City Council

Monday, September 21, 2026, 3:30 p.m. (Denver time), Cathy Reynolds City Council Chamber 1437 Bannock Street, Room 450

Video of the meeting

On the agenda

Roll-call votes

Documents

Summary

At its September 21, 2026 general session, the Denver City Council adopted two proclamations: one recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and honoring retired Denver Police detectives Abe and Amy Alonzo (accepted by Chief Thomas and family), and one declaring September 2026 Right to Food Action Month (accepted by Metro Caring and the Southwest Food Coalition). The council also took up called-out consent items, including a trash-services contract assignment to a venture capital firm (Council Member Sawyer criticized the 2023 procurement history), an amended architect agreement for Civic Center Next 100 (Council Member Flynn spoke in opposition but it passed), and a one-year continuation of the Department of Housing Stability strategic plan (Council Members Torres and Lewis voted against it). The council passed a career service classification/pay plan bill tied to Fair Labor Standards Act compliance, a minority- and women-owned business enterprise contracting ordinance (Council Member Alvidrez voted against it), and a bill revising the youth commission ordinance. Remaining items passed on a block vote, and a public hearing on a rezoning bill (26-1302, 2246 North Federal Boulevard) was scheduled for October 19, 2026.

Transcript

0:01 A Denver. It's time for the

0:04 weekly general session of your

0:09 Denver City Council. In

0:11 tonight's coverage of Denver

0:14 City Council starts next

0:29 We go. Okay. Good afternoon

0:32 and thank you for taking the

0:32 time to join us at Denver City

0:32 Council is meeting today is

0:36 Monday. SEPTEMBER. 21st 2026.

0:37 Tonight's meeting is being

0:40 interpreted into Spanish. Sam

0:42 are just mainly you please

0:44 introduce yourselves and let

0:44 our viewers know how to enable

0:45 translation on their devices.

0:49 Time. Forest. Thank you.

0:51 Hello, everyone. My name is

0:53 Sam Guzman with the clc Tony

0:56 Mueller. Chilly through zoom

0:58 and along with my calling just

0:59 mean, we will be interpreting

1:01 today's meeting into Spanish.

1:03 Please allow me a quick

1:03 minute. Want to give

1:05 instructions and Spanish, not

1:09 access interpretation. On the

1:10 status of those numbers.

1:13 Someone whose mind cannot say

1:14 the same coming them into

1:15 coming quickly and doesn't

1:16 mean that it will sink the

1:18 putt on the Lennon Ono and the

1:22 Spaniard so those that that

1:23 what what what can someone

1:25 tell you when you look at the

1:26 same put the pretty much on

1:28 nation? Looks 2 on this

1:31 project and it's she's going

1:32 to so that doesn't until you

1:35 started in the coming. What

1:37 followed was can a stunt that

1:37 put I do the photos pull

1:40 content and its plan. Which is

1:40 of the essence. And thank you

1:48 very much thank you very much.

