City Council - Regular Meeting

Hey, Denver, it's time for the weekly general session of your Denver City Council. Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now.

Good afternoon and thank you for taking time to join us for the Denver City Council meeting. Today is Monday, August 31st, 2026. Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish. Sam or Jasmine, would you please introduce yourselves and let our viewers know how to enable translation on their devices?

Yes, of course. Thank you for having us. Hello, everyone. My name is Sam Guzman with the CLC joining you virtually through Zoom. And along with my colleague, Jasmine, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish. Please allow me a quick minute while I give instructions in Spanish on how to access interpretation. Buenas tardes a todos. Mi nombre es Samuel Guzman con la CLC. Y juntamente con mi colega, Jasmine, estaremos interpretando la reunión de hoy al español. Si se une con nosotros virtualmente a través de Zoom, busque en su pantalla un icono de globo que dice interpretación. Oprima ese botón y de ahí seleccione la opción de escuchar en español. Si se une con nosotros presencialmente y está ahorita en la cámara, por favor busque un asistente que le podrá dar audífonos para poder escuchar en español. Muchas gracias and thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, August 31st, 2026. Councilmembers, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Council Members, please join Council Member, Council Pro Tem Gonzalez Gutierrez as they lead us in the Denver City Council Land Acknowledgement.

The Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho peoples. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado. We honor elders past, present, and future, and those who have stewarded this land throughout generations. We also recognize that government, academic, and cultural institutions were founded upon and continue to enact exclusions and erasures of indigenous peoples. May this acknowledgement demonstrate a commitment to working to dismantle ongoing legacies of oppression and inequities and recognize the current and future contributions of indigenous communities in Denver.

Thank you. Madam Secretary, roll call.

Council Members Cashman. Lewis. Present. Alvarez. Here. Flynn.

Here. Gilmour. Here.

Gonzalez Gutierrez. Here. Hines. Here. Sandoval. Here. Sawyer. Here. Torres. Here. Watson. Here. Romero-Campbell.

Here.

Eleven members present.

There are 11 members present. Council has a quorum. Approval of the minutes. Are there any corrections to the minutes of August 24th? Seeing none, the minutes stand approved. Council announcements. Are there any announcements from council members? Let's go ahead and get started. Council member Lewis.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Um, so we have a beautiful proclamation on consent tonight for the celebration of agenda. This is 1 of my favorite events. It's a celebration of girls and women and to cry and to cry and diaspora this year. The celebration is next Sunday, September 6th and Monday, September 7th. So there will not be a council meeting to run this at that time. But I hope this year's event is as special as ever. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Council Member Sawyer.

Thank you, Madam President. Just wanted to remind the residents of District 5 that our community cleanup day is coming up. It's September 27th, which is a Sunday morning. So meet us at Montclair Rec Center at 8.30 a.m. You can grab breakfast and supplies and then head out to some of our district parks and some of our district bus stops, which we repaint during our community cleanup day. So come join us. You can sign up online. I have no idea what the sign up is, but you can find it on our website. social media. And then also just a reminder for District 5 residents, check your mailboxes. Our annual survey and mailer went out last week. This is where we ask you what you think of your community and what your biggest issues are. And that's how we go ahead and create our work plan for the following year. So please fill out that community survey. You can join us from now until December 31st to do that. So thanks so much. Thank you. Council Member Sandoval.

Thank you, Madam President. Just want to say a big thank you to my community who showed up on Friday. We had the movie in the park at Zuni Park on 52nd and Zuni. And it started out with a huge rainstorm that blew all these canopies across the park. And then all of a sudden there was a double rainbow that led to the north side because we were a pot of gold. Just joking. Everywhere was pot of gold. But it really did have a double rainbow. And just a huge shout out to my aide, Alessandra. She put her heart and soul into that. We had a resource fair. We had resource counselors. We had you name it. They were at our movie in the park. We also had the fire department. We had the... fire truck thing that you the smoke and it was the hit of the fire of the show all these kids and they were there until 10 o'clock at night teaching people how to go through a burning house what would happen how to get their families and then their families the kiddos were like hey mom and dad come and try out if do you know what happens if we have a fire in our home and So just want to say thank you to everyone who showed up, but really a huge shout out to my council aide, Alessandra. You did amazing, Alessandra. Also, I'd like to invite everybody in Northwest Denver. This Wednesday, we're having the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is having a community open house at Potenza Lodge. So like 38th and Shoshone, there's a lodge there. In my office, the biggest constituent complaint that we get is from the Department of Transportation, whether it's sidewalks, whether it's trash pickup, whether it's paving, all the things that fall under the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, it's your chance to come and meet them in person this Wednesday, September 2nd, from 5 to 7 at the Potenza Lodge. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Council Member Alvarez. Thank you, Council President. I wanted to share that we are continuing our book club, Reading the Constitution, this Wednesday, September 2nd, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Habitat for Humanity on Navajo and the Athmar Park neighborhood. We'll be having a discussion about amendments 10 through 14, so come down and join that conversation. I also wanted to share that District 7, along with a lot of our neighborhood organizations, is going to have an at-large candidate B forum on September 22nd at Bar 404 on South Broadway. You'll be able to hear from all the candidates running to serve the city at large for the B seat from 4 to 7 p.m. on September 22nd. You can follow our social media for more information on that. And then congratulate the Southwest Food Coalition is celebrating its one year anniversary and they'll be doing live cooking demos. They'll be free food distribution and lots of fun activities at the Westwood Community Center on Thursday, September 3rd from 5 to 7 p.m. Thank you, Council President. Thank you. Council Member Torres.

Thanks so much. Last Friday was an event that we'd been long planning with GDPHE, and that was our food summit. So a lot of our council members and aides were present. at tables to discuss with the organizations who directly provide food distribution and staff food pantries in our districts to find out what's working well, what's preventing them from doing work to their full potential and how can the city be a better partner. It was an incredible afternoon and I've already heard back from a lot of those providers. They loved being able to sit with council members and aides and talk about this issue and really discuss what is the food distribution network and system need. And it isn't always just money or food, frankly. Sometimes it is walk-in refrigerators. Sometimes it's trucks that can haul thousands of pounds of food. and they're relying on the good graces of volunteers a lot of the time and so really appreciate their willingness to give us their afternoon and my colleagues who were there. Thank you so much. It was a really wonderful afternoon. I do want to share we have a really fantastic event coming up this weekend. It is our glow up at Paco Sanchez Park. We were partners with Denver Police Department over a year ago on a CDOT grant called Safer Streets and we got $240,000 and we put it right into Paco Sanchez Park. And so we're finally unveiling the improved safety measures, the mural that was done in partnership with the Southwest Denver Coalition, and Gulch Cleanups with Extreme Community Makeover. So at 4 o'clock starts the resource fair. The mural unveiling's at 4.30. Three puppet shows between 5.30 and 7 o'clock. And then 7 o'clock is a movie in the park. So tons of reasons to come out and bring your family to Paco Sanchez Park. Thank you.

Thank you. Council Member Watson.

Thank you, Council President, and to Council Member Torres and the service providers and all the folks that put together the Food Summit. What an amazing opportunity to sit, listen, and to look at really what we should be doing together in the future. So thank you so much, Council Member Torres. I know that you've led that for many years, and I'm so happy for that to come to fruition, at least as first step. I want to remind community members that Data Center Working Group, we are still taking applications. Applications opened on August 21st. We'll close this Friday, September 4th. If you have not, if you are interested in being a part of the Working Group and have not filled out an application, you can reach out to my office at district9 at denvergov.org. We can provide you the link to that application. It takes just a few minutes to fill it out. But that application will close this Friday. We'll begin a process of identifying the working group members and host our first working group meeting in mid-October. So once again, if you need information on the working group and wanting to become a part of it and participate in the application, please reach out to my office and we will provide you that information. And hopefully we will have all the applications in by this Friday and begin our discussions mid-October. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. I just have a few announcements. Councilmember Torres, thank you for spearheading the Food Justice Summit. That was really remarkable and a great turnout and really rich conversation. Look forward to what happens next. I want to invite everyone to come to Eisenhower Park on September 19th. We're doing our South by Southeast summer concert series, and we will have the Denver Jazz Orchestra, food trucks, and also a resource fair of city agencies and nonprofits will be out there. It starts at 7, ends at—no, it doesn't start at 7. It starts at 4, ends at 7. You missed the whole thing. But come by. The TJ Orchestra is going to be, I believe, the opening act for the Denver Jazz Orchestra. So please join us on Saturday, September 19th. I think that's all we have. Okay, there are no presentations. There are no communications. There are three proclamations being read this afternoon. Council Members Alvarez and Torres, please read Proclamation 26-1269.

