City Council

Monday, January 12, 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

The council meeting opened with routine business and several proclamations: one honoring Zara Levy's public service, one recognizing City Treasurer Steve Ellington's 37 years of service upon his retirement, and one honoring Westside/Eastside Neighbors United for their leadership on the NWSL stadium community benefits agreement. The council adopted a street-dedication resolution (amended to fix a drafting error), approved amended agreements with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless for shelter health services and with HOST for non-congregate shelter, with Council Member Lewis pressing staff on service continuity and motel ownership transparency. The longest item was a public hearing on a park building plan for a maintenance facility at Cuernavaca Park, where Council Member Gilmore and former parks official Scott Gilmore argued RISE bond dollars were being shifted away from a promised District 11 facility; Gilmore's motion to postpone the bill failed and the bill passed. The council also passed a rezoning correcting a 2010 mapping error at 8250 East 40th Avenue.

Transcript

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

0:03 weekly general session of your

0:08 Denver City Council. Tonight's

0:10 coverage of Denver City

0:13 Council starts now.

0:27 thank you for joining us.

0:29 You for taking the time to

0:29 change every council's meeting

0:30 today is Monday. JANUARY,

0:38 tough. Stammered as mean,

0:39 would you please introduce

0:40 yourself and let our viewers

0:40 know how to enable transition

0:45 on their devices?

0:46 Worse, of course. Good

0:46 afternoon. When a status quo,

0:48 everyone. My name is Sam

0:51 Guzman with the c. John, you

0:54 virtually through zoom and

0:56 along with my colleague

0:57 doesn't mean we won't be

0:57 interpreting today's meeting

1:00 Spanish. Please allow me a

1:02 quick moment give instructions

1:06 in Spanish and how to access

1:07 interpretation. When thought

1:08 is that men on morning's money

1:11 include the same the same. You

1:12 can come in to come call. Just

1:13 means that it will sink the

1:14 putt on the left they will you

1:16 this fun, you know, on the

1:19 south was one month room was

1:21 consultant week on of the

1:21 global could be saying that

1:26 put the ceiling opening the

1:30 Don't Looks you in the soon he

1:30 on the corners with present

1:31 government, they just thing

1:34 coming up. Before it was

1:38 chaos. On company you can one

1:39 assistant. The killer put on

1:40 that on the phone put up with

1:42 which is an assistant. Thank

1:42 a discussion in the spring,

1:44 you very much.

1:51 Thank you very much. Time.

1:53 Welcome to the Denver City

1:53 Council meeting Monday,

1:56 JANUARY 2026. Council members

1:57 please join councilmember at

1:58 the there in the of

2:05 Allegiance. In leage to the

2:09 the United States of America.

2:10 And 2, there are a like for

2:12 which it stands. One nation

2:15 under GOD, indivisible, with

2:17 liberty and justice for all.

2:23 Members to strike comes from

2:24 Bradley. That is they lead us

2:26 in the Denver City Council and

2:29 Denver City Council honors

2:31 and acknowledges that the land

2:31 on which we're is it is the

2:32 traditional territory of the

2:34 huge Cheyenne and Arapaho

2:38 people. We also recognize the

2:39 48 contemporary tribal nations

2:40 that are historically tied to

2:42 the lands that make state of

2:44 Colorado. We honor Hauser's

2:47 past present and future. And

2:49 those have Stewart this land

2:52 generations. We also recognize

2:55 that government academic and

2:55 cultural institutions were

2:58 founded upon and continue to

3:02 enact racers and exclusions of

3:04 indigenous peoples. Maybe this

3:05 acknowledgment demonstrate a

3:06 commitment to working to

3:07 dismantle ongoing legacies

3:10 oppression and inequities and

3:12 recognize the current and

3:13 future contributions of

3:13 indigenous communities in

3:16 Denver.

3:22 Thank COUNCILMAN. Secretary

3:26 will come members the here

3:31 Gilmore from south to get in.

