Too Long Didn’t Listen

• The FAA grants for taxilane reconstruction at Vance Brand Airport were tabled unanimously. Council agreed the work needs to happen but had significant concerns about accepting a federal grant. They want to have a broader conversation about the airport’s financial future at a July 14th pre-session before committing to federal grant terms. A decision has to be made right after that meeting due to a deadline.

• A public safety tax may be heading toward the November ballot. Council directed staff to return with final ballot options, likely for a July 24th special session. The city faces a $2 million current deficit in the public safety fund projected to grow to $20.8 million over ten years. Options on the table include a sales tax increase, a property tax increase, a combination of both, or shifting more positions to the general fund.

• Nearly $5 million allocated for affordable housing across four projects. Habitat for Humanity of St. Vrain Valley is building 35 for-sale affordable homes. The Inn Between of Longmont is building 40 affordable rental units. Brothers Redevelopment is running two years of free home painting and repair for older and disabled homeowners.

• City’s financial books are accurate, reliable, and award-winning. The annual audit came back clean for the 44th consecutive year. Presentation only, Council voted to accept the report.

• Longmont decided not to file an amicus brief in the Superior airport noise lawsuit against Jefferson County Airport. Instead Council adopted a written statement explaining that as an airport owner, Longmont takes airport noise seriously and believes local control over airport operations shouldn’t be handed to the courts.

The Big Ones

The FAA Airport Grants Got Tabled — But the Clock Is Ticking

This one took up most of the meeting and generated more charged energy than any item we’ve seen in a while. Here’s the full picture.

Vance Brand Airport has two taxilanes (the paved paths aircraft use to get from the runway to the hangars) that are rated zero in usability and must be reconstructed. The Federal Aviation Administration offered Longmont grants to cover 95% of the cost. Sounds straightforward. It’s not.

The wrinkle is that accepting FAA grants comes with “grant assurances”, or conditions the city agrees to when it takes federal money. These include keeping the airport open and accessible, complying with federal non-discrimination requirements, and not diverting airport revenue to other city uses. Several council members raised concerns about what those assurances mean under the current federal administration, specifically around equity, inclusion, and how contract language could be interpreted or enforced in ways that affect the community.

There’s also a bigger underlying problem: the airport doesn’t have a clear financial vision. It relies on grants because it hasn’t developed self-sustaining revenue streams. A proposed landing fee increase has come up as a possibility but has faced community opposition.

One more complicating factor: the city already accepted FAA money for the design phase of this exact project back in 2025. So the construction grants aren’t new, they’re the next step of work already in progress. Declining them would mean millions already spent on design essentially go to waste, with the reconstruction cost falling to the general fund instead.

Council agreed the work has to happen. They voted unanimously to table the decision until after a July 14th pre-session where staff will present a broader look at the airport’s financial situation and long-term options. The problem is the deadline to accept the grants falls right after that meeting, so a decision has to be made quickly.

If you have strong feelings about the airport, the July 14th meeting is the one to attend or watch.

A Public Safety Tax Is Moving Toward the November Ballot

This one came late in the meeting and generated its own extended conversation. The short version: the city’s public safety department is understaffed and underfunded, and council directed staff to come back with final ballot options for a possible November tax measure.

The numbers are significant. The city currently faces a $2 million deficit in the public safety fund, projected to grow to $20.8 million over the next ten years. Firefighters are averaging 400 hours of overtime per year, essentially an extra shift almost every week, all year. As a stopgap, nine new positions are being funded out of the general fund right now: five being hired immediately, four going to the academy.

Public safety in this context means more than police — it includes firefighters, paramedics, victims advocates, peer case managers, and other support staff. Adding full EMS services to the Longmont Fire Department came up as a significant need that previous funding calculations haven’t been able to support without dedicated revenue.

Four options were presented: a sales tax increase, a property tax increase, a 50/50 combination of both, or shifting more positions to the general fund. Council members had different views on which is fairest and most likely to pass with voters. Crist raised concerns about the regressive nature of a higher sales tax on lower-income residents. Kalkhofer favored a 50/50 split. Prieto supported a sales tax increase as the fairer option. Marsing wanted clear, tangible objectives in whatever goes to voters. Popkin floated a public safety fee for short-term rentals as one additional piece.

A few other funding sources came up: marijuana tax revenue from the recently annexed dispensaries will go to the public safety fund (Popkin’s line of the night: “I’m not trying to solve everything with weed, but...”). There’s also consideration of a public safety fee tied to Sundance Festival, given how much the festival stretches public safety resources.

Council directed staff to return with final options, likely at a July 24th special session. No ordinance yet, no ballot language yet, but this is officially moving forward toward a potential November 3rd ballot measure.

Nearly $5 Million Allocated for Affordable Housing

Every year the city distributes money to housing projects through the Affordable Housing Fund. This is the first year Boulder County’s 2024 voter-approved affordable and attainable housing tax is being distributed, which added a significant new pool of money. Four projects were approved tonight, all unanimously recommended by the Housing and Human Services Advisory Board.

Habitat for Humanity of St. Vrain Valley: $2.8 million Boulder County grant to build 35 permanently affordable for-sale homes. These are sold at zero interest through Habitat’s self-funded mortgage model. Largest St. Vrain Habitat project to date.