Thank you, Council President. Proclamation 26-1269, celebrating the 75th anniversary of Denver Fire Station 23. whereas the Denver Fire Department has proudly served the city and county of Denver since 1866, demonstrating exceptional courage, professionalism, and dedication while protecting lives, safeguarding property, and strengthening the resilience of our communities. And, whereas, Denver Fire Station 23 was established on September 1, 1951 at 850 South Federal following the annexation of the town of Westwood into the City and County of Denver, carrying forward a long-standing commitment to fire protection, emergency response, and public safety for the residents of Southwest Denver. And whereas for 75 years, the firefighters and emergency personnel assigned to Fire Station 23 have demonstrated unwavering dedication to public service, responding to emergencies, delivering critical life-saving care, safeguarding homes and businesses, and earning the trust and respect of generations of Denver residents. And, whereas, Station 23 has served as a cornerstone of Southwest Denver, which includes the neighborhoods of Westwood, Athmar Park, Ruby Hill, Harvey Park, and many more, standing as a symbol of safety, resilience, service, and neighborhood pride while supporting families, schools, businesses, and community organizations throughout Southwest Denver. And whereas through generations of service, Station 23 firefighters have embraced the station's iconic pink flamingo tradition, cultivating a lasting symbol of unity, resilience, and community connection that reflects the spirit of the station and the neighborhood it serves.

And whereas the firefighters of Station Whereas the firefighters of Station 23 have consistently embodied the mission of the Denver Fire Department through their dedication to service, courage in the face of adversity, and professionalism under the most demanding circumstances. And whereas the 75th Anniversary Open House United Residents former firefighters, community leaders, and families in celebrating the rich history of Station 23, honoring those who have faithfully served and acknowledging the firehouse's enduring impact on the neighborhoods it has protected for generations. And whereas the City and County of Denver proudly recognizes the generations of firefighters, officers, emergency responders, civilian personnel, retirees, and community members whose commitment, service, and support have shaped the enduring legacy and success of Station 23 throughout its 75-year history. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council that the Denver City Council hereby recognizes and celebrates the 75th anniversary of Denver Fire Station 23 and extend our deepest gratitude to the generations of firefighters and emergency responders who have served with honor, integrity, and bravery. We commend Station 23 for its enduring commitment to protecting the residents of Westwood-Athmar Park and Southwest Denver, and we join the community in celebrating this remarkable milestone while looking forward to many more years of service. and that the clerk and recorder of the City and County of Denver shall affix the seal of the City and County of Denver to this proclamation, and that a copy be transmitted to the Denver Fire Chief, Desmond Fulton, Station 23 Captains, John Chisholm, and Eric Toland.

Thank you. Councilmember Alvarez, your motion to adopt.

I move that Proclamation 26-1269 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded. Comments by members of Council. Councilmember Alvarez, we'll start with you.

Thank you so much, Council President. Thank you all for all of our firefighters that are here today. It was an honor to attend and witness the 75th anniversary celebration and get to meet so many firefighters that have served in different generational capacities and to see the integrity that you all show up with every day. You can see it in every corner of the firehouse. I think that you all, even the symbol of the flamingo, trying to count all the flamingos in the station is a fun activity. But seeing you all hang out outside on federal on the weekends and connect with community is what really... Makes you stand apart. I think the energy that you have and the space that you hold with such integrity in Fire Station 23 is remarkable and the culture spills over into the community So I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you so much for all the work that you do every day and Not always get thanks for it and sometimes probably get yelled at and have to deal with difficult situations I've gotten the opportunity to ride on the engine a time or two to very difficult situations. And so thank you all for the legacy that you are continuing for 75 years of having one of the best firehouses in the city right in southwest Denver, which doesn't have a lot of resources, but at least we have one of the best fire stations. And a special thank you to Captain Chisholm and Captain Toland for their dedication to continuing that work. Thank you so much. Appreciate you. Thank you, Council President. Thank you. Council Member Torres.

Happy 75th birthday. What an incredible milestone and just really honored to be asked to co-sponsor this proclamation. Thank you, Ty, for working with us to get us to this point as well. And, you know, for the first, my first term We had Station 20 in District 3, and that was it. We've added District 6, but Station 23 is such a core part of who responds to calls in need in Westwood. Marlee, Barnum, Barnum West, and I just thank you all for the role that you play there. And it can't be easy with a fire station on Federal Boulevard. It's got to be really tough getting where you need to go and seeing what you see every day on that highway, basically. Thank you all so much.

Madam Secretary, roll call.

Council Members Lewis?

Aye.

Alvidrez? Aye. Flynn? Aye. Gilmour? Aye. Gonzalez Gutierrez? Aye. Hines? Aye. Sandoval? Aye. Sawyer? Aye. Torres? Aye. Watson? Aye. Madam President Romero-Campbell?

Aye. Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results. 11 ayes. 11 ayes. Proclamation 26-1269 has been adopted. We have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance. Council members, who would you like to invite up to accept the proclamation?

I would start. One thing I want to acknowledge is that Anita Banuelos, the co-president of Athmar Park, is the person who asked for this proclamation, so thank you to her. And then I would like to invite both captains up as well as Chief Fulton to accept the proclamation.

Council members, Desmond Fulton, Chief of Denver Fire. Thank you so much. This moment is about these incredible firefighters behind me here. And as you've spoken to, we celebrated 160 years of excellence within the Denver Fire Department in 75 years of station 23. And the one thing that I would really like to point out is not only the fact that these are one of the busiest truck companies and engine companies in our city, not only do they go to more structure fires and save more people than any other company in the city, but the thing I think is near and dear to all of us is the way they not only approach each day with pride and professionalism, They make us all proud because they are truly a part of the community. And it makes me so proud to know that they realize that they're part of the neighborhoods that they serve and that they really go above and beyond each and every day. There's a quote I like to borrow from a very famous football coach whose name is on a trophy, Coach Lombardi. And his quote is, you cannot, perfection is not attainable, but if you chase perfection, you can catch excellence. And these men that are sitting here today approach every day with excellence, and I would just like to thank them from the bottom of my heart as the Chief of the Denver Fire Department for what they do for all of us as citizens each and every day. And with that, I will turn it over to our two amazing captains.

Well, first of all, thank you very much for the opportunity to be here and say something in this building. First time for me being in here. I was mentioning to Chai as we were walking in. I was born and raised in Denver, and it's pretty neat to come full circle to be able to be here. Especially neat to talk about working at a place like Station 23. I've had the opportunity to host a couple of you there, and I know we had some good conversations at good times. It's really unique as we think about a building in a community. We've all seen the firehouses around the city, or some of them maybe stand up, some of us maybe remember some of those buildings, but what really matters more than just the brick, the mortar, the fire trucks that go in and out is the people that work there, the firefighters that go to those calls day in and day out. Just a couple numbers I wanted to throw out as I thought about something to speak on is our fires tend to be going down across the nation, but the incidents at which the civilians are dying are going up, and it's an unfortunate number. Just up until August, there's been over 1,200 fire fatalities and fires around the nation. And that's important to note because it's not something that we really talk about or is in the news a whole lot. Most people that I talk to, including my own family, says, well, what do you guys really do? Well, I'll tell you, we train a lot. We prepare a lot. We do a lot of stuff that's kind of behind the scenes in the city. And I think that's one of the most unique things about what we get to do is we're just there. We're always there 24-7. And another number is that just up until March 1st, There's been almost 900 saves in fires across the nation, which that's just through March. So our firefighters are out there. We're doing really good stuff. And I want everybody to just hopefully remember that. Next time you look at a fire station or you see a rig driving by, you can wave and know how much we appreciate everything that you do for us. So with that, I'll leave a couple of seconds for...

