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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Denver City Council Regular Session: April 13, 2026

City Council — Monday, April 13, 2026
BodyDenver, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:25:35

Original source
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0:01

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

0:10

Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now.

0:23

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:24

Thank you for taking the time to join us for Denver City Council meeting.

0:29

Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish.

0:31

Sam or Jasmine, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to enable a translation on their devices?

0:39

Of course, thank you.

0:40

Hello everyone.

0:41

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

0:46

And along with my colleague Jasmine, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish.

0:51

Please allow me a quick minute while I give instructions in Spanish on how to access interpretation.

1:33

Thank you very much, Sam.

1:37

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of April 13th, 2026.

1:42

Council members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:48

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

1:54

And to the Republic for which it says one of the nation under God.

2:07

Thank you.

2:08

Council members, please join Councilmember Gonzalez Cutieres as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement.

2:25

We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the city of Colorado.

2:32

We honor as elders, we honor elders past, present, and future, and those who have stewarded this land for generations.

2:39

We also recognize that government, academic, and cultural institutions were founded upon and continue to enact exclusions and erasures of indigenous peoples.

2:48

May this acknowledgement demonstrate a commitment to working to dismantle ongoing legacies of oppression and inequities and recognize the current and future contributions of indigenous communities in Denver.

3:02

Thank you, Councilmember.

3:05

Madam Secretary, we'll call.

3:07

Council members Alvisas here.

3:09

Flynn.

3:10

Here.

3:11

Gilmore.

3:13

Here.

3:14

Heinz.

3:14

Here.

3:15

Cashman.

3:17

Lewis.

3:18

President.

3:19

Parity.

3:19

Here.

3:20

Romero Campbell.

3:21

Here.

3:22

Here.

3:24

Watson.

3:25

Here.

3:25

Madam President Sandoval.

3:27

Here.

3:28

Twelve members present.

3:29

There are 12 members present.

3:30

City Council has a quorum.

3:33

Approval of the minutes.

3:35

Are there corrections to the minutes of April 6th?

3:39

See none.

3:40

The minutes stand approved.

3:42

Council announcements.

3:43

Are there any council announcements this afternoon, colleagues?

3:48

Councilman Nobida as much to start us off.

3:51

Thank you so much, Council President.

3:53

I wanted to congratulate since my neighbor to District 6 is not here today.

4:26

Enjoy kids' activities, food, sustainable trip tips, free tree seedings, pollinator garden seeds, and activities for the whole family.

4:36

So it'll be a fun Saturday in District 67.

4:41

Thank you.

4:41

Thank you, Council President.

4:42

Councilwoman Sawyer.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████48%
Procedural█████████████████████████27%
Community Engagement███████7%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Youth Programs███3%
Announcements██2%
Public Health Policy██2%
Contracts And Procurement██2%
Community Planning██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Denver City Council Regular Session: April 13, 2026

The Denver City Council convened on April 13, 2026 at 3:30 PM, with Council President Sandoval presiding, for its weekly general session. Twelve members were present, with Councilmember Kashmann absent. The meeting included proclamations, approval of consent agenda items, introductions of new bills, and three required public hearings on zoning changes. The session adjourned at 7:56 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of April 6, 2026 (26-0507): Approved unanimously.
  • Resolutions adopted en bloc (12-0): Included over 20 resolutions covering contracts, grants, appointments, permits, and a legal settlement. Notable items: $10 million contract with Gilmore Construction for Denver International Airport maintenance (26-0394, adopted 10-0, with Councilmember Gilmore abstaining due to a conflict of interest); $5.28 million for Denver Fire Department turnout gear (26-0382); $4 million for aftermarket auto parts (26-0383); $300,000 amendment for WorkReady Denver program (26-0393); appointments to the Denver Community Corrections Board (26-0385, 26-0386); $125,915 for behavioral health and syringe access services (26-0387); multiple on-call landscape architecture contracts totaling over $30 million (26-0402 through 26-0420); a $32,000 legal settlement (26-0508, commented on by Councilmember Lewis who stated 2026 settlements total $479,500); and others.
  • Bills for final consideration adopted en bloc (12-0): Included funding for the Denver Great Kids Head Start program (26-0366), a street vacation (25-1861), and two easement relinquishments (25-2086, 26-0336).

Public Comments & Testimony

During the required public hearings:

  • Council Bill 26-0206 (3601 N Monaco St Pkwy rezoning): Two speakers supported the rezoning. Jesse Parris (representing multiple organizations) expressed full support, citing the need for more housing. Elizabeth Hennessey, the property owner and an architect, spoke in favor, stating her plans to build a net-zero duplex and noting the existing pattern of duplexes in the area.
  • Council Bill 26-0207 (2625 E 3rd Ave rezoning): Six speakers commented. Trent Ambler, Melinda Humphrey, Lou Raders (chair of Cherry Creek North Neighborhood Association zoning committee), and Caitlin Quander (applicant's land use counsel) spoke in favor. Rick Merpi (representing Clayton Court Townhome HOA) and Scott Robinson (adjacent townhome owner) spoke in opposition, requesting a 29-foot setback condition be maintained from a 2007 ordinance. Jesse Parris spoke neutrally, asking about affordability, traffic, and community benefits.
  • Council Bill 26-0208 (Far Southwest legislative rezoning): One speaker, Jesse Parris, spoke neutrally, noting the proposal met criteria but questioning the lack of housing focus.

