The Glenwood Springs City Council unanimously approved a $2.4 million, 10-year sole-source contract with Axon Technologies on June 4, adding body cameras, AI-generated police reports, drone first responders, and a new automated license plate reader system to the city’s public safety arsenal — one meeting after withdrawing the same measure to allow public input. The council also split 5-2 on a water service agreement for a proposed 100-unit housing development outside city limits, while residents continued pressing for action on the ICE detention facility at 100 Midland Avenue and a Planning and Zoning commissioner publicly challenged the city’s legal position on the matter.
ICE Facility
A resident returned to the lectern for the third consecutive meeting to press the council on the April 28 Planning and Zoning Commission revocation of the ICE detention facility’s special use permit at 100 Midland Avenue. She argued City Attorney Karl Hanlon’s Supremacy Clause defense was a misreading of the law, contending the city’s obligation runs to the private landlord — not the federal tenant — and that the city has clear authority to fine the property owner up to $1,000 per day, cut off utilities, and pursue eviction. “We have, as a city, every right to go down there and padlock that place,” she said, adding that she believed Hanlon had not handled the matter well and urged the council to hire outside counsel.
Hanlon told council he had delivered a detailed legal memo that morning and stood by his analysis, but offered to contact the Colorado Municipal League for a second opinion. Councilor Sumner Schachter responded from the dais, saying personal attacks on the city attorney were unwarranted. “Carl has served the city long and well,” Schachter said, adding that Hanlon provides legal guidance rather than policy decisions and that responsibility for those decisions rests with council. Schachter said the facility remains in violation of its special use permit and that he expects council to address the matter soon.
John Houghton, a Planning and Zoning commissioner who voted to revoke the facility’s permit in April, appeared during public comment on the Axon item later in the meeting, raising separate concerns about AI report-writing accuracy.
During council comments, Schachter floated draft language for a public statement acknowledging the council’s concern about the facility’s continued operation, the revocation of its permit, and the city’s conclusion that litigation against the federal government would be costly and unlikely to succeed. City Manager Steve Boyd said such a statement could become a press release but recommended obtaining a second legal opinion first. Councilor Steve Smith said council should formally weigh in before any public statement is issued. The council directed Boyd to reach out to CML for outside legal review.
Axon Contract
Chief of Public Safety Joseph Deras told council the Axon package replaces the city’s existing Motorola body cameras — which he said had poor customer service and unfavorable contract renewal terms — and the Flock Safety license plate reader system. The 10-component suite includes Taser 10 devices, AI-drafted police report writing, automated video redaction, real-time body-camera translation in over 100 languages, a sidearm holster sensor that activates cameras automatically when an officer draws a weapon, virtual reality training, and Axon’s “Outpost” ALPR cameras. The drone first-responder program would launch from a rooftop housing unit within two minutes of dispatch, with a five-mile range.
Deras cited a single week’s incidents to illustrate the drone’s potential value: three spot fires in Glenwood Canyon requiring mutual aid from New Castle Fire, a serious bicycle accident near Hanging Lake where paramedics had to walk a significant distance to reach the injured person, a vehicle theft on 2nd Street where the suspect fled on foot and was not caught, and a wanted subject who escaped in Veltus Park. “Had we had this technology, we could launch that drone and track down where they are potentially,” he said.
City Attorney Hanlon said the Axon contract is substantially tighter than the Flock agreement, with the city retaining full ownership of all data and no language permitting Axon to share or repurpose it. Individual components, including the ALPR cameras, can be dropped from the contract if council chooses not to fund them in future budget cycles.
Houghton challenged the AI report-writing tool during public comment, citing independent research finding Axon’s Draft1 system did not measurably save officer time and produced reports rated significantly lower on accuracy than human-authored reports, despite more polished grammar. He said approximately $800,000 of the $2.4 million contract is attributable to the AI component and asked council to continue the item for further review. Deras responded that the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and the district attorney’s office have accepted AI-drafted reports without accuracy challenges, and said the department is currently testing evaluation units. Hanlon added that any component can be selectively defunded through the budget process without voiding the rest of the agreement. Council approved the contract 7-0.
Water Service Agreement — 5-2
The council split on a water service agreement authorizing city water for a proposed development at 50235 Highway 6 and 24, currently an RV park. Under the proposal, the developer would receive 84.5 equivalent residential units of city water to support 100 homes — 98 new and 2 existing — with 10 units designated income-restricted affordable. The city would receive tap fees, ongoing water revenue, and a transfer of one of the property’s two wells, which Public Works Director Matt Langhorst said produces more water than the project would consume at current calculations.
The applicant’s representative described the vision as attainable, owner-occupied single-family homes averaging two to four bedrooms, with five new fire hydrants replacing a single 1974 unit on the site. He said the property’s own wells could supply the development if the city declines, a point echoed by a real estate broker appearing remotely on behalf of the property seller.
