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.

For Denver City Council meeting, tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish. Sam or Jasmine, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to enable translation on their devices?

Yes. Of course. Hello, everyone. My name is Sam Guzman with the CLC joining you virtually through Zoom and along with my colleague, Jasmeen. 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. Thank you very much,

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of Monday, 04/06/2026. Council members, please to

the flag of The United

States Of America and to the republic for which it stands. Nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Councilmembers, please join councilmember Alvidrez as they lead us in the 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 which make up the state of Colorado. We honor elders past, present, and future, and those who have steward this land for generations. We also recognize that government, academic, and cultural institutions were founded upon and continue to enact exclusions and erasures of indigenous people. 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, we'll call. Council members, Florence?

Here. Albuyers? Here. Flynn? Here. Gilmore? Here. Gonzales Gutierrez? Heinz? Here. Cashion? Lewis? Present. Parity? Here. Romero Campbell? Here. Sawyer? Here. Watson? Here. Madam President Sandoval? Here.

11 members present. 11 members present. Council has a quorum. Approval minutes. Are there corrections to the minutes of March 31? Seeing none, the minutes stand approved. Council announcements. Are there any Council member Abidre, start us off.

Thank you, council president. This weekend, we were made aware of a shooting that occurred on South Broadway where a life was lost, and I just wanna that individual. This senseless act of violence has left a family grieving and the community shaken, and our thoughts are with all those who are hurting and heartbroken for the victims and all those who went through this experience and thank DPD district three for their quick response, to this unfortunate situation. I also wanted to say thank you to District 7 residents who came out to our book club. We had a really great book club last week.

It was our first reading of the constitution. We went over the preamble, which was really beautiful. One of the big takeaways was just how it starts with we the people and how that's an invitation to community to be involved in their own governance. Stay tuned for our next book club meeting on the twenty ninth where we'll be talking about articles one, two, and three and how our government is structured. I also wanted to uplift upcoming event tomorrow, unlocking housing choices.

Join us tomorrow at 6PM at the Athmore Park Rec Center for community meeting on the city's ongoing effort to unlock housing choices. You'll have the opportunity to learn about proposed updates to the neighborhood housing options, ask questions, and share your input. It's an important conversation about the future of housing in our community, and we hope to see you there. And then also wanna uplift the beginning of these meetings around the Front Range Passenger Rail. Just a reminder that there will be a q and a event coming up this Saturday, April 11 from ten to 11:30 at the Center for African American Health at 3350 Hudson Street.

This event is a chance to learn about the project and ask questions. I was named today COCO, Colorado Commuter Rail. So Colorado connector. So stay tuned and stay informed. Thank you. Thank you, councilor.

Thank you. Next up, we have council member Watson.

Thank you, council president. I also wanna start off tonight with acknowledging senseless shooting that happened at Russell Square Park. A life was lost, and the investigation is ongoing. The senseless violence that occurred, Denver police is investigating. We're looking to see the why.

My proposal is to the family that lost a loved one as well as to the community members in Coal that are wondering about their safety. Denver police have increased patrols around the area. They we will be holding some level of community informed meeting, but, obviously, it's a very new case. There's still work to be done, but I will be reaching back out to community to find place and space for us to sit and convene within community and receive direct feedback from district two. So our thoughts go out to families. And as soon as we have any information that's public, we'll be able to share it with you and and your families. Thank you, council president.

Thank you. Councilwoman Lewis. Thank you. I'll be quick.

Many of you might belong to local progress. And if you do, you may know vice mayor Nancy Matayer, who is the vice mayor in Coral Springs. We've had an opportunity to get to know her as a member of the Black Caucus, and unfortunately, she lost her life earlier this week to domestic violence. And so just wanted to list lift her name and her legacy and her life. In this space, we have the opportunity sometime to walk to work across, different municipalities and cities. And so I had the opportunity to work with her and just wanted to uplift her her name and her family, for such a tragic life loss. Thank you.

Thank you. Sorry about that. Sorry about all the losses of life. I'm having another announcement. If anyone wants to join us, we're opening Larasa Park. I invited the two at large members. It's on Friday, May 1 at 04:30 ish, we think. Still kind of being being, like, community is likely leading the whole entire process. So Friday, the weekend before Cinco de Mayo, at La Raza Park around 04:30. Then just a moment of personal privilege, I'd push my husband a early happy birthday.

See no other announcements, there are no presentations. There are no communications. There is one proclamation being read this afternoon. Councilmembers Watson and Melviders, would you please read proclamation zero four eight one?

Yes, council president. Proclamation number two six zero four eight one, recognizing April as financial literacy month. Whereas financial literacy is a critical life skill that strengthens individuals, families, and communities by supporting informed decision making about earning, saving, budgeting, credit, and investing. And

Whereas the month of April is recognized as financial literacy month, a time to raise awareness of importance of financial education to be encouraged, practical learning, and support long term stability, mobility, and opportunity. And

Whereas early age appropriate financial education helps children build positive money habits, confidence, and goal setting skills while reducing future risk related to high cost debt, fraud, and financial insecurity. And

Whereas the global children literacy financial literacy foundation expands access to children's financial education through resources, partnership, and community engagement designed to meet children where they are and empower them for the future. And

Whereas GCFLF was founded by Prince Dykes and Chadwick Davis, retired United States Navy veterans, whose service, leadership, and commitment to community have helped elevate the importance of children's financial education in Denver and beyond. And?

Whereas Prince Dykes is also the founder of the registered investment advisory firm Royal Financial Investment Group, further demonstrating his long standing dedication to financial literacy, empowerment, and responsible wealth building. And

Whereas for more than ten years, GCFLF has advanced children's financial literacy through the country and city and county of Denver through engaging youth centered instruction, including the Wesley Learns children's financial literacy book series, related cartoons, media, and in person classes. And

Whereas GCFLF promotes long term opportunity by encouraging families and communities to invest in children's futures, including through custodial investment accounts for kids that support long term savings and investing, including investments in broad market funds that track the S and P 500 and

Whereas GCFLF has helped expand these opportunities by awarding investment accounts to children in Denver and across the nation, reinforcing the message that every child can learn, plan, and build to toward a stronger financial future. And

Whereas the start smart summer kickoff on 05/30/2026 will bring together youth, families, educators, and community partners to raise awareness and provide hands on learning opportunities, resources, and activities that promote real world financial skills and long term empowerment.

Now therefore be proclaimed by the Denver City Council section one that the Denver City Council recognizes the Global Children Financial Literacy Foundation and and its founders Prince Dykes and Chadwick Davis for their service and sustained commitment to advancing children's financial financial in Denver and beyond. In section two, that a clerical recorder of the Seating County Of Denver shall affix the seal of the Seating County Of Denver to this proclamation and that a copy be transmitted to Prince Dykes and tragic dates.

Thank you. Council member Watson, your motion to adjourn.

I move that proclamation two six zero four eight one be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded. Comments by members of council. I'll with council member Watson followed by Al Bupere.

Thank you so much, council president. I'm honored this year once again to cosponsor not just this proclamation, but the kickoff to the summer smart summer kickoff event that's gonna be on May 30. As most folks know, had a thirty year career in financial services. That was the work I did that allowed me and my family to focus on financial literacy, bridging the gap between families of color, my family, and others to ensure that we can have retirement planning and financial literacy that helps us to and through our retirement. I grew up youngs of seven with a single mother, and I always wondered why were we so poor?

Why couldn't this brilliant woman that I know why weren't we able to move forward? And part of that reason was understanding the dollar, understanding investments, understanding purchasing homes, and building wealth for communities and for us. I was able to purchase my first home in 1997 doing work with CHFA to provide the down payment assistance. And from that, we've used the equity from that home to help my brother and sisters in other states do the same. This program, I believe, that Prince Dykes and his team has done, will have many other families that look like mine doing the same to make sure that we lift up brown and black communities and we ensure that we are as financially literate as as all other communities.

So thank you to Prince. Thank you so much to councilmember Al Beetherese for your good work and collaboration on this.

