The Denver City Council has approved a consulting contract expansion that had been held up for months for the planning of a public-private partnership office.

Its is expected that the role of these P3's deals help to pay for components of some upcoming projects, including changes to the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the National Western Center project and an expansion of the Colorado Convention Center.

The office will consider potential partnerships that often comprise the infusion of private money and control into public projects. P3's introduce longer duration and complexity than a standard government contracting arrangement; as with Denver International Airport’s recent 34-year, US$1.8 billion terminal contract.

Despite the council’s traditional role as the final arbiter on big contracts when it comes to P3 deals, Hancock’s administration has worked out a framework for how such arrangements would be proposed and considered; council members raised objections about a particular idea.

The negotiation involved a US$480,000 contract addition for Arup Advisory, a consultant that has advised the city on the development of P3 policies and prep work for the launch of the city’s program and P3 office. The New York City-based company has already earned US$475,000.

ouncilwoman Robin Kniech, commented: 

“The council can’t give up that kind of authority. Voters gave it to us for a reason, so I think it’s important to make sure that we keep the ability to review contracts for all those things.”