OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Weekly Joint Meeting of Mayor and Denver City Council - December 16, 2025

Mayor-Council MeetingTuesday, December 16, 2025
BodyDenver, Colorado
SessionMayor-Council Meeting
DateTuesday, December 16, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 42:19
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

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

0:06

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.

7:23

Gentlemen.

7:28

Aaron Council is now in session.

7:36

It's you.

7:37

All righty.

7:38

Thank you, everybody.

7:39

We are live on television.

7:42

You are watching from home.

7:44

You should be thinking about adopting a cat or a dog.

7:47

Like truffles, which is this fantastic one right here.

7:51

So uh let's start with introductions before I lose track of the narrative.

7:55

Distinguished gentleman to my right, could you begin?

7:57

Oh, we already introduced Trump.

8:00

I am not truffles, uh, I represent South Dendra District Six.

8:06

Uh, good morning, everyone.

8:07

Uh, Sadana Gonzalez Gutierrez.

8:09

Uh, one of your council members at large, and I don't know this little guy's name or this little one's name.

8:14

It might be Misty.

8:17

Oh, I get to name it.

8:18

Misty.

8:19

Yeah.

8:20

Hi, everyone.

8:20

I'm in a story, District Five plus Puppy.

8:24

Good morning, Florida Libres.

8:27

Uh, good morning, Daryl Watson, fine, district nine.

8:32

Good morning, Diana Romero Campbell, Southeast Denver District Four.

8:36

Great to see you.

8:37

We are we do have a general session this morning from our friends at the animal shelter.

8:40

We're gonna talk a little about all the amazing work that they're doing to help you connect to loved animals that need to be loved by you.

8:46

And then we do have an executive session today as well.

8:48

But start with any announcements if folks have them for the Good of the Order fellow members of the listening public, any announcements from our council members.

8:58

You're distracted by the dog.

9:03

I have just uh one one quick one.

9:06

Um, the the libraries in Southeast Denver um are going to be closed for renovations.

9:12

We're excited about the renovations and the plan for closure.

9:16

So Hampton Library is closed.

9:17

Uh Ross University Hills uh will be closed for the renovations on the twentieth.

9:23

Uh Denver Public Library has been working with us um to have a um bookmobile and sprint van.

9:31

Uh that schedule will come out uh later this week.

9:34

You can visit uh Denver Public Library.org forward slash southeast for more information in the different libraries' um times and programs that will be available.

9:47

Any other announcements?

9:49

Well, yes, please.

9:52

Uh, do part two as some of our libraries in uh Southeast and South Denver are closing, trying to fill in the gaps.

10:02

The Virginia Village Library at Dahlia in Florida will be open seven days.

10:09

Come on, and then I still have books on the shelf.

10:14

Thank you, Councilman.

10:15

Councilman Alvidris.

10:17

Thank you.

10:17

Um, I wanted to thank the Athmar Park Center for their work organizing an event that's going to be really special.

10:25

So you can join us in celebrating the spirit of the season.

10:28

Um, the Christmas market that will be coming up is a free event that gives each child in attendance the opportunity to select a meaningful gift to give up to two people in their family.

10:40

They will get to wrap it themselves and experience the joy of surprising someone they love.

10:45

This will be happening next Monday, December 22nd from 4 to 6 p.m.

10:49

at Athmar Park Rec Center.

10:51

Thank you.

10:52

Thank you.

10:53

Any other announcements?

10:56

Great.

10:58

Melanie and team, do you want to come up and tell us all the amazing things that are happening at the animal shelter that we should know about?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Animal Welfare█████████████████████████████████████████████62%
Procedural█████████████████23%
Parks and Recreation██████8%
Pending Litigation████5%
Legislative Affairs2%
Summary of Proceedings

Weekly Joint Meeting of Mayor and Denver City Council - December 16, 2025

The meeting opened with introductions, announcements from council members, and a presentation from Denver Animal Shelter. The council then moved into an executive session for legal advice.