Discussion Items

  • Proclamations:
    • 26-0511 (National Donate Life Month): Adopted 11-0 (Councilmember Sawyer abstained due to a financial interest in a transplant company). Council President Sandoval and Councilmember Alvidrez shared personal stories about organ donation. Laura Jeffries (Donor Alliance) and Phil Workman accepted.
    • 26-0514 (Honoring Mary Savina Mendoza, founder of La Loma restaurant): Adopted 12-0. Councilmember Alvidrez read the proclamation. Several councilmembers shared memories of the restaurant. Mary Savina Mendoza and family accepted.
    • 26-0512 (Honoring Crayton "CB" Jones Jr.): Adopted 12-0. Councilmember Watson read the proclamation. Multiple family members spoke about his legacy in Five Points.
    • 26-0513 (10th Anniversary of Prodigy Ventures): Adopted 12-0. Councilmembers Parady and Watson co-sponsored. Jesselyn Shaharazai and others accepted.
  • Council Bill 26-0206 (3601 N Monaco St Pkwy rezoning from E-SU-Dx to E-TU-C): Staff recommended denial, citing inconsistency with Blueprint Denver because there is no existing pattern of two-unit zoning and the 2000 Park Hill Neighborhood Plan does not explicitly set a new pattern for two units. Planning Board had unanimously recommended approval. After debate, Council voted 10-2 to pass (Nay: Flynn, Sawyer).
  • Council Bill 26-0207 (2625 E 3rd Ave rezoning from CCN with conditions to C-CCN-4): Staff recommended approval, finding consistency with adopted plans. The 2007 ordinance’s 29-foot setback condition was debated; the City Attorney clarified the condition runs with the zoning, not the land, and the new zoning would supersede it. A community benefits agreement was noted. Council voted 11-0 to pass (Lewis absent).
  • Council Bill 26-0208 (Far Southwest legislative rezoning): Staff recommended approval. The rezoning implements the Far Southwest Area Plan (adopted December 2025), rezoning over 100 properties in centers/corridors to suburban mixed-use (A-series to limit drive-throughs), industrial areas to light industrial (no new residential), and one park to open space. Council voted 11-0 to pass (Lewis absent).

Key Outcomes

  • Votes on Proclamations: 26-0511 (11-0), 26-0514 (12-0), 26-0512 (12-0), 26-0513 (12-0).
  • Resolution 26-0394 (Gilmore Construction contract): Adopted 10-0 (Gilmore abstained).
  • Consent Agenda (resolutions and final consideration bills): Approved 12-0.
  • Council Bill 26-0206 (Monaco St rezoning): Passed 10-2.
  • Council Bill 26-0207 (3rd Ave rezoning): Passed 11-0.
  • Council Bill 26-0208 (Far Southwest rezoning): Passed 11-0.
  • Upcoming Public Hearings Scheduled: May 11, 2026 for 26-0389 (1057 S Gaylord St) and 26-0392 (5101-5115 N Milwaukee St); May 18, 2026 for 26-0431 (data center moratorium). Protests deadlines: May 4 and May 11, 2026, respectively.

Meeting Transcript

Hey Denver, it's time for the weekly general session of your Denver City Council. Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for taking the time to join us for Denver City Council meeting. Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish. Sam or Jasmine, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to enable a translation on their devices? Of course, thank you. Hello everyone. My name is Sam Guzman with the CEO C joining you virtually through Zoom. And along with my colleague Jasmine, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish. Please allow me a quick minute while I give instructions in Spanish on how to access interpretation. Thank you very much, Sam. Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of April 13th, 2026. Council members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it says one of the nation under God. Thank you. Council members, please join Councilmember Gonzalez Cutieres as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the city of Colorado. We honor as elders, we honor elders past, present, and future, and those who have stewarded this land for generations. We also recognize that government, academic, and cultural institutions were founded upon and continue to enact exclusions and erasures of indigenous peoples. May this acknowledgement demonstrate a commitment to working to dismantle ongoing legacies of oppression and inequities and recognize the current and future contributions of indigenous communities in Denver. Thank you, Councilmember. Madam Secretary, we'll call. Council members Alvisas here. Flynn. Here. Gilmore. Here. Heinz. Here. Cashman. Lewis. President. Parity. Here. Romero Campbell. Here. Here. Watson. Here. Madam President Sandoval. Here. Twelve members present. There are 12 members present. City Council has a quorum. Approval of the minutes. Are there corrections to the minutes of April 6th? See none. The minutes stand approved.

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