Beverage Licensing Authority

Legal basis

• BRC 2-3-3 · creates · Beverage Licensing Authority source source
• C.R.S. 44-3-103(27) · authorizes · Colorado Liquor Code: local licensing authority source
• C.R.S. 44-3-301 · governs · Licensing in general source
• BRC 4-2-3 · governs · Authority to Issue City Licenses source
• Resolution No. 1379 (2026) (2026-05-07) · governs · Beverage Licensing Authority Rules of Procedure source source

Appointed by

City Council. City Council appoints all five members at a regular meeting in March each year (BRC 2-3-3(a); 2-3-1(a)). source source

How

The city's annual boards and commissions recruitment: online applications (for 2026, December 8, 2025 to January 25, 2026), 15-minute Zoom interviews with one council member and board staff, then council nominations and a vote at a regular meeting before April (BRC 2-3-3 says March); 2026 appointments approved March 5, 2026, effective April 1, 2026. · annual (recruitment December-January, interviews February, appointment in March) · City Council vote (2026: 9:0, March 5, 2026) source source source source as of 2026-03-05

Seats

5 source

Seat types

• city resident member ×5 at-large

source

Term

5 years source

Term limit

none set in BRC 2-3-3; the general provisions (BRC 2-3-1) set no limit on reappointment either, and members serve until their successors take office source source

Staggering

staggered five-year terms; council adjusts terms as needed to keep them staggered; vacancies filled for the rest of the term source

Powers

quasi-judicial. Decides: Grants or refuses city liquor and fermented malt beverage licenses, conducts investigations, and suspends or revokes licenses for cause, as Boulder's local licensing authority under the Colorado Liquor Code; decisions follow quasi-judicial hearings.. To council: Nothing goes to council for decision: appeals of BLA decisions go to the District Court under the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure. Council sets the BLA's rules of procedure by resolution, and the city manager issues the licenses the BLA grants. source source source

Council liaison

not applicable: City Council does not assign council liaisons to city boards and commissions: its 2026 committee and board assignments list only intergovernmental bodies, internal council committees, outside local boards, Boulder Housing Partners, Chautauqua and sister cities, and council procedure bars members from speaking at board meetings unless council authorises it. source source

Staff liaison

Regulatory Licensing Division (city manager as secretary / licensing clerk); City Attorney's Office advises · Alisa Darrow, Katelyn Kellogg source source source as of 2026-07-15

Relations

• Beverage Licensing Authority appeals to Boulder County District Court · Judicial review in District Court under the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure (C.R.C.P. 106). source
• City Council appoints Beverage Licensing Authority source
• City Manager liaison Beverage Licensing Authority · The city manager is the BLA's secretary (licensing clerk) and agent for all functions. source
• City Attorney's Office staffs Beverage Licensing Authority · legal advisor; an assistant city attorney is listed among staff present source
• Finance staffs Beverage Licensing Authority · licensing staff (Regulatory Licensing Division), acting for the city manager as secretary / licensing clerk source source