, many years as well.

We're in the Northeast Denver area, and we also work in Aurora.

But we're really excited.

You see, here with me today are some of our staff.

Sam Baliriano, who is our policy manager, as well as Shalan Bowens, who is who was formerly a black captain, but was hired by B Well to be a program coordinator for us.

I think Duana Harvell is next to me.

She's our director of special and innovative projects.

Ty Crawford, I'm looking to see who's behind me.

Ty Crawford, who is our director of the B Well Centers, and our Bewell Youth Program, Sharita Hudnell, who is the director of our community engagement and B Well Black Captain program, Rack Crosby, who serves as the chair of our B Well Health and Wellness Initiatives uh advisory board, and um Willie Clark, I'm sorry, who is a block captain for B Well.

Um, and we're really excited that I miss anybody.

We're really excited to be here and to accept this honor on behalf of the B Well Health and Wellness Initiative.

We couldn't do it without leaders like yourselves in our community to listen to us to listen to the residents that are in our communities and to really work hard to serve the community of Denver, uh the city and county of Denver, especially Northeast Denver, where we know that there are uh many opportunities for us to improve and to help our city grow.

So again, I just want to say thank you.

I really appreciate each and every one of you, and I hope that uh to have your continued support as B Well will be becoming its own organization.

We are uh filing to become our own 501c3, and we are excited about it and would love to continue to have your support and to continue to support the city and county of Denver.

Thank you.

Oh, I do.

Hey, thank you.

Yeah.

Um we have one public hearing tonight.

As a reminder, council members need to turn on their video during the vote.

Due to room capacity and to comply with the fire code maximum occupancy requirements.

We respectfully ask that if after you have delivered your remarks, please leave the room in order to allow more participants to enter.

And if you are city staff, you can go into the committee room to make room for all of the people who need to come because we have a huge group of people in the overflow room.

So you can go right next door to committee.

If you're here from the city and county of Denver, I just ask that you go into committee.

Um for those participating in person when called upon, please come to the podium on the presentation monitor on the wall.

You will see your time counting down.

For those participating virtually when called upon, please tell our meeting host speaker.

When you are promoted, please accept the promotion.

Turn on your camera if you have one and your microphone.

All speakers should begin their remarks by telling the council their names and cities of residence, and if they could feel comfortable doing so, their home addresses.

If you have signed up to answer questions only, state your name and note that you are available for questions of council.

Speakers will have three minutes.

There is no yielding of time if translation is needed.

You will be given an additional three minutes for your comments to be interpreted.

Speakers must stay on the topic of the hearing and must direct their comments to council as a whole.

Please refrain from profane or obscene speech and refrain from individual or personal attacks.

Councilmember Flynn, will you please put council resolution 0246 approving a contract with Axon Enterprise Inc.

for 150,000 with an end date of 331 2027 to provide an automatic license plate recognition system that includes 50 cameras and the necessary hardware, software, and additional equipment citywide on the floor for adoption.

Yes, Madam President, I move the council resolution 26.

0246 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded.

The courtesy public hearing for council resolution 0246 is open.

Um we have the staff report and then I'll make the announcement.

Sure.

Okay.

Or do you want to make the announcement first?

I don't know where we had a staff report.

Do you want to hold on, hold on, Tim?

We have an announcement by Councilmember Flynn, and then we'll have the staff report.

I just want to let the public know that uh at the end of the uh at the end of the public hearing when it closes before the debate and the vote that I'm going to delay uh final action on this for one week under rule 3.6.

So everybody's aware of that.

And under rule 3.6, just so the public doesn't know all our council rules.

We don't have to vote on that.

Any council member at any time can enact rule 3.6 on a contract, and it delays the vote for one week from this week to the following week, and anyone, any third any one of us, meaning any 13 of us can enact that rule.

Um now we may we have the staff report.

Yes.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, members of Denver City Council.

My name is Tim Hoffman.

I am in the mayor's office.

I serve as his director of policy.

Uh we are here tonight to be uh discussing the axon license plate reader contract before you.

A couple of let's see.

That's not gonna work.

Okay.

No, it's not a person right there on the floor.

Yeah.

Awesome.

Tim, thank you.

Thanks, Tim.

Okay.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, members of Denver City Council.

As I said, I'm here to give a staff presentation on resolution 260246.

This would be a one-year, 150,000 dollar contract with Axon to provide 50 stationary cameras that would be deployed across the city and county of Denver.

Fifty stationary cameras for reference would be a more than half uh uh size reduction from the current vendor with 11 cameras at over 70 locations.

So one of the things that we have certainly heard from community members around this type of technology is that it constitutes either mass surveillance or the ability to continuously track individuals around the city and county of Denver with 50 cameras that yields less than 20 actual locations spread across the city and county.

Uh those would all be on arterial or main streets, not in any sort of neighborhood streets or other places.

So with less than 20 locations spread across uh spread across the city, it uh the the concern around the ability to continuously track um it's just not something that this uh this number of cameras would allow us to do.

Wanted to explain a little bit uh as to why license plate reader uh cameras in the city and county of Denver matter, what they have yielded in the less than two years that we've had them deployed.

It's helped us recover over 400 stolen vehicles, helped us return those stolen vehicles to individuals of this community who for a number of days or sometimes weeks didn't have access to that mode of transportation.

It's allowed us to get those cars back.

It's allowed us to take over 60 firearms off the street.

It's led to any number of arrests for a range of crimes from motor vehicle theft up to and including homicide.

In 2025 alone, license plate reader technology played a role in over 40 percent of all of the homicides that we saw in the city last year.

That is why this type of technology has become used in cities across the United States.

It's located in New York, it's located in San Francisco, it's located in Los Angeles, it's in Charlotte, it is in thousands of jurisdictions, including almost every single major city across this country.

But we also know that with the current federal administration, concerns that the mayor has that this city council has that members of community have should be addressed, and that's what we have done with this new axon contract.

What we are proposing with this axon contract is one of the most robust contracts in terms of safeguards and guardrails that would exist in any of those cities that exist across this country.

What we heard when we talked to you all as council members, to members of the community, and the concerns that the mayor had were around who has access to this data, how secure is that data, and under what circumstances would that data be shared with outside parties.

And what we have tried to do with this contract, and what I believe, and what the mayor believes we have done is to address those major concerns that we've heard over the last year.

First and foremost, access to the axon license plate information is going to be limited to Denver safety personnel only.

There isn't a national lookup feature.

There's not a pooled or shared network where this data will exist.

It will just be Denver police and other safety personnel who have the ability to access it.

There are explicit provisions across the contract that make it clear that Denver owns and controls its own data.

That means no AI training using Denver's data.

That means no selling or transferring of this data to any third party, period.

In the event that there was a subpoena or a legal warrant issued, the company has made it clear and it's also spelled out in explicit detail in the contract that they would refer that subpoena or legal demand to the city so that we could fight it if it was against something that the city stands for.

Axon of the vendors who applied for this contract has the highest level data security that exists.

It's called FedRAMPI.

That's the same type of level, that's the same level of security that is used to store some of our most sensitive healthcare information.

We have also reduced the retention policy from 30 days to 21 days.

That was a uh a direct reflection of some of the things that the mayor heard from community members from members of this council from the surveillance technology task force.

There is a very robust logging and auditing of all of the searches that take place.

Our Denver Police Department in conjunction with the City Attorney's Office and Technology Services will do regular checks to make sure that this data is being used properly.

I already mentioned that there's no AI training or use of our data, period, full stop.

There will be no material update done to this system by Axon as a company that we don't get to vet in advance and either sign off on or not.

There's also a rapid notification of any breach of the system that were to occur.

It's a lengthy contract that we have provided you.

I appreciate the time and the manner in which you all have approached reviewing that contract, asking the questions in several of the committees.

This is a contentious issue, and there are any number of people sitting at the dais sitting in this room today who have strong opinions one way or the other on this technology.

And we and the mayor appreciate and hear those concerns.

And we aren't in the world that we were in a year ago.

We aren't even the world we were in a couple of months ago in terms of what we've seen out of this federal government, and some of the terrifying things that they have done across this country.

What we have done with this contract is try to balance the very real benefit to public safety that it provides with the very legitimate privacy and civil liberty considerations that the mayor shares, that you all as members of council share, and that these community members have shared.

So whether or not you at the DIES or the folks here today agree or disagree with this exact proposal, what we have attempted to do, what has been the guiding light for the mayor and his administration throughout this entire process is to make sure that we yes get to take advantage of this tool, which has helped us reduce crime in Denver, and making sure that we have robust safeguards and guardrails in place so that some of the concerns that have been raised by this council by the community aren't realized.

Thank you.

What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna call the five first speakers up.

So if we have anyone in the overflow room, they can come in and speak.

David Power, and Dr.

Lisa Calgaron.

First up, Don.

Yes, sir.

Go ahead.

Thanks for lending speak about this.

Um I live my name is Don Ku and I live uh in downtown Denver, and I just wanted to express my support uh for the Axon contract.

Um as Tim mentioned, uh I do believe it's been helpful in solving a number of crimes.

And my my understanding is that you know ALPRs have been used in all 25 of the top 25 largest cities across the U.S., as well as all 25 of the safest cities across the U.S.

So it seems like a solution like this would be a win for Denver.

Um, and um I hope you uh approve the contract.

Thank you.

Next step from Katie Leonard.

My name is Katie Leonard.

Uh I was born and raised here in this beautiful city, and I am urging you all to vote no on the Axon contract.

Uh the mayor has not engaged his constituents, community organizations, or even his own surveillance task force in the development of this contract.

I need you all to sit with the gravity of what you're being asked to vote on.

We're not talking about uh super safe, super research technology.

We're here talking about a technology that even Axon's own AI ethics board has said is not sufficiently regulated to protect people's constitutional rights.

Any argument, and there have been many from the mayor's office and DPD, any argument based on selective anecdotal stories about what ALPR cameras have helped is a MAGA-esque non-sequitur.

These anecdotes are dangerous and illogical.

There's a 4% chance that ALPRs will help someone get a stolen car back in Denver, we know that.

And a hundred percent chance that ALPRs will degrade all of our constitutional rights, which makes all of us less safe in one of the most fundamental ways possible, especially under the current administration.

Mayor Johnson is trying to convince you that our data will be safe with Axon, which is just wrong and quite frankly, out of touch.

The Trump administration has shown us time and time again that if this surveillance data exists, they will do everything in their power to get it.

And Axon and the Trump administration are buddy buddy.

Axon is making record profits from Trump's mass terror campaign on immigrants right now.

They actually have a wing of their company called DHS program and strategy, and they hired former ICE Director Vonald Vitiello to run it.

Do you all really think our data will be safe with a company that hired a former ICE director as an executive?

The people of Denver are not stupid.

We learn and we don't forget.

The flaw contract fiasco made it clear that Mayor Johnston is not showing up or working for the people of Denver.

Tonight, you all have the opportunity to show us if you, like the mayor, are henchmen for multi-billion dollar corporations like Axon, or if you will be resolute, thorough, and fight for your constituents when it matters most.

I'll close with this.

This isn't just about ALPR cameras or data sharing.

If we allow these conversations to be isolated and constrained to talking about individual contracts or single technologies, we will miss the forest for the trees.

We will be fast-tracked to a future where we're all living in an AI-powered police state facilitated by a private multi-billion dollar company.

We have to look at the big picture.

We have to put our foot down and get real regulation in place to protect what semblance of democratic freedoms we have left.

For immigrants, for trans people, for women seeking reproductive care, for people of color, for the protection of all of your constituents' constitutional rights, vote no on the Axon contract.

Thank you.

We know if Dave's in the overflow room.

We only have an hour, so if you speak and you could step out and go watch the rest in the overflow room, I I can't expect I literally only have an hour.

So me doing this, I'll I waste time.

So I'm trying to be as efficient as possible.

I'll call Dave Wasserman one more time.

Because we can't, we can only have so many people in here according to our rules, um, our uh fire code.

Next up we have David Howard.

Thank you.

I'm here today to represent the regular citizens of Denver, the people who want to live in a safe and clean neighborhood.

I'm outnumbered in this building today, being in favor of the contract, but probably not in the city.

Uh the one of the primary jobs of city government is to protect our rights to freedom and prosperity, and when somebody infringes on those rights, the city needs to enforce the law.

And when somebody infringes on those rights, the city needs to enforce the law.

When perpetrators go unpunished, then Denverites continue to be victims.

The ALPRs are very effective.

You've heard some of that testimony already.

You'll hear a little bit more.

Behind the statistics, you've heard are actual human beings who have already suffered.

Of the 38 murders in Denver last year, 12 didn't even involve cars.

And of the ones that did, uh, the ALPRs provided vital evidence in 16 of them.

That's pretty good.

Uh they were also used to convict a serial rapist and solve violent road rage murders.

Yes, they help after the crime is committed, but each time an ALPR is used to apprehend a suspect, we're preventing the next crime.

We're protecting the future victims whom these perpetrators would have attacked next.

This is especially true with auto theft.

Car thieves are rarely one-time offenders, they're serial thieves, and the ALPR system has been instrumental in getting victims of stolen cars their vehicles back faster.