Habitat for Humanity of St. Vrain Valley — Sunset Duplexes: $630,000 city loan to build 4 more for-sale affordable homes — 2 duplexes.

The Inn Between of Longmont: $1.2 million city loan to build 40 affordable rental units, with onsite office space for The Inn Between’s supportive services.

Brothers Redevelopment — Paint-A-Thon: $50,000 grant to run two years of free exterior home painting and repairs for older and disabled homeowners in Longmont.

Combined with the Atwood Commons loan council approved back in April, the full 2026 cycle totals just over $5.4 million benefiting 161 low-income Longmont households. Council was particularly excited that several of these projects are for-sale housing rather than just rental — Popkin suggested the city let Boulder County commissioners know what Longmont is doing with their residents’ tax dollars.

The Rest, Quickly

The city’s books are accurate, reliable, and award-winning — The city’s 2025 annual financial report came back with a clean audit, meaning the numbers are accurate and everything is in compliance, not necessarily that the city is flush with cash (as we learned later in the meeting when the public safety funding gap came up). What IS worth celebrating: Longmont has now received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 44 consecutive years. The unsung heroes of the night were honestly the accountants, who apparently made financial reporting genuinely compelling to watch. Shout out to the numbers people.

A new policy proposal for routing issues to boards and commissions — Councilmember Crist proposed a new policy that would require new policy measures to first go to the city’s community engagement team, who would recommend which boards, commissions, or other engagement pathways the issue should go through before final language comes to council. The idea came out of a Coffee with Council conversation. Several council members supported the spirit of it but wanted more information from staff before voting. Council agreed to bring it back for further discussion at a future meeting. Passed unanimously to bring back.

Westview Acres affordable housing alternative agreement — Longmont requires new residential developments to include affordable units. Developers can sometimes satisfy this through a voluntary alternative agreement instead of building on-site. Council approved one for the Westview Acres subdivision. There was a quick fix to some language in the resolution, and a council member raised concerns about the potential for affordable housing to be concentrated in lower-income neighborhoods. The project ultimately passed.

Six second readings from June 9 are now final law — The Board of Adjustment is officially abolished (Planning and Zoning Commission handles variances permanently now). Parking fines are going up for the first time since at least 2009, and there’s a new fine for misusing EV charging spots and a new hit-and-run provision. Updated water and landscaping design standards now require native plants and water-wise irrigation in new development. The First and Main Innovation Campus appropriations and Phase 2 development agreement are final. All of these are now law.

Board and commission appointments — Council made appointments to the Callahan House Advisory Board, the General Employee Retirement Pension Board, the Money Accumulation Pension Board (MOPC), the Sustainability Advisory Board, the Water Board, and the Longmont Housing Authority Advisory Board. The LHA appointments happened in a brief recess where council reconvened as the LHA Advisory Board — same people, different legal hats, same as we saw with the LGID at the May 26 meeting.

First call public comment — Several speakers raised concerns about police de-escalation in specific situations. One speaker urged council to find solutions for houselessness before El Niño season. One raised concerns about surveillance technology. Several weighed in on the airport. One raised concerns about tree stress from reduced city watering and the emerald ash borer. And Lance reported that Wish Ride went well.

We’re on the podcast players now! — You can now find the Longmont City Council Recap on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts. If you’ve been reading the newsletter or listening on Substack, now you can subscribe on your preferred platform too. And if you have a moment to leave a review, we would really love that.

What’s Coming Up at Longmont City Council

(a not-perfect but hopefully still helpful list)

All dates are subject to change. Check longmontcolorado.gov/agendas for the most current meeting agendas.

July 14, 2026 — Pre-Session

• Airport financial future — Staff will present a broader look at the airport’s finances, the rates and charges study, and long-term sustainability options. This is the pre-session that has to happen before council votes on whether to accept the FAA grants — which are on a tight deadline right after this meeting.

July 14, 2026 — Regular Session

• FAA grant decision — Council will need to decide whether to accept the FAA construction grants for taxilane reconstruction at Vance Brand Airport. The deadline falls right around this meeting.

• RCV discussion — A political science professor is presenting to council about ranked choice voting ahead of the November ballot decision.

July 24, 2026 — Special Session (tentative)

• Public safety tax ballot options — Staff will return with final options for a ballot measure. Council needs to finalize before August readings if this is going to November 3rd.

July 28 and August 11, 2026

• Open space ballot question — First reading July 28th, second reading August 11th. If it passes, it goes to voters on November 3rd.

Coming up — dates not yet confirmed

• Community engagement referral policy — The proposed policy for routing new measures to boards and commissions before they come to council. Coming back for further discussion.

• Open space protections, parts one and two — Still being developed.

• Smaller data center standards — Through study sessions first.

• Short-term rental rules for major events — Staff still drafting.

• New Longmont flag design competition https://longmontcolorado.gov/news/longmont-invites-applications-to-design-new-official-city-flag/

• 2027 human services funding recommendations — Staff returns in December.