Council, I just want to thank you for the recognition, for coming to our event a couple months ago. It was truly an honor for us to host. It was truly an honor to look around that room and see the firefighters that have served our community and have set the tone. One thing that I just want everybody to know is we, all of us, just have such great honor, and it's truly a joy for us to serve the community in southwest Denver. I can't tell you that that's at every firehouse, but what I can tell you is at Fire Station 23, every member at that firehouse has asked to be a part of that firehouse. They go there knowing that they're going to be busy, knowing that they're going to have to work hard. And so we are fortunate. I'm truly blessed to work in a firehouse and to be a part of this group of people who just want to come and do the best that we can to serve the citizens of Denver, to serve the people that call us and the people that are most in need or in their most vulnerable states. So thank you for the opportunity. Thank you for the recognition. And please understand that it is truly our joy to serve the communities. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

So we're going to take a minute in between that will allow you to go out and take a picture. And then I believe we have some people in the overflow room. So we're going to do some moving and shifting around to allow those people to enter the chambers. So please hold. Okay, it looks like we got people in and out. I think we're going to go ahead and continue. Oh, are we waiting for two more to come back? Are they going to help read? Torres is going to help read. Okay. Council members, council members, sponsors, please read Proclamation 26-1272.

Proclamation 26-1272, recognizing International Overdose Grief Day. Whereas Overdose Grief Day, formerly known as Overdose Awareness Day, is recognized around the world as an occasion to acknowledge those who have experienced an overdose, as well as loved ones who have been affected and... Whereas, each year, a record number of deaths are being reported, driven predominantly by the use of fentanyl, methamphetamine, in combination with other drugs, and an unregulated drug supply. And...

Whereas, thousands of people continue to die every year in the United States of preventable overdoses, with 2025 bringing an increase in drug-related deaths of 563 to our Denver friends. And...

Whereas overdose continues to be the leading cause of death of Denver's unhoused friends. And whereas over the last 55 years plus, years of the racist and classist war on drugs, drug overdose deaths have increased significantly in many parts of the world, including Denver, Colorado, and continue to worsen and...

whereas Overdose Grief Day denounces the criminalization and incarceration of people who use drugs, and whereas Overdose Grief Day hopes to publicly challenge the stigma associated with drug use and overdose, and whereas this day spreads the message that tragedy of overdose death is preventable and empowers people to work together to prevent overdose as a community by prioritizing harm reduction initiatives

such as naloxone, fentanyl testing strips, syringe pipe access programs, and drug checking, and, whereas, Overdose Grief Day provides an opportunity for people to publicly mourn for loved ones, some for the very first time, without the feelings of guilt or shame. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council, Section 1, that the Denver City Council proclaim August 31st as Denver Overdose Grief Day. Section 2, that the clerk and recorder of the City and County of Denver shall affix the seal of the City and County of Denver to this proclamation and that a copy be transmitted to Lisa Rayville of the Harm Reduction Action Center.

Thank you. Council Pro Tem Gonzalez Gutierrez, your motion to adopt.

I move that Proclamation 26-1272 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded. Comments by members of Council. Council Member, Council Pro Tem Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Thank you, Madam President. I do want to thank the community partners and advocates who took the lead on this proclamation. And more than that, I want to recognize the unwavering love and dedication that you all have shown to folks who do use drugs in our community. In the face of overwhelming stigma and misunderstanding, you all show up time and time again to educate and guide us into an honest view of the drug addiction crisis. I want to also recognize there were some other council members who joined us on this proclamation that aren't in the chambers with us right now. Councilman Cashman, Councilwoman Lewis also joined us, and Councilwoman Torres who was running in from her other one. And I do want to thank them as well for being part of this effort. I also want to make sure I thank our own Department of Public Health, the work that they do. For 25 years, this day has brought people together to remember those we've lost and commit to action. Drug overdoses continue to impact people in our communities in immeasurable ways. Every life lost is a tragedy that ripples through the people who knew and loved them. And so I want to acknowledge the pain I'm sure many of us, if not all of us in this room, hold from the memories of those we've lost to overdose. And I just want to ask how many people here have a loved one that is either dealing with this disease or they've lost someone to this disease?

Thank you.

I wanted to highlight a few of the known principles that this day focuses on as we consider what actions our city can and must undertake. First, overdose can and must be prevented. We have known solutions to prevent overdose, but we lack the political will to put them into action. One such example that this body has shown broad support of in the past is the use of overdose prevention centers. OPCs are a solution that will truly reduce public drug use, reduce public overdose deaths, and increase public safety. These are proven strategies. These are issues that we hear about consistently from our constituents, and we have a tool that will meet those concerns directly, yet we have not taken the opportunity to utilize them. By allowing stigma and misinformation to dictate our policy approaches, we will continue to see needless loss of lives and public safety impacts. Secondly, criminalizing drug use has not worked. The war on drugs began in 1971 when President Nixon declared drug abuse public enemy number one. This kicked off decades of aggressive enforcement, harsher penalties, and an explosion in mass incarceration. Mass incarceration has not solved the issue of drugs in our communities, and it has not stopped the overdose crisis. Instead, overdoses have risen dramatically since the 70s, and mass incarceration has cost our communities immeasurably. I'm concerned about some recent partnerships that are happening between the City of Denver and the DEA, the Drug Enforcement Agency, on an alarming enforcement escalation that is now underway. Efforts like this only serve to increase fear, push those impacted into the shadows and away from support, disproportionately endangering people of color and ultimately increasing overdose deaths. This is a huge concern. Federal law enforcement has been explicitly directed to also participate in immigration enforcement actions. And so I want to be very clear. This information is public and known that this partnership is happening. These efforts are not to be just put away in a folder somewhere. We need to make sure that this is known, and it is very concerning, and we are hearing from our members in the immigrant community that they are concerned about this partnership. Again, the tools exist, yet we continue to allow, as many of us talk about up here, is the retail politics to prevent us from being able to utilize all of those tools before us. such as expanding syringe access programs by allowing more to exist in the city or eliminating requirements that are archaic, to allowing an overdose prevention center to operate in Denver so we can actually save lives and help people access treatment and resources. Thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank everyone that has showed up. I know there are some actions taking place outside, and so I appreciate those of you that were able to remain in the chamber. Thank you. Thank you. Council Member Gilmour.

Thank you, Council President, and thank you, Council Pro Tem Gonzalez Gutierrez. I really want to acknowledge the families and the loved ones who are left behind when someone overdoses. It's not the first time, and that's a normal part of recovery that we don't talk about a lot, that nobody goes to rehab, gets clean, and then is clean forever. Maybe I would say a very, very small percentage. The majority of folks, because we're human and we're fallible and life and stress hits us, is that... Relapse happens, but we don't talk about how much a fatal overdose is more percentage-wise going to happen after a stint in rehab. And so there's this double-edged sword of where you get treatment, but then... you might have an episode or something that happens that either overdose lands you in the hospital or an overdose unfortunately takes your life and that does not get talked about enough and so then when people think about people who have addictions and an overdose happens There's the stigma and the shame that goes along with it that is very, very difficult for folks to work on their recovery, to share their stories, et cetera. And so what I'm asking is, one, give the support and the love to community and community. Do not be the person when someone shares that their loved one passed away and they tell you how and they entrust you with that, that you then load on all of your issues with that. It's the same as if someone has cancer or someone has another disease, and it should be honored and treated in that way. And the more that, again, we talk about that, the more normalized it is, so then people can get the care. And Lisa and her group around having sharps containers, normalizing that people need a safe place to go And even if you get into a 30 or 45 or 60 day rehab, you don't have anywhere to go after that. And so then the harm reduction sites become those safe spaces because we don't have sober houses throughout our city. We do not talk about that nor support it. And so Lisa and harm reduction creates that space. And just wanted to share that because so many times people don't say anything or just brush it away. And that is not honoring your loved ones. That is not contributing to the healing that we really need to look at and to have. Thank you for my colleagues sponsoring this proclamation and for the work that all of you do day in and day out to make sure that people are protected. Thank you, Council President.

