Denver City Council

 Supporting a Unified Denver

On January 13th, 2025, the Denver City Council and the mayor signed proclamations affirming our values and commitments to all of Denver’s residents. While changes and challenges come forward from the federal level, we will not waiver from our support of diverse communities, from seeking equity so that all of our residents may prosper, and ensuring the inclusion and participation of all voices. We are not strangers to hard times, and our enduring spirit is one where neighbors support one another, nonprofits and small business care about our families, and strangers share kindness with strangers. We are representatives of a city we deeply love and we are united with you and all of Denver to ensure we remain a city that faces challenges head on, protects our most vulnerable, and actively contributes to a beautiful city that we can all be proud of for generations to come.

The Standing Together for Unified Denver Proclamation was adopted by both branches of government in Denver on January 13, 2025. You can find the Denver City Council proclamation here.


See the weekly schedule summary here.

Public Hearings

The following public hearings are scheduled for Monday, July 14, at 5:30 p.m.  Find out how to speak or submit written testimony. 

  • 25-0873: A bill for an ordinance designating the structure at 510 South Garfield Street as a structure for preservation.
  • 25-0665: A bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 1149 South Navajo Street in Ruby Hill.

     

 

Public Input Sessions in Committee

The following committee will have 15 minutes of public input. Find out how to speak or submit written testimony to a committee input session. 

Business, Arts, Workforce, Climate, and Aviation Services Committee, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

  • A combined public input session on these two items:
    • 25-1002: An ordinance submitting to a vote of the qualified and registered electors of the City and County of Denver at the special municipal election on November 4, 2025, a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City and County of Denver renaming the Department of Excise and Licenses to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection and making conforming amendments in connection therewith.
    • 25-1003: An ordinance amending the Revised Municipal Code to reflect the Charter amendment changing the name of the Department of Excise and Licenses to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.

Audiencias públicas

Las siguientes audiencias públicas están programadas para el lunes 14 de julio a las 5:30 p. m. Descubre cómo hablar o enviar un comentario por escrito.

  • 25-0873: Proyecto de ley para una ordenanza que designa la estructura ubicada en 510 South Garfield Street como una estructura para preservación.
  • 25-0665: Proyecto de ley para una ordenanza que cambia la clasificación de zonificación para 1149 South Navajo Street en Ruby Hill.

 

Sesiones de comentario público en comité

El siguiente comité tendrá 15 minutos de comentario público. Descubre cómo hablar o enviar un comentario por escrito a una sesión de comité.

Comité de Negocios, Artes, Fuerza Laboral, Clima y Servicios de Aviación, miércoles 16 de julio de 2025 a la 1:30 p. m.

  • Sesión combinada de comentario público sobre estos dos temas:
    • 25-1002: Ordenanza que somete a votación de las personas votantes registradas del Municipio de Denver, en la elección municipal especial del 4 de noviembre de 2025, una enmienda a la Carta Orgánica para cambiar el nombre del Departamento de Impuestos y Licencias a Departamento de Licencias y Protección al Consumidor, con cambios relacionados.
    • 25-1003: Ordenanza que modifica el Código Municipal Revisado para reflejar el cambio de nombre del Departamento de Impuestos y Licencias a Departamento de Licencias y Protección al Consumidor.

Top 5 Ways to Keep Up with What the Denver City Council is Doing

 

Denver City Council News

See the weekly schedule summary here.

Public Hearings

The following public hearings are scheduled for Monday, July 14, at 5:30 p.m.  Find out how to speak or submit written testimony. 

  • 25-0873: A bill for an ordinance designating the structure at 510 South Garfield Street as a structure for preservation.
  • 25-0665: A bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 1149 South Navajo Street in Ruby Hill.

     

 

Public Input Sessions in Committee

The following committee will have 15 minutes of public input. Find out how to speak or submit written testimony to a committee input session. 

Business, Arts, Workforce, Climate, and Aviation Services Committee, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

  • A combined public input session on these two items:
    • 25-1002: An ordinance submitting to a vote of the qualified and registered electors of the City and County of Denver at the special municipal election on November 4, 2025, a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City and County of Denver renaming the Department of Excise and Licenses to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection and making conforming amendments in connection therewith.
    • 25-1003: An ordinance amending the Revised Municipal Code to reflect the Charter amendment changing the name of the Department of Excise and Licenses to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.

Audiencias públicas

Las siguientes audiencias públicas están programadas para el lunes 14 de julio a las 5:30 p. m. Descubre cómo hablar o enviar un comentario por escrito.

  • 25-0873: Proyecto de ley para una ordenanza que designa la estructura ubicada en 510 South Garfield Street como una estructura para preservación.
  • 25-0665: Proyecto de ley para una ordenanza que cambia la clasificación de zonificación para 1149 South Navajo Street en Ruby Hill.

 

Sesiones de comentario público en comité

El siguiente comité tendrá 15 minutos de comentario público. Descubre cómo hablar o enviar un comentario por escrito a una sesión de comité.

Comité de Negocios, Artes, Fuerza Laboral, Clima y Servicios de Aviación, miércoles 16 de julio de 2025 a la 1:30 p. m.

