Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 1:30 p.m. (Denver time), City & County Building, Room 391
The Community Planning and Housing Committee heard one action item and two briefings. It reviewed a rezoning request for 3021 Speer Boulevard (Council District 1, West Highland) from urban single-unit to a mixed-use zone district to allow more commercial uses in an existing 1950s two-story building; the committee moved the item forward to full City Council. The committee then received a detailed briefing from the Housekeys for Homeless Assistance and Shelter Team (HOST) on its 2026 performance-based contracting pilot at seven non-congregate shelters, which reported improved occupancy, case management engagement, and coordinated entry participation, along with plans to expand the model in 2027. Finally, Urban Alchemy briefed the committee on its first six months operating the Aspen shelter and its community outreach teams, with council members raising questions about exit outcomes and family reunification practices.
0:06 Welcome back to this weekly
0:07 meeting of the community
0:07 Planning and Housing Committee
0:10 with Denver City Council.
0:14 If your community Planning and
0:16 Housing Committee starts now.
0:28 Joining on cooler AUGUST 4th
0:32 day, not 100 degrees We have a
0:35 great meeting in front of We
0:35 have action item into
0:37 briefings and before we get
0:39 started, go out around the and
0:39 do introductions and I'll
0:43 start my back into COUNCILMAN
0:54 List until those districts can
0:55 afternoon politicians from
0:56 soaking British eccentrics.
0:58 Jamie Thomas, West Denver
0:59 district 3 throughout That's
1:00 the key District 7, the
1:04 make an effort she's myself
1:04 Mansour District 5. Think you
1:08 man to step on customer grant.
1:13 With we have. And I community
1:15 planning development con
1:16 decades and you can take away
1:23 the floor. Is yours. Good
1:24 afternoon council members. My
1:25 name is what Prince and I'll
1:26 be presenting rezoning case
1:27 for 30 to one or Spear
1:30 Boulevard requests from us q a
1:36 to x to x. Today review the
1:37 requests, location context,
1:38 the process and the review
1:42 criteria. So again, this is a
1:43 request to rezone from urban
1:45 single unit pay. So there's
1:48 been mixed use. 2 stories, The
1:50 property itself there in the
1:50 center of the aerial has
1:52 little over 5500 square feet.
1:54 This commercial triangle lot.
1:58 And it is a 2 story building
2:01 the 1950's and qualifies as
2:01 complaint business structure
2:04 pardon presenting 11, 4.6
2:07 continue on to the location of
2:08 context is located in council
2:08 district, one with
2:12 Councilmember Sandoval. And as
2:13 in West Highland Statistical
2:17 neighborhood. As for the
2:18 existing zoning, you going see
2:20 us which is the majority of
2:21 the area as well as us There's
2:23 apd just south at the corners.
2:27 32 a spear and there's another
2:33 x to on the same block of 30
2:35 As for the existing contacts
2:38 regarding land use again, this
2:39 is commercial mixed but it
2:41 gets into the area single unit
2:42 residential. There's a church
2:44 across the street for public
2:45 close the public and there's
2:46 some office commercial retail
2:47 along the spear and 30
2:51 seconds. As for the building
2:52 from a skill, you can see the
2:53 subject property on the bottom
2:56 right corner. And across the
2:59 street. Some of the
2:59 commercials and car wash in
3:01 office across the street on
3:02 Spirit and then Typical single
3:06 example to the North. And tune
3:12 into the process. This
3:13 received is informational
3:14 notice in a planning board in
3:16 JUNE and there's air and the
3:17 planning for hearing, but a
3:20 date. But it voted unanimously
3:20 in support are today at the
3:22 Sea ph Committee and its
3:28 tentative first public hearing
3:31 SEPTEMBER 14th, I get guess in
3:32 SEPTEMBER that it and I know
3:36 it's getting mixed up. And as
3:39 of today, we have received 2
3:40 written comments of moderate
3:42 opposition noting potential
3:44 future development, one
3:45 dribble comment and support
3:46 noting of business
3:46 opportunities during the
3:47 planning board hearing. And
3:49 today we received a letter of
3:51 support the are no supporting
3:52 this rezoning that you should
3:56 first openly received today
3:57 Yes. Getting my area plants
4:02 mixed up. Continue on to the
4:06 review. Could Syria? We'll
4:07 review all 3 criteria for this
4:11 property. Starting with
4:12 consistency with adopted
4:15 plans. The since 2040, this
4:16 proposed rezoning is
4:17 consistent. And for this
4:20 conference of plan 2040, and
4:21 will promote enable commercial
4:22 options are infrastructures in
4:23 place in close proximity to
4:26 the surrounding neighborhood.