Timestamps

00:00 Week in Review Highlights

00:31 Welcome and Podcast Updates

02:02 Agenda Motion Revisions

03:40 Clean Audit Financial Report

05:26 Public Comment Roundup

09:03 Consent Agenda and Housing Agreement

11:40 FAA Grant Airport Debate

20:32 Airport Noise Lawsuit Response

21:34 Second Readings / New Laws

24:49 Affordable Housing Funds Approved

27:04 Public Safety Tax Ballot Options

35:24 Boards Appointments Final Comments

37:30 Wrap Up Credits and Thanks

Links

City Flag Design Contest

https://longmontcolorado.gov/news/longmont-invites-applications-to-design-new-official-city-flag/

Longmont City Council Meetings: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/city-council-meetings/

Coffee with Council:https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/coffee-with-council/

Mayor and City Council Members: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/mayor-city-council-members

Finding Your Council Representative: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/mayor-city-council-members/mayor-or-city-council-representative/

Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) https://longmontcolorado.gov/public-safety/about-longmont-public-safety/collaborative-services-division/

• Co-responder unit brings together a specially trained police officer, a behavioral health clinician, and a paramedic to respond to calls involving mental health concerns.

Why Longmont City Council is hesitant to accept FAA money to fix a crumbling airport taxilane: https://www.timescall.com/2026/06/28/longmont-city-council-faa-vance-brand-municipal-airport/

P.R.A.B. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is a Citizen Advisory Committee that consists of seven members appointed to serve three year terms. The purpose of the board is to advise City Council on all aspects of the management and development of the City Parks and recreation programs. They meet on the second Monday of every month.

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

Longmont Wish Ride

Annual Motorcycle Parade Fundraiser benefiting Make a Wish Colorado.

https://www.wishrideofcolorado.org/

Visible Government League

Local Org opposing mass surveillance (Flock and Axon cameras)

Meet Ups at St Vrain Cidery the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month.

https://www.visiblegovernmentleague.org/

Link to Financial Reports of 2025

Annual Comprehensive Financial Report by Year

Woodpeckers and Invasive Ash Borer Beetles

Ash Borer Beetles lay their eggs deep under the bark of a tree. Invisible to humans but not to woodpeckers which can be used as an effective indicator of an infected tree with increased woodpecker activity.

USDAFS on fighting invasive Emerald Ash Borers

City Council Pre-Sessions

“Longmont City Council meets every third Tuesday from 6 to 7 pm in an informal pre-session to share updates with each other from the various city and non-city board and commission meetings they each have attended. Periodically, the Council may cancel these sessions or add a special topic for discussion which will be noted on the agenda that can be found on the City’s Agenda Management Portal.

These sessions are open to the public and recorded by Longmont Public Media and later uploaded to the City’s YouTube channel.”

Paint-A-Thon

The Paint-A-Thon Program is a community-driven effort organized by Brothers Redevelopment. It brings together volunteers, sponsors, and local businesses to provide free exterior painting services to homeowners in need. Through this program, we aim to revitalize neighborhoods, enhance curb appeal, and improve the quality of life for homeowners who may be facing financial or physical challenges.

Paint-A-Thon

Check out our new Instagram!: https://www.instagram.com/lccrecap/

We’re now on the podcast players! linktr.ee/LCCRecap

This is an independent recap. We do our best, but we are not the official record. Please see links to official documents, meeting minutes, and other resources above.

Our research, podcast, and newsletter are created and edited by our team. We thoughtfully use Claude to support our efforts.

Thanks for investing in our city, Longmont!

TL;DR

• First and Main, the new innovation campus and transit hub planned for downtown, is moving forward. The whole cluster of agreements passed unanimously, including a $4 million commitment from Front Range Community College toward their downtown campus, a development agreement with Vertikal Richmark to build a parking garage and transit hub, and several affordable housing financing pieces. Construction on the parking garage starts later this year.

• The hyperscale data center ban is now law. After fixing some last-minute wording issues, the final ordinance passed 6-1 with Crist opposed. This bans any data center using 100 megawatts or more of power from operating in Longmont. Standards for smaller data centers are still being developed.

• Council took the first step toward putting open space protections on the November ballot. Two votes happened. First, whether to proceed at all, which passed 4-3 with Crist, Prieto, and McCoy opposed. Second, the timeline, which passed 6-1 with Crist opposed. If it clears two more readings in late July and August, it goes to voters November 3rd.

• The city is changing how it funds local nonprofits through its Human Services program. Three changes were discussed. A $10,000 minimum funding request passed 6-1 with Prieto opposed. A possible 30% cap on city funding per program is going to an advisory board for feedback first, which passed unanimously. And aligning funding with council priorities passed 6-1.

The Big Ones

First and Main, Longmont’s New Innovation Campus, Is a Go

If you’ve been following this project, tonight was a big step. The vision: transform the area between 1st Avenue and Boston Avenue, east of Main Street, into a walkable urban campus with a Front Range Community College innovation hub, a parking garage, a transit station, and mixed-use development with offices and shops.

Tonight’s agreements covered the partnership with FRCC, who is putting in $4 million toward pre-development of their campus, and a development agreement with Vertikal Richmark to build the parking garage, transit hub, and private development. The garage will be five stories with about 700 parking spots, and construction starts later this year regardless of what happens with future phases. NextLight is already lined up as a tenant in the office building. The RTD transit station next door is expected to break ground in October.

One item from this cluster, a tax increment financing agreement with the Longmont Urban Renewal Authority, got pulled out for a separate vote so Popkin could ask a few questions about the numbers. After getting his answers, it passed unanimously too.