When a vehicle is stolen, a regular citizen loses his lifeline to get to work.

By identifying and arresting these people quickly, we prevent other Denver families from losing their transportation and their financial stability.

The loss of the system would be a major reduction in Denver's ability to bring justice to those who have suffered and to protect those who haven't been targeted yet.

Dropping from 110 cameras down to only 50 is already a setback.

To drop to zero would be a failure of our duty as uh as a city to public safety.

The mayor and the police put the proper privacy procedures in place.

Uh, please heed their requests and the requests of the district attorney and the uh mayors of the 25 safest cities and the mayors of the 25 largest cities and approve the axon contract.

Thank you.

Is Dave Wasserman here?

No.

Dr.

Lisa Calderon.

Good evening, Council.

I'm Dr.

Lisa Calderon, and I'm here to urge you to vote no on the Axon contract.

Before you vote on this company with public tax dollars, you really should know who Axon really is and what they funded.

Axon was formerly known as Taser International.

They changed their name in 2017, not because they changed their values, but because, as their own CEO admitted, the Taser name was distracting from their effort to sell body cams and data collection services to police departments.

A rebrand does not erase a record.

Here's their record.

Axon, when it was taser, became one of the primary corporate forces behind the spread of a diagnosis called excited delirium.

This term was invented in the 1980s by a forensic pathologist named Charles Wetley, who used it to explain the deaths of black women in Miami who are later discovered to be victims of a serial killer.

Taser International, now Axon, took that theory and industrialized it.

They funded research, they distributed literature, they paid for books promoting the diagnosis.

They trained police departments across the country to use this language.

They embedded it into medical examiner reports and courtrooms as a shield against accountability when people died after being tased or restrained.

The result in the murders of both George Floyd and Elijah McLean.

Police used excited delirium in their defense to justify their murders.

It is invoked disproportionately in the deaths of young black men.

It attributes death not to police use of force, but to the victim's own body, a racist legacy of slavery.

Numerous medical associations have all disavowed it.

Physicians for human rights called it racist pseudoscience built on tropes of black people having superhuman strength and being impervious to pain.

Axon knew this history and they amplified it anyway.

Because it protected their product from liability every time someone died after being tased.

Now they want a contract from the city and county of Denver to put their technology throughout our streets, our streets.

Awarding this contract would contradict those commitments.

Thank you.

Tony Frey, Marilyn Ackerman, Sally Jones, Dana Miller, and Craig Arstan.

First step, Tony.

Council, we do this evening.

Thank you for putting this public speaking opportunity together for all of us here.

And I'll add that our city council local city council office in the mayor's outreach office does a fantastic job of keeping a pulse of uh with the with the uh what is on top of mind for the community, uh including hot topics like this one uh related to the axon license plate reader contract, which um I I would try to persuade you to be in support of.

Um so I align with the concerns raised by other Denverites about privacy um and and some of the notes about um the technology as it relates to public safety.

Um this contract, as I understand, has clear language that Denver owns its own data, that there are strict prohibitions against the data being accessed outside of Denver, that there are prohibitions of the use of uh AI, that there's no salary transfer of this data.

Um, there's requirements by the city to review and approve or not of any new big changes related to this system.

Um APLR technology has provided evidence and helped us recover over 400 vehicles and 63 firearms.

It's also provided evidence of nearly 40 percent of homicides investigations in 2025 alone.

So I believe that there are robust safeguards for this technology.

I believe it adds value to the city from a safety perspective, and uh I I support the the moving forward of the Axon contract, and I hope you do as well.

Thank you so much.

Next up we have Marilyn Ackermann, good evening, President Sandoval and City Council members.

Thank you for this public testimony time.

My name is Marilyn Ackerman.

I am a member of Montview Presbyterian Church and Together, Colorado, Denver Chapter.

I live in Central Park, Council District 8.

Mayor Johnston and President Sandoval had the painful job of canceling our Cesar Chavez parade, holiday, and anything associated with his name here in Denver last week.

I applaud them for pivoting to celebrating the Chicano and Latino organizers in the struggle by renaming the day, C Seipuera Day, yes we can, and Cisepura on so many things, like pausing this Axon contract.

The mayor's own surveillance task force should have time to review the new contract and provide critical expert input.

The rush timing of this contract shuts out the community oversights that the mayor committed to on this most important issue.

It would be another mistake on the mayor's part without the community input we were all promised when he became mayor.

Because of this, together, Colorado signed the task force and community organizations letter this morning to ask you to vote no tonight.

I understand you won't be voting tonight, but we still want you to listen and pause.

Pause any surveillance contracts until your questions and concerns are addressed, and there is a comprehensive policy about surveillance in Denver that is rooted in accountability and transparency.

Yes, we can.

You've heard our public safety vision statement from Together Colorado many times.

It applies here tonight.

As people of faith, we believe community is built on relationships of mutual respect, love, understanding, compassion, honesty, and justice.

We believe that safe communities are communities in which we take care of each other, value knowing and trusting one another, and share a common understanding that we need each other.

Because we need to take care of each other, we cannot trust these large for-profit corporations to keep our data safe.

The technology is far ahead of the human safeguards that we want to believe in.

See pure.

We must protect those who are afraid to voice their concerns here tonight in public.

As a white privileged, retired person of faith who has housed and protected two asylum-seeking immigrants in my home.

I am called to be this voice of caution in front of this body tonight.

CC Pueda, yes, we can.

Take a breath.

Turn off the flock cameras March 31st 1st, hood them until they are removed immediately.

Then City Council, wait for the surveillance task force members to create a surveillance policy that answers our questions and provides guardrails.

Pause, vote no, yes, we can.

Hello, my name is Sally Jones, and I'm a 56-year-long resident of District 2.

I'm a private person.

I don't like having my picture taken in public places.

I try not to get my photo shown on any online sites, and I'm not too crazy about testifying here today, knowing that a camera is filming me.

But the reality is that we don't live in a society today where privacy is much of an option.

I'm on camera paying for groceries at the checkout lane.

Our local King Supers has a big camera in the parking lot.

I'm sure there are cameras at every bank or ATM.

I'm sure I was filmed coming into this building today.

Most large buildings do the same.

Many shops use cameras as deterrence from robbery.

When I go to classes at Metro State University, I am filmed and must submit an ID at every door on campus.

The neighbor behind me has three cameras.

One is at the front door to protect the grandma in the family who speaks no English.

Another one tracks the raccoons who are intent on destroying their fish pond.

The third just views the neighborhood.

How many of you have your location service turned on and active on the phone that you carry everywhere?

Someone or something knows where you are at every moment.

I can't even back out of my driveway without another neighbor filming me on the camera they installed.

So you might think that I'm against Axon and their license plate reader system, but you'd be wrong.

I am for it because it's just a tool.

Now I'm sure I was not allowed to bring a hammer into these proceedings, so I brought you a picture.

A hammer is a tool in the hands of a competent carpenter, it is valuable.

In my hands, not so much.

In the hands of a crazed or enraged person, it becomes a lethal weapon, but it's still just a tool.

The same can be said of Axon system.

It's a tool.

It's your job to make sure it's a valuable one.

From what I've read, they've designed the system to counteract the abuses that you're concerned about.

That said, the use of the license plate reader system has proven to be a benefit to Denver police in locating hundreds of stolen vehicles and others used in committing other crimes.

So I sure, so I say, make sure it's a valuable tool and a useful tool.

And let's give it a try.

Thank you.

Next up we have Dana Miller, followed by Craigston.

Hello, everybody.

My name is Dana Miller, and I am the co-lead of Denver's immigrant partnership team.

And I would like to pull back about 30,000 feet so that we can look at the bigger picture of what mass surveillance is actually doing to our mental health in this country.

When I was considering what to say today, I found myself curious as to what emotional and psychological effects mass surveillance have on the general public.

One is about heightened anxiety.

The awareness of being under surveillance can induce heightened anxiety in individuals.

The constant knowledge that their actions, like Sally was talking about, whether in public or private settings, are subject to scrutiny, can lead to a pervasive sense of vulnerability.

People may feel exposed, self-conscious, fearing that their behavior is being observed and evaluated.

It may make individuals increasingly guarded and making it difficult for them to relax and be themselves.

Over time, the sustained anxiety can lead to stress and negatively impact overall mental well-being.

Individuals may be concerned that the data collected or monitoring conducted by these technologies might be exploited for purposes beyond security, such as unauthorized surveillance, data breaches, or privacy infringements.

This fear of misuse can generate a constant sense of disease, disease, of unease, and with individuals worrying about potential negative consequences.

The perfect birth, pervasive fear of misuse can erode trust in institutions, as we have seen in this country, and technology providers, as we see this evening with Axon, leading to a heightened state of anxiety about the impact of security measures on one's personal lives and freedom.

This is a much bigger issue than just this one contract.

But we need to consider the public's emotional and psychological health when making this decision.

Thank you.

How do you pronounce your last name?

Like a dog or Park.

Well, thank you, Council, for allowing me to speak today.

I won't lie to you, I feel anxious, but I think sometimes it's good to feel anxious because you actually try and do something good.

So once again, my name is Craig Arvson from Denver, City Council District 7.

And I stand before you today in strong support of the Axon contract for license plate readers.

Denver does not have a surveillance problem.

Denver has a crime problem.

Our city ranks among the highest in the nation for violent crime and property crime.

Even with recent progress, Denver leads Colorado and remains far above the national average.

Automated license plate readers work.

They've helped recover hundreds of stolen vehicles, solve homicides, supported the very drop in crime that we're seeing today.

We cannot dismantle a proven tool while the problem still persists.

I support this contract with Axon.

They already deliver our trusted body worn cameras, and this system brings stronger local controls and privacy protection than before.

But 50 cameras is not enough.

We must approve the contract today and immediately commit to restoring the full coverage to 112 cameras.

For the Denver residents who are not in this room and share a common goal, a city where we can live, work, and raise our families without the constant threat of crime hanging over us.

I urge your full approval of the Axon contract and a clear plan to scale back up to 112 cameras.

Denver does not have a surveillance problem.

Denver has a crime problem.

Let's give our police the technology they need to solve it.

Thank you very much.

Next up we have Nate Cass Cassa.

Hello, council.

My name is Nate Casa.

I grew up and work in the East Colfax neighborhood, a neighborhood home to many immigrants like myself and one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city of Denver.

I also work for the East Quefax Community Collective.

Throughout the city's relationship with Flock, we have seen a thorough disregard and lack of consideration for our constitutional rights and the risks surveillance technology poses to residents of Denver, especially immigrants in the context of the Trump administration.

And while we are glad Flock cameras will no longer be in our communities, we cannot afford to go into a contract with another private company and risk jeopardizing our rights.

And that's why I believe council should vote no on this contract.

And I want to encourage you all to think farther than that and to fight deeply for needed protections against mass surveillance in the city of Denver.

We need you all to be bold.

We need you all to be innovative and to meet the moment because right now immigrants and non-immigrants alike are being hunted, and the Trump administration and any future administration will utilize the technology we have to hunt people down.

And while the mayor clearly doesn't care about the opinions of the people of Denver, even asking you all two weeks ago to vote on a contract you didn't have in front of you.

We need you all to be our champions.

And so I'm asking you to be bold and vote no against this Exxon contract.

Thank you.

We have Christina Eisenstein.

And then Kristen Saidal, Seamus J, Lillian House, and Rob Collins.

All right, I'll go to Kristen Saido.

Saido.

Okay.

Thank you.

Hello, my name's Kristen Seidel.

I'm a district six resident and here representing TOCA, Colorado.

I'm in here to ask for a NOVO on the Axon contract.

I'm a member of the city surveillance flock task force and have several concerns about this contract.

The first is how the task force has never issued an official recommendation regarding ALPRs or any surveillance technology.

The administration, however, moved forward with a contract they claim has addressed our concerns.

Putting into question whether the city is acting in good faith or simply trying to spin a story for the press.

Now that I have had time to review parts of the contract, I'm not confident it will protect us.

Axon said in the committee hearing their goal is to do everything that Flock did, plus have all of their surveillance technologies on the dashboard where they can work together, giving DPD much deeper surveillance capabilities and a higher chance of Fourth Amendment violations.

Additionally, in section 31 of the body of the agreement, you will see the order of precedence.

Most of the contract provisions trying to address our concerns are in exhibit C.

Unfortunately, the body of the agreement will supersede any conflicting information in exhibit C.

The only way to supersede the body of agreement is with actual laws of protection.

I was relieved to hear Mr.

Hoffman say on Friday, the mayor has agreed to do whatever the council decides, dis regardless of the contract size.

Until our laws catch up with technology, it is nothing short of irresponsible to approve this contract.

As Axon has said, they are continuing to evolve what they are offering and how it will be implemented.

We learned anything in the past year, diving into Flock ALPRs and surveillance technologies.

It's that we must have guardrails in place to protect all Denver residents.

We must be planning around what technology can do today and tomorrow.

And why, and that is why Toka is asking for three things.

One, stop bag and remove all flat cameras immediately.

They have proven they cannot be trusted.

Two, vote no on today's contract.

And three, has a comprehensive surveillance technology ordinance that will put Denver residents first.

