Denver council postpones vote on hotel-based cold-weather sheltering agreement after questions from members

Council postponed consideration of a contract amendment that would pay US Motels Denver North Inc. to provide hotel rooms and ballroom space for cold-weather sheltering after members asked for more detail about which properties would be used and how the city would pay for overnight space.

Council Member Lewis put questions to city staff during the Jan. 5 meeting about whether the resolution would authorize use of city-owned rooms or private hotels and which properties would be eligible. John Kasinski, who identified himself as "John Kasinski, deputy director of host," told the council the city would not be master-leasing the hotels but would "rent rooms on a per-night basis as available," and said the agreement adds funding to an existing contract used last year. Kasinski listed sites and approximate capacities, saying, for example, that a site at 2601 Zuni Street serves families with about 140 beds available and that other properties offer roughly 80–100 rooms for overflow and family sheltering. He added that ballrooms would be used only as overflow overnight cold-weather shelter and "may not be available 24/7." (John Kasinski, deputy director of host.)

Lewis said she wanted more time to review the administration’s methodology and the distribution of sites across districts before the council authorized further spending. After discussion, the council voted unanimously to postpone Resolution 20-70 to Jan. 12, 2026.

The postponement means the administration will provide the additional requested details and that staff will follow up with members by email, including a full list of proposed sites, addresses and exact capacities, per Kasinski. The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 12, when the item is to be returned for a date-certain vote.