Council members had thoughtful questions about the design, mostly around walkability and how much of the site is surface parking versus usable space. Everyone is genuinely excited about this one.

The Hyperscale Data Center Ban Is Now Law

This one has been in the works since April, and tonight it crossed the finish line, though not without a hiccup.

The ordinance bans any data center using 100 megawatts or more of electricity from operating in Longmont. For context, that’s roughly 1/14th of Platte River Power Authority’s entire system capacity, so we’re talking about genuinely massive facilities.

The ordinance accidentally said the ban applied to facilities using “no greater than” 100 megawatts, which is the opposite of what was intended. Popkin caught it and made three amendments to fix the wording and add some clarification about how the city evaluates projected demand. The wording fix passed 6-1 with Crist opposed, and the other two passed unanimously.

During public comment, opinions were mixed. Some speakers worried this closes the door on future opportunities and pointed out data centers don’t actually employ many people on-site. Others supported the ban but wanted to make sure it also addresses water use, not just electricity, and questioned whether the city can actually enforce it. On enforcement, city staff explained there’s a two-step approach: first, the city simply won’t issue permits for anything over the limit, and if a facility somehow exceeded it anyway, the city could cut off its water.

The final vote passed 6-1 with Crist opposed. The ban is now law. Standards for smaller data centers are still being developed and will go through study sessions before becoming an ordinance.

Open Space Protections Take Their First Step Toward November

Back in April, council directed staff to work on three different open space protections. Tonight only covered the third part, the ballot question, because it has a deadline tied to the November election. The other two parts are still being developed and will come back later.

Quick context on all three: Part one strengthens the existing rules around selling or repurposing city open space. Part two would require conservation easements, a legal tool that limits how land can be used, on open space the city owns or acquires. Part three, which is what council voted on tonight, asks whether to put a question on the ballot that would add open space to the city charter alongside parks and water rights. Right now those two have charter-level protection and open space doesn’t, meaning it can be sold or repurposed through a regular ordinance. Adding it to the charter would mean voters get the final say on any major changes.

Two votes happened. The first was whether to proceed at all, which passed 4-3 with Crist, Prieto, and McCoy opposed. They had concerns about the complexity of the ballot language and how this fits with other things that might be on the November ballot. The second vote was about timing: council picked the option that gives staff more time for legal review, with a first reading July 28th and second reading August 11th. That passed 6-1 with Crist opposed.

Popkin raised a bigger-picture point: he wants all the potential November ballot measures, including this one and ranked choice voting, considered together so council can see the full picture before deciding what actually goes to voters. He pointed back to 2023, when several measures went to voters at once and many didn’t pass.

If this clears its final readings, it heads to voters November 3rd.

The Rest, Quickly

Airport noise and a possible legal brief — Before the regular agenda, the Mayor announced that the town of Superior is suing over aircraft noise from touch-and-go training flights at Rocky Mountain Airport, and asked nearby cities including Longmont to file a brief supporting their case at the Colorado Supreme Court. Since Longmont owns and operates its own airport with its own noise complaints, this isn’t a simple decision. No vote was taken. Council will discuss it with attorneys in a closed session on June 16th.

Eleven building codes are now final — These have been working through the process since mid-May and all passed unanimously tonight. The headline for homeowners: the residential code no longer requires fire sprinklers in new single-family homes. The rest cover everything from plumbing to fire safety to swimming pools.

Board of Adjustment is being formally dissolved — This board used to handle requests for exceptions to code rules, like setback requirements. It hasn’t been able to get enough members since January 2024, so the Planning and Zoning Commission has been filling in. This ordinance makes that arrangement permanent. First reading passed unanimously, back for a final vote June 23rd.

Parking fines are going up — As part of an update to the traffic code, parking fines will increase for the first time since at least 2009. Longmont’s fines have been well below neighboring cities. The update also adds a fine for misusing EV charging station spots and a new hit-and-run provision. First reading passed unanimously, back June 23rd.

Water and landscaping design standards updated — These technical standards for things like water lines, wastewater, and irrigation haven’t been touched since 2007. The update requires native plants and water-wise irrigation in new development. First reading passed unanimously, back June 23rd.

The Longmont CAReS protection is now final law — This closes a gap that could let the city disconnect someone’s utilities while they’re waiting on an approved CAReS rebate. Passed unanimously.

Human services funding changes — The city is adjusting how it funds local nonprofits doing housing, food access, mental health, and other support work. A $10,000 minimum funding request passed 6-1 with Prieto opposed. A possible cap limiting city funding to 30% of any program’s budget is going to the Housing and Human Services Advisory Board for feedback first, and that direction passed unanimously. A plan to better align funding with council priorities passed 6-1. Several council members said they’re not yet confident these changes solve the underlying problem, which is that demand keeps growing faster than funding. Staff returns in December with recommendations for 2027.

Public comment highlights — A representative from HOPE shared that the organization has facilitated over 3,100 shelter stays this year with a 92% housing retention rate, and is on track to help house about five people a month. Speakers also weighed in on open space protections, the data center ban, and ongoing concerns about surveillance technology in town. During final public comment, a longtime advocate who works with people facing eviction shared that the overwhelming majority of cases come down to medical debt and the inability to pay rent, and that Longmont relies on lottery-based housing assistance while similar services in Boulder have dedicated funding.