3:41 I'm ce here but it's What's

3:46 wasn't on the members present

3:47 and team members present

3:51 council has car approval of

3:51 the minutes. There any

3:52 corrections to the minute to

3:57 generate tips? Seen The

4:01 minutes approved council

4:02 council announcement this

4:02 announcement there. Any

4:08 afternoon. Councilmember can

4:13 tell us could get isn't just

4:14 thank you so much PRESIDENT We

4:15 have an item on consent today

4:16 and it is a proclamation. It's

4:18 proclamation on consent.

4:21 And it's recognizing Zara

4:23 Levy for her work in public

4:25 service during her time at the

4:26 Denver City Council office of

4:28 COUNCILMAN Gonzales could get

4:32 as and so I just wanted to

4:32 recognize new czar. I was here

4:33 in the room. Thank you so much

4:36 for your work over the years.

4:37 I'm sorry. He's been with me

4:38 since 2022. When I was in the

4:42 state legislature and she very

4:45 kindly followed me across the

4:45 park, had and continue to work

4:47 and learn all of the city

4:48 systems and continued the

4:52 passion that she brought to,

4:53 you know, working on tenant

4:55 protection issues. She was one

4:56 of the driving forces in our

4:59 office to make sure that we

4:59 were fighting that temporary

5:02 rental and utility assistance

5:02 funds. And I'm really, really

5:07 proud of her. And she's going

5:09 to running the local chapter

5:11 for Colorado for local

5:14 progress, which is a great

5:15 national organization. And

5:18 that helps support local

5:19 elected officials. You know

5:20 where everything from the city

5:22 council to county

5:24 commissioners to school board

5:26 members. And so I'm an even

5:28 mayors. So I'm really excited

5:30 to see her take this next And

5:33 I you the best and know that

5:34 she's actually not going to be

5:37 that far away from And many of

5:38 us will still be able to get

5:39 to interact with herself.

5:40 Thank you. And congratulations

5:55 are. Except COUNCILMAN Up the

5:56 district 7 is hosting a

5:58 wellness Wednesday this

6:00 Wednesday.

6:01 JANUARY 14th, the Alchemy,

6:03 creative work space Grieve,

6:04 Free Expo kickoff designed to

6:07 help you kick off

6:07 Twenty-twenty 6 health calls

6:10 enough. I'm supportive

6:12 environment. Stop by to meet

6:12 local wellness professionals.

6:16 Enjoy complimentary 6 snacks

6:17 and some and connect with

6:18 experts dedicating to

6:19 supported mental and overall

6:22 well-being. We sure to pick up

6:25 your look. Love local map and

6:26 get your first am towards

6:27 getting some prizes. Wellness

6:31 and fitness expo. Coming take

6:33 a first step in your wellness

6:34 journey. Also to follow up on

6:37 this on JANUARY, 17th, 18017th

6:39 and 19 is what we will be

6:41 having our wellness and

6:41 fitness. Actual expo to

6:44 explore local wellness and

6:45 fitness businesses. Trainers,

6:47 they're up his tour engines.

6:48 Take classes and discover

6:49 supportive resources to help

6:51 you reach your health goals.

6:52 You can register. Now, check

6:52 out our social media at

6:55 Denver's Lucky District. 7

6:56 Instagram page. We have

6:59 everything on there. This is a

6:59 follow-up to a very successful

7:00 event specifically to well as

7:02 in West West Park last year

7:03 and now we're expanding it

7:04 through all district 7 because

7:05 it was successful. Thank you

7:10 so much. Council PRESIDENT

7:11 Thank you. MADAM PRESIDENT, I

7:13 have to update and they're all

7:15 about golf. So the first one

7:17 is Kennedy. Golf course is

7:21 going to a new clubhouse. And

7:23 so there's a survey It is on

7:24 my website. It's the Gulf

7:27 website and to be able to this

7:29 into action and get more

7:30 community input. This has been

7:33 a long time in the making. So

7:34 please fill it out. Would love

7:36 to have your input. And then

7:37 the second is the golf course

7:41 is turning 100 this year and

7:42 we are excited to have this be

7:45 part of the 2. 51, 50

7:45 celebration of of our state

7:49 and of our country. But the

7:52 Welsh or 100 on JUNE 5th. I'll

7:52 be making a lot of

7:53 announcements about it between

7:57 now and then but JUNE 5th for

7:59 going to have golf tournament

7:59 and it's a fun one. People are

8:00 asking how competitive if I

8:05 won. And it's on JUNE 5th.

