Speaker 2: Proclamations. We have one proclamation this evening. Councilman Brooks, were you pleased with the proclamation?
Speaker 9: Yes, certainly, Madam President. And I'm reading this for Councilman Council President Chris Herndon, who represents the airport, and he couldn't be here. He's in.
Speaker 4: Dallas at ap3.
Speaker 9: Convention. So I'll be reading this in his state proclamation 80 celebrating Denver International Airport 20th anniversary. Can you believe it's 20? I can't believe it. Where is Mayor Federico Pena vision to imagine a great city, including a grand vision for an expanded airport that would support Denver's economic growth for decades to come. And. WHEREAS, Mayor Wellington E. Webb continued the vision and built the thing. It doesn't say that, but we all know what happened and oversaw the opening of the Denver International Airport on February 28th, 1995. And. WHEREAS, Denver International Airport instantly became an iconic American airport for its rooftop tents. State of the art technology and its critical link within the nation's airspace air airspace system. And. Whereas, with the support and guidance of Mayor John Hickenlooper, Mayor Bill Vidal and Mayor Michael B Hancock, Denver International Airport has grown over two decades to become the primary economic engine of the city of Denver in the state of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, generating more than 26.3 ba ba ba ba billion annual economic benefit. Whereas Denver International Airport supports the equivalent of 190,000 full time jobs and a payroll totaling 8.6 billion. And. Whereas, Denver International Airport has the third largest domestic network with nonstop service to more than 170 destinations worldwide. Whereas Denver International Airport destinations have increased by 30% since 2011, including services has opened new gateways to economic connections to Europe, Asia, Central America. And. WHEREAS, Denver International Airport, it's today is the fifth busiest airport in the United States and 15th busiest in the world, serving more than 53 million passengers per year. And. Whereas, a new 519 room Western and at Denver International Airport Hotel will complete its original vision of the airport. I believe that's going to be done the third quarter of this year, whereas the commuter rail service between Denver International Airports Transit Center and Denver's Union Station will begin the service in 2016 and connect millions of passengers with the City of Denver's vibrant, vibrant downtown. And. WHEREAS, Mayor Michael Hancock has recognized the area as connecting Denver International Airport and downtown Denver as the corridor of opportunity and will provide economic benefits for decades to come. Last. Whereas, WHEREAS, the Denver International Airport is positioned for another 20 years of successes as America's favorite connecting hub where the Rocky Mountains meet the world now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Council of the City and County of Denver, Section one that Denver City Council recognizes. Denver International Airport, known as Den on its 20th anniversary and congratulates Denver International Airports Management and employees for developing and maintaining and operating a world class serving. A world class airport serving Denver. The state and the country in the world and section to the clerk of the city and county of Denver shall attest in a fix the seal of the city in county Denver to this proclamation that copies be transmitted to Council President Chris Herndon, who is not here. Denver International Airport CEO Kim Day Mayors Michael B Hancock. Federico Pena. Wellington Webb. John Hickenlooper and Bill Vidal. And a copy for all DIA employees to be hung in a prominent location.
Speaker 2: Thank you. Councilman Brooks, your motion to adopt.
Speaker 9: Yes, Madam President. I move that proclamation 80 be adopted.
Speaker 2: Thank you. It has been moved and seconded. Comments by members of council. Councilman Brooks.
Speaker 9: Thank you. Madam President. In 1995, I was 15 years old, was a junior at Clare, my high school, and me and my mom were flying through Denver. And, you know, as a kid, I could care less about the airports that I fly through and connect with. But I specifically remember my mom saying this is one of the most incredible airports and it's it's going to connect us to you know, it's going to be a lot easier for us to fly from L.A. to Denver to get to the East Coast. And I remember seeing the tits and it stuck as a memory for me. And little did I know that I'd be on city council one day in the city of Denver making upgrades and improvements to this airport. So this is such a privilege and an honor to be able to talk about this airport. We spent $4.8 billion in purchasing Denver International Airport today. The return on investment is $26.3 billion. So I think that was a great investment that the city did. And for every $1 of public money that we put in, we returned six. We got six back to the city, to the state and to the Rocky Mountain region. And, you know, you know, DIA makes Denver relevant to the rest of the world. And you don't realize that until you are on some of these trips that we go on to connect with other other city leaders worldwide. And people begin to talk about Denver because of Denver International Airport and and what it does to the region and what it does specifically for the city of Denver. I just want to say I'm grateful for I and I'm excited on where it's going. Kim Day is doing an incredible job and her leadership team who's all sitting very nicely in the front row. But I got to I can't help but reflect on Federico Pena right now. And the visionary leadership that he had to say, you know what? We're gone from Stapleton. So this to Kansas, really to a lot of people in Denver. And we have a vision to put this airport out here. And it's going to it's going to elevate Denver. It's really going to make us relevant on the world stage. And the leadership, the boldness that it took him and and his team to collaborate to make that happen is just encouraging and inspiring. And now here we are today with a young adult DIA, who is paying incredible dividends for this city and really is as a catalyst for this state. So I'm excited to bring this proclamation forward. And I just want to thank all the employees at Denver. And I think this. No one is more excited than me in this council to see this train connect downtown to DIA. This is going to be really. I keep saying, DIA, you guys want me to say din to din? This is going to be really exciting. So thank you so much.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Councilman Brown. Councilman Sussman.
