Denver City Council to consider spending $10M on contracts

The Denver City Council on Monday will consider nearly $10 million in spending on three contracts, two of which are dedicated to the city’s ongoing responses to illegal immigration and homelessness.

The third seeks to settle a lawsuit, authorizing payment of nearly half a million dollars to a man who claims his rights were violated by Denver police during the George Floyd protests.

A fourth contract will ask the city to spend $1.7 million to help prop up businesses in the downtown area hit hard by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The council will also consider some preliminary steps in the proposed major rezoning of the area surrounding Ball Arena.

Called the Kroenke Sports and Entertainment Metropolitan District, the plan is to bring multiple high rise, mixed use structures to what is currently the parking lot serving the home of the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche.

Here’s a summary of major items appearing before the council on Monday:

Contracts and resolutions

24-0988: A resolution approving a contract worth $1.7 million and for two years with the Downtown Denver Partnership to address “continued negative economic impacts” of the COVID-19 Pandemic, with a focus on retail sectors in Council District 10.

24-0900: A resolution approving a contract worth just over $6 million with Haven of Hope and one year to administer enrollment into the Denver Asylum Seekers Program. Haven of Hope will also assist in waitlist management and providing food and other personal item assistance to those participating in the program.

24-1029: A resolution approving a contract with Bayaud Enterprises worth $2.1 million and four months for the operation and “programmatic services” at a 200-unit non-congregate homelessness shelter at 4849 Bannock Street.

24-1105: A resolution approving a settlement involving the Denver Police Department for $437,500 related to the case Ambrose Cruz v. The City and County of Denver. Cruz, a freelance journalist, was shot in the face multiple times by a Denver Police officer as he attempted to escape tear gas during George Floyd protests in Denver. After laying down, ostensibly surrendering, Cruz alleges the Denver Police officer continued to shoot him with pepper balls, according to court records . Cruz was arrested for violating a curfew and failing to obey lawful orders, though these charges were later dropped.

24-1038: A resolution setting a public hearing before the city council to approve services plans for the Kroenke Sports and Entertainment Metropolitan District, numbers 1-5. This action is part of the ongoing efforts to rezone and reshape the areas around Ball Arena, allowing construction of multi-story, mixed use buildings where land is currently being used as a parking lot.

Bills

24-1015: A bill for an ordinance being introduced that will approve the service plan for the proposed DC Metropolitan District. The District will provide for the construction, financing, installation, operation and maintenance of public improvements “necessary to support the development of the property” within its boundaries.

24-1016: A bill for an ordinance submitting to a vote of Denver voters whether the debt of Denver, “for use by and on behalf of the Denver Downtown Development Authority (DDDA),” shall be approved to find money for public facilities, infrastructure and other improvements to public and private properties, as described in the DDDA Plan of Development.

Public hearings

24-0917: A bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification of 0.14 acres located at 641 S. Pearl St., allowing the construction of an accessory dwelling unit.