Mayor and Denver City Council 2024 Goals Review - January 7, 2025
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Mayor and Denver City Council 2024 Goals Review - January 7, 2025
At this weekly session on a snowy Tuesday, the administration presented a comprehensive review of the city's 2024 goals across five categories: Vibrant Denver, Affordability, Safety, Good Governance, and Employee Engagement. Council members asked questions about wraparound services, environmental targets, permit streamlining, and medical care at shelter sites. The meeting included announcements about the upcoming National Western Stock Show (January 11–26) and condolences for the passing of Council President Pro Tem's mother.
Discussion Items
- Vibrant Denver: The administration reported that voters in the Downtown Denver Development Authority district approved a 77% measure to invest $570 million over the next decade in downtown revitalization without raising taxes. Letters of intent for public-private projects will begin in the coming weeks.
- Affordability: Homelessness & Housing: The city achieved the largest one-year reduction in street homelessness on record, moving 2,233 people into transitional housing (exceeding the goal of 2,000). Family street homelessness fell by 83%, attributed in part to the Tamar Act. The administration also announced an end to the cycle of street homelessness for veterans—the first large U.S. city to do so. On affordable housing, the city permitted, financed, or supported 3,000 affordable units (meeting the goal).
- Safety: Gun violence declined significantly: a 23% reduction in persons shot, a 22% drop in non-fatal shootings, and a nearly 30% reduction in firearm homicides. The administration highlighted a 15% increase in citizen satisfaction with police response. The Roads to Recovery program moved 201 chronically homeless individuals with high needs into treatment settings, diverting them from jails and emergency rooms.
- Good Governance: The administration reported mixed results. Residential permitting times were reduced by 30% through process changes, but commercial permitting did not meet the target. A major redesign of commercial permitting is expected in early 2025. For city services, 311 improvements included faster cart replacement (wait time down 30%) and business license notifications, but route completion for trash pickup remained at 90% (goal was 93%) due to staffing and vehicle shortages.
- Employee Engagement: The city provided a second consecutive 4% merit increase and added a wellness day for employees. Results from the employee survey are pending.
Key Outcomes
- The administration committed to presenting a redesigned commercial permitting process within the next month.
- A climate goal framework will be proposed as a standalone priority for 2025, integrated across all departments.
- The Roads to Recovery program added case management capacity, and the administration plans to expand the command center model to workforce, mental health, and addiction services.
- A new med unit at Fire Station 26 reduced 911 calls from All-in-Mound high sites by 30–40%; plans for rotating medical providers at shelter sites are under development.
- Council members expressed ongoing concerns about wraparound services, the need for more robust data on treatment outcomes, and the importance of streamlining restaurant permits.
Announcements
- Councilman Darrell Watson welcomed the 119th National Western Stock Show, noting all 50 states and multiple countries participating, with proceeds funding scholarships.
- Council President Pro Tem thanked colleagues for their support after her mother's unexpected passing.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to this meeting of the mayor and Denver City Council. At this weekly session, city agencies brief the mayor and council members on various proposals and projects across the city. This meeting of the mayor and city council members begins now. We will start with some introductions. Still in twenty twenty-five, the distinguished gentleman to my right where you begin our introductions. Still appreciate that. Paul Cashman, South Denver District. Good morning, everyone. Sadana Gonzalez Coquetez. Good morning, Darrell Watson, representing Define District 9 in 2025. Good morning, Diana Romero Campbell, District 4 in Southeast Denver. Thank you all so much. I know we have some council members who are uh sick this morning and some who are probably navigating the snow and getting kids to or from school or the rest, but we're delighted to have you all here. Uh we have a shorter agenda this morning. I'm gonna open up for announcements. People have announcements, and then we have um an update on our 2024 goals that we'll do a uh a little deeper dive on for any questions people have, and then we will adjourn. Um there any announcements that council members have. Yes, Councilman Cashman. Yes, since Councilwoman Albas is not here yet. I would just say go Broncos. Uh, Councilman Cashman beat us to the punch. First time in 10 years to be in the playoffs. Very, very excited. We're just preparing for the Buffalo winter conditions by letting us get some snow training in advance. Uh Councilman Watson. Hey, I shared us last night at Denver City Council, but we wanted to um welcome the 119th National Western Stock Show Rodeo and Horse Show to Denver. It begins on January 11th and runs through the 26th. It's 16 days of fun for families, friends. We have all 50 states are participating, and I've got how many uh countries have already uh signed up to have participants um in this massive event. It's uh it's a windfall for um the global sponsor communities in which funds from this event and many others go towards scholarships that help uh students and families in global Swansea. And so we'd like to thank the National Western uh Center and all the good work they do year round, even outside of the stock show. I want to encourage you all to come to Define District 9 for the next 16 days for funding games. And I think on Thursday, the mayor is gonna be riding a um what is it a steer down uh 17th Avenue to welcome all the visitors to Denver. So thank you, Mayor John. We'll try to do two steers just on the stand on top there. Stand on top of the case. We're really excited about the stock show. Bring your family uh and friends. We've been going since our kids were born since I was a kid. Thank you, Councilman. Can't wait to see you there. Um thank you. Um I just have uh a quick uh thank you to everyone. Um, some of you might know my mom passed away unexpectedly over the break at the in the middle of December. Um, and I just wanted to thank everybody for their kindness and their thoughtfulness and their generosity and grace during that time. So um I just appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you, President Pro Tem. Um yes, I will make comments offline so we both make it to the meeting. Um other announcements before we move forward.
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