Speaker 6: By.
Speaker 9: The way, that's Brooks.
Speaker 6: Brown. Oh, that's my little brother over there.
Speaker 2: I killed a man. Brown, did you want to get in the queue? Sure. When I see you hitting the monitor, that's what you want. Thank you.
Speaker 1: Madam President.
Speaker 2: Yes, if I may.
Speaker 1: A lot of us are not seeing that speaker lineup that we normally.
Speaker 2: Yes.
Speaker 8: We're not.
Speaker 7: Okay.
Speaker 2: Thank you. All right.
Speaker 8: So we can't.
Speaker 1: Function. Michael.
Speaker 2: Okay. While Michael is fixing everything, I can tell you who the next person is. And that's Councilwoman Sussman.
Speaker 1: Thank you very much. It's always hard to follow the eloquence of this very young fellow councilperson next to me, who's barely older than Delia. But thank you for those great words. I feel so very much said the way that you do, too. I just I have always often told him that when I grow up, I want to work for DIA, because it's just such a wonderful organization. And what it has done for our city and for the surrounding area and for our state is phenomenal. And the growth that Kim De and has done, it has been wonderful to see the team she's put together has just dynamite. I see all of you there in the front row and of course, the employees that they were employees. I think we will have a long time before we can get past saying DIA. I still say Valley Highway and you know, Boulder Turnpike and the rest. Many of us can remember those. So congratulations on 20 years. It's wonderful. It's hard to believe, but keep up the good work. And I'm just so proud of our airport. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Councilwoman Sussman. Councilman Ortega. Thank you, Madam President. And I just want to apologize for being late. I just drove in from the Western Slope. So in 1995, I was the president and city council when we had the first flight that came into DIA. And it was snowing like crazy. And we had. Multiple flights coming in. Where? In the previous airport at Stapleton. In that kind of weather, we would not have been able to have two planes land side by side. And I don't know how many of you remember flying in. And there would be a plane next to you and you could literally wave to people in the you know, as their plane was going by, you were that close to each other. So that safety issue is one that was corrected by building the air and ensuring that not only we have a safe airport, but we have the ability and the capacity to have 12 runways if we ever need them in the future. Which is incredible because it could be the world's largest airport. And with the 53 square miles that DIA has, the opportunities not just for Denver and not just for the communities that surround it, for the whole front range, has benefited tremendously. And I don't know how many of you drive through Aurora, but it's amazing how many industrial businesses there are along the I-70 corridor that benefit from their close proximity to DIA. So I just want to say happy birthday, DIA, happy 20th birthday. And to the team of managers who helped ensure that this runs efficiently and continues to be the economic engine that it was envisioned to be. I want to say congratulations and thank you for the work that you do every day. I just want to say a special thanks to my colleagues who served at that time, who helped go out and knock on doors to ensure that this issue was put on the ballot in Denver and and in Adams County to ensure that we were successful in Annex and into Denver and being able to move forward with it as it had been envisioned. So thank you for bringing this forward and please add my name. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Ortega. Next up is Councilman Lopez.