Thank you so much, council president. Thank you, councilman Watson, for continuing to work on children's literacy and the foundation, the Global Children's Literacy Foundation, Financial Literacy Foundation. Really grateful for the work. I still have some of your books in my office that kids love when they come to our office to learn about these things that if you didn't learn about credit and the first time you do is to check your credit and see that you don't have good credit or nobody worked on your credit before that age, it can be a life changing thing if we can help our children get to a point where they know about these things before they're trying to get a car or taking on debt. I talked to you before, you know, I I worked in real estate, and I always told my clients, don't buy a car with a loan.

Buy a house first because once you buy this really expensive, really cool car, your credit is going to suffer and your debt to income ratios are going to suffer, and you're gonna have to put a whole plan together before you'll ever be able to purchase a home, for example. And so I think that these books really get children familiar with these phrases that they should be. I think wealthy families are familiar with these phrases. And so every children every child across the city should understand what is investing, what is credit, what are all of these financial systems that rule over our ability to build wealth over our lifetime. So thank you so much for that work. Thank you, councilwoman Watson. And that's all I have.

Thank you, council president. Thank you both. Madam secretary, roll call. Council member Spotts.

I. Almiziz. I. Flynn.

I.

Gilmore? Aye. Hines? Aye. Lewis? Aye. Parody? Aye. Romero Campbell? Aye. Sawyer? Aye. Watson? Aye.

Madam president Sandoval?

Aye. Madam secretary, close the voting. Announce the

results. 11 ayes.

11 ayes. Proclamation zero four eight one passes. We now have time for the proclamation acceptance. Who will you be calling up?

Thank you, madam president. We'll ask Prince Dykes and any members of his team that he would like to bring up to this podium. And you have, five minutes to accept the proclamation. Please come forward.

Thank you, City of Denver, Councilman Watson, Councilman Alvetrus for making this proclamation. More importantly, last year, you made the steps, and we made investment accounts for kids. I wanna say it was $2,500 went out to kids last year. I think it was probably around about 3,000. But five kids all haven't funded investment accounts due to your work, not just seeing it, but actually getting behind this.

So as you guys and girls here can see that, you know, retired military, and this is my continuous service back to my community for over the past decade or so. And April being National Financial Literacy Month, and now we have the new established by the federal government Trump accounts that are coming out that are funding kids. But this is an effort that we've been doing locally, grassrooted for since 2017, since Chad and I met in the United States Navy. Chad is not here. He's back in Maryland.

He's probably watching live. But, you know, thank you for his work. And he always said thank you to everybody else. So everybody here, we all know that we wish that somebody had started an investment account for ourselves. And the reason why we see what we're in today is because no one took the time to start this off as a child.

We know every child in Denver and throughout the nation will want a house one day. They will need a car one day, and they're coming from the most robust economy in the world. So why aren't we not teaching these kids today? And not only teaching it to them and talking to them, but making it tangible by creating investment accounts for kids at the youngest age possible. Because, you know, anybody who could raise their hand and say, if they did not want an investment account when they were in kindergarten, you know, I don't think nobody would probably raise their hand.

So it's very important that we start at these the age the youngest age possible teaching kids about a credit, teaching kids about investments, teaching kids about real estate. So thanks for helping close that wealth gap by taking that first step because as we know, if you're an investor, as you see the housing prices continue to rise throughout the nation, that's great equity. But there are people on the other side of the tracks who are looking to purchase a home. How do they ever how do they ever get there? So by this program, turning kids into first time shareholders of stock through purchasing an investment account for them and put them into the S and P 500, a broad based index that tracks the top 500 companies in America.

I thank you so very much for backing this. And I also welcome the other council members to join in behind this effort as well. We've done this, and we're gonna continue to do it. And we're proud to be here. So thank you so very much. And I also want to give a special thanks to the Park Hill Pirates who came out today, who have students' kids as well, which we would like to have investment accounts for their students as well. So we know every day kids are buying Nike. They're buying Apple. They own Amazon. They own Apple.

Everybody wants an iPhone. And why aren't we investing kids into what they're purchasing? Because turn them into cons from consumers into investing. We have that opportunity to do that. It doesn't matter how big it is or how small it is, but we have plenty of organizations that contact us all the time and say, hey. We want those books. We want those stocks. We want you to come out and do that. But without the support of you guys, we can't support the other end. So I thank everybody here for all of their contributions and continued contribution.

Thank you very much to the city of Denver. Thank you very much to Councilman Watson. And also thank you very much to councilwoman Al Beatrice. Thank you. Can we grab a couple photos?

Please read the bills for introduction.

From community planning and housing committee,

26 dash zero three four four, a bill for an ordinance amending the Denver zoning code concerning approval periods for site development plans. 26 dash 0345, a bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 992 North Knox Court in Villa Park. 26 dash 0346, a bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 1453 North Wabash Street in East Colfax. From the Finance and Business Committee 26 dash 0366, a bill for an ordinance authorizing expenditures in the general government special revenue fund based on a letter of intent from The United States Of America to award funding to the city and county of Denver for the Denver Great Kids Head Start FY 2026 to 2027 program. From the South Platte River Committee, twenty five dash eighteen sixty one, a bill for an ordinance vacating a portion of South Delaware Street between Interstate 25 and West Kentucky Avenue with reservations twenty five dash twenty eighty five, a bill for an ordinance relinquishing a portion of the utility easement reserved in ordinance number fourteen twenty three series of 2021 recorded with the Denver clerk and recorder at reception number (202) 123-1033 located near 748 South Cherokee Street 25 Dash 2086, a bill for an ordinance relinquishing an easement in its entirety reserved in ordinance number five two two, series of nineteen eighty two, recorded with the Denver clerk and recorder at book two six six one, page three seventy seven, located at 748 South Cherokee Street.

And 26 Dash 0336, a bill for an ordinance relinquishing an easement in its entirety reserved in the permanent nonexclusive easement recorded with Denver clerk and recorder at reception number (202) 204-9162 located at 3875 Walnut Street.

You. Councilmember, I'll be there so I'll make the motions for us tonight, but councilwoman per will you make the motions while she's out? Yes. Will do. Under resolutions, council resolution zero three four zero has been called out for comments by council member Lewis. Council resolution zero three two nine has been called out for comments by council member Parity. And council resolution zero three two nine wait.

Sorry. College is up first from the zero three three

Okay. Hold on. Let me start over. Under resolution, council resolution zero three four zero has been called out for comments by council member Lewis. Council resolution zero three three nine has been called out for comment by council member Parity. And council resolution zero three two nine has been called out for comments by council members Flynn, Parity, and myself. Under bills for introduction, no items have been called out. Under bills for 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 zero three four zero. A resolution approving a proposed mandatory agreement between the city and county of Denver and Leon County for emergent forensic pathology services. Council member Lewis, please go ahead with your comments on council resolution zero three four zero.

Thank you so much. So called I this item out tonight to mention that it is extremely distressing to know that we're short staffed for positions that do exceptionally important work, some of which is required by state and local law. I also note that while I have now nothing against the contractor we have selected, it is disappointing that a Denver provider was not selected at the very least. I recognize that that in this instance, the open positions are caused by turnover and not budget cuts, but wanted to flag for the public that the city council passed the budget goal for for this upcoming budget cycle aimed at restoring city services, and it will be a focus of mine at the upcoming meetings where we will share our priorities for the upcoming cycle to ensure that these positions of need are filled ASAP whether due to budget cuts or to turnover. Thank you.

Thank you. Next up, madam secretary, please put the next item on our screens, council resolution zero three three nine. The resolution approving the purchase order between the city and county of Denver and Insight Public Sector East for the annual usage of Amazon Web Services software citywide. Council member Parity, please go ahead with your comments on council resolution zero three three nine.

Yeah. So similarly to have called off our Microsoft contract a few weeks ago, I'm just sort of highlighting when we have these contracts with really large corporate actors that also work with immigration enforcement entities and, in many cases, the military and and those kinds of things. I think Denver is probably overdue for sort of an ethical contracting or ethical investment policy. And, of course, it's hard to find actors in these tech spaces that aren't really a part of all those systems, but Amazon Web Services certainly also is no exception. Thank you. Thank you.

