Denver City Council Regular Session – August 3, 2026

The Denver City Council convened on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 3:30 PM with all 13 members present. The meeting included council announcements, a communication from the Department of Finance regarding Treasury Tax Rule 004, and votes on several ordinances and resolutions. Notable actions included passage of a park land acquisition in Council District 10 (8–5), a comprehensive entertainment licensing overhaul (12–1 after amendments), and approval of a block of resolutions and bills. Councilmember Parady delivered farewell remarks, noting her resignation effective later that week.

Council Announcements

• Councilmembers reported on National Night Out events, backpack drives, park concerts, and upcoming community gatherings. Councilmember Torres announced the groundbreaking of Morrison Road reconstruction and a public meeting on the Burdom Yard small area plan. Council President Romero Campbell acknowledged a July 20 shooting in District 4 that left one dead and eight injured; the council observed a moment of silence.

Communication

• Treasury Tax Rule 004 – The Department of Finance submitted a revision aligning Denver’s tax return filing frequencies with state standards and updating Occupational Privilege Tax filing frequencies. Effective September 18, 2026, with minimal fiscal impact.

Discussion Items

Council Bill 26-1000 – Parks Legacy Fund Transfer for Land Acquisition (1028 North Acoma Street, District 10)

• Sponsor: Finance and Business Committee
• Details: Approves a rescission and appropriation of $3,195,280 from the Parks Legacy Special Revenue Fund to the Parks Legacy Improvement Projects Fund to acquire 1028 North Acoma Street for parkland.
• Debate: Councilmember Sawyer opposed, arguing the city fails to fund basic park maintenance (e.g., restroom closures) while spending $3M on new land. Councilmember Gilmore cited inequity in capital spending, noting a $5.4M cut to a maintenance shop in District 11. Councilmember Sandoval questioned paying $500,000 over appraised value and lack of funding to develop the park. Councilmember Hinds countered that District 10 has the lowest park acreage per capita (2.3 acres/1,000 residents vs. citywide 9–10) and the acquisition has been sought for 15 years. Council President Pro Tem Gonzales-Gutierrez noted that Parks Legacy funds could be used for maintenance but were being diverted.
• Vote: Passed 8–5 (Ayes: Alvidrez, Flynn, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Hinds, Kashmann, Parady, Watson, Romero Campbell; Nays: Gilmore, Lewis, Sandoval, Sawyer, Torres).

Council Bill 26-0921 – Entertainment Licensing Modernization (Amusement, Cabaret, Entertainment Licenses)

• Sponsor: Finance and Business Committee
• Details: Repeals outdated license types, modernizes provisions, updates fees, and makes conforming code amendments.
• Amendments:
  • Amendment 1 (Gonzales-Gutierrez): Struck a provision requiring entertainment businesses to provide records to law enforcement within three business days without a warrant. Passed 13–0.
  • Amendment 2 (Gonzales-Gutierrez): Prohibited required or allowed video surveillance in staff bathrooms, locker rooms, and other prohibited areas. Passed 13–0.
  • Amendment 3 (Torres): Changed the allowable operating end time for nightlife/adult entertainment businesses from 4 a.m. to 2 a.m., citing lack of safety data for later hours. Passed 12–1 (Parady opposed).
• Debate: DLCP Director Molly Duplisea explained the original 4 a.m. provision aimed to stagger bar closing times to reduce violence, but acknowledged limited data and willingness to pilot later. Councilmembers supported a working group to explore pilots. Councilmember Sawyer noted mandatory hearing concerns for residents near entertainment districts; DLCP agreed to address in rulemaking. Councilmember Alvidrez voted no due to business liability concerns.
• Final Vote: Passed as amended 12–1 (Alvidrez opposed).

Consent Calendar / Block Votes

• Resolutions (en bloc): 26-1144 (arbitration services, $8,000), 26-1037 (Clyfford Still Museum joint use amendment), 26-1056 (KSE Parking encroachment permit), 26-1032 through 26-1035 (on-call land surveying contract extensions with Woolpert, Olsson, Merrick & Co., Jacobs Engineering), 26-1038 (Denver International Airport property management, $3.5M), 26-1039 (DIA luggage delivery lease), 26-1140 & 26-1141 (liability claim settlements: $30,000 to Zsanae Martinez and $15,000 to Larissa Pacheco).
• Bills on Final Consideration (en bloc): 26-1107 (rescission from General Fund Contingency for liability claims, $18.8M), 26-1024 (Equitable TOD Implementation Plan for Federal BRT Corridor, $1.6M), 26-1010 (HIV/AIDS care agreement with CU Children’s Hospital, $1.34M), 26-1011 (Equifax verification services agreement, $1.97M), 26-1019 (street vacation at 510 East 51st Avenue).
• Vote: All approved 13–0.

Key Outcomes

• Parks Acquisition (26-1000): Passed 8–5, authorizing $3.2M for land purchase in District 10, with further community planning expected in early 2028.
• Entertainment Licensing (26-0921): Passed 12–1 after amendments cutting operating hours to 2 a.m., removing warrantless records access, and protecting worker privacy. A working group will explore pilots for later hours in specific districts.
• Settlement Tracking: Councilmember Lewis noted total 2026 city settlement spending reached $3,992,000, requiring a $18.8M rescission from General Fund Contingency to replenish the liability claims fund. Councilmember Parady linked high settlement costs to disagreements over oversight of police and sheriff disciplinary policies.
• Charter Amendments (26-1048 & 26-1055): Referred to voters on November 3, 2026, to modernize sections on the Civil Service Commission and Department of Safety. Councilmembers Sandoval and Torres highlighted gender-neutral language, allowing non-citizens to serve on the commission, and moving classified service recruitment details into ordinance.
• Councilmember Parady’s Farewell: Parady announced her resignation effective later that week, expressing gratitude and concern about public perception of government. A special session was scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, to formalize the resignation.
• Other Bills for Introduction (ordered published): 26-0992 (capital equipment for Arts and Venues), 26-1041 (airfield de-ice vehicle for DIA), 26-1042 (Universal Recycling and Composting Fund), 26-1043 (land acquisition for Quebec & Airlawn Bridge Project), 26-1040 (classification/pay plan updates), 26-1044 and 26-1045 (Sanderson Gulch improvements, $7.1M and $5.9M).