City Council

Monday, December 1, 2025, 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

The Denver City Council's December 1, 2025 general session included announcements honoring the late State Senator Faith Winter, remembrances of civic leader Michael Henry, and proclamations adopted 13-0 honoring retiring Denver Sheriff Department leaders Chief Sonia Gillespie and Deputy Sheriff Major Derek Wynn. The Council postponed two contracts (Urban Alchemy community investment services and a District 8 non-congregate shelter operations agreement) for one week for briefings, questioned staff on a Gartner membership contract, and questioned Arts & Venues staff at length about Live Nation and AEG commission contracts at Red Rocks. A block of roughly $600 million in on-call professional services contracts was adopted after debate from Council Member Hinds about loss of council oversight, with one vote against (corrected record: 12-1). Council Bill 18.91, a supplemental appropriation including $7.5 million for Denver Police overtime and separation payouts, was ordered published after extensive questioning about overtime trends and layoff costs. The required public hearing on the Cuernavaca Park maintenance/building acquisition (Council Bill 17.04) was postponed to a date certain.

Transcript

0:07 Denver, it's time for the

0:10 weekly general session of your

0:16 Denver City Tonight's coverage

0:16 of Denver City Council starts

0:19 now.

0:37 today is Monday, DECEMBER

0:37 for Denver Council meeting

0:40 first 2025. Tonight's meeting

0:44 is being interpreted Spanish.

0:44 really would you please

0:45 introduce yourself and let our

0:46 viewers know how to enable

0:51 translation on their devices.

0:51 Yes, of course. Thank you

0:53 for having Hello, everyone. My

0:59 name is Sam Guzman. Virtually

1:00 through zoom and along my

1:00 colleague, ruled the

1:03 interpreting today's meeting

1:05 into Spanish. Please allow me

1:05 a quick minute. Want to give

1:07 instructions in Spanish? I'm

1:11 not an axis interpretation.

1:12 One is that is that enormous

1:12 someone was mined from the

1:15 same the same. You want them

1:16 to conclude will be used to

1:20 keep it the millennium. They

1:21 only in the spring will see

1:22 you in a corner. So that was

1:23 on meant that I was consultant

1:24 thing on the court and the

1:27 global can be sent that put

1:28 the hopefully muscle tone and

1:30 ax to Lipscomb this content in

1:33 the spring. It'll south. Those

1:34 present sentiment things,

1:39 Tony, in the told, was just

1:41 You can it on assistant that

1:43 gonna pull all the phones. But

1:46 as coach and it's been the

1:48 U.S. Thank you very much.

1:52 Thank you very much, Sam.

1:54 Welcome to the Denver City

1:55 Council meeting Monday,

1:58 DECEMBER first 2025 council

1:59 members please join

1:59 Councilmember Sawyer in the

2:13 Pledge of Allegiance.

2:23 Council members please join

2:24 Councilmember Sawyer's. They

2:24 lead us in the Denver City

2:28 Council and management.

2:29 The Denver City Council

2:30 honors and acknowledges that

2:32 the land on which we reside is

2:33 the traditional territory of

2:35 the show yen and Arapahoe

2:37 Peoples. We also recognize the

2:38 48 contemporary tribal nations

2:39 that are historically tied to

2:39 the lands that make up the

2:44 state of Colorado. We honor

2:45 elders past present and future

2:45 and those who have stewards

2:47 this land throughout

2:49 generations. We also recognize

2:50 that government, economic and

2:52 cultural institutions were

2:53 founded upon and continue to

2:56 enact exclusions and racers of

2:58 indigenous peoples. Is a and

2:58 demonstrate a commitment to

2:59 working to dismantle ongoing

3:01 legacies of oppression and

3:03 inequities and recognize the

3:04 current and future

3:05 contributions of indigenous

3:07 communities in Denver.

3:08 Thank you. MADAM Secretary

3:13 will call. Council members If

3:22 bill more.

3:27 Parity a I'll be the case

3:29 here. Cells could Get Inc

3:33 Hines Cashman here, Louis

3:34 present American Bowl people

3:41 here. So here here, Watson

3:41 there, MADAM PRESIDENT, send

3:47 them on air. 12 members

3:49 present their top members.

