DENVER -- Denver's outgoing mayor has rejected United Airlines' latest demands in dramatic fashion.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Mayor Wellington Webb tore up a letter from the airline's lawyers, which listed several demands for improvements to Denver International Airport.

The demands included creating an expanded $65 million, 38-gate regional commuter facility to replace the current one on Concourse B, reimbursing the airline about $20 million for the 10-year-old baggage system that never worked properly, reducing its rental rates for baggage areas that it said it never uses and repairing drainage around its maintenance hangar.

Webb said the city is willing to meet those demands but United doesn't want to commit to a new lease to get them.

"United wants to stick us up for whatever they can get. They should be working with us," Webb said.

The two sides have been renegotiating terms of the carrier's lease ever since United filed for bankruptcy in December. If the city does not respond to the letter in writing within 30 days, United has threatened legal action.

United claims DIA is obligated under its current lease to make the changes and the letter was meant to move negotiations forward.

A United spokesman said he's confident something can and will be worked out and that the airline was committed to Denver as its second-largest hub.

Webb said the terms of the lease negotiations will have to be left to his successor, John Hickenlooper. Webb's last day in office is July 21.

United is DIA's largest carrier.