With an authoritarian national government, anything less is putting our people at risk.

Once you have protective ordinance in place, you can revisit the ALPR contract responsibly.

Thank you.

Next up we have Seamus J.

Uh good evening, Council members.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

My name is Seamus, and I'm here to urge yes, uh vote yes on Denver's Axon License Plate Reader contract.

On September 17th, 1984, eight-year-old Vicky Lynn Hoskin disappeared in Tucson.

That same day, a teacher named Sam Hall noticed something off.

A dark Dawson 280Z with California plates near her school.

It stood out enough that he wrote down the exact license plate.

That plate was known from the very beginning of the crime all the way into the end.

But Vicky did not come home alive.

Her remains were later found in the desert months later.

Having a license plate written down is not the same as knowing where that vehicle went and where it's going next.

The DOJ has reported that when children are killed by their abductors, 74% are killed within three hours and 99% within 24 hours.

In cases like that, minutes matters the difference between life and death.

An example of that here in Colorado earlier this year, a two-year-old was taken in a stolen car.

Police use license plate readers to see where that vehicle had just been, and he was returned to his family within two hours.

This doesn't just apply to kidnappings.

When someone is shot and the suspect drives away, investigators need to know and figure out where the cars were in that area and where they went.

This is not a partisan issue either.

New York City this year, after explosive devices were thrown near the mayor's mansion, investigators used license plate readers to track the suspects entering the city and found them that same day.

In terms of immigration concerns, this system is not accessible to ICE.

Devra controls the data.

And yes, Axon sells equipment like body cameras and tasers to many agencies, including ICE, but that does not mean those agencies have access to Denver's data.

That would be like saying if you buy AirPods from Apple and I have an iPhone, you can somehow see the photos on my phone.

It's stupid.

That's not how these systems work.

I'll finish with this.

If the answer is no to this, then what's the alternative?

Because these crimes don't stop, and more importantly, they don't get easier to solve just because this technology isn't used.

Cars are still used in shootings, cars are still involved in kidnappings, and roughly 50 to 80% of violent crimes, a vehicle plays a role at some point in the investigation.

People will still use cars and crimes tomorrow.

The day after that, suspect will still flee.

So if this goes away, something has to replace it.

Because any officer or prosecutor will tell you being able to track where a person's vehicle was and is the fastest way to build a case and find the person responsible.

If we remove that, we are making these cases harder to solve.

If there's a better solution, I haven't heard it yet from anyone.

This technology has already been recovered and firearms as contributed to hundreds of arrests, including serious crimes like shootings and homicides.

So this is really comes down to a simple question.

Are we willing to give Denver law enforcement a tool to act when it matters most?

Because when someone is killed on a street in this city, their family doesn't matter about politics.

They care about whether Denver can find the person who do it.

And sometimes the only lead is a car.

Please vote yes for Denver.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up we have Lillian House, followed by Rob Collins, followed by Miriam Osman.

Well, good evening, Council.

My name is Lillian House.

I'm a Denver resident, and I'm here to urge you to vote no.

Um, I think that everybody here today and everybody in this city does care about safety.

There's no one who doesn't care about the safety of their neighborhoods.

But that's really not what this is about.

And I find it really offensive to be invoking these very superficial narratives about safety to justify expanding the surveillance of Denver residents in ways that are deeply and legitimately concerningly invasive, constitutionally questionable, and actually proven to be ineffective.

ALPRs are literally the definition of mass surveillance.

I don't know how else you could characterize indiscriminately collecting, storing, processing through AI vast amounts of data on ordinary people, totally independent of anything that they have done.

And as more of your constituents have learned about what this technology actually does and how it actually works and who can actually access it and how easily it can be misused, the concern and the outrage have grown in proportion.

And I want to point out I understand the approach of alternating a for and against, a for and against, but that's actually not representative of the people who came to voice an opinion on this matter.

And in fact, there's an overflow room upstairs that is packed with people who came out because they are very concerned and they don't want to see this contract passed, and this process doesn't actually reflect that.

And I I'm really confident that actually the concern and outrage about this matter would grow in direct proportion to how well your constituents understood this technology.

And I know one thing, which is that you all have all of the information to understand exactly what this contract is and exactly why your constituents have legitimate concerns that you should be considering.

And I want to ask you are you the types of politicians that get by by taking advantage of the gaps of knowledge of your constituents?

Do you want to be the types of politicians that take advantage with easy narratives, with scary narratives, taking advantage of people's actual concerns about themselves and their families to push through things that you know are deeply dangerous and invasive because I think that people in Denver, like people all over this country, are really really fed up with that kind of politician.

We want people who actually represent the interests of their constituents, not the corporations, not big tech, not the cops, not the mayor, your constituents.

Thank you.

Yes, thank you for allowing me to speak tonight.

I appreciate the opportunity.

My name is Rob Collins.

I live in council district two, and I urge you to vote in favor of this contract.

I believe that public public safety outweighs all the privacy concerns, only from the standpoint that we already live in a very surveilled society.

Your phone tracks you, your car tracks you, you go through as already stated by a previous speaker.

We have numerous ways every single day that we're seen on video and audio and tracked.

This does not, in my opinion, impact those things.

We already have it.

Let's go ahead and get this axon so that we can, in fact, increase public safety to the point that the people are safe, that crime is seduced, reduced, and so that we can in fact be a safe society, even though we are all the time surveilled.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And I'll just make an announcement.

If you've spoken and you could leave so that people in the overflow room can come in, that'd be appreciated.

Miriam Osman, followed by Derek Friedman.

Good evening.

My name is Mary Mosman.

I'm a Denver resident, and I'm a policy analyst at Upturn, a national tech policy and civil rights nonprofit.

I urge city council to vote no on the Axon contract.

At work at Upturn, we've raised serious concerns about Axon and other mass surveillance companies for over a decade.

And as a researcher in the technology and civil rights field, my conclusion is that the only responsible approach to technologies like ALPRs is to not use them at all.

I want to outline five reasons why.

First, claims that ALPRs reduce crime and increase safety are dubious at best.

In my professional experience, there's little little empirical research that suggests that ALPRs actually reduce crime.

Most so called evidence that's produced comes from industry funded studies.

But we do have plenty of empirical evidence that shows that investment in education, housing, and jobs reduces crimes, not mass surveillance.

Second, we have empirical evidence that ALPRs often make mistakes with devastating consequences that endanger people's lives, such as a recent case where a man was wrongly pulled over and mauled by a police dog.

Humans make errors too, but research shows that people are less likely to second guess algorithmic decisions.

This is a phenomenon we call automation bias.

My point is not that ALPRs need to be more accurate before we use them, but that we should stop using them entirely.

Because accuracy and safety are not what they're actually built for.

They're built for mass surveillance and data collection.

ALPRs are not neutral tools, but like other technologies, reflect the biases and errors of the people who produce and use them.

Third, ALPRs have dubious legality when it comes to the Fourth Amendment.

And our regulations and policy landscape lag far behind our technological capabilities.

Furthermore, corporate interests thwart regulation whenever possible.

Fourth, no matter what Axon claims, there is no way to ensure that our data will be protected from misuse.

State auditors in both California and Vermont found that law enforcement were using ALPRs in ways that violated state law.

And we have no way of being certain that Axon will not share data with federal agencies in the future.

The best solution to this problem, again, is to stop the data from being collected to begin with.

And the final reason I will give is that we must stop the terrifying escalation and normalization of mass surveillance in our country.

Because the reality is that once these technologies are in place, there is no going back.

They enable repressive, violent policies that threaten our lives and our rights.

Thank you.

Next up, we have Derek Friedman, followed by Alfonso Espino.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of license plate readers and Denver's continued investment in this very important technology.

I own uh four stores in Denver, districts 10 and 3.

Um incidents of theft and extreme violent crimes in these stores give me direct experience to speak on this topic.

In the aftermath of all the crimes against my stores and employees, we always give police as much evidence of the crime as possible.

We believe the more evidence they have, the higher probability they will find and apprehend the criminals, hopefully reducing the potential that they will inflict harm on others in the Denver community.

The reality is that lives are at stake with this decision.

This is why investing in the technology is so important.

I'm gonna give you a real life story that happened in one of my stores a couple years ago.

Just after 1030 in the morning, a par a car parks directly in front of the store and two men get out.

The men enter the store, one stops just inside the door to guard it.

The other pulls a gun from underneath his coat and points it at the employee standing by in the counter.

He demands all the money in the register.

As the employees taking the money out from the register, the man shouts at him repeatedly points the gun at him and points the gun at other customers in the store.

Once he gets the money, his partner runs out to start the car, and unfortunately, the store manager comes from the warehouse in the back, sees the gunman, and they begin to struggle over the gun.

The criminal fires multiple shots as he breaks away and runs to the car, they speed away.

Now there are two attempted burers that are driving around Denver streets.

Where did they go?

I stand in support of prioritizing the safety and welfare of Denver citizens and visitors by giving law enforcement more than the guys that just shot my employee went south.

Let's give DPD access to technology that can help them quickly find track and remove the threat of violent criminals from our streets.

While I appreciate the concerns of folks that oppose the proposal, it's clear that the rules and firewalls around the reader technology are more than sufficient to eliminate the possibilities of misuse.

I appreciate you giving me the chance to share one of many examples that I have in support of giving law enforcement access to this life-saving technology.

I hope you vote yes next week.

Thank you.

Next up, Alfonso Espino, followed by Sarah Martinez.

Hello, good afternoon, Council members.

My name is Alfonso Espino.

I live right off of 44th in Josephine, Swantia neighborhood in uh District 9.

And I'm here.

Many of you know me for my work in the community with the GES coalition, who I'm proud to say has signed on to the letter that you received today.

Um, but one thing that I wanted to kind of pick up off of that a previous speaker talked about was giving the police tools.

That it's all about the tools, and it's not just about the tools, it's about who's wielding it.

I know exactly who's wielding these tools.

When I was in middle school, I made the mistake of tagging something in my middle school hallway, and another tool that they probably justified in a room just like this at some point before in my life, they came up with a Denver gang book.

I've been in that gang book ever since middle school.

That means every single traffic stop, two cops.

Double the resources, automatically.

It means that these sort of license plate readers.

What is it produced, right?

Because some of the information going into it is always subjective.

And I don't trust the people that are wielding these tools because it's not just about the local police forces.

We know about the federal administration and its racist, violent actions towards people that look like me, that talk like me, that are from the same places as me.

And I can't comprehend how people can still come up here and give anecdotal evidence about how you know we should be alright.

I should be okay with having my constitutional rights violated to make them feel better.

How is that any form of justice?

And I really hope that you all, if you haven't picked up on it yet, vote no on this contract because there's so many good reasons too, but you really don't need a whole lot.

It's unconstitutional.

Somebody who's talking about how we're already surveilled, if the if the cops pull me over and they want my phone, they need a warrant.

They don't need that to access that information on these automatic license plate readers.

They don't.

And we know that these big tech companies are working with the Trump administration.

That they have subscription models, because all that data's private.

And it's living in this space, this gray area where even though they're in public streets, public roads, public money, that data is private.

They could sell that data.

They don't need a contract or have it written into contracts with the city.

They can do that.

Because they're a private corporation, it's their private data that they're collecting using public tax dollars that they don't need to respect my constitutional rights to do.

The last thing that I want to just uplift while I'm up here is some of you are aware about the data center going up in Elyria, a block away from my childhood home.

They have gone to a lot of these meetings and told you that we need these data centers because we use Netflix, we use Facebook, you have a cloud.

They need it for this sort of surveillance model.

That's where they need thousands and millions of gigabytes of data to be stored to police the same communities that they're putting that shit in.

Thank you.

Next up, we have Sari Martinez.

Next up, we have Jesus Laesa.

Thank you.

Followed by Robin Ingle.

Okay.

Hello, my name is Jesus Loisa.

I'm a father, a husband, a public defender in Denver, and a union member of CWA 7799.

I'm here in opposition to the mayor's proposal to replace one mass surveillance system with another.

As we slow walk into a highly advanced police state, now is not the time to go with the devil that you know.

As you know, Axon currently holds the contracts for DPD's body worn cameras and tasers.

Now is the time to side with community and outright reject all devils, all surveillance systems that do not keep us safe.

Meeting our basic needs keeps us safe.

24-7 eyeballs in the sky do not feed us, they do not warm us on a cold night, nor cool us on a hot afternoon.

They do not house our neighbors nor provide care for our young and elders.

These cameras are not designed to deploy teams of city staff dedicated to meet the needs of the vulnerable and hungry.

These cameras are deployed to surveil and catalog data on all of us without our consent for the purpose of prosecution.

Mass surveillance for mass imprisonment.

Day after day we hear more and more misuse of ALPR cameras contributing faulty evidence for criminal investigations.

September 27th, 2025, Columbine Valley Police Department near Littleton threatened Chrisana Elsner with arrest on the charges of theft.

Elsner was eventually served as summons and needed to prove her innocence before a Jefferson County judge, as opposed to being given the presumption of innocence as the Fifth Amendment due process clause entails.

As far back as 2020, Brittany Gillam and her children were held at gunpoint when ALPRs mistook her motorcycle as stolen.

