Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now.

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

Today is Monday, July 13, 2026.

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 Guzman with the CLC joining you virtually through Zoom.

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

And thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Sam.

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, July 13, 2026.

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

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

One second.

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 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 throughout generations.

Here Heinz.

Here.

And this is a time where there's extreme need for food.

And so please consider dropping off some food items at those locations.

And then lastly, I just wanted to again acknowledge the wildfires across the state that have hit a lot of people close to home.

And I'm really proud that the Denver Fire Department has also sent resource out to some of these fires across the mountains and how important our firefighters are in this very challenging time.

And that we've lost some firefighters, including a pilot just this weekend fighting those wildfires.

And just want to acknowledge their hard work out there.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you.

Councilmember Watson.

Thank you so much, Council President and Councilwoman Vidras.

I had the opportunity this past week to go down to Lake City and Creed.

And there was a new fire that popped up near Lake City.

Many of these really small communities have just volunteer firefighters.

So I appreciate you continuing to elevate the impacts.

It's not just the smoke that's coming to Denver, it's people's lives and livelihood and the um the our amazing firefighters across the state.

So thank you all for the good work that you're doing, and for the communities.

The Rhino Art District is in collaboration sponsoring uh this year's Underground Music Showcase.

There are over 200 plus local bands and national and local acts.

The focus are gonna be on local bands throughout.

It's gonna be just crazy fun in the um Rhino Art District parts of Five Points.

We want to encourage everyone to come on out uh to uh five points in Rhino R District.

If you want more information about the underground music showcase, you can just go to Underground Music Showcase.com.

Um it can provide you opportunities to purchase tickets, it'll let you know where the venues are gonna be at.

We're gonna have two or three really great stages, tons of bands, lots of local music, good food, good time.

So come down to Define District 9 uh from July 24th to July 26th.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Councilmember Heinz.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I want to first uh there's an item on consent, and uh I'm happy for it to remain on consent.

It's 25-0956.

Uh it is uh an agreement uh for uh the community to take over um the Delgene Bridge as uh those who live near the Delegano Bridge know uh the ownership of the bridge itself is uh still interestingly a question.

We don't know uh exactly who owns the bridge.

Uh I know that we've had various vendors over the years uh utilize the bridge, but um but this uh this um 25-0956 will allow us a path to move forward to uh one uh allow for the restoration of the bridge and um uh upon completion uh have the bridge turned over as uh as a um complete and up-to-date asset uh to the city and county of Denver.

So I want to thank Brenda Roy, who's here in the audience uh for all your hard work and uh being willing to uh to uh put push this through to completion.

It government does not move nimbly uh in the vast majority of cases, and it is taking a lot longer than I've uh wanted.

Um but I want to thank you for uh for your hard work.

I also want to thank uh Lower Downtown Neighborhood Association, Ladona, and uh the uh President David Roberts uh for your help as well in uh in moving this forward.

One other thing that I wanted to uh bring up.

We have a proclamation on consent, um, and I'm not gonna call it off either.

Um, but I have a staff member whose last day in the uh in City Hall is on Wednesday.

And so uh Andre Sebak, thank you so much for your uh years of service to the city and the community.

And um uh so there's an uh an extra reason.

Zoe, I'm glad that you're here, and we're gonna recognize you here in a minute.

But there was another reason to grab the entire team, including Andre, into the uh near the chambers.

So um in the break, I'd love to get a photo with you and this and the staff.

Um thank you so much uh for your commitment uh to District 10 and to the people of Denver.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Um I have a few announcements myself.

First up, um this Saturday, July 18th, is the Mount Carmel Church Bazaar.

Um it's fun, it's great, has great sausage sandwiches.

So if you're in the north side, come down to 36th and Navajo Street this Saturday, July 18th.

Again, I'm hosting yoga in Elyches, the old Eliches, so you can come down Wednesday, July 22nd from 6 to 7 at the historic Ealich Carousel Dome on 38th in Tennyson.

It's an hour.

Um just bring your yoga mat.

I believe this one is gonna be bilingual, so it'll be in English and in Spanish.

And right now, currently, there is a funeral proceeding going on for Lynn Bartles.

Camben Flynn, Councilmember Blynn is there attending on behalf of City Council.

I just want to give my heartfelt condolences to Lynn and her family.

I wish I could be there, and instead, I'm at work presiding over city council.

I personally met Lynn probably when I was 12 years old.

Um, she was a really good friend of my dad, and my dad had pancreatic cancer.

She wrote an amazing article on my dad.

She was bipartisan.

She covered news in Denver and new things that were going on in Colorado in a way that I never have experienced with another reporter.

So from Denver City Council to all of the people who are at the National History Museum right now, celebrating Lynn Bartold's life.

Um, just know that we're all there in spirit with you, Lynn, and uh you'll forever be missed.

And then on to some lighter news.

We have had a program, it's called the 2026 Summer Intern Program.

We've had internships, we've had interns from Denver Public Schools, and also we've had other interns from six colleges.

I'll start reading their names, but if each intern could stand so that we can formally acknowledge you.

So if I read your name, stand until the very end.

Once again, I'm gonna repeat that.

Once I read your name, stay standing, don't sit back down.

So in council district one in my office, we have Luis, and he is a DPS launch program recent high school graduate from North High School.

In District 4, Councilwoman Romero Campbell.

We have McKenzie from Gonzaga University, who's a junior, and Livelle, is that right?

Livelle with District 9 and Central.

Oh no, no, no, sorry, Laval, um, District 4 from George Washington University.

Thank you.

From District 9 and Central, we have Jordan Daniel, DPS program and manual at Manual High School, a sophomore.

District 10, Councilmember Hines, we have Zoe, who is the DPS launch program at East High School, who's a senior.

District 11, we've had Councilman Gilmore Yesha.

Is that how you say it?

Yeshi.

And they are part of the DPS launch program, East High School Senior.

District 12 and 8.

We have Enrique, who's just who is a University of Denver graduate.

Awesome.

And in we also have Claudia, is a DPS program Northfield High School junior.

And we have Dakota from the Colorado University graduate.

And then Jaya, is that how you say it?

Jay Jaya from Morgan State University, who's a senior.

Are they here?

Did they did we get everybody?

Which one is that one?

Uh oh yeah, Aliyah Thompson from Central.

Aliyah.

Are you here with us?

All right.

Did I get everyone?

And Aliyah Thompson is North Carolina, our agriculture and technical state university, who's a senior.

We're grateful for the interns selected by City Council as their internship for the summer.

And our hope is one day that you will join us upon graduation.

And thank you for spending your summers with them.

Can we give them a round of applause?

Awesome.

Thank you all.

See no other council announcements.

There are no presentations.

There are no communications.

There are no proclamations being read this afternoon.

Mr.

Secretary, please read the bills for introduction.

From the Finance and Business Committee 26-0921, a bill for an ordinance amending chapters 6, 7, 12, 28, 32, and 53.

Updating application and license fees and making conforming amendments to the code.

26-0925, a bill for a land acquisition ordinance designated certain properties as being required for public use and granting the authority to acquire through negotiated purchase or condemnation, all or any portion of any property interest as needed for the construction of the Smith and Sandown over Quebec Street Bridges project.

This includes fee title and easement interest access rights, improvements, buildings, fixtures, licenses, and permits as part of the project.

The project is located at Smith Road and Sandown Road over North Quebec Street.

260926, a bill for an ordinance amending ordinance number 591 series of 2021.

As amended by ordinance number 706, series of 2021, as amended by ordinance number 1145, series of 2021, as amended by ordinance number 1192 series of 2021, as amended by ordinance number 374 series of 2022, as amended by ordinance number 969 series of 2022 is amended by ordinance number 1450 series of 2022 as amended by ordinance number 548 series of 2023 as amended by ordinance number 1326 series of 2023 is amended by ordinance number 1683 series of 2023 is amended by ordinance number 802 series of 2024 is amended by ordinance number 1561 series of 2024 is amended by ordinance number 1712 series of 2025 to transfer cash from the ARPA operating grant fund 11011 to the ARPA Capital Grant Fund 38395 for host microcommunities projects and to allocate interest earnings in the administration category to support ARPA related personnel and administrative expenses through 2027 from the governments and intergovernmental relations committee 260864 a bill for an ordinance submitting to a vote of the qualified and registered electors of the city and county of Denver at a special municipal election to be conducted at the same time and in conjunction with the general election on November 3, 2026, a proposed amendment to the charter of the city and county of Denver to adjust the city and county's budget and appropriation process.

26-0867, a bill for an ordinance amending Article 2 of Chapter 20 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code by adding procedures for the mayor and city council to consider and address changes in the city's budget and requiring a community engagement process for budget planning.

From the South Platte River Committee 26-0923, a bill for an ordinance approving a proposed intergovernmental agreement between the city and county of Denver and Cronkey Sports and Entertainment Metropolitan District No.

and Cronkey Sports and Entertainment Metropolitan District No.

Designing, Financing, and Building the Wind Cube Crossing Bridge over Steel Spear Boulevard.

The IGA provides for the future conveyance of easements by the city to the districts for the bridge landing area in Council District 9.

26-0956, a bill for an ordinance approving a proposed agreement between the City and County of Denver and Delaney Bridge Restoration Inc.

for the restoration and rehabilitation of the Laney Bridge to meet current safety and other applicable standards.

Open it to public access and use and provide for the long-term ownership and maintenance of the bridge in Council Districts 3 and 10.

26-0990, a bill for an ordinance approving a proposed first amendment to the license agreement between the City and County of Denver and Denver Health and Hospital Authority for temporary additional parking stalls at the Castro Parking Garage, located at 2885 West 11th Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80204 in Sun Valley, Council District 3.

Thank you.

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

Councilmember Albidrez, will you make the motions for us this evening?

Yes, Council President.

Thank you.

Now I'll do a recap.

Under resolutions, Council Resolution 0965 has been called out for questions and comments by Councilmember Alvides.

Council Resolution 0914 and 0915 have been called out in a block for questions and comments by Councilmember Alviderez.

And Council Resolutions 0942 and 0949 have been called out for postponement pursuant to rule 3.6 by Council Member Cashman.

Under bills for introduction, Council Bill 0921 has been called out for a vote by Councilmember Sawyer and for questions and comments by Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez.

And Council Bill 0932 has been called out for an amendment by Councilmember Torres.

Under bills for final consideration, no items have been called out.

Under pending, no items have been called out.

Mr.

Secretary, please put the first item on our screens.

Council resolution 0965, a resolution approving a proposed eighth amendatory agreement between the city and county of Denver and U.S.

Motels Denver North Incorporated to provide motel vouchers for STAR DPD and outreach workers to support individuals and households experiencing unsheltered homelessness who cannot safely access or appropriately utilize traditional shelter environments citywide.

Councilmember Albidrez, please go ahead with your questions and comments.

Yes, I just had a question for host um around this item.

I was surprised to see more dollars here only because we didn't have as cold of a winter or as many activations over winter.

So I just wanted to ask about what why the need or what how we didn't meet the need.

Yeah, definitely.

Hi everyone, I'm Polly Kyle with the Department of Housing Stability.

Um these dollars are actually gonna be used year-round um for DPD.

They were in DPD's budget, and they're moving over to host for just kind of more streamlined process.

Um and they uh it's 235,000 dollars is the amendment.

Um, and then um that's for uh four rooms for them, and that's five nights per room uh for that dollar amount throughout the rest of the year.

Okay, so this is not just for emergency weather purposes.

Okay, and then you are saying that it's no longer going to be dispersed by DPD or what I didn't catch that part.

DPD will still use the funds, um, but it'll go through host budgeting process.

So they won't be using their P cards anymore specifically for So how what will that process be if they can't use a P card?

Um I can get back to you on that.

Okay, that'd be helpful.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, Council President.

Polly.

You can't see the back queue, and I can.

So we have more council members.

Oh, okay, sorry.

Thank you so much.

Hi, Polly, and thank you, Councilwoman, for um pulling this up.

I was just going through um the changes on this contract.

Um, is this anticipated to be the last amendment on this particular contract?

I'll I'll get back to you on that.

I know the contract's been in um process since 2023.

Yeah.

Um, so uh I think we'll have to do an RFP next year for it, but I'll I'll double check and get back to you on the exact process for the U.S.

motels contract.

That'd be great.

And if you can let me know as well, the 2026 budgeted amount that was expected to go to this particular expenditure and what we're actually spending on it.

Yeah, um, because it's increased a lot since it was first initiated.

Yeah, okay.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Seeing no other colleagues in the queue, Mr.

Secretary, please put the next item on our screens.

Council resolution 0914, a resolution approving a proposed on-call maintenance and repair contract between the city and county of Denver and Novus Construction LLC to provide on-call general contractor services at all in mile high sites and council resolution 0915, a resolution approving a proposed on-call maintenance and repair contract between the city and county of Denver and Catamunt Contractors Inc.

to provide on-call general contractor services at all in mile high sites.

Councilmember Alvidres, please go ahead with your questions and comments.

Thank you.

Um, I was just wanting to know what the um small minority women owned business enterprise goals were for these contracts and how they're doing on those goals.

Good afternoon, council members.

Uh Roberto Avila General Services Contract Administrator Senior.

Um, so for this procurement um excuse me, Disbo required a 16% uh minority and women-based enterprise goal.

Um, for this one, Catamount constructors agreed to the 16% maybe we be goal.

And then Nova's construction pledge 20% uh for that maybe we be goal.

I do want to mention that Nova's construction itself is a certified SB, and maybe we be certified firm with the city.

