Thanks for joining us for this weekly joint meeting of the mayor and Denver City Council.

Follow along as the mayor and city council members hear updates from city agencies and projects, discuss important city matters, and hear about what's happening across the Mile High City.

Does it look at it?

A little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit more.

We are now live on the air.

We will start with the traductions.

Thank you, distinguished gentlemen on the right.

Good morning, Mayor.

Good morning.

Paul Cash from South Denver District 6.

Savannah Gonzalez, you can as one of your council members at large.

Amanda Sawyer District 5.

Hi, good morning, Diana Romero Campbell, Southeast Denver District 4.

Hi, good morning, Darrell Watson, five district nine.

Hey, Denver.

Denver's perfect in.

Chris Hydes.

Good morning, Amanda Sanval, North West Denver District.

I'm sorry, we're tardy.

Uh apologize for starting late.

Delighted to be here.

Are there any announcements that members have for each other or for the listening public?

Yes, Councilman Sawyer.

Thanks.

Just a reminder for District 5 residents that our annual survey is open.

So please take it.

We have about a thousand responses so far.

It'll be open for another six weeks till the end of the year.

So if you are a resident of district five, please take our annual survey.

And we really do use your responses to shape our work plan for the next year.

So get out there and take our survey.

Thanks.

Councilwoman Gonzalez.

Thank you.

So myself, Councilwoman Parody, Councilman Cashman, and Councilwoman Lewis are co-hosting a um, we're calling it a community hangout.

It's, you know, things have been very difficult, I think, for employees that work for the government on various levels, whether it's at the local, city, at the federal level, most definitely.

And we are just inviting folks to come and have a meal and to share some space with other folks that may be just feeling just a lot of weight right now.

And so this is just an opportunity.

We'll be doing it at the firefighters union hall, 775 Mariposa, 3 30 to 6 30 on Friday, November 21st.

All council members, you're all invited.

So please come through so we can hang out with our fellow government employees and um, you know, just help them in this in this really tough time.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Any other announcements?

Councilman Watson.

Council President Pro Tem.

Thank you, sir.

Welcome.

Um, there's uh two things.

One, we have our senior luncheon, which is on Friday, December 5th.

Um I had to think about it.

Contact our office.

Um if you live in Southeast Denver.

Um, this is our annual luncheon um that we have at the Weltshire um event center.

Um, super excited to do that.

It starts at 11:30 at Welshire on December 5th.

Contact our office.

And then second, um, we have so many fun things going on.

Uh we have a number of our RO's um our neighborhood registered neighborhood organizations that are holding turkey trots.

So little neighborhood community events that um just bring people together.

So, um, for those that are in sophomore, University Hills, and Hampton Heights, um, they are all holding turkey trots on um on Thanksgiving.

And if you're a member of one of those communities, you probably already know about it, but um, welcome to come and join.

And if not, this we've got two weeks.

Um, the reason why I bring up the turkey trot is because my dad was a runner.

Um, he always did the turkey trot.

He always, um, it was just kind of a family tradition that we'd go out um to the Mile High United Way Turkey Trot at Wash Park and spend the morning just out and trotting um before we would go and have our turkey dinner.

So um, it's a good way to be able to give back to community.

It's a good way to be able to um raise funds.

If you aren't able to go to one of the smaller ones, um the mile high united way um at Wash Park.

Um, those funds go to partner organizations throughout the community.

And so just wanted to encourage people to get out and trot, work on those yams.

They have the yams.

Thank you so much.

It's all good stuff and good fun, but just a family tradition that we've done and wanted to share with everyone else.

Councilman Watson.

I'm happy to join you at Washball.

All right, so we don't tap.

Nine o'clock.

I'm gonna have to come.

Um, on uh Friday, November 21st, uh, from 1 30 to 2 45 p.m.

We have our November community office hours.

I may have to do some trotting after this one.

It's gonna be at Welton Street Cafe.

So come on out for some smothered pork chop and some good discussions in the fine district nine, and that is at 2883 Welton Street.