When we have hundreds of hungry neighbors outside this very building tonight, when the city just fired 169 workers in the past year, when the state is facing yet another billion dollar sized hole in its budget for a second year in a row, when our outgoing governor is advocating for the immediate construction of one to two prisons, and when our sitting president is threatening to deploy ice to polls uh in November.

It is morally reprehensible to spend nearly another half million dollars on an all-seeing Fourth Amendment violating eye in the sky that no one asked for.

I urge council uh no vote on resolution 260246.

Virtual Robin.

Can you hear me okay?

Yes, we can.

Please go ahead.

Very good.

Thank you.

My name is Dr.

Robin Engel.

Uh, I live in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I'm a senior research scientist with the Ohio State University.

I also served as the former vice president for safety and reform at the University of Cincinnati.

And I've spent three decades of my career uh working with law enforcement and communities across the country.

And I work specifically in evidence-based policing, police reform, reducing police use of force, reducing violence in our communities.

And I led the research team that brought PI place network investigations to Denver in 2021 that's working to reduce crime in your neighborhoods.

I agree these are complicated times for public safety officials, for political leaders, and for community members.

There are risks to both public safety and privacy and civil rights.

And these these risks are real and they're consequential.

And we all recognize that technology is advancing rapidly and that we must ensure that there are safeguards around its use.

I have witnessed examples across the country, including in Denver, where the consequences were when technology was poorly regulated.

But I also recognize that some law enforcement technology companies have demonstrated they do not deserve our trust.

But from my perspective, having said all of that, and again, my perspective is indeed as an outsider in your community, but I'm also a neutral independent researcher and observer, and I have no relationship with Flock or Axon or any of the other vendors in this space.

From my perspective, after reviewing the current contract under discussion, I found it to be especially strong, carefully threading the needle between the ambitious goals of improving public safety while also protecting the collection, storage, sharing, and use of surveillance technology.

Listen, communities can't avoid the proliferation of technology, and they shouldn't.

Empirical independent research has been conducted by the academic community.

It's demonstrated that APLRs have important public safety benefits, including improving uh criminal suspect apprehension and arrest, improving clearance rates, efficiencies in investigatory functions.

And we know that the majority, the vast majority of large law enforcement agencies use this technology, and even the small and mid-sized agencies use this technology.

Axon is not new to the public safety space, and they are actually a strong and reputable company.

They are best known for the use of tasers, which by the way, research has shown that tasers have significantly reduced officer-involved shootings, killings, and reduced both subject and officer injuries, and body worn cameras, which have added an incredible level of accountability and transparency to policing.

They're currently working on what they call the moonshot goal, 50 and 10 to cut gun-related deaths between police and the public by 50% in 10 years.

So the current contract under consideration has robust protections in place, some of the most robust protections I've ever seen.

The contract, I believe, is very important.

Very much, Robin, that's your time.

Next up, we ashua Mitchell, and just want to make a public announcement.

We have about 11 minutes left within the hour for the public testimony.

Joshua Mitchell.

Maria, are you online?

Hello.

Go ahead.

Go ahead.

Hi, thank you, President Sandoval, the members of City Council.

Um, my name is Maria Alicia.

Um, I'm here today to respectfully urge you to approve the Axon contract.

I'm a Denver resident, a grandmother, the founder of the South Broadway Business Association, and someone who cares deeply about the future of our city.

I'm also speaking for many residents who are not in this room, but who want the same thing.

A Denver where people can live, work, and raise families safely.

As a proud member of Denver's Latino community, I want to address something directly.

Too often, Latinos are portrayed as communities hiding in fear of immigration enforcement.

That stereotype is wrong.

The reality is that many of us are business owners, workers, parents, and taxpayers contributing to Denver every day.

And like every other community in this city, we want safe streets and accountability for violent crime.

Public safety ultimately comes down to trust.

We ask a great deal of the professionals of Denver Police Department, and the district attorney's office.

They investigate violent crime, pursue justice for victims, and protect our neighborhoods.

When those professionals tell us which tools help them solve crimes, we should listen.

Both the Denver Police Department and the District Attorney's Office support approval of the Axon contract based on the results of pilot programs.

The decision before you tonight will send a clear signal to residents across Denver about whether our city is willing to support the tools investigators need to solve violent crime and deliver justice to victims.

This technology has helped identify violent offenders, solve road rage incidents, recover stolen vehicles, and remove illegal firearms from our streets.

Eliminating this tool would not make Denver safer.

It would simply make serious crimes harder to solve.

Denver deserves both strong public safety and responsible safeguards.

I urge you to support this.

Thank you so much for your time.

Next up, we have Alicia Roberts.

Alicia, hi.

My name is Alicia Roberts, and I'm a district eight resident uh Northeast Park Hill.

As a former AP government and civics teacher, I implore you to vote no on the Axon contract.

The people want our privacy.

This technology tracks people, we the people.

Every time you drive past one of these cameras, it takes a picture of your vehicle and records your location and the exact time that you were there.

Something done in the name of public safety cannot be held above privacy rights at our Fourth Amendment.

We all need to wake up to the reality of technofascism technology, especially when many of the founders of some of these technology companies are companies are on record stating disturbing realities of the world they want to shape and are shaping.

There are proactive solutions to safety, investing in services for people, but instead we always seem to choose to invest in reactive items.

And in this case, an unregulated AI technology.

So let's at least be honest with what we call this public surveillance and acknowledge it is a response, not an actual solution to community needs.

Please spend money on services.

You've heard numerous people talk about what actually prevents crime.

Please spend money on services for people like universal basic income or meeting people's basic needs.

And anyone listening here tonight, I highly encourage you to learn about AI technology in general and make your own determination if AI is an overall benefit to society or not.

I've spent the last two years deep in research and I've determined that the cons override the pros overall for our society.

Again, techno-fascism is alive and well, and we need to educate ourselves and push back while we still can.

And I encourage, lastly, I've had the privilege of listening to the last two hours of public comment in a lot of different ways.

I encourage the council to review the racial and gender makeups of who is asking you to vote yes on this technology and who is asking you to vote no on this technology.

We all want a vibrant Denver, but for whom and how matters tremendously.

Thank you so much.

Next up, we have Nicole Kayette.

Next up, we have Darlene Rivera.

Yes, good evening, Council members, and thank you for allowing for this testimony.

I teach civics, the Fourth Amendment.

I tell students that they have protections from government surveillance and invasion of privacy.

But the over surveillance with Flock with Axon with government tools is very different than corporate Kroger, King Supers, or somebody else surveilling us.

Government has a higher standard when it comes to warrants when it comes to respecting privacy.

And I think that's an important issue for people to think about.

Particularly until this surveillance task force has finalized any recommendations they may have, until there is some regulations set up for AI surveillance work.

And Axon particularly concerns me because it was a company that initially had an AI ethics board, which nine of those members resigned because Axon was talking about putting tasers on their drones, which just really increases the liability that people may face by somebody being misread.

So I'm not sure that uh enough research has gone into all of this, and I agree with the panelists that have talked about the fact that we need to reinforce communities with opportunity with education, with housing, with ways for them to really flourish in our society instead of maybe having to make some decisions just to make ends meet.

Thank you for listening to the testimony, and again, I oppose the axon contract.

Thank you.

Next up we have the Bella Nevin.

Good afternoon.

My name is Isabella Nevin, and I'm the political organizer with our revolution, America's leading grassroots-funded progressive political action organization.

My comments today reflect over 100,000 members' outrage at the expansion of mass surveillance in Denver through this Axon contract.

While the vendor's name for this technology may be changing, it remains clear that this contract makes surveillance all the more widespread while lining the pockets of a 46 billion dollar Goliath.

Axon's mode of operation is vertical integration, allowing police to amass information and imagery gathered across axon body cameras, axon dash camps, axon drones, and now axon license plate readers.

This system captions our everyday movements and connects it through a technology ecosystem.

This data is fed into Axon's fusel system using AI analysis to detect object, people, and produce real-time reporting.

This contract not only allows for real-time tracking, but also feeds an unknown system where we are policed by AI proxy.

According to Axon's own SEC filings, the use of this tech is still shaky and its impact is unknown.

Quote unexpected failures, failures or inaccuracy in AI-driven systems could expose our customers to operational risks.

Bless you.

The consequences for AI observational defects and criminal investigations are steep.

Can departments answer for the defects in this tech?

AI integrated systems like FUSO FUCSIS and Draft One in the Axon ecosystem are designed to intentionally avoid oversight.

Making it unclear as to what information is provided by an officer or an algorithm.

In 2025, documents obtained from Fort Collins PD and Lafayette PD found that these safeguards were intentionally dismantled.

This contract is pushing us into no man's land with no way of charting out danger.

As technologies and algorithms become more sophisticated, such as the piloted axon facial recognition program, the risk only grows.

A different name does not erase the danger of this tech.

Real legislation is needed to address these concerns as they multiply, and this council cannot operate as a rubber stamp.

As the state is freezing funding for K-12 education and funding for vital health care, this contract only adds insult to injury for working Coloradans.

This is public money diverted from our roads, from things we need, from schools, and funneled into a monopoly.

For these reasons, I ask you to vote no on this contract.

Thank you.

That concludes our time for our one-hour public comment.

We had to make a decision.

Do you want to all ask questions now with the public speakers in front of us?

Or do we want to ask questions next week when we actually vote on the contract?

I'm open for a hybrid.

Yeah.

You can do some now.

I don't see.

We have questions from members of Go ahead.

Councilman Gilmer.

I'd be very troubled, uh, Council President Sandoval if we don't as a body of counsel ask questions tonight.

And I am very interested in understanding the rationale behind the postponement.

Um, because it on the surface of it seems like it's getting tossed to next week by using Rule 3.6 with no basis for that other than we would take the vote next week when all the public speakers who are in this room next door, upstairs, are not here to hear the debate in the building or to be here for the vote.

And so I'm very, very confused as to what materially is going to change within one week to postpone this vote.

And so I I think we erode further public trust if we don't ask the questions tonight on this.

Thank you.

Okay.

So I'm open to having questions asked tonight, and I will also be open to having questions next week.

It doesn't have to be either or people to come back down here.

And I would say that especially if you have questions for the speakers tonight, colleagues, ask them 100%.

As for everyone else, the city, they can come back next week and answer our questions.

I'm not gonna not have somebody vote on something and not be able to have our colleagues answer the questions.

So yes, if the public needs questions answered, 100% ask them.

And next week, I'm not gonna tell my colleagues no that they're not allowed to ask questions again.

I think it oh I think it can be both in reality.

So does anyone have any questions right now in the queue?

Councilmember Alviderez.

Thank you.

Um I have a question, and this is probably for you, Tim.

Um I've been talking to community about their concerns around these cameras and uh racing is an issue that has been brought up.

And I'm curious, I didn't think that these were going to track speed.

Um are they addressing racing and is there a limit to what crimes we're using to investigate with this tool?

Thank you, Councilman Tim Hoffman on behalf of the mayor's office.

I'm actually gonna throw in a friend on this one and see if uh Commander Herrera or Chief Thomas um can talk about some of the specifics, but um, there are enumerated crimes that um are the rationale for a search of the system, but I don't know if I'm either um erasing either of you want to apply so councilwoman, right now the cameras do not detect speed and they're not connected to any traffic violations or enforcement.

Also within the DPD operations manual section 119, which governs the ALPR use, the officers will not respond to alerts for driver's license violations, so no restrictions based on driving license history or insurance.

And then if I get that list, if you have already sent it, if you could just resend it the list of which crimes we are using this for, that would be helpful.

Yes, sir.

Um, and then my next question is how long have we been using it?

A LPR systems.

So Deborah has been using ALPR systems since 2014-2015.

Originally, ALPR systems were uh most commonly used by the Denver Police Department within marked patrol cars where they would literally go under the siren bar on patrol cars and scan license plate as officers drove by.

We have two legacy systems um run through uh a company called BOSS that were installed around I think 2015 or 2016, only two of those around six six in federal and we had a major um that was a status quo until the flock expansion pilot.

Okay, I appreciate that.

Um can someone tell me what the documented accuracy rate of this system is.

I believe there's an Axon representative online, Ben Rubke.

I think we tell the public said they were promoted.

Is he accepting the promotion?

Yeah, sorry about that.

Ben Ruby with Axon.

Um we did provide an accuracy document to uh city council, I believe last week, or directly to council member parity.

I'm just referencing that right now.

Um the accuracy of uh the system is gonna depend on a couple of different uh environmental factors.

One is uh just the general read accuracy, uh which we um measure to be roughly 96 to 98 percent, uh, and that's on a weighted average across all conditions.

Um the capture rate in daytime is around 92 percent.

Um, and then 80 88.9, it's almost 89% across all conditions, and that's including nighttime, and then the nighttime performance we measure to be about 99% on uh on a read accuracy basis.

Great, great.

Thank you for having that.

Uh was safeguards are in place to prevent someone from being stopped or investigated on incorrect data.

And councilwoman too often with the mayor's office uh part of that is that we have a essentially a two uh two-factor authentication before a stop is completed by a Denver police officer.