Speaker 3: Thank you. Madam President, I wanted to also chime in and say happy birthday to DIA. I remember the first time seeing DIA with my own eyes and I was as a young guy when those of us that remember Stabler, Stapleton, remember that all you had to do was get on to Quebec. Stapleton was kind of it was your average airport. It really wasn't intriguing to the I knew where it was. I think the only time I had been there was a kid when we walked in the Broncos home from there in their first championship and or their first AFC championship in 1986, when we seen the open the scene that first plane come in and being able to see it with your own eyes is the most magnificent airport I think anybody had ever built. And it still is. To this day, I have had the privilege to see other airports around the world, around the country. And I tell you, there is nothing like Denver International Airport. It is completely unique. It does even it feels like you're walking into a I don't know what, but it's it's it's beautiful, spacious, it's clean, you know, it's user friendly and it's just amazing. You know, you're always in are and speaking of are. There's just something about the architecture with that airport and something about looking at that canopy and seeing the snow, the snow peek mountains at it that it represents. And then there's the most incredible picture. I thought if they could not get even more magnificent. Somebody stole my idea. And I one of these days, I was just like, I got to get out there during a thunderstorm. They had the blue Mustang in the middle of a thunderstorm. And the air captured this fear. I know who the photographer is, the captain that captured the picture of the blue Mustang with the in the background and with this lightning bolt and thunder cloud. Right. And I thought to myself, if there was a new definition of the word mystique, that is it. And if I and I attribute both of the Broncos two Super Bowl wins to that, I love Bucky the Bronco. But man, that Mustang is awesome. And any team that comes in and sees that, that's got to shake you up a little bit when it's at the airport. It's a beautiful airport, but the thing that makes it the best night, I'm glad some folks chained up the chain chimed in on this is their employees. It's the concessionaires, it's the parking attendants. It's the folks that greet you in the beginning to ask if you need help with your luggage. It's guest relations. It's everybody who makes that airport. It's the janitors who keep that airport clean. Those of you have seen other airports around around the country. They are not as clean as DIA. And it's just I know there's a good crew there. There's great folks that are that are from management all the way down to the folks that that are the tarmac rats that are out there, you know, working on a daily basis. It is an amazing, amazing facility. Every time you come with a new idea, it's hard. It's hard to top the next one. So happy birthday, DIA. And to here's to many more. And one day, hopefully it'll be the spaceport and add more to the rumors. Right. So anyway, thank you. Happy birthday.
Speaker 2: Thank you. Councilman Lopez, I thought you were going to say you felt like you're in an episode of The Jetsons or something. You.
Speaker 3: No, but if there was an X-Wing, Star Wars X-Wing that landed, that that would be awesome. Yeah.
Speaker 2: Okay. Thank you, Councilman Shepard.
Speaker 1: Yes, thank you, Madam President.
Speaker 7: I actually just want to ask Madam Secretary to add my name to the record as a sponsor. Thank you.
Speaker 2: You next is Councilwoman Robb, followed by Councilman Brown.
Speaker 7: Thank you, Madam President. I just am going to be very brief and say that DIA is the most spectacular airport I've ever, ever seen. And I'm always so proud. When I come back to Denver, it feels like home when I walk in there and see the great art and experience such pride in my city. Thank you.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Brown.
Speaker 8: Well, thank you, Madam President. We have had six speakers and I want to talk. Thank Councilwoman Ortega for talking about the past, because so far no one has used the B-word baggage. But I think I mean, this whole thing, my goodness. With me opinion, does he deserve a lot of credit or what? Because did he come under a lot of pressure, personal attacks? Is the name Gene a human being anything to you guys in his column in the Rocky Mountain News that he was frankly relentlessly attacking the CIA and the and the idea that we should move this airport hundreds of miles out of Denver. You know, we all drink from wells dug by others, and we need to credit my opinion and his vision. If you read Mayor Webb's book, he talks about. That the fact. As we've heard tonight, the dish opening on February the 28, 1995. But it was supposed to open back in 1994. In fact, he mentions the DIA really opened three times, finally the only airport in the country to do that, the first two. It was not ready. And he says in his book, the mistake he made was to set once the first date didn't come through. Then he set another date. That was a mistake, he said. He should have just opened it when it was ready to open. But it really wasn't very happy back in 1994 as we celebrate this happy birthday. It was tough. It was a PR, a national PR disaster. Remember the photos of the luggage? You guys remember that? Yeah. But we did it. Someone might ask. Will we ever have another day like project? And I think we will. And I think for us, it was handed out tonight and it's called the National Western Center. This is our next big DIA light project, in my judgment. And it's coming. And fortunately, we have good leaders. One is sitting at a little elevator tonight above us that is heading up this huge project. But they're out there. Trailblazers. And we need them. And we should not forget them. So, happy birthday, DIA. Finally. Finally. Thank you.
