The Denver City Council on Monday will consider settling three claims involving the Denver Police Department and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure which total roughly half a million dollars.

The cases will bring the city’s total spending on settlements to just under $5 million for the current year, according to data provided by Councilmember Shontel Lewis, who has made it a point to track “every dollar” spent by the city on settlements.

Two weeks ago, the city approved a $437,000 settlement involving the Denver Police Department, which was sued after police shot a freelance journalist with non-lethal pepper balls multiple times. Lewis told the Denver Gazette she will look into how the city can better spend money as the 2025 budget season begins but did not share specifics at the time.

The council will also look to finalize changes to the Denver Sidewalk Program, a voter-approved effort to fix or add sidewalks throughout the city. The new language will charge a flat fee of $150 for all residents – regardless of lot size – though “particularly large projects” will be assessed an impact fee added on to the flat rate, according to the bill text. The measure had been delayed multiple times by the council since it was approved in 2022.

Finally, the council will attempt to kick off the holiday cheer by approving a contract allowing the Christkindl Market to operate in Civic Center Park. The market will operate Nov. 12 through Dec. 30, though that is subject to change, per the resolution’s language.

Here are other items being discussed or considered by the council Monday:

Resolutions and contracts

24-1100: A resolution to set a public hearing before the city council for the approval of the first amendment to the first amended and restated service plans for two West Globeville Metropolitan Districts, as required by state law. The public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30.

24-1035: A resolution approving a contract worth $3.8 million between Denver and Concrete Works of Colorado to improve drainage and mitigate ponding, icing, and flooding on Ellsworth Avenue between Madison Street and Garfield Street, in Council District 5.

24-1064: A resolution approving a proposed agreement between Denver and the German American Chamber of Commerce’s Colorado Chapter to operate the Christkindl Market in Civic Center Park, in Council District 10.

24-0900: A resolution approving a contract with Haven of Hope for $6 million for one year to administer enrollment in the Denver Asylum Seeker Program, as well as communication with people seeking enrollment, including waitlist management and providing food and personal items and assistance to participants, citywide.

24-1132, 24-1133 and 24-1134: A trio of resolutions settling claims involving DOTI (1134) and the Denver Police Department (1132 and 1133). Denver would pay $65,000, $255,000 and $210,000, for each settlement, respectively, for a total of $530,000.

Bills

24-1102: A bill being introduced that authorizes an appropriation and transfer of $3.5 million from the general fund reserve to the liability claims special revenue fund.

24-1061: A bill being introduced amending a contract with the Housing Authority of the City and County of Denver by adding $800,000 for a new total of $1.9 million to increase the number of units in the existing West Denver Renaissance Collaborative Single Family Plus ADU Pilot program agreement, citywide.

24-1086: A bill being introduced approving an intergovernmental agreement with the Douglas County Commissioners for just under $1 million to memorialize responsibilities of the six collaborating counties in connection with a short-term placement bed and assessment project, which provides assessments and observations to determine community-based services and support that may help youth to return and remain home or in family-like settings.

24-0813: A bill on final consideration amending the Denver Municipal Code to authorize the city auditor to issue investigatory subpoenas to city contractors for internal audits. The bill was previously delayed at two city council meetings.

Public hearings

24-1076: A bill being introduced, with a public hearing, amending the costs of the Denver Sidewalk Program and Sidewalk Fund.

24-1015: A bill on final consideration approving the Service Plan for the proposed DC Metropolitan District, which will see $18 million raised for infrastructure improvements in a new development near Pena Boulevard and Green Valley Ranch Boulevard.