This biweekly meeting of the Finance and Business Committee of Denver City Council.

Join us for the Finance and Business Committee starting now.

Morning, everyone, and welcome to the Finance and Business Committee.

Today is Tuesday, March 24th.

My name is Serena Gonzalez Gutierrez.

I'm one of your council members at large and chair of this committee.

And we're gonna start off today.

Romero Campbell, you're here in person.

We had you down as as virtual, but um we're gonna start off uh before we go into the agenda with introductions of council members.

Uh and I will start over here to my left.

Uh thank you, committee chair, uh Darrell Watson, uh flying district nine.

Uh good morning, Paul Cashman, South Denver District 6.

Hello, um, good morning, Diana Romero Campbell, uh Southeast Denver District 4 in person.

Uh and just before um uh we have Council President introduce yourself.

Is there anyone online joining us?

Nobody online.

Um Council President, if you want to introduce yourself.

Northwest Denver District Man is that perfect timing.

All right.

Um with that said, we're gonna turn it over to the bond team in Denver Health.

Uh they're gonna talk to us about uh one of the vibrant Denver Bond Vibrant Denver, yeah, Bond Projects.

Yeah, go right ahead.

Hi, Molly Scarborough, Fibrant Denver Bond program.

Patrick Riley, uh Denver Bond Program.

Chris Gott, Chief Operating Officer at Denver Health Wonderful.

Um we're so happy to be back in front of you all today.

Um on November 4th, obviously we had the election for Vibrant Denver, and one of our ballot measures to see was for uh the Denver Children's Advocacy Center and the Westside uh Health Clinic, the San Santos Clinic, uh, with Denver Health.

That ballot measure passed at over 70 percent.

Um on November 5th, we subsequently did a groundbreaking uh for the Westside Health Clinic.

Um today we are here to bring you our first um contracting action under Vibrant, which is for a uh FAA uh funding assignment agreement to uh fund the 20 million dollars that the voters approved as part of Vibrant Denver.

Um we are we're gonna talk about that action.

Um 260367, which would provide funding for the 20 million that was voted on and approved.

Um as just a general clarification of how this works.

This will be the first of a couple FAAs.

Um we as a city provide funding to Denver Health, who adds this to a part of a larger capital stack.

This is not a 20 million dollar project.

It would be super awesome if it was, but um I'm sure everyone would agree uh appreciate that.

It's um but we are providing that as part of a larger capital stack for them to do their project.

Um it is uh bald into the the social ordinances, things like our Disbo goals and public art.

Um so they will be partnering with Arts and Venues as part of the normal public art process.

They are underneath the DISBO process and did seek goals and will be um adhering to those as well.

Um so this funding assignment agreement really just helps complete their capital stack.

Thank you, Patrick.

So this uh these bonds were issued as part of issuance one, as part of our taxable bonds.

Uh 20 million dollars to build the new Denver Health West Side Family Health Center in Council District 3 to provide affordable medical service and increase availability of care.

Um, as Patrick said, this is a partner-led project.

We are so um appreciative to partner with Denver Health.

Um, this contract memorializes the delivery of the bond funding to uh Denver Health and Hospital Authority and the DHHA Westside Clinic Qualic B.

Um the Qualic B is a single purpose entity created by DHHIA to be an investment vehicle for new market tax credit transactions, and so we are excited to be able to contribute funds that helps them unlock um this funding opportunity.

Um the project highlights, and I'm gonna review just high-level project highlights and then turn it over to Chris to give you a little bit more information.

So, high level, this uh new clinic will provide state-of-the-art technology, light-filled spaces, additional health care services in the area.

It will nearly double the existing square footage.

It will be built on the same site as the existing clinic.

Once the construction of the new three-story clinic is complete, the old clinic will be demolished, and the demolished space will be replaced with a parking deck.

As Patrick mentioned, they will be adhering to 10% women minority owned business enterprise goals.

And as we discuss, as he also discussed, they will contribute to our public art funding one percent goal.

And so that is about $580,000.

It is calculated off of their total contraction costs.

So this provides general site context in the dotted yellow line on the image to the left is this current site.

And as you can see in the image to the right, the new building will be built on the existing parking lot.

And then once that is complete, the existing clinic will be demolished and replaced with a new parking deck.

And just high-level legislative timeline.

We are here today with Finance and Business Committee.

Hopefully, you will be moving this forward into the council first reading process.

We would go to Mayor Council March 31st.

This allows us to provide the funding to Denver Health by the 1st of May, which facilitates their new market tax credit process.

So with that, I will turn back to the site plan on here and just uh turn it over to Chris.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you so much.

So thank you for having me here, Council members.

This is certainly a pride project for Denver Health.

This is one of our first locations that was open to serve the underserved communities of Denver.

And it's one of the fastest growing communities.

I certainly probably don't need to tell you all of that.

And so the demand is far exceeding the location that we have.

And so you might ask, well, why are we doing it on the same location?

I think you know, Denver Health has certainly shown it's a good steward of its limited resources, and that was the case here as well.