Announcements

  • Councilmember Sawyer announced library closures in Southeast Denver (Hampton Library closed; Ross University Hills to close on December 20) and bookmobile schedule available at Denver Public Library.org/southeast.
  • Councilmember Alvidris promoted the Christmas market at Athmar Park Rec Center on December 22 from 4–6 p.m., where children can select and wrap gifts for family members.

Animal Shelter Presentation

  • Shelter staff (Lauren Law, Aiden McMarrell, Lorraine Laycock) introduced adoptable animals: Rocky (4-year-old pitbull, owner surrender due to owner traveling), a litter of puppies from a C-section (mom and puppies will be ready for adoption in two weeks), and eight-week-old kittens.
  • Lead presenter (Melanie) reported that the shelter has seen a record number of animals this year, expecting over 10,000 intakes. Staff works 365 days a year.
  • A donor funded a professional promotional video highlighting shelter services (three versions: 3, 5, and 8 minutes). The 5-minute version was shown.
  • Councilmembers expressed gratitude. Councilwoman Sawyer thanked voters for the vibrant Denver bonds, which include upgrades to the animal shelter. Councilman Flynn noted the range of animals cared for (rabbits, turtles, etc.). Councilwoman Sawyer also thanked the shelter for organizing a pet food drive during the SNAP benefits crisis.
  • Councilman Cashman asked about the pit bull registration ordinance. The shelter director responded: "In a word, no" — it is a waste of resources, redundant with the dangerous dog ordinance, and not effective. Most owners do not register proactively.
  • The shelter is open for adoptions and surrenders 365 days; volunteer applications are available on the city website.

Key Outcomes

  • The council moved into executive session pursuant to DRMC 234A sections 3 and 7 for legal advice related to city resembling laws. Motion carried unanimously with all in favor and none opposed.
  • No other votes or formal decisions were taken during the general session.

Meeting Transcript

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. Gentlemen. Aaron Council is now in session. It's you. All righty. Thank you, everybody. We are live on television. You are watching from home. You should be thinking about adopting a cat or a dog. Like truffles, which is this fantastic one right here. So uh let's start with introductions before I lose track of the narrative. Distinguished gentleman to my right, could you begin? Oh, we already introduced Trump. I am not truffles, uh, I represent South Dendra District Six. Uh, good morning, everyone. Uh, Sadana Gonzalez Gutierrez. Uh, one of your council members at large, and I don't know this little guy's name or this little one's name. It might be Misty. Oh, I get to name it. Misty. Yeah. Hi, everyone. I'm in a story, District Five plus Puppy. Good morning, Florida Libres. Uh, good morning, Daryl Watson, fine, district nine. Good morning, Diana Romero Campbell, Southeast Denver District Four. Great to see you. We are we do have a general session this morning from our friends at the animal shelter. We're gonna talk a little about all the amazing work that they're doing to help you connect to loved animals that need to be loved by you. And then we do have an executive session today as well. But start with any announcements if folks have them for the Good of the Order fellow members of the listening public, any announcements from our council members. You're distracted by the dog. I have just uh one one quick one. Um, the the libraries in Southeast Denver um are going to be closed for renovations. We're excited about the renovations and the plan for closure. So Hampton Library is closed. Uh Ross University Hills uh will be closed for the renovations on the twentieth. Uh Denver Public Library has been working with us um to have a um bookmobile and sprint van. Uh that schedule will come out uh later this week. You can visit uh Denver Public Library.org forward slash southeast for more information in the different libraries' um times and programs that will be available. Any other announcements? Well, yes, please. Uh, do part two as some of our libraries in uh Southeast and South Denver are closing, trying to fill in the gaps. The Virginia Village Library at Dahlia in Florida will be open seven days. Come on, and then I still have books on the shelf. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Alvidris. Thank you. Um, I wanted to thank the Athmar Park Center for their work organizing an event that's going to be really special.

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