Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 1 p.m. (Denver time), City & County Building, room 391
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee heard two held-over action items. The first was a best-value contracting (BBC) ordinance for city construction contracts; sponsors described changes made since the last meeting (raised threshold from $500,000 to $1 million, removed scoring, apprenticeship, and health insurance payment requirements), and council members and city officials debated exemptions for subcontractors, small businesses, and MWBE firms, including concerns about the interaction with the city's MWBE ordinance and disbarment language. The committee voted to send the item to the floor. The second item was an ordinance restricting the use of the Transportation and Mobility Special Revenue Fund to allowable transportation, transit, pedestrian and bicycle safety uses, after the fund was used for parking operations; two members of the public urged protecting the fund's original purpose. The committee moved that item to the floor as well.
0:00 northeast Denver featuring
0:01 Tree Line streets. Classic
0:01 architecture and strong
0:06 residential character. A drive
0:07 down 17 or montview is a
0:11 delight any time of year. Its
0:12 proximity to city Park, the
0:13 Denver Zoo and the Museum of
0:15 appeal for families and
0:15 Nature and Science adds to its
0:21 longtime residents alike. In
0:22 Park. Hill also holds an
0:22 important place in Denver,
0:25 social and cultural history.
0:26 In the Mid 20th Century, it
0:28 became one of the city's most
0:29 racially diverse neighborhoods
0:31 due to intentional efforts to
0:31 combat house and segregation
0:36 and redlining. A local
0:37 commercial areas offer a mix
0:38 of independent shops,
0:39 restaurants and services that
0:40 contribute to a walkable
0:45 community oriented atmosphere.
0:47 With its blend of history.
0:49 Diversity and accessibility
0:49 cartoon remains a defining
0:50 highly sought after part of a
0:52 Denver.
1:00 Just hearing cancer is here
1:01 Minding Mid. That was the most
1:03 difficult time. Maybe never
1:06 gone through. My name is
1:09 Catherine Thompson and I am 45
1:14 years old. I'm healthy and
1:15 active. I've coming to Denver
1:15 health, her mammograms. I came
1:20 to Denver Health just team
1:21 screening. During that visit.
1:25 It was determined that I
1:28 became some more pictures.
1:29 They did a biopsy which
1:29 demonstrated b#
1:30 cancer
1:30 stage, one b#
1:31 cancer, and
1:34 then she came to me. It was
1:35 within 10 days of when they
1:37 did the biopsy. And so we hold
1:38 spots for cancer patients so
1:40 that when a new diagnosis of
1:42 cancer occurs, I could see
1:43 those patients as soon as
1:44 possible to help reduce any
1:45 anxiety during that waiting
1:48 period. I don't have a family
1:51 history. So it surprising
1:53 news. It's not unusual to have
1:53 a b#
1:55 cancer, even if you
1:58 have no family history. That's
1:59 starting at age 40 for all
1:59 why recommend screening
2:01 women, regardless of family
2:04 history, Dr Leonard was
2:06 amazing, very professional,
2:07 very kind. She took her time
2:10 to explain to go over the
2:11 diagnosis to talk about the
2:12 surgery. What life would look
2:15 like for me moving forward. We
2:16 had a lot of great discussions
2:17 about what kind of surgery
2:18 would be the right surgery for
2:20 her. And she have multiple
2:23 options when patients do have
2:24 options, it's their choice and
2:25 I'll support them in whatever
2:26 choice they make. I'm feeling
2:29 great today. I'm doing really
2:32 well lived. Had 2 surgeries
2:33 that have been successful at
2:36 Denver Health. I've completed
2:37 radiation and I'm moving
2:38 forward with my next
2:39 treatments. Them killing
2:41 really good patients can
2:42 for b#
2:42 expect the best quality care
2:43 cancer care at
2:46 Denver Health because we
2:46 strive to meet the highest
2:47 standards. We've recently been
2:49 accredited by the national
2:50 Accreditation program for
2:50 b#
2:51 Centers and that
2:55 injured. Best care possible
2:56 early detection and regular
2:58 screenings are so important
2:58 for b#
2:59 cancer because
2:59 catching b#
3:00 cancer early
3:03 really makes a difference. One
3:04 in 8 women will develop b#
3:07 cancer in their lifetime. And
3:10 if we catch it early when it's
3:11 still localized, the five-year
3:14 survival is 99%. So by
3:16 catching cancers earlier we
3:17 are saving lives. I would
3:20 absolutely recommend the
3:21 Denver Health b#
3:21 Care
3:22 Center it so easy to get an
3:25 exam. Lifesaving.