Next up. Madam secretary, please put the next item on our screens, council resolution zero three two nine, a resolution amending city council rules for procedure. Council member Flynn, please go ahead with your comments on council resolution zero three two nine.

Thank you, madam president. And I know the other sponsors, including yourself, will have some comments on this, but this is a culmination of of a lot of fits and starts to improve counsel's charter responsibility to review and approve or vote on contracts under three point two point six. That's been in place since 1982. And I want to give a shout out. I hope she's watching because I alerted her to this.

I wanna give a shout out to a former councilwoman Debbie Ortega. Debbie councilwoman Ortega brought this concern to me when I was first running in '20 actually, in 2014. Now the prior counsel had surrendered one week of review time by approving contracts with a resolution rather than a two reading bill. And so that gave us basically four days to see the actual document when it got filed on noon Thursday for the Monday meeting. And so we noodled on a couple different avenues to restore some kind of better period of time for us to review these contracts.

And so this resolution is a a an amendment to our rules of procedure that says at the time a an item, because it's not just contracts, could be intergovernmental agreements, is presented to to counsel to consider at a committee, it must be accompanied by either the signed document or if not signed yet, by a draft of the document because we sit in committees, and we will give a shout out to agencies for doing almost always doing a very good job of explaining what the contract will say once we get it. But that's that's not enough. That doesn't substitute for having the actual document in hand. So what this rule of procedure amendment does, it says, by the Thursday filing for the next week series of committees, the administration must submit at least a draft of the contract so that we can when we vote a contract out of committee to come here Monday and a half later, you know, week and a half later, we will have a we will actually have the contract to vote out. The companion to this is a Denver revised municipal code amendment that clarifies that the thirty day shot clock that the 1982 charter amendment gave us within which we must act does not start until the contract is filed for this meeting, our legislative meeting, because council committees aren't in the charter.

That's a construct of our rules. So in the charter, it says a the thirty day clock starts when an item is submitted to counsel counsel for for its its approval, approval Not to a committee. And so I want to thank someone else who's who's no longer here to to hear me mention his name, but that is George Cerrone. He was a a legislative council assistant city attorney who was the legislative council for city council. During the nineteen nineties, I got to know him.

He was a scholar on all things charter. And he is the one who brought some language to me about two, three years ago. So here might be a way to solve this. Just say, the clock starts Thursday final. When we give a contract to committee, it's not submitted to the council for their approval because there are only seven members of the council who are on a committee.

One of them is ex officio, the council president. So we to say the thirty day shot clock starts then is to, as he put it, vitiate the voting rights of the six members who are not on that committee. So it must start the Thursday that you that is filed for the full council. So I wanna thank former legislative counsel George Cerrone, a true friend of this city and and a scholar. And with that, madam president, I apologize for taking up so much time. But councilwoman Ortega, if you're watching, thank you for your partnership on this in the time that we were together, and we're finally getting it done. Thank you.

Thank you. Councilwoman Parity?

Yeah. Mostly wanna thank council member Flynn who did kept this issue alive and knew exactly the moment to keep bringing it back up with the

rest of us. But, yeah, I

think the I just wanna highlight how much of our job actually is review of contracts. You know? It is by far the just by volume, the biggest type of thing that we are asked to look at and where our money goes is, you know, kind of everything. So I think this will strike a very good balance and probably no coincidence that it's, you know, the editor and and council member Flynn and the lawyer and me really want more time to read those. So thank you. Thanks, madam president.

Thank you. Just wanna say thank you, council member Flynn, for allowing me to join this. Think it's good governance. I think it's really smart, and I think it will really help us do our work. So appreciate you. And if councilman Ortega, you're watching, as you mentioned today in operation, sometimes it takes a long time to get some of this work done decades. So thank you for bringing this forward. Seeing no other callouts oh, council member Haim.

Sorry about that. Thank you, madam president. Council member Friend, I'll council member Flynn, I also wanna thank you for keeping this alive all the way back to council member Ortega and George Cerrone, whose name I don't recall. So it must have been quite some quite some time ago. So but I'm glad that we're finally closing this book after such an extended period of time, and thank you for the word vitiate. I learn something new every day. So thank you. Thank you, council president.

You're welcome.

Try to use it every week.

That's good work.

Alright. Seeing no other members in the queue, this concludes the items to be called out. All bills for introduction are ordered published. Council members, remember that this is a consent or black vote, and you will need to vote aye. Otherwise, this is your last chance to call out an item for a separate vote. Council member Alvidrez, will you please put the resolutions for adoption and the bills in final consideration for final passage on the floor? Yes. Council president. I

move that and this is where I read them all. Correct?

Yeah. They're. You mean that whole sentence.

Let me see here.

All bills for sorry. I move that the resolutions be adopted and the bills on final consideration be placed on final consideration and do pass in a block for the following items, all of the series 26. 0338, 0339, 0369.

It's kinda funky.

Sorry. 0329, zero three six two, zero three six three, zero three seven zero, zero three seven one, zero three four zero, zero three four one, zero three six five, 035, 5033 0235, 0337036803580364032703000316 and 0316.

Thank you.

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

Council member Spoanes? Aye. Alvidrez? Aye. Flynn? Aye. Gilmore? Aye. Hines? Aye. Lewis? Aye. Perry? Aye. Romero Campbell? Aye. Sawyer? Aye. Watson?

Aye.

Madam president, Sandoval?

Aye. Madam secretary, close voting council. 11 ayes. 11 ayes. The resolutions have been adopted. The bills have been placed upon final consideration and do pass. Tonight, there will be a required public hearing on council bill zero one seven six, changing the zoning classification for 17600 East 56th Avenue and 4991 North Telluride Street in Gateway Green Valley Ranch. There are no objections from members of council. We will recess until 05:30. Before convening the regular meeting, city council 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 legally required public hearing.

The general public comment session will begin at five.

Problems of meeting everyone's demand and of having a quality of life that continues creating a place where people wanna live and where we have agriculture, where we have strong and healthy streams, where we have thriving communities. Those problems are complex and complicated.

Colorado's cities, villages, towns, ranches, and farms were built on the richest soils with the greatest resources.

They hug 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, April 13. Sign up begins at 5PM on Thursday, April 19. We look forward to hearing communion. And thank you so much for attending.

Council will now reconvene from our earlier session. There's no unfinished business from the earlier session. There are two proclamations being ready reached in red this evening. Council pro temer mayor Campbell, will you please read proclamation proclamation zero zero four four eight eight two? Two?

Yes. So proclamation zero four eight two, recognizing the hundred year anniversary of the Welsher Er Golf Course. Whereas established in 1926, Welsher Golf Course represents a symbol of community investment, public access, and lasting tradition as the course has stood as one of Denver's most treasured public spaces, bringing together golfers, neighbors, and community leaders across generations. And whereas located on the grounds of the former Skeel family farm with the historic Highline Canal flowing through it. Welsher reflects Denver's rich natural and cultural history.

And whereas George Olinger developed Welsher as a private country club and sold it to the city in 1936, ensuring the course would remain accessible and serve the community for generations to come. And whereas designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Ross, Welsher is one of the nation's premier municipal golf courses and the only public Ross designed course West Of The Mississippi. And whereas the clubhouse was designed by the Denver architect, G Meredith Musick, and its iconic Tudor style stands as an enduring architectural landmark. And whereas the Welsher four ball held annually since 1943 is the longest continuously running golf tournament in Colorado, a testament to Welsher's enduring role in competitive golf. And whereas two major golf figures, Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer, played in USGA golf tournaments or USGA tournaments at Welsher, further elevating the course's reputation on a national stage.