So Friday, November 21st, 130 to 245.

Our monthly District 9, November community office hours.

Bring your thoughts, your ideas, and an empty stomach.

So looking forward to seeing folks.

Thank you so much.

President.

Thank you.

Birthday yesterday.

Happy birthday to Councilman South.

That is on the 22nd.

Yeah.

Scorpios United.

You are you were both days?

I am the cusp.

And the cusp.

Clearly a Scorpio.

Both of us.

Any other announcements?

Yes, sir.

Councilman.

With all the deserved uh good noise going on about the Broncos ads and not good soft to such a flying start one.

You remember remind people the uh University of Denver Pioneers.

On a run.

They started off a little slowly this year.

Uh they are up to number four uh in the country on the latest polls and are moving on up.

So go buy out.

Uh as of yesterday, we were the only city that had uh not a single home loss in any of three sports, the abs, nuggets, and uh Broncos, unfortunately, the nuggets lost last night.

But you know, one loss out of three games across three sports, I think we'll take it.

It is the great uh golden era of Denver Sports.

Um else before we jump into our sessions this morning.

Uh thank you all.

Uh we're delighted to have um our legal team here to update us a little bit on the government shutdown.

Councilman Gonzalez, we're talking about some of the impact on federal employees and on services, and so we wanted to be able to get an overview of what the current impact and future impact could be of our federal government shutdown.

So have our team from Brownstein here.

I'm not sure if they're on the zoo.

I think they're from uh from DC.

Um, and so I will turn it over to the technology powers to bring them in them in.

Can you see us?

Can you see us and hear us?

Yep.

Great.

Uh go ahead, Bart.

Thank you.

I appreciate you both being here.

I think uh um I'll give over the floor to you to jump in on overview of context that we should know, and I'm sure we'll have questions from council members as we as we get through it.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor and uh council members.

It's an honor to be with you guys today and update you on the government shutdown and how we see things playing out over the next few months here in DC.

Um, I'm joined by my colleague Nadim Al-Shami.

I think it my name is on his screen as well this morning, but he'll introduce himself.

Um, I've uh come to Brownstein from Capitol Hill.

I spent over 15 years on the Hill.

Most recently it was the Deputy Chief of Staff to the House Majority Leader, Steve Scalise from Louisiana.

Um, I'll go on and jump right in and I'll try to uh not use too much uh Capitol Hill vernacular.

Um, obviously the government shutdown ended last week.

It was the longest government shutdown in history, um, and obviously had profound impacts across the country on constituents and other governments that will that need funding from the federal government.

Um so the the current I lost your audio, Bart.

Just a sec.

Oh, okay.

Oh gosh.

There we go.

All right, we're back.

Um let us work on audio.

We do not hear you right now.

Okay.

Now we got you back.

All right.

Where did I where did you you last?

I marked you when you said longest shutdown in American history.

Yes, so it was the longest uh shutdown in U.S.

history.

Um it ended last week uh with the House pat at the House and Senate agreeing on a uh package of bills that was three appropriations bills, the ag the agriculture bill, the milk milk on VA bill, and the ledge branch bill, and a CR for the rest of government funding through the end of January 31st.

That is a two-month runway for them to negotiate another package of bills, um, some items that are on tap and under consideration and most likely to be considered in another round of uh a package of bills would be the defense bill, the labor HHS bill, the T HUD bill, and then possibly the interior bill, the CJS bill, and the energy and water bill.

There are a few of the appropriations bills that most likely will lay waste on the cutting room floor and not see um agreement between the House and Senate, um, namely homeland, um, the FSGG bill, which funds a lot of broad pieces of the federal government, and the state foreign ops bill.

So those three bills are most likely to be CR'd for the remainder of the year in January when the House and Senate agree on the next funding package.

Also on tap for the Congress as they look to close out this year is the National Defense Authorization Act.

That legislation is passed every year over the last 50 years.

