Durango City Council members are struggling to reach consensus on a public statement outlining their position on a citizen initiative that could force a vote on whether the city should prohibit law enforcement officers from concealing their identities.
Councilors considered approving a formal statement on Tuesday but tabled the resolution after failing to reach agreement about what the letter should communicate. The letter was to be distributed through the city’s public information office and sent to The Durango Herald.
Councilor Jessika Loyer drafted the letter and invited other councilors to suggest edits during the regular public meeting on Tuesday.
She said the letter is intended to clarify City Council’s stance on immigration issues, what authority the city has in such matters and steps it has taken to support immigrants.
“Over the past several weeks, there’s been significant public dialogue, confusion and in some cases misinformation about what the city of Durango is considering,” Loyer said. “I believe it’s our responsibility as elected officials to clearly articulate where we stand, what authority we actually have, what steps we have actually taken and how we are prioritizing city resources.”
Councilor Shirley Gonzales said she supports the facts outlined in the letter, although she takes issue with the letter’s “sentiment.”
“I’m more in line with what’s being circulated,” she said in reference to the “No Secret Police” citizen’s initiative.
The initiative, if successful, would prohibit law enforcement officers from concealing their identities and require them to wear identification while on duty.
The draft letter acknowledges the citizen’s initiative, highlights federal funding risks should the city interfere with federal immigration enforcement, and summarizes actions the city has taken to support its immigrant community.
The letter notes that City Attorney Mark Morgan offered to work with initiative organizers to draft “legally defensible” language for the proposed no-mask ordinance, but organizers declined his offer. It also says councilors are responsible for ensuring adopted ordinances are “enforceable, constitutional and fiscally responsible.”
Passing “legally vulnerable” legislation that puts the city at “substantial financial risk would not serve our community well,” the letter says.
The letter further states federal funding could be frozen or revoked if the city interferes with federal immigration enforcement, citing the Trump administration’s January freeze of $10 billion in federal child care and family assistance to Colorado, California, Illinois, Minnesota and New York because they are “sanctuary jurisdictions.”
Federal grants pay 26% of Durango Transit’s operating revenue and 80% of its transit capital revenue, according to the letter.
The transportation department faces a projected $2 million budget deficit in 2028.
Durango-La Plata County Airport also received $49.9 million in federal funding over the past four years, the letter said.
The letter says the city is monitoring state and federal legislation, and City Council supports legislation that requires law enforcement officers to operate unmasked.
“I’m not opposed to writing a position paper and I’m not opposed to the facts that are in the document presented,” Gonzales said. “It’s more the sentiment that I’m concerned with.”
Mayor Gilda Yazzie said the draft is “perplexing” and suggested tabling the resolution for a later meeting.
Loyer noted the next meeting is March 10 and she will not be in attendance.
Councilors offered to extend the resolution to April 7, which Loyer said made her question if the letter is still worth pursuing.
“It won’t get brought up until April 7, which I also feel is a disservice to our community,” she said.
cburney@durangoherald.com