We certainly were looking at other property in the area and trying trying to acquire things that were congruent and that could actually build a large enough facility as this, and that was very challenging to achieve that in addition to the sheer dollars that it took.

So we looked at the existing property to say is there any way we could do it on what we already own to again limit um the expense.

And in fact, it was a better location at the end of the day for us to do it there.

So that's why you see it on the property, and and then why, you know, why a parking structure.

The parking structure that we partner with with Denver Human Services is a pretty good distance away from that location, and it's also sloped.

I don't know if you've you've had the opportunity to be out there.

Uh it's not an easy climb.

And so what we are doing is when we take the old structure down, we are maximizing that space to take advantage of the slope, so there'll be some underground parking and then a surface lot.

So really not trying to make it too big, trying to be considerate of that, but also making sure that we're meeting the needs of that growing population.

So the new facility itself will be about a 30% expansion of capacity, somewhat almost doubling its size when you think of the actual building itself.

So that demand takes us into future growth on um, you know, 10 to 20 year projections.

Uh, and so that I'm that's very high level, but hopefully that answers at least some of the questions that I thought would probably be posed.

Great.

Thank you.

That is um the end of our presentation.

Open for questions.

Great.

Um I have Councilman Cashman and then Council Pro Temer Campbell, Councilman Walton.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Uh, thanks for the presentation.

Very exciting to get another clinic uh where it's where it's needed.

Um what's the total cost of this project as best you could 100 million?

Okay.

Um to remember when that was a lot of money.

It was pretty impressive.

Um great, and and so uh uh this is an 11th in federal, and you've got the pain clinic down on South Federal.

Correct.

And is this are they similar in the scope of what they offer just serving different uh nearby communities?

I would say yes, in general.

There are some enhanced services that will be going into this new location.

So physical therapy, um CT scanner.

So it's our first off campus advanced imaging uh location.

So those are just a few of the um enhancements as well as um just make sure I'm covering the other things that we're incorporating there.

Uh we'll also, I mean, I think it was covered in the presentation, but just sort of the light, the light that comes into the building, you know, as a safety net health system, we occupy some older buildings.

Uh, and so some of that is just the nature of the buildings, they're not lit up in a way that really bring light in.

So there are just some other features that come along with the advanced clinical care.

Excuse excuse me if I missed this, but how many square feet is this?

It's about uh it's about 80,000, 825 to be 82,500.

So that's including all three three.

All three floors, yes.

Great, great.

Um I know Councilwoman uh Carroll and I was very excited at the clinic coming in on Evans Avenue.

Yes.

And uh, which is uh a renovation of an existing structure, and uh I'm assuming uh a more dollar friendly um yes, to it to a degree it it there is some renovation that will happen there.

Uh we are lucky to have found a location that had some existing clinic space in it.

Right.

Um so it is less of a spend on a cost per square foot.

Um but yes.

And will it will it be similar in the scope of services?

Similar, not all the advanced imaging, but yes, it will be a full service clinic.

It's about 14,500 square feet.

So when you think of it in relative value from an 82,000 square foot building, a little more limited, uh, and we're fitting into an existing space rather than just building from the ground up, we can be a little more creative and innovative.

Yeah, well, the community's excited about that as well.

I live in that district, so I too am excited.

Okay, well, move north.

Thank you, Councilman Cashman.

Uh Council Pro Time Ramaro Campbell.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um, thank you for the presentation uh and the briefing.

I know I had asked a lot of questions.

Um remind me, is the hundred thousand uh total cost of the project for a million.

Sorry, thousand.

Wow, that was really rebate.

Ours is the 20 million that goes to it, and it's treated like a grant.

So it's not like which dollars are used first, it's all combined.

Um will that cover the cost of the building and the parking?

The hundred million does include both.

Yes.

Okay.

Um, and then uh the access um for the parking, like what happens during construction.

I know that there's I I I know that it is such a busy clinic, and there are so many families that go there.

Yes.

Um how is it working for the um access to the clinic, the safety for you know, people getting to it?

It's on I'm just trying to think of some of the logistics, and I'm wondering if you have some of that baked into this project as well.

Uh yes, we do.

So uh there's the distance as well as the slope.

Uh we have uh as part of the construction and deployment, we have a shuttle service that will go from the garage to up to the clinic to the existing location, and then even to the new as we go into phase two of the project, which is the parking structure.

So all of those things operationally have been thought through, and it is a part of the cost of the project to make sure that we are accommodating whether it's uh you know, people with small children, some of the disabled that might not have the capacity or even desire to walk that walk.

Uh, we have put those processes in place.

Okay.

Um I think it's such how excited that this is the first project out of the gate for the bond.

I think it's a it's a great project.

And um, do from the time that it you know, you break ground to when it'll be done.

Do you have uh did you already say this, like what the timeline is that this that you expect for this to be completed?

When uh first patient to be seen is quarter three of 2027, assuming we stay on schedule.

