November Ballot Measures Impacting Homelessness in Denver

By Robert Davis

This November, Denver voters will decide on several ballot measures that could impact the way the City responds to homelessness.

In all, there are 13 measures on the ballot, five of which are citizen-led initiated ordinances. Five other ballot measures are part of Mayor Michael Hancock’s $450 million general obligation bond package.

Ballots began landing in voter mailboxes on October 8 and must be received by the Denver Elections Division by 7 p.m. on November 2 to count. The Elections Division recommends mailing the ballots by October 25 to ensure they arrive on time or dropping them into a local 24-hour drop box.

Several groups and organizations have weighed in on the ballot measures. Here’s what they are and what people are saying about them.

City Council recently adopted a pair of resolutions opposing both Initiated Ordinance 303 and 304, saying the ordinances would suffocate Denver’s ability to respond to homelessness at a time when the city needs more resources.

Initiated Ordinance 300: Pandemic Research Fund: Initiated Ordinance 300 would increase Denver’s retail marijuana tax by $7 million to fund pandemic research.

The ordinance is sponsored by the Denver Pandemic Fund and the Colorado Nurses Association. It has received more than $250,000 in donations supporting the campaign, according to records from the Clerk & Recorder’s office.

Joshua Sharf, the former chair of Denver’s GOP, told Complete Colorado in September that the ordinance’s aim “is not a core function of city government.”

Initiated Ordinance 301: Parks and Open Space Preservation: Initiated Ordinance 301 would prohibit Denver from developing open spaces into housing. This would protect properties like the controversial Park Hill Golf Course from being turned into housing, even though the ballot measure doesn’t explicitly name the property.

The ordinance is sponsored by Westside Investment Partners and Safe Open Space Denver and has received more than $89,000 in donations to date. That total includes a $10,000 donation from the Colorado Impact Fund.

Initiated Ordinance 302: Conservation Easement: Like Initiated Ordinance 301, Initiated Ordinance 302 would limit Denver’s ability to lift conservation easements that protect open spaces from housing development.

Initiated Ordinance 303: Let’s Do Better: Initiated Ordinance 303 is one of two ordinances submitted by Garrett Flicker, the current chairman of Denver’s Republican Party. The ordinance would require Denver to remove homeless encampments within 72 hours of being notified by property owners. If the City fails to do so, property owners can hold the City civilly liable.

City Council recently adopted a pair of resolutions opposing both Initiated Ordinance 303 and 304, saying the ordinances would suffocate Denver’s ability to respond to homelessness at a time when the city needs more resources.

“The voters of Denver and City agencies have recently, dramatically expanded shelter hours and services, hotel and other transitional housing innovations, and funding for permanent housing with services, but permanent housing solutions take time to implement and the people of Denver are frustrated and want the city to do more, better and faster, but managing street homelessness and associated public health and safety risks is far more complicated than a sledgehammer approach can deliver,” the resolution opposing 303 reads

Initiated Ordinance 303 is supported by Defend Colorado, a dark money group that is focused on “defending Colorado’s economy and creating jobs,” according to the organization’s website. More than $117,000 has been donated in support of the campaign.

Initiated Ordinance 304: Enough Taxes Already: Similarly, Flicker submitted Initiated Ordinance 304 to insert a maximum tax clause into Denver’s charter while simultaneously lowering the sales tax rate from 4.8% to 4.5%.

Supporters of the measure argue that the sales tax is really a “tax on poverty” while those opposing the ordinance say it would gut essential services of necessary funding for housing and homeless shelters.

A group consisting of organizations like AGC Colorado, Denver Area Labor Foundation, and the Downtown Denver Partnership formed NO! On 300 to oppose the measure and argue it is deceptive.

“To balance its budget, the city would have to reduce funding for dedicated programs for homelessness, mental health, preschool and college affordability that are funded through sales-tax dollars previously approved by Denver voters,” the group said on their website.

Referred Question 2A: Denver Facilities System Bonds: Referred Question 2A is one of five referred questions on the ballot that are part of Mayor Hancock’s $450 million general obligation bond package. 2A would allocate $104 million for a variety of upgrades to the Denver Zoo, Denver Public Library, and the Botanic Gardens, among others.

Supporters argue that 2A makes necessary infrastructure investments that will help power Denver’s economic recovery while those in opposition say it borrows money from residents and makes housing more expensive. They also argue that many of the provisions in the bill were already approved in the Elevate Denver bond package that passed in 2017.

Referred Question 2B: Housing and Sheltering System Bonds: Referred Question 2B would allocate $38.6 million in general obligation bonds to support maintenance and upgrades to Denver’s homeless shelters. The maximum repayment rate for the bonds could be as high as $66.4 million, according to the measure’s text.

Supporters argue the measure is necessary because many of Denver’s shelters are outdated. People who oppose the measure often argue that Denver spends a lot of money on homeless shelters already, but the number of people experiencing homelessness is growing.

Referred Question 2C: Transportation and Mobility System Bonds: Referred Question 2C would allocate $63.3 million for sidewalk repairs, bicycle safety projects, and other transportation or mobility upgrades.

Supporters argue that it will make necessary infrastructure upgrades that will promote economic growth in the future. People opposed to the measure say Denver’s multimodal transportation system is robust enough and that the city should spend more time and money on road projects.

Referred Question 2D: Denver Parks and Recreation Systems Bonds: Referred Question 2D would allocate more than $54 million in general obligation bonds to build two parks in northeast Denver and make other improvements to the City’s parks and recreation system.

Supporters include Mayor Hancock and Denver CFO Brendan Hanlon, who argue that it will help spur economic development. So far, no groups have filed paperwork in opposition of the measure with the Clerk & Recorder’s office.

Referred Question 2E: National Western Campus Facilities System Bonds: Referred Question 2E is the final measure that is part of Mayor Hancock’s $450 million bond package. If approved, it would allocate $190 million to construct a new multi-use arena near the National Western Center Complex as well as renovate the campus.

Mayor Hancock and the City’s financial team are both pushing for the measure, saying they are necessary to help the City recover from the pandemic. The proposal has met fierce pushback from members of the Denver City Council and private organizations who argue it does not represent the interests of everyday Denverites.

Referred Question 2F: Safe and Sound Denver: Referred Question 2F seeks to overturn the controversial Group Living Amendment that City Council adopted in 2020. The Amendment expanded both the definition of “household” in the city’s zoning code and the areas of the city that can support nontraditional housing.

It is supported by a group that goes by the same name that argues the Group Living Amendment would unsafely increase density. Those in opposition argue that the Group Living Amendment is a necessary step toward providing affordable housing and reducing homelessness.

Referred Question 2G: Future Vacancies for Independent Monitor: Referred Question 2G would allow City Council to appoint Denver’s Independent Monitor—a position that oversees the local police department—rather than the mayor overseeing it. Denver’s previous Monitor resigned last summer after releasing a scathing report about the police department’s response to the George Floyd protests. The seat remains vacant.

Supporters argue the measure is a necessary check on the mayor’s powers.

Referred Question 2H: Election Day Change: Referred Question 2H would change the day of municipal elections in Denver from the second Tuesday in May to the first Tuesday in April for odd-numbered years to bring the city charter into compliance with federal law.

Supporters argue that the move is a commonsense move, while detractors argue that it would make Denver politics less civil in the future.

Denver VOICEOctober 13, 2021