Denver Mayor and City Council Joint Meeting – August 25, 2026

On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, the Denver Mayor and City Council held their weekly joint meeting. Council members made district announcements, received a detailed update on the National Western Center Triangle Community Vision Planning Process for Globeville and Elyria Swansea, and then moved into a brief executive session on pending litigation.

Announcements

• Councilwoman Sandoval: final bilingual outdoor yoga at the old Eastern dome (38th and Tennyson) on Wednesday; Friday movie night at Zunai Park showing "How to Train Your Dragon," with a resource fair and an 8 p.m. start.
• Councilman Watson: Northfield High School is the No. 1 rated high school in Colorado by U.S. News; he invited residents to the Welton Next Steps virtual meeting Thursday, August 27, 5:30–7 p.m., on multimodal transportation along the Welton Corridor, including the L line connection to 38th and Blake.
• Councilwoman Torres: promoted the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan's Lake this weekend and welcomed Janet Borgia of UnidosUS to Denver.
• Councilman Alvidres: thanked Director Ford for supporting a Porch Fest fundraiser to save the Baker Historic Urban Garden, which is at risk because the landowner is selling; invited residents to the Athmar Park Neighborhood Association movie night Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Houston Lake, showing "Toy Story."
• Council President Romero Campbell: announced a new pickleball court opening Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Rosamond Park and a concert in the park at Eisenhower on Saturday, September 19.

National Western Triangle Community Vision Plan Update

• Mike Bouchard from the Mayor's Office of the National Western Service presented an update on the two-and-a-half-year community-driven planning process for the 92-acre Triangle in Globeville and Elyria Swansea (GES). Partners include the city, National Western Center Authority, National Western Stock Show, and CSU Spur.
• Background: The effort traces to 2012, when the Stock Show considered leaving Denver; Mayor Hancock committed to reimagining the campus as a year-round venue. The Livestock Center opened in January, and the equestrian center development agreement is being finalized, which will replace the event center and unlock the Triangle.
• Baseline community benefits include the Roundup contribution to the Community Investment Fund (CIF), minority- and women-owned business participation, and adherence to city ordinances. The equestrian center adds a 4,000-square-foot community building, additional CIF support through hotel room night fees, and Work Now construction jobs. For the Triangle, planning is exploring community ownership, GES-specific affordable housing, community amenities, and small business incubator sites.
• Engagement: 19 active block captains and 4 community connectors, all paid, plus compensated community organizations and a monthly guidance team. Outreach numbers: 3,200 doors knocked in about six weeks, 10,000 mailers sent, 2,800 flyers distributed, and 430 responses to the first Civic Trust survey.
• Planning layers: site characteristics and infrastructure, community priorities and public assets, housing and neighborhood stability, community benefits, and funding and financing. Community themes so far include diverse housing options for young families and seniors, multi-bedroom and generational housing, concerns about large numbers of rental units, a seamless connection across Brighton, and neighborhood-serving retail and food access.
• Timeline: community benefits workshops continue in August and September; scenario creation begins in October; survey 2 is planned for November; the final plan is expected early 2027 after the stock show.

Council Questions and Positions

• Council President Romero Campbell praised the community-forward process and thanked GES Coalition, PS First, Focus Points, and SIF, as well as new National Western leadership.
• Councilwoman Torres urged the city to memorialize anti-displacement work and apply lessons citywide, including a displacement analysis for initiatives like unlocking housing choices; she also asked what tools like property tax renter rebates can do for renters and noted the relevance for West Denver.
• Councilwoman Gonzalez Cuchanis asked how community input will translate into concrete outputs, noted that roughly 50–55 of the 92 acres are anticipated for public assets and infrastructure, and asked about arena financing, codification of community benefits, and whether the CIF and framework agreement had been satisfied. Bouchard said the final plan would not be a traditional CBA but would carry community benefits into future RFPs and contracts, and he offered to follow up on CIF status.
• Councilwoman Sandoval noted the last city gentrification study was in 2017 and asked for a new study in the 2027 budget; she cited the 2017 study's principle that planning must focus on people, not just place, and called for a robust, permanent affordable housing funding source.
• Councilman Watson said the housing needs assessment could provide data to help residents understand affordable housing options and qualification.
• The Mayor praised the outreach as unprecedented and agreed that the Triangle is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape a rich, diverse neighborhood.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken on the presentation.
• The council approved a motion to enter executive session under DRMC 234A, sections three, six, and seven, to discuss pending litigation and legal advice; no opposition was voiced.
• Follow-ups: Bouchard was asked to provide an update on the Community Investment Fund and framework agreement; the administration was asked to consider a 2027 budget item for an updated gentrification study; and a future briefing on the legal mechanism for codifying community benefits was requested.