Council approves $16.3 million appropriation for northern police substation after close vote

Commerce City Council voted 5–4 on second reading to appropriate $16.3 million from unencumbered general-fund balance for a police substation in the city’s northern range.

The ordinance, Ordinance 2723, funds capital work for a northern-range police facility located at the Northeast corner of 104th Avenue and Potomac. Council members who supported the measure said the appropriation is necessary to provide space to hire and house officers and specialized units and to reduce response times for the city’s growing northern neighborhoods. "This will give us a location ... to effectively increase our response times to calls in the Northern Range," the city manager said during debate.

Opponents said the project has changed since it was first discussed in earlier study sessions, and they raised concerns about scale, public notice to nearby neighborhoods and competing capital priorities such as road and drainage work on Colorado Boulevard. "We already approved $25 million for this; I do not agree to what you're asking now," said one council member during debate, describing community expectations for a smaller substation footprint. Another council member said they supported public safety but could not support the increased appropriation without clearer justification and more community outreach.

Council considered — and rejected — a motion to amend the ordinance to lower the appropriation to $6.3 million. That amendment failed on a recorded roll-call vote. The council then proceeded to a final roll-call on Ordinance 2723; the ordinance passed 5–4.

The ordinance text appropriates unencumbered general-fund balance to the capital expenditures fund for design and construction of the police substation and authorizes interfund transfers and expenditures as needed. City staff said earlier estimates and scope discussions had been part of prior study sessions; staff and the city attorney also explained that an ordinance may be amended between first and second reading provided the amendment does not change the general purpose of the ordinance.

Council members asked staff to ensure future community engagement around the project site and to clarify what functions remain at the Civic Center versus at the northern facility. City management reiterated that sworn officers and services would be deployed across the city and that the substation is intended to increase capacity as the city grows. The council moved into an executive session later in the evening; no immediate administrative change to the ordinance was announced.

Ordinance 2723 passed on final reading by a 5–4 vote.