Denver City Council Regular Session - March 31, 2026

The Denver City Council met on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 3:30 PM for its regular session. The meeting included the pledge of allegiance, land acknowledgment, roll call (13 members present), approval of prior minutes, council announcements, two proclamations, and a lengthy debate and vote on a proposed contract for an Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system. A block vote approved most other resolutions and bills on the agenda.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of March 23, 2026 were approved without correction.
• Proclamation 26-0433 (Honoring Denver Arts and Venues during Colorado Arts Education Month) was adopted by a vote of 12-0-1 (Councilmember Lewis absent).
• Proclamation 26-0421 (Recognizing Public Health Week, April 6-12, 2026) was adopted by a vote of 13-0.
• A block vote approved 19 resolutions and 2 bills for final consideration (items 26-0320, 26-0321, 26-0304, 26-0305, 26-0306, 26-0307, 26-0310, 26-0311, 26-0317, 26-0322, 26-0324, 26-0308, 26-0318, 26-0323, 26-0186, 26-0319, 26-0293, 26-0294, 26-0295, 26-0296, 26-0298, 26-0299, 26-0309, 25-0934, 26-0292) with all 13 members voting aye. These items included funding agreements for affordable housing, equipment purchases, software renewals, contract amendments, alley dedications, and the Five Points Business Improvement District renewal.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Prior to the recess, the chair noted one minute for public comment, but no detailed testimony was transcribed. Several councilmembers referenced hearing from constituents and public commenters during the debate on the ALPR resolution.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 26-0246 – Axon ALPR System Contract: The major discussion item was a $150,000 one-year contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for an Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system comprising 50 cameras and necessary hardware. Councilmember Flynn had previously called out the item for postponement, and it was debated at length.
  • Contract terms: The system provides encrypted data stored in Axon's evidence.com platform, with a 21-day retention policy, explicit bans on sharing data with federal immigration enforcement, and provisions that Denver owns its data. The administration committed not to expand the number of cameras during the contract year.
  • Councilmember positions:
    • Support (7): Councilmembers Alvidrez, Flynn, Hinds, Romero Campbell, Sawyer, Watson, and Council President Sandoval argued that the contract includes strong privacy protections, is time-limited, and provides a necessary tool for public safety while an ordinance is developed. They cited the need to solve serious crimes, the ability to prove innocence, and the reduced scale (50 cameras vs. previous 111).
    • Oppose (6): Councilmembers Gilmore, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Kashmann, Lewis, Parady, and Torres expressed concerns about insufficient guardrails, the lack of a citywide surveillance ordinance, the track record of the previous Flock system, potential misuse by federal authorities, and the fact that a $150,000 contract unusually required council approval. They argued that council should first pass an ordinance before authorizing more surveillance technology, especially given the current political climate and Axon's ties to immigration enforcement.
  • The vote was 7-6 in favor of adoption.

Key Outcomes

• ALPR Contract Approved: Resolution 26-0246 was adopted by a vote of 7-6. The contract runs through March 31, 2027, and authorizes 50 cameras at approximately 17 locations citywide.
• Proclamations Adopted: Both proclamations were approved unanimously (with one absence).
• Block Vote Passed: All remaining resolutions and bills on the consent agenda and final consideration were approved 13-0.
• Bills for Introduction: Three bills were ordered published: 26-0230 (rezoning at 4211 N. Hooker St.), 26-0327 (contract filing requirements), and 26-0300/26-0316 (utility easement and flood control amendments).
• Public Hearing Scheduled: A public hearing on Council Bill 26-0230 (zoning change) was set for April 27, 2026, with protests due by noon on April 20, 2026.
• Next Steps: Councilmembers committed to continuing work on a comprehensive surveillance technology ordinance, with the surveillance task force remaining active.