Denver City Council Regular Session Summary - October 13, 2026

On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the Denver City Council held its regular session from 3:30 p.m. to 7:31 p.m. The meeting included opening proclamations, a recess for general public comment, reconvening at 5:30 p.m., debate on called-out contracts, a 10-airline use-and-lease block, a large consent block, a required public hearing on a Barnum/Barnum West rezoning, and two later proclamations. Twelve members were present at roll call; Councilmember Gilmore was absent for votes after the airline block.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of Monday, October 5, 2026 (26-1494) were approved without objection.
• Approved en bloc, 11-0 with Gilmore absent: 26-1403 (Loretto Heights Affordable Home Ownership Program grant, $1,722,590, for 28 middle-income row homes), 26-1404 (The Delores Project rapid rehousing, adding $850,000), 26-1407 (Rising Medical Solutions workers' compensation bill review, adding $300,000), 26-1408 (Westwood Community Center lease at $10 per year), 26-1409 (A Hole In The Wall Construction emergency fencing and board-up, adding six months), 26-1411 and 26-1412 (Denver Commission for People with Disabilities appointments), 26-1413 through 26-1416 (Denver Nonprofit Engagement Commission appointments), 26-1395 (38th and Monaco safety design, $754,757), 26-1396 (Tower Road Sanitary Interceptor Phase 1, $8,178,294), 26-1397 (two alley parcels dedicated as public right-of-way), 26-1398 (TK Elevator, adding $8,000,000 for DEN conveyance modernization), 26-1399 (SkyWest ground service equipment lease), and 26-1400 (SHI International, adding $1,000,000 for Microsoft Enterprise licenses).
• Also placed on final consideration and passed en bloc, 11-0 with Gilmore absent: 26-1335 (DDDA funding agreement for Midland Condominiums Unit 100), 26-1380 (University of Colorado early-childhood nutrition and food access grant, $749,694.78), and 26-1370 (revoking Triangle at Union Station Development LLC's revocable permit).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Required public hearing on Council Bill 26-1252 began at 7:12 p.m., with Council sitting as a Committee of the Whole. Staff report was delivered by Libby Glick of Community Planning and Development. Renee Martinez-Stone and Yvette Seerden, both representing the Denver Housing Authority, spoke in favor; no one spoke in opposition.
• Martinez-Stone cited West Denver displacement and affordability pressures, including that between 2020 and 2024 the chance for a renter in West Denver to become a homeowner fell from about 1 in 10 to 1 in 20. Seerden described the pilot project: 10 permanently affordable tandem-home homeownership opportunities on scattered DHA land, with anticipated sale prices of $250,000 to $280,000, targeted to households below 100% of area median income, and a 99-year ground lease to preserve affordability.

Discussion Items

26-1402 - The Salvation Army rapid resolution services

• The resolution would add $100,000 to The Salvation Army contract, bringing the total to $3,336,638, for rapid resolution services for families experiencing housing instability and homelessness. Councilmember Lewis voted no because she does not support the city partnering with The Salvation Army; Councilmember Gonzales-Gutierrez also voted no. The resolution was adopted 10-2.

26-1373 - Citibot AI Chatbot contract

• The resolution would add $3,889,784.94 to the Citibot contract for Denvergov.org AI chatbot services, for a new total of $4,339,784.94, and add five years through October 1, 2031. It failed 3-9, with only Flynn, Hinds, and Watson voting yes.
• Councilmember Sawyer opposed the spending while 311 staffing remains depleted and said the Sunny chatbot gave inaccurate information. Councilmember Lewis opposed automation of constituent services, saying efficiency should not replace human trust. Councilmember Gonzales-Gutierrez said there was no identified budget for a voice assistant and no evidence of effectiveness. Councilmember Kashmann called AI a nightmare and said the city lacks an AI policy. Councilmember Hinds said self-service is useful but objected that the contract had already lapsed. Councilmember Sandoval objected that the prior three-year contract had expired 12 days earlier and that the new money had not been through a competitive RFP. Technology Services staff said 40% of 311 inquiries now come through digital channels and that the contract includes future-proofing for a voice assistant, including a free pilot.

