September 24, 2026 City of Boulder City Council Study Session

The City of Boulder held a City Council Study Session on September 24, 2026, focusing primarily on public safety updates and the sister cities program. The public safety segment included detailed presentations from the Police Chief, Independent Police Monitor, Police Oversight Panel co-chairs, and the Presiding Judge of the Boulder Municipal Court. Key topics included police staffing challenges, crime trends, community engagement efforts, police oversight processes, and court case management related to the unhoused and young adult populations. Several data requests and policy clarifications were discussed, particularly around police retention, community policing programs, and judicial outcomes. The session also addressed the sister cities program, with staff proposing updates to the program’s resolution to establish clearer application, review, and oversight processes. Council members expressed strong support for creating a council committee to oversee sister city relationships, standardizing expectations, and implementing a formal process for deactivating inactive alliances. Budget considerations for the program were noted as minimal, and the importance of maintaining non-political, community-focused sister city relationships was emphasized. The meeting concluded with consensus on next steps to refine the sister cities resolution and continued oversight of public safety initiatives.