Denver Mayor and City Council Joint Meeting – December 2, 2025

The weekly joint meeting of Mayor Paul Cashman and the Denver City Council on December 2, 2025, focused on announcements from council members, a detailed update on the city's snow removal operations from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (Dottie), and an update on the Snow Angels volunteer program. No formal session was held. Key topics included school plowing, bike lane maintenance, ice complaints, and program statistics.

Announcements

• Councilmember Amanda Sawyer (District 5): Reminded residents that the annual survey is open until December 31 and has received over 1,000 responses so far. Links are available on social media (@DenverCouncil5) and at Denvergov.org/district5.
• Councilmember Diana Romero Campbell (District 4): Announced the senior luncheon on Friday, December 5, at 11:30 a.m. at the Welshire Event Center (Welsh Golf Club), featuring the Colorado Symphony. A few seats remain.
• Councilmember (District 6): Promoted the South Pearl Street Winter Fest on December 5 and 6 (tree lighting, horse and carriage rides, shopping) and the West Wash Park holiday party at Levin Supply (300 East Alameda) on December 5, with a $10 donation benefiting Community Ministries.
• Councilmember Darrell Watson (District 9): Highlighted the Denver Winter Market kickoff at the Sports Castle (1000 Broadway) on December 2 from 6–9 p.m., continuing through the weekend.
• Other brief remarks included a discussion about the Denver men's soccer team's playoff elimination by Portland and a mention of the University of Denver Pioneers' athletic achievements.

Discussion Items

Snow Removal Operations Update

• Presenters: Cindy (Dottie), John Essex (Director of Street Maintenance), and Cardell Collins (Street Maintenance Manager) provided an overview of the city's snow program.
• Statistics & Context:
  • Denver averages 57 inches of snow per season (since the 1800s), with a wide range by location (47 inches at DIA vs. 65–70 inches in southwest Denver).
  • The city typically experiences 20–24 storms per year. The last four seasons averaged below 50 inches, but 2021 saw 80 inches.
  • The most recent snow (late November) ended 244 snow-free days, and Denver recorded the second-latest first snowfall on record.
  • Cost of snow operations ranges from $12–25 million per season, covering equipment, overtime, materials, and fleet maintenance.
• Staffing & Equipment:
  • At the highest tier, nearly 300 personnel deploy (including staff from wastewater, parks, and other departments).
  • Main routes (arterials and collectors with stripes): 142 CDL operators per 24-hour period.
  • Protected bike lanes and pedestrian bridges: two 12-person teams clear all once every 24 hours (cannot keep up with continuous snowfall).
  • Residential streets: 36 4x4 pickup trucks provide one pass down the middle (no de-icing) during Tier 3 (12-hour shift) or Tier 4 (24-hour) events.
• Materials: Liquid de-icer used for anti-icing before storms; dry salt (97%) used during storms. The sun is described as the most effective snow fighter.
• School Plowing:
  • Councilmember Sawyer raised that schools in District 5 are not plowed despite her requests. Mr. Essex said school routes are typically attached to A or B routes, and offered to set up a meeting to review underserved schools.
• Bike Lanes:
  • Denver has 556 miles of bike lanes total, 102 miles protected. Currently five small specialized plows (three borrowed from DPR) are used for protected lanes. Operators are trained to avoid pushing snow back into bike lanes.
  • Councilmember Alvidrez expressed frustration that bike lanes in her district (e.g., 29th, 23rd) are often not cleared. The goal is to cycle through all protected lanes once per shift, but resources are limited.
• Sidewalk Enforcement:
  • Property owners must clear sidewalks and ADA ramps within 4 hours (businesses) or 24 hours (residences); $150 fine for non-compliance. Inspections are handled by Community Planning and Development (CPD), not Dottie. Councilmember Sawyer noted a shortage of inspectors after recent layoffs.
• Ice Complaints:
  • Residents can call 311 for ice removal requests or to report slippery conditions. Priority is based on impact (e.g., busy streets, emergency calls from DPD). Dottie has eight motor graders for ice removal.
  • A specific bus stop at Hampden and Tamarack was noted as problematic; responsibility may fall to adjacent property owners. Dottie agreed to flag it.
• Questions & Next Steps:
  • Councilmember Watson thanked staff for their work and asked about the number of small plows DPR provides. He will follow up with Director Clark for more data.
  • Councilmember Alvidrez asked about bike lane plow priorities and resources; she will monitor progress.
  • It was emphasized that 311 is the primary channel for snow-related complaints and data collection.

Snow Angels Program Update

• Presenters: Perla and Anna Garoki (Human Rights and Community Partnerships).
• Program Overview: Launched seven years ago, Snow Angels matches volunteers with older adults and people with disabilities to clear sidewalks, ADA ramps, and bus stops. Service is free and contactless.
• New System: A one-click activation, live address status (incomplete, in progress, complete), and improved GIS mapping were implemented last year. Update lag is now ~30 seconds.
• Statistics (as of meeting):
  • This snow season: 156 houses requesting assistance, 107 volunteers.
  • Last snow season: 241 houses, 177 volunteers, 3 activations, 167 houses assisted, saving residents over $25,000 in potential fines.
  • A live dashboard by council district is available on the Snow Angels webpage.
• Safety: Automated emails remind requesters that the service is free and contactless.
• Outreach: The program has received interest from other cities. Councilmembers were encouraged to promote Snow Angels on social media; a media kit is available. Councilmember Alvidrez noted the health risks of shoveling (heart attacks in men).

Key Outcomes

• Dottie will meet with Councilmember Sawyer to review and potentially add school plowing routes in District 5.
• Councilmember Alvidrez will contact DPR Director Clark to explore increasing small plow resources for protected bike lanes.
• Dottie reiterated that 311 is the appropriate channel for ice complaints, and councilmembers were asked to direct constituents there.
• The Snow Angels program will continue to expand its volunteer base and dashboard. Councilmembers will share promotional materials.
• The meeting adjourned without a formal session; next regular meeting TBD.