And have they been meeting those goals so far?

Um currently we're going through the city council approval process to approve these contracts.

These contracts have not been used, so they will meet that 16% goal and 20% goal respectively throughout the term of the contract and any extensions.

So these are not extensions.

I'm sorry, I read them as extensions.

This is brand new contracts.

These are both new contracts.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate that.

Thank you.

That's all I have.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you.

See no other thank you.

See another council members in the queue.

Mr.

Secretary, please put the next item on our screens, Council Resolution 0942, a resolution approving a proposed agreement between the city and county of Denver and SSP America, Den C Center West LLC to design and build and manage a Bronco Mile High Grill concession on Concourse B at Denver International Airport.

Councilmember Cashman, what would you like to do with Council Resolution 0942?

Yeah, thank you, Madam President.

As you mentioned, Councilman Flynn's unable to be with us tonight.

He asked me to bring forward a pair of postponements.

This is the first one pursuant to Rule 3.6.

I would like to postpone council resolution 26-0942 for one week to the next regular council meeting, Monday, July 20, 2026.

Thank you.

No motion is required.

Council resolution 0942 has been postponed to the council meeting on Monday, July 20th, 2026.

Mr.

Secretary, please put the next item on our screens.

Council resolution 0949, a resolution approving a proposed agreement between the city and county of Denver and SSP America Den C Center West LLC to design and build and manage a JAX Seafood House concession on Concourse C at Denver International Airport.

Councilmember Cashman, what would you like to do with Council Resolution 0949?

Again, pursuant to Rule 3.6, I would like to postpone Council Resolution 26-0949 for one week to the next regular council meeting, Monday, July 20, 2026.

Thank you.

Mr.

Secretary, please put the next item on our screens.

Council resolution 0921, a bill for an ordinance amending chapters 6, 7, 12, 28, 32, and 53 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code, repealing outdated amusement and cabaret license types, modernizing licensing provisions relating to entertainment licenses, updating application and license fees, and making conforming amendments to the code.

Councilmember Alvidres, will you please put Council Bill 0921 on the floor for publication?

Yes, I move that bill 260921 be ordered published.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council on Council Bill 0921.

Did you also have any comments?

All right.

I'm going to go next to Councilwoman Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Thank you, uh Madam President.

I um called this out for a couple of reasons.

One, uh both comments and questions.

Um last week we started working with uh the consumer and license uh consumer license, oh my god, license and consumer protection to address several concerns with the bill that we um and we've been in some stakeholder discussions with uh entertainment workers and civil liberties advocates about these concerns, and I'm really grateful for the collaboration that we've had from the department uh to ensure that the intended purpose of the bill is met, allowing city workers to do their jobs and better your uh regulating these businesses, but that the bill is not unnecessarily broad or violating the privacy of vulnerable workers.

Um so with that, I have a couple of questions that I'd like to ask um whomever would like to come up from DLCP.

Uh first question is um, you know, one of the potential amendments that we have discussed to the bill would amend the record section to better protect the safety of entertainment workers.

We would maintain the requirement that businesses maintain all records required by department rules.

Is your department um you know, is this something that based on those conversations that you think we can work on for this change?

And could you please also speak to speak to how the department rulemaking process will work and look in this area?

Thank you for the question, Erica Rogers, Deputy Director in Licensing and Consumer Protection.

Um thank you, Councilwoman.

We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate on uh language that best protects the safety of patrons and workers alike.

Um our intention with rulemaking is to ensure that we're devoting adequate time and allowing for robust discussion around some of the topics in the bill, including video surveillance.

Rulemaking will be a public process, and we encourage anyone with expertise in the areas of privacy or video surveillance to participate.

We will be sharing more information about the rulemaking process and key dates to participate through our entertainment bulletin.

So if you're not signed up for that, please do.

You can sign up on our website, the landing page for this bill.

Or if you're not sure where to find that, or you just have more questions, you can also email us at DLCP policy at Denvergov.org.

Thank you so much.

And my second question is about the video surveillance component and the concerns that have been raised by Civil Rights Act uh advocates.

So we've discussed adding language to ensure that legally prohibited areas like dressing rooms, bathrooms would be exempt.

We also understand that the department is trying to strike a balance between record collection to support investigations into criminal acts with the privacy and safety of workers.

Yes, the language as discussed does align with our intention behind the video surveillance requirement in general, which is to provide for that adequate um investigation of alleged violations with the least amount of video surveillance as required.

We are aligned with the workers who are in support of this change, and we did plan to include it in uh a list of topics to be discussed at rulemaking.

Um so a specific list of locations in the ordinance is a great starting point for that rulemaking discussion.

Great.

Thank you so much for that.

And um, I just want to let my colleagues know that um you know we started engaging in these conversations and plan to bring um some possible amendments if this bill goes forward into um the next council meeting, and so just wanted to give folks a heads up and and we'll be reaching out to your offices with with what the language would look like.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilwoman Sawyer.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just wanted to make sure that Councilwoman Gonzalez Gutierrez got our questions answered before I commented because I've called it out to vote no on it, and uh the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protections um has been absolutely fantastic in partnering with my office and answering a million different questions of meeting with my residents.

Um and so I I this my no vote on this is in no way, shape or form reflective of the work that you guys have done.

You've done a really good job.

Um but at the end of the day, the these changes make a lot of sense for downtown, and they don't make a lot of sense for our neighborhoods.

So um I represent Cherry Creek, I represent Lowry, I represent a swath of Colfax.

Um these are all locations where we have businesses with cabaret licenses that are literally next door to, across the street from, across an alley from single family residences, duplexes, row homes, what our zoning code determines to be a quote unquote protected district.

And while these changes um make a lot of sense for Lodo, they don't make sense for Cherry Creek East, where there is a place that has a cabaret license that um could that has live music, hosts live music regularly and could host live music regularly once a month all year long until 4 a.m.

with people sleeping 20 yards away, less than 20 yards away, 12 feet away across an alley.

And so um I really appreciate this.

I understand the impetus behind it, but it is something that is just simply not gonna work for my residents.

I could give um examples in almost every neighborhood of district five that are very clear where this is going to be a problem, and so it's just not something that I can support so I'll be a note tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Heinz.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh, Councilmember Sawyer, I'd I I'd love to chat with you between now and a week from now.

Uh, because I'm not certain it's 100% for downtown either.

Oh, okay.

Um so uh so you have the I think that there are ways to perhaps um localize the additional um uh uh additional restrictions or regulations uh like perhaps based on uh the density of uh of licenses or perhaps the uh the size of the venue that's getting licensed.

And I'm I'd love to chat with you to pick your brain on um how we can get things that maybe work better for downtown and in the same process uh we're good for um communities I used to represent, like Cherry Creek Country Club and the you know other areas of district five.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

I see no other council members in the queue, Mr.

Secretary.

We'll call on Council Bill 0921.

Council members parity Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Alvides.

Aye.

Gilmore.

Aye.

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Aye.

All right.

Cashman.

Aye.

Sawyer.

No.

Torres.

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Council President Sandoval.

Aye.

Mr.

Secretary, close the voting, announce the results.

10 ayes.

10 ayes.

Council Bill 0921 has been ordered published.

Mr.

Secretary, please put the next item on our screens.

Council Bill 0923, a bill for an ordinance approving a proposed intergovernmental agreement between the city and county of Denver and Cronkey Sports Entertainment Metropolitan District 2 and Cronkey Sports Cronkey Sports and Entertainment Metropolitan District 3 for designing financing and building the Wine Coop Crossing Bridge over Spear Boulevard.

The IGA provides for the future conveyance of easements by the city to the districts for the bridge landing area in Council District 9.

Councilmember Alvidres, will you please put Council Bill 0923 on the floor for publication?

I move that council bill 26-0923 be ordered published.

It has been moved and seconded.

Councilmember Torres, your motion to amend.

Thank you, Madam President.

I move to amend bill nine twenty-three in the following particulars on page one line twelve, strike district nine and replace with district three.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council on the amendment to council bill zero nine two three.

Councilmember Torres?

Thank you.

The amendment just changes the bill title to reflect the correct council district.

Awesome.

Seeing no members in the queue, Mr.

Secretary, we'll call on the amendment to Council Bill 0923.

Council members parity.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Alvides.

Aye.

Gonzalez Gutiérrez.

I'm sorry.

Gilmore.

Aye.

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Aye.

Hines.

Aye.

Cashman.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Torres.

Aye.

Watson.

What if I want the bridge in District 9?

Sorry.

Aye.

Council President Sandoval.

Aye.

Mr.

Secretary, close the voting, announce the results.

11 ayes.

11 ayes.

The amendment to council bill 0923 has passed.

Councilmember Alvidres, will you please put Council Bill 0923 on the floor for publication as amended?

I move that council bill 26-0923 be ordered published as amended.

Comments by members of council on council bill 0923 as amended.

Seeing none, Maestr Secretary will call on Council Bill 0923 as amended.

Council members parity.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Council President Sandoval.

Aye.

Mr.

Secretary, close the vote and announce the results.

11 ayes.

11 ayes.

Council Bill 0923 has been ordered.

Published as amended.

This concludes the items to be called out.

All bills for introduction are ordered published.

Council Member Council members, remember that this is a consent or block vote, and you will need to vote aye.

Otherwise, this is your last chance to call out an item for a separate vote.

Councilmember Alvidres, will you please put the resolutions and proclamations for adoption on the bills and final consideration for final passage on the floor?

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

All of the 26 series.

26-0964 0965 0913 0914 0915 0924 0963 0868 0869 0870 071 0872 0873 0874 0875 0876 0877 0878 0879 080 0881 0882 0883 084 085 086 0887 0888 0889 0890 0891 0892 0893 0895 0896 0897 0898 0899 0900 0901 0902 0903 0904 0905 0906 0907 0908 0909 0910 0912 0935 0936 0937 0938 0939 0940 0941 0920 092 59 0962 092 0960 0961 0957 0958 0916 0917 0918 0919 0943 0944 0945 0946 0947 0948 0950 0951 0952 0953 0954 0955 0687 0955 0852 0618 And That's All I Straw That's A Lot.

It has been moved and seconded, Mr.

Secretary, roll call.

Council members parity.

Aye.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sorry, I lost my attendance list.

Um Alvidres.

Hi.

Gilmore.

Aye.

Gonzalez Cutieris.

Hi.

Hines.

All right.

Cashman.

I Sawyer.

Aye.

Torrez.

Aye.

Watson.

Council President Sandoval.

Aye.

Mr.

Secretary, close voting answer is uh results.

Eleven ayes.

Eleven eyes, the resolution and proclamations have been adopted and the bills have been placed upon final consideration and do pass.

Tonight there will be a required public hearing on Council Bill 0712, changing the zoning classification for 4625 North Milwaukee Street in Ilarious Moncia, and a required public hearing on 0741.

Changing the zoning classification for multiple properties in Athmar Park, Marley, Overland, Ruby Hill, and Westwood neighborhoods.

If there are no objections from members of council, we will recess until 530 PM before can reconvening 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.

The general public comment session will begin at 5 p.m.

I don't think the mic's on, ma'am.

Welcome to the general public comment session of July 13, 2026.

Tonight's session is being interpreted into Spanish.

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

Hello, everyone.

And along with my colleague Jasmine.

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

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Sam.

City Council provides a general public comment session to hear from the public on any set city matters, except any matters that are scheduled to have a public hearing.

That the Denver City Council has a pilot program that welcomes Denver's youth to speak at general public comment on the first Monday of the month, which is this Monday.

Anyone can still sign up, however, on these Mondays, those 18 years old and under will be given preference.

To maximize time for public comment, council will not offer comments or responses from the dais.

Council members or staff may contact speakers following their comment if they raise matters that lend themselves to follow up.

All speakers should be given by stating their name.

Each person will have three minutes to speak.

For those participating in person when called upon, please come to the podium.

A timer on the presentation monitor will display your remaining time.

For those participating virtually when called upon, please wait until you are promoted to speaker.

Then accept the promotion, turn on your camera if you have one, and your microphone.

Please refrain from profane or obscene speech.

Direct your comments to council as a whole, and refrain from individual or personal attacks, including disparaging other speakers' motives.

First up, we have Michael Sir Cone.

Thank you.

Appreciate you helping me with that.

Floor is yours.

Hello and good evening.

My name is Michael Sircone.

I'm a local circus arts performer and instructor and a small business owner.

I'm also a contractor for headline events.

I'm here today in defense of Mutual Aid Monday.

Michael, if you want to talk into the mic, people will hear you better.

Thank you.

Moving forward from there, I ended up staying at the crossroad shelter for a few weeks.

In the first three days, I had accumulated 134 bed bug bites.

After that was shut down during the pandemic, um, all of this is in March of 2020, around the 13th is when I experienced my uh sobriety event.

Uh moving forward from there, the National Western Complex was opened by the um National Guard.

Uh while living at that facility, I got COVID, uh, was made physical threats by other homeless people.

Um I stopped staying at the shelter eventually during the George Floyd protests because I was a notified on my phone about a murder that happened 12 numbers away from my bed unit.

Um I feel a general lack of concern for the safety of homeless people and myself in this experience.

Um to crawl out of this experience, I'd not like to establish my experience as a street performer locally in Denver.

Uh I use juggling and the experiences I have accumulated from Circus Arts to work as a street performer to earn enough money to buy myself a small vehicle.

Uh during that time, I experienced another hurdle.

Uh when the migrant situation of Denver happened, my street corner was inundated with migrant workers who were washing windows, inevitably they assaulted me.