Thank you. Council Member Hines.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to talk about two things. First, some numbers. Not every council member is okay with numbers at the dais, but I'm going to give it a try. And second, about reputation. numbers. The 563 Denverites we lost last year weren't lost evenly. March and May each saw 63 drug-related deaths, the highest monthly totals the city has ever recorded. That's two people a day for two months straight. And Denver is moving against the national trend. Overdose deaths fell across the country in 2025, but in Colorado they rose. Preliminary data shows more than 1,813 statewide, up from 1,640 the year before. Here's the part I want people at home to hear. Naloxone is free. Our health department will mail it to your door along with fentanyl test strips at no cost. It's in our libraries. It's in more than 470 pharmacies across Colorado. No prescription needed. And if the box in your drawer is expired and you need to use it, use it anyway. It still works and Colorado law protects you. 563 people, every one preventable. That's numbers. Second, reputation. It's not every day that we have an executive director of a public benefit that is a role model that I consistently compliment, that I consistently talk to other public benefit organizations and say, you should be like Lisa Rayville of the Harm Reduction Action Center. And so I want to thank all of those who are here for the proclamation. Ms. Rayville, you are the reason We're here today. You're the reason why so many people are alive today. And if we could have more public benefit entities in our city that had your leadership, we'd be a far better city. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. And thank you, Council Members, for bringing this forward today. Madam Secretary, roll call.

Council Members Lewis.

Aye.

Alvidrez? Aye. Flynn? Aye. Gilmour? Aye. Gonzalez Gutierrez? Aye. Hines? Aye. Sandoval? Aye. Sawyer? Aye. Torres? Aye. Watson?

Aye.

Madam President Romero-Campbell?

Aye. Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

Eleven ayes.

Eleven ayes. Proclamation 26-1272 has been adopted. We have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance. Councilmembers, who would you like to invite up to accept this proclamation?

Thank you, Council President. I'd like to invite up Lisa Rayville from the Harm Reduction Action Center.

Lisa Rayville, Executive Director of Harm Reduction Action Center, Colorado's largest public health agency that works specifically with people who inject drugs and people who smoke drugs such as crack, meth, and fentanyl. I'm sorry. You often see me work in the corner at 8th and Lincoln. We've been there for the last six and a half years. We've been an agency right here in Denver for the last 24 years. On behalf of the Harm Reduction Action Center and the community that we serve, thank you so much for this proclamation and the unanimous support of City Council. We are so appreciative. I know it's a tough day for almost everybody here, but especially many folks in the room. And if anyone gets it, we get it. For 25 years, International Overdose Grief Day has brought people together to remember those that we've lost. Formerly known to us as Overdose Awareness Day, we don't call it that anymore because people are aware. We call it what is a day of grief for folks that we have lost to preventable overdoses because it doesn't have to be like this. Over the past few years our overdoses have skyrocketed in Denver. Last year we lost 563 folks, 563 friends right here in Denver. March and May were incredibly problematic with 63 drug-related deaths, the most we've ever had in one month. The year before that was 483. The year before that was our most ever at 598. I don't want to get to 563 anymore and I don't want to get to 598 ever again. Overdose continues to be the leading cause of death of our unhoused neighbors and has been for the last seven years. It is to be noted that construction workers are dying at very high rates of overdose right here in Denver and also in the state of Colorado. I don't need to tell this Council that people we know, love and serve are dying, and they're dying publicly. Outside, in alleys, in parks and in business bathrooms. And we continue to get a thoughts and prayers kind of vibe around that. There are evidence-based, data-backed interventions we can be pushing forward with to reduce public drug use, reduce public overdose deaths and promote public safety. And here we are today in the 2026 with stigma, shame, and incarceration being the policy choices. We were incredibly concerned when last week we saw that the mayor has rolled out with the Denver Police Department and the DEA to target drug users for the next eight weeks right here in Denver, trying to do 100 operations per week for the next eight weeks. This will create barriers to calling 911 for an overdose emergency. This makes the drug supply more toxic and more volatile. It's called the iron law prohibition. The harder the enforcement, the more potent the drug. Lather, rinse, repeat. It's going to be like this for the rest of our lives if we don't do something about that. It drives use underground or it makes it truly dangerous. It pushes people away from care. It pushes my boo bears away from us, which is not where I want our boo bears to be. And it only serves to increase overdose deaths. And I want to be really clear, we will never treatment or incarcerate our way out of an unregulated drug supply. We just simply won't. As my colleagues across the country shout from the rooftops, laws that increase overdose risk are not a way to honor those we have lost to an overdose. And we wholeheartedly agree. I hope we are all able to come together and get on the same side to reduce overdose deaths. That's what I thought we all wanted in the city, was to reduce overdose deaths. Some of us are doing it differently. Because quite frankly, people's lives are counting on us. Grief is all I have left of you, so yes, I do hold on to it. Thank you.

Councilmember Torres, please read Proclamation 26-1193.

Thank you, Madam President. Proclamation 26-1193, a proclamation regarding proposed changes to federal historic preservation regulations. Whereas for nearly 60 years, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act has required federal agencies to identify historic places, weigh the effects of their projects, and consult with state and local governments, tribes, and the public before moving forward, not to stop projects, but to give those who know a place best a voice in what happens to it. And whereas, the City and County of Denver is a certified local government under this framework, with a formal seat at the table in reviewing federally connected projects that affect its historic resources. And for more than 50 years, Historic Denver has served as a trusted community steward and advocate, often working with the city and its residents to protect the places, stories, and communities that matter to Denver. and whereas the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation voted on July 24, 2026 to advance a sweeping rewrite of the Section 106 regulations, making public participation optional and reduce consultation with state, tribal, and local governments to a formality rather than a path to agreement. And whereas this rewrite also reduces certified local governments such as Denver to optional invitees, exempts many federal funded projects from review, narrows what counts as historic property, and lets federal agencies decide whether their own projects cause harm. And whereas Denver has lived through the consequences of this approach before, such as when 1960's Skyline Urban Renewal Project cleared 27 blocks of downtown, when federal HUD funds cleared most of Auraria, Denver's oldest neighborhood, and when Interstate 70 severed Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea. leaving damage still being repaired six decades later. And whereas those losses occurred before Section 106 had real force and stand in contrast to what's possible when the process works, as shown by Denver's Union Station, where a Section 106 review preserved the Great Hall, original ironwork and staircases inside a modern transit hub. And whereas in response to this threat, Historic Denver has worked to inform and mobilize residents just as it has long fought to protect the places under threat closer to home. And whereas historic preservation has long been a bipartisan urban and rural value shared by the people of Denver and Colorado, rooted in the question of who gets a say in the places where we live, work, and gather. And whereas the communities most affected, residents, tribes, and local governments who know a place best are precisely the voices this rewrite would cut out of the conversation. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council that the Denver City Council expresses its strong opposition to the proposed revisions to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, urges the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to withdraw or substantially revise the proposal, and encourages residents and preservation partners to make their voices heard during the public comment period. and that the clerk and recorder of the City and County of Denver shall affix the seal of the City and County of Denver to this proclamation and that a copy be transmitted to historic Denver.

Thank you, Councilmember Torres. Your motion to adopt.

I move that Proclamation 26-1193 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded. Comments by members of council. Council member Torres.

