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Record of Proceedings

Denver Mayor & City Council Joint Meeting – January 27, 2026: Announcements and Executive Session

Mayor-Council Meeting — Tuesday, January 27, 2026
BodyDenver, Colorado
SessionMayor-Council Meeting
DateTuesday, January 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 18:37
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Our salutatorian of the class of 2023, Kenan Thomas, will share some words.

0:05

Struggle and triumph. When I was expelled, it was the worst news I'd ever received at that point in my life.

0:10

Attending PCA was the best decision I've ever made, and I can confidently say that most graduates on this stage would agree.

0:16

The teachers here really had an immense impact on the person I had to come.

0:19

The ultimate reward as a teacher is making it to me, right?

0:23

and it's watching that student and watching you as an individual not just walk through that stage,

0:30

but to lead your peers through that stage, to hear your voice boom in that auditorium.

0:37

Oh, man.

0:40

Yeah, 26 years in this profession.

0:47

You never know which kids are going to make it.

0:49

Triumph looked differently for all of us.

0:51

For me, triumph was like a full ride to CSU.

0:53

Keenan O'Connor Thomas.

1:05

And I remember having a conversation with you, and I said to you, what about CSU?

1:10

And you're like, Izzo, there's no way I'm going to get into CSU.

1:13

They wouldn't want a person like me.

1:14

And I remember whipping my head around and being like, a person like you?

1:17

What does that mean?

1:19

They'd be lucky to have a person like you.

1:21

And that's the ideology that needs to be broken, I think, with first-gen kids.

1:26

Like, I can't do it.

1:28

I don't even know how to do it.

1:29

It's so big of an idea, right?

1:32

Yeah.

1:33

But it's like any other idea.

1:35

It is.

1:35

You just got to believe in it.

1:37

Just take a second and look at this thing out.

1:40

I think being first-generation, it's overcoming and it's showing future generations of first-generation students that it is obtainable and that it is possible.

1:49

So how's your semester going so far?

1:52

I just feel very overwhelmed a lot.

1:54

I do think that taking 18 credits is really hard.

1:56

Okay, so you're taking 18 credits.

1:58

Yeah, taking 18 credits.

1:59

You're also taking Life 102, aren't you?

2:01

Yes.

2:02

Well, we actually have tutoring for that class

2:03

at the Tilt Building, and it's just drop-in,

2:05

so you go in there and get the help you need.

2:08

I work with students who are mostly first generation

2:10

and who come from marginalized communities

2:12

and, you know, diverse backgrounds.

2:13

Three, two, one, and go!

2:17

They mimic me a lot and how I was when I first came into college.

2:20

And I know that my first semester on college, I was terrified.

2:23

I think I called you on my first day of college and I told you that I wanted to drop out.

2:26

You did.

2:27

I was terrified.

2:28

I think you might have even been crying a little.

2:30

I think I was too.

2:32

I think in my past, I didn't feel recognized by my teachers.

2:37

And I feel like they wouldn't see me and they wouldn't try to work with me.

2:41

And all I ever got was suspension or, you know, expulsion.

2:45

There was also a level of support from you that I had never felt from any teacher I've ever had before.

2:49

You're going to make me cry.

2:53

I wanted my master's education after undergrad and become a teacher in social studies

2:57

and, you know, work with an alternative school where students who were at risk

3:01

to be able to do what y'all did for me and plant the seed.

3:06

As a teacher and as a professional that has had you as a learner,

3:11

I personally think that the world would be a better place if you were a teacher.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████27%
Miscellaneous██████████████████████22%
Community Engagement█████████████████17%
Pending Litigation██████████████14%
Fiscal Sustainability███████████11%
Homelessness█████████9%
Summary of Proceedings

Denver Mayor & City Council Joint Meeting – January 27, 2026

This weekly joint meeting of the Mayor and Denver City Council began with council member announcements on property tax outreach, community budgeting, blood donation, neighborhood events, and concerns regarding federal actions. The meeting then moved into executive session for legal advice on intergovernmental agreements and litigation.

Announcements

  • Council Member Kevin Flynn (District 2) raised concerns about the city's property tax mailer being the only reminder for payment, particularly affecting seniors and offline residents. He requested a strategy to help those who may be confused. The Treasury and Finance Office (TFO) representative Nicole Duhani noted a strategy exists and will share details.
  • Council Member Paul Cashman (District 6) reminded residents about the Denver People's Budget, a $2 million program with $1 million for citywide projects and $1 million for the southeast area (Districts 4, 5, 6). Residents can submit suggestions at denvergov.org/denverpb.
  • Council Member Amanda Sawyer (District 5) announced a blood drive through January 31st at Vitalant in Lowry and the District 5 annual open house on February 10th, 5:30 p.m. at George Washington High School.
  • Council Member Diana Romero-Campbell (District 4) noted a survey open until end of month for input on the new Kennedy Golf Club clubhouse.
  • Council Member Albedris expressed concern about an assault at the tiny home village and echoed colleagues' concerns about federal-level actions.
  • Council President Amanda Sandoval (District 1) reflected on national tragedies, calling for recommitment to justice, compassion, and accountability.
  • Mayor responded by affirming the city's commitment to safety and inclusiveness.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to enter executive session pursuant to DRMC 234A, sections 3, 6, and 7 for legal advice on intergovernmental agreements and pending litigation. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously with no opposition. The meeting then adjourned to executive session.

Meeting Transcript

Our salutatorian of the class of 2023, Kenan Thomas, will share some words. Struggle and triumph. When I was expelled, it was the worst news I'd ever received at that point in my life. Attending PCA was the best decision I've ever made, and I can confidently say that most graduates on this stage would agree. The teachers here really had an immense impact on the person I had to come. The ultimate reward as a teacher is making it to me, right? and it's watching that student and watching you as an individual not just walk through that stage, but to lead your peers through that stage, to hear your voice boom in that auditorium. Oh, man. Yeah, 26 years in this profession. You never know which kids are going to make it. Triumph looked differently for all of us. For me, triumph was like a full ride to CSU. Keenan O'Connor Thomas. And I remember having a conversation with you, and I said to you, what about CSU? And you're like, Izzo, there's no way I'm going to get into CSU. They wouldn't want a person like me. And I remember whipping my head around and being like, a person like you? What does that mean? They'd be lucky to have a person like you. And that's the ideology that needs to be broken, I think, with first-gen kids. Like, I can't do it. I don't even know how to do it. It's so big of an idea, right? Yeah. But it's like any other idea. It is. You just got to believe in it. Just take a second and look at this thing out. I think being first-generation, it's overcoming and it's showing future generations of first-generation students that it is obtainable and that it is possible. So how's your semester going so far? I just feel very overwhelmed a lot. I do think that taking 18 credits is really hard. Okay, so you're taking 18 credits. Yeah, taking 18 credits. You're also taking Life 102, aren't you? Yes. Well, we actually have tutoring for that class at the Tilt Building, and it's just drop-in, so you go in there and get the help you need. I work with students who are mostly first generation and who come from marginalized communities and, you know, diverse backgrounds. Three, two, one, and go! They mimic me a lot and how I was when I first came into college. And I know that my first semester on college, I was terrified. I think I called you on my first day of college and I told you that I wanted to drop out. You did. I was terrified. I think you might have even been crying a little. I think I was too.

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