Board of Public Health & Environment

The Board of Public Health & Environment consists of nine members, who serve without pay, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by Denver City Council. The Board is the local board of health for Denver. Their primary functions include adopting rules and regulations, reviewing requests for variances from department laws and hearing appeals of decisions of the department manager, and otherwise assisting the department in developing policies. They have five-year, staggered, terms.

The board meets at 4 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month.  

Next Meeting

Meeting Information and Materials

Agendas and Minutes

***IN-PERSON LOCATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*** 

Agendas and Meeting Materials

Meeting Minutes

Board Rules and Bylaws

These rules and regulations are adopted and issued by the Executive Director of the Department of Public Health & Environment of the City and County of Denver in accordance with the authority contained in Article II of the Charter of the City and County of Denver and in the Revised Municipal Code of the City and County of Denver.

View the Rules Governing Hearings Before the Board(PDF, 713KB)

View the bylaws for the Board of Public Health & Environment(PDF, 82KB)

Public Comment at Board Meetings

The Denver Board of Public Health & Environment (BPHE) welcomes public participation and values community input. Members of the public are invited to share comments on both variance hearings on the agenda and other items during Board meetings. Read below for additional information.

Public Comment for Variance Hearings

Members of the public can comment only during the public comment time allowed for a variance hearing.

Guidelines:

  •  Sign up: Please sign up in advance (by 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting). Be sure to indicate which variance hearing you plan to address.
  •  Time limit: Each speaker \has three (3) minutes to comment per hearing. The Board Chair may adjust the time limit based on the number of speakers.
  •  Stay on topic: Comments must relate directly to the variance being discussed.
  •  Decorum: Please direct your comments to the Board as a group. Repetitive, disruptive, or personal remarks may be limited or stopped by the presiding officer.
  •  Board response: The Board generally will not respond or discuss matters during the comment period but may ask clarifying questions or refer items to staff.
  •  Language access: If you use a translator or interpreter, you’ll be given twice the normal speaking time to ensure equal access.

Public Comment for Other Items

You may also speak about issues that are not listed on the agenda during the designated public comment period. This is an opportunity to share community concerns, ideas, or feedback related to public health and environmental matters in Denver.

Guidelines:

  •  Sign up: Please sign up in advance (by 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting).
  •  Time limit: Each speaker is typically allowed three (3) minutes to speak.
  •  Scope: Comments should focus on general public health or environmental topics. The Board cannot discuss or act on items that are not listed on the current agenda.
  •  Follow-up: The Board may refer issues raised during public comment to staff or consider them for a future meeting agenda.

Meeting Conduct and Participation Tips

  • Begin by stating your name and city of residence.
  •  Comments should be respectful, civil, and addressed to the Board as a whole.
  • Please avoid clapping, shouting, or other disruptive behavior during the meeting.
  • Written comments are also accepted and may be sent to the Board Secretary (bphe@denvergov.org) for inclusion in the meeting record.
  • The Board Chair may end comments that are off-topic, repetitive, or exceed the time limit, in line with the Board’s official rules.
  • Additional time will be provided for speakers using interpreters.

Sign up for public comment

How to Submit a Variance Request

Please review the information below on how to file a variance request.

  • Review the Rules and Regulations(PDF, 713KB) Governing Hearings Before the Board of Public Health & Environment
  • Send an email to bphe@denvergov.org that includes:
    1. Petitioner’s name, mailing address, and telephone number
    2. The name, mailing address, and telephone number of Petitioner’s legal representative, if any
    3. The DRMC provision(s) and, if any, the rule, and regulation from which the variance is requested and the time period for which it is sought
    4. Any exhibits (including any drawings, floor plans, or pictures) supporting Petitioner’s position, if appropriate
    5. An explanation of how:
      • The Petitioner will suffer undue hardship if the variance is not granted
      • The variance, if granted, would not adversely affect public health
      • The variance, if granted, would be in harmony with the spirit and purposes of the ordinance, rule, or regulation being appealed.
    6. Petitioner’s signature or that of Petitioner’s legal representative
  • Pay the $25 filing fee by mailing a check or money order or coming in person to pay by credit card or cash

 

PLEASE NOTEA variance request must be submitted at least 24 days before a regular Board meeting in order to be considered for the agenda for that meeting. Requests submitted fewer than 24 days before a scheduled meeting will not be considered for that agenda but can be considered for the agenda for the following meeting. 

Board Members

Jessica Brody

a head shot of a woman with long brown hair wearing glasses

Commission Expires 12/31/2027

Jessica Brody was appointed to the Denver Board of Public Health & Environment by Mayor Michael Hancock in 2023.

