Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 10:30 a.m. (Denver time), City and County Building, room 391
The Parks, Arts and Culture Committee heard three action items. First, the Denver Bond Office presented a roughly $3 million architecture and engineering design contract (Hampton Architecture) bundling three bond projects: renovations of the Blair Caldwell African-American Research Library, the Montbello Branch Library, and a shade structure at Montbello Civic Center Park, with construction tracked from Q2 2028 to Q4 2029. Members raised concerns about library closures, community engagement continuity, and interim service locations. Second, the Office of the City Forester presented substantial amendments to Chapter 57 (forestry code), including a new Legacy Tree program, expanded protections, consulting arborist authority, and a payment-in-lieu fee; members raised equity, cost, and interagency coordination concerns, and a motion was made to defer the item to the December 2 meeting. Third, Parks and Recreation presented new on-call construction service contracts (records 26-14-36 through 26-14-50) with prime and small-business enterprise contractor pools. The transcript does not clearly record final votes.
0:01 right? We have different
0:01 different communities that are
0:02 expects parenting different
0:06 things. Welcome back to this
0:08 monthly meeting of the Parks,
0:10 Arts and Culture Committee of
0:15 Denver City Council. Join us
0:19 and the Parks Arts and Culture
0:28 Committee starting now Culture
0:30 Committee meeting COUNCILMAN
0:30 John to Lewis and I represent
0:33 8 today is Tuesday, October
0:37 and we can begin when around
0:38 introductions council. Now
0:38 they just want to get about
0:39 it. That Denver's lucky
0:41 District. 7. Good morning.
0:43 Dear Watson, Fine District.
0:44 900 morning Paul Cash from
0:49 Showtime for District can
0:50 solve tennis councilmember
0:51 at-large. Diana Romero,
0:51 Campbell, Southeast Denver
0:54 District contends Denver's
0:57 things. So we have a number of
0:59 action items. The first
1:00 architectural and engineering
1:02 design services for bond
1:05 projects. And so if you all
1:05 can introduce yourselves and
1:10 you can agenda. Riley, Denver
1:12 Bond office, maybe thank
1:13 project manager and the Denver
1:15 Bond Kelly Turner, Denver Bond
1:18 office So we're here today
1:24 talk about our libraries.
1:27 Original bundle for Blair
1:28 Mondello Branch Library and
1:31 Bella Civic Center applause. A
1:33 shade structure also known as
1:36 Cita. So this is Bill. 26 14.
1:39 52. It is a contract with
1:40 Hampton Architecture little
1:43 over 3 million dollars. Going
1:45 talk about the project why we
1:46 bundle the project and what
1:48 the timeline is going forward.
1:52 And into Monday. Looks like so
1:55 just designs. Couple support 3
1:55 of the 55 in van projects with
1:59 a total value of the company
2:01 combined. Total value of these
2:02 3 projects. As 25 Billion. As
2:04 Patrick mentioned, the
2:05 contractor looking at today is
2:06 just around 3 million next
2:09 slide. Please. Going to jump
2:10 into the current conditions
2:12 and specific to Blair
2:13 Caldwell. This facility was
2:16 built in 2003 and the building
2:17 itself overall is pretty good
2:18 condition. However, there's a
2:21 lot of the behind the scenes,
2:24 the hvac climate controls,
2:25 environmental conditions that
2:28 need to get updated as well as
2:28 specific to force 2, 3, which
2:30 is where the special
2:31 collections are. Then the
2:33 museum is up on the 3rd floor.
2:34 So wanting to make sure that
2:38 we have the right right,
2:40 excessive or great access and
2:41 conditions for maintaining
2:43 housing and displaying those
2:44 objects, artifacts collections
2:47 with best special collections
2:49 moving on to the design.
2:52 Scope. This is what is in hand
2:53 Prince contract. It's a
2:54 continuation of work that
2:58 began in 2023. Finished first
2:59 floor renovations and this is
3:00 really advancing it on to that
3:02 second floor research library
3:04 and the 3rd floor museum. It
3:06 will be zoned temperature,
3:07 climate and you the controls.
3:08 And then there will also be
3:09 improvements throughout the
3:13 entire facility. So hvac
3:13 building are going to inspect
3:15 the windows through everything
3:16 to make sure that once we make
3:18 those climate controls and say
3:19 that we have that weather
3:20 proofing and making sure to
3:22 keep the elements out, then
3:23 they will also be just user
3:25 experience will be different
3:26 and improved with second and
3:30 3rd floors as well. Moving on
3:32 to Montbello Library, current
3:33 conditions. This building.