Thank you so much. I appreciate my colleagues' support in this proclamation and just want to thank my constituent who brought it to my attention, Historic Denver. I want to thank John Deffenbaugh and Jay. Thank you so much for your partnership in this, Jay Olmsted, and your partnership in preparing this proclamation and our landmark Thank you all so much for flagging this, being involved, and trying to influence where we can. I want to just share a couple quotes I mentioned this during committee and I'll repeat it here. The Colorado Sun did a great profile of this proposal, these changes, what they would impact and said that consultation with organizations and officials charged with protecting cultural landmarks, against damage from projects permitted or funded by the federal government from infrastructure to energy and many things in between would become discretionary. Decision-making power would reside almost solely with the federal agencies. I think we do this proclamation not just for Denver but for our whole state. And Dawn DePrince from Historic Colorado mentioned Whether you live in an urban or rural community, local decision making, including local voices, is a core Colorado value. Yet the clearest objective of these revisions is to weaken opportunities for public input and what history we preserve and what impacts our communities. Sand Creek wouldn't be what it is today without the consultation process with the tribes. This removes those protections and those obligations to tribal voices.

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. Council Member Sandoval.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Torres, for bringing this forward. I got comments from several of my constituents asking me to support this proclamation, and one of them sent me an article, and within the article, It says section 106 is the real core of the National Historic Preservation Act because it protects sites and buildings whether they have official historic designation or not. It also at its best mandates, let me repeat that, mandates public engagement. That's what we're here for. We're supposed to be part of the public engagement. That's the essence of 106. said preservationist Michael Allen, it can be a tool that brings non-experts, which I understood, and experts to the same table to consider what's preserving. And isn't that what democracy is all about, is bringing non-experts and experts to a table so that we can have a conversation together? So thank you, Councilwoman, for bringing this. I have several historic experiences cultural centers, and individual landmarks in my council district. And I'll just say on the record, I feel like this is a betrayal to Section 106 and all of the work that I've done over the years working on historic preservation in community, with my community, not solo. This is me working with my community. So I appreciate this effort and will be monitoring this closely. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, and thank you, Councilmembers, for bringing this forward.

Madam Secretary, roll call. Councilmember Lewis? Aye. Alvidrez? Aye. Flynn? Aye. Gilmour? Aye. Gonzalez-Cutilleras? Aye. Hines? Aye. Louis, sorry, Sandoval? Aye. Sawyer? Aye. Torres? Aye. Watson? Aye. Madam President Romero-Campbell? Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results. Ten ayes. Ten ayes. Proclamation 26-1273 has been adopted. We have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance. Councilmember Torres, would you like, who would you like to bring up to accept this proclamation?

Thank you so much. I'd love for our friends at Historic Denver to come on up to the podium, John and Jay.

Thank you very much, Councilwoman Torres and the full council. We're living through a moment in time when hard fought protections people assumed were permanent are being threatened or stripped away. This is another one of them. It may not make headlines the way that other rollbacks have, but it matters just as much to the people who will feel it, all of us. This isn't just an urban issue or a rural one. Wherever you call home, you should have a say in the decisions that could change it forever. The whole premise of Section 106 is that the communities affected by federal projects get to be part of the conversation before decisions are made, not after. What's being proposed at the federal level would make that conversation optional. And once a community loses its seat at the table, it is very hard to get it back. By the time you realize it, what's been lost, it's already too late. For Denver, we've already seen the consequences when communities haven't had that voice. Just as Councilwoman Torres mentioned, during urban renewal, 27 blocks of downtown demolished. Auraria, an entire thriving neighborhood displaced. When I-70 was built through Globeville, Elyria, and the Swansea neighborhoods, neighbors were separated from one another and from the core of the city. Denver is still changing today, and federal investment in some form will continue to be part of that. We can't afford to make those same mistakes again. This proclamation is Denver saying it wants to keep its seat at the table. So on behalf of Historic Denver, thank you for saying so clearly and on the record. And thank you for standing up for the idea that the people who know a place best should have a voice in its future.

Thanks, Jay. Thank you, Councilwoman Torres. Thank you, Denver City Council, for recognizing this issue. Historic Denver, we are a history organization. But somewhat counterintuitively, we use that history to look to the future. Historic Denver's mission is to save the past to shape the future. But this plan takes the legislation back to where it came from. It eradicates the voice of communities, it eradicates historic Denver's voice, and it eradicates your voice. None of us would be consulted on key projects affecting our city. It's also no surprise that I-25 is about 30 miles longer than it needs to be because it was plowed through communities of color. It's no surprise that our higher education campus sits on a traditionally Asian and Latino part of the city because that decision was based on structural racism. Likewise for I-70 and likewise for the Skyline project downtown. So thank you so much for recognizing this issue. We will continue to keep you informed as it moves through the legislative process. And we really appreciate your support. Thank you so much.

Council Pro Tem Gonzales Gutierrez, we need a motion to suspend the rules of Council to allow for the introduction of a late filing.

I move that the rules of procedure be suspended to allow for the introduction of Council Resolution 261273. It has been moved and seconded.

Comments from members of council. I will comment first. The reason for the direct file is that the contract for the amendment that allows the Harm Reduction Action Center to use the current ARPA funds in the contract for operational expenses instead of a building purchase. The funds were originally earmarked for building purchase, but the Harm Reduction Action Center has been delayed because of challenges in finding a building that meets all the necessary requirements. With the deadline for spending, ARPA funding approaching quickly, we want to ensure that the Harm Reduction Action Center has enough time to spend down those funds fully and that the funding is not lost. Council Members? Just a reminder that we will need unanimous approval for this motion to pass which would allow for it which would allow for the late filing Madam secretary roll call Council member members Louis.

I I'll be that is hi Flynn. Hi Gilmore. Hi Gonzales Gutierrez. Hi Heinz Sandoval?

Aye.

Sawyer?

Aye.

Torres? Aye. Watson?

Aye.

Madam President Romero-Campbell?

Aye. Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results. Nine ayes. Nine ayes. Council Resolution 26-1273 may be introduced. Madam Secretary, please read the bills for introduction.

From the Community Planning and Housing Committee, 26-1185, a bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 3418 West 14th Avenue and 1371 North Julian Street in West Colfax. From the Finance and Business Committee, 26-1187, a bill for an ordinance amending ordinance number 400, series of 2008, as subsequently amended by ordinance number 1659, series of 2024. ordinance number 1208, series of 2025, ordinance number 1279, series of 2025, ordinance number 1427, series of 2025, ordinance number 1606, series of 2025, and ordinance number 2149, series of 2025, thereby amending the boundaries of Denver Downtown Development Authority. From the Governance and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, 26-1190, a bill for an ordinance amending the classification and pay plan for employees in the career service and for certain employees not in the career service. And from the Health and Safety Committee, 26-1186, a bill for an ordinance approving a proposed amendatory agreement between the City and County of Denver and Denver Health and Hospital Authority for the purpose of implementing the Denver Health sales tax, a 0.34% sales tax passed in November 2024 for the purpose of funding and supporting Denver Health in its provision of emergency and trauma care, primary medical care, mental health care, drug and alcohol use recovery, and pediatric care services located at 777 Bannock Street citywide.

Thank you. Councilmembers, this is your last opportunity to call out an item. Council Pro Tem Gonzalez Gutierrez, would you make the motions for us this evening?

Yes, Council President Romero-Campbell.

Now, I will do a recap. Under resolutions, Council Resolution 26-1268 has been called out for comments by Councilmember Lewis. Council Resolution 26-1176 has been called out for a postponement pursuant to Rule 3.6 by Councilmember Gilmour. Council Resolution 261069 has been called out for a vote by Councilmember Gilmour and Council Resolution 261180, 1181 and 1182 have been called out for comments by Councilmember Gilmour. Council Bill 26-1190 has been called out for postponement by a date certain by Council Pro Tem Gonzales Gutierrez. Under Bill's first final consideration, no items have been called out. Under pending, no items have been called out. Madam Secretary, please put the first item on our screens. Council Resolution 26-1268, a resolution authorizing and approving the expenditure of payment for the appropriation account designated liability claims in the sum of $125,000 and no cents, made payable to Salazar Law. Ooh, FBA, Tatiana Fingenblatt, did I say that right? Fingenblatt, in full payment and satisfaction of claims related to the Silva action, caption, Tatiana Fingenblatt, Velazquez versus City and County of Denver and Dominic Salinas, which was filed in the Denver District Court in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, in Colorado. Case number, oh geez, 2023, CV32901. Council Member Lewis, please go ahead with your comments on Council Resolution 26-1268.

