Council amends rezoning bill to add Green Valley Ranch, orders publication after debate over Parks funding

Denver City Council on April 20 amended council bill 26-0476 to correct neighborhood references in the bill title and ordered the measure published as amended, after a procedural pause to resolve a title error and a brief debate in which Council Member Gilmore criticized Denver Parks and Recreation’s project bundling and funding choices.

Clerk announced bills for introduction from the South Platte River Committee, including council bill 26-0476, a zoning ordinance that listed properties at 4458 North Pearl Street, 5275 North Franklin Street and 4621 North Telluride Street. Council Member Gilmore called for postponement, saying the bill’s title incorrectly listed neighborhoods and that 4621 North Telluride is in Green Valley Ranch (District 11), not Globeville.

Joe Green with Community Planning and Development confirmed the address is in Green Valley Ranch and said the neighborhood name was missing from the bill title. City attorney staff and CPD staff discussed whether the title could be amended rather than refiled. The council recessed briefly to address technical issues and confirm options.

After reconvening, Gilmore moved to amend the bill’s title to insert the correct neighborhood references and to replace the mistaken reference with Green Valley Ranch for 4621 North Telluride Street. The amendment was moved, seconded and passed; the clerk later corrected the roll-call record to state the amendment passed with 13 ayes, 0 nays. The council then voted to place council bill 26-0476 on the floor as amended and ordered it published as amended.

Gilmore said she would vote no on the measure as amended and used her remarks to raise concerns about transparency and equity in Parks and Recreation’s project planning. She cited a 2012 parks maintenance improvement study and alleged Parks planned a 700-square-foot maintenance facility in one park while diverting $5,400,000 from a planned 4,500-square-foot maintenance shop in Green Valley Ranch to fund a smaller, 1,800-square-foot prefabricated building. Gilmore said those choices disadvantage District 11, which she described as having the largest community of color in the city.

CPD staff confirmed only the drafting error in the bill title during the meeting; no Parks and Recreation director response was recorded in the transcript. The council also placed a block of numerous resolutions and bills on final consideration and passed them in a single roll-call vote; the clerk announced the block vote result as 13 ayes.

The clerk announced required public hearings on Monday, May 18, 2026, for council bill 26-0391 (rezoning 3232 Larimer Street in 5 Points) and council bill 26-0476 (the amended rezoning bill that now references Green Valley Ranch). Any protests against those bills must be filed with the council offices no later than noon on Monday, May 11, 2026.