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Record of Proceedings

Denver City Council Regular Session - September 14, 2026

City Council — Monday, September 14, 2026
BodyDenver, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, September 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:36:09

Original source
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0:00

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

0:08

Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now.

0:27

Try this.

0:34

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

0:39

Today is Monday, September 14th, 2026.

0:42

Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish.

0:46

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

0:54

Yes, of course.

0:55

Thank you.

0:55

Hello, everyone.

0:56

My name is Sam Guzman with the CLC.

0:59

Joining you virtually through Zoom, and along with my colleague Jasmine, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish.

1:08

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

1:49

Thank you very much.

1:52

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, September 14th, 2026.

1:57

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

2:20

Council members, please join Council Pro Tem Gonzalez Gutierrez as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement.

2:28

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.

2:36

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

2:44

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

3:17

Council members Cashman.

3:25

Here Flynn.

3:27

Gilmore, here.

3:28

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

3:30

Here.

3:30

Heinz.

3:31

Here.

3:32

Lewis.

3:35

Sandoval.

3:36

Here.

3:37

Sawyer.

3:38

Here.

3:39

Torres?

3:39

Here.

3:40

Watson.

3:41

Here.

3:42

Madam President Romero Campbell.

3:43

Here.

3:45

Ten members present.

3:47

There are 10 members present.

3:49

Council has a quorum.

3:50

Approval of the minutes.

3:51

Are there any corrections to the minutes of August 31st?

3:56

Seeing none, the minutes stand approved.

3:58

Council announcements.

4:00

Are there any announcements from council members?

4:08

Okay, let's go ahead and get started with Councilmember Sawyer.

4:11

Thanks, Madam President.

4:12

Just wanted to remind um residents of District 5 two things.

4:16

First of all, community cleanup day is coming up.

4:19

It's Sunday, uh September 27th, so you can go on to our uh any of our social media, find the link, join us.

4:26

Um we'll meet at 8 30 a.m.

4:28

at Montclair Rec Center where you will get breakfast and your supplies and then head out into the community to um clean up some of our parks and bus stops in District Five.

4:37

Um and then second, just want to remind everyone every fall we send our annual survey to our community.

4:43

This is a um postcard survey that goes out to about 25,000 households in District 5 so that we can hear from our residents about um the issues that matter to you.

4:53

It helps us shape our work plan for um the following year.

4:57

And so really appreciate everyone filling that out.

5:00

You can do it until the end of the year, December 31st.

5:02

So this is not the last time that you're gonna hear about it from us.

5:06

Um, but you can either check your mailboxes and find that annual mailer or you can find the link online.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████32%
Community Engagement████████████12%
Animal Welfare██████████10%
Public Engagement████████8%
Arts And Culture█████5%
Parks And Recreation█████5%
Homelessness███3%
Transportation Safety███3%
Public Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Denver City Council Regular Session - September 14, 2026

