Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 9:30 a.m. (Denver time), City & County Building Parr-Widener Room 389
This Mayor-Council meeting was chaired by a deputy mayor filling in for Mayor Johnson. Council members gave announcements, including community events, proclamations honoring deceased community advocates, and appreciation for Denver firefighters working statewide fires. The bulk of the meeting was a briefing from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment and community partners on food insecurity, presenting survey findings that about one in three Denver adults cut or skipped meals in the past year, and describing the Southwest Coalition for Food Justice's Food Justice Summit planning. Presenters described prior city investments (ARPA food system resiliency grants and the Healthy Food for Denver's Kids sales tax fund, which expires in 2028) and argued for a dedicated, expanded food justice fund. Council members discussed next steps including a possible November ballot measure to reauthorize and expand the fund, though no decisions were made at this meeting.
0:06 Thanks for joining us for this
0:06 weekly joint meeting of the
0:11 mayor and Denver City Council.
0:12 Follow along as the mayor and
0:14 city council members here,
0:15 updates from city agencies and
0:17 project discuss important city
0:18 matters and hear about what's
0:19 happening across the mile.
0:22 High City. Join the discussion
0:23 with your elected officials
0:25 starting now.
0:50 I am deputy mayor filling in
0:52 for Mayor Johnson. Have this
0:55 esteemed privilege today.
0:56 Thank you. So welcome to Mayor
0:57 Council. Thank you for joining
1:01 us this morning. We will start
1:02 with introductions for Steam
1:03 City Council members and then
1:06 jump into announcements. We'll
1:07 start off with distinguished
1:10 gentleman.
1:18 It's awesome. A from the South
1:21 to units are just time. Good
1:22 morning. Senate itself. You
1:22 can isn't one of the council
1:27 members at large. With
1:29 District in morning. Diane
1:30 Rivera, Campbell, Southeast
1:31 Denver District Court Jamie
1:31 Torres was to redistrict 3
1:32 minutes longer history.
1:40 Different. Up next, do we have
1:42 any announcements from council
1:43 members that you'd like to
1:43 share with the public that are
1:49 here today? All So I just want
1:52 to share? Levitt pavilion is
1:54 kicking off their free yoga on
1:56 the series and this Saturday
1:57 and they will have a live dj
2:01 and it will be So that's
2:02 exciting. And I also again,
2:04 just want to shout. Our
2:05 firefighters fighting fires
2:06 across the state of Colorado
2:07 right now. We have some of
2:10 Denver firefighters also
2:12 across the state helping fight
2:14 these fires. And my heart is
2:16 with them. And pilot that
2:17 we've lost over the weekend
2:20 due to Thank sharing that
2:23 COUNCILMAN. And interesting
2:24 here. And just a few
2:25 announcements on Wednesday,
2:28 the switches and Westwood 3300
2:31 west about is building a with
2:32 this is oversight board. So
2:35 that serve it to attend.
2:38 Starts at 5.30 And then on
2:39 Friday we're hosting our first
2:41 movie in the park. It's a
2:42 Martinez park. So folks can
2:45 come and see the newly
2:47 renovated phase of that park
2:54 join us for a movie. I wish I
2:55 could tell about but we're
2:57 holding 3 this summer to take
3:01 a look at our social media and
3:04 then finally, I'm just we
3:04 passed on consent.
3:08 Proclamation honoring the life
3:10 of Francis tourists who passed
3:12 away. She was a rear Ian
3:13 residents one of the displaced
3:17 or residents. And she's just
3:20 and advocate for that
3:20 been an active active activist
3:22 community. So they'll be a
3:25 celebration of her life at the
3:26 9th Street Historic this
3:29 coming Saturday. Thank you so
3:35 much coming to my rescue lilo
3:39 and stitch on thank you being
3:40 I want to welcome in introduce
3:42 COUNCILMAN Wants and thank And
3:49 then terms of American pope
3:53 thank you. We have Jennifer,
3:55 the last few years a Kennedy
3:56 golf There's a public golf
3:57 course there and we're doing a
3:59 community today on this
4:01 Thursday from 11 to 2. Anyone
4:02 is interested in playing
4:08 contact our office day, champs
4:09 7. Please come and join us for
4:16 a little. And day COUNCILMAN.
