Finance and Business Committee Meeting - August 25, 2026

On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 10:30 AM, the Denver City Council's Finance and Business Committee convened in Room 391 of the City & County Building. Chair Chris Hinds presided, with Vice Chair Paul Kashmann and members Stacie Gilmore (absent), Serena Gonzalez-Gutierrez, Diana Romero Campbell, Amanda Sawyer, and Darrell Watson present. The meeting covered one action item (ordinance reauthorizing the Division of Small Business Opportunity), one briefing (2027 budget overview), and one consent item (equipment purchase).

Consent Calendar

• 26-1211: Approved a purchase order with Kaiser Premier, LLC for $1,571,703.00 to acquire three Kenworth T480 Urban X 8 Cubic Yard Hydro Excavators for the Wastewater Division of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, citywide. The purchase order has an estimated delivery date of December 31, 2027.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ali Spray (CEO, Hispanic Contractors of Colorado, representing about 200 members): Expressed strong support for the DSBO ordinance reauthorization, highlighting the importance of small business opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses. She noted that the organization was part of the task force and urged the committee to support the ordinance because it drives economic power and job creation in the city.
• Suzanne Arkel (owner, Son Inc.): Stated that her business has been certified in all DSBO programs for 28 years and credited the programs for enabling her to grow and hire seven people. She asked the committee to view the ordinance favorably, noting that it brings certainty to an uncertain process and supports hundreds of businesses in Denver.
• Deedra Garcia (PCL Construction, task force member): Spoke in favor of the ordinance, emphasizing the thorough, inclusive task force process that included all stakeholders. She noted that the disparity study clearly shows inequity and that the program addresses it. As a former certified minority contractor and now a large prime, she said the program benefits large primes by offering a competitive differentiator.

Discussion Items

Action Item 26-1216: DSBO Ordinance Reauthorization

• Briefing: Adrina Gibson (Executive Director of General Services) and her team (Anne Parker, Martin Gonzalez, Aaron Croke) presented the proposed amendments to Denver Revised Municipal Code Chapter 28, Articles III, V, and VII to reauthorize and restructure the Division of Small Business Opportunity (DSBO) for five years. Key updates included:
  • Reorganizing the ordinance by program (MWBE and SBE) instead of by industry for clarity and consistency.
  • Updated definitions for economic disadvantage (based on diminished ability to compete due to limited capital/credit) and social disadvantage (adding Middle Eastern and North African individuals as a presumptive group and clarifying a pathway for individuals facing other systemic barriers).
  • Removed the six-month ownership requirement as duplicative, while maintaining other fraud safeguards.
  • Added an SBE goals option (race- and gender-neutral) mirroring MWBE goals, and expanded the Small Business Enterprise Concessionaire (SBEC) program to include goals and broader definitions.
  • Deliberately placed administrative details in rules and regulations to allow for future modernization without ordinance amendments.
• Committee Discussion:
  • Councilmember Sawyer expressed full support and requested that council be kept informed during rule and regulation updates. Staff committed to regular updates.
  • Councilmember Watson voiced support and highlighted the importance of diverse voices and equity in contracting.
  • Councilmember Hinds raised concerns about the lack of explicit inclusion of people with disabilities in the disparity study and program. Staff responded that the broadened social disadvantage definition can cover disabilities, and that they have engaged with Disability In and plan to work with the study consultant to add disability data in future research. Hinds urged deliberate inclusion and partnership on outreach. Staff committed to targeted outreach and potential study amendments.
• Vote: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve 26-1216 for filing; Councilmember Romero Campbell seconded. The motion carried 6-0 (Gilmore absent).

Briefing 26-1221: 2027 Budget Book Overview

• Presentation: Justin Sykes (Budget Director) and Jackson Brockway (Capital Planning Manager) provided an overview of the city's budget book structure and process for the upcoming 2027 budget. Key points included:
  • The budget book is a policy document, financial plan, and operations guide spanning about 750 pages across three volumes (citywide overview, agency narratives, capital budget).
  • Important changes for 2027: imputed on-call FTE will no longer be reflected, causing apparent FTE declines in agencies like Parks and Recreation; the Xcel franchise fee (worth ~$32 million/year) expires at year-end and will be on the November ballot; because voter approval is uncertain, the initial budget cannot include that revenue, but a companion supplemental appropriation will be proposed if voters approve.
  • The capital budget volume organizes funding by source (e.g., Winter Park, capital improvement fund, parks legacy fund, bond funds, enterprise funds) and allocates by capital programs (e.g., street paving).
• Committee Discussion and Questions:
  • Councilmember Sawyer noted the Q2 financial report improvements and asked about handling the Xcel franchise fee under charter amendment 2G (which requires council conversation for unbudgeted new dollars). She argued that if the mayor's office pre-plans expenditures without council input, it may conflict with the charter. Staff clarified that the $32 million is built into the base budget and they propose to handle it via a separate supplemental ordinance after voter approval, but acknowledged the tension. Councilmember Hinds supported the view that if the budget is conservative, the money should not be pre-spent.
  • Councilmember Watson requested a timeline on independent agency forecasting and clarification on the fund balance (reserves) level. Justin Sykes reported that the 2025 fund balance ended at 11.4% (higher than projected), and 2026 is projected to add slightly, reaching about 11.8%. Watson also asked for dollar amounts to be associated with value-based priorities like Vision Zero and safe routes to schools. Staff agreed to work on improved reporting.
  • Councilmember Hinds inquired about a detailed revenue forecast briefing that had been canceled; staff indicated the same information would be included in budget hearings.

Key Outcomes

• 26-1216 (DSBO Reauthorization): Approved for filing by a vote of 6-0. Next steps: first reading on September 14, 2026, with second reading and final vote expected September 21, 2026. Staff will subsequently update rules and regulations with council input.
• 26-1211 (Consent – Excavator Purchase): Approved by consent without discussion.
• Budget Briefing: No formal action was taken, but committee members provided feedback on the 2027 budget process. Staff will address requests for improved reporting on fund balance, agency forecasts, value-based prioritization, and transparency around the Xcel franchise fee allocation. The proposed 2027 budget will be released by September 15, 2026, followed by hearings and council amendments in October and November.