Boulder Police Union Reaches Agreement; COVID Booster-shots Expanded in CO

Headlines Thursday Sept 4

Boulder Police Union Reaches New Contract Agreement

City officials and the Boulder Police Officers Association have reached a new one-year contract agreement after months of negotiations.

The deal includes a 4.75% general salary increase for officers and sergeants—compromising between the city’s 4% offer and the union’s 6% request. The raise will impact around 180 employees and takes effect December 21st.

Boulder’s police union President Bryan Plyter acknowledged the raise falls short of an arbitrator’s recommendation but said the union is pleased key healthcare protections were preserved.

Non-economic issues like disciplinary policies and union dues were settled earlier this summer, but salary talks led to an impasse, prompting arbitration.

Longmont Makes Real Estate Move to Capture Dispensary Tax Revenue

The Longmont City Council is moving to annex two small county enclaves — home to JARS Cannabis and Native Roots Cannabis — in a bid to bring the dispensaries fully under city control and tap into their tax revenue.

At Tuesday’s study session, the council voted 6-1 to direct staff to draft two ordinances: one for annexation, and one to raise the number of active marijuana store licenses from four to six.

While the dispensaries already receive city services like road maintenance and emergency response, they’re technically outside Longmont jurisdiction — meaning no city tax dollars.

Longmont’s marijuana tax revenues have dropped over 13% this year. City officials say annexation could help recover some of those losses.

If approved, the council will also review what kind of marijuana licenses the dispensaries need.  The city council voted in June to oppose public consumption of marijuana, something that is allowed under what’s called a “marijuana hospitality ordinance”.  Marijuana hospitality licenses remain rare in Colorado. None have been issued in Longmont so far, amid concerns about public THC consumption and impaired driving.

COVID Booster-shots Expanded in CO

Colorado is taking action to expand access to COVID-19 booster shots. State officials issued public health orders Wednesday, allowing anyone six months and older to receive a COVID vaccine without a doctor’s prescription.

According to the Colorado Sun, this move comes after pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens refused to administer shots in Colorado, citing a lack of CDC guidance and conflicting federal policies.

Governor Jared Polis blasted the delays, blaming federal red tape and calling the requirement for a prescription “absurd.” The new order, which takes effect Friday, serves as a standing prescription for all Coloradans.

Meanwhile, the State Board of Pharmacy will meet Friday to consider rule changes to further expand access.

CO Lawsuit Challenges Denial of Setting Bonds for Detained Migrants

A new federal lawsuit is challenging a Trump administration immigration policy that civil rights advocates say unlawfully blocks bail hearings for detained immigrants in Colorado.

The suit was filed in Denver this week.  It claims U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement–or ICE– is denying longtime undocumented residents the right to seek bond — violating decades of established law.

The case centers on Nestor Mendoza Gutierrez, a small business owner detained in Aurora since May. His attorneys say he’s been living in Colorado since 1999 and should’ve been eligible for a hearing.

Instead, ICE applied a stricter statute typically used for recent border crossers. Critics, including the ACLU of Colorado, say it’s a “bait-and-switch” aimed at ramping up detentions and deportations.

ICE and the Department of Justice declined to comment. Gutierrez’s visa application — tied to his cooperation in a criminal case — is still pending. This case is one of several nationwide challenging the policy.