1:49 Welcome to the Denver City

1:51 Council meeting Monday,

1:54 SEPTEMBER, 21st 2026 council

1:55 members please join me in the

2:10 Pledge of Allegiance

2:18 for

2:19 Council members, please join

2:21 Councilmember. Luis has latest

2:21 in the Denver City Council

2:36 land acknowledgement. But it

2:40 was in charge that. The Denver

2:40 City Council honors and

2:42 acknowledges to land which

2:44 reside is the traditional

2:44 territory of the you shy and

2:48 in Arapaho peoples. We also

2:48 recognize the 40 a

2:49 contemporary tribal nations

2:50 that historically tied to the

2:53 lands that make up that make

2:56 up the state of We honor

2:56 elders past PRESIDENT Future

2:57 and those who have student

2:59 this land throughout

3:01 generations. We also recognize

3:04 that government academic and

3:04 culture institutions were

3:07 founded upon continue to annex

3:07 executions. Enter a shares of

3:10 indigenous speech. People made

3:11 this acknowledgment

3:12 demonstrate a commitment to

3:13 working to dismantle this

3:15 mantle ongoing late legacies

3:17 of oppression and inequities

3:18 and recognize the current and

3:19 future contributions of

3:22 indigenous communities thank

3:23 you, MADAM Secretary. Roll

3:31 Call. Councilmembers Cashman

3:42 here. Of events here. Your

3:49 Gilmore. Folks can get us

3:57 times U.S. Present present. So

3:58 and Watson MADAM, PRESIDENT,

4:04 American pope here s. 11

4:07 members for there are 11

4:10 members present council has a

4:11 approval of the minutes. Are

4:12 there any corrections to the

4:15 Minutes of SEPTEMBER 14th

4:16 Year? The scene and the

4:19 minutes stand approved council

4:20 announcements. Are there any

4:22 announcements from members of

4:26 council took Let's go ahead

4:29 and get started with

4:31 Councilmember Heinz. Thank

4:32 you, MADAM PRESIDENT, I have a

4:35 proclamation on consent this

4:37 evening court this afternoon

4:37 high. It is tied to honor the

4:38 life and legacy of Dolly

4:45 Parton. Because we're where

4:52 can 9 to 5 I will not be

4:54 making a living singing, but

4:58 but I was Triple Dog dare to

5:02 try to do at least one And I

5:06 think made the deer. So any

5:08 Dolly Parton was not just

5:10 known for giving more than

5:12 330 million books into the

5:18 hands of small children was

5:22 also well-known dancing

5:22 women's rights, particularly

5:25 in the workplace, was more

5:28 than 6 decades. Card carrying

5:30 union member. It is most

5:32 fitting that will have the

5:33 opportunity read the

5:37 proclamation 9. 25 as in this

5:39 Friday had Governors Park at

5:41 3.30 So if you have any

5:42 interest in celebrating the

5:44 life and legacy of Dolly

5:47 Parton and then I them please

5:48 feel free to come. The

5:52 governor's park in Milwaukee

5:53 District 7 and will will be

5:56 there reading a proclamation

5:57 Imagination Library. Denver

5:58 will be there and will be a

6:00 whole bunch of people

6:03 celebrating again. Her life

6:05 and legacy. So I feel pretty

6:06 where we will not be reading

6:06 it today, but we will be ready

6:09 reading at Cannes, 9 to 5.

6:12 Thank you. MADAM PRESIDENT,

6:13 thank you. And thank you for

6:15 bringing that pocket nation

6:19 forward. She was a gem that

6:20 see this go to the next

6:24 Councilmember Sawyer in the

6:25 queue. Thanks, MADAM

6:26 PRESIDENT, thank you.

6:27 Councilmember Heinz for living

6:28 up to that double dog. Dare I

6:32 very much. Appreciate it. Just

6:33 want to remind residents of

6:35 district 5 of 2 things. First

6:37 of community clean-up day is

6:38 this Sunday. So please come

6:41 and join us. 08:30am, at

6:45 Montclair Rep Center grab some

6:46 breakfast and get your

6:48 supplies and then head out and

6:50 clean half of our districts, 5

6:52 parks and a bunch of our bus

6:53 stop. She repay our bus stops

6:54 during community clean-up day.

6:57 So very much. Appreciate the

6:58 over 40 volunteers who have

7:01 already agreed to join us and

7:02 the hope that many more will

7:03 in the next couple of days. So

7:05 please come on out. And then

7:08 just a reminder for district 5

7:10 residents Our annual survey is

7:12 out. You should have received

7:14 a postcard in their mailbox

7:15 probably last and you have

7:16 until DECEMBER 31st to fill it

7:18 out. This is really important

7:20 information goes out to about

7:22 25,000 households in District

7:24 5 every year. And we ask for

7:27 feedback from the community on

7:28 all different kinds of things

7:28 so that we know what our

7:29 residents are thinking so that

7:31 we can advocate for you

7:34 because that's my job. Please

7:36 fill out that formed by

7:37 DECEMBER 31st. I know it feels

7:38 like you've got lots of time,

7:41 but it's already SEPTEMBER

7:42 21st. So time is flying by and

7:43 I don't know about you, but

7:45 I'm really excited about that

7:46 because 2026 just sort of

7:50 means to end at this point. My

7:50 my loan here, I don't think

7:53 so. Councilmember Luis agrees

7:55 with me. So fill that out. By

7:56 DECEMBER 31st. And you can

7:57 find more information on our

7:59 social media about that.