Thank you. So after consistent feedback from my constituents, I see it as my responsibility to ensure that the public is aware of every tax dollar being approved as an expenditure and payment of funds for a settlement with the City and County of Denver. My office is tracking every dollar by department and has a running total. And with the approval of 26-1268 tonight, the City will approve settlements in the amount of 125,000 to settle cases brought against the Denver police department. The approval of these items tonight brings the 2026 total for taxpayer dollars and city settlements to 4117000 dollars. The funding is drawn from a liability claims pool of money. And does not come from agency specific budgets and this budget environment, especially we need to pay close attention to how the city spends our money and make sure these decisions accurately reflect the needs and investments we want to see in our community. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Secretary, please put the next item on our screen. Council Resolution 261180, a resolution approving a proposed First Amendment between the City and County of Denver and AECOM, Technical Services, Inc., for professional services to support 7th Runway Program Management operations at Denver International Airport. Council Resolution 261181, a resolution approving a proposed First Amendment between the City and County of Denver and HNTB Corporation for professional services to support seventh runway environmental analysis and documentation operations at Denver International Airport, and Council Resolution 261182, a resolution approving a proposed First Amendment between the City and County of Denver and Jacobs Engineering Group for professional services to support seventh runway design operations at Denver International Airport. Councilmember Gilmour, please go ahead with your comments on council resolutions 261180, 261181, and 261182.

Thank you, Council President. For my constituents, I wanted to bring this forward. I had mentioned at a meeting with... neighbors that the growth of the airport is something that I'm hearing a lot from folks about. And the additional runways that, especially the 7th runway, people are very concerned about the possible location of that and how that's going to affect the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood specifically, but also hearing from Our neighboring constituencies in Adams County and Arapahoe County as well with the growth of the airport and that seventh runway. And so wanted to call that out. So folks knew that this was coming through the agenda tonight. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Secretary, please put the next item on our screens. Council Resolution 261069, a resolution approving a proposed secondary second amendatory agreement between the City and County of Denver and Gilmore Construction Corporation for on-call general civil SBE construction services. Council Pro Tem Gonzales Gutierrez, would you please put Council Resolution 261069 on the floor for adoption? I move that Council Resolution 261069 be adopted. It has been moved and seconded. Questions and comments by members of Council on Council Resolution 261069. Council Member Gilmour. Thank you, Council.

Excuse me. Thank you, Council President. I'm going to be abstaining on this tonight. This is my brother-in-law's company, and per the ethics code in the City and County of Denver, I will be abstaining. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Secretary, roll call on Council Resolution 26-1069. Council Members Lewis?

Aye.

Alvidrez? Aye. Flynn? Aye. Gilmour? Abstain. Gonzalez-Gutierrez? Aye. Hines? Aye. Sandoval?

Aye.

Sawyer?

Aye.

Torres? Aye. Watson? Aye. Madam President Romero-Campbell?

Aye. Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results. Ten ayes. Ten ayes. Council Resolution 261069 has been adopted. Madam Secretary, please put the next item on our screens. Council Resolution 261176, a resolution approving a proposed amendatory agreement between the City and County of Denver and Mark Young Construction LLC to complete construction of the new office facility maintenance building and yard for the new DPR Northwest Facility at Cuernavaca Park in Council District 1. Councilmember Gilmour, what would you like to do with Council Resolution 26-1176?

Thank you, Madam President. I would like to postpone this for one week pursuant to Rule 3.6.

Okay. No motion is required. Council Resolution 26-1176 has been postponed to the next regular council meeting. Madam Secretary, please put the next item on our screens. Council Bill 26-1190, a bill for an ordinance amending the classification and pay plan for employees in the career service and for certain employees not in the career service. Council Pro Tem Gonzales Gutierrez, would you please put Council Bill 26-1190 on the floor for publication.

I move that Council Bill 26-1190 be ordered published.

It has been moved and seconded. Is there another motion on the floor? There is another motion on the floor, Council Pro Tem Gonzalez Gutierrez. What would you like to do with Council Bill 26-1190?

So I move that Council Bill 26-1190 be postponed to a date certain of Monday, September 14th, the next regular council meeting.

It has been moved and seconded. Questions and comments on the postponement of Council Bill 26-1190? Yes, Council Pro Tem Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Thank you, Madam President. I just wanted to, you know, I sent an email to my colleagues explaining the request for postponement. My office met with some of the employees that would be impacted by this change. And we also have a meeting set up with OHR as well so that we can continue to make sure that we're, you know, threading the needle as tight as possible here. and understanding the concerns on all ends. And so we just need a little bit of time to be able to round that out. So I ask for your support for this postponement. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Secretary, roll call on the postponement of Council Bill 26-1190.

Council Members Lewis? Aye. Alvarez? Aye. Flynn?

Aye.

Gilmour? Aye. Gonzalez-Gutierrez? Aye. Hines? Aye. Sandoval?

Aye.

Sawyer? Aye. Torres? Aye. Watson? Aye. Madam President Romero-Campbell? Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results. 11 ayes. 11 ayes. Council Bill 26-1190 has been postponed. This concludes all the items to be called out. All bills for introduction are ordered published. Council members, remember that this is a consent or block vote, and you will need to vote aye. Otherwise, this is your last chance to call out an item for a separate vote. Council Pro Tem Gonzalez Gutierrez, would you please put the resolutions and proclamations for adoption and the bills on final consideration for final passage on the floor?

I move that the resolutions and proclamations be adopted and bills on final consideration be placed upon final consideration and do pass in a block for the following items. Series of 26, 1271, 1273, 1189. 1184 1171 1191 1194 1268 1183 0830 1057 1058 1059 1060 1061 1062 1067 1068 1070 1071 1072 1073 1074 1173 1177 1178 1179 1180 1181 1182 1168 1161 1162 1228 1147 1163 1175.

It has been moved and seconded. Madam Secretary, roll call.

Council Members Lewis. Aye. Alvidrez. Aye. Flynn. Aye. Gilmour. Aye. Gonzalez-Gutierrez. Aye. Hines. Aye. Sandoval. Aye. Sawyer. Aye. Torres. Aye. Aye. Watson?

Aye.

Madam President Romero-Campbell? Aye. Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results. Eleven ayes. Eleven ayes. The resolutions and proclamations have been adopted, and the bills have been placed upon final consideration and do pass. If there are no objections from the members of Council, we will recess until 5.30 p.m. before convening the regular meeting. City Council will provide a half-hour general public comment session to hear from the public on city matters, except for any matter that is scheduled for a legal required public hearing. The general public comment session will begin at 5 p.m. Thank you. That concludes our general public comment session. If we did not get to you today, please join us next week or submit your comments in writing. The next session will be held on Monday, September 14th. Sign-up begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 3rd. We look forward to hearing from you again and thank you for attending. Council will now reconvene from our earlier session. There is no unfinished business from the earlier session. There are two proclamations being read this evening. Councilmember Flynn, please read Proclamation 26-1270. Thank you, Madam President.