Council comments — Kalkhofer toured the city’s water and wastewater treatment plants and Platte River Power Authority’s Rawhide facility this week. McCoy attended the groundbreaking for PRPA’s new battery storage facility, which will be one of the largest of its kind in the state. Crist shared that a political science professor will speak to council about ranked choice voting on July 14th, and announced a Lunch and Learn on June 17th focused on hiring and retaining employees from the disabled community. Popkin thanked Marsing for his work on a new technology policy advisory board, and noted that RTD is voting soon on a proposed bus route connecting Longmont to the airport.

Our council meeting debut — Kaylie spoke during public comment this week to introduce the podcast to Council. It was a nervous but lovely moment, and several council members and community members gave us kind words throughout the night. Thank you to everyone who’s been listening and sharing.

What’s Coming Up at Longmont City Council (a not-perfect but hopefully still helpful list)

All dates are subject to change. Check longmontcolorado.gov/agendas for the most current meeting agendas.

June 23, 2026

• Second readings on four ordinances from tonight — the additional budget appropriations, the Board of Adjustment dissolution, the traffic code and parking fine update, and the water and landscaping design standards update. All will have public hearings.

July 28 and August 11, 2026

• Open space ballot question — First reading July 28th, second reading August 11th. If it passes, it goes to voters November 3rd.

Coming up — dates not yet confirmed

• Ranked choice voting discussion — Council voted 5-2 on May 26th to bring this to a future general session. A political science professor will present to council on July 14th. The November 3rd deadline creates urgency.

• Open space protections, parts one and two — Strengthening rules around selling open space, and requiring conservation easements on city-owned open space. Still being developed, no date yet.

• Smaller data center standards — Will go through study sessions before becoming an ordinance.

• Short-term rental rules for major events — Staff is still drafting this one. Watch future agendas.

• New Longmont flag design process — Community engagement campaign launching this summer, with a table planned for the Fourth of July festival.

• 2027 human services funding recommendations — Staff returns in December.

Timestamps

02:09 Airport Noise Update

03:38 FRCC Innovation Campus

05:57 Podcast Public Comment

10:37 Community Comments Roundup

15:50 Consent Agenda Votes

17:58 Building Codes Finalized

18:32 Hyperscale Data Center Ban

23:08 CARES Utility Protections

24:35 Nonprofit Funding Overhaul

28:10 Open Space Ballot Measure

30:28 Final Public Comment

Links

Longmont City Council Meetings: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/city-council-meetings/

Coffee with Council: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/coffee-with-council/

Mayor and City Council Members: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/mayor-city-council-members

Finding Your Council Representative: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/mayor-city-council-members/mayor-or-city-council-representative/

HOPE
Local non-profit “Connecting people with housing, resources, and hope” - HOPE Website
https://hopeforlongmont.org/

Recovery Cafe (HOPE partner)
Community Space for those in recovery from addiction.
https://recoverycafelongmont.org/

All Roads (HOPE partner)
Non-profit aiming to end Homelessness”
https://allroadsboco.org/

Round Pantry (HOPE partner)
Provides food at no cost on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month.
https://westviewpres.org/round-pantry-welcome

Boulder County Workforce (HOPE partner)
Helps people looking for a job find work and helps businesses hire!
https://bouldercounty.gov/departments/community-services/workforce-boulder-county/

LEAD Program (HOPE partner)
Program designed to reduce reincarceration by providing holistic support (drug rehab, mental health resources, housing,job training).
https://bha.colorado.gov/behavioral-health/LEAD

Visible Government League
Local Org opposing mass surveillance (Flock and Axon cameras)
Meet Ups at St Vrain Cidery the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month.
https://www.visiblegovernmentleague.org/

Bloody Sunday
https://www.history.com/articles/selma-bloody-sunday-attack-civil-rights-movement

Longmont Rebate Program
Get money back on city services, taxes, and fees!
https://longmontcolorado.gov/public-information/financial-assistance-and-rebate-programs/

Application

https://longmontcolorado.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/LC-Eng-app-12.4.20.pdf

Longmont Wish Ride

Annual Motorcycle Parade Fundraiser benefiting Make a Wish Colorado.

https://www.wishrideofcolorado.org/

Colorado Governor Race on John Oliver: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lIHQoheG7TY

Check our our new Instagram!: https://www.instagram.com/lccrecap/

This is an independent recap. We do our best but we are not the official record. Please see links to official documents, meeting minutes, and other resources above.

Our research, podcast, and newsletter are created and edited by our team. We thoughtfully use Claude to support our efforts.

Thanks for investing in our city, Longmont!

• Ranked choice voting could be headed to the November ballot. Council voted 5-2 to direct staff to add a discussion to a future agenda about whether to refer a ranked choice voting charter amendment to voters on November 3rd, 2026. McCoy and Crist opposed. Nothing is on the ballot yet — this just gets the conversation officially moving.

• The Longmont flag might be getting its first redesign in 50 years. Council voted 5-2 to approve a community design process run by the Art in Public Places Commission. Three finalist artists will each receive a $1,000 stipend. About $5,000 from council contingency funds approved. Marsing and Popkin opposed.

• Longmont Police Department received its CALEA accreditation. Presentation only, no vote. CALEA stands for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and is widely considered the gold standard for police accreditation in the US. Only about 15 Colorado agencies have it. The department opted in voluntarily.