3:51 Present council has a approval

3:51 of the approval of the

3:53 minutes. Are there any

3:54 corrections?

3:55 To the minutes of the

3:58 NOVEMBER, 21st? Seeing none

4:02 Council announcements are

4:02 the minutes stand approved.

4:03 there any council announcement

4:07 afternoon? Comes member? So

4:09 start us off.

4:10 Thank you. MADAM PRESIDENT

4:11 just wanted to remind

4:13 residents of District 5 that

4:14 it is annual survey time. So

4:15 if you live in district 5,

4:16 please go to our social media

4:19 and find the link and take our

4:20 survey for those of you who

4:22 are new to the neighborhood

4:24 that you don't know this, but

4:26 we actually use the

4:27 information that we that you

4:30 provide us in the survey every

4:31 year. It's how we skipped a

4:31 plan. Our annual work so it

4:35 closes DECEMBER 31st. And we

4:36 have a little over 1000

4:38 responses so far. We would

4:39 love a few more. So please go

4:41 ahead and go to our social

4:43 media and take our annual

4:44 survey. If you're a resident

4:46 district 5, thanks.

4:46 Thank you. Councilmember

4:50 Gonzales could get Thank you.

4:51 MADAM PRESIDENT, last

4:54 Wednesday. On the evening of

4:56 NOVEMBER. 26, a state senator

5:00 faith winter lost her life in

5:01 a copy 5 vehicle crash on

5:06 I-25. Senator Winter served

5:11 and represented. Adams County

5:12 from field. You might be

5:12 wondering why are we talking

5:14 about this in Denver? But I

5:19 will just say that I first met

5:21 She was a state representative

5:22 at the time. She also served

5:24 on Westminster's Westminster

5:25 City Council from 2007 to

5:32 2014. Prior to that she's been

5:34 a huge advocate for people in

5:37 our state in her city and like

5:40 so many other women. I had the

5:42 fortune of having faced be a

5:44 part of training me to run for

5:46 office. Back in 2017, she

5:49 helped so many of us whether

5:51 it was fighting for policies

5:52 that directly impact women and

5:54 families. We're training in

5:58 lifting us up to take the leap

6:01 and run for office ourselves

6:03 as women as parents of young

6:04 children, something that you

6:05 wouldn't think it's possible

6:07 to do this job. Do any of

6:10 these times. I've never forgot

6:15 me advice. You gave me that

6:16 she gave me and I still apply

6:19 it today as a mom. Who is also

6:22 in a lead in elected office.

6:23 And I passed that information

6:24 on pass. That advice on to

6:26 others when they are seeking

6:31 that advice. It was an

6:32 absolute honor to work

6:34 alongside this powerhouse of a

6:37 human and a tiny package.

6:38 Someone who left with passion,

6:43 expertise and persistence.

6:43 Thank you, Senator winter for

6:46 everything that you taught us

6:48 for everything that you fought

6:51 for. He will not be forgotten.

6:52 And I'm sending thoughts of

6:53 love and strength to your

6:54 loved ones as they navigate

6:55 this tragedy and loss. Thank

6:59 you, MADAM PRESIDENT, thank

7:00 you so much. Councilmember can

7:04 support Era Campbell, thank

7:05 you, MADAM PRESIDENT, thank

7:07 you, COUNCILMAN Guns, all for.

7:11 Honoring Senator Winters.

7:11 it's it's tragic. And so

7:12 thank you for for taking the

7:18 time. I wanted to make an

7:20 announcement about the senior

7:22 luncheon. It's happening in

7:25 southeast Denver on Friday

7:26 this Friday.

7:29 DECEMBER 5th 11, 30 at the

7:31 Wilshire Event Center

7:33 connected to the bus. Off If

7:35 you haven't already had an

7:36 opportunity to rsvp, we

7:36 encourage the seniors in

7:39 southeast Denver to do so.

7:40 Just count contact. Our

7:41 council office. There are a

7:44 few spaces available, but

7:46 we're pretty we're pretty

7:46 packed. So excited to see you

7:50 all there. And we do know that

7:52 we have. We've confirmed the

7:53 Colorado Symphony will be

7:55 crane as well and serenading

7:58 you while you have your

7:58 luncheon itself.

