Ten of Denver’s 13 city council members are planning to attend a $26,000, two night, one day retreat in Colorado’s foothills next week for team building and professional development, at the same time the city is laying off workers and trying to find ways to cut costs and save money.
“We signed this contract prior to knowing of any budget shortfall,” said Council President Amanda Sandoval, who pushed for the trip at the Lone Rock retreat in Park County.
Pahara Institute 
“We signed this contract prior to knowing of any furlough days, we signed this contract prior to knowing of any layoffs,” said Sandoval.
She said the council retreat had been in the works since December 2024, and the contract was signed May 8. Two weeks later, Mayor Mike Johnston revealed the depths of the city budget problems that would necessitate city workers being laid off, others needing to take furlough days and belt-tightening across city agencies.
“I would never have done any of this had I known any of this information prior to signing that contract,” said Sandoval.
The council president said she tried to void the contract and get the city’s money back or change the date of the retreat, but could not, so council members will travel to the location near Bailey the evening of Aug. 27 and return the morning of Aug. 29 — a city furlough day.
CBS 
The city will pay $16,000 for facility use, meals and rooms, $2,600 for transportation with ADA accommodation and $7,600 for a facilitator and assessment tool. The money will come out of the Denver City Council central budget.
Three council members have conflicts and will not attend, said Sandoval, but three council staff members will attend.
Sandoval said she previously went to a retreat at the facility and was impressed by its ADA accommodations.
On its website, the Lone Rock says it has 60 individual cabins each with an “oxygen enrichment system,” a fitness center and yoga room along with meeting spaces, restaurants and ‘breathtaking views.”
CBS 
While the timing may not be ideal, Sandoval maintains that the retreat is still appropriate.
“So just because we’re having a time of crisis doesn’t mean council shouldn’t learn to work better together. It really doesn’t.”
Asked if city council could have found a less expensive option for a retreat, Sandoval said, “I’ve done research on places … and there’s not a lot of options. We do not have a facility like that in Denver.”
“Ultimately,” said Sandoval, “this is about bringing council together to work better together so we can serve the residents of Denver.”
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