Proclamation 26-1270, recognizing Childhood Cancer Month. Whereas childhood cancer is the number one disease-related killer of children and teenagers in the United States, a diagnosis of cancer at any age is disruptive to the lives of patients and their families. Worldwide, childhood cancer is on the rise. with an average of 17,293 children and teens between birth and 19 years of age diagnosed with cancer in America each year. And one in every 264 American children develops cancer before the age of 20. And whereas there have been key breakthroughs in cases of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and pediatric cancer care, There remain many types of childhood cancer with little hope for cure. The majority of children continue to receive chemotherapy drugs and treatment developed from the 1950s to the 1970s. A total of 34 drugs have been approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of childhood cancers. 28 of these drugs were originally approved only for adult use, and only six were approved in the first instance for use in cancer treatment for children. Childhood cancers and adult cancers are different, and yet we continue to use downsized adult cancer protocols on our kids. Treatment is intense and generally includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. and whereas there are currently more than 521,000 childhood cancer survivors in the United States. Children who survive the five years after a cancer diagnosis experience a 15 times higher risk of developing congestive heart failure and a seven-fold higher risk of premature death due to cardiac causes. Survivors are at increased risk for reoccurrence of the original cancer or of a secondary cancer. More than 95% of childhood cancer survivors will have a significant health-related issue by the time they are 45 years of age. These health-related issues are side effects of either the cancer or, more commonly, the result of its treatment. One-third of childhood cancer survivors will suffer severe and chronic side effects. One-third will suffer moderate to severe health problems. One-third will suffer slight to moderate side effect. And, whereas it is imperative that funding and research be continued so that children with cancer can benefit from additional cancer therapies and drugs that lead to greater number of cures. And whereas it is acknowledged that childhood cancer has a substantial impact on a family's socioeconomic situation, pediatric hospitalizations for cancer average 10 days longer and cost nearly five times as much as hospitalizations for other conditions. Nearly 75% of parents must cut work hours or leave jobs entirely to care for a sick child, causing major household income drops and potentially reducing benefits and insurance coverage. Travel to and lodging near treatment centers contribute to increased financial burdens. Families with private insurance, high deductibles, yearly insurance resets, and numerous copays absorb thousands of out-of-pocket dollars before full coverage kicks in. And whereas this month, the childhood cancer community pays tribute to the families, friends, healthcare professionals, and communities who lend their strength to children, adolescents, and young adults fighting childhood cancer, May their courage and experience move others to help pave the way for new cures and a brighter future for our children. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council, Section 1, that the Denver City Council recognizes the month of September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. And encourages all Colorado residents to affirm their commitment to fighting childhood cancer by donating time or funding into appropriate programs and activities to support the cause. Section two, that the clerk and recorder of the city and county of Denver shall affix the seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation. And that a copy be transmitted to the Contreras family on behalf of team Nathaniel. and Joan Slaughter on behalf of the Morgan Adams Foundation, and to both on behalf of the Pediatric and Adolescent Care Task Force of the Colorado Cancer Coalition.

Thank you, Councilmember Flynn. Your motion to adopt.

I move that Proclamation 26-1270 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded. Comments by members of Council. Council Member Flynn.

Thank you, Madam President. I'm in my final year up here, and this is the final year that I will look out and see Rita Contreras. And I will always remember, even after I'm gone, I will remember Nathaniel here 10 years ago or 11 years ago, I think it was, 11 years ago. I will always remember seeing him at that microphone and the courage and the forthright and, frankly, great delivery that he gave. And I could not believe that he passed away so soon afterward. I'll remember that long after I'm gone from here. This is my last year also being up here to say the name up here of my brother, Dennis Flynn, who died at the age of 15, 62 years ago, in 1964, of a cancer that wasn't very curable or treatable at the time, but which has a pretty substantial survival rate today. He and my mom and dad and I, well, they're gone now too, and his four surviving brothers, one of whom has since passed away, thought of Dennis every day and the brave struggle that he put up for over a year. And so I just wanted to say his name again for the last time before Channel 8. I want to urge that the federal government reinstate funds for childhood cancer research that have been reduced because this is an area that is so very important to invest our efforts, our funding, our science, the minds of the people working on this day in and day out. We need to give them the tools and the backing to try to increase year by year and decade by decade their survival rate for these children. Thank you very much, Madam President.

Condolences to the families. 11 years is 11 years too long. Just want to say a shout out to my neighbor and my constituent. I have a doctor who is a doctor of oncology for childhood cancer. and I got to hang out with him last Tuesday and he's always a ray of sunshine and he actually helped my son's best friend who had childhood cancer and we didn't know it until just recently we were talking to my son and we were talking about his friend Vincent and we were talking to Dr. John and Dr. John said that's my patient and my son only knows Dr. John as our neighbor Dr. John and he didn't know that he helped save one of his best friend's life, Vincent. So to all of the families, but then also to their caretakers and to all the doctors who are out there fighting and doing more with less resources, we have to show up and vote in November so that we can make sure that they're getting the resources that they need. Because when I was talking to Dr. John this past Tuesday, the amount... of loss that he's had in federal funding that has resulted in him not being able to have research done and him not being able even to say, I need another MRI, I need another CAT scan, they're being denied currently, right now. And so how are we even supposed to participate when you can't even get your basic services needed fulfilled? So to all of those doctors out there who are a ray of sunshine to families, and who are there with their families, just want to give a shout out to, and specifically Dr. John, who I've just known for a really long time and is a really dear friend of mine. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Flynn, for bringing this forward and always being such a champion and bringing this topic to the forefront. I would just also like to acknowledge the Palmer family Leotis and Veronica and Avi having lost Trey two years ago and it was very quick and a life that we lost too soon.

Madam Secretary, roll call. Council members Lewis. Aye. Sawyer. Aye. Alvidrez. Aye. Plin. Aye. Gilmour. Aye. Gonzalez Gutierrez. Aye. Hines. Sandoval?

Aye.

Torres? Aye. Watson?

Aye.

Madam President Romero-Campbell?

Aye. Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results. Nine ayes. Nine ayes. Proclamation 26-1270 has been adopted. We have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance. Councilmember Flynn, who would you like to invite up to accept the proclamation?

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to invite up Rita Contreras and Joan Slaughter. Thank you for being here.

Good evening, council members. Thank you, Councilman Flynn, for sponsoring this proclamation that, as you know, is very personal and close to my heart. You're right, it was 11 years ago that Nathaniel stood up here and addressed city council, asking them to support the proclamation recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. I remember he was walking up and I said, do you want me to go with you? And he was like, I got this. Sadly, after that, he did experience a recurrence that traveled again to his brain and we lost him that September, September 22nd, 2015. As you addressed all of these statistics, sadly, a lot of the families that we help, there are still some heroes fighting the good fight. And we continue to support them and encourage them. And because of the discrepancies and deficiencies that they have in terms of funding that's available to them, Team Nathaniel steps in to help them with their financial situation and provide some assistance during the time so that they can be at the hospital rather than trying and figure out how to pay next month's bills. So that's been very fulfilling for our family and for our board, and also being part of a combined CKCA children's... Wait. Childhood... Cancer Children's Association. It helps a lot of our organizations just work together and so that we're not recreating the wheel over and over. And it's been wonderful working with Joan and all of the organizations out there who are trying to address different components of the struggles that these families are having to deal with. It's not something you plan for. It's certainly not something that you want to see another parent go through. Of all the statistics, I will say the one that cuts the deepest, obviously, is mine. My one child is part of that percentage that has lost his life to cancer. We will continue to fight the good fight on their behalf and represent them where and when we can and advocate for more funding, more options, getting them into trials so that we can say we have some different options other than three or four choices for children. I know through my battle, it was a lot of things I was researching online and I was told that has not been tested on children and nothing is more... defeating than hearing that. So I thank you for your support because we have to start somewhere and I think we're all trying our best to fill the gaps where we see it and make the families that are impacted whole as best we can. So appreciate your support.

That's a hard act to follow. I can only agree with Rita and everything that she said. I lost my oldest daughter 23 years ago to a brain tumor, and there was literally no research being funded for pediatric cancer at that time, especially brain tumors. So we have committed our family resources and our greater community to funding new treatment development for these kids. And through the development of the Colorado Kids Cancer Association, we're now the pediatric task force of the Colorado kids. cancer coalition. So we've been able to bring a lot more awareness to the greater community of the needs of our kids and we really need to make sure that people understand that they are not just little adults. Their cancers are different and they need different treatments and they deserve them. So I echo Rita and thank you very much for your support and for this proclamation. It's very important to

Thank you.

To us and our families and the communities that we represent. So thank you.

Thank you. Madam President, I might point out that I neglected to say this in my remarks, that the city and county building will be lighted in gold tonight for the first, well, today's August 31st, and the second week of September. Gold is the color for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. So it will be lit in gold tonight and then the week of the 14th.

Thank you. Thank you.