I ended up in the hospital.

There are records, there are police reports.

Um these things occurred to me, and the police made fun of me.

The city did not come to my fence in any way, shape, or form.

Um in this moment I lost my income during a cold weather event, a negative degree weather event.

I couldn't afford propane, couldn't afford food, and I contacted mutual aid Monday.

I contacted Kim, and she came to where I was.

She met me at the place I was doing what I could with what I had, and she provided me propane, and she took me to buy groceries.

Um what I want to conclude here is that I urge City Council to continue to support mutual aid Monday, and I beg you to oppose any efforts to restrain them or try and create oversight for them.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Michael.

Next up we have Brian Loma.

Good afternoon, Council.

Brian Loma, resident of uh Ruby Hill, District 7.

You know, I want to support what you had to say, except I want to acknowledge that there are mutual aid programs going on seven days a week in this city.

They feed a lot of people.

And you know, you've had a lot of people up here over the years talking about food, talking about low income, low housing uh aspects.

And I've been hearing about the shelters up uh on the other side of town Quebec and how people are not allowed to have their own food.

They can't microwave a bag of popcorn or some noodle soup.

They um lost power, and I guess it took several days for the one facility to get back online.

Um and we lost track of some of the people that we've been working with out there.

But food issues um continue to come up as a as a concern.

So when we're in shelters, are we packaging food?

Uh that is got a lot of plastic waste, landfilled, not recycled.

Are we uh working on ways to use the we don't waste ordinance, universal recycling and composting ordinance to capture food rescue and feed people with it?

Uh these are some concerns that I want to bring up that um hopefully as you're meeting with host Dottie and others, uh, you know, working within the system, we'd have some better answers to these concerns.

Um, because you know, we have uh we have a gentleman at one of the facilities, doesn't have a tongue because the Denver police shot his tongue out of his mouth.

Not a lot of food he can eat.

And if I can't have appropriate food for him in his shelter, where is that?

Like that's an issue, right?

So place looks great.

It's too bad the blinds are closed.

You would see the hundreds of people being fed outside right now, right?

A lot of that food comes from the five tons uh plus of food that is rescued actively here in the front range by our mutual aid organizers.

And uh yeah, don't be messing with that process, right?

It's protected free speech, uh not um not a permanent event.

I know we've been doing this for 14 years with the Occupy movement.

Uh and you know, I've been proud to see so many Coloradans and Denverites, but not just people from downriver, people from across the front range come to Denver to feed our communities and to provide those hot meals.

So um, okay, let's do better at the shelters with the food though, huh?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up we have Janet Namkung.

Janet.

Next up we have Donald Ku virtually.

Donald, if you'll accept the promotion.

Yeah, can you hear me?

Yeah, we can.

Go ahead, sir.

Great.

I'm thanks for uh the opportunity to speak about uh this proposed ordinance.

It's 26 0921, and it's to um replace the current cabaret ordinance.

Um I did speak about this at the Finance and Business Committee meeting, but did not have a chance to express uh uh a thought around the 4 a.m.

closing period, closing time that's been proposed.

Um, there's been a lot of press about that.

Uh there's a lot of uncertainty about how the 4 a.m.

closing time will actually work.

Um and uh I haven't talked to any businesses that were super enthusiastic about that since uh they have to stop selling liquor at 2 a.m.

still because of the state law.

And so um so our suggestion, and I'm speaking on behalf of the Lower Downtown Neighborhood Association as well as the uh upper downtown neighborhood association and the Loto District.

Uh we all jointly believe that it'd be best to just trial this.

Uh and I would I would urge City Council to perhaps amend the ordinance to just include a trial period to see how this actually might work, uh, to see if businesses will actually change their business model to adapt to it.

And then there's been a growing concern among the residents since we we concern we represent the residents of of downtown that uh, you know, the the folks, the the places that have noise issues till 2 a.m.

will just uh now have noise issues until 4 a.m.

And I realize there's an ordinance uh already to prevent that or to uh restrict that, but then it's become a matter of enforcement, right?

And so there's this there won't be enforcement issues to try to get to tamp down noise uh later at night.

And you know, even though uh they can't sell liquor after two, uh I we think that there's gonna be an enforcement issue on that front as well.

Um I've talked to several folks that are kind of loath to tell their weight staff to take away uh you know people's liquor uh you know if they buy it at 155 and just supposed to take it away at two.

So anyway, uh just I would urge you to consider just trialing it for a little bit to see how it actually works out, and um hopefully we'll uh find some information about how you know what what might actually work.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up we have Frank O'Kantor.

Thanks, Council President, um, and members of City Council.

Uh my name's Frank Lucantore.

I am a resident of City Park West in the Perfect 10 Council district.

And uh, whether in my uh time as the executive director for the Colfax have bid over the last 11 years or in my previous career in environmental nonprofit work, collaboration has been what I built off of.

And uh, and and we have had a really strong partnership with the uh Denver police for all of that time.

It just hasn't translated into the current uh district six redevelopment uh project.

And now we're uh presented with a design that squanders public resources.

The current plan consumes nearly all of the city-owned land for two non-compliance structures.

This flawed design includes 10 separate violations requiring variances, 10.

And that and some of them effectively bypass the public scrutiny of a rezone from city council.

This is a grand missed opportunity for housing development, just one block from a high frequency bus rapid transit station.

At a time when Denver is facing a critical housing shortage, the city's design builds a game of thrones style fortress that ignores the street, the businesses, and the community.

The mayor's office suggests a postage stamp sized parcel will remain for housing, but there is no written commitment, and the size is functionally unbuildable for any meaningful housing.

The alternative design that we shared with you by email last night is comparable in size to the state building uh recently purchased at Grant and 12th for housing.

Uh, it proves that the design can provide greater security for police uh personnel while still making room for hundreds of new neighbors.

If the variances are allowed, we are choosing a vacant lot for decades and uh and a walled compound over affordable housing and transit-oriented development.

The Board of Adjustments hearing is tomorrow at 1030 a.m.

I urge you to send staff to observe or better yet, read your opposition into the record.

Uh, one of city council's core roles is land use, and we must demand that our public land is used wisely, not squandered on a design that fails our city's future.

Um available to provide talking points and further data.

And thank you so much for your time.

Thank you.

Next up, we have Aonte Anderson virtually thank you, madam president and members of council.

Uh I just wanted to be able to speak about some of the public comment restrictions that I see happening in Denver, and I do not uh want Denver to be on the the uh uh uh I I want Denver to be better than Aurora.

And uh for many of you all that know that I uh alongside Medean Schaffner and others have been testifying before the Aurora City Council for nearly two years going, or excuse me, over two years.

And we have uh been through public comment restrictions, um, have been through them adjusting time and playing various games with public comment.

And it was uh disappointing and disheartening for me to see that the Denver City Council discussed a very important ordinance uh and around the municipal ordinance that was discussed, and there was not a single uh person that I saw that was presenting as a person of color that was able to speak, knowing that those individuals are going to be disproportionately impacted by any criminal justice uh reform or even sentencing.

And so it is imperative that the Denver City Council re-assess their public comment standards.

The fact that the City of Aurora, which has four Republicans on the council and a MAGA Republican mayor has better public comment restrictions than our great city of Denver is disappointing.

If you speak once, you can't come back for three months, or you gotta get lucky if you come back in three months.

And then finally allowing the city of Denver to have a actual public comment dedicated for our young people, prioritizing them in the same group of uh citizens that are 18 and older, uh, is a disadvantage and it puts our young people and our uh voting age population against each other.

And I believe that we need to have a specific time carved out for young people that is before this council uh that hears regular public comment, and then we need to be able to have the general public comment.

So it is my hope that uh this message is able to be received um with a um uh the heart of understanding that we love this city um and we love the first amendment and that I want to make sure that our city can be better than our neighbors to the east of us because right now they are doing better than us and they have MAGA Republicans running their city.

We are better than Aurora.

Next up we have Brandy Majors.

Okay, can you hear me?

We sure can.

Okay, great.

I'm sorry, this is uh my tablet.

Okay.

All right, good evening, council.

I promise, uh I promise I only need three minutes.

Apparently that's more discipline than some people can manage.

I've got a simple question.

When did activism become performance art?

I've watched the alleged activists turn city council meetings into political theater.

They call it advocacy.

I call it monopolizing the people's microphone.

If 40 people stand in line to deliver the same speech for an hour and a half, that's not expanding public participation, it's crowding everyone else out.

I watched it happen in Aurora, quorum most lots.

Residents lost their opportunity to address the issues affecting their daily lives like myself.

People with concerns about their neighborhoods like myself, their utility bills, public safety, or city services were pushed to the uh back of the line because the meeting becomes a stage instead of a place to govern.

Now I see the same style of politics showing up elsewhere, like Denver.

And I have to ask, when does it actually when does the actual work begin?

Now let me address something else.

I've been told that I'm disrupted, that I question motives, that I'm too direct.

Well, I'm not here to make anyone feel comfortable.

I'm here because public officials work for the public.

Accountability is a disruption.

Asking uncomfortable questions isn't disrespect.

It's part of the job.

Mine as a residence and yours as elected officials.

In my words, if my words make people uncomfortable, maybe it's because they're aimed to at uncomfortable truths.

I don't expect this council to agree with me every time.

I do expect you to protect the right of every resident to be heard, not just the loudest voices, not just the best organized groups, but everyone.

Democracy isn't measured by who can put on the best show.

It's measured by where the ordinary people can still walk into the room, speak for three minutes, and know that they were hurt.

That's the standard I'm asking you to defend.

Thank you and have a great day.

Thank you.

Steph, we have Roderick Marshall.

Roderick.

Deputy Man.

Good evening.

Just want to double check, make sure I'm heard.

Yeah, we can hear you.

Go ahead.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Roderick Marshall.

I am the CEO of Fresh Start of Denver.

And basically, we work with young people, definitely young people and adults, because you know, throughout life, sometimes we all fall short of the glory, and we need that righteousness in our life to get back on track.

So I just wanted to mention to city council.

I'm not sure if this exists yet, but I haven't heard much about it.

I've been here since 2019 from Columbus, Georgia.

And when I was younger, we used to have the show and tell.

We used to have talent shows and story time.

And I'm sure some of you may be old enough to remember ABC after school story, and that the guys say now back to the story after the commercials and the Bill of Rights on Saturday, we learned certain certain things.

So I just want to emphasize that for the youth from a city council perspective.

I would love to see more talent shows sponsored by Denver City Council or City of Denver, I should say, and story time and allowing that freedom to exist, to hear people out, to connect with people, our neighbors, even if they're from a different district.

Oh, speaking of um representing District 11.

Sorry about that.

And I know that it works that connection and allowing young people to feel heard and seen without having to do things that are detrimental to their existence, allowing them that space.

And I feel like if it was city sponsored, it would have more meaning to it, and it would carry more weight.

So I don't know if those things exist.

It's just that I never heard of them since I've been here since 2019.

So the XL Center is a productive, very high-driven, produced a lot of adults that now have their high school diploma.

I'm one of them.

And um in June.

And I just want to promote education, having a strong workforce.

It attracts other companies from other states to want to be here.

You know, even if it's GED, high school diploma, certificates, all of that stuff matter to our workforce.

And it helps us the more accomplishments we have as people, the better we feel.

And when we feel better about what we're doing, we do better, and we are better.

So thank you all.

Have a good night, and I appreciate this opportunity to speak.

Thank y'all.

Next up, we have Alliot Howe.

Hello, I'm Elliot Howe, District One.

We must immediately divest from the apartheid group called Israel and stop our sister city relationship with their city Carmel.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 14th, the Senate votes on whether or not to include Section 1217 in the NDAA, which would merge the U.S.

military with the IDF that supported detaining our U.S.

representative Rokana just this past weekend.

When our federal government proves that it bows to a foreign nation, it is up to us to divest, to stop supporting apartheid and terrorism.

What stopped bus segregation in the United States?

The Montgomery bus boycott.

381 days of a community refusing to use the bus system that required black Americans to sit in the back while white Americans could sit in the front of the bus.

The boycott is what stopped bus segregation here in the United States.

What got apartheid South Africa Democratic elections?

35 years of the anti-apartment uh the anti-apartheid movement, 35 years of the anti-apartheid movement, a boycott movement targeting South African exports.

Consumers refused to buy South African produce, sherry, cigarettes, textiles, and clothing, and only lifted the boycott when South Africa was set irrevocably on the path to democratic elections.

It's no secret that Israel is an apartheid state.

Just this past weekend, U.S.

Congressman Rokana was detained at gunpoint by terrorist Israeli settlers wielding American made M4s.

When the IDF showed up, they supported the terrorist settlers and continued detaining the U.S.

elected representative.

Despite multiple videos of the illegal detainment, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Michael Litter called Rokana a liar.

None of the settlers have been arrested, and none of our Colorado Congresspeople have expressed any support for their colleague, to the best of my knowledge.

On his trip, Rokana described the apartheid roads.

You can only drive here if you're an Israeli, you can drive here if you're a Palestinian.

Israel makes Palestinians use a different color license plate so they can easily enforce this.

Kana's detainment in the apartheid he describes is in the West Bank, internationally recognized Palestinian territory.

I'm going to read as many news updates from a week and a half in June as I can from the West Bank.

June 7th, Israeli soldiers have abducted Dr.

Bilal al-Shabaki, the head of the political science department in Hebron University, and his parents, Samira and Mahmoud al-Shabaki in the middle of the night from their homes.

June 8th, an Israeli soldier open-fired into a family's car, shooting seven-month-old Sam Abu Haikel in the head and killing him and wounding both his parents.

