Beyond the budget: the rest of Denver's Nov. 9 Council votes, from a lone no on Cherry Creek to Elati Village

The budget and the Alterra lease drew the attention at the Denver City Council's Nov. 9 meeting. The city has now posted the rest of the night's record. Most items passed 11-0 in group votes. Here is what else happened, from the Council's records (meeting).

Why it matters: these votes renew shelter space, set budgets for the business districts that tax property owners in their areas, and change zoning, often without debate.

Attendance. Stacie Gilmore was absent for every roll call. Kevin Flynn and Amanda Sandoval attended remotely, the record says. The 13th seat is vacant until the at-large special election is certified.

The one other split vote

Cherry Creek North. The 2027 operating plan and budget for the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District, 26-1589, was ordered published 10-1. Shontel Lewis voted no (roll call). It was the only one of 12 business improvement district budgets on the agenda to get its own roll call; the other 11, plus the Tourism Improvement District's budget, were approved together. The record doesn't say why Lewis voted no, and the meeting video wasn't on our site as of Wednesday.

Apart from the budget and the Alterra lease, both 8-3, it was the night's only vote that wasn't unanimous.

Homelessness

Elati Village renewed. A revocable license letting The Gathering Place run the micro-community at 1375 N. Elati St. in District 10, 26-1610, passed 11-0 (roll call). It costs the operator at most $20 and runs from about Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026. Our October story explains why both micro-community licenses expire at year's end.

Denver CARES. A $675,000 contract with Denver Health to renovate and expand the Denver CARES detox facility into a recovery and stabilization hub, 26-1512, passed final reading 11-0 (our story).

Two public hearings

Highland rezoning. The Council approved rezoning 3343, 3345 and 3351 N. Mariposa St. in District 1 from C-MX-5 and U-TU-B2 to U-RX-3, 26-1406, 11-0 after a hearing that began at 6:40 p.m. One person spoke for it and one against, the record says (our story).

Colfax Mayfair. A petition to add property to the Colfax Mayfair Business Improvement District, 26-1536, passed 11-0. Three people spoke in favor and none against.

First readings

These were ordered published and can come back for final votes:

• Speed cameras, 26-1435, after two delays (our story).
• Link and Pin Apartments bonds, up to $27 million in multifamily housing revenue bonds for an affordable rental building, 26-1605 (our story).
• Arts and Venues, a $7,670,500 supplemental appropriation, 26-1611.
• Board of Ethics, the mayor's nomination of Kirsten Decker through Dec. 1, 2029, 26-1548.
• DPS sustainability, $3.7 million more in an agreement with Denver Public Schools, 26-1410.
• Sun Valley Riverfront Park, $820,000 with the Denver Housing Authority for about 128 trees and a shade structure in District 3, 26-1582.
• Athmar Park, rezoning 515 W. Mississippi Ave. and neighboring parcels in District 7, 26-1578, with a required public hearing set for Dec. 7 (our story).

Contracts and appointments

Approved together: a $5,266,409 workforce contract with Eckerd Connects (26-1585), a $25 million construction services contract with FCI Constructors for the Denver Performing Arts Complex (26-1575), and 25 mayoral appointments, 14 to the Denver Latino Commission and 11 to the Mayor's Youth Commission.

Proclamations

The Council adopted three, all 11-0: National Family Caregivers Month, recognition of the city's contracted janitorial and security workers, and one honoring Dolores Huerta.

Filed

A Nov. 9 letter from Manager of Finance Nicole C. Doheny notified the Council that the city intends to issue an airport bond anticipation note of up to $500 million for projects in Denver International Airport's 2023-2027 capital plan, 26-1722. The ordinance authorizing it, 26-1633, went to the Mayor-Council meeting Nov. 10 (our earlier story).