Denver Mayor Council Meeting - February 8, 2024

The Mayor and Denver City Council convened on February 8, 2024, for updates on the city's auto theft program, the ongoing migrant shelter and legal clinic operations, and the newly launched Denver Ambassadors program for downtown coordination. Discussions largely centered on resource allocation, program oversight, and the balance between public safety and community-based response.

Auto Theft Program Update

• Mayor provided updates on the comprehensive auto theft reduction strategy, which includes a permanent DPD auto theft team, expansion of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), software upgrades for Hyundai and Kia vehicles, and distribution of steering wheel locks at police districts.
• Statistics: The Mayor cited a 90% reduction in auto thefts at Denver International Airport over the previous three to six months. The program was noted as building on ideas pioneered by Councilmembers Cashman and Sawyer.
• Councilwoman Torres (District 3) questioned the placement of 15 cameras in her district, the highest in the city. The Mayor explained placements were driven by auto theft 'hot spots' data, aiming for an average of roughly 10 cameras per district citywide.
• Councilwoman Sawyer testified to her personal experience registering for the Denver Track program, confirming it was easy to use and that no registered cars have been stolen to date. She specifically countered concerns about police overreach.
• Councilwoman Gonzalez Gutierrez inquired about protocols to deter individuals from tracking and retrieving their own cars following a prior tragedy. The Mayor stated the program aims to replace this practice, but there is no specific ordinance prohibiting it; the city is actively discouraging it by providing a city-led tracking alternative.

Migrant/Newcomer Response Update

• Shelter Exits: The Mayor announced the first group of families exited shelter on February 7. He stated 100% had transition plans, connecting to housing, family/friends, or other cities.
• Councilwoman Parady challenged this assessment, reporting 'chaos' from the prior day. She cited a family with a hotel being taken by a volunteer and questioned the coordination of the five housing navigation nonprofits. She stressed that saying 100% were resolved was 'not a realistic portrayal of what is happening'.
• Legal Clinics: The city is standing up clinics to process CBP One work authorizations for eligible newcomers (approx. 800 identified). Two clinics are scheduled for February 15 and 16 with USCIS present. The Mayor noted 80% of arrivals lack CBP One eligibility and must navigate a longer asylum process.
• Population & Costs: Of the roughly 5,000 people in shelter, 80% are families. About 45% of shelter guests are children. The city has received roughly $20 million from the state, but the Mayor warned that failure of the federal border bill could require the city to absorb up to $180 million in budget cuts.
• Councilwoman Lewis requested a comprehensive document on the crisis. Councilwoman Parady listed extensive outstanding questions regarding shelter discharge schedules, vendor accountability (AC Disaster Services for McNichols), DPD issuing fines to migrants washing windows ($60 tickets), and the need for better council notification.
• Mayor acknowledged the dilemma, framing it as a 'dilemma' (competing values) rather than a 'problem' that can be fixed. He noted the overwhelming volume: 'three and a half weeks to prep for one day of exits, and then that number is undone by a day of arrivals'.
• Coordination: Discussion of a city coordinating council with Denver Public Schools, which must meet before March 31, 2024.

Denver Ambassadors Program

• Description: A 'yellow vest' program unifying existing private security (Downtown Denver Partnership, private buildings) and nonprofit outreach (Denver Dream Center) under a single communication system and uniform for downtown.
• Mayor's Position: The program is a communication alignment, not a scope of work change. The city is not funding or supervising the private security. The goal is visibility and coordinated response without escalation, with serious issues still routed through 311/911.
• Councilwoman Gonzalez Gutierrez noted discrepancies from the Safety Committee presentation and requested details on the triage process and training of responders.
• Councilwoman Parady strongly opposed the program, arguing it outsources public safety oversight to private security without POST certification, and specifically cited Allied Security's contract termination by RTD after the Rivero Stanet assault. She argued the yellow vest implies city imprimatur and liability.
• Councilman Lewis echoed concerns, recounting his experience on the RTD board with Allied Security. He raised concerns about vigilante authority, stressing the need for strict performance metrics for any city dollars involved.
• Councilman Watson noted the lack of coordinated communication between DDP and council prior to the program's rollout, which caused confusion.
• Councilman Nines pointed out the funding disparity between the Downtown BID ($12.5M for 120 blocks) vs. Cherry Creek ($8.5M for 16 blocks) and suggested augmenting the city's STAR program citywide with downtown funding.
• Councilwoman Sawyer framed the debate as a 'yes and' conversation, acknowledging the program's good intentions but validating the council's concerns about needing more time to ask questions and address gaps.

Key Outcomes & Next Steps

• Data and Transparency: The administration committed to providing council with comprehensive documents on migrant operations, legal pathways, and shelter exit data. A notification process for sweeps on DPR land will be established.
• Oversight: Council will continue to seek detailed answers on the training, triage, and accountability structures of the Ambassadors program.
• Executive Session: Council moved into Executive Session (DRMC 233 C1 and 234 A6) for a collective bargaining negotiations update.
• FinGov Session: Cancelled because General Services was not ready to present.