So if there's a hit off of the system uh and a police officer contacts that suspect vehicle, they then need to do a second level of um authentication to confirm that it is in fact a suspect vehicle or a stolen vehicle.

So that's either calling into dispatch or running it through a system to confirm that it is in fact um a wanted vehicle in some form or fashion.

So it's not just the system, there's that second step to authenticate it as well.

Um and you since we've had obviously a lot of significant concern around surveillance and data use.

Why hasn't it been prioritized to get an ordinance out of the um group that was created?

Yeah, so the the charge of the task force was doing a couple of things, right?

The first was to look at the current policies and procedures that we have in place in Denver through our technology services, vendor risk assessments through that Denver Police uh department operations manual, and to study kind of the current landscape of where there are gaps in the system, um where there are parts of it that are really working, um, and to not only bolster our current policies and procedures, but also to make sure that with new surveillance technology contracts, and that's not just for license split readers, right?

There's any number of surveillance technologies across the city that those are all going to be um robust in the first place and making sure that we have a good lay of the land before we start um looking at what a uh a potential ordinance might look like.

We have begun that process of looking and having discussions with the task force members of what are the big buckets or kind of categories of um of issues that you would like to address in an ordinance.

I know all three of the um council representatives on the task force are here today.

Um we've had discussions with them around um at what point we might have some draft ordinance language to review.

Um I don't believe that that is ready yet, but I think we have a good sense of at least what the buckets are, and that's the kind of after we've uh identified um the current policies and procedures and made some of the changes and the improvements.

The next step is now really to focus on what that draft ordinance might look like.

Okay, I will say that I'm concerned that that wasn't done ahead of time.

Um if there is a data breach, who is legally liable since we own the data, is it us or is it axon?

Just getting a little over my skis as uh almost attorney uh councilwoman, but um there are some indemnification clauses in the contract um that make it clear that axon would be liable for the line share of those damages.

It depends on um the extent of the breach and the type of the breach, but um by and large it would be axon who would be liable for those breaches, and I'm happy to follow up and um confirm that with you and provide additional context.

And have we conducted a risk assessment on potential data breaches?

That's part of the technology services vendor risk assessment that was completed in January of this year, yes.

And what protections are in place if res for residents open your data is exposed or properly accessed.

Yeah, so uh off the top, I'll just know, as I said in the presentation, that there are really, really robust um data security protocols in place already with this technology.

Um the technology itself is encrypted throughout the process when it's on the camera when it's transported um to the actual database.

The minute it's transferred off of the camera onto the bat database, it's deleted from the camera system.

Um so that's this first step is to make sure that to the extent that we can the breach is prevented in the first place.

Um and then were there a breach to occur, um, Axon can basically immediately address the breach internally, they have up to 48 hours afterwards to let us know about it.

Um that doesn't mean that they can't let us know earlier than 48 hours, it just gives them that period of time to try to figure out exactly what's going on.

Um, and then we would work with Axon to identify the extent of the breach, whose information was released you know, with with something like license plate reader technology, um, it would be uh that a license plate passed through a certain location at a certain time.

So that would be um the extent of it for that 21-day period.

So I think part of the limiting of the retention period is to make sure that and uh to my knowledge, uh I'm unaware of any kind of large-scale breach that has happened with Axon as a company, um, but we also have tried to limit the amount of information that could theoretically be caught up in that.

So we're seeing this on their procedures, axon's procedures.

We're basing like the security based on what they do instead of us creating an ordinance that would say you have to do this.

You have to delete the information at a certain point.

Where is it governed, I guess, that they will delete and that it will be encrypted, or is this like a just a trust thing?

Is it in the contract?

Um I I believe Terasugura might be um in the building, and if she can come in, she'll probably be able to um answer some of those questions a little bit more.

I do know that there are certain um parts of the contract where uh the deletion of the data, the destruction, our ability to do auditing, um, to do penetration testing, all of those things are built into different parts of the contract.

I'm happy to kind of highlight those specific sections for you and I have a little bit more time.

But um if Terra Seguro is um still in the building or either or online, um she'd be able to address that in a little bit more detail.

So okay, thank you.

And this if there is that breach, is the remedy just we cancel the contract, or is this damages that we can collect or do you happen to know that, or should I wait for some?

Yeah, there are there's a variety of things that we can do.

I think one of them is collect images or pause the contract.

I think I mean I don't think you also can count uh cancel the contract if the breach was to the extent where that that was appropriate.

So there's a couple of different steps we could take.

I'll wait for her to come uh answer that question.

Thank you.

Uh councilman, if you wouldn't mind repeating the question, please.

Yeah, my question was around data and breaches and really trying to understand the data that is collected and if it overall trying to understand.

Are we just depending on the contract?

Are we depending on Axon's personal procedures as far as when data is deleted and how it's encrypted?

Because my concern is that we're not waiting to put in an ordinance that will govern these things.

So, how are we governing those things?

Yeah, absolutely.

Great questions.

I'm glad you asked.

I was hoping somebody would.

So it's there's many factors that come into how we've assessed the vendor.

Oh, yes.

Hi, uh, Terra Sagura, um day protection officer for the city.

Uh yeah, absolutely.

So um my team conducted the vendor risk assessment for this vendor, and when we do that, we look at a variety of factors before we can conclude whether we're willing to work the vendor.

And we're looking at federal regulations, state regulations, and whether the vendor meets the um requirements of those regulations.

We're also going to be looking at industry best practices.

Um we have um NIST, the information uh standard technologies, and then international operational standards, um, which are the ISO standards that we take into consideration when we're looking at the vendor's policies, the technology that's being present, um, when it comes to security, the architecture, privacy, ADA compliance, and then records management.

So within this vendor, we went through and we reviewed all of those areas.

We had stakeholders with specific expertise that reviewed to make sure that we were able to confirm that the use of this technology would still meet our regulatory compliance needs.

And then we are able to look at the contract that's been put together and make sure that the contract conditions and those regulations within the contract language support what we've just vetted through the vendor risk assessment process.

So looking at current laws, so like the current law that's proposed and not a law at the state level that we are watching that will be closely related to this contract and an ordinance that the city council would put forward to set guide guardrails are not being included in that.

So how would you you know change all of this if there's actual laws to govern the safety of the residents?

Yeah, so that's twofold.

So for some of the items when it comes to the laws and what's applicable, um, we look at the specific data sets.

And so some of them aren't state laws, some of them are federal laws and federal regulations, like criminal justice information.

And then we look at the technology requirements of those regulations.

So within this vendor, uh we took the um regulations and technology technology requirements of the most regulated data set, um, which is criminal justice information, and we reviewed and we um looked at the technology from compliance with those regulations to see if it met our needs.

And so it's also important to note that when we're looking at the compliance with laws and regulations, that it's also um those technology standards.

So for the um breach reporting requirements within this agreement is proposed 48 hours.

So that falls within best practices and the right and the technology regulations within the national information standards technology NIST, and then high Fed ramp standards, which are associated to criminal justice information.

Um same goes for destruction and the retention requirements.

I'll also add that when we look at record retention, we also bring into account the city's uh record retention schedule.

So it's online, it's on our DevRGov website, and so we want to make sure that we're backing up the city's retention schedule to the agreement and expectations that we're setting with this vendor.

So let's talk about the city's retention guidelines.

Are those like for our emails and like public information?

Uh, because I think though that data retention should be very different from just information from people getting around taking their kids to school.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

So the retention schedule defines data sets and records specific to the data set.

So, like you brought up emails and correspondence, they have a separate retention schedule and length of time that the city's required to maintain those records than then this type of data.

Same goes for all of the city agencies.

So going back to my question, my question was if the laws change, if we pass an ordinance, if the state passes a law, how quickly, how are you going to change this contract and this agreement and reassess the risk based on those changes?

Because my concern is that we committed to this task force that they were gonna bring an ordinance and we're not there yet.

And so passing this before the ordinance, and then having a significant change due to whatever is in this ordinance, how are you going to manage that?

Yeah.

So I think that would be a collaboration, or well, it would be a collaboration between my team, the city attorney's office, and the mayor's office, and um, when we're provided those legislative updates, um, you know, we receive information on a weekly basis associated to the changes and and proposed changes.

Um, you know, in the last year, we've been able to incorporate some of the um various um updates that were made related to the PII certificate for vendors and um individuals working within with the city related to our data.

Uh so we're always trying to make sure that we incorporate and to um to adapt as quickly as possible because we have you know the we want to protect and meet all of those uh requirements uh so that we know that we can stand by what we're approving from our vendor risk assessment process and from our data governance.

Appreciate that.

Um thank you, Council President.

That's all I have for now.

I just want to say say that of course we all care about public safety.

We deeply care about public safety and asking these questions as part of caring about public safety.

Thank you.

Thank you, councilman councilman, Councilperson Gilmar.

Thank you.

My first um question um is actually for um Chief Thomas.

Um Chief Thomas uh with the flocks with the flock contract, um the city was given uh I believe free of charge um drones.

Uh do are we gonna retain those drones if we decide to move away from Flock?

Uh thank you for the question, uh Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas.

So um Flock Aerodome is actually separate from the Flock uh ALPR network that we currently um uh have established through the end of this month.

Um and so there's there's no um connection between the two.

Um we do believe that it will be prudent to continue with so we we haven't even received the equipment in order to do this uh this no cost pilot program that uh that they have um engaged with us in.

Um we are still waiting for the for the hardware in order to start install and we do think that it would be prudent to um to test that technology out as well as the SkyDio drones, which currently are in the sky uh to see which is the the best provider for uh for drones as a first responder.

So um what are the regulations on those drones currently in terms of so okay council didn't vote on any laws to manage them for privacy concerns for um height of where you fly them, next to residential, etc.

Is there policy that you have in terms of there is there is a drone policy that I can share with uh all the city council?

Um I can also tell you that um that it is part of the policy that one um there uh the camera that is affixed to the drone will be pointed at the horizon, so it will not be capturing anything on its way to its destination.

The the camera won't drop until it gets to its destination, and then um the entire path of the drone flight as well as everything that will be captured by the drone will be publicly available on a dashboard.

Um and certainly uh the same retention rules would apply as it relates to uh the data that would be captured by that drone.

So is that what you just explained right now for the public?

Has that been shared via email um or in some documentable form with Denver City Council?

I I believe so, because I know that we have talked about drones uh a number of times.

And that again so that it's in our email boxes so that we can see the date on that and the the um specifics of it.

Um as far as um flock and you know this ALS, the camera technology, um explain to me, I guess how Mayor Johnston was confused through the investigation of the Jack Scratton murder that happened in Denver.

She um was a trans woman who went missing on Colorado Boulevard in Denver, and Mayor Johnston very directly told the media that Flock's cameras had um helped solve her murder.

How did he get that wrecked?

I honestly can't answer that question for you, Councilwoman.

Um, obviously uh a misstep on his part as it relates to how that uh that case uh was being investigated.

Um we are aware of the fact that uh that she was missing from Denver ultimately located in in Lakewood and found and found murdered.

And so uh when there is a missing persons alert made, and you know the location, it's a residence.

Um a lot of folks anecdotally and you know, through data you've all said that it helps find people.

I guess what is the process and the policy when somebody is reported missing, because clearly DPD and your technology, the tool of Flock did nothing.

And so what what is the policy that when someone goes missing?

How do you even utilize Flock or do you, or is it happen, stance?

I guess.

Um, certainly so good good question.

So what we would do uh when a missing person's uh report is filed.

So what we would do when a missing person's uh report is filed, I mean, I think that happens uh quite often, and so there's an analysis that takes place to determine whether or not there is a reason to believe that this person is in danger, um, that this person um has been um potentially the victim of a violent crime, and then that identification would then give us the the um the opportunity to use the tools uh uh that are available to us in order to to locate vehicles that may have been associated with that person's uh potential abduction or whatever crime uh that person might have been victim to but that never happened in this case, and so how have you corrected then I guess the policy where that footage was not used?

Have you done a review or worked with the Office of the Independent Monitor to shore that up and fix those gaps?

And we could certainly do that.

Um I would have to probably know more about what it was that we knew as it related to um Jack Scratan's disappearance in order to identify whether or not there was reason to believe that uh that she was abducted or that she was the victim of violent crime in order for us to use the tools available to us.

It was reported um and nothing was done um regarding flop cameras, so I um I'll state that for the record.

Um with the PNI location, um, you know, the person who is representing um Axon or Flock, whoever she was, um she's not from here and she's uh vendor, um PNI locations, the place network investigations.

I guess explain to me how this technology is used in the place network investigations area.

Is it at the intersections of like 47th and all brook in Montbello?

Are you referring to the the cameras that are currently in place?

So I would assume would be replaced because you're not gonna move one from Montbello.

So um I believe that we have identified uh 14 to 16 locations where we will be distributing these 50 cameras, uh they will um be dispersed uh across the city will be a data-informed decision where these cameras are are placed.

And I I don't necessarily um put together PI with uh with with the use of of ALPRs.

I mean, I think that that PNI is really more of a whole of city, whole of government, whole of community approach to addressing uh violent crime in communities.

And while certainly um ALPRs are a tool, AR ALPRs are a very reactive, I I guess has been already stated.

