Denver City Council to consider $9.5 million in spending for healthy food for kids, rental assistance

The Denver City Council has a busy schedule for Monday’s meeting and will consider millions in spending on healthy food access for children and rental assistance.

The agenda for Monday’s meeting includes just over 40 resolutions for the council to approve, question or amend and 15 bills being introduced or that are on final consideration. There's also several required public hearings — including two for the Ball Arena Redevelopment project, an ambitious undertaking that will dramatically change what is currently several massive parking lots in the heart of Denver.

In total, the city will consider spending more than $5 million across eight contracts and one bill — with two contracts totaling over $1 million — to provide money for the Healthy Food for Denver's Kids initiative. This program began after voters approved ballot measure 302, a 0.08 percentage point sales and use tax increase establishing a fund for healthy food distribution and food-based education for children in Denver. The sales tax began on Jan. 1 2019, and will end on Dec. 31 2028, according to the city, and all money must be spent by Dec. 31 2029. The city estimates the fund will provide $11 million each year.

The council will also consider a pair of contract amendments totaling $4.5 million to expand the city's rental assistance program. One contract will bring a contract total with The Community Firm to $17.5 million and help 218 additional households with rental and utility assistance, according to the city. The second, a more modest $1 million contract increase with Brothers Redevelopment, brings that contract total to just over $8.8 million.

The city agenda does not estimate the total number of households impacted by this increase.

Here's a summary of other items appearing before the city council on Monday:

Contracts and Resolutions:

24-1272, 1278, 1274, 1273, 1281, 1282, 1285, and 1294: A series of grant agreements worth varying amounts, totaling $5 million, and with different service providers to fund the Healthy Food for Denver’s Kids initiative so the companies may continue providing food services as part of the initiative.

24-1319 and 24-1315: A pair of contract amendments and an intergovernmental agreement totaling $1.9 million for homelessness services at different locations and populations throughout the city.

24-1316 and 24-1318: A pair of contracts totaling $4.5 million for rental and utility assistance to qualifying households citywide.

24-1327, 24-1328 and 24-1329: A trio of on call contracts totaling $3 million for concrete and landscape restoration services at city golf facilities.

24-1306: A resolution approving a grant agreement with Caring for Denver Foundation for $1.5 million to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the STAR program by enhancing the wraparound care network, citywide.

Bills:

24-1302: A bill being introduced amending the Denver Zoning Code text to allow accessory dwelling units in all residential areas of the city.

24-1288: A bill being introduced amending a grant agreement with the Regents of the University of Colorado by adding $291,289.28 for a new total of $759,081.50 to increase their offerings of serving healthy, high-quality food to the community through funding provided by Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Initiative.

24-1305: A bill being introduced approving an intergovernmental agreement with Denver Health and Hospital Authority for $999,900 to help coordinate care for persons experiencing homelessness and making direct connections to the Roads to Recovery project, citywide.

24-1251: A bill on final consideration rescinding $8 million from the general fund contingency and authorizing a cash transfer to and an appropriation in the affordable housing fund property tax and other local revenue special revenue fund for the temporary rent and utility assistance program.

24-1141: A bill on final consideration amending the Denver Revised Municipal Code Chapter 10, Article IV, to exempt land within any Downtown Central Platte Valley-Auraria Center zone district from the height limitation of the Old City Hall view plane in Council District 3.

Public Hearings:

24-1140: A bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 1000 Chopper Circle and associated properties in Auraria (Ball Arena Redevelopment).

24-1142: A bill for an ordinance approving a proposed Development Agreement between Denver, Kroenke Arena Company LLC, Kroenke Parking LLC and Fifth Street Ltd LLC, for the redevelopment of land surrounding and adjacent to the sports arena located at 1000 Chopper Circle.

24-1143: A bill for an ordinance approving an amendment to the development agreement between Denver and KSE Elitch Gardens/Revesco/Second City, LLLP, in Council District 3. The amendment adds 12 years to the development agreement.

24-1169: A bill for an ordinance approving the respective service plans for the proposed Kroenke Sports and Entertainment Metropolitan District numbers one through five.