And whereas in 1959, twenty three year old Bill Wright broke the golf color barrier by becoming the first black man to win a major national title at Welsher, changing the game of golf forever. And whereas the Welsher has been nominated for the National Registry of Historic Places in recognition of its historical and cultural significance. And whereas on 06/05/2026, we invite the entire community to join us at the Welshere Golf Course And Event Center for a day of golf, food, activities, and historical celebration as we honor a century of this remarkable public treasure. Now there be be it now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council. Section one, the Denver City Council proudly recognize and recognizes and celebrates the hundredth anniversary of the Welshire golf course and its endearing contributions to Southeast Denver.

Section two, the clerk and recorder shall affix the seal of the city and County Denver to this proclamation and transmit copies to the Welshire one hundred steering committee and Denver golf. Thank

you. Your motion to adopt?

I move the proclamation 26 dash zero four eight two be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded. Comments by members of council, council pro temer Mary Campbell.

Thank you, madam

president. This is super exciting. The the you guys have heard me make the announcements that the that we're celebrating the Welsh Year one hundred in June, and you also heard that the registration opened and sold out in twenty four hours. So we have a golf tournament that's happening alongside this this celebration. Many of you know that I grew up in Southeast Denver, and I grew up between two golf courses.

Yet, I never really stepped foot on either golf course. It wasn't something that I ever saw accessible to me. Yet I always thought, oh, they were very beautiful, but just and it was never something that I did. And it wasn't until I came into this position that I had an opportunity to step beyond the and I'll talk about the the Welsher building itself, but to step foot on the golf course. And for me, it was former councilwoman Kendra Black, is actually in the audience today and will accept the proclamation.

But it was it was something to kind of opening up doors for me. And then I thought, well, if we're gonna have a golf tournament, I should probably learn how to play golf. And I figured, how hard can it be? But I have a how hard can it be? Right?

But I do have

to participate. But I really wanna say it's it really has inspired me, and my hope is not only to be able to celebrate the hundredth year of the Welsh Hire, but also to be able to open it up to more people who can come and see the golf course, who can see themselves playing, and open it up to the rest of the community. But tonight, it really is an honor to sponsor this proclamation and celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the Welshire golf course. Tonight, we only not recognize a century of golf, but a century of community building, shared tradition, events, and cherished memories. Wellshire is more than just a golf course.

It's a gathering place for our community, hosting school dances, weddings. My niece is getting married there this summer and having her wedding reception there, but also welcoming our senior luncheon, and it's been held there for the last ten years, a beloved place that is packed to the gills every year. And it's just where friends and family and people come together whether they play golf or not. I wanna extend my deepest gratitude to Denver golf as well as to, again, my predecessor, Councilwoman Kendra Black, whose leadership in bringing this recognition as a milestone for the community. She inspired it to come together.

We have a steering committee, and it's really something special for District 4. So very nice in that transition to be able to carry that on. The golf tournament sold out in one day. That's pretty darn amazing. I think we were worried that it wasn't going to sell out and boom.

There you go. So thank you to all of the community members who signed up to play, in the morning on June 5. But I'd also like to invite, all the rest of Denver to come and join us on June 5 from five to 8PM for the centennial celebration to honor the legacy, the history, and the future of the Welsher. Again, it's a long standing pillar of Southeast Denver, but it's just, I think, a jewel for the city and county of Denver at large. So you can find out more information on my website. You can find out more information on Denver golf, and here's to another hundred years. Awesome. Thank you so much. Council

pro tem let's see. Hold on. Let me check. Madam secretary, roll call.

Council member Torres. Aye. Alvidrez? Aye. Flynn? Aye. Gilmore? Aye. Hines? Aye. Lewis? Aye. Parity? Aye. Romero Campbell? Aye. Sawyer? Aye. Watson? Aye.

Madam president Sandoval?

Aye. Madam secretary, close the voting, announce the results.

11 ayes.

11 ayes. Proclamation zero four eight two has been adopted. We now have time for the proclamation acceptance. Council pro temer mayor Campbell, who will you be calling up to accept the proclamation? I'd like

to invite up former council member Kendra Black and Susie. I'm gonna have Susie come up to you and whoever else that you'd like to have come up.

I have some remarks.

Oh, okay.

But first, wanna say hello, George Washington.

Hi. I

used to work there a really long time ago. So Go Patriots. Hello, all my old friends. It's great to see you. Thank you for inviting me to come. It's always fun to come down here. I really think it's cool that the meetings are in here. It's a very nice room. You may wonder why councilwoman Romero Campbell invited me to come and speak, and I think it's just because I have lived near Welsher almost my entire life. I grew up near there going to events there.

I raised my family in that neighborhood. We've golfed there and gone to events at the event center and the restaurant in the winter. We used to cross country ski there when we had snow. And as Councilwoman Romero Campbell said, it's really a a big part of the Southeast Denver community. I think the hundredth anniversary is really significant.

Our city was only about 65 years old when this club got developed. Our state was only 50 years old. And I think it really represents sort of the optimism and the opportunity and the pioneering spirit that these Denver leaders, George Olinger and the other one is is Cal or Lloyd Fulenwider. Those are both names that are still relevant in Denver today. They both had this vision to build this, of course, country club, which is not open to the public, but then also develop the neighborhood into country estates.

At the time, it wasn't even Denver. It was in Arapahoe County. But they had this vision of what Denver was going to be, and I think it it represents sort of that story of the West. Unfortunately, they they built the club and they bought the whole neighborhood between Yale and Hampton and Colorado University, and they were gonna build these country estates. But they didn't survive the depression.

So they sold all the land off. The houses didn't get developed till the fifties, and then they were all ranch houses, not at all what they had envisioned. And the creditors had to they forced an auction of the club, and it became public. And one of our mayors, our controversial mayors named Ben Stapleton, actually added a lot to our park system, and he and his parks director, George Cranmer, were the ones who bought it. And they only paid $60,000 for it, and Olinger and Flingweider had spent $350,000 on it,

so it

was a great deal. It wasn't even in Denver when they bought it. It was in Arapahoe County. They bought it for $60,000, and then it became open to everyone and open to the public. So it's a great story.

The city council voted to annex it into the city in 1950, and ever since then, there have been some very momentous things that have happened there. Councilwoman Romero Campbell mentioned Bill Wright who who was I just told Scott Gilmore, he's like the Jackie Robinson of golf who's the first black man to ever win a professional tournament. And Arnold Palmer played there, and Ben Hogan won his seventh consecutive win there, and General Dwight D. Eisenhower was standing there on the green watching that, which is kinda cool. The Welsher the clubhouse has been open to the public for ninety years, and many old time Denverites remember it as the Welsher Inn, which was one of the most elegant restaurants in Denver from nineteen seventy seven to two thousand and eight when Leo Godo ran it.

I know Kevin Flynn knows who I'm talking about. If only Paul Cashman was here. That was my joke. Okay. Councilwoman Romero Campbell knows what I'm talking about. But the Welsher Inn was where you would go for a special occasion and it it there's so many people who have fond memories of that restaurant. And now your niece is getting married there. That's awesome. Anyway, so much more to be said, but I'll let Susie talk. Thank you so much for honoring Welsher, and it's great to

see you guys.

Hi. I'm, Susie Helmrich, and I'm a golf pro. I oversee all of our pro shops for the city of Denver. And I was just gonna show some videos of Diana's golf swing if you guys can all amuse me with that. No. I you know, as a golfer, there's always the stigmatism that golf is just an old man an old white man's game. And I think both miss Black and mister Mayor Campbell have done an amazing job to make Welsh Air open to everyone. This is a community event. Everyone is welcome. I believe our sign on the outside says, Everyone welcome. So thank you for both of your efforts in making this such a big deal, and that it's not just golf, it's community. So thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Next up we have council member Soria, would you please read proclamation zero four eight eight eight three?

Alright. I got I promised you guys a proclamation was coming on this, so here we go. Proclamation twenty six four eighty three, honoring the George Washington High School speech and debate team. Whereas George Washington High School speech and debate team was founded in 1960, the very same year the school was opened and has been a competitive and nationally ranked team throughout its history. And whereas the George Washington High School speech and debate team is currently ranked in the top four nationally, number one in Colorado.

