The Denver City Council on Monday approved roughly half a million dollars for a settlement involving the Denver police department, which, along with other similar cases, have drawn the attention of a councilmember who has begun tracking them.

Councilmember Shontel Lewis said her office has tracked roughly $4.2 million in spending on settlements citywide, which includes Monday’s $437,000 involving the Denver Police Department.

Though many departments — including Denver Parks and Recreation — have had to pay settlements, the vast majority of them have come from the Department of Public Safety and Denver Police, Lewis said.

Lewis said she wants to understand and identify patterns so she can bring forward policy changes that may prevent them from happening in the first place.

“I see it as my responsibility to ensure that the public is aware of every tax dollar being approved as an expenditure and payments of funds for a settlement,” she said during a council session on Monday. “I want to be clear to everyone watching that we are paying attention, that we are watching how the city spends our money down to the penny, and that we are making decisions for the future with this knowledge.”

Her efforts are collaborative, she said. She looks forward to working with both the mayor and fellow councilmembers to implement policy or budget priority shifts. Lewis did not discuss any potential recommendations she might have in mind for the 2025 budget.

Representing the progressive wing of Denver politics, Lewis was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.

During the 2024 budget season last year, Lewis proposed cutting $500,000 from the police budget and using the money to create an “Office of Neighborhood Safety.” The budget amendment failed, 5-8.

Months later, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced the new Office of Neighborhood Safety with a roughly $11 million budget, and which, at the time of its creation, did not actually have a “strategic plan” in place. The reason?

The reason? The city appears to be building the plane while flying it.

Lewis did not share any specific patterns or new priorities identified as a result of tracking settlement money, but she said some of those may be apparent in the near future.

“I think it’s important for folks to know not only that number, but how often we are, unfortunately, needing to approve these expenditures for settlements with taxpayer dollars,” Lewis said. “I’m looking at the data in a number of different ways, but also looking at it from the perspective of recognizing patterns.”

She’s asking, she said, “is there some policy change that we may need to look at as a City Council body?’”

In other council business, the council delayed a vote on a $1.7 million contract with the Downtown Denver Partnership. The Business, Arts, Workforce & Aviation Services Committee earlier approved the contract to manage the funding, which comes from American Rescue Plan Act, and is aimed at supporting small businesses on the mall and attract new ones.

Several councilmembers expressed concern, as the contract is on a “shot clock,” where it has to be discussed, amended or voted on within 30 days of clearing committee.

If no discussion, amendments or votes happen within that 30 day period, contracts are automatically adopted.

Lewis requested the delay ahead of the meeting, saying councilmembers Sarah Parady and Jamie Torres requested more information but had yet to receive it.

Both Parady and Torres were absent during Monday’s meeting.

The request for a delay perplexed Councilmember Amanda Sawyer, who said one week should be “more than enough time” to get answers.

“Our small businesses are really hurting, and so I don’t want to postpone something longer than we absolutely have to,” she said. “I had no problem postponing it last week, but now we’re getting into multiple postponements, and that doesn’t seem fair (to businesses).”

This is the second time the contract has been delayed. As the City Council does not meet next week, in observance of the Labor Day holiday, the body will consider the contract on Sept. 9, the very last day before it is automatically approved.

Councilmember Chris Hinds was also uncomfortable with the delay, pointing out that a stretch of the 16th Street Mall will soon be reopening.

Hinds said much of the contract money will help small businesses in the downtown corridor, including the construction snarling mall, which he represents.

Council President Amanda Sandoval took the time to request all city councilmembers go to the Blue Agave Grill and have a drink to remind themselves how essential local businesses are.

“I came from a small local business that started in 1972 in Denver. Our small local businesses are the backbone of our budget and the backbone of our community,” she said. “I do know that downtown, specifically the 16th Street Mall, is struggling, but I will vote with the body (to delay adoption).”