That's all the time I have.

Thank you.

Next up, we have Jesse Paris virtually.

Yes, good evening, members of the council, those watching our home, those in the council chambers.

My name is Jesse LaShawn Paris, and I represent for Black Star Action Movement for Self-Defense, Positive Action Commitment for Social Change, as well as the Unity Party of Colorado, the North Park Hill Coalition, Frontline Black News, Shabbat's Black Experience enhance the revolutionary agenda.

And I am a candidate on the ballot for House District 8.

Once held by the Honorable Elbert Wedgeworth.

And I reside at the Roach and Bedbug infested legacy loss in Daryl Watson's district of District 9, the fine district nine, the historically black district of five points.

Okay, so salute to Mitchway Monday.

That's good and well.

It's all good, right?

Now, as far as what I just heard.

Y'all bring up our struggle.

They'll bring up the black struggle.

Talk about the Montgomery bus boycott and put high in South Africa, but ain't none of y'all speaking out for reparations for foundational black Americans.

I ain't heard none of y'all say nothing about lineage-based cash payment reparations for foundational black Americans at either the state, federal, or local level.

So it's all mute.

You use our struggle, piggyback off our struggle to benefit your interest and your cause.

Well, we have our own agenda and we have our own cause, and that is a black agenda, and that causes reparations in the form of direct lineage cash payments for the Senate of American slavery freedmen, the people that built this country.

So if you're gonna bring up our struggle without mentioning what we are demanding, it's a waste of time.

Now, as far as city council already know why the decorum exists, it's because of me and Chairman Seiko.

They have the decorum rules the way they do because of me and Chairman Sakou.

I want to make that perfectly clear.

As far as y'all don't want to prioritize black people, but y'all want us to go out and vote.

Y'all want us to get our booties to the polls.

What are we voting for?

We're not getting untangible for our vote.

Y'all prioritize immigrants over us, y'all prioritize LGBTQ over us, y'all prioritize every and humpbacks, uh humpback whales, uh anything, wolves, anything over us, but yeah, y'all gonna want us to get our booties to the polls in November and in April of next year.

Why are we voting if we're not gonna get nothing tangible for our vote?

If you want something tangible, you'll support me, Jesse Parish for House District 8.

The elections in November.

The only one that's gonna prioritize black people in the city, in the state, and in this country.

Thank you.

Next we have Medina Schoffner on virtual medina.

Next up, we have David Royball.

David David Ripple.

See no other public comments.

The next session will be held on Monday, July 20th.

Sign up begins at 5 p.m.

on Thursday, July 16th.

We look forward to hearing from you again, and thank you for attending the Khakeland.

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

Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now.

Thanks, Tim.

Council will now reconvene from our earlier session.

There is no unfinished business from the earlier session.

There are two proclamations being read this evening.

Councilmember Watson, will you please read Proclamation 0866?

Uh yes, Council President Sandoval.

Proclamation number 260866, supporting the front range passenger rail district's proposed special event stations and the development of passenger rail service along the front range.

Whereas the front range passenger rail district, FRPR district was established as a corporate and political subdivision of the state of Colorado to research, develop, construct, operate, and maintain an interconnected passenger rail system along the front range extended from Wyoming to New Mexico.

And whereas the development of Colorado Connector or COCO represents a significant regional investment in multimodal transportation infrastructure designed to serve current and future generations of Coloradoans.

And whereas COCO is intended to connect residents and visitors to employment centers, housing opportunities, colleges and universities, medical facilities, and entertainment destinations throughout the front range, and whereas Colorado's front range population is protected or projected to approach 8 million residents in the coming decades, increasing demand on existing transportation systems and exacerbating congestion along Interstate 25, one of the state's most heavily traveled and consistently congested corridors.

And whereas passenger rail offers a reliable, efficient, and sustainable transportation alternative that can reduce vehicle miles travel, alleviate road congestion, and contribute to improved air quality and environmental outcomes.

And whereas the Colorado Department of Transportation, the FRPR district, and the Class I or Class 1 freight railroads spent the last four years extensively studying the operational feasibility of utilizing existing rail structure, enabling near-term passenger service while maximizing the use of existing assets.

And whereas pending voter approval, initial initial passenger rail service that is anticipated to begin as early as 2029 will expand frequencies and coverage, providing a timely response to growing transportation needs, and whereas the FRPR district has conducted public outreach through town hall meetings, city council presentations, and social media engagement, providing community with meaningful opportunities to ask questions, offer input, and engage with FRPR district board departments and staff.

And whereas Denver Union Station will serve as the hub of the future Coco Rail network, and it's expected to benefit from the highest volume of total boardings on the system.

And whereas the inclusion of two special event Coco stations in Denver, conditional on final approval from the Class 1 host railroad partners, has the potential to enhance transportation options, increase community vibrancy, support economic development, advance the creation of transit-oriented development, and generate increased activity in the hospitality, retail, and service sectors.

And whereas the FRPR district has committed to provide annual payments to the City and County of Denver after a ballot measure passes for a period of 25 years through the FRPR district local return program to support the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of passenger rail station facilities and station area improvements, including multimodal access, first and last mile connectivity, transit connections, transit-oriented development activities, and other investments that enhance access connectivity and functionality associated with the COCO stations areas in Denver.

So now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council, Section 1, that the Denver City Council recognizes that the front range passenger rail district goals align with Denver's comprehensive 2040 plan, Blueprint Denver, and other local priorities.

And section two, that the clerk and recorder of the city and county of Denver shall fix the seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation and that a copy be transmitted to the front range passenger rail district.

Thank you.

Sorry, I lost my place in the script.

Thank you, Councilmember Watson.

Your motion to adopt.

I move that proclamation 260866 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council.

Councilmember Watson.

Thank you so much, Council President.

I am honored to put forward this proclamation and I ask uh for my colleagues to support this.

The front rail, uh, front range rail uh district is essential if we as a city are looking at ways of reducing our carbon footprint, increasing um reliability on multimodal options outside of driving and reducing the amount of traffic on I-25.

Um this provides an opportunity between Pueblo and Fort Collins, including Denver, as a main hub to ensure that we can increase people's use of uh front rain front range rail, as well as reducing um the trips that folks take, individual car trips up throughout this um this corridor.

Um this is an innovative process that utilizes current rail.

The infrastructure bill will be much less than some of the other uh train options that have been provided, and we have a whole host of folks that have been going across this corridor, meeting and speaking with community members to receive input and incorporating those feedback within this process.

So as a city council member, as a train lover, um, and as someone that appreciates the opportunity to provide uh greater accessibility to folks across um Denver um and across the region, I encourage my colleagues to support with a passage of this um proclamation um and the possible adding of uh trail stops outside of Union Station to two of our soon-to-be built um stadiums.

We will also reduce the number of folks driving to and from uh those stadiums if this passes.

So thank you so much, Council President, and I ask my council um colleagues to uh support this proclamation.

Thank you, Councilmember Watson, Councilmember Alvidres.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, thank you, Councilman Watson, for bringing this forward.

Very excited about the potentiality of having the front range passenger rail as it would really impact District 7 as well as the two potential stops would really have an impact, especially I appreciate your comments around air quality.

While we're suffering so deeply from our air quality right now as well.

Um I am very excited to support this tonight, and my long-term concern is just the local return dollars and how we're using those to these affected areas the most.

So thank you.

Thank you so much, Council President.

Thank you, Councilmember Heinz.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilmember Watson, for bringing this uh forward.

I um I mentioned this in committee.

I'll I'll mention it again.

Uh Denver has a fabulous opportunity to capture tourism dollars from uh all up and down the front range uh in yet another way that uh maybe someone uh might not want to drive or or might be afraid of trying to find parking anywhere near Union Station, which happens to be in Denver's Perfect 10.

And uh and so I just I see this as an opportunity if they're gonna stop anywhere along uh the front range, they're gonna stop at Union Station uh because it already has a um rich workforce there.

It also has a rich area uh for uh for tourism and uh so you could take the train down uh from Fort Collins, spend the night uh and not have to rent a car at all.

And uh and wouldn't that be great for a weekend getaway or it would be great for um you know people who uh want to live a little bit further uh from uh from the center city but still get that job downtown for that dream uh employer that happens to be located in Denver because that's the uh downtown Denver because that's the most logical place for them to uh to um to locate in part because of all the mass transit and non other non-car options like front range passenger rail.

So I I mean I see this as a as an easy win for uh for the um for the people of Denver and uh I want to thank uh the honorables uh who are on the front row uh who are uh part of the board and um uh and the leadership team and and helping us uh us honorables uh learn more about it and uh so I'm excited to support it.

Thank you.

Uh again, Councilmember Watson, thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Seeing no other speakers in the queue.

Madam Mr.

Secretary, roll call.

Councilmember Sperity Romer Campbell.

Romara Campbell.

Aye.

Alvidres.

Aye.

Gilmore.

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Aye.

Cashman.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Um Madam President.

Aye.

Mr.

Secretary, close the voting and announce results.

Seven ayes.

Seven ayes.

Proclamation 0866 has been adopted.

We now have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance.

Councilmember Watson, who would you like to invite up to accept the proclamation this evening?

Thank you, Council President.

Before I invite um Sal Pace uh up, I want to acknowledge the honorables, uh, honorable um uh councilmember Albert Wedgeworth.

Uh Councilwoman, please, if you don't mind waving so folks know who you are.

She's my hero and my mentor for many decades, and honorable uh Chris Nevett, um council member from District 7, and he's the Vice Chair of Front Range Pastor Rail.

Thank you both for being here and your leadership in this process.

And with that, I'll ask um if Sal Pace, General Manager, Front Range Pastor Rail, if you don't mind coming up to the podium and sharing a few words.

Good evening, Council, and uh I'm joined by Chris Nevett, our vice chair, and he actually represents Dr.

Cog on our board and uh former uh member of this assute body.

Um it's a it is a honor to have this proclamation and it means a lot.

We've been going up and down the front range, and uh we have now had 11 communities pass similar proclamations.

I think the reasons for front range rail are are somewhat intuitive.

We talked about whether or not you are going to use the train yourself, you're going to see benefit when additional cars are off the road and your air is cleaner.

Uh but beyond that, in Colorado, we're taking a uniquely Colorado approach to delivering service, and that means service faster and more to for more affordably than you've seen in other states because we are leasing the right-of-ways and the tracks from the existing freight railroads.

In fact, we already have a signed term sheet with the BNSF Railway, uh, which is a real novel approach that other states have not done with a direct service contract with the freight railways, as opposed to trying to assert our authority under the Surface Transportation Act to utilize freight tracks.

This means a more collaborative approach.

It also means a more deliberative approach that's better for all of our constituents.

Um I want to also point out that with this resolution, uh, this qualifies Denver for an additional loc uh 10% in our local return for the community.

The local return dollars are dollars that the uh front range passenger rail district will be sending back to uh local municipalities for operating uh their station areas but also supporting TODs, multimodal uh development, uh walkability, bikeability around stations.

And for the city of Denver, we're talking about an additional 22.5 million on top of 225 million that we'll be sending back to the city of Denver because of this proclamation.

And uh that's separate from uh a recommendation I'll be making to our district board at the end of the month for some specific dollars to support walkability and transit around uh South Broadway and uh the Burnham Yard site uh separate from the local return.

So um this proclamation isn't only good for uh showing the city support, it actually means some some hard dollars in our policy as well.

So thank you for passing this.

I also want to acknowledge our team, uh uh a host of folks who have uh come to support us at lots of events and uh Elbora and and Grant and Kendra and Seneca, um Anakin and uh several other supporters who are here in the audience.

So what's your name?

Uh Garrett?

So thank you, all the supporters who've come to see uh show support at our uh events.

Thank you, all Denver City Council.

It means a lot.

Thank you.

Um and uh our vice chair says he does not want to say anything.

So thank you all.

Councilmember Gonzalez Cuites and Heinz, can you please read proclamation 1028?

Yes, uh Madam President, thank you.

Whereas uh thousands of Denver Metro, I'm sorry, proclamation number 26, 1028 recognizing Justice for Janitors Day, whereas thousands of metro area janitors work cleaning 50-story office buildings, business parks, high-tech and medical campuses, and public buildings like our own Denver International Airport and the Wellington E.

Webb municipal building, and whereas this workforce, the majority of Latina immigrant women clean tens of millions of square feet per night, emptying trash, scrubbing bathrooms, and sanitizing workspaces so that our city can thrive.

And whereas in 1986, 40 years ago this year, the now internationally organized Justice for Janitors campaign was born right here in downtown Denver, Colorado, as part of the Service Employees International Union Local 105, making Denver the proud birthplace of a global movement for workers' dignity.

And whereas for four decades, the Justice for Janitors movement has given both a voice and a seat at the table to workers who clean buildings across the Denver metro area and across the country, winning affordable family health care, dignified wages, full-time work, safer work working conditions, and efficient workplace standards that have helped transform a once troubled industry.

And whereas the Justice for Janitors movement has always been rooted in the fundamental right of workers to freely organize and join unions, and through collective bargaining has demonstrated that union membership is the most reliable path to raising wages, securing benefits, and building a middle class for families, for working families and whereas Denver has long stood as a city that welcomes and supports the rights of workers to organize, recognizing that strong unions means stronger communities, a more equitable economy, and a more just city for all.

And whereas Jennifer uh Denver janitors continue to fight for living wages, affordable dependent health care, and safe working environments, and the Denver City Council is with them in that ongoing struggle for justice and equity.