4:28 Looking at vision, one
4:29 equitable and affordable and
4:29 inclusive. This will mean
4:32 goals related to call. One
4:34 courtesy of complete
4:35 neighborhoods as well as go
4:36 for a concert. Every
4:36 neighborhood is economic,
4:40 strong and dynamic. This will
4:43 also meet vision for economic,
4:45 diverse and vibrant meeting go
4:46 3 sustaining Denver's local
4:50 neighborhood businesses. And
4:52 vision, 5 violent tools. The
4:53 simply nurse oils and serve
4:56 land and grow responsibly
5:01 continue to blueprint. Denver.
5:01 This indentified as urban,
5:04 which this complex includes
5:06 small multi-unit excuse areas
5:07 and one tune in at residential
5:11 areas. As for future place
5:14 Dana Fighters, local center,
5:16 which has a mix of dining
5:17 entertainment shopping, MAY
5:18 include some residential
5:19 unemployment areas and
5:21 activity levels are lower than
5:21 other center types the highest
5:23 activity during evenings and
5:26 weekends, the public realm
5:27 defined by lower school
5:30 buildings with active from And
5:31 as for future street spears
5:32 identified as a mixed use
5:33 arterial and west 32nd, a
5:39 residential collector. And
5:39 growth areas didn't fight all
5:41 other areas of the city with
5:42 10% job growth and 20% housing
5:46 growth by 2040. In addition to
5:48 the map to just review this
5:49 also means additional
5:52 blueprint policies to a we are
5:56 a climate and equity goals in
5:57 particular land use and the
5:59 former economics policy 6
5:59 ensure Denver its neighbors,
6:00 neighborhoods have a vibrant,
6:03 nothing to retail. Hospitality
6:04 market place, meaning the full
6:05 range of experiences and gets
6:06 demanded by residents and
6:11 visitors. For the remaining
6:13 right here. This will be
6:14 public interest says it will
6:14 provide opportunities for
6:15 commercial opportune for
6:17 commercial businesses in the
6:19 neighborhood and as that and
6:21 also implements our city. What
6:23 plans? He's also consistently
6:24 neighborhood contacts on
6:25 district purpose. Intent
6:25 meeting the regulations of x
6:29 to x. And based on the
6:29 information provided today as
6:32 well as the staff report, cpd
6:33 recommends and recommends 40
6:35 application to the soles full
6:38 City council funding already
6:39 cricket will be available for
6:41 questions and the applicant is
6:41 available. Virtually thank
6:47 you. So finding the killing of
6:50 councilmember Cashman, a
6:51 councilmember catchment used
6:53 treat him like you. It's not a
6:56 huge loss Is this have to do
7:00 with the eu says that the mix
7:02 allows that allow whatever's
7:03 divisions here forward. Yes,
7:04 the primary goal of this
7:07 rezoning is to allow more uses
7:10 since a single unit
7:11 residential. This will allow
7:11 the building to have more
7:12 commercial functions of our
7:16 commercial uses of hand. Who's
7:19 the to Seager off with real
7:21 architecture. And then there's
7:23 representative. The property
7:24 owner is 32 and Norris Bill
7:24 Florida will see. Okay. Who
7:30 might be on zoom for us. Cody.
