COUNCIL PROCEDURES

Denver Revised Municipal Code ch. 13, art. II

in effect

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-2 Council rules governing meetings and procedures.

Sec. 13-2. - Council rules governing meetings and procedures. (a) City council shall keep a public record of its proceedings. (b) City council shall enter every vote taken at a regular meeting by roll call. (c) A member of city council may participate in a meeting including any public hearings by electronic means during work travel, personal or medical necessity, or if authorized by the president of council. To establish presence for purposes of the Charter section 3.1.6 and to establish a quorum under Charter section 3.3.4, a member participating by electronic means must: (1) Appear live on camera when establishing quorum, when speaking, and when voting; (2) Appear using electronic means that includes video capability; and (3) Appear on video when casting a vote or such vote will not be recorded. (d) City council shall adopt additional rules governing its procedure. (Ord. No. 572-21, § 6, 7-19-21; Ord. No. 248-22, § 1, 3-14-22)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-3 Bills for ordinances.

Sec. 13-3. - Bills for ordinances. (a) Filing of bills. All bills for ordinances shall be filed in the council office in their entirety, unless otherwise authorized by the president of council, no later than 12:00 noon on the Thursday preceding the meeting of the council at which such bills shall be introduced; or, if Thursday is a legal holiday, then such bills shall be so filed no later than 12:00 noon on the Wednesday preceding such meeting of the council. A bill shall not be considered submitted for approval pursuant to Section 3.2.6 of the Charter until it is filed pursuant to this section. (b) Late filings. Bills for ordinances may be introduced as late filings, provided that a unanimous vote of the council present at a meeting of the council approves a suspension of the rules of council procedure to permit introduction of such bills. (c) Introduction of bills. Subject to the provisions of subsections (a) and (b), bills for ordinances may be introduced by any council member, and any such bill for an ordinance shall, when introduced, have the name of the council member introducing it plainly written thereon. Bills for ordinances shall be numbered from the first of January in each year in the order of their introduction. (d) Printing bills. Before the final consideration of any bill for an ordinance, or before the same shall have been put upon its final passage, it shall be the right of a majority of the council members to require such bill to be printed and copies thereof to be distributed among the members of the council. (Ord. No. 572-21, § 6, 7-19-21; Ord. No. 327-26, § 1, 4-6-26)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-4 Revising, reenacting, and amending ordinances.

Sec. 13-4. - Revising, reenacting, and amending ordinances. (a) Any bill for an ordinance that amends an appropriating ordinance to appropriate additional funds, to rescind funds, or to transfer funds shall show the manager of finance accounting code of the affected agency or appropriation account, the appropriation account's or agency's name, and the amount to be appropriated, rescinded or transferred. (b) Any bill for an ordinance that amends an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of capital equipment to alter the list of items that an agency is authorized to acquire shall contain the manager of finance accounting code of the affected agency, the agency's name, and the items being added or deleted. (c) Any bill for an ordinance, other than those listed in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, that amends, revises, or reenacts an existing ordinance shall set forth at length the section, subsection, or lesser subdivision that is being changed by the bill. No bill shall amend or revise an existing ordinance by reference to the title only or by merely striking, substituting, or adding words. (d) Bills for ordinances that amend or revise the Revised Municipal Code shall indicate the proposed changes in the code in formats agreed to by the city attorney and the city council president. Bills referring charter amendments to the voters shall indicate the proposed changes in the charter in formats agreed to by the city attorney and the city council president. The city attorney and council president may provide for this requirement to be waived for certain bills or types of bills. (Ord. No. 572-21, § 6, 7-19-21)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-5 Publication of ordinances.