7:59 Thank you. Thank you. MADAM

8:00 PRESIDENT council member Obie

8:03 that Thank you. Council

8:06 PRESIDENT

8:08 I just wanted to share

8:09 things happening in district 7

8:09 that. We have a lot of great

8:13 at the moment. We are office

8:14 has adopted a Christmas tree

8:17 on South Pearl Street to

8:18 decorate this year. The South

8:19 Pearl Street merchants will be

8:23 having their winterfest

8:23 DECEMBER's 5th and 6th to

8:24 stroll through a festive

8:26 winter market with local

8:28 artisans. Fresh Christmas

8:29 trees and wreaths and hot

8:32 chocolate even be a Santa and

8:33 sleigh on Pearl Street this

8:38 weekend. In addition, a lot of

8:39 people have heard. I know our

8:42 call. My colleagues have been

8:44 emailed about how the media

8:46 lane repurposing as well as

8:48 some other traffic circles

8:49 happening in West Rush parks

8:52 to the West Park Neighborhood

8:55 Association is having their at

8:56 their monthly meeting tomorrow

8:56 and it will be there to talk

8:59 to them about these issues.

9:00 They're also hosting their

9:02 holiday party this Saturday,

9:03 DECEMBER 6 from 04:00pm to

9:05 06:00pm at Levin's apply at

9:07 300 East Alameda where there

9:07 will be offering food and

9:10 drinks and fun holiday

9:12 outfits. If there is a $10

9:13 suggested donation which will

9:15 be going to community

9:17 ministries. So come celebrate.

9:18 I know there's a lot of fun

9:19 things happening downtown as

9:20 well. But if you want to come

9:21 Sauber in district 7 will be

9:24 celebrating Christmas on

9:25 Cypress Street. PRESIDENT.

9:26 Thank you. Councilmember

9:29 Flynn.

9:32 Thank you. MADAM PRESIDENT,

9:33 just want to remind folks are

9:35 very I mentioned last week

9:36 during announcements that the

9:38 Saturday is the annual council

9:39 district. 2 toy drive for the

9:43 benefit of Southwest Denver.

9:46 Coalition from 11:00am until

9:47 02:00pm my office on the East

9:50 side of a Bear Valley shopping

9:53 center Dartmouth and the

9:54 You're welcome to come and

9:58 enjoy some free hot dogs hot

9:59 drinks and trips some music

10:03 And there will be some other

10:04 entertainment there. Please

10:07 bring a unwrapped toy a child

10:10 of any Boy, girl doesn't

10:11 matter. Southwest Denver

10:14 coalition will take care

10:18 wrapping for maintained a list

10:20 recipient families. And we

10:21 just need you to turn out

10:21 again this year as you have

10:23 every year for southwest ever.

10:24 Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT,

10:27 thank you. Councilmember Hate.

10:28 Thank you, MADAM. PRESIDENT

10:29 Customer consoles computers.

10:32 Thank you for your comments

10:35 about Fitz I had the

10:36 opportunity to to work in our

10:39 campaign years ago and she has

10:42 a name to chest purpose-built

10:43 for campaigning. She would She

10:44 had this big thing that, you

10:50 know, you could it's like a

10:51 photo frame and she die. She

10:52 had one that said I have

10:54 faith. Another that said

10:59 Winter is coming. And thanks.

11:01 Game of Thrones for consulting

11:03 with our senator, former

11:05 senator for for such a great

11:10 phrase. But Senator Winter, I

11:11 have faith that you are just

11:14 as much of force where you are

11:16 now has when you were here on

11:19 Earth. Thank MADAM PRESIDENT.

11:22 Thank you. Councilmember

11:23 Hand and thank you.

11:24 Councilmember can tell us

11:28 could get is for such a nice

11:29 tribute. Take for Senate.

11:33 Countries will greatly missed.