8:00 Thanks. Thank you, council

8:03 member of either us. Thank you

8:03 so much. Council PRESIDENT. I

8:07 want take momentum by

8:09 everyone. District 7 is

8:10 hosting a panel for the

8:12 at-large. The candidates all

8:15 candidates have confirmed were

8:18 really saddened by the loss

8:18 counsel in parity on this body

8:19 and want to make sure that our

8:21 residents here from all the

8:22 potential candidates that can

8:25 fill that seat. I also want us

8:27 spend a special shout out to

8:29 Sallie Bishop and that Park

8:30 Neighborhood Association for

8:32 an amazing turnout at the

8:36 Houston Park. Town hall that

8:37 we had last week. We had an

8:39 overwhelming amount of

8:40 residents. They came out to

8:42 speak about very important

8:44 make. And I appreciate all

8:46 that she has Thank you.

8:49 Council PRESIDENT, thank you.

8:50 Councilmember Watson, thank

8:53 you. Council PRESIDENT To my

8:54 residents that that's over a

8:56 or recognize our young come

8:59 poor. I wish you a meaningful

9:00 young can for as we're coming

9:03 to the close of it this

9:07 Saturday, SEPTEMBER. 26 2026

9:10 for 9 to 12:00pm. Joint aside

9:12 to cool for safety at Metro

9:14 State University. A era campus

9:16 12. 55, 10 street. It's from 9

9:17 to 12. Mean sponsored by

9:20 Denver Police Foundation. The

9:22 Denver Nuggets and msu Denver.

9:24 It's a free event for young

9:25 people to come together and on

9:27 to have just really a

9:28 fantastic day. So once again,

9:33 this Saturday from 9 onto law,

9:33 at Metro State Campus. Thank

9:36 you, MADAM PRESIDENT, thank

9:39 you. Councilmember Sandoval

9:40 thank This Wednesday I'm

9:44 hosting might last 3 session

9:45 38th and tend to if you're

9:46 interested in doing, you know

9:47 that just bring calm state

9:51 mine, your yoga mat and go to

9:53 the carousel. 38th and tennis

9:58 in and then we're having far

9:59 Northwest neighborhood plan

10:01 kick off this Thursday at High

10:04 School. The Resource Fair

10:08 starts 5.30 So please come to

10:10 North High school in the

10:11 auditorium. And if you're

10:15 wondering what far Northwest

10:15 neighborhood kickoff means,

10:17 it's everything from Sloan's

10:18 Lake. So expect drills the

10:19 divider and it's everything

10:19 west. So if you live in the

10:21 Sloan's Lake neighborhood, the

10:22 West Highland neighborhood,

10:24 the Berkeley neighborhood,

10:25 Regis Inspiration, Point

10:25 neighborhood. Please come and

10:28 help us plan These 4

10:30 neighborhoods for the next 40

10:32 generations Brady generations

10:35 for years, for and they'll be

10:36 the meeting starts at Thank

10:40 you. MADAM PRESIDENT. Thank

10:41 you, Councilmember Luis, thank

10:43 you so much. So just wanted to

10:45 show that the budget book

10:47 Club, too first want to thank

10:49 everyone who was able to join

10:50 us for our meeting for the

10:51 budget. But the club

10:52 fantastic. Our next meeting is

10:55 in person where we'll be

10:56 recapping what we've been

10:57 hearing from the agencies

10:59 during the budget hearings. So

11:00 you can join us this Friday at

11:01 Fico Tower in District 8 from

11:04 5.30, to 07:00pm. The event is

11:08 free. But we do ask that you

11:08 sign up using the of event,

11:09 right, Eileen trees so that we

11:10 can better and anticipate

11:13 staffing needs as well as food

11:14 and so you all can come learn

11:16 about the specifics of this

11:17 year's budget and maybe even

11:18 do some bowling, which I'm

11:19 super excited about. In

11:22 addition to that, please join

11:23 us at the struggle of left

11:25 foundation and community

11:27 partners tomorrow night from

11:29 06:00pm to 08:00pm. From an

11:30 important conversation about

11:32 domestic violence, awareness

11:33 and prevention. So district

11:34 Attorney John Wash

11:35 Councilmember Gilmore and I

11:37 will join neighbors for a

11:38 discussion about support and

11:39 resources for individuals and

11:40 families including mental

11:41 health services, housing,

11:44 food, access, legal support,

11:45 victim compensation. In more,

11:47 everyone is welcome. Dinner

11:48 will be provided free. Child

11:49 care will be available. So

11:51 please stop by the struggle of

11:52 Love Foundation. They are

11:55 located at 1, 2, 0, 0, 5, East

11:58 45th Avenue, Denver, Colorado,

12:01 8, 0, 2, 3, 9, They have 2

12:03 more events next week. There's

12:03 another conversation about

12:04 community safety happening on

12:08 Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 29th from

12:08 5.30, to 07:00pm at the

12:11 Struggle of Love Foundation.