Denver City Council convened at 3:30 PM on Monday, September 14, 2026, with 11 members present (Councilmember Lewis absent). The meeting included a recess and reconvened at 5:30 PM for a required public hearing on a zoning change. The session adjourned at 6:00 PM. Council addressed a range of items including proclamations, resolutions, bills for introduction, and final consideration votes.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of August 31, 2026 were approved unanimously.
  • Proclamation 26-1366 (Clyfford Still Museum 15th anniversary) was adopted (10-0-2, Kashmann and Lewis absent).
  • Block vote approved en bloc: Proclamation 26-1304 (Honoring Elise Bupp); Resolutions 26-1213, 26-1211, 26-1260, 26-1201, 26-1241, 26-1242, 26-1243, 26-1244, 26-1246, 26-1247, 26-1248, 26-1249, 26-1250, 26-1262, 26-1217, 26-1212, 26-1255, 26-1256, 26-1257, 26-1258, 26-1263, 26-1174, 26-1208, 26-1209, 26-1214, 26-1215, 26-1237, 26-1238, 26-1239, 26-1240, 26-1187, 26-1186. All passed 11-0 (Lewis absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Required public hearing on Council Bill 26-1111 (rezoning 3201 N Speer Blvd from U-SU-A to U-MX-2x): Cody Seedorf (applicant, Real Architecture) spoke in favor, stating the rezoning would allow full commercial use of the existing building. No one spoke in opposition. Will Prince (CPD) delivered the staff report recommending approval.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 26-1176 (Cuernavaca Park DPR NW facility contract amendment): Councilmember Gilmore raised concerns about diversion of $5.4 million from Green Valley Ranch maintenance shop to this project, questioned whether bond funds could cover soft costs, and requested a legal opinion. Nathan Maraboli (Parks) said 70 staff (40 maintenance + 30 rangers) would be housed. Gilmore voted nay; the resolution passed 10-1 (Gilmore nay).
  • Resolution 26-1256/26-1257 (Vibrant Denver Bonds for Denver Zoo and Denver Museum of Nature & Science, $3 million each): Councilmember Watson expressed strong support for the investments in District 9.
  • Resolution 26-1263 (Sanderson Gulch Resiliency grant, $20.6 million): Councilmember Alvidrez asked whether changes to the project could jeopardize federal funding. Jim Coakley (DOTI) noted extensive changes might risk the grant. Alvidrez indicated support despite community concerns about habitat.
  • Resolution 26-1217 (ShotSpotter contract amendment, decreasing by $147,421): Council President Pro-Tem Gonzales-Gutierrez questioned patrol capacity changes and called for transparency in evaluating alternative technologies. Commander Barnes committed to community feedback and research in 2027. Gonzales-Gutierrez noted that over 85% of ShotSpotter alerts had no corresponding 911 call, less than 20% had shell casings, and the city spent roughly $9 million over 10 years. She supported scaling down and ending the contract.
  • Council Bill 26-1261 (naming new park Fox Run Park in District 11): Councilmember Gilmore praised the park but reiterated concerns about insufficient park rangers and fund diversion from District 11.
  • Council Bill 26-1253 (HOST strategic plan amendment to allow one-year continuation): Councilmember Alvidrez voted nay, stating that extending existing goals without refocusing on failing areas was concerning. Passed 10-1.
  • Council Bill 26-1216 (MWBE and small business enterprise contracting ordinance): Councilmember Alvidrez voted nay, explaining that updated performance data (prepared Sept 11) was provided only on the day of first reading, preventing responsible evaluation. Passed 10-1.
  • Announcements: Councilmember Watson opposed a proposed 400-capacity shelter at the former Colorado Village Collaborative Monroe site but supported a family shelter at 4180 Columbine Street, noting nearly 1,380 homeless minors (undercount). Councilmember Gilmore raised concerns about deportation flights from DEN and asked Mayor Johnston to protect constitutional rights.

Key Outcomes

  • Proclamation 26-1367 (National Service Dog Month, September 2026) adopted 10-0-2 (Gilmore, Lewis absent).
  • Council Bill 26-1111 (zoning change for 3201 N Speer Blvd) passed 10-0-2 (Gilmore, Lewis absent) after public hearing.
  • Resolution 26-1176 adopted 10-1 (Gilmore nay).
  • Bills for introduction ordered published: 26-1252, 26-1253, 26-1216, 26-1259, 26-1190, 26-1245, 26-1251, 26-1127, 26-1206, 26-1261, 26-1210, 26-1236. (26-1253 and 26-1216 had one nay each from Alvidrez.)
  • Bills for final consideration (26-1187 and 26-1186) placed on final passage en bloc.
  • Next required public hearing: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 on Council Bill 26-1252 (rezoning in Barnum/Barnum West); protests due by noon October 5, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Hey Denver, it's time for the weekly general session of your Denver City Council. Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now. Try this. Thank you for taking time to join us for Denver City Council meeting. Today is Monday, September 14th, 2026. Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish. Sam or Jasmine, will you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to enable translation on their devices? Yes, of course. Thank you. 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. Please allow me a quick moment while I give instructions in Spanish on how to access interpretation. Thank you very much. Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, September 14th, 2026. Council members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members, please join Council Pro Tem Gonzalez Gutierrez as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement. The Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho peoples. We also recognize 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. Council members Cashman. Here Flynn. Gilmore, here. Gonzalez Gutierrez. Here. Heinz. Here. Lewis. Sandoval. Here. Sawyer. Here. Torres? Here. Watson. Here. Madam President Romero Campbell. Here. Ten members present. There are 10 members present. Council has a quorum. Approval of the minutes. Are there any corrections to the minutes of August 31st? Seeing none, the minutes stand approved. Council announcements. Are there any announcements from council members? Okay, let's go ahead and get started with Councilmember Sawyer. Thanks, Madam President. Just wanted to remind um residents of District 5 two things. First of all, community cleanup day is coming up.

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