That's great. This past summer, the GW speech and debate team had its fifty first national appearance at the National Speech and Debate Association tournament in Des Moines, Iowa. The GW speech and debate team placed in the top 20 debate debate and speech teams overall at the tournament. This achievement earned them the title of debate school of excellence and speech school of excellence. And whereas coach Mary Rose Cohen teaches multiple sections of speech and debate, as well as coaching the speech and debate team along with assistant coaches Devin Sarno and Miles Owens.

The George Washington High School speech and debate team members and coaches put in countless, this is true, countless extra hours of work honing their performances during the season. And whereas 63 out of the 154 students who are enrolled in a section of speech and debate class at George Washington High School competed in the five a division of the Colorado State Championships on March 2026. And whereas okay. I'm gonna mess up your names, you guys. Yoel, Emmanuel, Cade Cade Ramirez took first place in policy debate and our co champions with Camila Jenkins, Ingrid Zuniga.

Zuniga Boyle.

Thank you.

Coltrane Weaver, Olsen Bachelor, Reese Fleisher, and Gabby Sanchez Heller. Naomi Nicholson won program of oral interpretation and in duo interpretation. Kat Walsh and Graham Elson were crowned champions, and the GW speech and debate team had six top five redishes. And whereas based on these results, George Washington High School speech and debate team was awarded the overall twenty twenty six division five a state title in speech and debate for the third time in four years and are the reigning champions. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council section one that the council of city and county of Denver recognizes and celebrates the achievements of the students and coaches of the George Washington High School speech and debate team and congratulates them on their success.

And section two that the clerk of the of the clerk of the city and county of Denver shall affix the seal of city and county of Denver to this proclamation, and a copy be transmitted to coach Mary Rose Cohen.

Thank you. Miss member Stryor, a motion to adopt.

I move that proclamation twenty six four eighty three be adopted.

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

Thank you, madam president. I am so excited to have members of the George Washington High School speech and debate team. As you know, George is in District 5. It is our only high school in District 5. You know, we see so many sports teams roll through here getting their proclamations, and I think that proclamations for the nerd should happen too.

So I I can say that because my daughter Lily Sawyer is sitting right over there as a member of the speech and debate team. So I am so proud of you guys. I am so excited for you guys. I have watched you work so incredibly hard all of these years in order to be this amazing source of pride for our community, and you are, and you have achieved it. And, there's only one small thing that I can do to celebrate you guys, for all of your hard work, and that is give you this proclamation. And so I'm so honored to do it. Thanks for being here, and thanks for everything you guys have done. Congratulations.

Awesome. Thank you. Councilmember Hines?

Thank you, madam president. You can provide food. She's your daughter up

there.

I could feed her. I could.

So I I just I can't congratulate you enough. I am rounding up year seven on city council. It's kind of an interesting journey to get here. I have a computer science degree, an MBA in finance. I don't use either of those degrees.

Well, I use the computer science a little bit, but but I went to state debate twice in high school, CX junior, senior year, and I use it every day, every day in this job. So all that money that I spent well, I got a scholarship undergrad. But for the MBA, all that money I spent leads to speech debate training that really has helped me formulate my thoughts, research evidence, remember where I found that evidence, you know, keeping track of citing sources, and and then putting something on paper and then being able to defend it in a concise period of time. I am kinda worried, so I've I'm languishing a bit from my CX years in in high school, but but it has been incredibly valuable for me. And you already have it.

Going you know, winning state, being the speech and debate team for and and school high school in Colorado, I mean, oh, the places we'll go and oh, the skills that you already have to help you go to those places a little bit faster. Thank you, madam president.

Thank you. Council member Parity. Yeah.

I just wanted to say there's never been a better time to get used to being able to be in the public fray and to express yourself clearly and push back on other people, that can be really hard and really uncomfortable. I will say I was not really, like, raised and socialized to do that as a girl in a small town, and so I had to learn to do that as a young attorney. And there's just nothing more important. So I'm so proud of all of you, and I I see some tears in my colleague's eyes. And now I'm getting them too because it's pretty cool to have you guys right here in Denver taking home the trophy for the state and so amazingly at the national level. Thank you for being here tonight. Good job.

Thank you. Councilmember Watson?

Very quickly, speech and debate is the ability to learn, understand topic, to stand firm, and to speak your truth. But also, think most important in speech and debate and being someone who engaged in that in in high school is to listen. And you could be as prepared as you wanna be, But if you're not listening to the counterpoint, your ability to respond to respond with something that's material is diminished. And I think as an adult and as a city council member, the greatest lesson I've learned is not only standing and delivering, but listening and be able to understand the other point of view and be able to still stand firm on the things that you know that are the facts. So congratulations to you.

The skills you have are gonna take you so far, and it's so good to get a proclamation in a non sport athletic sport topic. So congratulations to you, council member Sawyer. For the nerds. To you. Yes. Thank you,

madam president.

Thank you. Bravo. Congratulations. Well deserved. Madam secretary, roll call.

Council members Torres?

Aye. Alpiedras? Aye. Flynn? Gilmore? Aye. Hines?

Aye.

Lewis? Aye. Parity? Aye. Romero Campbell? Aye. Sawyer? Aye.

Watson? Aye. Madam president Sandoval?

Aye. Madam secretary, secretary, close the voting. Announce the results.

11 ayes.

11 ayes. Proclamation zero four eight three has been adopted. We now have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance. Council member Sawyer, who will you be inviting up?

I am the call of coach Mary Rose Cohen and some members of the speech and debate team who have joined here today. Well,

thank you so much for inviting us. It's such an honor to be able to come and to see that our hard work is recognized and valued and to just give such inspiring words for our students for their future and having them understand that what they're doing really is important and really is valuable. So thank you so much for recognizing that, and I'll let you hear from them. I just wanna say that all of our success needs to

be accredited mostly to our coaches and specifically to miss Cohen. She really is the heart of this community as a whole, and we wouldn't see the success that we see without her. So just thank you, miss Cohen. We all appreciate and love you so much.

I'd like to second that.

I think that our coaches have such a big influence on how our team runs and how we are as a community, and I love each and every one of them. Thank you to our assistant coaches too, Devin and Miles. They do an amazing job at keeping our team running, And honestly, acknowledging each other and us as a community and everything that we're able to do together is really beautiful.

Thank you.

We have one required council opening tonight. As a reminder, council members need to turn on their video during the vote. For those participating in person when called upon, please come to the podium. On the presentation monitor on the wall, you will see your time counting down. For those participating virtually when called upon, please please wait for our meeting host to promote you to speaker.

When you are promoted, please accept the promotion, turn on your camera if you have one, and your microphone. All speakers should begin their remarks by telling the council their names and cities of residence, and if they feel comfortable doing so, their home addresses. If you have signed up to answer questions only, state your name and note that you are available for questions of council. Speakers will have three minutes. There is no yielding of time.

If translation is needed, you will be given an additional three minutes for your comments to be interpreted. Speakers must stay on the topic of the hearing and must direct their comments to counsel as a whole. Please refrain from profane or obscene speech and refrain from individual personal attacks. Council member Alvidrez, will you please put council bill zero one seven six changing the zoning classification for 17600 East 56th Avenue and 4991 North Telluride Street in Gateway Green Valley Ranch on the floor for final passage.

I move that council bill 26 dash zero one seven six be placed upon final consideration and do pass.

It has been moved and seconded. We required public hearing for council bill zero one seven six is open. May we please have the staff report?

Yes. Thank you, council chair. I'm Libby Glick with community planning and development, and I'll be presenting the rezoning for April and 17600 East 56th Avenue, which you'll hear me call the Denver Spur.

So first, we'll

go through the request, then the location, the context, followed by the process, and then finally, the review criteria. So the applicant is requesting to rezone the property outlined in red from a former chapter 59 zone district. So CMU 10 with conditions and CMU thirty with waivers in the adult use overlay to mixed use five story and eight story district. So you can see on the map where exactly S M X 5 and s m x eight are proposed. And the purpose of this rezoning is to construct a mixed use development including multiunit residential.

