Weekly Joint Meeting of Mayor and Denver City Council – January 13, 2026

This weekly joint meeting of Mayor Mike Johnston and Denver City Council included a formal proclamation for the 40th anniversary of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Marade, announcements from council members, and an extended discussion on cold‑weather sheltering operations, centering on the 4040 Quebec site and the city’s capacity to bring people indoors during extreme cold.

Proclamation – MLK Marade 40th Anniversary

• Mayor Johnston proclaimed January 19, 2026, as Denver Marade 40th Anniversary Day, recognizing the state holiday effort and the annual parade as the largest Dr. King celebration in the nation. Councilmember Darrell Watson (District 9) introduced and read the proclamation. The event takes place on Monday, January 19, 2026.

Discussion Items – Cold Weather Shelter Update

• Cole Chandler, Senior Advisor on Homelessness, presented an update. Key points:
  • Prior to this season, the cold‑weather activation threshold was lowered from 20°F to 25°F (thanks to council advocacy).
  • Last year the city provided 24/7 shelter services for the first time citywide.
  • For the current season, the city aimed for 900 single‑adult beds; 670 24/7 beds were created, with the remainder to be covered by overflow beds.
  • After a no vote on the 4040 Quebec contract on December 8, 2025, capacity dropped from 670 to 470 24/7 beds. People in northeast Denver, especially, have stayed outside.
• Proposed commitments for 4040 Quebec:
  • Begin a planning process to fully activate full navigation center services by next cold‑weather season, meaning the ballrooms would not be used for shelter in future winters.
  • Lower occupancy from 200 to 100–150 and limit intake to northeast Denver residents who can walk to the site.
  • Maintain separate entrances and physical barriers between shelter and existing Urban Alchemy programming.
• Councilmember Shontel Lewis (District 8) expressed strong concerns:
  • Stated that the commitment had been no cold‑weather shelter at 4040 Quebec, yet the site was opened anyway.
  • Argued the district is already overburdened with long‑term shelters.
  • Called for more creative citywide solutions (e.g., the Dream Center, the Coliseum, Salvation Army, McNichols building) rather than defaulting to 4040 Quebec because it is easiest.
  • Noted that the proposed capacity reduction to 150 is not good‑faith negotiation.
• Mayor Johnston acknowledged the need for other options but explained contract limitations: the on‑call provider (Bayaud Works) can only staff seven facilities, and adding many small sites is not feasible this winter. He agreed this should be the last winter using 4040 Quebec for cold‑weather shelter.
• Lisa Lumley, Division of Real Estate, added that finding public‑assembly space is difficult due to code, life‑safety, and partner resistance.
• Councilmember Chris Hines asked about services beyond shelter; Jeff Kositsky (HOST Deputy Director) replied that resources are limited—medical care is provided when shelters are open >2 days, but no comprehensive assessments or pathways are offered.
• Councilmember Amanda Sawyer identified a gap between the 25°F activation threshold and the zero‑degree emergency threshold, and asked about using a recent $50M emergency provider contract; Kositsky said that contract is reserved for polar‑vortex emergencies and is much more expensive.
• Council President Amanda Sandoval urged solidarity and fair distribution of shelters across all districts, noting she has been searching for sites for years and is willing to take on more.
• Councilmember Darrell Watson stressed the need for year‑round, transparent dialogue with all council members about cold‑weather planning.

Key Outcomes

• The MLK Marade 40th Anniversary Day proclamation was officially signed and read; a group photo was taken.
• No formal vote was taken on the 4040 Quebec changes. The administration requested council support for a new agreement with Bayaud Works but acknowledged that the contracting process will outpace weather deadlines, so the site will be activated in the interim on the next cold‑weather activation to save lives.
• Councilmember Lewis reiterated that she rejects the current approach and called for genuine negotiation and a citywide search for additional sites.
• The meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session (pursuant to DRMC Sections 3 and 6) to receive legal advice on contract negotiations.