4:18 Thank deputy mayor and so
4:22 sorry for being my time by 10
4:23 and misread how long it would
4:24 take me. Get through some of
4:27 street detours that are
4:28 things. Thank you for doing
4:29 work on the streets. Want to
4:30 serve all around the residence
4:32 and fine district. 9, 2,
4:33 things. I want to thank my
4:36 colleagues and all of the
4:38 volunteers. Supporters the
4:40 animals sell pays the arm.
4:40 First, now as well as the
4:42 honorable have a way work for
4:44 bringing to city council last
4:46 night, a proclamation and I
4:46 was able to sponsor and
4:47 supporter front range
4:51 passenger district on which
4:53 will go on what will all wait
4:54 for. Really looking to make
4:56 sure we have stopped me on
4:59 station here in Denver and we
5:00 possibly 2 additional staff.
5:01 So bring 22 million dollars of
5:04 additional infrastructure
5:07 funds to Denver. Drains
5:10 multi-modal transportation
5:12 also reducing carbon footprint
5:13 increasing the ability for us
5:14 to have clean air and reduce
5:17 amount single car trips. So
5:19 thank you everyone that's
5:20 worked on that and talking
5:22 about fun, fun, We have the
5:24 Underground music showcases
5:28 coming Denver. 5 points. The
5:30 rich, River North art district
5:31 on JULY 24th through
5:34 twenty-sixth 200 plus bands
5:35 and a few on national
5:37 headliners. About 3 stages of
5:39 great music. It's gonna be
5:40 played on between the 24th and
5:41 26th in the run. Our district
5:47 in 5 points. You can get more
5:48 information. Underground music
5:49 showcase dot com or you can
5:53 reach out to my Thank It's
5:55 been difficult find. They had
5:56 cancel because prisons,
5:58 Sandoval, thank So I have
6:01 happens is hosting a free of
6:03 the series. So it's next
6:04 Wednesday at beaches, the old
6:08 uh 38 in tennis? In from 67?
6:10 Its bilingual. And this
6:12 weekend he is in Mount Carmel,
6:14 bizarre in our side. If go,
6:16 delicious. Saturday Sunday,
6:20 they have the best And lastly,
6:21 right now, very happily and a
6:22 half an They'll be celebrating
6:26 Barbara son's life she made a
6:29 huge impact in Denver and will
6:29 be greatly missed. Her funeral
6:33 was yesterday during council
6:33 and for services during
6:35 committee. And I'm not able to
6:39 go either. So he never read
6:40 articles, let them that she
6:40 was a great story teller and
6:43 she will be greatly missed I'm
6:44 just saying her and her
6:47 family, all of our parish was
6:50 only 69 indicted cancer. And
6:51 that's super yet pass away.
6:54 Don't In the other
6:59 announcements. I Thank you all
7:01 very much for those
7:05 announcements and condolences
7:07 Next I'm excited to invite
7:08 60's. If mispronounce your now
7:13 left. Had friend, the
7:14 Department of Public Health
7:16 and Environment members
7:17 community partners to prison
7:20 on the Denver food. The Thank
7:25 you all so much having us the
7:27 neighborhood food program
7:28 supervisor where you can to
7:29 pga also like to introduce the
7:38 rest of the dp 20 to Warning.