4:32 A Denver. It's time for this
4:34 biweekly meeting of the
4:34 Transportation and
4:35 Infrastructure Committee of
4:40 Denver City Council. Join us
4:41 for the Transportation and
4:42 Infrastructure Committee.
4:44 Starting now.
4:53 Good afternoon, everyone.
4:55 Welcome to the Denver City
4:57 Council's Transportation and
4:58 Infrastructure Committee.
5:01 NOVEMBER from 26. My name is
5:02 Kevin Flynn on the vice chair
5:03 of the committee been reprise.
5:05 I because one of the sponsor,
5:09 sponsors in both items present
5:10 and she is the So let's go
5:14 around the room 2
5:14 introductions starting my
5:16 under watch and fine district
5:19 9. Going to be just like
5:20 district Chris hinds Denver's
5:22 perfect John to lose just
5:24 today. Good afternoon, Diana
5:25 rematch, Campbell, Southeast
5:28 Denver District Thank you. And
5:29 thank you for accommodating
5:31 the early start today. So
5:34 let's start right away with
5:35 the action was held over the 2
5:37 weeks ago, despite contracting
5:40 sponsors are comes from
5:44 councilmembers times
5:46 innovators. Great way to
5:47 pretty well. Thank you so
5:48 much, everyone for being here.
5:50 Thank everyone. That's here in
5:54 the audience. We are back
5:55 here. Committee and since our
6:00 last meeting, we've had few
6:01 meetings with industry, labor
6:02 and the administration. And I
6:03 want to thank everyone who's
6:04 been a part of those
6:06 conversations when that what
6:07 we're trying to do is not make
6:08 it more difficult to do.
6:09 Business with the city were
6:11 trying to make sure that when
6:12 we're spending our public
6:14 dollars that residents know
6:15 that there money is going to
6:16 vote buildings that last and
6:21 the people are think this
6:22 things are taken care So we'll
6:26 start with The next slide.
6:26 This bill has changed
6:27 substantially since we were
6:31 last here. It reflects more of
6:32 what was discussed during the
6:32 last meeting specifically
6:35 around health care. More
6:38 specifically which to go with
6:41 the intent that we You can see
6:45 pretty much are. Thank you
6:50 being here for the next slide.
6:51 Why Best-value contracting?
6:52 We've discussed continue.
6:52 Think we've all heard this one
6:55 a couple times. Here is what
6:58 is all in the bill and what
7:07 has there I'm trying to go
7:08 through this quickly to our
7:09 company time. What is new
7:12 beyond existing law? Only 2
7:12 requirements or knew
7:13 everything else is already or
7:15 rules and regs that are
7:18 legally binding. Bbc Lexus any
7:20 check before awards instead of
7:21 after a problem that raises
7:23 about the new requirements are
7:27 light lifts. The paperwork is
7:29 when every usable farm this
7:32 for first is that motion 10 is
7:36 basic safety class. Well, the
7:37 way I think about a show
7:39 versus the site specific
7:40 safety plan osha cause you go
7:42 county, Larry and the state
7:43 specific safety plan is the
7:45 conversation that you have on
7:46 site so that people have a
7:47 basic understanding going go
7:51 to a site for a small that
7:53 former with 16 boxes to check
7:56 one time and that can be used
7:57 on every single If a
7:59 contractor can say this, the
7:59 city should know that before
8:03 it a point to contracting
8:06 major changes. No one is
8:07 completely happy with the
8:08 bill, but that's because it's
8:09 workable. And we're still
8:10 waiting on some language from
8:12 the administration side of
8:13 things since budget and
8:14 policy. We've made significant
8:18 changes. With throughout all
8:22 of our conversations and what
8:23 we have house payment is the
8:24 single baseline for everyone.
