Denver City Council members will consider settling three claims totaling half a million dollars involving the Denver Police Department and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. This brings the city’s total spending on settlements to nearly $5 million for the current year. One recent settlement involved a lawsuit against the police department for shooting a freelance journalist with non-lethal pepper balls.
Councilmember Shontel Lewis has been monitoring the city’s spending on settlements and will evaluate how funds are allocated as the 2025 budget season begins. The council will also finalize changes to the Denver Sidewalk Program, implementing a flat fee for residents with additional impact fees for large projects. The city will also approve a contract for the Christkindl Market to operate in Civic Center Park during the holiday season.
Other items on the council’s agenda include resolutions and contracts for infrastructure improvements, the Denver Asylum Seeker Program, and settlement claims. Bills will introduce appropriations for liability claims, additional funding for housing programs, and intergovernmental agreements for youth support services. The council will also discuss amending the Denver Municipal Code to authorize subpoenas for city contractors and service plans for infrastructure improvements in new developments.
Public hearings will cover amendments to the Denver Sidewalk Program and Sidewalk Fund, the approval of a service plan for a new Metropolitan District, and other related topics. The council meeting will address a variety of issues impacting the city’s budget, infrastructure, and community services.
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