8:07 That's a Friday and a

8:09 community celebration. From 5

8:11 to So we are also opening up

8:15 the Wilshire. The not all of

8:18 the golf course. But the

8:19 facility, the clubhouse and to

8:21 community to come. I learn

8:23 more about the history and

8:25 just celebrate an asset in our

8:27 community. So it's the last

8:27 100. Thank you. Thank you.

8:31 Comes from the

8:32 just wanted to remind

8:34 everyone that all JANUARY

8:35 long, we will be telling our

8:36 blood drive JANUARY's National

8:39 Blood Donor month. I gave led

8:44 them Friday afternoon and then

8:45 went home and took a giant

8:48 Napa. But it is really, really

8:49 important month. It's a really

8:49 important opportunity to help

8:53 support our neighbors. JANUARY

8:55 is national Blood donor month

8:56 because donations during the

8:56 holiday season are almost

8:59 nonexistent. And that means

9:00 and that there are a number of

9:01 people in our community who

9:03 are in need of blood

9:04 transfusions, who are at risk

9:06 of not being able to get that

9:09 Bledsoe. If you're interested,

9:10 please go check our website or

9:10 social media and sign-on up

9:13 like I did.

9:17 And it was very quick and

9:18 easy helped a number So would

9:19 really appreciate everyone

9:23 just giving. Thanks. Can or

9:24 what?

9:25 I think PRESIDENT Most

9:30 folks know me know that I a

9:32 music most of or shock at wide

9:35 range of music that I love.

9:37 And so when do a few moments

9:39 on tonight take a moment to

9:40 honor bought where music of

9:43 the Grateful Dead, which has

9:43 meant so much to so many

9:47 people in Denver, Grateful

9:49 Dead, reinvented Great

9:49 American songbook and their

9:54 music along deserves respect.

9:55 For over 60 years about we're

9:58 and grateful impact went

9:59 beyond music. The build a

10:01 community of debt had to

10:02 supporting one another. My

10:03 senior adviser, Dwight Clark

10:04 was somewhere hovering in the

10:06 found that community he has

10:10 seen. But we're for and 9

10:11 states and his love for the

10:15 dead spans 3 generations. On

10:16 behalf of everywhere and

10:20 folks, just love music. Want

10:23 to Bob Weir and the Grateful

10:24 Dead for 60 years of an task

10:25 music, community and family

10:26 because the music never

10:28 stopped PRESIDENT.

10:32 Thank Comes from a cash and

10:40 would you like to speak on

10:40 that end

10:42 thing I want thank

10:46 And I just wanted to. Take

10:47 a moment to acknowledge keep

10:50 order. And Renee good, who

10:51 lost their lives this at the

10:53 hands of I know community

10:54 members are concerned and are

10:55 looking at their leaders as to

10:58 what to you. And I know that

11:00 there were protests over the

11:01 And as I always say, to make

11:04 sure that that pressure and

11:05 that you all killed in the

11:06 streets translates into

11:10 pressure 2 U.S. Elected as to

11:11 encourage U.S. Air Force,

11:12 whatever is necessary for

11:13 policy change. You.

11:17 Thank you. Time to give out

11:20 shot or Technology services.

11:24 So last week we had to be hot

11:24 hard, wired, meaning green

11:28 cord into the ethernet.

11:29 They did arrest encrypted

11:31 the room with Wi-Fi, which we

11:34 do hear that buzzing noise as

11:35 much. So if you all have other

11:36 feedback and we are able to

11:39 add another role for have more

11:39 public comment.

11:43 It by pushing back. So

11:44 thank you all for your

11:44 patience and due diligence.

11:49 Well, we work. Having become

11:51 our Monday night facility for

11:54 the next foreseeable future.