11:35 So I recently read that if

11:39 every U.S. Adult moved to just

11:43 one $40 gift from Amazon to a

11:45 small business this holiday

11:50 season. Redirect 10 billion

11:52 dollars to support small local

11:54 businesses. And I don't know

11:55 about you all, but I'm hearing

11:56 from my small local businesses

11:59 that they are suffering. So

12:01 northwest Denver for

12:02 forgetting about the 12 days

12:02 of Christmas and northwest

12:05 number is doing bigger with

12:07 the 13 this year. We have 13

12:11 legacy businesses listed

12:12 Brickley untapped Phillies in

12:14 fire on the mountain hop some

12:16 pie and the 2 that time

12:18 restaurant, little Man, Ice

12:20 King, the monkey Barrow,

12:21 raging hog barbecue down,

12:25 saying Chileans to shop

12:25 Sonny's tourney peas and last

12:30 but not least Westside books.

12:31 So during this time, let's

12:32 keep these neighborhood

12:33 treasures going strong. One

12:35 visit at a time and one

12:36 purchased and celebration at a

12:41 time. COUNCILWOMAN The Thank

12:43 you. I just wanted to take the

12:44 opportunity and 2, 1, think

12:47 COUNCILWOMAN Gonzales cut here

12:48 says COUNCILMAN Gonzalez

12:49 continues knows that I was

12:52 also trained by Senator Winter

12:54 and it's definitely a sad time

12:55 as an elected official, but

12:57 also as a mom to think about

12:59 to those losing their mom

13:01 before holiday or at all to a

13:02 car accident. And it's

13:04 something that I've

13:05 experienced myself. And as I

13:06 lost my fiance to a tragic car

13:08 accident. So I definitely some

13:12 I love to that family as I

13:14 also wanted to talk briefly

13:18 about the Hiawatha. Davis are

13:21 40nd annual a and a call for

13:22 volunteers. We have over 600

13:25 seniors that we served are in

13:27 a luncheon. It's a great time.

13:29 They dress up. They have an

13:30 amazing time, but that's not

13:30 possible without volunteers.

13:32 We do have a lot of volunteers

13:33 from the sheriffs offices

13:37 office who shows up as well as

13:37 from dpd. But if you

13:39 interested in serving your

13:43 seniors this DECEMBER 13th, we

13:43 would really appreciate your

13:49 service thank you. Thank you.

13:50 And then back Welcome comes

13:51 member. Get more to the

13:57 meeting. There are no

13:58 presentations. There are no

13:59 communications there to

14:00 proclamation is being read

14:01 this afternoon. Temps member.

14:02 Luis, would you please read

14:08 proclamation 2016? Cremation.

14:11 25 2016 honoring Chief Sonia

14:11 Gillespie for over 3 decades

14:12 of distinguished service to

14:16 the Denver Sheriff Department.

14:17 Whereas Chief Sonia Gillespie

14:19 has to vet devoted over 30

14:20 years of exemplary service to

14:22 the Denver Sheriff Department

14:23 reflecting a deep commitment

14:25 to operational excellence and

14:29 employee well-being and chief

14:30 collects be holds a Bachelor

14:33 of Science degree in Technical

14:34 Management, a foundation that

14:35 has strengthened her ability

14:37 to lead complex initiatives

14:39 and drive innovation across

14:42 the department. And whereas

14:43 the chief collects the is the

14:44 first African-American woman

14:45 to be appointed as a division

14:47 chief and the history of the

14:50 Denver Sheriff's Department as

14:52 chief of the administration

14:53 division. She let the wellness

14:55 teams, including the peer

14:57 support team, ensuring staff

14:58 and their families have access

14:59 to resources that support

15:00 physical, emotional and mental

15:07 health. She also oversaw the

15:08 technology management unit

15:09 Training Academy Academy

15:10 professional standards and the

15:12 performance Management and

15:13 strategy. Teens driving

15:15 strategic initiatives and

15:17 continuous improvement. And

15:19 whereas her passion for equity

15:21 is evident and her leadership

15:22 of the Sheriff Department

15:25 equity, diversity and

15:26 inclusion team working in

15:28 partnership with the Office of

15:29 Social Equity and innovation

15:31 to foster care and support of

15:33 workplace. She served at as a

15:34 dedicated liaison to the

15:37 safety human resources team

15:39 helping employees navigate

15:40 leave and recovery with

15:46 compassion and clarity whereas

15:47 Chief Gillespie has long

15:48 served as a bridge between the

15:50 sheriff's department and

15:52 national platforms, including

15:54 a board member of the American

15:55 Jail Association and American