Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 2, art. VIII, div. 6 — DENVER FOOD COMMISSION | Denver Revised Municipal Code (Supp. No. 147, Update 3: codified through Ordinance No. 0852-26, enacted July 13, 2026) — City of Denver

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 2-240 Establishment.

Sec. 2-240. - Establishment. There is hereby created a Denver food commission which is established to determine distribution of the sales and use tax increment and any other funds raised or allocated to support the Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Initiative. (Ord. No. 302, § 8, 11-6-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 2-241 Purpose.

Sec. 2-241. - Purpose. The intent of this commission is to achieve the most effective possible coordination and impactful utilization of all city, private and public resources generated to support the Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Initiative and other related efforts. (Ord. No. 302, § 8, 11-6-18)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 2-242 Appointment, qualifications, and terms.

Sec. 2-242. - Appointment, qualifications, and terms. (a) The Denver food commission shall consist of the following thirteen (13) commissioners: three (3) persons from the mayor's cabinet, or department heads, who shall be appointed to the commission by the mayor; two (2) members of city council, who shall be approved by city council; four (4) residents of the city, who shall be appointed to the commission by the mayor; and four (4) representatives of city-wide organizations or institutions engaged in food related activities, who shall be appointed to the commission by the mayor. (b) In making appointments, the mayor and city council will give consideration to assure a balance of knowledge and skill including, but not limited to, experience with food, gardening, youth development, non-profit administration, public health, grant-making, and business development. (c) The Denver food commission shall reflect the geographic, demographic, socioeconomic, and ethnic diversity and composition of the City and County of Denver. (d) Each commissioner must live or work in the City and County of Denver, not currently be a volunteer or paid staff person of an organization applying for Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Initiative funding, and willing to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. (e) Commissioners will serve without compensation. (f) A commissioner may be removed by the mayor for cause. A commissioner may also be removed by ordinance for cause, provided that the councilmembers sponsoring the bill shall notify the commissioner in writing at least fourteen (14) days prior to the first reading of the bill. If the commissioner chooses, they may resign before the bill is introduced. If the commissioner does not resign, then they shall be permitted to address the council at a public meeting prior to final approval of the bill. (g) The terms of the commissioners shall be three (3) years; the terms shall be staggered so that at least three (3) of the commissioner shall be appointed each year. In the event of the death, or resignation of any commissioner, their successor shall be appointed in the manner provided for original appointment, to serve for the unexpired portion of the term for which such commissioner has been appointed. No commissioner shall than two (2) terms. (Ord. No. 302, § 8, 11-6-18; Ord. No. 532-21, § 1, 7-26-21)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 2-243 Powers and duties.

Sec. 2-243. - Powers and duties. (a) The Denver food commission shall institute and promulgate procedures for the application, consideration, and determination of distribution of revenues from the Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Initiative Fund and any other funds raised or allocated to support the Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Initiative. The procedures shall expressly prohibit any and all discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical or mental disability. (b) The Denver food commission shall create criteria for the selection of organizations to receive monies from the Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Initiatives fund. (c) At the minimum, criteria shall include the following: (i) The requirement that all distributions of revenues shall help Denver's kids, primarily Denver's low income and at-risk youth, through year-round access for up to three (3) healthy meals and healthy snacks per day for Denver's youth age eighteen (18) and under; hands-on experiential education and public health programs associated with farming, gardening, cooking, home economics, and healthy eating; and preferentially procuring food from Colorado farms, ranches, and food manufacturing businesses so long as they are less than ten (10) percent more expensive than comparable out-of-state foods. (ii) The requirement that revenues be distributed by the Denver food commission only to organizations which conduct qualifying programmtic activities within the city and county of Denver, so long that distributed revenues principally benefit the residents of the city and county of Denver. (iii) The requirement that any recipients provide regular reporting on their activities. (iv) An allowance for the payment or reimbursement of basic operations and special project costs, provision for a diversity of participation, and provision for participation by new and emerging organizations as well as by stable and established organizations. (v) An allowance for no more than ten (10) percent of the total revenues raised for and by the Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Initiative be used to cover city expenses directly related to the administration of this initiative. (d) The Denver food commission shall only distribute monies from the Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Initiatives fund to recipients who are either non-profit organizations in good standing that have a determination letter in effect from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service confirming the organization meets the requirements of 26 USC 501(c)(3) and that provide healthy meals and healthy snacks for Denver's youth age eighteen (18) and under; hands-on experiential education and public health programs associated with farming, gardening, cooking, home economics, and healthy eating; or the preferential procurement of food from Colorado farms, ranches, and food manufacturing businesses so long as they are less than ten (10) percent more expensive than comparable out-of-state foods; or agencies of local government, including Denver Public Schools and public schools in Denver, that have programs directly furthering such primary purposes. (e) The Denver food commission shall conduct all meetings subject to and in compliance with the requirements of Denver open meetings law set forth in article III of chapter 2 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code. (f) By December 30 of each year the Denver food commission shall provide annually to the Denver city council a report on funds distributed and any changes to policies and procedures. (g) The Denver department of public health and environment shall provide administrative support to the Denver food commission. (h) Notwithstanding the above, the Denver food commission shall be authorized to adopt additional by-laws and guidelines governing its internal operations. (Ord. No. 302, § 8, 11-6-18; Ord. No. 532-21, § 1, 7-26-21)