There's 17 acres that are current that have already been sold to Denver Public Schools for a future school site. Then there will also be some park space that's provided as a part of the gateway subdivision regulations. So now we'll go through the location and the context. So this is located in Council District 11 in the gateway Green Valley Ranch neighborhood. And then as stated previously, the current zoning is in the former chapter 59 zoning code, which is the city's old zoning code.

It's, a commercial mixed use zone districts, and it's surrounded by a lot of other old code zone districts and then DIA along Pena Boulevard. And then the proposed zone districts are suburban mixed use districts of 5 And 8 stories. These are areas that or so these zone districts allow the drive through, general, and shopfront building forms, and the heights are up to 70 feet for the five story district and then a 110 feet for the eight story district. So the current land use, it's mostly vacant. You can see the surrounding area.

There's some vacant uses, single unit, multi unit, and then agricultural uses. The top picture shows the existing building form and scale, so the existing vacant lot. And then you can see the some existing single unit that's directly east of the site. So this because this is a large property, it went through the large development review process, and it was deemed applicable because the site's larger than five acres. There's clear guidance in the Far Northeast area plan to do the LDR process, especially when they're doing a mixed use development.

They were proposing a rezoning, and then there's also infrastructure improvements that are required as a part of the development. There's also urban design standards and guidelines that are applicable to this site. So these are really to make sure that the built environment is at an appropriate scale to promote pedestrian activity and a sense of place. And then as a part of the large development framework that came out of the large development review process, the applicant has entered into a high impact development compliance plan. So this is to provide affordable housing on-site.

There's two potential pathways depending on if they received receive a low income housing tax credit award. So if they receive LITEC credits, then, the 21% of the units will be income restricted. If they do not, then 12%. But regardless of which avenue is taking at least 50% of the income restricted units will be two bedrooms and 20% will be three bedrooms. So now we'll go through the process.

So this application was complete in September. It went to planning board in on January 21, and we're here before you today for the city council hearing. So we received a couple of public comments. The first is from Montbello twenty twenty and beyond r and o. So they submitted a letter in support citing the applicant's community engagement, the public amenities that would be provided, with the school site and the future park space, and then also the affordable housing that's provided.

And then we received one comment from a neighboring resident in opposition to the request. They had concerns about traffic, a loss of green space, and then public safety with potentially more multiunit with a multiunit development coming in. Planning board heard this on January 21 as I stated previously, and they unanimously recommended approval of the rezoning. They had a few questions on traffic impacts and, like, the large development review process. So now we'll finally go over the review criteria.

So the Denver zoning code has three review criteria that must be met for rezoning to be approved. The first is consistency with adopted plans. The second is public interest, and the third is consistency with neighborhood context, zone district purpose, and then the intent statements found in the code. So we'll start with a comprehensive plan for consistency with adopted plan plans. So this rezoning will allow for more equitable access to a variety of amenities including education and parks with the rezoning.

It will also develop housing that is affordable to residents with the high impact development compliance plan that they've entered into, as well as providing or improving access to education, again, with that Denver school site that's included. It will encourage a mixed use development where residents can live, work, and play in their own neighborhoods. And then finally, it will encourage quality infill that again will increase amenities for residents in this area. So now moving to Blueprint Denver, the city's land use and transportation plan. So this one, the future neighborhood context is suburban and the zone districts proposed are in the suburban context.

And then the future place type is community center and these areas provide a mix of office, commercial, and residential uses. So this would be consistent with the mixed use zone districts that are proposed. And then the street types are commercial and mixed use arterials. Again, that really allow for a variety of or more intense uses like is what's proposed under the the proposal under the proposed zone districts. The growth area the growth area strategy is community centers and corridors.

This is where we anticipate 25% of new housing and 20% of new employment growth. So rezoning from the existing old co districts to SMX five and SMX 8 will allow for a significant amount of density than what is currently allowed. So that's consistent with the growth area strategy. And then then we also looked at the the equity concepts found in Blueprint Denver because this site is so large. So that includes access to opportunity, vulnerability to involuntary displacement, and then housing diversity.

So for access to opportunity, this area scores as moderate. So the lowest scores are in child obesity, access to parks, fresh food, and then transit. And so as a part of the subdivision rules and regulations, parkland will be required, so that will increase this area's access to parks. And then for vulnerability to involuntary displacement, this area scores as moderately vulnerable. They score or scores as vulnerable on two of the three indicators.

And as stated previously, the applicant is has entered into a high impact development compliance plan that does include affordable housing on the site. And then lastly, expanding housing diversity. This area is more diverse. It's diverse on all five metrics. The proposed zone districts allow for a variety of residential uses, so hopefully that will continue the housing diversity that's found in this area.

And then it will further one of the strategies in Blueprint Denver and that it's rezoning an old code property into the Denver zoning code. It also addresses climate by allowing a mixed use development in an area where make where uses are generally separated, and it's proposing multiunit buildings which are generally more energy efficient than lower density residential developments. So now we'll move to the Far Northeast area plan. So the future context and places is same, so I won't go over those. But the Far Northeast area plan does have specific height guidance, and the height guidance for this area is up to eight stories.

So the five and eight story districts that are proposed are consistent with this height guidance. And then there are also several strategies in the Far Northeast area plan that this rezoning will further. So it also talks about rezoning former chapter 59 properties into the Denver zoning code, as well as encouraging affordable housing along high density mixed use corridors, which this site will be doing with a high impact development compliance plan, and then having a mix of uses and community centers along Pena Boulevard. So, again, this is a site right along Pena Boulevard rezoning to mixed use zone districts. And then it will further the public interest by dedicating property for parks, a school, as well as having affordable housing on-site.

And then lastly, it's consistent with the suburban neighborhood context, the purpose of the mixed use zone districts and then the specific intent of the s m x five and s m x eight zone districts. So finding all three criteria have been met, staff recommends approval of this rezoning, and I'm happy to or that concludes my presentation.

Thank you so much, Libby. We have three individuals signed up to speak this evening. First up, we have Jesse Paris. Jesse Paris? Yes,

ma'am. I'm here. I have to wait for you to promote me to panel this. Yes. My name is Jesse LaShawn, I'm a representative for Black Star Action Movement for self defense, Positive Action Committee for Social Change, as well as the Unity Party of Colorado, the North Park Hill Residence Council, Frontline Black News, Shabbat's Buck Experience Enhanced the Revolutionary Agenda.

And I reside at the roach and bedbug infested legacy laws in Darryl Watson's district of District 9, defined District 9, historically black district of five points. This sounded like gentrification off top of my head. So I was definitely definitely against it. But after the report, I can see what you're trying to do here. So I have to change my stance on it.

I have to ask my usual questions when it comes to rezoning like this. They said something about affordable housing. What AMI level are we talking about for the housing? How many units or or houses are we talking about or apartments? Are we talking about being built on this, what did you say, sixteen, seventeen acre something property or space.

So I'd like to know that. Has there been a neighborhood agreement signed? Has there been a traffic study done? Has there been a rail study done? And has there been a community a good neighborhood neighbors agreement signed? If someone could please answer those questions, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you, and have a good night.

Thank you. Next up, we have Scott Gilmore.

Hello, city council. Thank you so much for, allowing me to speak. I wanted to actually just state that I am a, founding member of Montbello twenty twenty, so I'm glad that the organization has been supportive. Overall, I am supportive of this rezoning. There needs to be a reading through the application, I wanna stress that this is not a regional park. It states that this will be a regional park. A regional park is very specific. It's 80 acres or more. This is actually six maybe, seven acres. There's going to be an additional three to four acres of trail system.

So this is actually a neighborhood park. So I did want clarity on that. It's a smaller park for this specific community. Also some clarity on the acreage. It says that it's 71 or 74 acres. Does that include the 17 acres of the school site? Does it include the acreage for the park? What's being rezoned and what's not being rezoned? Because I would think that if you have the school, the school should be rezoning its own space for what it is. I want to be clear too that this is great.

They're adding more parks to a park deficit community. Montbello is very short of parks. Green Valley Ranch is very short of parks. They're adding 10 more acres of park. The votes of this council mean something.