• Investment strategy presentation from the city’s new investment advisor. Presentation only, no vote. Government Portfolio Advisors introduced themselves and walked council through changes to how the city’s public funds are being managed. Marsing flagged that he wants a future conversation about values-aligned investing.

• Cannabis dispensary annexations are officially done. Three ordinances passed 6-1, Crist opposed on all three. Two marijuana dispensaries that had been operating in unincorporated Boulder County enclaves are now officially part of Longmont and will pay city sales taxes.

• Additional city appropriations for FY2026 passed unanimously. Includes funding for a major irrigation system upgrade at Sunset Golf Course. Final vote.

• Investment policy update passed 5-2. Crist and Prieto opposed. Adopts the updated investment policy for the city’s new investment advisor.

• DDA annual services agreement passed 6-1. Crist opposed. The city’s annual agreement with the Longmont Downtown Development Authority for services including street maintenance, holiday lights, and police support at events.

• Community satisfaction survey plan approved unanimously. The city’s biennial resident satisfaction survey is coming this summer. Council gave feedback on inclusivity and language before approving.

• Seven Capital Improvement Program amendments approved unanimously. Includes funding for the Sunset Golf Course irrigation upgrade alongside the appropriations ordinance.

• Colorado Communities for Climate Action 2026 policy statement accepted unanimously. Longmont signaled support for the coalition’s proposed policy direction ahead of their annual meeting June 10-12.

• Longmont General Improvement District resolution passed 6-1. Crist opposed. In a procedurally unusual move, council temporarily recessed as city council and reconvened as the LGID Board of Directors to approve an annual agreement with the Downtown Development Authority. Then reconvened as city council.

The Big Ones

Ranked Choice Voting Could Be on the November Ballot

This one has been building for a while. Mayor Hidalgo-Fahring brought a motion before the formal agenda even started, and it passed 5-2.

This is not a vote to implement ranked choice voting. It’s a direction to staff to schedule a general discussion at a future meeting about whether to refer a ranked choice voting charter amendment to Longmont voters on November 3rd, 2026. Voters would ultimately decide whether to change how the city elects its mayor and council members.

Right now, Longmont uses plurality voting (you pick one candidate per race and whoever gets the most votes wins, even if it’s less than a majority).

With ranked choice voting, you’d rank candidates in order of preference. If no one wins a majority in the first round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and those votes go to each voter’s next choice, continuing until someone has a majority.

The motion referenced two specific methods: instant runoff voting for single-winner races like mayor, and single transferable vote for multi-winner races like the at-large council seats where two people get elected at once.

There’s a legal wrinkle: single transferable vote is not currently permitted under Colorado state law. Marsing flagged this and suggested the language stay flexible rather than naming a specific method that might not be available. The motion was amended accordingly before passing.

McCoy opposed, saying he prefers ballot measures tied to tangible outcomes and raised the idea of expanding council’s structure before changing the voting method. He also noted some communities have seen initial enthusiasm with ranked choice voting followed by declining participation over time. Crist opposed, citing a political science professor who told her ranked choice voting leads to long-term participation declines.

Popkin’s framing was the clearest: this is a referral decision, not a policy decision. Council is deciding whether to ask voters, not whether to implement ranked choice voting.

The November deadline creates urgency. Staff will bring back a general discussion at a future meeting to work through the details before drafting ordinance language. No ordinance yet, no ballot measure yet.

The Flag Might Be Getting a Redesign

Longmont’s current city flag is 50 years old. Councilmember Crist started this conversation back in January after noticing the flag wasn’t even flying at the Civic Center and didn’t have its own pole. At last year’s Fourth of July festival, she said people she handed the flag to didn’t even know Longmont had one.

Council voted 5-2 to approve a community design process run by the Art in Public Places Commission. Here’s how it works:

Longmont residents of any age and artistic ability can submit their work for consideration. A task force selects three semi-finalists, each of whom receives a $1,000 stipend to develop a full flag design. The community then weighs in on what values and symbols they want the flag to represent. The three artists incorporate that feedback into their final designs, and council votes to adopt one.

The current flag will be included as one of four options in the final community survey, so it’s not automatically gone.

Cost: about $5,000 in unbudgeted funds from council’s contingency fund, plus a $1,000 donation from the Rotary Club. The timeline is four to six months, with a campaign kicking off in June and a table at the Fourth of July festival.

Marsing and Popkin voted against. Marsing has a personal connection to the current flag and sees it as a working class symbol. Popkin said he’d support a redesign eventually but felt tight contingency funds should go to more pressing needs right now.

CALEA: The Police Department Got a Big Deal Accreditation

The Longmont Police Department received its CALEA accreditation at this meeting. This is worth understanding because it’s genuinely significant.

CALEA stands for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. It’s a voluntary national accreditation program widely considered the gold standard for law enforcement. There are roughly 18,000 to 20,000 law enforcement agencies in the US. About 15 in Colorado are currently CALEA accredited.

The process is rigorous. The department undergoes a 100% review of every single policy, a web-based external assessment, and then an in-person assessment where outside evaluators interview officers, staff, and community members to verify that what’s written on paper is actually what’s happening. The CALEA Board of Commissioners then votes. Longmont was granted its initial accreditation on March 13, 2026, and the award was presented at the May 26 meeting by Colonel Matt Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol and current CALEA commission chairman.