Jessica Brody joined Denver Water as General Counsel 2018.  Prior to Denver Water, she worked as an associate at Arnold & Porter, LLP, an international law firm, where she specialized in environmental law and complex litigation.  Ms. Brody then served as the lead environmental lawyer for the City and County of Denver and then as an Assistant Director within the City Attorney’s Office.

Jessica is also engaged in a variety of civic and volunteer roles.  Presently, serves as Denver’s representative on the Colorado Water Conservation Board.  She is on the leadership committee of the Western Urban Water Coalition.  

Catherine Cooney

a headshot of a woman with long blonde hair wearing a black shirt

Commission Expires 12/31/2027

I have dedicated my life to hospitality. It is something that goes far beyond my education and skill set. Hospitality is in my blood, and it transcends generations in my family. My parents owned 4 restaurants, a toy store, a t-shirt shop, and a ski shop in Breckenridge, Colorado, where I had the fortune of growing up. I was working in restaurants and the stores at age 5, and the passion never subsided.

I received my BSBA from the University of Denver with a Hotel Restaurant and Tourism Management focus. I was recruited directly out of college by the Palm Restaurant, where I dedicated 21 years. I was in Dallas, Texas, first, where I was an assistant manager. I quickly started to rise through the ranks and became the youngest GM in a company history dating back to 1926. As the GM, I was responsible for all day to day operations, budgeting, marketing, managing my team, and being the hospitality leader for my guests. I was also selected as the Palm training manager and trained all new managers who came to work for the Palm Restaurant Group. 

I then went on to become GM for STK Steakhouse and was quickly chosen as the training manager for the One Group. I was able to help develop and train all new managers that came to work for the One Group. I was then approached about going into Recruiting and opened my Recruiting and, Consulting business. I was still part of the hospitality industry but was able to help many restaurant groups find their next great team member. I learned more about other restaurant groups and found out what they are looking for in new employees. This has helped me with enhancing the industry's training and education, career development, and the overall well-being of the industry and its workforce.  

In the 15 years that I have had the honor to be associated with the CRA, I have been a board member, served as President for 3 years, and the treasurer for eight years for the Mile High Chapter. I have successfully executed a multitude of fundraising events for the Mile-High Chapter Hardship Fund and have been a big champion in getting other restauranteurs involved with the CRA. I have sat as a director on the State Board for 8 years and now am the Treasurer on the Executive committee. I attended the National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference twice and was a contributor to the CRA's 5-year strategic plan. I am a judge for the State ProStart Competition.

Kelli Curl, Chair

headshot of a woman with long brown hair wearing a blue shirt with flowers and a black jacket

Commission Expires 12/31/2027

I am a public health professional with expertise and experience in policy, strategic communications, reproductive and sexual health, communicable disease, tobacco prevention, emergency preparedness and response (EPR), maternal and infant health, and vaccine-preventable diseases. My current role is with Jefferson County Public Health as the Director of the Office of Policy and Public Affairs where I coordinate department communications and policy initiatives, monitor and proactively engage with decision-makers and media, and develop the department’s communications strategy and policy agenda.

My Master of Public Health coursework focused on Health Communications and Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health at Colorado State University. I also have a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Colorado State University.

Born and raised in Texas, I have lived in Colorado since 2009 with a brief stint living and working in Florida in 2016. My hobbies include gardening, sewing and making home-made preserves.

Genene Duran

headshot of a woman with long dark hair holding her arms crossed wearing a green dress

Commission Expires 12/31/2027

Dr. Genene Duran grew up in northeast Denver in the Montbello community and is an alumna of Montbello High School. She holds a Doctorate in Human Services, Master’s in Healthcare Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. In addition, she is also a certified Mediator and has a certification in Public Relations as well. Dr. Duran has subject matter expertise in the fields of healthcare policy, managing federally qualified health centers, human services, community outreach and engagement, health systems change and cultural competence in health care which includes social determinants of health, health disparities and health equity. Dr. Duran is an Affiliate Professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences at Metropolitan State University working with the Masters of Social Work students to complete their final Capstone thesis projects. In addition, she is the Founder/CEO of her own nonprofit organization Ducks in a Row Human Services Inc.

From 2021-2023, Dr. Duran simultaneously served as the Chair of the Board of the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, the Advisory Board Chair for the City and County of Denver’s Agency on Human Rights and Community Partnerships and as the Co-Chair for the City and County of Denver’s African American Commission. She still serves on the Board of the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment as well as the City and County of Denver’s African American Commission. In addition, she serves on the Colorado Advisory Panel of Local Board of Health Members. Over the past six years she has held memberships on the Family Advisory Council for Every Child Pediatrics, the Board of Directors for Womxn’s March Denver, the Doctoral Advisory Board for the University of Arizona Global campus, as a Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Denver Moves Everyone Steering Committee Advisory Board member, and as the National Association for Career and Technical Education Region Representative. In her spare time she is a mentor to a young lady in her community.