And whereas the 40th anniversary, the founding of the Justice for Janitors campaign in Denver is a milestone worthy of permanent recognition so that future generations may know and honor the legacy of the workers who built this movement in our city.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council, Section One, that the Denver City Council recognizes June 15th of each year as Justice for Janitors Day and honors the janitors of the Denver metro area for their essential contributions to our city, city's health, safety, and prosperity, and recognizes Denver's proud role as the birthplace of the Justice for Janitors movement in its 40th anniversary.

Section two, that the clerk of the and recorder of the City and County of Denver shall affix the seal of the City and County of Denver to this proclamation, and that a copy be transmitted to Service Employees International Union, Local 105.

Thank you both.

Thank you.

I move that proclamation 261028 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded.

Is that right, Mr.

Secretary?

Yes, Madam President.

Yeah, thank you.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council.

Councilmember Gonzalez Cutieres, I'll start with you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um you might have noticed that the proclamation said that the Denver City Council recognizes June 15th each year as Justice for Janitors Day.

Um on June 15th, we uh myself and Councilman Hines were able to go and celebrate um with with the workers, with janitors.

However, we did not have a chance to do so here on council um due to just scheduling conflicts and trying to make sure we had folks available.

I didn't want this let opportun let this opportunity pass though.

Um so we are extending the celebration into July, uh, and we can celebrate the whole year, right?

And and keep it, keep it going to remind folks the power of organizing.

This year marks 40 years of justice for janitors.

Forty years ago, our janitorial workers who are largely immigrant workers, people of color, and women inherited low wages and minimal health care coverage that janitors were given for their labor.

It's precisely the the it's pre the excuse me.

It is precisely because of these conditions that janitorial workers in our own city began to organize together to fight in solidarity for their wages and for their health care.

My family has a history of participating and leading boycotts, organizing fundraisers and striking alongside workers.

Um and never, never dare to cross a picket line.

Well, um my husband and I were both enrolled at in college at Colorado State University.

They were cleaning the very buildings that we were studying in as first generation college students.

And from the experiences of our elders in our communities, what I try to teach my children today, that the progress that we have made, it didn't just come out of thin air, right?

It has been hard, hard work.

So whether we're talking about, you know, farm workers in the fields, health care workers, security workers, or who we are here to recognize today are janitors, our social change comes from our collective struggle and fight.

The Justice for Janitors campaign shown us how unions changed their strategies to incorporate women in their organizing, because we know how powerful our women are.

I would like to um just extend you know our gratitude for for all of the work that you all do.

Thank you so much, Madam President.

Thank you.

Councilmember Heinz.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, it's crazy to think that 40 years ago was the uh the birthplace of justice for janitors.

Um, 40 years is 40 años.

And uh and uh we had a you know, there's uh uh several different chance that we could have we have C Sepuere or when we fight we win.

Um in our uh in our uh rally last month, I used the rallying cry of 40 años because 40 years ago my mother was a janitor.

Uh I was the only child of a single mom, and uh so it was either I was at home as a small child or I went with my mom.

And uh and so I hung out at the uh the police station while my mom cleaned uh the police station in my small town in Texas.

Um she uh would also clean the houses of the people on the other side of the railroad tracks.

Literally, that was what separated the have and have not families, kind of like Denver's inverted L, uh, the railroad tracks.

And I went with my mom as she cleaned those houses too.

And so, you know, 40 años makes me remember um my uh my family in the uh and that my mom cleaned houses so that I could get a college degree and that I could get a graduate degree, and then I could be right here leading the city of Denver, the largest city in the economic powerhouse in the Rocky Mountain region.

And so um for the last 40 years, we've had justice for janitors.

Uh 40 años, 40 years from now, we'll have a whole new generation of janitors teaching um their uh their families uh how to make uh ends meet, how to do how to work hard and to have uh uh uh roof over your heads, and it's because um because these buildings have to be clean, these buildings have to be presentable, and it is thanks to the janitors uh that uh that allow um the corporate America to uh to think about that next product or whatever they're they're doing.

Uh so I'm so uh glad to be part of this journey with you, the janitors here today and uh and the um audience and uh for all of those who are uh watching from uh from uh remote.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Councilmember Alvidres.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you to my colleagues for bringing forward this proclamation.

Um it warms my heart to think about um the work that has been done.

Uh when my father came to Denver, that was one of the first jobs he was able to get was to be a janitor downtown, and it made him really proud when I had a job at a law firm downtown, and he told me that he used to clean the bathrooms there.

Um and he never imagined that his daughter would be working on the top floor.

Um, mind you, I was just a front desk girl, but to my family, that was a really big deal.

Um, and I also have, you know, because of advocates coming to my community, we ride the bus up federal, and I've been able to meet a lot of janitors that live in my district that take the bus.

Um, and I think people don't realize that janitors work at night a lot of times, and after RTD stops running, they can't get all the way home.

And so that's been something that we've been thinking about and working towards is how can we get the um buses to run later.

I know what it's like to pick up one of my aunts downtown at 2, 3, 4 a.m.

when there is not a lot of service and when it's very dangerous to be a woman walking around in my neighborhood or downtown, and so appreciate how far we've come and how far we have yet to go, and I'm grateful to have you all as allies to get there.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Mr.

Secretary.

We'll call Council members Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Alvidres.

Hi.

Hi.

Cashman.

Hi.

Sawyer.

Hi, Torres.

Hi.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President.

Aye.

Mr.

Secretary, close the voting, announce the results.

Nine ayes.

Nine eyes.

Proclamation 1028 has been adopted.

We now have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance.

Councilmember Gonzalez Cutieres, who would you like to invite up to accept the proclamation?

Yes.

Um, I would like to invite uh Stephanie Felix Sawyer, the president uh for SEIU Local 105.

And if anybody wants to join you up there, they're welcome to councilwoman.

You know how we roll.

We have our members with us.

Uh President Sandoval and members of the City Council.

Uh, thank you so much for this recognition.

And just to assure you, we are continuing our celebration in August, and you're all invited tonight.

Bring your dancing shoes.

So, on behalf of SCIU Local 105 and the janitors of Denver, I'm honored to accept this commemoration of Justice for Janitors Day and to celebrate with you all 40 years of worker courage, leadership, and solidarity.

For four decades, Denver janitors have organized to improve not only their workplaces as stated here, but the future of our entire city.

They have fought for the fair wages, affordable health care, safer working conditions, and dignity and respect for every worker.

And as stated, the majority of our members and our leaders in the movement across the city and nation have been Latina women.

Workers who clean Denver's offices, hospitals, schools, and universities, public spaces, and Denver International Airport.

Often late at night, long hour with long hours after we've all gone home.

Their work may happen behind the scenes, but their impact is visible everywhere.

Justice for Janitors reminds us that the story of Denver is also a worker story.

Our city was not built only by developers and elected officials or business leaders.

It's been built hand in hand and sustained by people who clean our buildings, care for our families, operate our transportation systems, serve our communities, and make it possible for Denver to thrive.

A union gives these workers a voice, gives them the ability to sit across the table from those employers to be heard and to help shape the decisions that affect their lives and their families.

That is democracy in the workplace, and it makes our entire community stronger.

As Denver continues to grow and change, we must be intentional about the kind of city that we want to see and that we're building together.

The future of our city should be worker-centered, a future where growth is measured not only by how big our buildings are or by what investments there are, but by whether the people who make that growth possible can afford to live and contribute and raise their families here, and yes, even retire with dignity.

A thriving Denver requires good union jobs.

It requires us to recognize the economic progress is only real when working people share in that progress.

Tonight we honor the janitors who have stood together for 40 40 years ago, who stood together, the workers who carried us through this movement, and the next generation of leaders who will continue building a more just Denver.

Thank you again to the Denver City Council for the for recognizing our members' contributions to the city and ensuring that our history will not be forgotten.

Happy Justice for Janitors Day.

Okay, Viva.

All right.

Thank you all.

We have two required public hearings tonight.

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

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 wait until our meeting host promotes you to speaker.

When you're promoted, please accept the promotion.

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

All speakers should begin their remarks by telling council their names and cities of residents, and if they 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 and there is no yielding of time.

If translation is needed, we 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 Alviderez, will you please put Council Bill 0712 changing the zoning classification for 4625 North Milwaukee Street in Illyrious Wancia on the floor for final passage?

I move that Council Bill 26-0712 be placed upon final consideration and due pass.

It has been moved and seconded.

The required public hearing for Council Bill 0712 is open.

May we please have the staff report.

Hi, good afternoon, members of City Council.

My name is Fran Peñafiel, and I'm a principal city planner with community planning and development.

And today I'm here to present the rezoning for 4625 North Milwaukee Street.

The request is to rezone from ESUD to ETUB.

We're gonna go over the request, then we're gonna look at the location and context, we're gonna touch on the process, and finally we're gonna leave uh take a look at the review criteria.

As you can see here in this image, um this is a vacant lot of 4,605 square feet.

It's vacant right now.

And Councilman Flynn is not here today to ask me, but you can see that the rectangle is a little bit bigger because it gets to the middle of the road.

So it looks like like a gigantic rezoning, but actually the lot is very small.

It's 4,605 square feet.

Um, but uh it looks like that big because with the expansion of I-70, they demolished the house and they uh took part of the half like the south part of the lot.

So the current zoning is ESUD or urban edge single unit with a minimum zone load size of 6,000 square feet.

Um allowed in this district in the current district is the building form for the urban house, an accessory dwelling unit.

And the requested rezone uh the requested district is UTUB, which is urban to unit district.

Um this district allows for two units in a lot, and the minimum sole size is 4,500 square feet.

The permitted building forms are the urban house, the duplex, the tundem house, and the Dutch accessory dwelling unit.

Now, looking at the location and context, I should also add for context that this rezoning was sponsored by Councilman Watson.

I forgot to mention the most important part.

So the site is located in Council District 9, which is Councilmember Watson's district.

And it is in the Ilaria Swansea neighborhood.

As I said previously, uh it is currently zoned ESUD, and you can see in this image that it's mostly surrounded by ESUD, but there is some small uh pockets that have UTUC, and then you can see also the ETUB uh to the south of I-70.

The land use, as I was saying at the beginning, it's vacant.

It used to have a house that was demolished with the expansion of I-70, but right now it's it's vacant.

And here we have a couple of images of the surrounding context.

You can see there the lot at the corner, like in the top right of the uh slide, and then you can see the house across the street on Milwaukee.

Okay, let's take a quick look at the process.

Um January 9th, 2026.

Planning board held its public hearing on May 6.

We presented at Community Planning and Housing Committee on June 9th, and we're here today on the final public hearing.

All required noticing has been completed in accordance with the Denver zoning code.

We've received a letter of support from the El Area Swansea registered neighborhood organization.

Additionally, we received over 40 neighborhood residents.

Uh a letter with over 40 uh signatures from neighbors from the area.

Overall, the feedback we've received reflects a shared desire for greater housing variety and opportunities for small scale residential development in this area.

The planning board considered this item on May 6th, as I said before, and they voted unanimously to recommend approval.

There were no significant points of contention during the meeting and no big questions.

Now let's look at the review criteria.

There are three main criteria we're looking for this rezoning.

We're looking at the consistency with adopted plans, the public interest, and consistency with neighbor neighborhood context and the district purpose and intent.

I'm gonna go over those three.

This rezoning enables gentle density and supports reinvestment in an established neighborhood with existing services and trusted options.

Next, we're gonna look at Blueprint Denver.

Blueprint identifies this area as the urban neighborhood context.

And the residential low future place type envisions for this area include single and two unit homes on small and medium lots.

Duplex are considered appropriate when they're thoughtfully integrated.

Here I'm gonna quickly remind you of our uh yellow box in Blueprint Denver that states that when two-unit zoning is proposed in areas with a strong existing pattern.

Blueprint tells us to consider small area plans and neighborhood feedback.

In this case, both support the introduction of additional housing types.

The surrounding zoning pattern includes both single unit and two unit districts.

So the requested rezoning is not introducing an entirely new form into the neighborhood.

But as you can see here in the map, it is not a very strong pattern.

Now looking at the El Area Swansea neighborhood plan, because we're lucky that we have a small area plan to look here.

The neighborhood plan identifies this part of the neighborhood for single family duplics, duplex.

I'm gonna move to this slide here that shows it better.

Um specifically calling for a mix of single family homes, duplex, raw homes, and small apartment buildings.

This directly supports the proposed rezoning.

The neighborhood plan emphasizes a moderate density residential pattern with a range of housing types, including duplex and small-scale multi-unit buildings.

The proposed rezoning aligns with this established established expectations.

The plan also recommends updating the neighborhood context to better reflect Ali access, detached sidewalks and other features consistent with the urban context used by Blueprint Denver.

Further reinforcing this type of rezoning makes sense here.

Finally, the plan speaks directly to community concerns about displacement and the need for affordable housing options, allowing additional gentle density in established neighborhoods is one way to help maintain affordability and provide more options for current residents.

Now looking at the public interest, this rezoning supports a broader mix of housing types, opportunities for more affordable housing, better alignment with plan guidance intended to support residents and mitigate displacement pressures.

These elements together support the public interest in this area.

The requested zoning district fits well with the urban neighborhood context, particularly given the area mix of one and two unit homes and aligns with the purpose and intent of the UTUB district.

To conclude, CBD recommends approval of the rezoning request based on finding that all the applicable review criteria has been met.

Thank you so much.

We have five public speakers for tonight's hearing.

If you are here in person after your name is called, please make your way up to the podium.