The department has to maintain the accreditation through ongoing annual reviews.

The Rest, Quickly

Investment strategy presentation — The city’s new investment advisor, Government Portfolio Advisors (GPA), came to introduce themselves and walk Council through changes to how Longmont’s public funds are being managed. GPA manages over $35.5 billion in public fund assets across 11 states. Since taking over in December, the portfolio yield has improved from 3.58% to 3.73%.

Councilmember Marsing asked whether Longmont’s investment policy could incorporate values-aligned or ESG investing, directing public dollars toward investments that reflect community values. GPA confirmed they have experience with this. Current policy has no ESG (Environmental, social and governance) screens, but Marsing put it on the record as a future conversation.

Cannabis dispensaries done — Two marijuana dispensaries that had been operating in county enclaves surrounded by Longmont are now officially part of the city. They used city roads and the greenway but paid no Longmont sales taxes. Three ordinances finalized the annexation. All three passed 6-1, Crist opposed on each. She has previously explained she will not vote for anything that conflicts with federal law.

Golf course irrigation — Council approved funding for a major irrigation system upgrade at Sunset Golf Course as part of the additional city appropriations vote and the CIP amendments. The irrigation system is nearly 60 years old. Staff estimated the upgrade could save 30 to 37% of water use at that course, consistent with results seen at Twin Peaks after a similar upgrade. One of the Longmont golf courses is also classified as a bird sanctuary by the Audubon Society. Both votes passed unanimously.

Consent items that passed without much drama — The utility rebate ordinance (first reading, back June 9) closes a gap that allowed the city to disconnect someone for nonpayment during the window between when they are approved for a utility rebate and when it actually hits their account. The farmland lease renewal (first reading, back June 9) keeps a local family farm that has worked city-owned land for over 25 years going for another five years.

DDA agreement — The city’s annual services agreement with the Longmont Downtown Development Authority passed 6-1, Crist opposed. She raised the question of whether DDA-associated events should start covering the cost of police overtime rather than pulling from the Public Safety Fund, given that the department has only grown from 61 officers to 62 despite significant city growth. The DDA noted they already use private security to reduce police needs. No change to this year’s agreement, but Crist flagged it for future discussion.

Community satisfaction survey — The city’s biennial resident satisfaction survey is coming this summer. Council approved the plan unanimously with feedback: more inclusive language for youth and young adults, questions about noise, bilingual facilitation, and tracking who starts but doesn’t finish the survey.

CC4CA climate policy — Longmont accepted the Colorado Communities for Climate Action proposed 2026 policy statement unanimously. CC4CA is a coalition of 48 local governments that lobbies at the state level on climate legislation. Longmont has been a member since 2019.

The LGID situation — Council formally recessed as city council, reconvened as the Board of Directors of the Longmont General Improvement District No. 1, approved an annual administrative services agreement with the Downtown Development Authority, and then reconvened as city council. The LGID is a separate special district that exists in the downtown area. The same seven council members serve as its board, but they are legally a different entity when they do. Passed 6-1, Crist opposed. Marsing jokingly voted against reconvening as city council because he wanted to stay as the LGID.

Public comment — Lance returned. National Paper Airplane Day and National Blueberry Cheesecake Day. A resident came with complaints about a car that hasn’t moved from her street in years and airport noise over her neighborhood. She also said that she loves the senior center, the parks, the library, and the lending library on her front porch with chalk and lollipops for neighborhood kids.

No council comments — For the second meeting in a row, the meeting ended without council comments, city manager remarks, or city attorney remarks. The mayor could barely believe it. Neither could anyone else.

Timestamps

00:00 May 26 Recap Setup

01:40 Ranked Choice Voting Debate

05:43 City Investment Advisor Intro

06:51 Police Accreditation Spotlight

10:34 New Longmont Flag Proposal

16:04 Public Comment Highlights

17:08 Consent Agenda And Pulls

18:41 Cannabis Annexations Vote

20:45 Budget And Golf Irrigation

23:11 Consent Agenda Pulled Items

28:53 Climate Coalition Policy

30:22 Weird District Switcheroo

31:51 Wrap Up

Links

Ranked Choice Voting for Longmont:

https://www.rcvforlongmont.org/

CALEA — Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies:

https://www.calea.org/

Art in Public Places Commission: https://longmontcolorado.gov/museum/art-in-public-places/

Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA):

https://www.cc4ca.org/

Longmont City Council Meetings: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/city-council-meetings/

Coffee with Council: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/coffee-with-council/

Mayor and City Council Members: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/mayor-city-council-members

Finding Your Council Representative: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/mayor-city-council-members/mayor-or-city-council-representative/

This is an independent recap. We do our best but we are not the official record. Please see links to official documents, meeting minutes, and other resources above.

Our research, podcast, and newsletter are created and edited by our team - we thoughtfully use Claude to support our efforts.

TL;DR

• Two rail projects got a big presentation and one got a vote.

  • Joint Service: A starter passenger rail service from Denver to Fort Collins targeting January 1st 2029. No new tax required. Informational only, no council vote needed since it moves forward regardless.

  • Colorado Connector: The bigger intercity vision running from Fort Collins to Pueblo, eventually Wyoming to New Mexico. Requires voter approval of a new tax and a 2026 ballot measure. Council voted 6-1 to formally express support for the project and the proposed Longmont station. Crist in opposition due to lack of clarity around need, expected use by the community, cost and other key details.