And so now we are left with something that the council voted on just recently, the maintenance shop in District 1, dollars 13,500,000.0. Beautiful big maintenance shop. The maintenance shop that's gonna be built down the street from this brand new park is 1,800 square feet, one office in a big garage. That shop, the deficit that this council voted for, that created a deficit for my community, that took money away from my community to build the park standard shop that should have been built will now not be built because the deficit that this council voted on, it created. It took money from my community to make sure that parks like this are taken care of.

You will be receiving an email from me, which I tried to send earlier today. I drove around my neighborhood this morning. Not one park had its trash picked up. Not one. Trash bags everywhere. Community did what they were supposed to do. They picked up their trash. They put it by the trash cans, and they really took care of the parks. But the parks department clearly does not have the resources or the site to maintain the parks at the level they should be taken care of. So just remember, the votes that you guys take here mean something because there are ramifications to those votes. Thank you.

Thank you. Next up, we have Peter

Good evening, madam chair and council members. My name is Peter Wall here on behalf of the applicant. I was just here to answer questions, but happy happy to address a couple of the questions that mister Gilmore asked. The property is 74 acres in total. The DPS parcel is 17 of the 74, and then the parkland, and noted on the neighborhood park versus regional park, The parkland at the bottom of southern part of the property is 5.88 acres, and it's next to, I believe, three ish and change acres that the parks department already owns to combine for a little under 10 acres for that neighborhood park. That's all I have.

Thank you. That concludes our speakers. Do we have questions of members of council on council bill zero one seven six? Council Gorteson Gilmore.

Thank you.

I have a question for Steven Wilson. We've been going back and forth a little bit today because there's two requirements requirements that overlay on this property. And so if you could explain that, Steven. It's a little bit more complicated than perhaps other neighborhoods in the city because of the metro districts. And so could you clearly, for the record, state what acreage falls under the metro district and then what acreage is with this rezone?

Yes. So good evening. So Steven Wilson with community planning and development. Thank you for the question. I might ask for a little bit of clarification. So are you talking about the 10.81 open space versus the the open space required by the subdivision ordinance?

I'd like to, have an overview of it all, and then you can delineate it out. Okay. Great.

So I'll start with by the gate subdivision rules and regulations. For this part of town in Northeast Denver, there are requirements for parkland. The parkland is divided up into by the ordinance, is divided up into major parkland and then neighborhood parks. Within the gateway subdivision rules and regulations, there is a calculation. There's a chart, but there's a calculation where the open space is based on the number of residential units and then the amount of commercial area.

So within the, again, the gateway subdivision rules and regulations, there's a requirement for a, a fee simple land dedication, so the actual land dedication. And then there's also an option, to do a fee in lieu. So for this, the applicant is choosing to do a combination, which is agreeable to parks. So there's the the land dedication, that mister Wall was talking about, and then they'll make up the difference in fee and lieu. So the the dedication that's coming with the project is, again, that six acres that we've been talking about that's adjacent to, the existing approximately three acres so that those combined, would be, together to satisfy that major park.

The other portion that is with this project is we've been working on a North South Pena Trail that will go from approximately fortieth and then all the way up to seventy second once we get that connected. And that trail will count for, some of the requirement, within the gateway subdivision rules and regulations. Just a comment. So the gateway subdivision rules and regulations are separate from the rezoning. So the the final determination on open space will be determined with the subdivision plat.

And this also overlaps with in the Denver zoning code, we require 10% open space as part of the zoning, and that can be overlapping with the gateway subdivision rules and regulations. So so both of those will be satisfied. What am I forgetting? What haven't I covered that you is part of your question?

Thank you for that information. I guess with the flexibility or if there isn't the residential units built, what is the agreement, to make sure that the Far Northeast does indeed get that 10% of parkland or open space?

Yep. So the, so the 10% by the zoning code, will occur. That's it's delineated in the infrastructure master plan. And then as site development plans come in, they'll have to be consistent with that infrastructure master plan specifically to meet the 10% part of it. Again, some of that will be satisfied with the land dedication.

And then the land dedication, will occur with the subdivision plat so that amount of acreage that's gonna be dedicated to this city fee simple will come with the plat. And then the fee in lieu occurs with development with the agreement that will be signed by the city and then the applicant. And the benefit of having that agreement is that there's a we put a clause in the agreement that says if the number of units changes in the future, if it goes up, then we can collect those fees. We do have in the rules and regulations that if that number goes down, the applicant can come back to the city and say, we're not building that number of units, so we would like to pay less fee.

Okay. With the fee in lieu, what stipulates that once, if there is a fee in lieu paid, do those dollars stay within District 11?

I don't have the answer to that question. I'd have to follow-up with Parks and Recreation. I

have a question. Thank you, Steven. I have a couple questions for Peter Wall. And so that does leave a big question mark, Peter, that we right now can't ensure that if there is a fee in lieu that will be paid. What's your understanding as far as that those dollars staying in District 11? Sure.

Yeah. It's the first time that the questions come up. It's certainly a good one. I think the only and I I don't have a I think it's the same answer as Steven, but I have to defer to the parks and rec department on that. The only thing that I'd add is that in our agreement with parks and the gateway subdivision rules and regs, the 5.88 acres that we are committing to dedicate, that doesn't go away if we lessen the units. Right? That land is gonna be dedicated on that spot within the subdivision plat that he talked about. I can't speak to the fee in lieu, though. I think that's a question for the parks department.

Okay. I a couple more questions for you and wondered if there is somebody from the Parks Department online to answer questions.

Is there any hand raised on the park for the Parks Department?

Any names?

They would just normally raise their hand if we had or yeah. Okay. Rylan, is do you have anyone with with the city attorney who you know who's online?

Nate Lucero wanna be online, Nate Lucero.

Is Nate Lucero online? Yeah. Could ask Nate.

Okay. Why don't we go ahead and ask Nate that question? And then I do have a couple other questions for you, Peter.

Good afternoon, members of counsel. This is Nate Lucero with the city attorney's office. Can you ask the question again?

Yes. Hi, Nate. This is councilwoman Gilmore. I wanted to know what the assurances are if there is a fee in lieu agreement and for some reason that gets activated, and there's that payment made, are there assurances that those dollars will stay in District 11 for our parks?

Yeah. Thank you for the question, Councilwoman Gilman. So the gateway subdivision rules and regulations require that the fee in lieu monies be spent within a certain area. And so given where this project is located, those funds will more than likely be spent within District 11.

Thank you for that. Beyond you stating that here tonight, is there something within the planning board report or the CPD report that further explains that?

I don't believe that the staff report speaks to the contents of that agreement. I could be mistaken. If Libby is still present, she might be able to answer that.

Hi. Libby Gluck again. No. The staff report does not discuss the infrastructure master plan or the subdivision rules and regulations.

Okay. Alright. Thank you, Whitney, and thank you, Nate. Just so I think our lawyers are understanding, I would like to postpone this. Right. Sure. But you can but I would like to postpone this for one week if that's an option because I would like to get the fee in lieu language from Denver Parks and Rec. Otherwise, District eleven might see Parks and Rec move this money to another district, and then District eleven has shorted our parkland. But go ahead, Steven, if you have

Thank you. I was able to get in touch with Stacy West, and she did confirm it stays in the Gateway Subdivision area. So so within the subdivision rules and regulations, which is not it's not entirely District 11, but but it's primarily District 11.

That that's

within the Gateway Area. That's a huge area. And we're talking about a very narrow if you looked at the map or looked back at the map, it's a very, very narrow swath of land. So if we don't get the parkland that is required for the health and safety of District 11 residents, we might never get it in that corridor or in that area. And so I can continue asking my questions. But before we proceed, I guess, Brieland, procedurally, how would we move forward with this?

So after we close the public hearing, you would have to move to postmanent to a date certain. You'd have to get a second and unvote on that one.

Okay. Great. If you could be finding us a date certain to postpone this to so that we can make sure that we get the proper documentation from Parks and Rec for this, this would be much appreciated. Understanding that to postpone it postpone it in this way, it would have to be a unanimous vote of this council to do that, which I am asking. But, Peter, if I can ask you a couple other questions, please.