7:39 Lauren, you Nouns program
7:40 supervisor for the healthy do
7:45 for Denver's condition? I hear
7:51 is next spring. The history. I
7:51 was says we recently and see
7:52 if she program and the
7:56 streets. In morning, Andrea
8:00 Garcia shows stranger. A
8:02 speculative ones. You she her
8:02 pronouns. And I'm a program
8:03 associate for the Healthy Food
8:10 for Denver's kids. We actually
8:12 will be the ones presenting
8:16 that we didn't want just
8:17 introduce ourselves and the
8:17 dpj food and didn't want to
8:19 learn more. We didn't create a
8:20 one pager that can pass later
8:22 today. Specifically about what
8:23 peach she is doing to address
8:27 crisis in Denver. Today's
8:31 briefing is really to brief
8:34 mayor's office City Council on
8:36 the screen. You see that we
8:38 have been really busy planning
8:39 the Justice summit many
8:40 partners, many of which are
8:48 here Supporters a lot and
8:49 Europe today. And yeah, we
8:50 really wanted to bring them to
8:51 share their stories and what
8:51 they're seeing on the ground
8:55 around food, insecurity. I
8:56 that all hospital went to work
9:02 their city. I'm good morning,
9:04 everybody. Thanks for having
9:06 My name is Sidney still can I
9:07 the Southwest coalition for to
9:11 she. They. And the whole issue
9:14 next for this coalition, which
9:15 brings together us
9:18 community-based organizations,
9:20 schools, residence, churches,
9:20 government agencies have
9:22 producers and other businesses
9:24 to improve food access in
9:26 southwest Denver. We do this
9:27 through shared infrastructure,
9:28 convening and capacity
9:31 building and policy and
9:33 advocacy food as I'm sure
9:35 you're all there is more than
9:37 our and its culture house
9:38 connection and survival. And
9:42 today we're going to be doing
9:42 some level setting an
9:44 alignment define an
9:47 understanding food insecurity
9:47 who's impacted food as
9:49 essential infrastructure.
9:50 Funding makes possible? Just a
9:53 summit next steps by the We
9:55 hope that you walk away with a
9:56 clear understanding of the
9:56 problem to the facts and role
9:59 that we all play and we are
10:00 going to ask that you save all
10:03 your questions for the end. So
10:05 what brings us here today for
10:07 the past 3 years, the
10:08 coalition that I need the
10:09 Southwest coalition alongside
10:10 other community-based
10:13 organizations and residents
10:14 have been advocating for
10:15 sustainable investment and
10:16 enters system to the creation
10:21 of a food justice fund. Than a
10:22 dozen. And we created to help
10:22 us find again and
10:23 strengthening the entirety of
10:25 the food system and community
10:26 capacity rather than just
10:29 funding direction. Sense. And
10:30 this work again with lived
10:32 experience, not a policy
10:32 agenda. Grew from what we're
10:35 hearing from residents and
10:37 organizations about the need
10:38 for a stronger food system and
10:39 long-term solutions. In
10:42 response, the city is
10:44 allocated funding to tpg to
10:46 host Jets Summit. And as we
10:47 begin shaping my suffered with
10:47 so many of the partner sitting
10:51 behind me. We recognize that
10:52 Denver has already built a
10:54 very strong foundation of
10:58 community input, data policy
10:59 where community voted on
10:59 funding as the number one
11:02 priority for this work.
11:04 Today's briefing will reflect
11:05 commissioner and we're excited
11:05 share that with you today.
11:10 Ahead of the summit. So let's
11:11 start with what is when we
11:13 talk about food, it's really
11:14 easy to think about terms
11:18 growth, food we eat it. But
11:20 didn't would-be shortchanging
11:22 him because food is an entire
11:23 system and it's very
11:25 complicated the Denver
11:26 division to find the food
11:27 system is going auction
11:31 processing distribution. A
11:32 production access to food and
11:34 food resale or other forms
11:36 waste production of Food
11:39 Access Act the most attention
11:39 while processing and
11:40 distribution are more often
11:43 overlooked. And it was within
11:44 the system is really important
11:46 that we understand the crucial
11:49 role of each a healthy food
11:52 system, as you'll see by this
11:53 centers, families and
11:54 community centers. Food is
11:55 available. Accessible,
11:56 adequate, sustainable, and
11:59 grounded in dignity. Agencies
12:00 and elected officials
12:00 represented here. They all
12:01 play a role in system when it
12:05 comes to policy planning land,
12:06 use regulation and economic
12:06 development strategic
12:13 investment. Throughout the
12:13 presentation. Today we're
12:14 going to be using a few
12:15 different terms that we want
12:16 to define for you. So we'll
12:19 start with food insecurity.
