Denver City Council postpones mountain retreat amid employee layoffs
The Denver City Council has decided to postpone their upcoming mountain retreat in light of recent scrutiny over its nearly $27,000 price tag. Council President Amanda Sandoval made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that the focus should be on supporting the city and its residents during this challenging period.
The retreat, which was set to take place at Lone Rock Retreat near Bailey, was scheduled for Aug. 27-29 and would have included ten council members and three staff members. The decision to postpone the retreat came after concerns were raised about the optics of spending such a large sum of money on a trip just a week after 171 city employees were laid off due to budget constraints.
The retreat was planned to cost $16,500 for the facility, meals, and accommodations, with additional expenses for transportation and a facilitator. The money for the retreat would have come from the council’s central budget, according to council spokesman Robert Austin.
The contract for the retreat was signed in May, before the full extent of the city’s budget shortfall was announced by Mayor Mike Johnston. Johnston revealed that the city would need to conduct layoffs to address a projected $200 million budget deficit in 2026. This week, the city announced that 171 employees had been laid off, with additional measures in place to save the city about $100 million.
The council has not yet chosen a new date for the retreat, but the decision to postpone reflects a commitment to prioritizing the needs of the city and its residents during this challenging time. Stay updated on Colorado politics by signing up for the weekly newsletter, The Spot.
Originally Published: August 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM MDT