I know in the Far Northeast neighborhood plan, there was, as always, consternation about the drive through model form. And I know in other parts of the community and other parts of the city, there's been a real push away from the drive through model form. What were those conversations, I guess, between you and CPD?

So when we good question. When we first started out looking at zone districts for the property, and particularly at 56th And Telluride, that hard corner where commercial is most likely to go, we actually had a commercial corridor zone district. And this is the time that you all were removing commercial corridor zoning from many of your corridors. So CPD pushed back on us and said, hey. We prefer you to go to MX zone district here.

And then within our IMP, we've been working with Steven Wilson and team to work on design guidelines. Although, I'd say when we're looking at prioritizing uses and the the company that's under contract on PA 1 a, one of the biggest pieces of feedback we heard from your office council member as well as the community was prioritizing sit down, full service restaurants. So really thinking about what does the community want, what does it need. But long and short of it is, we had a more intensive commercial corridor zoning, and because of feedback we heard from you, community, and CPD, we backed off of that and went to the MX Zone District.

Okay. And so you're then saying there won't be any drive through models?

It's early on. I don't I don't know for sure, but what I can tell you is when we're talking to the company that's under contract on PA 1 A, they are prioritizing sit down restaurant.

Alright. That's that is a concern of the community, especially with the drive through model form and that there is the Evie Garrett Dennis campus across the street, the Regis Groff campus. Each of those, I believe, have three different charter schools in them. And then there's a proposal for another school on the West Side Of Telluride that's going to be an elementary, middle school, or what was that again?

Yeah. The DPS school site, the 17 acres, I believe, is slated for a k through eight.

Alright. So k through eight. So we're gonna have a lot of school kids along this corridor right here. And so definitely the through model form is concerning. And then with traffic signals and roadway construction, is there an agreement for you as the developer, Peter, to put in some of that that infrastructure, especially traffic signals?

Yeah. So the infrastructure master plan calls out multiple signals. So there's gonna be one that's at 51st And Telluride, which is located closest to the new site for the k through eight school. There's one that's located farther to the north at 51st And Elmendorf. So the one at 51st And Telluride, based on the language in the IMP, has to go in at twenty twenty eight, and that's it's going in around the anticipated time of the school opening. And then the one that's a little bit farther to the north also has to be put in, and I believe that's two thousand thirty one. And then there's also a hawk signal that's planned in between those two lights.

And what's the timing for the hawk signal?

I don't know if we've agreed on the exact timing of the hawk signal yet.

And then beyond traffic signals and the hawk signal, have you committed to right now, it's it's about five acres of land, but have you committed to helping build out that park or any of the Pena Trail system?

Yeah. So we will end up parks wanted just the simple land. The trail system, the regional trail that's on our western western boundary, boundary, we we will will be be slated with building that out and actually maintaining it in the future.

Alright. And what's the acreage of that trail?

Yeah. We're total I'd have to go back and look at the trail exact acreage of the trail system, but on top of the 5.8 acres that we're dedicating towards the neighborhood park, I think we're in the ballpark of I wanna say it's 4.6 or 4.7 additional acres of land that's being dedicated through public easement to the city as open space on the site. So a collective, we're right around 10 acres.

All right. Great. And then, I guess, have you committed to any maintenance or ongoing improvements of the parkland long term?

We have not. It was never something that was asked of us in terms of parks. It was a fee simple. We're looking for 5.8 acres of parkland. So that's what they asked for, and that's what we gave them.

So there was never any negotiation with the parks department around, well, you know, we have a lot of money now in the city. We're at a huge deficit. You're gonna make a lot of money on this rezoning potentially through affordable housing, tax credits, etcetera. Can you help build out the parks and trail system to make sure that there's proper infrastructure for people's recreation, mental health, and safety. There were never any

The ask the ask that we had was on the regional trail on the Western Side was to build that out and to maintain that as well as the other acreage that doesn't include that regional trail for us to maintain that as well. So we are maintaining the green space within our project, but it's the four ish 4.6 ish acres that I talked about and not the 5.8 acres that we're giving parks that they're gonna be building out.

Okay. Alright. Thank you, Peter. I appreciate that information. So to reiterate, I don't believe that there was proper homework done on this, and there's no way that I can get these answers unless I get these answers on the record in the public hearing to see how much parks and rec has shortchanged District 11 in the Parkland, not that we deserve or can satisfy this agreement, but what we need in the area.

And then you've heard that there's a whole bunch more acreage coming on and no plan to build that out and no plan to maintain it. And so I will I don't have any other questions. I would like to postpone this to a date certain so that there can be more i's dotted and t's crossed, so that District 11 doesn't get shortchanged to Parkland.

Okay. So just so we're clear, if in the future you need someone from Parks and Rec here?

In the future, I would prefer before we get back here that Parks and Rec has a meeting with myself and the RNOs and Peter and everybody else so that we're all clear on what the parkland is going to be before it comes back to this body.

So you asked for a week, and now you're asking for a meeting. So do you still want a week?

For a postponement to a date certain. I'm not trying to invoke 03/2006, the postponement for week.

Invoke 03/2006, but I had notes. I'm I'm taking notes. You asked for a one week postponement. So I'm just trying to figure out on the calendar how much time would you need to have a meeting with the parks department and your r and o

Make it

a month.

That you can

thirty days out, date certain. Because everybody

Can you look at the calendar, Alicia, for Melissa?

There's there's an opening on on the twenty seventh of this month.

On April. Hold on. Let me look at my calendar. That's only three weeks. That's not thirty days. So do you want do you wanna go further than thirty days?

Fourth if that's available.

Do we have how many do we have on May 4?

There are three.

Oh, yeah. Could we go do you want May 11? Also three. K. May 18? Also '3. And then not the twenty fifth. So June 8?

Only one on on June 8.

Does that work? Yes. Okay. Do you wanna script the motion for councilwoman Gilmore and put it in teams for her?

I'm totally good. I'm council president. I'm happy to make the motion for postponement until June 8 for the rezoning hearing of bill 26 Dash zero one seven six.

Okay.

Councilman Perry, do you have a question?

Yeah. I think

it's okay to ask

a question about can before we vote on this Yeah. Just for clarity. Yeah. I looking at the slides, there's one amount of of housing that will be provided if LITEC is received, one amount of housing that will be provided if it's not. I just wanna make sure that there's no application timelines pending that that this would interfere with so that we know that if we're gonna postpone.

Councilmember Parity, there's no application timelines that this messes with.

Thanks, man.

Alright. We have a motion to postpone to June 8. Monday, June 8, we have a motion and a second. Roll call, madam secretary.

Council members Torres? Aye. Alvidrez? Aye. Flynn? Aye. Gilmore? Aye. Heinz? Aye. Lewis? Aye. Parity? Aye. Romero Cam? Aye. Sawyer? Aye.

Watson? Aye.

Madam president Sandoval? Aye. Madam secretary, close the voting and announce the results. 11 ayes. 11 ayes. The motion to postpone to Monday, January 8 eight passes. I madam secretary, I don't close the the hearing. Right? Or do I if I close it, Ryland, do I close it? Because I can't remember if I close it. I wanna make sure councilwoman Gilmore has the opportunity to ask questions. So I'm afraid if I close it, I I don't have that opportunity.

You can close it and reopen it.

On I'll just close it. Okay. That motion passes. Seeing no other business before us on Monday, 05/04/2026, council will hold a required public hearing on council bill zero three four four, amending the Denver zoning code concerning approval periods for site development plans. They require public hearing on council bill zero three four five, changing the zoning classification for 992 North Knox Court in Villa Park, and a required public hearing on council bill zero three six.

Tuning the zoning classification for 1453 North Wash Wash Wash Street in East Colfax. Any protest against council bill zero three four four, zero three four or zero three must be filed at the council offices no later than noon on Monday, April 2726. There'll be no further bot business before this body, this meeting is adjourned.

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