7:33 Used to
7:44 Could
8:03 can hear us.
8:16 It could if you can hear us,
8:19 can you please accept the
8:20 promotion? Some questions for
8:23 you on the application. And we
8:24 have to accept the promotion
8:29 went to you receive it. When
8:29 you become a Palestinian, you
8:30 can. We can hear you and you
8:34 can speak. Can you trade in
8:41 producing? It's thank
8:51 What are you able to hear
8:54 yeah, we are now. Sorry about
8:57 We have a question from
8:57 councilmember tourist hi
9:03 coating. Really good. Thank
9:04 Can you give me some insight?
9:05 Is the building being kept as
9:07 is? Are you planning a
9:09 rebuilt? The building is being
9:12 kept as is. This is the time
9:13 to this application's really
9:15 just to preserve the existing
9:16 building and to allow it to be
9:17 fully used for So ok, got it.
9:19 Thank you so much. Don't have
9:22 any other questions. Thank
9:27 Thank Commissions. Sick. This
9:32 rezoning the what I like about
9:33 district here that x and 2 and
9:36 2 x the exit, the I'm the 2
9:39 designed to be embedded in
9:41 residential uses. See, you can
9:42 have certain, Mike. You can't
9:43 have a marijuana shop there.
9:45 You can't have the cure starts
9:47 to actually amends the East
9:48 table. So it's more friendly
9:53 to be embedded in the East
9:55 table it's all surrounded. We
9:56 did another rezoning street
9:59 from here. I dental offices
10:01 that x 2 So it's a compatible
10:03 zone district I think was
10:06 designed for these instances.
10:07 And appreciate that. The
10:09 applicant working with my
10:10 community meeting with me very
10:12 early on. And we just got a
10:17 letter of support today. As
10:18 All right, Jeanne, no other
10:19 comments in the 2. We have a
10:23 motion to move 11 forward to
10:27 moved move by comes women. So
10:31 by consumer Cashman and
10:33 they're not. We'll see you at.
10:36 Thank See you City Council.
10:39 Thank Except we have a
10:43 briefing from host
10:49 Performance-based Contracting.
11:14 The block. Coming after
11:14 councilmembers. It's nice to
11:15 see you on public eye that
11:16 government affairs officer
11:17 with host and let my other
11:19 colleagues introduce
11:20 themselves. Jeff Kaczynski,
11:24 Kelsey and I am the director
11:24 deputy director and host
11:27 of Shelter Systems operations.
11:30 Sarah Ledgerwood data
11:32 analytics supervisor. All
11:34 right. So we are going to go
11:36 through the 2026. Pilot
11:38 overview for performance-based
11:39 contracting from the pyre
11:44 pilot results from quarter
11:45 quarter to a 2026 persons
11:47 quarter to a 2025. Some
11:48 lessons learned and next steps
11:50 that we have and then we'll
11:51 have time for questions and
11:53 discussion after that. And
11:57 kick it over to just point.