8:26 One standard for everyone on
8:26 the job. And that's what the
8:29 next 2 fights are about. Yeah,
8:38 I want Thank sponsoring and
8:39 thanks for for lights. Just
8:41 want to start by putting a
8:43 conversation perspective
8:44 because certainly we've got a
8:48 lot e-mails in calls about
8:49 concerns for ordinance many of
8:50 which don't actually even look
8:53 like what the bill actually
8:54 does. So I just want to make
8:55 sure that we don't lose sight
8:56 of what we're trying to
8:59 accomplish. We've worked for
9:00 months with city agencies,
9:01 contractors, small businesses
9:04 and other stakeholders to get
9:06 this right. We cannot in good
9:08 faith. Listen to concerns and
9:09 made significant compromises.
9:10 We've made real changes to
9:13 address the concerns have been
9:14 raised We're committed to
9:15 making additional real
9:18 changes. Should that
9:20 necessary? As you see, we've
9:20 raised the threshold from
9:24 $500,000.02 million dollars.
9:25 We've removed that we did
9:27 scoring system. We've
9:27 eliminated apprenticeship
9:30 requirements. We of the health
9:30 insurance provisions and
9:31 reduce the administrative
9:32 requirements for contractors
9:36 can for city agencies. We have
9:38 to acknowledge it some point
9:39 that the fundamental
9:39 disagreement is about isn't
9:41 about people worker
9:42 implementation. It's about
9:44 whether we should expect every
9:45 contractor working in a city
9:46 construction project just meet
9:50 the same basic standards. So
9:51 about why certain contractors
9:51 we've heard a lot of arguments
9:57 should be exempt. Most of
9:58 reasons are actually already
10:00 the law for 3 code of conduct
10:00 there already Elijah to code
10:04 of work rules in re regulation
10:06 ins. What we're working on
10:07 isn't writing what is an
10:11 executive order. Ordinance
10:12 executive where he can be
10:12 changed at any time to the
10:13 maritime. We think that, you
10:15 know, these things are
10:16 important enough that they
10:17 should be ordinance and not
10:21 just an executive order.
10:23 Talking about following
10:24 existing laws maintaining
10:26 proper insurance complains
10:27 licensing requirements
10:35 protecting workers. So not as
10:37 groundbreaking revolutionaries
10:41 I the opposition would make it
10:42 basically it's if you do
10:43 construction work for the city
10:44 of Denver and then you should
10:45 follow law be qualified to do
10:47 the work and protect your
10:54 employees. I yet. So so really
10:56 the idea is that this is
10:59 simple policy. When spends
11:00 taxpayer dollars, those dollar
11:02 says should support
11:03 good-paying jobs, safe work
11:04 spaces and businesses that
11:06 treat their workers fairly.
11:13 And That's best a contracting
11:14 is about. That's the policy in
11:17 front of you today. And did
11:19 speak product of months of
11:22 work, stakeholder engagement
11:30 region. So outstanding The
11:34 first outstanding item. I
11:35 actually, want to to deputy
11:40 Mayor Gibson and and the city
11:43 agencies. Thank you for the
11:46 the work that we've done Thank
11:47 you. Also for the the email
11:50 that you sent yesterday, I do
11:55 want share anything in case
11:57 not all council members
11:58 communities structured the
12:00 same e-mail was structured.
12:03 And I think, you know, I want
12:05 to take the city for that
12:05 because that really helps us
12:10 compare apples to apples. It
12:11 starts with what we agree on
12:12 And there's a section of what
12:16 we to agree to disagree on.