Sec. 13-5. - Publication of ordinances. (a) After introduction by city council but prior to the date scheduled by the council for passage, the clerk and recorder shall: (1) Publish notice of all bills by reference to their assigned numbers, in a newspaper approved by the manager of general services for official publications of the city. The notice shall advise that the title, the description, and the full text of these bills are available in electronic form on the city's official website or in printed form in the clerk and recorder's office. The notice shall include instructions for obtaining the title, the description, and the full text of such bills in electronic and printed form; and (2) Publish the title, the description, and the full text of all such bills and resolutions on the official website of the city. The clerk and recorder shall maintain printed records of these publications. (b) Within five (5) days after passage by council and the approval by the mayor, the failure to veto by the mayor, or the overriding of a mayoral veto by council, the clerk and recorder shall: (1) Publish notice of all ordinances by reference to their assigned numbers, in a newspaper approved by the manager of general services for official publications of the city. The notice shall advise that the title, the description, and the full text of these bills are available in electronic form on the city's official website or in printed form in the clerk and recorder's office. The notice shall include instructions for obtaining the title, the description, and the full text of bills in electronic and printed form; and (2) Publish the title, the description, and the full text of all such ordinances on the official website of the city. The clerk and recorder shall maintain printed records of these publications in the clerk and recorder's office. (c) In addition to the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the clerk and recorder shall also comply with any other publication requirements imposed by federal, state, or local law as may be applicable to a particular type of ordinance. (d) The clerk and recorder shall provide a copy of the full text of any bill or ordinance to any person who requests a copy; provided, however, that the clerk and recorder may establish charges for the copies which are, in the clerk and recorder's opinion, reasonable. (Ord. No. 572-21, § 6, 7-19-21)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-6 Resolutions.

Sec. 13-6. - Resolutions. (a) Action by resolution allowed. The council shall act by bill and ordinance on any matter requiring the approval of the council, except as otherwise provided by this section. In lieu of a bill and ordinance, council may act by resolution upon the following matters: (1) An appointment or confirmation of an appointment to any board or commission or to any other office or position of employment for which council is the appointing authority, and the removal of any such appointee or employee; (2) The adoption or amendment of any council rule of procedure pursuant to section 13-2 of this Code or approval of a council professional service contract pursuant to section 13-12 of this Code. (3) Approval of any action required by state or federal law, when approval by resolution is permitted by the applicable state or federal law. (4) The approval of any temporary license or permit in or to any street, alley or public place pursuant to section 3.2.7 of the Charter. (5) The approval of any plat and dedication of any street, alley or other public highway pursuant to section 1.1.12 of the Charter. (6) The establishment of any right-of-way for streets, alleys, highways or other thoroughfares pursuant to section 2.3.3(A) of the Charter. (7) The approval of the settlement of a liability claim as provided in section 20-1(d) of the Code. (8) The approval of a lease or contract pursuant to section 3.2.6 of the Charter; provided, however; that intergovernmental agreements that require council approval or that contracts for the sale or conveyance of property owned by the city shall be approved by ordinance. (b) Filing of resolutions. All resolutions shall be filed in the council office in their entirety, unless otherwise authorized by the president of council, no later than 12:00 noon on the Thursday preceding the meeting of the council at which such resolutions shall be introduced; or, if Thursday is a legal holiday, then such resolutions shall be so filed no later than 12:00 noon on the Wednesday preceding such meeting of the council. A resolution shall not be considered submitted for approval pursuant to Section 3.2.6 of the Charter until it is filed pursuant to this section. (c) Special notice rule for right-of-way approvals. No resolution approving any action related to streets, alleys and other public places as set forth in paragraphs (3), (4) and (5) of subsection (a) of this section shall be filed unless the manager of transportation and infrastructure has provided written notice of the proposed action to the council member representing the district in which the affected right-of-way is located. The notice shall be delivered between fifteen (15) and thirty (30) days in advance of the filing of the resolution. (d) Late filings. Resolutions may be introduced as late filings, provided that a unanimous vote of the council present at a meeting of the council approves a suspension of the rules of council procedure to permit introduction of such resolutions. (e) Introduction and approval of resolutions. Subject to the provisions of subsection (b), resolutions may be introduced by any council member, and any such resolution shall, when introduced, have the name of the council member introducing it plainly written thereon. Any resolution may be moved and voted upon singly or in a block vote with other resolutions, and shall be deemed approved upon the affirmative vote of at least seven (7) members of council. Any resolution so approved shall be signed and dated by the president of council and attested by the clerk. Resolutions shall be numbered from the first of January in each year in the order of their introduction. (f) Printing of resolutions. Before the vote on any resolution, it shall be the right of a majority of the council members to require such resolution to be printed and copies thereof to be distributed among the members of the council. (Ord. No. 572-21, § 6, 7-19-21; Ord. No. 1234-21, § 5, 11-1-21; Ord. No. 327-26, § 1, 4-6-26)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-7 Recordation.