11:59 Good afternoon. Very excited
12:03 to be here and to share with
12:04 the results of our pilots that
12:05 we did around
12:07 performance-based contracting
12:11 at our non congregate One to
12:12 it was a large number of
12:14 people who worked on this
12:16 change in this environment
12:17 sometimes moves slowly and is
12:19 a little difficult. But this
12:20 was a very significant change
12:21 to our contracting. There's a
12:22 lot of folks in the audience
12:25 and I'm sure listening both
12:26 post staff and our providers
12:27 who work on this and want to
12:29 thank all of them for their
12:33 work. As you know, city
12:35 contracts released host
12:37 contracts are on a cost
12:38 reimbursement basis that were
12:41 sometimes it feels like we're
12:42 paying people to submit
12:46 receives a lot of review of
12:47 invoices, Israeli arounds, you
12:49 know, making sure that all the
12:50 expenses are allowable and
12:57 spent a lot of time focusing
12:59 and success tends to be
13:02 measured by budget rather than
13:04 by Performance-based
13:06 contracting is more of a pay
13:09 for performance It allows our
13:11 providers greater flexibility
13:13 on how they use their funding
13:14 and it allows host and the
13:15 city greater accountability
13:18 and greater focus on results
13:25 rather just fund So Just a
13:26 reminder. We as you know, host
13:27 has been doing a lot of work
13:28 on reforming how we do
13:31 contracting. This was just one
13:33 part of that we presented to
13:34 last year or maybe even
13:37 actually 2 years ago. I think
13:39 this pilot launch in January
13:41 of 2026 and was for 7 shelter
13:45 contracts with 769 available
13:48 units over 50 million dollars
13:50 in contracts over 3 years. And
13:51 we tracking performance using
13:53 I asked the homeless
13:55 management information system
13:56 and real-time dashboards that
13:57 were set up by Sarah and her
14:01 team we were asking our
14:02 provider our shelter providers
14:06 to perform on for basic
14:08 metrics. One is sheltered
14:11 nights and that was 45% of
14:14 their 5 1% was on rapid
14:15 resolution are also called
14:16 diversion, which is making
14:17 sure when people come into the
14:18 shelter. The first thing we
14:20 asked them how can we get you
14:22 back to a safe place keep you
14:24 out of the homelessness
14:25 response system, whether it's
14:26 returning to a family member
14:29 or maybe just needing to meet
14:31 a roommate for some help with
14:32 first and last month's rent is
14:36 based on case management and
14:39 10% is getting people into to
14:39 my a#
14:40 or the coordinated
14:42 entry housing queue. You MAY
14:43 also hear referred to as one
14:46 home the purpose of this pilot
14:48 was to determine whether or
14:50 not time payments or to
14:52 performance was good idea for
14:53 whether it reduced
14:55 administrative burden on host
14:56 and on our providers and
14:58 whether or not be produced
15:00 better outcomes. Before we
15:03 expand this model, citywide,
15:06 tell you up that this is, you
15:08 know, absolutely been
15:10 successful. That far exceeded
15:12 at least my expectations in
15:14 terms of the results that we
15:16 shared and I'm going to turn
15:18 it over to my colleague Sarah,
15:22 who will talk you some of some
15:23 of the data that we have
15:24 around the 4 metrics that we
15:28 just presented. Okay. So the
15:29 first metric, as Jeff
15:30 mentioned in pay for
15:31 performance was the occupancy
15:34 rate by shelter. And this is
15:37 the percent of available rooms
15:38 that are occupied each night.
15:42 The target is 90%. And so to
15:45 evaluate this metric. We
15:46 looked at 2 to 2025. Compared
15:53 to a q 2. 2026. And dc appear
15:57 that 6 of the 7 shelters saw
16:01 improvements. The average
16:04 combined increased from 84% to
16:06 93%. So exceeding the target
16:12 goal. But an increase of 9
16:14 points metric is the rapid
16:16 resolution conversation at
16:18 intake. So we're looking for
16:20 the percent of households who
16:21 had rapid resolution
16:22 conversation that happened
16:25 when they enter the shelter.
16:26 The target for this one was
16:30 also 90% and this one, we
16:35 could not measure compared to
16:36 2025. When we stood up
16:37 performance-based contracting,
16:40 we did a lot of work to
16:42 implement standardization
16:45 across data entry. And so if
16:45 this wasn't captured in a
16:48 standard way and 2025 so
16:48 moving forward, we will have a
16:49 better way to measure and
16:53 compare across years. But 2026
16:56 going back to 2 public for
17:00 2026. We had 97% across all
17:05 the shelters. 97% of household
17:08 entering that had a rapid
17:08 resolution conversation. I
17:09 didn't take the majority of
17:12 shelters were at 100% there's
17:14 been a great benefit in
17:15 establishing clear standards
17:15 and consistent tracking. This
17:16 has been one major wind for
17:22 the data team. Site 3 on our
17:25 side night. The metric is
17:27 housing focus. Case management