We thank you so much for doing that. You might remember, but I know when Nathaniel was here, he said, I would ask that you wear gold for the month of September, even though my favorite color is red. So we tried to implement both with our logo. I do have some bracelets and gold ribbons for members of council, and I will take them to the front desk and ask that they be given to you and Dana for just supporting. And I would ask that you wear your gold for September.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Sandoval, please read Proclamation 26-1200.

Proclamation 1200, whereas recognizing August 24th to 28th, 2026 as Smart Week, whereas firearm injuries are the leading cause of death of children and teens in the United States. and whereas the Best Be Smart campaign was launched in 2015 to promote responsible gun ownership in order to reduce child gun deaths, and whereas SMART stands for Secure All Firearms in Homes and Vehicles, model responsible behavior around firearms, ask about the presence of unsecured firearms in other homes, recognize the role of firearms in suicide, and tell others about these actions. And whereas the Be Smart framework provides parents, caregivers, and community members with practical steps they can take to help keep children and communities safe, And whereas nearly every day in the United States, a child gains access to a firearm and unintentionally shoots themself or someone else, resulting in injury or death. And whereas research shows that the most effective way to prevent child children from accessing firearms is to store them all firearms unloaded and locked with ammunition stored separately. And whereas all adults, whether or not they own firearms, can take steps to prevent children from accessing firearms and putting themselves or others in danger. Whereas more than half of gun owners do not lock all their firearms and an estimated 6.7 million children in the United States live in homes with at least one firearm that is both loaded and unlocked. And whereas when firearms are not securely stored, children may gain access to them and unintentionally injure or kill themselves or others, and stolen firearms may be used to commit crimes in our communities. And whereas communities share a responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of their residents by raising awareness about the importance of secure firearm storage. And whereas schools, hospitals, government agencies, and community organizations play an important role in preventing firearm injuries and deaths by promoting responsible firearm storage practices. And, whereas Smart Week observed August 24th through August 28th, 2026, raises awareness about secure firearm storage and encourages individuals to take practical steps to protect children, families, and communities. And whereas the Denver City Council recognizes Be Smart, a public education program developed by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, as well as the advocates, volunteers, and community partners working to promote secure firearm storage and safer communities. Now therefore be it proclaimed by Denver City Council, section one, that the Denver City Council recognizes August 24th through 28th, 2026 as Smart Week in the City and County of Denver. Section two, that the clerk and recorder of the City and County of Denver shall affix the seal of the City and County of Denver to this proclamation and that copies be transmitted to Krista Overly, co-led by Be Smart Colorado and Sheila Wheeler, a Be Smart volunteer.

Thank you, Councilmember Sandoval. Your motion to adopt? I move that Proclamation 1200 be adopted. It has been moved and seconded. Comments by members of Council? Councilmember Sandoval?

Thank you. Thank you all for bringing this to my attention. I was talking to someone probably about a month ago, a constituent of mine, and he's one of 13 children, which you don't hear about anymore. And he was telling me about his brother and how one day when he had just gotten a new job and his brother, who was 15, had helped him moved out of his apartment. And his brother and his brother's friends went home for lunch. And they found his brother's gun. And they were playing with it. And they thought they unloaded all the ammunition from the gun. And he was joking around with his friends before he left the house. And he pointed it to his head. And he shot himself. And I was asking my friend other questions, and he said his mom and his family had never been the same, ever. And knowing that it was his brother's gun, knowing what everything happened, and so I was thinking to myself how serendipitous life is, that when my other constituents had asked me to say this proclamation, At the same time that I was hearing this from my one friend who I was talking to, it had been his brother's birthday, his little brother's birthday, and so he was having a hard time. I just want to say to everybody who has ever lost someone in gun violence, I personally grew up in the summer of violence in 93 in Denver. I went to more funerals than anyone in high school should go to. I think I went to five my junior year in high school. Adrian McClanahan died on 32nd and Federal. I could go down the list, but Adrian was exactly my same age in high school. And so gun violence is real. So thank you all for asking me to say this proclamation and be part of this proclamation. And to the families who have been mourning because of gun violence, I hope that you can go get a gun lock, and I hope that you can do what this proclamation says. that you can actually lock up your guns and that you can put them away and that you take gun safety classes. I had my kids take gun safety class not because we owned a firearm, but I wanted them to understand what the realities of having firearms are. So thank you, Madam President, and I hope that my colleagues support this proclamation this evening.

Thank you, Councilmember Sandoval, for bringing this forward. I think I just want to say it's like I have to say his name, Dalton Robinson. And it's been a little over a year. He was my great nephew. And he was a great nephew, too. So thank you for bringing this forward. Madam Secretary, roll call.

Councilmembers Lewis? Aye. Sawyer? Aye. Alvidrez? Aye. Flynn?

Aye.

Gilmour? Gonzalez-Gutierrez? Aye. Hines? Sandoval?

Aye.

Torres? Aye. Watson?

Aye.

Madam President Romero-Campbell?

Aye. Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

Nine ayes.

Nine ayes. Proclamation 26-1200 has been adopted. We have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance. Councilmember Sandoval, who would you like to invite up to accept the proclamation?

Thank you so much. I'd like to invite Sheila Wheeler and Krista Overly.

Thank you, Council and staff, for your support and your leadership around safe and secure firearm storage and for acknowledging last as Smart Week. My name is Sheila. I'm a 10-year Colorado resident. I'm a mom of a DPS first grader. I'm a small business owner. I'm an unpaid volunteer with the Be Smart program because I am committed to doing the work to change the fact that in the U.S. firearms are the leading cause of death for kiddos. Proclamations such as these are part of that work to reverse this public health crisis. As you heard in the proclamation, Be Smart is a program to bring together all adults concerned about kids, guns, and safety. We are working to make safe and secure firearm storage the equivalent to wear your seatbelt in a moving vehicle. You heard from Councilwoman that the SMART is an acronym, and I just wanted to expand on two of them this evening. S, secure all firearms in your home and in your vehicle. It is Colorado law. What that means is unload the firearm, lock the firearm separate from the locked ammunition. And safe and secure firearm storage, it looks different for a two-year-old versus an eight-year-old versus an 18-year-old versus a 28-year-old. That curiosity becomes more capable. And so safe and secure firearm storage needs to stay ahead of that. I also wanted to take a moment to expand on the A in our acronym, ASK. Each of us can walk out of this building this evening and take this action. It might feel small, but it is the water against the rock of gun violence. So we are already as caregivers collecting a lot of information. We are asking, is there open water on the property? Are there enough seat belts for the kids in the cars? Do you have any pets in the home? My kid is allergic to nuts. How are we going to handle that? Add this phrase, how do you store firearms in your home or vehicle? It removes the judgment. It's gathering information. Save those eight words or however many in your phone so you copy and paste it. It demystifies and lowers those emotional barriers. You making that ask as you're coordinating carpool later this week, as you're planning to visit family that you haven't seen for a while over fall break, it matters. Gun violence is too normal. One of the ways to get at the public health crisis is to normalize talking about the prevalence of firearms. So the Be Smart program is about what all of us, firearm owners, non-firearm owners, all of us can do to make sure that kids, teens, and those in our community that should not have unsupervised access to firearms, it's about what all of us can do. Our website besmartforkids.org has printable handouts in multiple languages, gives you scripts for that ask, covers how to talk to kids about firearms. You can join Be Smart Volunteers in person. You can join us virtually. I'll end where I started. that if we can prevent a single firearm death or a single firearm injury of a kid or a teen, then it is our responsibility to do that work. Thank you again to council, council member Sandoval, to all of you for supporting us and joining us in this public health work. Thank you.

She said it all. Yes, please visit besmartforkids.org. We appreciate your time and thank you for the proclamation. Thank you.

On Monday, September 28, 2026, Council will hold a required public hearing on Council Bill 26-1185, changing the zoning classification for 3418 West 14th Avenue and 1371 North Julian Street in West Colfax. Any protests against Council Bill 26-1185 must be filed with the Council offices no later than noon Monday, September 21, 2026. There being no further business before this body, this meeting is adjourned. In observance of Labor Day, next Monday, September 7th, city offices are closed and there will be no council meeting. The next meeting will be on September 14th.