So I anticipate the House and Senate to come to an agreement on the uh the NDAA for this year.

So that's just a quick overview on the main drivers on Capitol Hill through the end of this year and into early next year as we talk about government funding.

But I'll turn it over to my colleague Nadim to introduce himself.

Good morning, Mr.

Mayor, Council members.

It's great to be with you.

Um and I just want to pick up uh where Bart um ended, uh, but a couple quick things about me.

I've been with the firm for about eight years.

I am one of the co-managing directors here in the Washington, DC office.

Prior to that, I spent uh 26 years on Capitol Hill, and I left as chief of staff to uh speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Umhead uh post uh the end of the government shutdown.

I see two important deadlines for Denver, but also for the country.

The first is December 31st.

I think many of you have heard quite a bit about the um health care subsidies or the Obamacare subsidies or the ACA subsidies.

At the moment, um, you know, there is a standstill on Capitol Hill.

There will be some vote, maybe some uh potentially two votes coming up, uh, but there's major disagreement between the parties, Republicans and Democrats.

Democrats uh want to simply extend uh with potentially some changes.

Uh Republicans, uh many Republicans have no interest.

So trying to break the logjam and figuring out a way to proceed forward before December 31st is is going to be um critical actually for both parties.

Uh affordability issues across the country uh um has been a major topic on everything from health care to groceries and so on.

Um and both parties realize that and um while uh we are in full political season here in Washington, DC.

Um, I think both um leaders and and in the White House are looking for solutions to these critical issues.

The second deadline is going to be January 30th.

Um as Bart has described, they are currently working on some appropriation packages uh for some of the remaining appropriations bills.

Um, and why those are important for Denver is because they contain potentially uh some um specific projects that are important to Denver.

So we are monitoring those bills very closely with the hope that the House and the Senate will come to an agreement, both Republicans and Democrats and get that through.

But when you get to January 30th, um, you know, you'll have uh potentially bills like Homeland Security that needs to get to be funded.

Uh in all likelihood it will be funded under a continuing resolution, which is essentially the same funding levels as the current um current fiscal year.

Uh, but we'll see how that plays out.

Um, I see that as the next, um, if there's no agreement on the health care subsidies, I see that as the next um point for Democrats uh to not support um any continuing resolution in order to continue the debate on the health care subsidies.

Um, but as of now, um the shutdown is over.

Appropriations committees are talking, and they are attempting to find a way forward on uh the healthcare subsidies.

Thank you so much.

Uh I think I will open it up to questions, unless there's anything else that you all want to cover, gentlemen, as initial info before we jump into questions.

Questions?

I think we're ready for questions.

Are there questions from any of the members?

Councilman Watson.

Um thank you, um Mr.

Mayor, and thank you, uh Bart and uh is it Nadine?

Nadine.

Um thank you so much, and thank you both for um kind of your service as chief of staff for uh congressional um offices.

My question goes beyond the CR in January.

It goes specific to uh the long-term benefits from HR one.

And if you can speak to that as it pertains to SNAP benefits, I know that we have a stopgap in in SNAP because of the government shutdown, and those had some direct impacts in Denver.

Really, we came together.

We have a um uh we're working collaboratively to make sure that all of our our pantries, etc.

are are filled with uh the the 10 million dollars that came from the from the state uh to make sure that Denver is taken care of.

But there have been long-term projected changes to SNAP, moving some of the responsibilities to the state, reducing um folks who are immigrants from receiving any SNAP benefits.

I'm curious from your perspective what are um what are things that we within the city and county of Denver should be um looking at?

What are the impacts that you're seeing, and what legislation, if any, are are you seeing whether it's state or federal that's going to provide relief um longer term once HR1 um is fully implemented?

Um council member, there's a couple of things, and and you raise them, and I think they make um are important.

Um but first let me start with the continuing resolution that just passed.

I mean, if funds um, you know, SNAP funding for a year under current um, you know, under current levels and under current conditions of HR one.