Uh ALPRs are a reactive tool to respond to after a crime is committed, whereas PNI I think is a proactive approach to um to change the the the dynamics of a community so that that that crime isn't pervasive.

So um just since there is possibly going to be a postponement um on the floor tonight for this, um, if it does get postponed um in the week that we have, um I'd like the specific data for that intersection at 47th and Allbrook, um, because I live in Montbello and I go through that intersection quite regularly, and so I have trouble, I guess aligning that if you're having a higher rate of crimes in an area and you're trying to do the place network investigations, it doesn't seem logical if you have that tool as a camera there, you're not going to access it.

But you're telling me that you're not, and so I would appreciate the data shared what to date with the Flox cameras, what has transpired there as far as PNI, how it's related to crimes, if and when the block cameras were utilized in that um scenario.

So thank you for that.

I appreciate it.

Thank you, Chief Thomas.

Um, I wanted to see um if Liz Castle um from the Office of the Independent Monitor would come up for a question.

Um thank you for being here, Liz.

Um really glad that you're tracking this.

And so um with your work with the Office of the Independent Monitor, um, were you sitting in or on the surveillance um task force advisory group?

Uh Elizabeth Castle, independent monitor for Denver.

Yes, I am on the task force.

During that task force, um, was there conversation that once maybe a direction was decided, or there were maybe policy conversations to um come out to the neighborhoods and talk with folks, or did you really get that bar?

There's been a lot of conversation, and um I think we started meeting excuse me, approximately in the fall.

Task forces covered a lot of information, including contracts, data.

Um I think, yes, uh I I think absolutely in general.

We also covered communication with community, um, and continued communication with community and how far to go with that.

It was it certainly has always been a topic of conversation.

Okay.

Um in that task force was there conversation about drones as well.

I can't recall at the top of my head that sounds right, but I can't recall at the top of my head.

Uh great.

I I appreciate that.

Thank you, Liz.

I appreciate it.

Um, and so that's my questions.

I did for the public record, um, because I don't believe um the council president um stated it clearly for the record, but there were 55 uh speakers signed up for this courtesy public hearing.

One was neutral, 12 were four, and 42 were against.

And so I want to make sure that that gets on the record because we're not here with all the people, and so there were 42 people against, and they didn't all get to speak.

Thank you.

Next up we have Councilmember Perdy.

Thank you so much, Council President.

Um I wanted to um actually I'll start again with the independent monitor since she's still here.

If you don't mind coming back up, Liz, I have a few questions for you too.

Yes, I'm sorry, my voice is going.

Sorry for the cough.

Um so I I want to take a step back because in addition to being a member of this um sort of impromptu task force, um you also are sorry with reviewing uh internal police policies, right?

Yeah, under the ordinance that authorizes your office.

Yeah.

Um okay, and so I want to know at what point in time you have reviewed, I guess at what points in time have you reviewed iterations of Denver's ALPR policies.

I know you don't share your feedback.

That goes only to DPD, that's not made public or shared with us by you know by this uh ordinance, but I just want to know when you have done that.

Um I think the most recent um review up until the review that um up until the the policy that was sent to us last week was in 2024.

And I think it's uh the policy number is one nineteen, I believe.

Okay, so you had a like an earlier version that you've seen and then and then you've gotten the next time you've gotten anything to look at was last week.

That's correct, and we're in the process of re reviewing that now.

And again, I know you can't share what the recommendations are, if any, but you haven't sent any yet to DPD, is that right?

Yeah, no, we're still reviewing.

Haven't had time yet.

No.

Okay.

Um so and I just want to point that out because I think that that came about because you asked in the context of the task force, council members asked in committee.

Um, and I'm uh I'm glad that you have that in front of you, but that process is not complete.

So if we enter into this contact, you still have a policy that we're gonna say as a single vendor and that it's on step with um some of the promises and commitments that we've heard in various ways.

Um and so I just I feel like that's a real misstep for us because it's there's an ordinance that says that you are to review DPE's policies right now.

The DPD policy is just out of date.

It doesn't even say the right number.

So um I wanna I won't ask you any more about that because I know the processes that you make recommendations, you know, to DPD directly, so I I won't ask you your opinion about it.

Um but in terms of the task force I also sit on that, so does Councilmember Gothsky chairs council member Flynn.

Um I just want to sort of ask if um your sense is that well, we heard a statement of the mission of the task force from Mr.

Hoffman earlier.

Was that a mission statement that you had seen before?

Um, or do you have a sense of what our process even is on that task force from here on out?

And I do partly ask that because even though I'm also on it, I'm gut checking.

Um I apologize I did not hear the statement because I was in transition between between rooms.

Um and I just want to clarify with regards to um any policy per uh, for example, policy that the department is asking us to review.

Our recommendations to the department are covered under deliberative process privilege.

That does not mean, however, that the OIM cannot then um uh publish recommendations that we are making about the policy.

Well you just can't discuss what the back and forth was between the parties that doesn't keep us from making recommendations publicly.

Yeah that makes sense thank you um okay I think that's all I want to know um because I think that draft DPD policy I mean we asked for it a draft came around very quickly um to my quick reading of it it's still just quite incomplete which is not surprising um because it seems that it was cooked up right after a committee meeting and so um there are a lot of topics that um that it does not address and the reason that that's of such concern to me and Liz I'm sorry you can feel free to sit down and I'm done asking you questions I don't know if anyone else will I'm sorry.

The I'm concerned that um the way this contract is written any kinds of expansions of what this technology does we have all these commitments that say and and literally you can hear Axon they use the word today they say today we don't have interjurisdictional sharing they're working on that actively and so even though Denver is saying that we won't turn it on the contract says that all of those decision decisions um will be made by um Denver which in practice will end up being the Mare and DPD um and so we just have a real risk of changes happening in the technology without any kind of notification and the the proposed manual policy talks about that city council will be notified of certain things that are pretty cabined um it is not the approach that I would take in terms of the how we would receive information um if we had gotten to the point of being in an ordinance process.

So I just want to point that out circulating something to the monitor on the Friday before the vote when it's it crucially interrelates to how the contract is work is just a problem is the reason we have a monitor's office that reviews these things um okay sorry let me move to another area of questions um okay um I wanna I want to ask DPD um a little bit more about some of the areas that we still don't know that much about so I guess it's probably Chief Thomas or maybe it's commander Hur I don't know but in particular we keep hearing about fusis can you just describe what that axon product is you or whoever is best to do that commander Cliff Barnes I believe is still online if he can be promoted.

Thank you.

Yep and you might have to ask it again again because they can hear things differently when Commander Barnes is promoted I will ask him if he's still there has an already hearing a voice from the heavens who I'm sure will soon be a face commander can you just explain to us what is FUCS Good evening my name is Cliff Barnes I'm a commander of the Cyber Bureau for DPD.

So FUCS is essentially a map and it's a situational uh type of dashboard that allows the real-time crime center to to uh respond rapidly to events and we can ingest certain types of data including uh camera locations okay um and can you tell me what kinds of cameras like the sum total of cameras that feed into business or that you can view through that tool the exact number but uh the the cameras that have been well established uh in the real-time crime center for for quite some time um most of those are available to the technicians uh that work in the real-time crime center to respond to critical incidents okay d does that include all of our halo cameras yes and how many of those are there uh there are a couple hundred I don't have the exact number off the top of my head a couple hundred okay um I thought that the number was 400 but you would know better than I would so I won't um I won't put words in your mouth about that what other please I remember I don't have that but it is it is a couple hundred at least what cameras can can officers currently use um currently like look at we also have access to uh traffic cameras for example the DOTI uh cameras as well and uh the ALPR I think that's kind of where this is headed as well so uh the axon devices that are uh you know being provided by this contract do have a live streaming capability that would be available in uh fuses however they're not recorded and uh because they're battery operated as soon as the live streaming is complete they go back to regular um ALPR functions and operation okay um are there other types of cameras besides halo cameras traffic cameras and ALPR cameras um or these new axon LPR cameras would have this capability that the DPD can um pull up and they got through fuses private cameras that have like opted into that where you all can access them directly or is that case by case?

Okay.

Um other types of cameras besides halo cameras, traffic cameras, and ALPR cameras, um, or these new axon LPR cameras would have this capability that the DPD can um pull up and they got through fuses.

Private cameras that have like opted into that where you all can access them directly, or is that case by case?

We don't that capability does for integration does exist, but we do not currently have any of that uh integrated into FUCSIS.

Okay.

Um are halo cameras um connected to any kind of algorithm that helps analyze the footage that they show in the way that LPRs do, of course.

I'm sorry, would you repeat that question?

Yeah, is algorithm um is there any software algorithm that you would have access to that um is capable of analyzing halo camera footage?

So fuses allows there is an AI layer that allows uh the searching of of certain footage for the you know, for example, a red truck um and and that type of thing using some image recognition software.

Um and then a couple of ax uh integrations that Axon has taken.

Um we've asked before about ring, but I had not asked before because I wasn't aware of these because it's just such a it's like chasing this information all of the time because it changes so quickly, um, to the point that I think sometimes you, Commander Barnes, don't always know these answers.

But um, there are two apps.

One is called Citizen and one is called OR, OR, if I'm saying that right, is in um retail, and these are both essentially places where, in addition to writing private cameras, um, can submit information directly into axon systems.

Um, do you know if our contract would um enable that?

Or do you just sort of do you know anything about those integrations?

I would defer to Axon specifically on that, but I don't believe anywhere in our contract it allows us to opt into those features currently.

Okay, well, what the rex says though, to be clear, is that um is that it would be at the city's discretion to opt into any feature, and so it could be those.

I'm I'm uh so um okay, and here's where here's where these questions matter to me.

Like I um I was not aware that we had, I do think it is 400 Halo cameras.

I was not aware of how many cameras um DPD is integrating and streaming through FUCS.

FUCSIS is an Axon product, these things are all integrated.

Um and when we start talking about these private um cameras and apps that people can just choose to submit information up into FUSIS, that's monitoring your neighbors.

I mean, that's vigilanteism.

That's really scary stuff.

Um and I think it's we all know who will be most likely to buy those cameras and feed up information about their neighbors.

Um and it will occasionally be about violent crime, and it will very often be about someone who's experiencing homelessness, who's the wrong color in the wrong neighborhood, who's taking a run where they shouldn't be.

I mean, we know this.

Um so and these are just things we haven't even had time to explore.

Axon is phenomenally different than Flock because they are integrated into so many other systems.

So we're sort of trading what was basically a national ALPR company for a company that is not primarily focused on ALPRs, but is layering all these different forms of surveillance, and we do not have all the information about it yet.

Um I think I'm trying to think if I have any other questions for DPD.

I'm glad that we'll be doing this again next week.

Um I will be done with that for tonight.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um Madam President, and I have some unresolved questions, I guess, from committee.

Um, and I was trying to comb through my emails to see if I did get any of the answers, but um if we could, and I don't know who would be best to ask these questions to you.

I don't know if it's Tim or if the attorney who worked on the contract is here.

Um, but I did ask this question during um committee on a couple places where it explicitly just says kind of lists all these different reasons that we only unlike the only circumstances in which we would release information um to the federal government and specifically to Department of Homeland Security.

Um then it says as otherwise required by applicable law is in one part part of that, and that's on page 15 of the framework agreement.

And then another time it does say in exhibit D under 411, again it says um after court order or other process.

I continue to have concerns with this language, it being seen as blanket type language, even though we have very specific details of what is allowable.

Can you is there was there any conversation about that when I brought that up in community?

Tim Hoffman on behalf of the mayor's office.

Thank you, Councilman.

I'm happy to work with the attorney to get you the full answer.

I do think that when it comes to that type of language around any other applicable law, um there are various legal instruments that can trigger data being shared, right?

A subpoena legal demand.

Um there are exigent circumstances.

Um I can try to get you kind of the what the what a full list of other legal um remedies might look like.

Okay.

I yeah, that would be helpful, but also we are we do list out all of the uh other legal circumstances, and we're very specific because especially with regard to the Department of Homeland Security, we have it say judicial court order.

Um applicable law opens up at the door, I think, for a lot of a lot of other things that maybe we don't want to entertain, right?

I don't know if that includes executive orders by the federal administration, like what does that include?

That's what I want to know.

What does that include?

Um as far as um and thank you for fixing that section 12.4.

Thank you for section type of there is another typo in here.

Um I can let uh council figure that out.

I'll leave it out there for you to find it's a repeated section.

Um anyway, uh on existence C section two under data governance and ownership.

Um again, unless otherwise required by law, the city has exclusive ownership of all city data, including all city data created process or derived in connection with this agreement.

That is again, and this is language even from last year when we were looking deep into this contract that we had asked to address because if it's saying unless otherwise required by law, again, that is a very open-ended option there.

Um, and that's talking about the ownership of the data, which is something that has come into question a lot, right?

And we've been assured that we will own the data.

This doesn't give me any assurance that we own our data.

Because it can be taken from us if there is otherwise required by law and what law?

Executive order.

So that's still a question that I have.

Um going back to exhibit D again about the opt-out language.

I have been trying to ask some attorney friends if opt-out language is general contract language.

Um, and from that I've learned that it is necessarily not.

