Denver, Colorado
From Sunshine Review
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Denver is the capital city of Colorado, and the most populous city in the state. Its government is consolidated with the government of Denver County.
Denver is nicknamed the Mile-High City because its official elevation is exactly one mile above sea level. The 105th meridian west of Greenwich passes through Union Station, making it the reference point for the Mountain Time Zone.
The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of the City and County of Denver was 588,349 on July 1, 2007, making it the 26th most populous U.S. city. It is also the second largest city in the Mountain West after Phoenix. The city has the 10th largest central business district in the United States.
[edit] Website evaluation
- Main article: Evaluation of Colorado city websites
[edit] The good
- Building permits are available on the website.[1]and zoning information. [2]
- Agendas and minutes are available for City Council Meetings. [3]
- City of Denver's bids and RFPs are posted.[4]
- The budget is posted for fiscal year 2002 through 2008.[5]
- Extenstive Information on audits are available.[6]
- The Mayor and city council officials contact information are posted online.[7]
- Provides extensive information on local taxes.[8]
[edit] The bad
- There is no information on the access of government records to the public.
- Lobbying information and ethics is not noted
- There is no checkbook register available
[edit] Government
Denver is a consolidated city-county with a mayor elected on a nonpartisan ballot, a 13-member city council and an auditor. The Denver City Council is elected from 11 districts with two at-large council-members. It is responsible for passing and changing all laws, resolutions, and ordinances.
Denver has a strong mayor/weak city council government. The mayor can approve or veto any ordinances or resolutions approved by the council, makes sure all contracts with the city are kept and performed, signs all bonds and contracts, is responsible for the city budget, and can appoint people to various city departments, organizations, and commissions. However, the council can override the mayor's veto with a nine out of thirteen member vote, and the city budget must be approved and can be changed by a simple majority vote of the council.
All elected officials have four-year terms, with a maximum of three terms. Denver elections are non-partisan, but politicians identified as Democrats have long held a majority sway on Denver politics with most officials elected citywide having Democratic Party affiliation.
The office of Denver's Mayor has been occupied by a Democrat since the municipal general election of 1963, including the current mayor, John Hickenlooper.
[edit] External links
- Official city and county website
- Mayor John Hickenlooper's Official Website
- Denver History
- Unions influence Denver elections big time