Um, you know, the impact on localities and on states is um is uh both the work requirements that come into effect.

States do take some of the cost um as well and eligibility um also.

Um we have provided um some uh deep research on that.

We'd be more than happy to share that with with you and the council members as well.

Thank you, Nate.

Other questions?

I have one question.

Madam President.

Thank you both for this information.

What were to happen on December 31st?

If there was a standstill, could the government be put down into a shutdown again in January?

No, ma'am.

The current funding is through the end of January, and so it come December 31st, they still have a one-month runway to come to an agreement on a broader package of spending bills.

Okay, and then between now and the end of January, are those bills um, we'll just have to watch if those bills make it to the floor to get approved by the Senate and Congress.

Is that what I'm understanding?

Yes, ma'am.

So I think what you'll see is um Leader Thune over in the Senate has filed closure on a number of those bills that I laid out as most likely uh next vehicles for conferencing between the House and Senate.

Um you will also see the House move forward on a few more of those bills.

At some point, though, they will probably not pass bills out of the House and Senate anymore, and they'll go to what's called a conference committee.

So there's a recent precedent that both sides have employed where the most recent action on a bill at where it is a negotiated is what they then take to the negotiation with the other chamber.

So what that means is let's say the House Appropriations Committee got their T-HUD bill out of committee, but it didn't pass the floor, but then the Senate passed their T-HUD bill.

The past product from the House committee level would then be conferenced with the Senate floor pass product.

So you're not necessarily having to have that one-for-one parity where both bills follow the same path before they can get negotiated.

I have a question, uh Bart, about the so for the um for the health care subsidy questions for the Obamacare subsidies, um, when would those lapse?

Would those start lapsing January 1?

And are you assuming that would be the major issue in the negotiations going to January 30?

And how optimistic are you that there's a path to get to some deal that would keep those in place?

Um, yes, they do uh lapse December uh 31st.

I mean, the issue has been all along, uh, is you want them to be uh available prior to December 31st.

Um, because that helps set the prices for the um insurance rates going into January one.

Um, so um the impact is actually being felt already in in some states uh where there is an open enrollment taking place for the Affordable Care Act at the moment, um, and the enrollment numbers are not as as high because there are some individuals who can't afford uh to pay the insurance because it's too expensive uh without the subsidies.

However, um again, both sides understand that this is a uh a major major issues, both sides have differing um ideas.

The question is can the middle uh find a find a way forward that both satisfies some of the conservative ideas, but also uh the current um uh democratic proposals of the of the subsidies.

Uh, the reason I said December 31st is because while there's no natural deadline there, it is the end of the year.

Um, and you know, by the time January first start, individuals are either going to have health care that is more expensive, or they just did not sign up for health care because it was too expensive.

And if it's if it's passed at the January 30 deadline, could people late open enroll if they didn't open and roll and or would those subsidies immediately reduce their costs?

Uh effective February.

What would the impact be on a resident in Denver?

Uh it is unclear at the moment, uh, Mr.

Mayor, if if it's if it's passed in the January 30th deadline where the government or some of the government shuts down because there's no funding, um, yes, there will be an impact.

Can uh individuals um get some money back?

Can they um, you know, can the open enrollment be extended?

I mean, there's a there's a lot of things that could potentially happen, but it is a it's it's pretty pretty difficult.

And it can be done.

Uh thank you, Ms.

Mayor.

Just uh a request.

Um, would you um uh Brown's team members, would you share your contact information with council in case we find ourselves in DC and uh and want to say hi?

That's it.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Adam, uh Adam on the mayor's team has our contact info, and we're happy to have him share it with all of you.

Thank you.

Any other questions from members?

Okay, well, thank you both so much for your work.

Thanks for your time uh helping us way through this.

Thank you for advocating for Denver residents.

We want to make sure to get access to those services, and so appreciate it.

We will reach back out if you have additional questions.

Thank you.

And with no other business this morning, we are actually adjourned early with some time to get back.

Thank you all.

Happy Tuesday.