12:20 This is when the system around
12:22 people makes it hard to
12:23 consistently afford or access,
12:26 nutritious local infection.
12:27 This issue is often invisible.
12:28 You cannot see who is food
12:29 insecure just by looking at
12:33 them. Food access is one
12:35 grocery stores. Are other food
12:36 options exist within a
12:39 reasonable distance and can be
12:40 reached safely and affordably.
12:41 And this is more about the
12:41 physical, economic and
12:45 cultural accessibility.
12:46 Finally, food justice is when
12:48 communities have the right to
12:50 grow and access healthy food
12:52 that is fresh, nutritious
12:53 affordable, culturally
12:55 relevant produced with care.
12:57 It means communities have the
12:58 ability to strengthen shaping
13:00 their own food systems. These
13:01 storms are very closely
13:04 connected represent very
13:05 different concepts communities
13:06 face barriers to accessing
13:08 insecurity becomes more
13:11 likely. That is why this not
13:12 only focus on providing food
13:15 in time of need, but also
13:16 funding the long-term systems,
13:17 partnerships and conditions
13:19 that allow communities to
13:20 thrive. And that work must be
13:21 done in partnership with
13:22 communities, ensuring those
13:26 closest to the challenges are
13:28 also closest to achieving the
13:28 solutions. I will hand it off
13:29 to my colleague just out his
13:36 company. Warning everyone to
13:37 context for the slights. Great
13:38 to see everyone here and thank
13:42 for being here in partnering
13:43 in this in your Cities really
13:45 important to So what this food
13:47 insecurity looked like a
13:52 number to better understand
13:52 this crisis. And I'm gonna go
13:57 ahead and call dpt surveyed
13:59 over 3,000 Denver residents
14:03 across 11 city council
14:04 districts in the number back
14:07 in 2025. This or be residents
14:09 about food security barriers
14:11 to accessing use of food
14:12 assistance programs such as
14:13 really important. We want to
14:17 know who's accessing in the
14:18 survey used nationally
14:19 recognized validated measures
14:20 adopted from the usda. And
14:23 that question really important
14:25 to us in the last 12 months,
14:27 eu or other adult in your
14:29 household ever cut the size
14:30 your meals for outright
14:31 skipped meals because there
14:37 wasn't enough money for I want
14:38 you to kind of you might ask
14:39 yourself that question as a
14:43 resident as it a household.
14:44 In, what would you answer
14:45 everybody here? So that's what
14:50 we asked over 3,000 residents.
14:53 The findings show that one in
14:55 3 Denver adults reported that
14:56 they cut the size or skip
15:00 meals in the past year in 68%
15:02 of all residents that certain
15:03 that were surveyed identified
15:08 cost as a top barriers to
15:09 accessing and grocery service.
15:10 Right? That's not a secret to
15:12 anyone in bracket. It's
15:18 getting real. All right. These
15:20 are the findings of the survey
15:24 are consistent with what other
15:25 chorus or reception. So this
15:26 is we wanted to thread for you
15:28 guys during covid-19 pandemic
15:32 hunger free, Colorado. Rusty
15:35 colleagues conducted a survey,
15:36 you know, just show the same
15:38 thing that use the same
15:39 question show the same thing.
15:40 Actually back then during the
15:43 height of the crisis that
15:43 we've never seen before, a
15:46 good one in 3 color. Surveyed
15:48 reported this. Yes, to the
15:50 same question. And there were
15:53 only participants in the