colorado municipal league
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Polis administration touts local cities’ ‘compliance’ with housing laws
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The Polis administration is taking a victory lap this week on local government compliance with housing laws passed by the General Assembly in the past two years, although the highest level among the metrics is only 60% compliant. In another metric, there are more localities that are non-compliant than those that are. The majority are…
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Colorado Supreme Court wary of releasing Aurora council recording despite improper closed-door discussion
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Some members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared hesitant on Wednesday to release a recording of an Aurora City Council closed-door session, even though the state’s second-highest court found — and the city admitted — its notice to the public failed to comply with the open meetings law. Although prior Court of Appeals decisions have ruled that…
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Colorado Supreme Court shoots down condo association’s lawsuit against Aspen for construction defects
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The Colorado Supreme Court clarified on Monday that litigants may not use a judicial doctrine focused on breaches of contract to sue municipalities for negligently constructed housing, effectively sidestepping the broad immunity state law provides to government entities. The Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, with limited exceptions, shields public entities from lawsuits over injuries they cause.…
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Colorado lawmakers begin to tackle major housing bills, including occupancy limitations
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Major measures on housing are starting to move at the state Capitol this week, which saw the first hearings on some of the roughly 260 bills introduced in this session so far. Colorado faces an acute housing shortage. One study puts the deficit in metro Denver region alone at 45,025 to 115,012 housing units. As…
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Colorado Municipal League names ‘legislative heroes’ for first time in 14 years
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For the first time since 2009, the Colorado Municipal League bestowed its highest honor on state legislators this week. The organization recognized Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer and Sen. Rachel Zenzinger as “CML Legislative Heroes” on Monday for their work supporting municipalities during the 2023 legislative session. This award hasn’t been given to any state legislator since Sen. Joyce…
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By 5-2, state Supreme Court rules Thornton mayor not a council member
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Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann may serve two terms as the city’s top elected official after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday that her time spent as a council member does not bar her from further service on the city’s nine-member council. By 5-2, the court found Thornton’s charter distinguished the mayor and eight ward…
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Colorado municipalities pass, reject measures on marijuana, affordable housing, taxation
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Coloradans in 85 cities and towns voted on more than 150 municipal ballot measures Tuesday, passing or rejecting proposals ranging from authorizing marijuana businesses to funding affordable housing. Cripple Creek, Hotchkiss and Palmer Lake residents voted to authorize retail marijuana businesses, while authorization is currently leading a close race in Grand Lake, according to unofficial…
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When is a mayor not a mayor? Supreme Court ponders term limits amendment
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Nearly three decades after Colorado voters enacted term limits for local officeholders, the state Supreme Court is debating whether the law is so strict as to prevent Thornton’s first-term mayor from occupying that position. The justices’ interpretation could have repercussions statewide, affecting municipalities whose mayor and city council makeup mirrors that of Thornton. The Colorado…
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Aurora opts out of state family and medical leave program
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The Aurora City Council on Monday voted to opt out of participating in the state’s family and medical leave program, mirroring decisions that Denver and dozens of other local governments made. Deputy Director of Human Resources Jennifer Lorenzen said city staff recommended against participating in the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program because job…
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Municipalities, state agencies warn Supreme Court against opening floodgates to lawsuits
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Nearly all of the state’s municipalities and a handful of state agencies are pleading with the Colorado Supreme Court to reverse a lower court’s ruling that eliminated the strict 28-day deadline for challenging decisions of government bodies. Liquor license denials, local governments’ discipline of personnel, and the Department of Corrections’ decisions about inmates are some…