I am concerned about opt-out language because it automatically, to my understanding, opts us into something unless we proactively opt out of it.

So opting in would be require us to take a proactive, they would have to come to us and say, Do you want to uh utilize facial recognition?

Do you want to utilize this other technology that we can um add to this?

They would have to come to us to ask us for that.

Can you just explain how the opt-out language doesn't do that or does it do that?

Yeah, absolutely.

So this is uh section 3.2 of exhibit D.

Uh so the first part of that section talks about um giving us written notice of at least 30 days in advance of any material change, so they would have to give us that advanced knowledge, then lists out what the um what the requirements would be of that information.

The last sentence of uh section 3.2 says the contractor shall not implement any material system change without the city's express written approval.

So we are opted out of it until they get expressed written approval.

Oh and and I don't know if this is a question for you, Tim.

Um I am curious as far as the the audit logs and having a process set up for that.

I think right now it's an internal process, correct?

Correct.

Um is there any thought to having that being done by an independent entity, such as we have our own Office of Independent Monitor that already does a lot of that work, like when it relates to the policy manual and other things?

Um, has there been any conversation about having our independent monitor um perform those kinds of audits?

And obviously, with that they would need um appropriate resources to be able to do it.

Yeah, uh great question, Councilwoman.

I know um at one point Commander Barnes touched on this to some degree.

Part of the problem with having an independent or third party do some of this auditing is that a lot of this information is uh protected information, personally protected information and kind of sieges.

Um there are uh criminal justice um implications to how much information can be shared, but I don't think that um there's an opposition to trying to figure out ways that um those type of third parties could do the auditing, but it's just a matter of the type of information that could be turned over in that audit.

But wouldn't the Office of the Independent Monitor be um be able to take that on since they already do that kind of work anyway with our filed to their office?

I I don't know the answer to that specifically.

I don't know if there's um certain additional procedures when you're talking about this type of personal protected information, but happy to look into that a little bit more.

I don't know if I think um the independent monitor we if you can come to the microphone.

We do all have uh seats training.

So can you explain what that is?

Um it's essentially it's a program that you have to go through to make sure that you maintain the confidentiality of the information.

It's quite an extensive process.

Um it takes several hours to kind of go through, um, and then once you have gone through that training, you are you you're allowed access to confidential information.

Because that's the nature of the work that we do at OIM is we're sharing very, very um confidential information, very um highly protected information.

We um are all trained in siege.

Thank you so much.

Um yeah, I mean, I think we should really consider that.

Um, you know, I know that we've been having all these task force meetings, which I am thankful for that that that was set up, and I know it took us some time to get it going off the ground, and it's taken us some time to get to where we're at now.

Um, as far as I wanted to answer some of the questions I think my colleagues posed about an ordinance, um, you know, that is something that we have been trying to get to, and I think I was under the impression that our task force would be utilized in creation of that.

And I think where we've been is very much focused on the contracts coming up, the contract's coming up again, the contract, you know, and I don't think we've really been able to hone in on what lives in ordinance.

I've tried to get us there, and and and I I you know look at my colleagues when I've said, okay, what things should live in ordinance, what things should live in the policy manual, both all of those things.

And so it's been a lot of sifting through a lot of information.

We learn a lot of things, new things.

I feel like every time we learn about something um else that's happening, and so I feel like we're constantly getting a little bit derailed, quite honestly, um, because there is so much.

But I think that that just furthers the concern that because this is ever-changing technology, that it is difficult for us to keep up with, that we need to have the ability to sit and work do that work and get these get out get something passed in order to address that issue, and knowing that it's not going to be a catch-all.

We know that there may be new technology that comes down the road that we have to be able to legislate for, and we need to make sure that we're protecting our community.

So, you know, that has been my ask.

We're trying very, very hard to try to get language together, and it's been extremely challenging because I do want to utilize the task force where we have expertise at the table.

And so I you know, I will leave it there because I know next week is when we will be um possibly taking our vote.

Thank you, Madam President.

Except we have Council Putin Memorial Campbell.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um I had a question I don't know who would answer this, but what factors for the 50 um cameras were taken into consideration um to determine where they should be put up and where they go.

Jake Ferrer, DPD.

So the 50 cameras are gonna go to maybe 12 to 20 locations, and reminder that's down from 71.

So we took three sets of criminal justice data.

Number one violent crime, specifically violent gun crime.

Number two was auto theft, and number three was traffic accidents and traffic accidents were weighted if there was serious injury, any injury, and whether or not it was a DUI-related crash.

And so we had three different maps out, and I know I might be dating myself, but kind of like when you're in fourth grade math and your teacher had the overhead projector, and you're doing geometry and she would lay over layers.

That's what we did.

So it's combining it's looking for the convergence of those location of those criminal incidents with the proviso that no neighborhood streets would get an ALPR, and that was operationalized by no street that only had one lane of traffic per direction of travel.

So for instance, there's one at first and Knox now.

That one won't be part of the second generation.

Thank you.

Yes, again, with the reduction of the volume of cameras, it was difficult to decide.

Frankly, it was judgment calls where there's almost equal levels of concentration of the various criteria at different points.

And so we shared a uh through a confidential work process with council, uh draft uh proposal of locations and um if anyone has specific criticism or or uh suggestions where it could be moved.

I also talked to uh the district three staff on you know what crimes does district three what locations are they getting the most use out of the ALPR for not just because we we tracked homicides but on the hit and runs, the burglaries, the um the things that would be investigated directly by district three um thank you.

Uh I don't know if this is the next one for you, so you're good.

Thank you.

Um I I'm glad that we have time to be able to carry some of this conversation for next week.

Um I just really appreciate Councilmember Alvidres your um comments around looking at that ordinance and and um how long is it gonna take um where are we going to move that forward?

So um thank you for that and also for council member Gonzalez Cutier's um your work on the task force and also with council member Flynn.

Um so we'll come back and revisit that because I think that's a really important piece um that seems to be missing in this broader conversation.

Uh I had another question about um in the contract, the examination of records or audits in section, I think seven, but can you tell me like the frequency of what is anticipated in that audit or give an idea as to what the audit will look like, how will it occur, um, and how will council receive that information Tim Hoffman, mayor's office.

That would probably be Commander Barnes if you can speak to that if you're still available online.

Um the the specific uh contract provision, the audit uh provision in theirs, is that the question, Councilmember?

Uh yes, do I need to repeat that?

Well, I don't have the contract put up in front of me, so I I'm having a difficult time speaking specifically to that provision.

However, I'm glad to speak to the current audit process and the way the policy currently applies to that.

Um that would be great.

Yeah.

So on the first of every month, uh the Cyber Bureau of DPD pulls the the audit logs for the ALPR systems, and they do a number of different types of audit work on those logs.

So, for example, they do a key a comprehensive keyword search, they do a a um uh a random search of of various transactions to make sure that everything looks to be above board.

Uh those results are then sent to me, and then that data is sent to crime analysts in the Department of Safety or Director of Safety's office for further review.

Uh we have had uh cases where we've had uh requests for that information, and so we do have a process in which we can redact the criminal justice information and investigative investigative information from those reports and and share uh the results of those audits.

Thank you.

Um thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

I don't have any other questions right now.

Councilman Lewis.

Yeah, I just have a few quick questions.

You all did circulate um the map, and I actually had a few questions about the map because it shows 17 new locations, and you all talked about 50 cameras, and so I'm just curious as to the distribution of the cameras with those 17 locations.

Thank you, Jay Carrera.

So if you I don't have the map in front of me, but on the in the right hand is the ledge right hand column is the legend of the map, and there are numbers, but they're not sequential.

Those numbers relate to the current how Dottie tracks those permits.

So there's not there's not there might not be one through 17.

I think it's one, you know, two, three, eight, nine.

Because some of those cameras eight through nine, for example, aren't part of the second generation, the the second proposed locations say that again.

So part of the way we put the map together was to use the same numbering system that exists for the existing permits that were used for the current flock cameras.

So if, as most are proposed locations for the axon cameras are existing intersections that had axon flock cameras, we use that same number to make it easier on Dottie so that camera one is still camera one, so they can pull up what permits exist for location one.

So what's the distribution of the cameras, though?

If you only have 17 locations, but you have 50 cameras.

Are you putting multiple cameras at one location?

Yeah, the idea is to only deploy the cameras in large arterial intersections, so all the locations are gonna get two to four cameras to cover if you think of like Alameda and Federal.

There's uh four lanes northbound, four lanes, southbound, east-west turn lanes.

So they it might take four or five cameras.

Thank you.

I have a question for you, Tim.

Can you can you talk to me about your thought process or the administration's thought process with the 21 policy not being in the contract but being in policy?

Why'd you all decide to take that avenue versus it being in the contract?

Yeah, it was really nothing more than um when we were talking to Axon, they made very clear that whatever the retention policy is is set exclusively by us as the city, and so having that specifically tied into the contract um didn't make much sense.

There's a section I'm blanking on what section it is, but it says the retention policy is set by the city.

Um but it didn't make sense to then have the specific number in there.

That's now why we put it in the DPD operations manual um and said it's 21 days, and um were there to be any change in the future the council would get advanced notification, but it was nothing more than um because it's within our sole discretion, it was not something that we felt needed to be in the specific contract and was better to live in policy and procedure.

Which can change, right?

The contract is which can change without any notice to city council.

So right now we're if we were to approve the contract, we'd be agreeing into 21 days, but you all could change that at any point.

So within the ops manual, one of the additions that we've included in the update to it also says in addition to 21 days, which is spelled out, it would say that any change to this retention policy, city council would get advanced notice of that change.

It's in the proposed new operations manual language.

Yeah, and uh yeah, and I'm I'm happy to resend it around.

Yeah, um, I have a question for you, Chief Thomas.

Thank you.

So you you mentioned earlier um about the hardware for the drones.

And when we were in committee, this came up as well about the drones.

And it sounds like the they're not in operation because they're on that order, but at some point you all will be able to field that.

And I guess I'm not clear on who would be operating that.

Is that flock or is that Exxon?

So those drones would be uh Flock Aerodome drones that uh would be part of that pilot project.

No, okay, thank you.

That's it.

Thank you, Councilmember Cashman.

Yeah, thank you.

Um Tim, I guess you're you're as good as anybody for the Well, it's it's not uh particularly technical question.

And uh so we had 11, is it 11 or 112 cameras flock?

11.

That's what I thought.

Um so we're going down if this were to pass uh it would go down to 50 cameras.

So are you saying that's it, it stays at 50 cameras forever in a day.

So certainly in this contract, the amount of money that we have for it is for 50 cameras.

Um so I mean, into the future I can't tell you exactly what those what it could potentially look like, but certainly for this contract, it would be it would stay at 50.

That but I'm trying to understand is is the current thought that uh if there's more money becomes available, you you would add additional cameras in the future.

I I honestly think that that would be something that we would have to look at how the system has been impacted by the reduction, right?

If there's not if we if we don't feel like um we're missing coverage because of the reduced number because of the work that the police department has done in identifying that layered system, um, if if we don't see uh a market drop in in coverage, then I I don't imagine that we would, but I I don't know that now.

Yeah, because my memory is uh how many years ago it is now six, seven, you know, COVID throws four years in the middle.

Um but um trying to remember, I think it was Matt uh Chief Thomas's uh one of Chief Thomas' aides at the time that came to Councilwoman Sawyer and myself and said, hey, we're we're looking at this program, we want to put 11 cameras along Colorado Boulevard to you know try try to catch uh stolen cars or amber alerts.

Next thing I knew with nobody coming to me saying, Hey, now we're doing 30, now we're doing 70, now we're doing uh a hundred.

Um I'd like some sort of statement uh by next week as to is this a beginning?

Uh I'm guessing um you if you believe in the system, you'd like as many locations as you can get.

So if you could talk to the troops and if you can get back to me.

They have pretty robust transparency portals.

Um that uh currently the D the Denver Police Department operations manual is available online.

Um it's a pretty dense document, and it can be tricky to find and navigate to the section, right?

Um and so one of the things that we've been kicking around, and I think that would have a lot of support amongst the task force members is setting up essentially a transparency portal or a landing page where it would have kind of a list of all the different surveillance technologies that exist in Denver currently.

It would have a list of the policies and procedures that govern them, essentially taking the operations manual and transporting it into somewhere more accessible, um, and then having um in some other cities they do essentially privacy audits or privacy impact surveys.

Um and I think all of those things are um addressing the the concern that you have that um with any of these technologies there's always the chance that it's gonna grow over a period of time.

Um and so making sure that uh certainly council members but also the public at large is aware of those changes and can see it um happening if if that's the route we go.

I think there's not much objection from uh from people who I've spoken to about that.

But I but I that's a long-winded way of saying, yes, I will have an answer for you by next week.

You you make light of your abilities as an attorney, you do pretty good.

Thank you, Councilman Carr.

Thank you, man.

You will do is also what my wife says to me most days, so thank you.

Councilwoman parity?

Yes, thank you.

I don't think either clarity or deep, and I really don't know which at this time of night, but um, can I ask um really anyone that can answer?

So uh um I guess I'll ask you this, Tim, because I know you've been very involved in the contract process.

Um, and you can tell me if there's a better person.