3:34 First, I want to point out in
3:37 the photo on the top photo on
3:40 the left side, it has failing
3:42 hvac. And so they're currently
3:44 sparklers throughout. But the
3:45 library has been struggling to
3:46 maintain cool enough
3:47 temperatures in the summer to
3:47 serve as a as a cooling center
3:50 for the community. Overall,
3:53 the building was built in
3:54 1974. With its last
3:56 significant renovation and
3:56 2010. So there's a lot of end
3:59 of life components that were
4:00 also hoping to work on. That
4:01 includes the sewer line
4:01 windows glazing the front
4:05 entrance. As you can see that
4:05 first impression. We want to
4:07 make that welcoming again, not
4:09 feel like it is in disrepair
4:10 and then to investigate the
4:12 roof and see if that means for
4:15 repair. So moving on to the
4:17 specific design scope my
4:20 fellow library. This includes
4:21 hvac fire and the public
4:22 address system tech
4:23 improvements throughout
4:25 Windows. Roof weather proofing
4:26 and then from the public
4:27 facing side, it will be a lot
4:30 of space configuration. The
4:31 image that's included here is
4:33 for the idea lab. And that is
4:35 seeing at the seams right now.
4:37 So we're hoping to increase
4:39 its center square footage,
4:41 explore some indoor outdoor
4:41 spaces as well and then
4:43 restore that welcoming and
4:45 positive first impression at
4:47 the front entrance and the
4:48 book moving on to the
4:50 Montbello Civic Center Park.
4:51 So this is a neighborhood
4:54 park. It is on the exact same
4:56 parcel and exact and parcel as
4:57 the library also kind of in
4:58 the library's backyard as well
5:00 as the fire stations backyard.
5:02 It has a walking loop of large
5:03 There's a mix of deciduous and
5:06 coniferous trees that kind of
5:10 circle walking but be on some
5:11 existing picnic tables. There
5:12 are very few public amenities
5:14 that are added into the park
5:17 here in this slide at the very
5:19 far back center. You can see
5:20 the library itself just to
5:22 provide some context for you.
5:26 So moving into the design,
5:27 scope for the montbello plenty
5:28 this is a project in a concept
5:30 that really came up from the
5:32 community during solicitation
5:35 for the next bond package.
5:37 Also received a lot of
5:38 community feedback, really
5:38 desiring kind of that more
5:42 intimate gathering space
5:43 within a mile radius. There
5:45 are at least 3 a larger size
5:45 will parks that have a lot of
5:47 sports amenities. But this is
5:49 that more intimate size for
5:50 community gathering. So we'll
5:52 be working with the community
5:53 to introduce what that chain
5:54 structure looks like to make
5:58 sure it meets the as well as
5:59 this gathering spaces. While
6:01 we're working within the park
6:04 will also address any existing
6:05 ada conditions. Make sure that
6:06 great on the existing walking
6:08 loop or what they need to be
6:12 for us. Easier access So why
6:14 bundle the project's first
6:16 slide is more of a snapshot of
6:17 the contract at large again,
6:18 just to ground wet. But the
6:20 components that are in this
6:22 contract, it would be for 3
6:26 separate projects and then
6:29 with overall nw be eagle of
6:30 21%. But moving into why hand
6:34 print that is. But they were
6:36 one of 9 to submit during the
6:40 rfq process. One of 3 that we
6:41 decided to move forward with
6:42 in interviews and during
6:44 interview process, they really
6:45 demonstrated a comprehensive
6:47 understanding of the fact that
6:48 there are benefits to pulling
6:49 But yet they are also being
6:53 very separate and distinct
6:55 projects. One reason of is
6:56 that based on our accelerated
6:58 schedule, they have previous
7:00 experience with stakeholder
7:01 engagement and both
7:02 neighborhoods well as
7:03 experience in both of these
7:05 Denver Public Library
7:07 facilities. Then they they
7:08 were able to articulate during
7:09 the interview process, their
7:13 comprehension to just schedule
7:14 constraints, the operational
7:16 challenges and the project
7:17 needs. Well, keeping a
7:18 positive approach on how they
7:19 were hoping to address that
7:21 throughout the design process.
7:25 So why bundle? First of all,
7:26 we felt that this wasn't great
7:28 opportunity for the community
7:29 engagement, peace. It's
7:30 beneficial to generate
7:32 awareness and support
7:35 simultaneously. Really having
7:37 Taylor engagement with a nice
7:38 neighborhood. One thing that I
7:39 do want to mention is that the
7:40 scenario question that we
7:43 posed to the 3 design firms
7:44 that were interviewed is how
7:46 do prevent community
7:47 engagement, fatigue? Because
7:49 we know that there has been a
7:51 these neighborhoods for the
7:52 last few years. So working
7:53 with the design team to really
7:58 help. Taylor designs are
7:58 tailored community engagement
7:59 while still a dance scene, the
8:00 projects and making sure to
8:02 meet the community where they
8:04 are and not further perpetuate
8:11 fatigue. They also. Excuse
8:15 They also were able to show
8:18 that project we wanted to
8:19 maximize efficiencies again.
8:19 This is a six-year bond
8:21 project. And so how do we hit
8:22 the ground running? And by
8:23 bundling projects is one way
8:25 to capitalize on that. And
8:26 then finally with the scope
8:29 that's involved here, a lot of
8:30 hvac and some unique scope,
8:33 especially within the museum
8:34 aspect. There's some long lead
8:36 items. And so if able to
8:39 bundle, we can get scng see
8:39 contractor on board to help
8:42 with that preconstruction and
8:46 budgeting scheduling and also
8:46 find efficiencies throughout.