Speaker 2: Thank you. Councilman Brown, are there other members that would like to speak? I just want to take a moment of personal privilege and just go back in the day with Councilman Ortega. Actually, I was Councilman Ortega as a council aide at the time, and I remember that the D.A., a baggage system that being severely criticized, there was even a conversation and a controversy about the terrazzo tile, which, you know, went on for days and days. And at that time, it was very difficult for some people to see the vision of what the future of DIA would look like. And I think that it really helped set the tone for and position city of Denver in the United States. And I was so proud the first time that I was able to see it. It was just majestic and so beautiful with the with the roof along the roofline, along the mountains. So I'll never forget that. And I just want to say that. To to Mayor Pena at the time, we were going through serious economic problems, and it was this big public works project that really helped to restore the public trust and the faith that our economy was going to turn around. And it did. And then the next project that came along that was a colossal lift was Denver Union Station. And that, as you can see, is also a national project. And now we're looking at linking through the East Line, Denver Union Station and DIA. So I'm so, so proud to be able to look back and see that we've done large projects like this before. We have more coming before us. And all I can say is I was younger then. Not that that's going to stop right there. And but thank you so much. And happy birthday and many more. Madam Secretary, roll call Brooks Brown.
Speaker 7: I can eat lemon high. Lopez I Nevitt I Ortega, I. Rob Shepherd. Sussman Hi, Madam President.
Speaker 2: I. Madam Secretary, please close the voting and announce the results.
Speaker 7: 11 eyes.
Speaker 2: We have 11 eyes. Proclamation 80 has been adopted. Councilman Brooks, do you have someone here that would like to this proclamation?
Speaker 9: Yes, I do. Our CEO Kim Day is advancing day in New Zealand, trying to work on nonstop flight. So we have Stacey Stegman, who is the vice president of communications and marketing head.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Councilman Brooks.
Speaker 1: Madam President, esteemed members of council. Great words he said tonight, and I think we are all honored to be here. And with our whole our whole that a large number of our leadership.
Speaker 2: Team and we take what you said seriously. I think we we know that that we are charged with preserving and protecting this amazing asset. And we are all committed to doing so well into the future. So there will be many.
Speaker 1: More successes for four years to come.
Speaker 2: As you noted, as day is and isn't able to join us today, she was very disappointed to not be able to be here. One of the things that she has that regularly coming from L.A.X. was the difference.
Speaker 1: On how she worked and.
Speaker 2: Just felt this conflict all.
Speaker 1: The time with the political leaders in the city. And she always.
Speaker 2: Says the great support that she has from city council is so amazing and.
Speaker 1: So unique in Colorado and how much that just makes her happy and how much easier.
Speaker 2: It is. And so on behalf of Kim Day, I want to thank you all for that. I also wanted to say.
Speaker 1: That we are having our 20 year celebration.
Speaker 2: On this Saturday. I think you all have hopefully received an invite to that. So it.
Speaker 1: Will be a great opportunity to honor those like Federico Pena.
Speaker 2: And and Mayor Webb, those who were visionaries in the past, so that we can thank them for what they have given us now and into the future. So we all hope to see you there.
Speaker 1: Thank you very much.
Speaker 2: Thank you. Resolutions. Madam Secretary, will you please read the resolutions? Madam President, point of order. Can we just have each of the managers be address identified for us from DIA? I know a couple of them are new and it would be helpful just for all of us to know them.
Speaker 8: My name is Bhavesh Patel.
Speaker 3: I'm the new chief revenue officer for the airport. I'm Ken Green. I'm the chief operating officer of the airport. Still Williams.
Speaker 8: Senior vice president of HTC and Special Projects. Good evening. I'm Craig Haggerty. I'm acting senior vice president of Properties. And good evening, Neil Maxfield, senior vice president of Concessions.
Speaker 2: Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank.
Speaker 2: Good idea. Councilwoman Ortega. Resolutions. Madam Secretary, will you please read the resolutions from.
A proclamation celebrating Denver International Airport’s (DEN) 20th Anniversary. 
 A proclamation celebrating Denver International Airport’s (DEN) 20th Anniversary. 