Councilor Ray Schmahl said extending services without requiring annexation sets a bad precedent, cedes tax revenue, and leaves future development of adjacent properties entirely outside city authority. “Once they have water, anything that goes there is out of the city’s control,” he said. Councilor David Townsley said council had been steered away from examining the development’s details while simultaneously being asked to endorse the benefits it would deliver. “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know anything about your backgrounds,” Townsley said. “We were told not to ask about your project.”
Councilor Mitchell Weimer voted yes but used the floor to criticize Proposition 2A, the voter-approved measure requiring a public referendum on annexations, calling it “truly horrible” and “incredibly poorly thought out.” He argued 2A has eliminated the city’s practical ability to bring willing developers into city limits. City Attorney Hanlon confirmed the property currently lacks the contiguity with city limits required to pursue annexation under state statute. The motion carried 5-2, with Townsley and Schmahl dissenting.
Utility Disconnection Ordinance
The council unanimously approved Ordinance 2026-12, updating the city’s utility disconnection notice process. Langhorst said the city is replacing door-hanger notices with an automated phone and email system. A pilot run reached 46 of 50 delinquent accounts, with most paying before disconnect. A resident appeared during public comment to describe herself as a repeat late-payer, attributing it to laziness and bimonthly payment habits, and noted she had once paid a meter tech directly at the door. Councilor Townsley flagged a system gap in which staff had verbally resolved his billing dispute but automated notices kept running; Langhorst acknowledged the problem and said Finance would follow up. Councilor Schmahl asked for anonymized data on repeat offenders and a proposal for escalating fees.
Water Ordinance — Second Reading
The council unanimously approved Ordinance 2026-10A, the second reading of the odd-even outdoor watering schedule ordinance, after the item was pulled from the consent agenda to correct a numbering conflict with a separate ordinance also designated “2026-10.” The substance — codifying the schedule in place since 2018 — is unchanged.
Sergeant Michael Young
Mayor Marco Dehm read a proclamation honoring Sergeant Michael Young on his retirement after 32 years with the Glenwood Springs Police Department. Young joined in November 1994, was promoted to sergeant in January 2003, mentored more than 80 officers, and received the Terry L. Wilson Meritorious Medal in 2023 for negotiating a peaceful surrender during a July 2022 attempted homicide. A retirement ceremony was announced for the following Monday at the police department.
Financial Advisory Board Grants
The council unanimously approved the Financial Advisory Board’s 2026 grant recommendations, distributing funds from the city’s General and Tourism funds to organizations including A Way Out, Access AfterSchool, Advocate Safehouse Project, and CASA of the Ninth Judicial District, following a joint work session with the board earlier that day.
Engineering Standards Continued
Engineering standards updates were continued to the June 18 meeting after a council member flagged that an incorrect chapter had been uploaded to the packet. Langhorst said a corrected version with documentation of outside entity review will be included.
Consent and Appointments
The consent agenda, approved unanimously, included May 21 council minutes and a slip-line contract under RFP 2026-13. Mayor Pro Tem Zalinski noted the reappointments of Paula Gora to the Downtown Development Authority and Chris Sharrow to the River Commission, and welcomed Alison Ackley as a new DDA member.
Council Announcements and Comments
A resident thanked the city during citizens appearing before council for improvements to North Landing Park, saying people in the neighborhood regularly use the space and that adjusted lighting hours were welcome.
Councilor Townsley announced that GoPro Games whitewater events — relocated from Avon due to low water — will be held on the Glenwood wave Friday and Saturday, that Pride Fest takes place Saturday at Two Rivers Park, and that summer events including the Farmers Market, Films Under the Bridge, and Music Under the Bridge launch the following week. He also noted a $50,000 drone show grant awarded for Strawberry Days Saturday night. Councilor Smith reported on meetings of the Historic Preservation Commission and Transportation Commission, both preparing budget proposals for the fiscal year 2027 cycle, and noted that 400 teens and preteens signed up for free summer rec center passes at the last-day-of-school party.
During council comments, Mayor Dehm said he would like a work session on the unhoused population, noting he has seen and heard more about the issue recently and wants to explore what options are available. Councilor Zalinski said downtown businesses are talking about the problem and suggested a pre-meeting with business community and law enforcement could help frame a work session. Boyd said the topic is already on the upcoming work session schedule.
City Manager Report
Boyd announced a job offer has been extended to a canine-trained officer currently working in Silt; if she accepts, the city will purchase her dog at a depreciated value of approximately $10,000, giving the department two canine units. Boyd also said CDOT has committed to installing a welcome sign on the south end of town within two weeks following a recently secured easement, and that a city delegation including Mayor Pro Tem Zalinski had just returned from Washington, D.C., where meetings were held with White House Intergovernmental Affairs staff and congressional offices on mining-related issues.
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