  • Sesión combinada de comentario público sobre estos dos temas:
    • 25-1002: Ordenanza que somete a votación de las personas votantes registradas del Municipio de Denver, en la elección municipal especial del 4 de noviembre de 2025, una enmienda a la Carta Orgánica para cambiar el nombre del Departamento de Impuestos y Licencias a Departamento de Licencias y Protección al Consumidor, con cambios relacionados.
    • 25-1003: Ordenanza que modifica el Código Municipal Revisado para reflejar el cambio de nombre del Departamento de Impuestos y Licencias a Departamento de Licencias y Protección al Consumidor.

The Office of the Denver City Council issued the following statement in response to the financial outlook and plan released earlier today by Mayor Mike Johnston:

The Denver City Council understands the difficult financial conditions facing the city and the need for immediate action. We appreciate the administration’s transparency today and will continue working closely with the mayor’s office to navigate this moment responsibly. The Council looks forward to providing input on shared priorities that reflect Denver residents' needs and reviewing the mayor’s proposed budget this fall. 

This is a difficult time for our city employees and our city, but we remain confident in Denver’s resilience and in our collective dedication to getting through tough times.

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The City and County of Denver today joined the City of Chicago and Pima County, Arizona in filing a lawsuit(PDF, 740KB) against the Trump Administration for its unlawful and unconstitutional move to revoke federal funding awarded to local jurisdictions.

“While Donald Trump has time and again tried to divide the country instead of finding bipartisan solutions on immigration, the people of Denver stood up and stood together to help people in need,” said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. “The Shelter and Services Program was intended for the sole purpose of reimbursing cities who did exactly that while following all federal, state, and local laws. Now, the Trump administration is illegally trying to punish cities who did the work the federal government couldn’t. I am incredibly proud of how our city responded to this crisis and will continue to fight for the funding we were awarded but have not received.”

Since the first Trump Administration, Congress has appropriated funds to reimburse communities and states for costs incurred supporting migrants who were processed and released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) into the United States per federal immigration policy. In 2022, Congress continued this program with bipartisan support through the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), administered through FEMA, and intended for the sole purpose of reimbursing cities for the services necessitated by the federal government’s immigration policies.

The need for the SSP program was and is clear. In 2022, Texas Governor Greg Abbott began busing migrants to cities across the country, including many of the more than 43,000 people who arrived in Denver with nothing but the clothes on their backs and no opportunity to work.  Denver responded to this crisis – that we neither created nor asked for – to prevent thousands of families from living on our streets in the cold, maintain public safety, and ensure the city continued delivery of core city services.

FEMA awarded grants to reimburse those costs incurred for providing services, as required by the congressional appropriation. Once President Trump took office, his administration took action to zero out all congressionally approved SSP grant balances without informing grantees.

Denver, Chicago, and Pima County assert that the federal government’s actions are unconstitutional, as these actions attempt to override Congress’ constitutional authority to appropriate funds. Additionally, the jurisdictions assert that the federal government violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to provide a reasoned basis for their actions.

Denver, CO – March 3, 2025 – The Denver City Council reaffirms its commitment to being a welcoming city as Mayor Mike Johnston prepares to testify before Congress in Washington, D.C. For decades, Denver has set itself apart as a community that embraces diversity, values inclusion, and recognizes the history and contributions of immigrants to its economy, culture, and neighborhoods.

“This congressional testimony is about defending the values and policies that have made Denver stronger,” said City Council President Amanda P. Sandoval. “The ordinances enacted by the Denver City Council ensure that all residents, regardless of where they come from, have the opportunity to build a better life while keeping our city safe and thriving.”

“Mayor Johnston’s testimony will highlight Denver’s long-standing commitment to ensuring that its laws reflect its values while remaining reasonable and compassionate,” said City Council President Pro Tem Diana Romero Campbell. “The Council fully supports him as he affirms that Denver remains a place of opportunity, fairness, and dignity for all.”

“We know that Mayor Johnston will represent Denver with integrity and resolve.” President Sandoval added. “While political rhetoric may attempt to mischaracterize our city, we unite in solidarity with him as he upholds our city’s values on a national stage.”

 

Denver City Council Honored with HCC Public Achievement Award

DENVER — The Denver City Council has been selected as the recipient of the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado (HCC) Public Achievement Award, which recognizes the Council’s commitment to fostering inclusivity, economic growth, and opportunity for small and diverse businesses in the construction industry.

The award was presented on Saturday, March 1, at HCC’s annual awards ceremony. Council President Amanda P. Sandoval accepted the award on behalf of the Council at the awards gala on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The Council was recognized for its open-door policy and engagement with HCC members on key legislation and policies affecting the architecture, engineering, and construction industries.

“This recognition is not just about Denver City Council—it’s about all of us,” Sandoval said. “It’s about the generations before us who laid the foundation, the workers who put in the hours every day, and the young people looking up to us, wondering if they too can build something great. The answer is yes. And together, we will keep building—stronger businesses, stronger families, and a stronger Colorado.”

HCC highlighted the Council’s advocacy on legislation such as the auditor subpoena bill and the noise control ordinance and its role in shaping policies like the Ball Arena redevelopment plan, which has directly impacted the construction industry.

The HCC Public Achievement Award is presented annually to individuals or groups whose contributions have significantly advanced HCC’s mission. Past recipients include Governor Jared Polis, Representative Shannon Bird, Denver City Council member Stacie Gilmore, and former Denver Mayor Federico Peña.