Although she has accomplished a great deal, she remains most proud of her 21-year-old son and 20 year old daughter, who both graduated from Colorado State University in May 2024, and 17-year-old daughter who graduated from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College in May 2024 as well. Dr. Duran’s greatest passions include providing a voice for underserved communities and affecting positive change through leadership, strategic planning, relationship building, effective change management, conflict management, advocacy, social justice, and organizational training.

Jim Garcia

headshot of a man wearing glasses, a red and white stripped shirt and a grey jacket

Commission Expires 12/31/2027

Jim García has been actively involved in Denver’s non-profit community for the past 32 years and has worked in leadership capacities for a wide range of health and human service organizations.  Early in his career, Jim worked in the political arena in the offices of former US Senator Tim Wirth and former Governor Roy Romer.

In 1994, Jim founded Tepeyac Community Health Center (TCHC), a non-profit healthcare organization that provides medical, behavioral health, dental, pharmacy and health education to Denver’s predominantly uninsured, immigrant community. In his role as TCHC’s Chief Executive Officer, he led a $13M capital campaign to build a new 25,000 sq. ft. community health center that will eventually triple TCHC’s patient capacity. In February of 2023, TCHC opened its state-of-the-art medical facility.

In 1997, Jim cofounded Escuela de Guadalupe, a dual-language elementary school that serves primarily lower-income families throughout Metro Denver. Jim was also a member of the founding Board of Trustees for Arrupe Jesuit High School, a school that fully integrates a corporate work study program as part of its curriculum

Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jim received his undergraduate degree from Regis University and his Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver.

Matthew Stratton, Vice Chair

headshot of a man with dark hair sitting with his hands on his thighs wearing a white shirt and black jacket

Commission Expires 12/31/2029

Dr. Matthew Stratton owns and operates an anesthesiology practice, a medical legal consulting firm, and a real estate investment company in Denver. 

A 5th generation Coloradan, he was born and raised in Denver where he and his family have a long history of civic engagement with the city and state. 

Dr. Stratton earned a B.S. in Economics from The George Washington University, received his M.D. from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, and completed anesthesiology residency at NYU where he served as Chief Resident of his class. 

During that period, he also worked in the United States Senate for Senators Ken Salazar and Micheal Bennet, liaised with the African Union Parliament while employed with Save The Children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, fundraised to help construct several elementary schools across the globe, and traveled to all seven continents. 

Following residency, Dr. Stratton stayed on at NYU as an associate professor for two years where he taught students and residents and instituted policies that minimize the hospital’s carbon footprint.

Dr. Stratton returned to Denver in 2022 to where he now lives and works. 

Additional Information

Published Rules and Regulations by Division

Animal Protection Division

Community & Behavioral Health Division 

Environmental Quality Division

Public Health Investigations Division

DDPHE Fine Schedules

Apply for a Seat on the Board

Passionate about public health? Join our board! Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for seats that are filled upon vacancy. To learn more about the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment and our many responsibilities and functions, please visit our website. Our work extends beyond what most expect from a traditional public health department – we oversee animal protection for the City and County of Denver and we include the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner, as well as operating Denver’s mobile mental health and substance use unit, the Wellness Winnie.

The Board of Public Health & Environment consists of nine members, who serve without pay, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by Denver City Council. The Board is the local board of health for Denver. Their primary functions include adopting rules and regulations, reviewing requests for variances from department laws and hearing appeals of decisions of the department manager, and otherwise assisting the department in developing policies. They have five-year, staggered, terms.

The board meets at 4 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Apply online today.

Note: DDPHE accepts applications on an ongoing basis to maintain a pool of candidates. Your application will be kept on file for a period of two years, during which time you will be considered for any vacancies.

Appealing An Administrative Citation

You have the right to appeal an administrative citation if you believe that the citation was issued incorrectly or that you did not violate an ordinance. You may appeal by filing a petition for review with the Board of Public Health & Environment.

Find additional information and answers to frequently asked questions on our Appealing an Administrative Citation page.

Contact Us

Denver Board of Public Health & Environment
201 W. Colfax Ave, 8th Floor
Denver, CO 80202

Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Phone: 720-865-5366
Fax: 720-865-5530

For board specific questions and comments email bphe@denvergov.org

For general department questions email: ddpheinformation@denvergov.org

Access Statement

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign-language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact bphe@denvergov.org with three business days' notice.

 

Es su derecho adquirir interpretación y traducción de información en su lenguaje natal, interpretación de lenguaje de señas, subtítulos en tiempo real a través de CART, o acomodaciones relacionadas a alguna discapacidad. Para solicitar cualquier de estos servicios sin costo alguno para usted, contacte a bphe@denvergov.org con tres (3) días de anticipación.

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