Denver City Charter subtit. B, art. III, pt. 3 — COUNCIL PROCEDURES | Charter of the City and County of Denver (Supp. No. 147, Update 3: codified through Ordinance No. 0852-26, enacted July 13, 2026) — City of Denver

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.3.1 President of Council.

§ 3.3.1 - President of Council. The City Council shall annually elect one of its members president. (Charter 1960, B1.1-1; Ord. No. 676-02, § 1, 8-26-02, elec. 11-5-02)

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.3.2 Council meetings.

§ 3.3.2 - Council meetings. All City Council meetings to conduct public business shall be held at a regularly scheduled time, shall be open to the public, except that Council may recess for executive sessions, and shall be held in the manner prescribed by city laws. Special meetings may be called by the Mayor or any three members upon twenty-four hours written notice. (Charter 1960, B1.7; amended September 10, 1968; Ord. No. 608-05, § 1, 8-9-05, elec. 11-1-05; Ord. No. 537-20, § 1, 7-20-20, elec. 11-3-20)

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.3.3 Reserved.

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.3.4 Quorum.

§ 3.3.4 - Quorum. Seven members shall constitute a quorum, however a smaller number may adjourn from time to time and compel the attendance of absentees, and seven votes shall be necessary to adopt any ordinance or resolution. (Charter 1960, B1.4; amended May 17, 1916; amended September 10, 1968; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02)

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.3.5 Ordinances and resolutions.

§ 3.3.5 - Ordinances and resolutions. (A) When required. The Council shall act only by ordinance in matters of legislation or appropriations, or when action by ordinance is otherwise required by this charter, by ordinance, or by general law; and may act by ordinance or resolution in other matters. (B) Single subject. All ordinances or resolutions, except ordinances making appropriations, shall be confined to one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in the title. If any subject shall be embraced in any ordinance which shall not be expressed in the title, such ordinance shall be void only as to so much thereof as shall not be so expressed. Ordinances making appropriations shall be confined to the subject of appropriations. (C) Amendment of ordinances by reference to title prohibited. No ordinance shall be revised or amended, or the provisions thereof extended or conferred by reference to title only. So much thereof as is revised, amended, extended or conferred, shall be re-enacted at length. (D) [Reserved.] (E) Enacting clause. The style of all ordinances shall be: "Be it enacted by the Council of the City and County of Denver." (F) Procedures for passage by Council. No ordinance shall be passed except by bill. The title of each bill, when the bill is introduced, shall be read aloud before the Council. No bill shall be passed until after the expiration of five calendar days from and after the introduction of same, nor until one publication of the title and a description of the bill shall have been made. If any amendment alters the title or description, a new title and description shall be published in like manner before final passage of the bill. No bill shall be so altered or amended as to change its original purpose. No ordinance shall take effect until sufficient notice thereof has been published by authority of Council in an official publication. The procedures for passage of a resolution shall be as provided for in the rules of the Council or by ordinance. (G) Presentation to Mayor; approval or veto; override of veto. Every ordinance passed by the Council shall be presented to the Mayor within forty-eight hours thereafter. If the Mayor approves such ordinance, he or she shall sign it within five days after receiving it. If the Mayor disapproves, the ordinance shall be returned to the Council within five days with the Mayor's objections in writing. If then nine of the members vote to pass the same over the Mayor's veto, it shall become an ordinance, notwithstanding the objections of the Mayor. If the Mayor does not return the ordinance with written objections within the time specified, it shall take effect as if the Mayor had approved it. (H) No veto of ordinances submitting Charter amendments or calling Charter convention. Notwithstanding the foregoing subsection (G), the Mayor shall not have power to disapprove an ordinance submitting to a vote of the qualified electors a Charter amendment, or a proposal for a Charter convention. (I) Mayor to sign; Clerk to attest. The Mayor shall sign all ordinances and the Clerk shall in like manner attest and affix the seal of the City and County to all ordinances and to such resolutions and motions as the Council shall direct. (J) Effective date. Ordinances passed by the City Council shall become effective after final passage and final publication or on the date specified in the ordinance. (Charter 1960, A10.4; B1.5, B1.5-1, B1.9, B1.10, B1.11, C2.4-1; Subsections (A), (B), (C) (F) and (I), amended February 14, 1913; Subsection (D) amended September 9, 1980; Subsection (E), Charter 1904, § 14; Subsection (F), amended August 12, 1986, amended November 8, 1988, amended May 8, 2001; Subsection (G) and (H), amended May 17, 1916, amended September 10, 1968, amended May 17, 1977; Subsection (J) amended May 15, 1979, amended August 11, 1992; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 679-02, § 1, 8-26-02, elec. 11-5-02; Ord. No. 608-05, § 1, 8-9-05, elec. 11-1-05)

Denver City Charter, art. III, § 3.3.6 Optional referral of ordinance to vote of the people.

§ 3.3.6 - Optional referral of ordinance to vote of the people. City Council may submit any ordinance to a vote of the people at a general or special election without any petition being required. The Mayor shall have the power to disapprove an ordinance making such submission, as provided in Subsection 3.3.5(G) of this Charter. The manner of preparing the general ballot and handling of election results for a referred ordinance shall follow procedures established for an initiative and a referendum. City Council shall not amend or repeal a referred ordinance adopted by a vote of the people within one year after final passage. After the first year and up to ten (10) years following final passage of the referred ordinance, the referred ordinance adopted by a vote of the people may be amended or repealed by City Council only by two-thirds (⅔) vote. Whenever City Council amends or repeals a referred ordinance adopted by a vote of the people, City Council may do so only after it holds a public hearing. (Charter 1960, C2.6; added August 11, 1992)