If you are on Zoom, please accept the promotion when called upon.

First up, we have Alba Alma Yurbano.

Good evening.

My name is Adam Urbano.

I live on 46 Fillmore, and I support this rezoning.

And I would not be able to own a home without them.

And we are right on the other side of this proposal.

So right on uh by I-70.

Uh and I live in a duplex.

So again, I would not be able to own a home, had it not been a duplex as well.

And it's been a really great blessing for my family.

So thank you.

Thank you, Alma.

Next up, we have Jesse Paris.

Yes, good evening, members of the council, those watching at home, those in the council chambers.

My name is Jesse LaShawn Paris, and I'm representing for Black Star Action Model for Self-Defense, Positive Action Commercial for Social Change, as well as the Unity Party of Colorado, the North Park Hill Coalition Frontline Black Nose, Shabacus Black Express Enhanced the Revolutionary Agenda, and I'm a candidate on the ballot for House District 8, the elections in November.

And I reside at the Roach and Bedbug Infested Legacy Loss in Gerald Watson's districts of district nine to find district nine, historically black district of five points.

I still kind of am.

I have several questions in regards to this.

I would like to answer.

The first one is has there been a traffic study done?

But this is literally right next to the highway.

Is this still a super fun site over in this area?

Again, it's right next to the highway.

Why anybody want to live right next to the highway would be it's beyond me.

Um environmental study, has there been a parking study done?

Has there been a neighborhood agreement signed?

Has there been a community uh benefits agreement signed?

What is the AMI level for these duplexes, these townhomes or whatever you're proposing to build here?

And is this covered by the land trust?

If somebody could please answer those questions, I would greatly appreciate it.

Because I don't even we don't need no more unattended consequences from these rezonings that the city council passes.

Especially in this district.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up, we have Nola Miguel.

Hello, good evening, members of council.

Nice to see you all.

Nice to be in these new chambers, improved chambers.

My name is Nola McGall, I'm the executive director of the GES coalition and Tierra Collectiva Community Land Trust.

Um, and these homes are part of Tierra Collectiva.

Um, or well, they will be once they are sold to the buyers, and we are doing the development in a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver.

Um we have talked about this project before when we did the rezone for Josephine.

So this is the same um set of properties that were in a partnership with um CDA, and um we got congressionally designated funds from Senator Hickenlooper's office um to come in to pay for the land.

Um thank you, Councilman Watson for sponsoring this.

Um, just as a quick reminder, um, some benefits of Tierra Collective and our community land trust for I know that many of you already know these things, but for folks um at home that maybe don't know, um, Tierra Collectiva and Community Land Trust generally provide permanent affordability.

And the affordability level to answer um Jesse's question is 50 we sell our homes at 57% of the area median income.

So they're probably some of the most affordable homeownership opportunities uh in Denver.

Um, and it's not just for one family, it's an investment that goes on and on.

So whether it's generations of that same family or um other families that get to benefit from an affordable home as well.

Um, they are affordable in perpetuity through the land lease.

Um, and so that investment lasts, and it also stays in the community.

So, although we're not profiting from um this transaction, uh, we do have assets that start to build within the land trust, and that enables us to do more and more and to be able to get loans and those types of things.

So it is an investment that lasts and stays in the community.

Um it directly addresses displacement, so 100% of our families in um The Collective are uh we're facing displacement in global Swansea and are now stabilized.

Um it's community controlled, so we are a community controlled structure, meaning that we are member based and then our members elect our board and our board is entirely Globalir Swancia uh residents.

Um in addition, it's just lower housing costs.

So a community land trust, first of all, it sells at a lower rate, and then um property taxes are lower and stabilized because the homeowners are only paying taxes at what they're able to sell the home for.

Um so their property taxes are are at like this instead of like that.

Um and uh in addition, they don't have to pay uh mortgage taxes, another advantage because um the value of the home is so much more than the mortgage that they get on the home that they don't have to pay mortgage insurance, excuse me, more mortgage tax.

Um so those are just some of the advantages.

Um and please let us know if you have more questions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up we have Danny Slabog.

Is that how you pronounce it, Danny?

You were you were really close.

Um hi, my name is Danny Slava.

I'm the real estate development director for Tierra Collectiva Community Land Trust.

Um these uh this property is part of a group of three properties that will replace some of the homes that were taken through CDOT uh expansion of I70 through the global and hilarious one size neighborhoods.

Um that project took 56 homes and 13 businesses out of this community, and this project will be part of replacing eight of those homes and stabilizing uh eight families in GES in perpetuity, um in affordable homeownership that will remain affordable as long as we have property records.

Um so uh I encourage you to vote yes, and if you have questions about Tero Collectiva or how we do that, happy to answer.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Next up we have Virginia Calderon.

So member of the organization GS Coalition for approximately one moment.

Sam is he there producer?

Okay, thank you.

Sam can you do interpretation, please?

Sam or Jasmine.

I love it.

Okay, perfect.

Okay.

So we started the GES coalition approximately 10 years ago.

We've been requesting this type of property for a long time.

The people of Wolville Larry Swansea need these types of homes to be able to live.

And I didn't introduce myself properly.

My name is Virginia Calderon.

I've been a part of the GDS Coalition for a long time, and I'm currently serving as the president of the um coalition.

And as Alma mentioned, she has her home now, thanks to this community of folks that have been able to support our community back.

Okay.

So we hope that with your support we can continue doing this work and helping people to have housing and live in a dignified home.

Muchísima gracias.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Seeing no other speakers.

Do we have questions from members of council on Council Bill 0712?

Councilman Torres.

Thank you, Madam President.

Danny, I think my question might be for you.

It's not so much about the rezoning.

But you had mentioned the 50 uh plus homes that were um taken in the CDOT process.

Do those families come back or are is this opened up for a different kind of pipeline?

Unfortunately, those families have moved on.

Okay.

Um and so we have a long waiting list.

Uh we have several uh families on our waiting list that have been uh you know pre-qualified to buy a house and have gone through our orientation and have been on there for years.

Okay.

Um, and so this will go to the first qualified folks on that wait list.

Got it.

Okay, thank you so much.

Nola, yeah.

We have one family that was displaced that we're still in touch with uh um the a couple of the younger children that are now older, you know, when they were displaced.

I mean, this was what six, seven years ago.

Exactly.

Um are now old enough and they came to an orientation, so we're hoping that they they they will end up in a land trust home back in the neighborhood they had to move their commerce city.

I love that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Yeah, thank you.

See no other questions from members of council.

The public hearing is closed.

Do we have comments by members of council on Council Bill 0712?

Councilmember Watson, I'll start with you since you're the sponsor.

Uh thank you so much, Council President, and um uh thank you so much for community planning development for the presentation, providing all the facts about this.

Thank you to the community members um from Global Elyria and Swansea.

Thank you to the Tier Collectiva Land Trust.

Um there's not much more that I can add.

I will first say, please join me, colleagues, in voting yes for this rezone.

Um but I think that Virginia Calderon said it the best.

Uh she spoke of the dignity of housing and housing stability and what this land trust provides uh to folks, families um between 50% and 80% area median income, and these are folks who are making 65,000 to 78,000.

I know the sweet spot is 57% of AMI, but a range can go that wide.

But those are working families and those are folks that live Global Illyria and Swansea.

So this is providing a dignified living that they can own family size, not studios, but places for families to live.

It's also being responsive to the harm that has been done in this community.

The not simply the displacement, but the absolute removal of 50 homes that Danny shared about.

Um providing this level of housing as a response to wrongs done isn't something that's done everywhere in this country, but should.

This is a model of how a community owns their future and hold accountable the city itself that created the displacement in the first place.

So I am honored to be the legislative sponsor, absolutely meets the three priorities, the community input and informed process.

It's led by community.

So that's uh even a non-starter even act to speak to that.

So thank you so much, Nola, for your leadership.

Thank you so much, Danny, for your leadership.

Thank you, Virginia, for your leadership of the coalition, and I asked my colleagues to join me in voting yes in favor of this rezone.

Thank you.

Um it was 14 years ago around this time that I had the honor of working with council with Nola Miguel as a council lead, and you've been steadfast on your pursuit to make sure that these communities get the representation that they need, that they get the housing that they need, and they get what we're talking about right now.

So it is truly like full circle for me as my last night presiding as city council president to vote on this and see you and this neighborhood and all of the work that you have done.

So I just want to say I'm so proud of you.

Thank you, Virginia.

Thank you, Alma.

Thank you all for coming down here tonight to represent what we thought maybe 14 years ago couldn't be a dream, and now it's coming for fruition, but that's years, decade of hard work and really putting all of your efforts together.

And I also believe that this meets the criteria, but just so proud of all of the work here.

So I will absolutely be sponsoring this tonight.

Mr.

Secretary, roll call on Council Bill 0712.

Council members Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Alvidres.

Hi.

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Hi.

Hines.

Hi.

Cashman.

Hi.

Sawyer.

Hi.

Torres.

Hi.

Watson.

Oh yes.

Aye.

Madam President.

Aye.

Mr.

Secretary, close the one you answer results.

Nine eyes.

Nine eyes.

Council Bill 0712 has passed.

Congratulations.

Councilmember Albidrez, will you please put Council Bill 0741 changing the zoning classification for multiple properties in Athmar Park, Marley, Overlin, Ruby Hill, and Westwood neighborhoods on the floor for final passage?

I move that Council Bill 26-0741 be placed upon final consideration and do pass.

It has been moved.

I don't know why our legislature keeps doing that.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Heinz.

It's kind of wonky tonight.

Has been moved in seconded.

The required public hearing for Council Bill 0741 is open.

May we please have the staff report?

Yes, thank you, Council President.

Um yeah, how do I just imagine?

Right there.

Okay.

Thanks, Tim.

Thank you.

Um awesome.

So I'm Libby Glick, and I'm here to present the rezoning on the Southwest legislative rezoning.

Um so first we'll go through the Southwest Area Plan background, then we'll discuss the proposal, followed by the process, and then finally the review criteria.

So the Southwest Area Plan was adopted by City Council in March of this year, and it outlines the visions for the neighborhoods of Westwood, Athmar Park, Marley, Ruby Hill, and Overland.

So in the plan, um, the community vision is to have vibrant cultural hubs, um, safe, comfortable, and welcoming public spaces, a place that offers a range of affordable and high quality housing options, that it remains a key center for industry and manufacturing in Denver, that there's well-designed infrastructure, and then that they protect and celebrate the natural resources in the area.

So this application is located in council districts two, three, and seven, and council members Flynn, Torres, and Alvidres are sponsoring this rezoning.

So now I'll discuss the um the proposal briefly, and we'll go into more detail once we get to the review criteria.

So overall, this um proposal is meant to implement key uh plan guidance, including designing vibrant commercial centers and corridors, right zoning um the industrial areas, making sure that there's affordable and secure housing options in southwest Denver, and then ensuring the zoning is consistent with the vision.

So there's kind of four general categories within the rezoning.

So the first are centers and corridors, then the riverside communities, housing opportunities, and then finally institutional properties.

So I'll go through each of those in more detail now.

Um so for centers and corridors.

Um, this focuses so overall we'll be removing the billboard use overlay where it exists within the proposed rezoning boundaries and then retaining the adult use um overlay.

Um, and then specifically for the different corridors and centers on Federal Boulevard.

We'll be rezoning the EMX3 and old code properties to mixed use and main street districts.

We'll be applying the active centers and corridors design overlay near bus rapid transit stops and then aligning allowed heights with the plan guidance.

Mississippi Avenue will rezone from a three-story mixed use district, um, keeping that same base zone district and then adding again that active centers and corridors overlay or DO8.

For Broadway, we're rezoning from mixed use and industrial to Main Street.

Morrison Road, the proposals to rezone all of the former Chapter 59 properties to a mixed use district to match the rest of the corridor, and then Evan Station rezoning the industrial properties to mixed use, and then again aligning those allowed heights with the plan guidance.

Um, and as I said previously, I'll go through each of these in more detail once we get to the review criteria.

So it's kind of just a broad overview.

So now the riverside communities, this one has two parts.

The first is LaPan Street, where we're rezoning some of the area that's industrial mixed use to row house, and then another portion will be rezoned from industrial mixed use to Main Street.

And then the Santa Fe Drive corridor, just on the east side of Santa Fe will be rezoned from pretty more intense industrial districts to industrial mixed use, and again aligning the allowed heights with the plan guidance.

Now moving to housing opportunities.

This piece is rezoning several scattered sites in the area that are owned by Habitat for Humanity and the Denver Housing Authority.

So the first piece is rezoning single unit properties to two unit, and then DHA also owns several multi-unit properties that currently have single and two-unit zoning.

So those are proposed to be rezoned to mixed use and then multi-unit.

And then lastly, there are two institutional properties.

The first is the Denver Health Westwood Family Health Center.

That will be rezoned from an old code property to campus health care, and then the Westwood Library and Community Center, which is proposed to be rezoned from old code to a multi-unit district.

So now I'll discuss the process.

So this application was complete in early March.

It went to Planning Board on May 6th, and we're here before you today for the final city council public hearing.

At Planning Board, the board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the rezoning.

Some of the key points that were raised included how the rezoning will impact existing uses, and then questions about the parkway along federal and the set how that relates to the setbacks and lot depths that might exist.

So from IMX3 to IA.

So those have been removed from the staff report and from this presentation, but they were reflected in earlier versions.

So for public comments, we received public comment from the Westwood community action team saying they were supportive of the rezoning with protections to support residents and businesses already in the community.

And then we received comments from 11 members of the public.