What's the value in terms of what we're paying for of the access to their algorithm that actually can identify the plates versus the hardware?

So, what does one of these cameras cost if you just bought one, but you weren't gonna hook it up to an algorithm?

I'm not the right person to answer that question, councilman.

Um can I ask Axon that?

Yes, if Ben is still online.

And when he's promoted all the time, yep.

Yeah, Ben Ruke with Axon.

I did hear your question, Councilwoman.

Let me just get the we sell all these technologies in a bundle, uh, just like we do with our body worm camera.

Um so uh I'm just getting the exact number for the hardware specifically.

Obviously, there's um the hardware, the installation, the software.

Um the bundle itself sells for $3,000 per year.

Um the hardware is about $1,500 uh of that $3,000 per year.

Okay, and then the balance of the other 50%.

Hardware $1,500 for installation, software algorithm, all of that.

Okay, okay.

This algorithm, I think I'm also correct, but this algorithm can read any image.

It doesn't have to be an image that was taken by one of Axon's cameras.

Is that correct?

Like it can read any image that is put in front of it.

You broke up for a second, say ask that again.

No problem.

Um to say that um your ALPR algorithm that can do plate recognition and also vehicle recognition, similar to Flox, um, it can do that on any image or video that it is put in front of it, right?

No, that no.

The the system is designed to only read license plates and translate those license plates into uh a readable format.

The license plate image doesn't have to be taken by one of your cameras for any particular reason.

Well the yeah, I'm sorry, I don't I don't I'm not sure if I understand the question.

Yeah, let me refer to your the part of your website that's giving me the question because it's hard I may be framing it very badly.

So thank you for being with me.

Um on the FUCS website, it talks about the ability to identify and track vehicles by plate color make or attributes and vote view movement history across connected ALPR sources to include your different types of ALPR cameras and also the works with axon integrations, which are like those apps and things I was referring to earlier.

So those apps um ring citizen or I understand we're not opting into any of this now, but those are apps that would take photos or footage, not with one of your cameras, feed it into FUCS, and your algorithm would be able to identify the plate.

I see so we don't have the capability to run ALPR on non-axon cameras today.

Um yeah, absolutely.

And that is something that will be available in the future.

Um and to your point, yeah, we're continuing to develop and look for new opportunities and ways to keep community safe, and um that's one of the the ideas that we're exploring.

Absolutely.

The only can you explain then to me?

I just am wondering why the FUSIS website identifies works with axon integrations as a current feature that can be run the R assessment.

Does that make sense as a as a question?

Yeah.

Um let me get you some more information on that on on if we're not doing ALPR and R cameras today.

Um why it's being represented as something that um you know this is possible in in uh on the website.

So I understand it's a goal.

So but um okay, so then for Tim or DPD, I just I have one last question for you all.

Um, and it goes back to the 50 camera locations.

Um I just want to know if we're the sole reason that we're going down to less cameras um is to sort of thread the needle of public opinion here and get this contract passed, or if it has to do with a feeling that in the future we will be able to track vehicles through other cameras, drones, other technologies or goals.

Thank you for the question, Councilman Tim Hoffman with the mayor's office.

Um so we went through uh a very specific type of RFP process called informal RFP process um that is capped at 150,000.

Um and so um it was as much as anything a a cost, not um any sort of future plan to expand to other types of cameras that could read the same technology.

But also not a plan to maintain that limit necessarily to councilman cashman's question.

No, and I'll certainly have something more definitive for you all by next week on that.

Thank you.

Maybe you won't.

But why was there not some companion ordinance that did go along with this contract?

Because we're asking a bunch of one-offs here, that it doesn't seem logical or realistic that you're gonna are you gonna craft a companion ordinance, I guess, to capture all the questions that have been asked by my colleagues tonight, so that we can review that next week on the final vote.

Yeah, thank you for the question, Councilman.

So I think having an ordinance in place uh is part of what that discussion of the surveillance technology task force is designed to do.

Um there are obviously that's not something that can happen in a week.

Um, but I think certainly a lot of the feedback that has been taken in now, but certainly over the course of the task force and how long it's been in place, a lot of those would be incorporated into an ordinance.

I will say that a lot of the things that I would imagine would be addressed in ordinance around data security, around retention policy around where this information lives and how public it is.

Um, those are things that are incorporated in this contract that would also theoretically live in an ordinance as well.

Um, but as I think Councilwoman Gonzalez Gutierrez talked about, this is a very big issue, right?

Surveillance technology incorporates and captures any number of different things.

Um, and so trying to make sure that we're drafting and crafting an ordinance that is both responsive to the concerns now, but also can stand the test of time and be adaptable as part of what the task force is trying to do.

So again, since you don't have the ordinance language, why are you asking this council and really not even this council, but the public to solely trust the Denver Police Department and Mayor Johnston's administration?

That's essentially what you're asking us to do without a companion ordinance.

Respectfully, councilman, I would say that we're asking you to trust the contract that would be in place, the policies and procedures that the Denver Police Department has in place and the public process by which we have gone through this.

So contract terms are contract terms, and we would abide by all of the safeguards that we've put in place.

The operations manual of the Denver Police Department is one that has all of the outlines of this is what the camera system can be used for.

These are the prohibitions.

So all of those things remain in place and are very robust safeguards for this type of technology.

That's a lot of trash you're asking us for.

Um so my second question is back to you, you know, very quickly saying that you know you would be willing to create some sort of dashboard or some sort of public interface so that people could track where these cameras are, what they're doing, etc.

etc.

Um, but without that again being an ordinance or specified, we are essentially um not doing our duty as council members, we're pushing that over to the Denver police department and the mayor's administration, and that's troubling.

But um, when Cole Chandler um was in the exit interview with the auditor's office, he said something that's very curious that um he said designing dashboards, um, and this is for all in mile high, but it relates because you mentioned um you know getting the dashboard put together and everything.

So, what is the assurance that this council and more importantly the public um has um faith that you're not gonna come back and the same thing that Cole said designing dashboards is very time-intensive, very energy intensive, and requires a lot of staff and a lot of input.

And again, it just wasn't something that we felt like we needed to go back and do over again at this point in time.

How is this council and the public going to trust that what you're saying here on the record is actually gonna happen to?

Yeah, thank you, councilman.

And just to be very clear, what I was talking about with the transparency portal is an example of the type of things that other cities do to make sure that there is more transparency.

Um, I don't think that uh it's something that we are wedded to on the task force or in the administration.

I certainly think it is a topic of discussion of how best to make sure that the information around surveillance technologies is easily accessible, that it is getting updated on a regular basis.

I was using the transparency portal that exists in other places, and I'm happy to um send you a couple of those locations, and you can peruse those uh portals um to see kind of what which one makes the most sense if that's the route that we chose to go.

But I was simply using that as an example of one of the things that the task force has discussed about how to make sure that there is more public information and public notice.

So, again, nothing is concrete fact then in what you're telling us, it's a to-do list in the future if and when this council votes on this contract affirmatively, and so um thank you.

No other questions.

Councilman Lewis?

Yeah, I actually have one quick question for Ben, if that's right.

Yeah, okay.

Okay.

Um so Ben, when you were in committee, one of the questions that I asked you is if you could tell me the philosophy that you all hold in this moment under this federal administration as it pertains to deportations and the use of this technology and you all aiding in being able to do so.

I mean, not necessarily the safeguards um with this contract, but just like your general philosophy.

And I'm aware you sent a statement um certain uh right before this meeting started, and I was wondering if you could read that statement regarding your philosophy.

Yeah.

I did.

We just pull it out.

Yeah, Van Rupi with Axon.

Um our role is uh so this is the statement I sent to uh your office.

Ma'am, our role is not to set policy, but to ensure technology is deployed with strong privacy protections, agency control, and meaningful oversight that supports public trust.

Axon's approach is policy agnostic, providing flexible technology that empowers agencies to operate within their own policies rather than enforcing a one-size-fits-all framework.

Axon works with local, state as well as federal agencies, but those relationships do not change how our technology handles data.

Agencies own their data and control how it is used.

We build technology to improve safety, transparency, and accountability, and public safety guided by a responsible innovation framework that informs how our products are designed, deployed, and governed.

And I linked to our responsible innovation framework website.

Thank you so much, MG.

That's my only question.

Thank you.

Councilmember Flynn?

Uh thank Madam President.

Um I guess this would be a question for Tim.

Um the uh termination provisions in the contract.

Uh one of the interesting ones I think uh we should bring to light here is uh termination for lack of public interest.

So if we were to approve this contract now before there's an over over arching ordinance, which as a member of the task force, I think we can all acknowledge it's taking a really long time to get anything out of there.

Uh but in order to keep this service in place for for the police department under uh under this termination uh provision, which is after you know, termination for cause, termination for convenience, etc.

Termination for basically any reason.

Uh if we determine after we examine public uh public policy ordinance on surveillance, and that ordinance leads to the conclusion that this is not in the public interest, we can terminate it immediately.

Correct?

Yes.

All right, that's what I thought.

Thank you.

So thank you all.

Um I have a line of questioning similar to Councilmember So this contract is for a year, correct?

Correct.

Um within that year, can are we are there any restrictions that would allow us to expand or not expand?

Because I'm afraid when we opened up the gates for Flock, all of a sudden there were hundred like way more than I ever even knew cameras for Flock.

So how do we know that that won't happen with this contract?

Uh so certainly with this contract specifically, we're kind of at the maximum of how many cameras we could have given the cost, right?

Um, and so I think to to the earlier discussion with Councilman Cashman, I'm happy to come back with a more definitive statement on um and I I will just uh say there are no actual discussions right now of um an amendment in the future or anything else like that, just because this isn't passed in and of itself.

So uh as far as it relates to this contract, we're at the maximum of what that could um yield us in terms of number of cameras.

I'll just say that I would prefer something written or some type of assurance because according to the contract we voted down last May, we were at the capacity with Flock, and here we are from October to March.

And so we were told we were at capacity and that we didn't have any more uh money, and we extended a contract without even any legal tender any money, even though the the city the council voted it down.

So I just with the current person who is occupying the white house because that's what it feels like occupation instead of like actually democracy, it's actually fear-mongering right now.

I don't have faith that if we expand this, that what happens.

I don't that's why I'm concerned about a security breach.

That's what I'm concerned about.

This is different than body warrant gamer cameras.

This is monitoring our public right-of-way, and it's our job to be stewards of our public right-of-way.

So I just need some type of reassurance, like some type of understanding that if this contract were to pass, is that it?

And then my second question to the administration is this is for 12 months.

What does that look like?

Are we gonna have the conversations?

I felt like this was a bit rushed conversation.

It went out for a competitive bid kind of sort of, and then it came to committee, then it was postponed, and now we're postponing it again.

These things take a long time to get in front of us, so I'd like some type of understanding of what does that process look like again in the future?

Are we gonna can we have these conversations in like December?

So we're not having them in a month time frame because I feel like that's challenging.

So if you could take that back to the administration, and the second question I have is um or the third question I have.

Can we have a briefing on why the locations were picked?

I I understand the data, but I don't understand quite.

So I think that's to you, Chief Thomas.

We were shared on Friday, and I just have to say that I had a really I think all of us have had a long week.

Um I was doing research early this morning on this, and so I'm thankful that I get to have a little bit more time to have some more research done to ask some more questions.

Um, because I it just I feel like there's more work to be done on this, even though it is only 150,000.

And then third, fourth, is the I just can't ever remember a time where a contract has come before city council that's with 150,000.

Um I understand why it was done, is because we asked for transparency.

It just I feel like it it opens up Pandora's box now for me to say, well, bring this other contract.

And so I hope that you all do listen to that because you all decided to bring this forward.

What makes us not want to say, hey, we want to see other contracts that are below the $500,000 threshold.

Um, because it just I feel like I'm in this weird position where now it suddenly is on the 13 of us to make this decision instead of the administration.

So I'll probably have more um thoughts next week once I have a little bit more time to digest.

And in between that time, if I could have a briefing on why the location was in council district one, that would be super helpful.

Seeing no other um questions before the body, so just everyone just want to set level set.

This isn't a public like a required public hearing.

So when we have required public hearings, we have rules about closing down the hearing and open reopening it, right?

Remember, I think we postponed a couple land use issues, council member cashman in one, councilwoman Lewis.

We opened we postponed one in yours.

We don't have to be as formal, so I am gonna close the public hearing tonight, but that just so we all know, and the public knows that doesn't mean that we I have to reopen it for questions.

So next week it will be pulled off the consent, and we can just go back into questions, knowing that this isn't rigidness as a public hearing for the part.

So okay, so the courtesy public hearing is closed.

Councilmember Flynn, what would you like to do with council resolution 0246?

I want to hold this over under rule 3.6 for one week.

And uh thank you for all the questions.

I think that demonstrates why it was needed.

All right, no motion is required.

Council resolution council resolution 260246 has been pwned to next week regular council meeting on Tuesday.

And remember everyone it's on Tuesday, it's not on Monday.

That's right.

Tuesday, March thirty-first, twenty twenty-six.

There being no further business before this body.

This meeting is a little bit of a little bit of a way I got the best hip-hop album by Denver Westworth.