Council moves to require notification to oversight bodies of non‑monetary settlement terms

Denver City Council members discussed and advanced a code amendment requiring the city to notify oversight bodies when settlements with public safety personnel include non‑monetary terms. The change, proposed as an amendment to the municipal code, was presented by Councilmember Jamie Torres and co‑sponsored by Councilmember Kim Gilmore; it was later included in a block of bills ordered published and placed for final consideration.

Councilmember Jamie Torres said the measure responds to a Citizen Oversight Board review that found more than 150 legal settlements involving public safety personnel from 2017 through 2024 and that four of those settlements included non‑monetary commitments such as policy changes or community engagement. "This ordinance change makes that a requirement that within 30 days of us approving it, those 2 bodies will be notified of those terms," Torres said, referring to the Citizen Oversight Board and the Office of the Independent Monitor (OIM).

Torres and Councilmember Kim Gilmore framed the ordinance as a transparency step to ensure oversight boards can track non‑monetary settlement obligations such as policy or protocol changes, community commitments, or jail medical protocols. Councilmember Michael Lewis said the change will add important context to settlement data his office tracks and help measure adherence to non‑monetary terms.

The bill (council bill 11‑17 as introduced) was included in the set of bills ordered published and later placed on final consideration as part of a consent block. That block of bills and resolutions passed on final consideration during the meeting.