Four were just general questions about what properties would be included.

And then we received six comments in opposition.

So one resident near the Evan Station is concerned about going up to eight stories.

There are two property owners along LaPan concerned about being rezoned to a main street district.

One resident in Athmar Park was concerned about rezoning to more industrial, more intense industrial districts, which again, those are the properties that have been removed from this package.

Then there was another resident of Athmar Park concerned with additional housing.

That's rezoning from the IMX to a row house district.

And then one resident of Marley would like to see a fenced-off dog park.

And then we did receive one uh letter in support from Athmar Park in support of rezoning the industrial mixed use properties to residential, saying that it will add more homes to the neighborhood.

So for public engagement, this was done concurrently with the Southwest planning process.

So staff attended a workshops, focus group.

We reached out to key property owners, presented to the advisory committee, and this allowed us to compare the evolving plan recommendations with the scope of the rezoning to ensure that the plan guidance was informing this rezoning.

And then as part of the official rezoning process, postcards were sent out two different times to both property owners and renters, which were thousands of postcards, and then there were signs posted at three different points in the process throughout the area.

Um about we'll see maps of the proposed the requests.

So the three review criteria that must be met are consistency with adopted plans, it needs to further the public interest and then be consistent with the neighborhood context, zone district purpose and the intent statements found in the Denver zoning code.

So I won't go through the comprehensive plan or how this meets the comprehensive plan in the interest of time.

So you can see more of that in your staff report.

So we'll just talk about Blueprint Denver and then the Southwest Area Plan.

So in Blueprint Denver, these maps were updated with the adoption of the Southwest Area Plan.

So the future contexts are mapped as suburban, which is just a residential property.

Most of the area's urban edge, which includes Mississippi, and most of the habitat and DHA properties, and then the urban context is mapped along most of the corridors, so along federal, Morrison, and Broadway.

So I will note that we are proposing the urban, urban edge districts along a lot of these areas that are mapped as urban, but we do still find them consistent with the guidance for urban, given that along federal, for example, we're adding the design overlay eight, which meets a lot of the guidance found in the urban context as well as the Southwest area plan.

And then Urban Center is mapped along portions of Broadway and then at Evan Station, and then districts is in the industrial and the campus area.

And then the future places, the centers and corridors are mapped as local and community corridors and community centers, consistent with the mixed use and main street districts that are proposed.

The riverside communities are mapped as innovation flex, local corridor, and then low medium residential.

The housing opportunity sites are low residential and low medium residential.

And then institutional properties are low residential and low medium residential.

The future street types, again, these vary because such a large area, but federal Morrison, Mississippi, and LaPan are all mixed use, where we're proposing largely mixed use districts.

Kind of near the areas where IMX is proposed, and then most of the area is residential and local streets.

So the growth area strategy is community centers and corridors for most of those major corridors, and then districts in the industrial area, and then all other areas of the city for a majority of the southwest part of the city.

So because this rezoning is so large, we need to look at the equity concepts found in Blueprint Denver, which include improving access to opportunity, reducing vulnerability to involuntary displacement, and expect expanding housing and job diversity.

So for access to opportunity, on this area score, the scores range from two to four out of five.

So the lowest scores are in access to transit for the western portion, mortality, children, childhood obesity, and then access to health care.

And then the highest scores are in access to centers and corridors, and then the social determinants of health.

And then vulnerability to involuntary displacement.

Westwood and the eastern portion of Marley are the most vulnerable.

But by how by having properties that are owned by Denver Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity, we'll bring more affordable units to this area.

And then for expanding housing diversity, the scores range from one to four out of five, with Westwood being the most having the most housing diversity, and then portions of Athmar Park and Marley are the least diverse.

And as part of this package, we're rezoning to multi-unit, row house and two-unit districts, which will allow for a variety of housing types.

This rezoning also furthers several strategies found in Blueprint Denver, including that it will rezone properties out of the old code into the new code.

It will implement plan recommendations through city-led legislative rezonings, and it will ensure an active and pedestrian-friendly environment that provides a true mixed-use character in centers and corridors, particularly along federal and Mississippi, where we're proposing the design overlay eight.

And then it also furthers our some climate guidance found in the plan, and that it will create more walkable places in centers and corridors by rezoning to districts that have stronger design standards than what exists today.

So now moving to the Southwest Area Plan, we'll kind of dive in deeper.

So this rezoning will help create diverse cultural hubs, provide housing stability and options, and furthers the integrated industry vision.

So again, overall this rezoning is a larger scale legislative rezoning, which the plan says those should be prioritized, and it will remove the billboard overlay and where it exists within the rezoning boundaries.

So starting with centers and corridors, we'll kind of go through each and talk about the proposal and then the specific plan guidance.

So we'll start with Mississippi Avenue.

So you can see the area where we're proposing the rezoning is in red.

The proposals to rezone from a mixed-use three-story district to keep that same basis district and add the design overlay eight or the active centers and corridors design overlay with the goal of requiring ground floor active uses and promoting a pedestrian-friendly environment.

So a quick summary of the design overlay eight for those of the public that may not be as aware.

So the current rules allow for kind of what you see on the left, which is what exists in this shopping area today, large setbacks, a lot of parking in front of the building, kind of your traditional strip mall development.

Very auto-oriented.

The proposed rules would get you more of an outcome that's on the right.

So the building would have to be any new development had to be closer to the street.

There would be no drive-throughs, no drive-thru form would be allowed.

Any drive-throughs would have to be in the back of the building.

Parking can't be between the building and the street.

And it would also require non-residential active uses on the ground floor.

So they couldn't do like an all-apartment complex, for example.

So the guidance in the plan for Mississippi is to evolve this shopping area into a mixed use destination that's more pedestrian friendly and that promotes active ground floor uses.

So now moving to Federal Boulevard.

This one has three pieces to it.

The first is we're proposing to rezone all old code properties along federal.

The second is rezoning properties to include the design overlay eight within one block of a future bus rapid transit station.

And then the third is to rezone properties south of Mississippi to allow up to five stories in height, with the goal of promoting a mixed use corridor with active ground floor uses and then matching the height with the plan guidance.

So you can see it'll remain three stories north of Mississippi, and red is where the DO8 will be added, and then the blue is where we're going to five stories and where the DO8 will also is also proposed.

So the guidance for federal is to make sure that we honor the heritage while also promoting growth in Little Saigon, which is why the proposal for this area is to remain that existing three stories in height.

But that south of Mississippi is where up to five stories is appropriate.

And then there's guidance to limit drive-throughs within a quarter mile of a bus rapid transit station, and that the station area should have active ground floor uses, which is why that's where the DO8 is proposed.

And then I also wanted to address the parkway setback.

So previous versions of the staff report noted there was a 20-foot parkway setback requirement for federal.

However, that was incorrect.

There was an amendment to the parkways building line restrictions policy that reduced the setback to zero for this part of federal.

So that applies from 20th down to the South City limits.

So most of federal in within Denver, except for that portion of your district, basically.

So for this part, it makes it a little bit easier to do the DO8 because that it's a zero-foot parkour setback.

Got it.

And then now moving to Broadway.

So this is where we're proposing to rezone all the existing mixed use properties, old code, and then industrial properties to main street districts.

And then the heights will match the existing entitlement and plan guidance.

Again, the goal is to promote a more pedestrian-friendly environment and better maintain the main street character.

So the plan guidance is to maintain that traditional main street character by prioritizing ground floor commercial uses, incentivizing the transition away from car-oriented uses, and then limiting drive-throughs, gas stations, and car dealerships.

The proposal here is to rezone.

These are all mostly industrial and industrial mixed use properties.

So rezoning all of those to mixed use properties with heights of three, five, and eight stories to promote transit supportive densities.

So you can see five stories is proposed, like the parking lot that's directly adjacent to the station, and then on the east side of Cherokee, north of Evans.

Eight stories is proposed right along the tracks on the north side of Evans, and then three stories between Warren and Iliff.

So the guidance for Evan Station is supports to support transit-oriented uses to make sure that the heights, you know, support TOD and that you know the area near Evans and Colorado, should be up to five stories, and then buildings as tall as eight are appropriate adjacent to the tracks.

But essentially, this allows for an existing food truck to continue.

So our current urban context doesn't allow for uh food trucks as a temporary use, but urban edge does.

And there is plan guidance for this.

So there's guidance about encouraging mobile food vendors, such as food trucks within centers and corridors.

And then finally, the last piece of the centers and corridors is Morrison Road, and this proposal is to rezone all the old code properties into a mixed-use three-story district that's consistent with the road the rest of the corridor, and then align the heights with the plan guidance.

And this is to promote flexibility and development and to match the existing corridor.

So the plan guidance for Morrison Road is that it should continue serving as a neighborhood destination with heights up to three stories, but also maintain the current flexibility in the build to requirements as well as the setbacks and remove the use overlay two.

As you all are aware, these have kind of some odd triangular lots, and so EMX does have a lot of flexibility in the build to as well as where buildings can be located on the site, which will help some of these triangular lots develop in the future.

So now moving to the riverside communities.

So the first is La Pan Street.

This is just north, this portion is just north of Ruby Hill Park.

So the proposals to rezone from an industrial mixed use district to Main Street, three-story district.

And this is to facilitate a mixed use corridor and act as a transition to a more intense industrial area to the east.

And the plan guidance is that this area should evolve into a local commercial node that serves the community, but existing industrial uses should be allowed to remain, but the area should evolve over time into a community serving commercial corridor.

And so all of the existing businesses can remain and continue operating as they exist today.

And then the second piece along LaPan Street is farther north in Athmar Park.

And this is the proposals to rezone from single unit and then industrial mixed use three stories to a row house district.

And again, similarly to facilitate a residential area to act as a transition from the lower scale residential to the west to the more intense industrial on the east.

And the plan guidance here is that this corridor should evolve into residential blocks with a mix of low residential and low medium residential.

So now move or the last piece of the riverside communities is the Santa Fe corridor.

So it's between Santa Fe and then the tracks, where it's currently commercial corridor, and then more intense industrial zone districts.

So this proposals to rezone to a mixed use five store or an industrial mixed-use five-story district to facilitate the transition to more mixed use areas and allow for some residential development.

So the plan guidance here is that this area is an innovation flex area that should allow a mix of uses, including residential.

So now moving to housing opportunities, these are our DHA and Habitat for Humanity properties.

So the proposals to rezone all the sites that are in red on the map, which are again they're kind of scattered around, but these are all single unit properties that are proposed to be rezoned to two unit districts.

And then the blue properties are currently two-unit and single unit, but all have multi-unit uses.

So those are proposed to be rezoned to mixed use and multi-unit districts.

And again, the goal just to allow for more affordable units that are owned by DHA and Habitat for Humanity.

So the plan guidance for this area is that DHA should continue to offer affordable options.

We should also provide an adequate supply of housing, and that more housing should be added to Southwest Denver.

And then low residential places, which these largely are should allow for additional housing growth, and that we should explore more ways to add housing, different housing types across the city.

Okay, so lastly, our two institutional properties.

So in blue is the Denver Health site, and so the proposals to rezone from an old code hospital district to a new code campus hospital two district, which is our more like neighborhood campus district, and then the Westwood Library and the proposals to rezone from an R5, which is a multi-unit old code district to GMU 3, so a multi-unit three-story district.

And these will bring these two properties into the Denver zoning code and give them some more flexibility if they do decide to grow in the future.

So the plan guidance for these sites is you know to make sure that these nonprofit organizations are well integrated into the community, but also giving them flexibility to expand their footprint while maintaining character.

And then there's specific guidance for the Westwood community center that it should continue to provide services, but also explore ways to provide additional services like food access, affordable housing, parking, and open spaces.

So the rezoning will allow for again a bit more flexibility on these properties.

And then um this rezoning will further the public interest by implementing plan guidance, um bringing better design to centers and corridors in Southwest Denver, providing more opportunities for affordable housing, and allowing institutional uses to grow while also keeping with neighborhood character.

And then lastly, um staff finds the rezoning is consistent with the suburban, urban edge, urban, urban center, industrial, and campus context, and is also consistent with the intent of the mixed use main street, industrial mixed use, multi-unit, row house, two unit, and campus health care zone districts.

So finding all three review criteria have been met.

Staff recommends approval of this rezoning.

That was a lot.

Thank you.

We have two people signed up for two individuals signed up to speak this evening.

First up, we have Jess Paris.

Wow, I'm the first one.

Greetings.

Um, yes, good evening, members of council, those watching at home, those in the council chambers.

My name is Jessica Sean Parrison.

I'm representing for Black Star Action Movement for Self Defense, Positive Action Commercial Social Change, as well as the Unity Party of Colorado, the North Park Hill Coalition, frontline black news, Shabac's buck display for hands the revolutionary agenda.

And as you can tell from my background, I'm a candidate on a ballot for House District 8th.

The election is in November.

And I reside at the Roach and Bear Bug Infested Legacy Loss in Daryl Watson's district of the fine district nine, district nine, a historically black district of fire points.

This really sounds really good on the surface.

But the people that have continually called this area home for generations are not gonna be able to afford to live in any of these properties that are being rezoned.

Um is not gonna be within the area menial income to accommodate those that would just simply call it this area home, especially Westwood.

Westwood, this is like the nail in the coffin for Westwood.

Um Little Saigon, I'm glad to see y'all gonna keep that.

Everything south is bye-bye to all of that.

So all the little kicking spots, all little spots that people used to communicate have community in, those are gonna be gone.

The people that have traditionally called this area home.

Those areas are gone.