Sec. 13-7. - Recordation. (a) All ordinances shall, after having passed and received the signature of the mayor, be recorded by the clerk in the record books prepared for that purpose, and the clerk shall also certify with such records the date of publication and the paper wherein the same was published, or whether the same was published in book or pamphlet form by authority of the council. (b) All resolutions shall, after having passed and received the signature of the president of council, be attested and recorded by the clerk in the record books prepared for that purpose. (Ord. No. 572-21, § 6, 7-19-21)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-8 Waiver of approval of certain contracts and leases related to the department of aviation.

Sec. 13-8. - Waiver of approval of certain contracts and leases related to the department of aviation. (a) Leases. Pursuant to Charter section 3.2.6(H), the city council hereby waives the requirement that the following leases, as defined in Charter section 3.2.6(A), be submitted to city council for approval or disapproval under Charter section 3.2.6: (1) Leases for the purpose of conducting farming operations on Denver Municipal Airport System ("airport") property; (2) Residential leases on airport property, provided the lease does not exceed a term of one (1) year and one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) in annual rent payments; (3) Storage, office, or support space leases on airport property, provided the lease is ancillary to and in support of an existing concession or airline lease which has been submitted to city council for approval; (4) Leases or licenses to place vending machines on airport property; (5) Leases or licenses not exceeding a term of one (1) year for the purpose of offering seasonal services or information to the public on airport property; (6) Leases, licenses, or easements for the privilege of placing utility lines or pipes, conducting surveys or investigations, or accessing construction sites, on, under, or adjacent to airport property. (b) Contracts. Pursuant to Charter section 3.2.6(H), the city council hereby waives the requirement that the following contracts, as defined in Charter section 3.2.6(A), be submitted to city council for approval or disapproval under Charter section 3.2.6: (1) Contracts for the design or construction of airport facilities or improvements, provided the contract does not exceed five million dollars ($5,000,000.00); (2) Grant agreements with the federal government for airport purposes provided the agreement does not require any contribution or matching funds from the city's general fund. (c) Monthly reports. The department of aviation shall provide monthly reports to city council listing all planned and pending contracts for the design or construction of airport facilities or improvements, including contracts recently awarded and in process, pending bids and proposals, and upcoming projects. This report may be provided by electronic email to city council, although printed copies will be delivered to council members upon request. (Ord. No. 572-21, § 6, 7-19-21)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-9 Reference to city attorney.

Sec. 13-9. - Reference to city attorney. (a) Examination as to form. All bills for ordinances and resolutions introduced for passage shall, unless the rules are suspended for their passage, be referred to the city attorney, and it shall be the duty of the city attorney to make an examination thereof and to report to the council, in writing, any irregularity in form thereof, or legal objection thereto. (b) Numbering of amendments. The city attorney shall examine any and all bills for amendments to this Code or bills for general ordinances affecting or supplemental hereto before their introduction in city council and assign to every section of each such bill an appropriate section number in harmony with the general plan of this Code. The city attorney shall insert in such bill appropriate repeal or repeal and reenactment clauses if the context so required. (Ord. No. 572-21, § 6, 7-19-21)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-10 Subpoenas.