12:19 And then the things that are
12:20 remaining that committed
12:24 working through before. First
12:26 reading and very kind of the
12:29 executive branch to use that
12:32 same format. And I believe we
12:34 said the same things and they
12:37 what we agree, what we agreed
12:38 to disagree and the things
12:41 that we intend to iron out
12:42 before first reading. That was
12:44 that was my take way.
12:45 Hopefully it. If if you time
12:47 to time to submit your
12:50 thoughts. So one of the things
12:51 that we talked about the
12:53 agreed to disagree on was
12:55 exempting subcontracts under
13:03 $500,000. So that basically we
13:06 believe that that this
13:07 request, if we not exempted
13:08 subcontracts under $500,000
13:12 would exempt most of the work
13:14 which meant bill largely
13:16 symbolic and the construction
13:17 site is an ecosystem. As I was
13:20 I talked about in the the
13:25 silica dust proclamation. So
13:26 just doesn't start or stop
13:30 with employees that are
13:31 exempted or So affect everyone
13:35 on the job site. Whether you
13:36 have your personal protective
13:37 equipment and training or not.
13:41 And it's important for us to
13:42 have anyone whose swing a
13:45 hammer war doing construction
13:46 work. They're too high to have
13:48 some some basic minimum
13:52 standards. We think today the
13:55 exemption is unworkable for 3
13:58 reasons. There's a better
14:01 path, the the monitor agrees
14:01 that also should be covered
14:08 and to read of support care,
14:10 So hopefully have the
14:11 auditor's office here and
14:16 available to answer questions.
14:16 Daughters office told us that
14:19 covering also says only
14:21 meaningful way to enforce
14:23 prevailing wage and going up
14:24 the chain. So that's why I'm
14:25 hoping that we'll have the
14:27 auditor's office hears
14:28 thinking state that in their
14:30 own words as opposed to having
14:33 me speak on their behalf. The
14:34 exemption would leave out.
14:38 Most of the work must work Job
14:40 site is not by the prime. It's
14:41 by subcontractors. 85 90% of
14:45 the work is done by subs. Most
14:47 of the subcontractor under
14:50 $500,000. So with a 500 k
14:52 exemption, the standard
14:53 recover the prime and to the
14:56 people actually working on the
15:00 job. Khan one other items
15:05 county has passed a similar
15:06 ordinance and has had in
15:09 effect for more than a decade.
15:11 Daschle learned the hard and
15:12 they had to go back and clean
15:13 up their bill and pad soaps to
15:14 their version of Best Buy
15:20 Contracting. Our belief and
15:21 how we've addressed the
15:23 concerns we've made the
15:25 certification like and one
15:29 time. So to see the same short
15:31 form once they just have sheet
15:33 of check boxes and they signed
15:34 the form and they can use that
15:38 form again and again and again
15:39 anytime they don't have to
15:40 read in the form, they can
15:40 just use the same form again,
15:44 just as they can use that
15:45 osha, 10 certification again
15:46 and again and again. Don't
15:46 have to do the training today
15:47 and they don't have to do that
15:52 believe that emptying
15:52 form again. That's why we
15:54 subcontractors is not a good
15:58 idea. The next item we've
16:01 agreed to disagree and is
16:07 exempting businesses the size
16:08 of someone's employer
16:09 shouldn't determine the proper
16:12 protections they receive at
16:17 work. Interview ve Exemption
16:18 It's not a small business
16:22 exemption. Doesn't support.
16:24 Doesn't support that. Ppe is
16:27 that already meeting the Put
16:29 another way. Our goal is to
16:29 support all the firms that are
16:32 doing the right thing, which
16:35 is the vast majority But
16:36 there's unfortunately the
16:38 bidding process. Some firms
16:41 are having compete against
16:44 firms that cutting corners and
16:46 of and it's hard for those are