12:13 The Denver Citizens Oversight

12:13 Board is hosting a community

12:15 conversation about policing

12:17 Sheriff accountability in

12:18 Denver. So we will discuss

12:20 recent changes to police to

12:22 sup discipline proposed

12:24 changes to the Denver Police

12:26 Department, Taser policy and a

12:27 Department of Safety rule

12:28 affecting sheriff disciplines

12:30 and public transparency. And

12:31 so please come and make your

12:33 voices heard next Tuesday. And

12:35 then finally, please join the

12:37 Denver-based Income Project in

12:41 discussion on unconditional

12:41 my Office for screening panel

12:43 stories from the Denver Basic

12:45 Income Project. The event will

12:47 be taking place next next

12:48 Wednesday, SEPTEMBER. 30th

12:50 from 68 pm at the Denver

12:51 Street Fraternity, which is

12:55 located at 87 20 East Colfax

12:57 Avenue Denver ad, was it 8, 0,

13:00 2, 2, 0, There's plenty of

13:04 parking on and it's Nia, off

13:05 of East Colfax. And so we

13:05 would love to see you all

13:08 there. Thank you so much.

13:11 Thank you. I just have 2 quick

13:13 announcements. We canceled our

13:14 concert in the park last

13:16 Saturday. It was actually

13:18 pouring. So we're glad that we

13:19 canceled it. But we are

13:21 rescheduling on OCTOBER 24th a

13:22 fall fest. More information to

13:24 follow. It'll be in the news

13:28 letter and to be able to bring

13:30 residents together this fall.

13:31 And also, I just wanted to

13:34 acknowledge that we have Chief

13:36 Thomas in the chambers and

13:38 this evening with us. But I

13:40 also is also a resident of

13:41 district 4. And I saw you

13:44 running this weekend and I was

13:46 very careful not to very early

13:50 in the morning and not to honk

13:50 scare by any means. But I just

13:52 really appreciate, you know,

13:54 true Poca public service out

13:56 there staying fit and in shape

13:58 in the wee hours of the

13:59 morning at the crack of dawn.

14:00 And I just appreciate that.

14:04 Feel safer in my neighborhood.

14:06 That is those are my

14:08 announcement. There are no

14:10 presentations. There are no

14:11 communications this evening.

14:12 There are 2 proclamations

14:13 being read this afternoon. A

14:14 council member of the please

14:17 re prop cremation. 26 stash 13

14:20 89.

14:30 Thank you. Council PRESIDENT

14:35 Proclamation. 26. That's 13 89

14:37 I move that proclamation. 26

14:42 13 89 be adopted. Need to

14:44 read. Whereas Hispanic

14:45 Heritage Month was enacted

14:48 into law by the United States

14:48 Congress and signed by

14:51 PRESIDENT Ronald Reagan on

14:55 AUGUST, 17th 1988. And whereas

14:56 the Denver Police Department

14:58 has a long history of a strong

14:59 Hispanic leadership and

15:00 courage within its ranks,

15:02 including 3 fallen off

15:04 officers patrolman Robert

15:07 Sandoval, patrolmen Ronald Lee

15:08 de Herrera and Detective Fred

15:12 Brown of Auto and whereas the

15:13 Denver Police Museum is

15:15 honored to partner with the

15:17 National Latino Police

15:20 Officers Association to honor

15:22 2 trailblazing detectives, a

15:26 Amy Alonzo and whereas Alonso

15:29 was born in Denver on

15:30 12/7/1948, 2 has Seuss and our

15:33 fema island saw attending

15:34 manual high School where he

15:36 excelled in both football and

15:42 track graduating in 1966.

15:43 Whereas upon graduating, he

15:45 enlisted in the United States

15:47 Marine Corps and served in

15:48 Vietnam where he was promoted

15:52 to the rank of corporal and

15:56 was in theater during that