Sec. 13-10. - Subpoenas. (a) Issuance. The president of the council, or the chairperson of a committee of council duly authorized by it, shall issue subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum and subpoenas and testificandum as necessary to carry out council charter authority under section 3.2.3, to conduct investigations and shall administer oaths to persons so subpoenaed. (b) Service. Subpoenas issued by the council president or authorized committee chairperson shall be delivered to the sheriff's department which shall serve such subpoenas in the same manner as process is served in civil actions under this Code except that the usual fees for such service are hereby waived. (c) Enforcement. It shall be the duty of persons subpoenaed under this article to appear and testify and to produce such books, papers, and records as are called for in such subpoena. Should the person subpoenaed fail to appear and testify or produce documentary evidence, the council or its committee may apply to the county court for an order compelling compliance with the subpoena. Failure to obey the order of the court shall be punishable as a contempt of court. (d) Records. The council, or its committee, shall keep records of its proceedings in the conduct of investigations which records shall be open to the public. At the conclusion of the investigation such records shall be filed with the city clerk. (e) Witness fees. Witnesses who are not in the employ of the city, who are subpoenaed to testify, shall be allowed the fees set forth in section 14-37(b). Such fees shall be paid from the city council operating budget. (Ord. No. 572-21, § 6, 7-19-21)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-11 Definitions.

Sec. 13-11. - Definitions. As used in this article II, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, unless otherwise clearly required by the context: (1) Consultant. An independent contractor that provides professional services. (2) Contract. A legal and binding written agreement. (3) On-call contract. A contract to provide services on an as-needed basis during the contract term. Individual task orders set forth the scope of the services to be provided and a price determined by rates agreed to in the on-call contract. (4) Procurement. To obtain or acquire by particular method, including invitation for bids, request for qualification, statement of interest, request for proposal, invoice, or purchase order. (5) Scope of services. A written description of the desired services. (6) Sole source. Services which are indispensable and obtainable from only one (1) consultant. (Ord. No. 1234-21, § 1, 11-1-21)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-12 Initiating a request and selection process.

Sec. 13-12. - Initiating a request and selection process. (a) A minimum of three (3) members of city council shall sign a written request to initiate a procurement of professional services to aid city council in carrying out its duties and responsibilities under the charter. (b) For work that will exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), general services or legislative services shall conduct a formal solicitation process as follows: (1) A written solicitation shall be prepared to notify potential qualified consultants of the contemplated scope of services, the procedure for selection, and the criteria that will be used in evaluating each responsive submission. (2) A written solicitation shall be advertised for a minimum of three (3) business days. (3) Responsive proposals will be reviewed by a selection panel comprised of a panel set forth in the city council legislative rules. Such panel will recommend an award to a responsive proposer. (c) The terms and conditions of council contracts will be reduced to writing on a form approved by the city attorney and include the appropriate insurance requirements. (d) Council professional service contracts and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to city council for approval by resolution in accordance with section 6 of this Code. (e) Council contracts shall be submitted for attestation by clerk and countersigned by finance and auditor. Nothing herein shall prevent city council or a member of council from using a purchase order to procure services for nominal amounts. (Ord. No. 1234-21, § 2, 11-1-21)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-13 Procurement of services not subject to formal selection process.

Sec. 13-13. - Procurement of services not subject to formal selection process. (a) Regardless of the threshold amount, city council may exercise their authority to procure professional services without a formal selection process when procuring services from a sole source or when procuring services that are indispensable to address a matter requiring urgent action by city council. (b) Any person or business entity awarded a contract this section 13-13 shall furnish to city council a written certificate that meets the requirements under 20-69(c). (Ord. No. 1234-21, § 3, 11-1-21)

Denver Revised Municipal Code § 13-14 Limitation on powers.

Sec. 13-14. - Limitation on powers. (a) The retention of professional services shall not be used for any purpose covered by or that would present a conflict with article VI of the Charter. (b) The retention of professional services shall not be procured if the cost will exceed amounts appropriated and encumbered in the city council operating budget or district office budgets combined. (Ord. No. 1234-21, § 4, 11-1-21)

Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH13COEG_ARTIICOPRFetched: 10/27/2026