We mention City Council a lot in this newsletter — they’re often passing bills, hosting events, polling constituents, or proposing big changes to our laws. In short, City Council is a governing body that keeps Denver running. But keeping up with everything they do and deciphering the political jargon can make it easy to feel lost in the weeds and leave you wondering: Who is City Council and what exactly do they do?
Who Makes Up City Council?
Denver City Council has 13 members. The city is geographically divided into 11 districts, and each district gets a council member to represent it. Then, there are two “at-large” council members who represent the city as a whole. You can find out which district you’re in using this interactive map. Then you can get to know which council member represents you.
Who Can Be a Council Member?
City Council is an elected position. (It is full-time and salaried.) No formal education is required to run. Here are the requirements:
- At least 25 years old
- A U.S. citizen
- A resident of Denver for at least two years
- A resident of their district for at least one year
- Must live in the district they plan to serve
What City Council is in Charge of:
- Proposing, passing, and amending local laws
- Helping guide and manage the city budget
- Leading internal city investigations
- Hosting community events or studies
- Serving on specific city committees that make decisions on land use, transit, the arts, local business issues, and more
Denver City Council meets regularly on most Monday afternoons at 3:30 p.m. at the Denver City and County Building (1437 Bannock Street). The public is welcome to attend in-person or tune into Channel 8. The public comment period for regular meetings starts at 5 p.m. You can speak in-person or via Zoom, but you must sign up in advance.
Stay up to date on meeting schedules and agenda items by signing up for weekly emails.
Want more? Our friends at Denverite have a super in-depth breakdown on City Council and Denver’s lawmaking process.
