Council president proposes slower schedule for $800M "Vibrant Denver" bond, keeping public hearing before final vote

Council President Amanda Sandoval proposed an adjusted schedule for the Vibrant Denver bond package Wednesday, saying the executive bond committee and mayor agreed to "slow" the process so council members and the public have more time to review project details.

Sandoval, who chairs the Geo Bond Working Group, told members she negotiated a revised sequencing that would move the package through Business & Finance on July 22, allow filing for first reading July 28 with a courtesy public hearing, and target a final vote on Aug. 4. She emphasized the change was intended to avoid holding a courtesy public hearing and a vote on the same night.

The Department of Finance (DOF) presented the committee with the general legislative steps staff have previously shown: an initial plan that included internal briefings in July and a faster first- and second-reading cadence. DOF staff said they would provide ballot language and the companion ordinance text to councilmembers in advance and offered one-on-one briefings prior to committee to avoid surprise materials on the floor.

DOF also reminded members that, if voters approve the ballot questions, separate legislative actions will remain required to issue debt and to approve any construction or design contracts above the $500,000 contracting threshold.

Sandoval asked councilmembers to finish district-level tiering in the shared Excel tool so staff and the executive committee can compile a project list the mayor will review; DOF said the executive committee aims to submit recommendations to the mayor as scheduled. The working group set a July 9 informational briefing for members and planned additional individual briefings before the July 22 committee meeting.

No formal council vote on a final timeline or bond package was taken at the working group; the schedule Sandoval proposed is a committee-level timeline to guide staff and council briefings.