Denver Listens
In order to listen to citizen priorities for the 2005 budget, Mayor John Hickenlooper hosted a

series of March meetings called Denver Listens. Up to 150 citizens at each session worked together through roundtable discussions and provided suggestions and feedback on how the City can achieve its five goals.  Over 25 city employees, including many mayoral appointees and the Denver Urban Fellows, are volunteering their time to facilitate group discussions and record the public’s feedback.

Using interactive touchpad technology, the participants identify and prioritize their top ten desired results. Additionally, each participant provides feedback on the allocation of City funding to each of the priority results.

The understanding of the public's municipal priorities, gathered from the Denver Listens sessions, will be used during the budget-setting process later this year and will help to serve as the foundation of the City’s work over the next four years to create new jobs, enhance customer service, improve the work environment, create a better place and ensure that Denver city government lives within its means.