Denver Community Planning and Development staff clarified that before re-zoning would occur, the City would conduct a neighborhood planning initiative. CPD will partner with Clayton and lead a typical planning process that will result in a master plan. The City legal representative state that the conservation easement is only for golf course use and would have to be re-visited unless a golf course is kept there. Brad Cameron disagreed with this interpretation of the conservation easement. It was asked if the initial $10M is coming from CDOT, and the City clarified that it is coming from waste water funds and also from CDOT IGA funds
Margie Valdez proposed a motion related to the city’s P-3 office. The motion stated:
“Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) strongly urges the proposal to create an office for public-private partnerships within Denver City Government that will screen, vet and shepherd P-3 or public-private partnerships related to major city projects be delayed until such time as the specifics of the proposal have been released or shared and adequate time is included for the proposal to be vetted with both City Council members and the public-at-large. Further, INC requests City Council to refuse to support the proposal known as P-3 until more informed community discussion and transparency can occur.”
The governance structure for a Denver P3 office hasn’t been determined. In fact, whether the office will in fact be created hasn’t been determined. Right now, city officials are $475,000 deep into a contract with Arup Advisory Inc. to develop the program, and they’ve asked City Council to approve an additional $480,000 in consulting work (for a total of $955,000) to get the program up and running by year’s end. The actual creation and staffing of the office would be part of the 2018 budget process.
But City Council members — even those that like the idea of the office — are concerned about the process that Arup has suggested for future deals. Instead of City Council getting an up or down vote on the final contract, as is the case now, council would approve a “parameters ordinance” or “framework ordinance” that lays out what they’d like to see in the deal. The city’s P3 office would then go out looking for a partner willing to work with the city under those conditions. As long as the final contract complied with the framework ordinance, it could be approved administratively.
Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore opened with updates about growth in Dist 11. Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center (Aurora) is building up to be open late 2018. They are also backing a housing development within District 11 to help with affordable, nearby housing for their employees. The District is looking forward to added retail and restaurants.
A Montbello leaders group formed to address gentrification, historic information and other desired area factors. Montbello has 60% home ownership in place and they want to keep that characteristic. To do so, they are exploring options such as a community land bank, neighbors helping neighbors and possibly renting rooms for in home care and a deed structure in a land trust when current owners vacate. The goals: 1) to help seniors age in place so they do not have to give up their current homes and 2) to maintain affordable homes in the area.
The meeting was called to order at 9:00am. The attendance count was 31 Delegates; seven (7) Guests; and no Alternatives. Two (2) additional attendees later joined the meeting, but did not sign in, thereby making an ultimate total attendance of 40. Al Habercorn moved to approve the April meeting minutes, it was seconded and they were unanimously approved by attendees’ acclamation.