11:55 And just want to remind

11:58 everyone that Monday is a

11:59 holiday. Mark the celebration

12:01 observance of Martin King Day.

12:03 So we move our meeting

12:05 everything else to the

12:06 following Tuesday. And with

12:10 there. Comments and the

12:10 council members in the queue

12:14 there, no presentations.

12:15 There. No pact nations.

12:17 There's one there. No

12:22 communications site. There is

12:23 one problem comes front lines.

12:27 Can you proclamations? 0, 0,

12:29 1, I just I thank you.

12:30 Country.

12:34 commission. 26 14 wrote and

12:36 one of 37 years of service to

12:40 the city and county of Denver.

12:41 Steve Elling ton started his

12:42 career with the city on

12:45 DECEMBER 5, 1988 as a junior

12:47 property tax auditor in the

12:49 assessment division and after

12:49 several promotions and

12:50 transfers between Department

12:52 of Finance divisions and

12:54 before the existence of

12:59 Department Finance or before

13:00 Over the next 19 years, he was

13:01 promoted in 2007 to the

13:05 position of city treasurer and

13:06 whereas in 2011, Steve was

13:07 tapped to lead the Motor

13:08 Vehicle division. In addition

13:10 to the Treasury Division.

13:12 Making these combined

13:14 divisions, the largest in the

13:14 Department Finance with the

13:17 responsibility of nothing

13:19 processing and auditing

13:20 approximately 70% of the

13:22 city's general fund revenue as

13:25 well as 1.2 billion dollars in

13:27 tax revenues for Denver.

13:29 Public schools. And whereas

13:31 Steve has many accolades in

13:32 this field, including serving

13:33 as a past PRESIDENT Of the

13:36 Colorado County Treasurer

13:37 Association chair or co-chair

13:39 of the association's

13:39 legislative Committee and

13:42 Continuing Education Committee

13:43 and chair of the Colorado

13:44 Municipal League Sales. Tax

13:47 administrator. Grew. And where

13:49 St was appointed in reappoint

13:52 2. Why the Colorado Municipal

13:53 the governor's office and the

13:55 Colorado General Assembly to

13:58 represent municipalities on

14:00 tax simplification and tax

14:01 policy task force multiple

14:07 times from 2017, 2024. Whereas

14:08 when the Treasury team members

14:09 were asked to provide feedback

14:15 on the characteristics truly

14:16 what your response is asked

14:17 the next city treasurer be

14:19 just like Steve for his

14:20 approachability. It's

14:22 genuinely care for team

14:23 members and he's calm in the

14:28 eye of the storm.

14:30 Where Steve is proven to be

14:31 timely response to city

14:32 council offices constituents

14:33 with concerns either having a

14:36 team member make direct

14:37 contact personally reaching

14:38 out to those button issues and

14:42 finding prompt resolution and

14:44 the stepped up to support all

14:45 of the Department Finance in

14:47 many ways, including through

14:48 the highs and lows of

14:50 challenging economic

14:52 conditions, including the

14:54 unprecedented pandemic, always

14:55 provided a steady hand at

15:01 reassuring smile and whereas

15:01 treasures renowned for

15:02 counting in their heads and

15:04 with their fingers before

15:06 eventually asking for help.

15:07 Rounding up in every

15:09 situation, even if rounding

15:09 sensible suggest downward and

15:10 her desire in the cool as

15:13 pocket protector in at the

15:15 treasure conferences effort,

15:16 putting statutes and

15:17 ordinances every conversation

15:20 in a cocktail party. Yeah. And

15:21 whereas Stephen, as white

15:23 Cameron need about a little

15:25 more time to continue their

15:27 quest to visit every craft

15:30 brewery in the state of

15:32 Colorado already visited other

15:36 440 in our now, therefore, be

15:38 proclaimed by the Denver City

15:39 Council Section that the

15:43 Denver City Council recognizes

15:43 Steve going to enforce 37

15:45 years of service to the people

15:47 Denver's graduates him on his

15:51 retirement in Section report

15:53 of the city and county of