26-1372 - Slalom professional services

• The resolution would add $5,000,000 to the Slalom contract for business intelligence and ICT on-call services, for a new total of $18,000,000, and add three years through December 31, 2029. It failed 2-10, with only Flynn and Watson voting yes.
• Councilmember Lewis opposed paying up to $380 per hour to a multinational firm while city staffing is diminished, citing an August poll in which 70% of Colorado voters were uncomfortable with local government using AI. Councilmember Gonzales-Gutierrez questioned why Salesforce work cannot be done in-house. Councilmember Sandoval objected to the total contract running nine years and three months through repeated use of Executive Order 8 rather than rebidding. The mayor's office said new resolution-request processes will flag Executive Order 8 extensions more clearly.

26-1348 through 26-1357 - Denver International Airport airline use and lease agreements

• These resolutions approved use and lease agreements with Air Canada, Air France, Alaska Airlines, Cayman Airways, Copa Airlines, Icelandair, Key Lime Air dba Denver Air Connection, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and WestJet. Each applies rates and charges for three years with two one-year options to extend. The block was adopted 11-1, with Gilmore dissenting.
• Councilmember Gilmore voted no, citing Key Lime Air's role in deportation flights and calling on the council to uphold human rights. Councilmember Flynn argued that rejecting the leases would violate FAA grant assurances, risk federal funding, and not stop ICE flights; he said Denver can only enforce contract provisions if the leases are in place. Councilmember Sawyer voted yes reluctantly, saying a no vote would not stop deportation flights and would harm airport services. Councilmember Lewis voted yes but said ongoing conversations are not the same as enforceable protections, and she demanded a written implementation plan, timeline, and public reporting. Councilmember Gonzales-Gutierrez said collaboration must continue and include the community. Councilmember Alvidrez asked DIA and the administration to continue reporting and to appear before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee before the end of 2026. DIA and mayor's office staff committed to continuing those conversations and to engaging on transparency and monitoring measures.

Proclamations

• 26-1505, Indigenous Peoples' Day, was adopted 12-0. It commemorates the second annual paid city holiday on October 12, 2026, and recognizes tribal nations and the legacy of the Fort Wise Treaty and Sand Creek massacre. Starlene Naranjo, co-chair of the Denver American Indian Commission, accepted the proclamation.
• 26-1503, 2026 Veterans Stand Down, was adopted 12-0. It recognizes the October 2, 2026 Stand Down and anticipates serving more than 150 veterans. Frank Cordova of Service Source Colorado accepted the proclamation.
• 26-1464, opposing Colorado Proposition 132, was adopted 11-0 with Gilmore absent. The proclamation opposes mandatory minimum fentanyl sentences and supports a comprehensive, evidence-based approach. Councilmembers cited projections of 1,718 additional overdose deaths over five years and a $68.2 million cost over five years. Teresa Cobley, a mother who lost two sons to addiction, and Denver District Attorney John Walsh spoke against Proposition 132.
• 26-1504, Matthew Shepard Day, was adopted 11-0 with Gilmore absent. It honors the 28th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death and proclaims October 12, 2026 as Matthew Shepard Day. Representatives from One Colorado and Lavender Hill accepted the proclamation.

Key Outcomes

• Failed: 26-1373 (3-9) and 26-1372 (2-10).
• Adopted: 26-1402 (10-2); airline block 26-1348 through 26-1357 (11-1, Gilmore dissenting); consent block (11-0, Gilmore absent).
• Adopted proclamations: 26-1505 and 26-1503 each 12-0; 26-1464 and 26-1504 each 11-0, Gilmore absent.
• Passed Council Bill 26-1252 on final consideration, 11-0 with Gilmore absent, rezoning 76 North Hazel Court, 80-90 North Yates Street, and 4519 West Third Avenue from E-SU-Dx to E-TU-C to allow tandem homes on Denver Housing Authority properties. The homes will be income-restricted to 80% of area median income under the first phase of DHA's single-family plus affordable home ownership pilot.
• Ordered published: CB 26-1405 (740 North Washington Street landmark designation), with a required public hearing on October 19, 2026; CB 26-1406 (3343-3351 North Mariposa Street rezoning in Highland), with a required public hearing on November 9, 2026 and protests due by noon on October 26, 2026; and CB 26-1394 (wastewater easement relinquishment at East Elmendorf Drive and North Telluride Street).
• Follow-up commitments: DEN and the administration committed to continued consultation with immigrant-rights advocates, transparency improvements, and a report to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee before the end of 2026. Councilmembers said they will keep pressing for concrete, enforceable measures rather than additional meetings alone.
• The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.