8:50 So we wanted really to. Orient
8:53 this how to reduce the amount
8:54 of impact within the
8:54 neighborhood while still
8:58 delivering. Proved months that
9:02 are really overdue interested
9:04 to deliver for this community.
9:11 Moving timeline. And so this
9:12 again, I can elaborate because
9:14 we have quite a bit of
9:15 construction jacket and here,
9:16 but the piece that will carry
9:17 us through the end of the year
9:19 right now is that discovery
9:21 phase. So in a couple of
9:22 weeks, we will go through
9:23 counsel and hope that we have
9:25 a completed contract checking
9:28 for NOVEMBER 13th that once we
9:29 get that signed contract that
9:32 offers us the notice to
9:33 proceed or in tp and which we
9:34 will be able to engage with
9:37 our consultant and their full
9:38 team. They will begin
9:40 assessing all of the existing
9:42 conditions that the 3
9:43 locations as well as the very,
9:45 very first step of community
9:47 engagement. From a contractor
9:50 construction site, which is.
9:52 Not part of this contract, but
9:54 yet is happening
9:54 simultaneously is that we will
9:56 be working on our
9:58 preconceptions preconstruction
10:00 solicitation as soon as we get
10:01 our contractor on board so
10:03 that we can dovetail those 2
10:08 schedules in early 2027 so
10:10 moving into 2027. Our design
10:11 team working on schematic
10:13 design. So that's bringing up
10:15 concepts. Ideas have to make
10:15 these improvements that we see
10:16 in the buying language. But
10:20 how to help visualize that
10:23 gather feedback along the way
10:24 than the move into design
10:24 development throughout the
10:27 entire duration of design is
10:29 community engagement. However,
10:29 there's moment where we have
10:32 the kind of pencils down and
10:34 that's as we move into
10:35 construction drawings. That's
10:36 really to transfer all
10:37 conceptual work that you've
10:39 seen and to transfer that into
10:40 a strong so that you can hand
10:41 it off to a contractor and say
10:44 this is now what we need to We
10:45 will still inform the
10:47 community along the way. Just
10:50 not have is active community
10:53 engagement. In 23 at close of
10:55 next year, we will be moving
10:55 into permitting at that same
10:59 time we'll be looking for are
11:00 construction pricing, which is
11:00 known as the guaranteed Max
11:01 Price. So those will be
11:03 happening in tandem. And then
11:08 the most important component
11:09 here is when will these
11:10 facilities be closed down? So
11:12 right now we're tracking for
11:17 construction from 2 to 2028 to
11:19 q 4 of 2029, of course, as
11:21 that as that is, our worst
11:22 case scenario will be looking
11:22 into that and trying to find
11:25 commission sees throughout as
11:26 soon as construction is done
11:28 by great will need to move
11:29 back in and then we will be
11:30 able to reopen the amenities
11:34 backs of the public. So that
11:36 is the conclusion of my
11:37 presentation and want to open
11:39 it up to any questions. We
11:40 also have our colleagues from
11:42 the library here as well to
11:47 and lab rate on any questions
11:47 that you might Thank you so
11:48 much for the presentation. We
11:51 have one council member in the
11:51 Queue Council want thank you
11:52 so much committee chair. Thank
11:53 you all so much for the
11:55 presentation of briefings and
11:56 the discussion. My question
12:00 has been consistent on the
12:02 important of coordinating
12:03 scaling the engagement process
12:07 between the tree projects.
12:08 First want to I think it's to
12:10 have one contractor that has
12:12 deep knowledge of both above
12:15 the libraries and engaged in
12:18 community process within those
12:19 Caldwell, American Research
12:20 Library is one of the
12:24 preeminent research libraries
12:24 in the country. And think it's
12:25 important for community to
12:28 know that community process
12:32 will will will roll in the
12:34 very rich the long and can
12:35 engage process that the
12:37 community advisory group has
12:39 already with Black Hall. Also
12:42 talk me through a little bit
12:46 as to from your perspective
12:46 mountain that I'm sure ppl has
12:48 any additional pieces and not
12:50 be up to the committee chair
12:52 introduce folks from the
12:53 audience. Let me know what
12:56 your process is for community
12:58 engagement, specific to
12:59 Caldwell and your corporation.
13:00 Very long process. We've
13:04 already had on Blair called
13:04 also speak to the folks here
13:06 on committee chair. If just
13:11 Well, can you know, to start
13:12 because I recognized to cause
13:15 memory loss and your concerns.
13:17 Mozart I'm will shut down the
13:20 chief operating officer for De
13:21 Pl. Thank you for having Do
13:23 recognize concerns as we
13:24 talked about before there's
13:26 been community engagement with
13:27 Blair Caldwell,
13:27 African-American Library and
13:30 Museum for over a year. So we
13:33 we bring in hand print or any
13:34 design firm, they need
13:34 incorporate that engagement
13:35 that's already been happening.
13:37 So we're not starting from
13:38 scratch. Otherwise it would
13:39 stop this project and it would
13:43 be a. Really unfortunate to
13:44 not recognize the work that's
13:47 already been done. So we will
13:47 be making sure that we're
13:48 working with the team as well
13:49 as the design firm to