Um so yeah, it's a we were pretty we were shovel ready at that time, so we were really just figuring out our financial stack as you referenced it, and so uh it's it's well underway.

That's great.

Um I don't have any other questions, just really excited about the project happening.

Thank you for the work in Denver Hall.

Thank you, Council Woman, for your questions.

Thank you.

Councilman Watson.

Uh thank you, committee chair.

I'm gonna say I'm jealous.

East one.

I love my east side clinic, but my goodness.

I am so happy for the work that's going out there in the communities that are going to be served uh out there, and then you're also putting us a shame with a Q3 2027 completion.

Um that is amazing.

So thank you and your team for being so smart, looking through your business continuity, number one, from before you starting, and then making sure that we meet the expectation that we delivered to voters when they voted for the Bible bond that we are gonna deliver that within that six-year time frame, and you're killing it in a one-year time frame.

So I just think that's awesome.

I have a um finance and investment question that I'm not certain if um it can be answered today, but I would love to maybe have maybe for committee chair, kind of a deeper dive into our um our uh bond portfolio for the vibrant bond.

Um, obviously, treasuries are um um a little less risk um in our investment portfolio, but we're in a different world from when we first purchased those bonds.

Would love to have some background on really the strength of that investment uh structure to ensure that the dollars that were the voters voted for how what's that mix?

So I'm not sure who in the future can provide that, but we'll have to have an idea on those the bond investments, um, the strength of those investments, and kind of the um ability for us to meet the the needs that we have for all of the projects, um not just this one, looking at Carolina.

So yes, we will come back to you with that.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, committee chair.

Thank you.

Um, this is exciting.

I am very familiar with the West Side Clinic.

I worked at Denver Human Services for eight years, and so I had met many of clients in um in that building, um, you know, young people seeking care, um, parents seeking care, and so I'm really excited to see that this is happening, and especially with all the the new development with um Sun Valley and DHA, the Denver Housing Authority.

Um, I think this is going to be a great value add.

Um, so I'm assuming from what you said, Chris, is that the current building will remain open during construction?

Yes.

Okay.

And we that's where you have the shuttles and all of the things.

Okay, that's great.

Um, because I was worried I was going, I was thinking, okay, where are people going to go when that maybe is the closest place for them to get to?

Um, but this is I mean, it's amazing.

Um, I appreciate the thought around people going up that hill.

When I was um there not that long ago, I was at Human Services.

Um they did like a I don't know, a women's day thing.

I got invited.

We couldn't enter at human services on the bottom level.

You had to walk all the way up to where you then enter on the second floor.

And I saw people struggling, um, trying to walk up, and even though it's ADA compliant, like there's a ramp, it was still difficult for folks because it's a long walk to get up to that second level.

Um, and so it would be great to see if there was even partnership with Denver Human Services because the clientele and the folks visiting both of these places are very are are they're going to both places, right?

Which is why it is such a great situated location as well, because people can get to it's like a it's like one of those continuity of care types of almost a model, right?

Where you can go to human services and you know, maybe meet with your TANIF worker um, or you're there for um you know a family visit, and then you can go and go to your medical appointment.

Um so I think that's great, but yeah, I don't know.

I see Dr.

Federico.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Dr.

Steve Federico, uh Chief of Government Community Affairs of Denver Hope.

Um I too started my career at Westside um and uh work closely with the folks um at human services on several cases with several kids.

So I understand the layout there, and and I so appreciate a couple topics that you're bringing up, madam chair.

One is the ADA compliance is something we have been working with DHS with, in particular during construction, thinking about limited spaces.

We're gonna take away that surface lot and trying to figure out how we're gonna, you know, the bus line is actually downstream from our clinic, and so it's already slightly complicated.

So we've been working with folks both with the city and and human services to think about what that's gonna look like and try to minimize the disruption there.

And I'm also glad you brought up Sun Valley because they've been a great partner in the planning of this project.

They've been highly invested, as you know, um in the redevelopment of their neighborhood, and the clinic plays such a vital role, and they've been great partners as we think through not only how to keep it open, all but how to keep it accessible.

They're super excited, of course, about the expanded access.

So absolutely.

Yeah, Madam Chairman.

I'd just add that uh DHS has been on our weekly sort of update call, so we are very much um partnering with them to make sure the transition is smooth.

They've partnered to lease us additional spaces.

Um so yes, they've been a great partner.

Great.

Um that's amazing.

Well, um, that being said, this is an action item.

So I will leave a motion and a second.

So moved by Councilman Watson, seconded by Councilman Cashman.

Um, is there any need for a vote on this?

Not seeing any.

All right, thumbs up, everybody.

This will then be able to move on through the council process.

Um thank you again so much for bringing this.

I I was really excited to have you all come and present.

So um with that said, we have a few items on consent here.

Let me run up.

Thank you for your support.

Thank you.

We have four items on consent.

Seeing that no one has brought those, uh, pulled those down, those will also move forward to the full council.

And we're adjourned.

Awesome.

Cool.

Yeah.