Just like with that Southwest area plan, just like with all these other area plans, all it means is more gentrification for what is that terminology I use, disenfranchised communities, underserved, underprivileged communities.

Yeah, all of that.

That's gone.

So y'all are gonna approve this anyway.

It's gonna it meets all three of the criteria.

It used to be five criteria, but now it's three.

It meets all three of those criteria.

So I have to be a reluctant yes on this because I don't pass it anyway.

Thank you.

All right, last speaker is Renee Martinez Done.

Good evening, council.

It's good to be here tonight.

My name's Renee Martinez Stone, and I'm representing the Denver Housing Authority at 1035 OSHD.

It was a real privilege for me to serve on the advisory committee for the Southwest NPI project.

At various focus group meetings, we spoke of housing, affordable housing, and I heard residents ask for options.

They wanted options in the form of more rental housing, ADUs, and new zoning for tandem homes.

I also heard a very clear need for us to balance large-scale multifamily development and homelessness with a growing need that families have for more tools, technical support, funding, and expedited ways to invest in their long-term stability.

They want to be players too, and they want to guide the investments in their community.

DHA has 18 sites within this legislative rezoning.

They all have long-term affordability restrictions.

But that will not change.

The proposed zone districts implement plan goals.

They align with the community's vision.

This positions them for funding applications for both rental and home ownership development down the road.

It's a critical step that often can take quite a while before you're applying for funding.

At the beginning of March, we sent letters to all 66 tenants on these 18 sites.

We held a meeting and we provided information so that they could contact us for questions.

We only have we had a few questions, um, but especially since we were taking no action on the units themselves.

There was no opposition to the rezoning.

This rezoning illustrates that participating in neighborhood planning moves the needles and that moves the needle, and that we are listening to families.

This is so important because to take the time to engage, plan, and really put your faith in the effort.

Um it's nice to see those rewards and that vision for your neighborhood and your city.

I want to thank Councilwoman Torres, Councilman Alvidres, and Councilman Flynn, along with staff, Hernando, Libby, Liz, it was CPD, as well as the leaders who came out to many community meetings focused groups and talked about the possible in-fill affordable housing options.

GHA is honored to be a landowner in this area, and we continue to provide high quality affordable housing with responsive services.

We've seen that Denver residents will finance affordable restricted homes.

They value a responsible infill and they want to unlock opportunities for their extended family to stay in their homes and their neighborhood.

We appreciate your consideration and hope you will support this.

Let's build, preserve, and respond to families, providing much needed policy, partnership, and support for their vision of Southwest Denver.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That concludes our speakers.

Do we have questions from members of council on Council Bill 07 forward?

Councilwoman Sawyer.

Thanks, Madam President.

Um, just one quick question, and we talked about it at committee, and I just want to make sure it gets on the record in the hearing.

Talk to me about the food trucks, please.

This is like absolutely insane to me that some of our zoning code allows for food trucks to exist, and some of our zoning code doesn't, especially when we're talking about the difference between urban and urban edge.

So what is CPE's plan to fix this moving forward?

Yes, so it will be a part of the first part of the regulatory reform package, which is set for adoption the first half of 2027.

So that will include like expanding allowances for temporary food trucks for use in a wider variety of uh zone districts.

Awesome.

I really appreciate that.

Thank you for looking into it for me and for checking on it because it's like just seems so counterintuitive and crazy.

So, quick follow-up question to that, then there is there, I think there's one property.

It's only one that is being moved into urban edge under the recommendation here specific to a food truck.

Is that necessary then given so I I believe that they have attempted to get a permit, and so this will make they already have a food truck.

Um this is um I'm gonna table public house, is that the right job?

Yeah, so they already have a food truck, and then there's also the property that's as part of why we kept with urban edge along federal.

Okay.

Um maybe you all saw in the news, but there was a food truck.

I think it's out in front of a law office along federal, and so that one had also kind of been kept getting permits and then they were denied.

And so um they were, I think they're up like in November, maybe they had to figure something out, and so this will make them legal as well.

Yeah.

Okay, I really appreciate that because like I mentioned in committee, my favorite food truck, my favorite Berea truck in all of Denver had to go away because of this zoning issue.

So I really appreciate you taking a look at that um and coming up with a solution as soon as possible.

Thanks.

Councilwoman Abidares.

Thank you.

Um, just to follow up on that.

I wasn't aware that we would have this change at the beginning of next year.

What is the proposed change?

Will food trucks be allowed everywhere or I don't know that we have.

I'm gonna stop because we have we're in a public hearing for this rezoning.

Okay.

So we'll have to put a pick to that and talk um, but you have to keep your comments to this public hearing.

Part of this one because I'm asking about this parcel where it's able public houses and the other parcels in this area that have food trucks.

Will they be allowed throughout the rezoned area throughout the entire plan area?

Yes, I don't know exactly what means.

So they'll have to probably bring like an omni um text bundle and it will have its own rezoning.

Yeah, yes.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

I'm uh Liz Weigel with the CPD as well.

Um so I think we haven't yet drafted that text amendment, but I think the idea is to extend the allowances that are in Urban Edge, but not in urban and some of the other districts to other contexts essentially, so it should be similar to what is allowed in urban edge.

But we can certainly follow up on more detail as we start to draft that.

Um question was for Renee.

First of all, thank you so much for all your time that you dedicated late at night.

I was there too sometimes, but you were there even more often than I was at these meetings, thinking about how we prevent gentrification and provide affordable housing in this area.

Um, one of the questions that I did get recently at a Ruby Hill neighborhood association meeting was if we take somewhat uh dense housing that is already in existence by DHA in the Ruby Hill neighborhood and add more.

How would you support and provide the wraparound services that those individuals will need staying there?

So overall, if you could speak to the wraparound services that DHA provides, I think that would be helpful and how you scale that up as you add potential units.

Thank you for that question.

Um DHA is very committed to the services that we provide our 26,000 residents, and they really break down.

It's very are we have housing choice vouchers in most of these scattered sites.

Some of them have two units, so there was 18 sites but 66 units.

Um, all of those residents are currently eligible for the programs and services that we provide, and they include everything from economic self-sufficiency, um, self-sufficiency programs that are five-year programs that help individuals um have access to jobs and training um to work for that self-sufficiency.

And then there's a separate um homeownership, home buying.

We have HUD counselors that help prepare moderate and low-income households for their next opportunity in housing.

And so all of those services are available to the to the tenants that are in these units right now.

And because the sites are small, um, for most of them, it remains to be seen how much we'll be able to build on them.

And some of them we're hoping two units, and some they're larger, and so potentially um, with future policy of unlocking housing, we'd be able to provide like four, maybe six units, but it's not these are not gonna be um high density.

Great, that's helpful.

Thank you so much.

And I'm excited to work with you on whatever future we have to work on together.

Um, thank you.

That was my only question.

Thank you, Council President.

Seeing no other members in the queue, the public hearing is closed.

Do we have comments by members of council on Council Bill 0741?

Um, Councilwoman Torres, want to start us off?

Thank you very much.

Um, I want to thank um Councilmembers Alvidres and Flynn um for your partnership in this and Libby um and Liz uh for your hard work.

Um, because this if I thought you were gonna try to read the whole title, Council President, with all of the B4 U01.

No, yeah.

I wasn't gonna do that extravaganza tonight.

It's it's it's our own West Side extravaganza.

Um this was this could be really really hard to look at and understand how it might affect you.

And so I um just extend um a lot of thanks to CPD uh for taking all of the time needed to walk folks through what did it mean for a property to go from old code to new code, and what did that new code mean for the existing business on site?

We had a lot of those kinds of questions, particularly on Federal Boulevard and Morrison Road in my district.

So a lot of gratitude for folks that might be watching.

Um we're at we're putting into place the active street use design overlay.

And so President Sandoval created this for Tennyson.

We utilized it on Santa Fe, Councilman Hines and Councilwoman Sawyer uh used it on East Colfax, um, and we're now applying it to Federal Boulevard.

And this requires the first floor to be active if it's developed in the future.

So that makes sure that we do have space and room for business for commerce in the future along the entire federal corridor and for housing.

So trying to make space where we want density to be able to go.

And this is one of the innovative things that Renee has brought to DHA and that DHA has brought to the city.

And to be able to think about where on our several thousand properties that DHA owns throughout the city, could a second unit be built on the rear of that property.

I live on a 6,000 square foot property with a 900 square foot house.

I could put another home on the back of that.

DHA is offering to do that on the properties that they own and put that up for affordable home sale.

So we can get a homeowner into a home in West Denver who maybe hasn't been able to because of the cost of housing, who maybe has been looking forward to something like this and just needed the opportunity and be able to transition even the renters on the front property to future home ownership.

So these are folks who have dreamed about owning a home for a long time.

This could have been my mom, 30, 40 years ago, who was raising two girls in West Denver, and just didn't have enough to kind of reach those levels yet.

And so this is what we're able to do in this package when it comes to vulnerability to displacement.

We can't, we don't solve it entirely in this rezoning package.

We are constantly working at that.

And this is where I put out a plea to the mayor's administration.

Denver needs a full platform around anti-displacement and the vulnerability to involuntary displacement.

We are doing a lot of different things, but it is not pulled together in the full platform that tells our residents we have your back, we are trying to protect your stability, and here's how we're doing it.

We don't have that, and we need it.

So just my thanks for that.

I deeply encourage my colleagues to support this.

And just really proud of what it's produced.

And to Councilwoman Sawyer's question, we did have this was in Councilman Flynn's district, a food truck that was out of compliance and initially being told you can't operate here.

Even while we're doing this process, they were still able to operate while we are seeking the actual rezoning that makes them legal.

So they had very little hiccup in their operations, yes.

Um, and that was on Councilman Flynn's side of uh Federal Boulevard.

So all that said, um, thank you very much.

I'm very supportive.

I think this package does really good work.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilman Bravidres.

Thank you.

I also want to acknowledge the huge amount of work that went into this.

Fernando was a huge part of the Southwest area planning process.

Libby has been amazing getting us through this process as well as all of our staffs and my colleagues as well.

And also community.

There's been a lot of back and forth with community throughout this process.

I think just to speak directly to the Asia Center and the little Saigon district.

And when a lot of questions came up around that, Fernando took the plan, looked at it, Libby looked at it, and we really made sure that we integrated to the best of our ability how important these cultural corridors are to our city and to these districts that are affected.

So I want to uplift that.

And we also had a special session as well with Colorado Asian Pacific United there just to kind of talk about the properties that are being rezoned for the bus rapid transit, which I'm really excited about what that future could look like and bring business to these small businesses that they don't maybe have the business they could potentially have.

And we went all the way down to Broadway as well to look at some of those intersections because I think what has not worked is putting uh transit corridors and only housing and not having that first floor activated.

So people can run in out and get food and get other things that they may need and make sure that these areas are very activated.

Um I'm very excited about that part of it.

I think one of the most challenging pieces has been the piece about industrial uses.

Um there has been such a long history of putting industrial uses by the river, and gas stations are now part of those industrial uses by the river, and right now there's a gas station being built really close to the river on Evans and the river, and it's been very challenging to have that conversation, and we still have work to do in that space.

I think the challenging piece is that we think about the economic development and the jobs that we need, and that's always used as a reason to make sure we keep industrial uses, but my concern is that we're keeping these industrial uses in low-income neighborhoods in um only certain areas.

And so when we do do the South Central plan in the future, uh, I know that's probably not going to be part of the conversation is keeping industrial uses in the wealthier parts of district seven, and so wanted to be cognizant of that and those industrial uses and what can happen there.

I don't know if we got it right.

I think we did a lot of work and back and forth, and um, you know, looking 20 years into the future.

I hope my hope is that we will look back in these areas like the corridor by Ruby Hill, where we have Levitt Pavilion, one of our favorite spaces, um, will be bustling.

We'll be a place where people could go out to dinner, where we'll be a place um that people don't just drive through to get to Ruby Hill Park, but will be a full-fledged destination with public transit access.

I think there's some long-term mobility improvements happening right now.

Just this weekend, we were able to see the Jewel Bridge go into place, or as I sometimes call it the High Mitt Bridge, because there's a lot of people that are looking forward to being able to get across Santa Fe Highway and then potentially the soccer stadium and that the bridges that would get neighbors from Athemar Park, Ruby Hill, Overland over to these spaces.

And so this is really an exciting part of our future, and I think 20 years from now we'll be really proud.

And just to echo what councilwoman Torres said, there's still a lot of work that needs to be done because the Asia Center doesn't save itself.

These small businesses don't save themselves.

The residents um can't buy property without us doing the work to provide the funding and the grants and all of those things to support the work that Denver Housing Authority has gotten cut by the federal government in the last couple years.

Um, or the Habitat for Humanity, who owns a lot of these properties as well, depends on so many different funding sources.

And so there's still a lot of work to be done, and this is just the beginning, and I'm excited for it.

And I asked my colleagues to support this.

Thank you so much, Council President.

Thank you.

See no other colleagues in the queue.

I will absolutely be we're supporting this.

Thank you three for working on this.

It's not easy to do a legislative um rezoning.

So appreciate all of the work on there that you all have done.

Um seeing no other colleagues, Mr.

Secretary will call on Council Bill 0741.

Council members Romero Campbell.

Aye, Alvidres.

Hi Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Aye.

Hi, Cashman.

Sawyer.

Aye, Torres.

Hi Watson.

Madam President.

Aye, Mr.

Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

Nine ayes.

Nine ayes.

Council Bill 0741 has passed.

There being no further business before this body, this meeting is adjourned.