NewMon, Jun 15, 2026·Denver, Colorado·City Council

Denver City Council Regular Meeting - June 15, 2026

Discussion Breakdown

Miscellaneous33%
Procedural31%
Land Use Zoning15%
Economic Development10%
Community Engagement6%
Affordable Housing4%
Public Safety1%

Summary

Denver City Council Regular Meeting - June 15, 2026

Denver City Council convened on June 15, 2026, in the newly renovated council chambers. Acting Pro Tem Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez presided due to the absence of the President and Pro Tem. The meeting included the adoption of proclamations, introduction of bills with commentary, and a public hearing on a zoning change to support affordable housing. Key themes included traffic safety, support for local businesses, Juneteenth recognition, and legislative transparency.

Council Announcements

  • Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez highlighted new chambers and reported 28 traffic deaths in 2026 to date (93 in 2025), expressing concern about meeting Vision Zero reduction goals.
  • Councilmember Sawyer thanked staff for the chamber renovation.
  • Councilmember Alvidrez promoted Bike Fest and the launch of the South Broadway General Improvement District.
  • Councilmember Watson introduced an intern and announced the Juneteenth parade.
  • Councilmember Lewis thanked Pride organizers and announced a community session on municipal sentencing.
  • Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez (as presiding officer) announced a virtual community session on sentencing legislation.

Proclamations

  • Proclamation 260834 (Colfax Mayfair Businesses): Recognized 13 long-standing businesses for over 30 years of operation. Councilmembers Sawyer, Watson, and others praised their resilience amid BRT construction. Voted and adopted (10 ayes). Proclamation accepted by business owners and BID Executive Director Hilary Portel.
  • Proclamation 260846 (Juneteenth Freedom Day): Recognized June 19, 2026 as Juneteenth. Councilmembers Watson and Lewis spoke about the ongoing fight for racial justice and voting rights. Voted and adopted (9 ayes). Accepted by Norman Harris of the Denver Juneteenth Committee.

Bills for Introduction and Comments

  • Resolution 260746 (Kappa Housing loan): Councilmember Lewis supported it as funding for affordable senior housing in District 8.
  • Bill 260704 (Park Creek Metro District IGA): Councilmember Lewis explained it enables street maintenance in Northfield/Central Park, addressing long-standing constituent frustration.
  • Bill 260686 (Lobbyist regulation): Councilmembers Lewis and Gonzalez Gutierrez supported the bill, citing increased transparency and alignment with state standards. They thanked the Clerk's office for guidance.
  • Bill 260758 (Liability claims fund): Councilmember Lewis noted $3,867,000 in settlements year-to-date, requiring a $3 million transfer from general fund contingency. Councilmember Parity expressed concern about the independent monitor being excluded from disciplinary processes, calling it a violation of ordinance.
  • Bill 260741 (Multiple neighborhood rezoning): Councilmember Alvidrez introduced an amendment to strike some industrial conversions in District 7, citing community concerns about gas stations near rivers and historic harm to low-income communities. Amendment passed (10 ayes). Bill ordered published as amended.

Required Public Hearing: Zoning Change at 831 S Monaco Street Parkway

  • Staff presented a rezoning from SMX3A to SMU3 to combine parcels for a 75-unit affordable housing development (30-60% AMI) using LIHTC. The project is in Council District 6. No opposition letters were received. Planning board voted unanimously to recommend approval.
  • Public Testimony: Jesse Paris (representing multiple organizations) expressed general support but asked about affordability guarantees, traffic studies, and community benefits agreements.
  • Councilmember Flynn asked a technical question about the legal boundary to the street.
  • Councilmember Cashman supported the rezoning, noting no community objections and alignment with affordable housing goals.
  • Voted and passed (8 ayes).

Key Outcomes

  • Acting Pro Tem election: Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez elected (10 ayes).
  • Minutes of June 8 approved.
  • Proclamation 260834 adopted (10 ayes).
  • Proclamation 260846 adopted (9 ayes).
  • Bills and resolutions on the consent block passed (10 ayes): includes items 26-0746, 0748, 0756, 0757, 0759, 0726-0735, 0747, 0749, 0737-0740, 0686, and 0704.
  • Amendment to Bill 260741 passed (10 ayes).
  • Bill 260608 (zoning change at 831 S Monaco) passed (8 ayes).
  • Next public hearings scheduled: June 22 for preservation designations and July 13 for zoning changes in multiple neighborhoods.

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. Tonight's meeting is being interpreted in 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. 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. Muchas gracias, and thank you very much. Thank you very much. Good afternoon, and welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, June 15th, 2026. My name is Alyssa Ferrera. I am your council secretary. First, we have the Pledge of Allegiance, land acknowledgement, and establishment of quorum to attend to before the floor is opened up for nominations. Council members, please join Council Member Flynn in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members, please join Council Member Flynn as they lead us in Denver City Council land acknowledgement. The Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho peoples. 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. Roll call. Alvidus. Gonzalez Cutieris. Here. Heinz? Here. Lewis. Present. Romero Campbell. Sawyer. Here. Torres. Watson. Here. Ten members present. Council has a quorum. The floor is now open for nominations. Council Member Sawyer. I nominate Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez to serve as acting President Pro Tem. Madam Secretary, we need it up on our screens. Yeah, sorry. No technical difficulty. Yep, you're all good. It has been moved and seconded. Roll call. Council members Gilmore. Aye. Parody.