Bond Package to Repair and Improve Denver Infrastructure Referred to November Ballot

Denver City Council tonight, unanimously approved the referral of seven 2017 General Obligation bond (GO bond) measures to the November ballot. 
 
“I am incredibly proud of this thoughtful, balanced and responsible investment package that was created by and for the people of Denver,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “This bond package represents an unparalleled opportunity to invest in our city to repair roads and bridges; improve our parks, playgrounds and rec centers; upgrade our police and fire stations; and enhance our libraries, cultural institutions and Denver Health Medical Center.”
 
The measures referred to Denver voters this fall were created with the most public input of any bond proposal in Denver’s history. Denver residents provided more than 4,000 ideas, comments and suggestions for investment through emails and public meetings, 60+ volunteer stakeholder committee members spent countless hours reviewing potential projects, and dozens of city staff spent more than a year to make this bond package a reality.
 
Mayor Hancock continued, “I look forward to continuing the conversation about the importance of these projects with Denver residents. I want to thank City Council for their partnership throughout this entire process, as well as the stakeholder committees, city staff and Denver residents who proposed ideas for investment. This truly is the people’s bond package, and we created it together.”
 
The package of infrastructure investments includes 460 projects valued at $937 million. More than half of the projects on the list will fix and repair existing infrastructure, with the remainder dedicated to upgrades and new infrastructure across the city.
 
The seven ballot questions include:

• $431 million for transportation and mobility projects
• $116.9 million for city-owned cultural facility improvements
• $75 million for a new outpatient care center at Denver Health Medical Center
• $77 million for safety facility projects
• $69.3 million for Denver Public Library improvements,
• $151.6 million for parks and recreation and
• $16.5 million for city-owned facility improvements

 
“This GO bond represents some of the most critical investments we can make in our city for the next decade and beyond. My Council colleagues and I had a healthy debate about each project and evaluated each one carefully. Ultimately this was the package of projects we were proud to refer to the November ballot because they offer balance, equity and an opportunity for all areas of the city to see improvements,” said Council President Albus Brooks.  
 
The city began the GO bond process in 2016 by engaging the Denver community in a conversation about the improvements they want in their neighborhoods and throughout the city. With six public meetings, a map-based online tool, City Council engagement, and comment cards located at libraries and recreation centers across Denver, the city received more than 3,000 investment ideas. The stakeholder phase of the GO bond process saw an additional 1,000+ emails from residents advocating for projects and each stakeholder committee meeting featured a public comment period. 
 
Visit www.denvergov.org/2017GObond for more information about the bond process and projects