• Fire sprinklers will not be required in new single-family homes. Council voted 4-3 to remove the sprinkler requirement from the updated International Residential Code. Marsing, McCoy, and Popkin wanted to keep it. The ordinance passed unanimously as amended. Second reading June 9th.

  • Shed permit threshold changed. You now need a permit for sheds over 120 square feet, down from 200. This passed as part of the same ordinance.

• Building codes updated. Eleven ordinances adopting the 2024 International Code Council standards passed unanimously on consent. These cover everything a building touches: residential construction, commercial buildings, mechanical systems, plumbing, fuel gas, fire safety, energy efficiency, swimming pools, and existing building renovations. Second readings and public hearings June 9th.

• CDBG housing grant approved unanimously. Every year Longmont receives a federal housing grant from HUD, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, based on the city’s population. This year’s allocation is $546,102. Council voted unanimously to direct most of it to Longmont’s Housing Rehabilitation Program, which provides free home repairs to low-income homeowners, things like roofs, furnaces, wheelchair ramps, and lead paint mitigation, administered by a Colorado nonprofit called Brothers Redevelopment. (Links to the program and Brothers Redevelopment at bottom)

• Connection Church annexation referral passed 6-1. A church in unincorporated Boulder County that has already moved to a new location wants to sell its old property, but the current agricultural zoning limits the buyer pool. Council voted to let them start the annexation and rezoning process, which if approved would bring the property into Longmont city limits. This is not a final annexation vote, just permission to apply. Marsing opposed, citing the purely financial motivation for the request.

• Mild drought response adopted unanimously. The 2026/2027 Water Supply Plan steps up to a mild drought response based on low snowpack and reservoir levels. City-owned facilities like golf courses and parks are asked to reduce water use by about 10%. No mandatory restrictions for residents yet.

• Two items didn’t make it. The council retreat follow-up on community outreach and the prairie dog code amendment both got bumped due to time. Motion to extend the meeting past 11 failed 5-2, so these will be covered in future meetings.

More info below… what is coming up in future meetings at the bottom.

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Timestamps

00:00 Preview

00:31 Welcome and Housekeeping

01:17 Joint Service Rail Plan

02:36 Colorado Connector Vote

03:44 Train Debate Highlights

12:13 Public Comment Round One

15:31 Consent Agenda Speedrun

17:15 Fire Sprinklers and Sheds

22:12 HUD Block Grant Hearing

24:43 Connection Church Annexation

25:53 Mild Drought Declaration

28:25 Items Bumped for Time

29:19 Final Comments and Wrap

More info below…

The Big Ones

The Train Situation

There are two separate but related rail projects moving forward at the same time.

Project one: Joint Service. This is a collaboration between six state agencies to launch a starter passenger rail service from Denver to Fort Collins using existing freight tracks owned by BNSF, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Three daily round trips, eight stations including Longmont at First and Main, target start January 1st, 2029. No new tax required, funded with existing state dollars and RTD FastTracks money. Just two weeks before this meeting, the state and BNSF signed a term sheet, a preliminary agreement outlining the conditions for running passenger trains on those freight tracks. This presentation was informational and no vote was required.

Project two: The Colorado Connector. This is the bigger vision, an intercity rail from Fort Collins to Pueblo, eventually extending to Wyoming and New Mexico, with up to 10 round trips a day. It’s run by the Front Range Passenger Rail District, a separate entity from RTD created specifically for this purpose. The Colorado Connector, or “Coco”, would absorb and expand Joint Service if voters approve it. That requires a new tax, and the district is considering a 2026 ballot measure. Ballot language isn’t finalized yet; the deadline is August. Joint Service moves forward regardless of the ballot. The Colorado Connector needs voter approval to fully build out.

Council voted on a resolution formally expressing support for the Colorado Connector project and the proposed Longmont station. It passed 6-1. Councilmember Crist was the lone vote against.

Crist’s argument was essentially: we have buses that do this route, they’re comfortable, they have Wi-Fi, and nobody has shown me the data that people will actually use this or that the finances are solid. She wasn’t against trains in principle; she wanted proof the project is well thought out before going on record supporting it. The train’s maximum speed is 79 mph, which means it’s not faster than driving in good traffic. It’s also not a commuter service, three round trips a day is not something you can build a daily routine around, at least not yet.

The last mile problem also came up, which is the challenge of getting from the train station to your actual destination. Sal Pace, the General Manager of the Front Range Passenger Rail District, acknowledged they’re studying this. He pointed out that Longmont is actually ahead of most cities on this because DOLA, the Department of Local Affairs, has already funded Bus Rapid Transit at the First and Main station site, and RTD is also contributing to the station area. If the ballot measure passes, those funds can go toward local connections, bike access, sidewalks, and trails around each station.

One public commenter argued that the Flex Bus from Boulder to Fort Collins is free and barely used, suggesting demand for this kind of service is unproven.

Fire Sprinklers: Not Happening

The International Residential Code (the building code that governs new single-family home construction) was pulled from the consent agenda because of one specific provision: a requirement for residential fire sprinklers in new homes. Longmont has been opting out of this requirement every code cycle since 2012.

The case for removing it: sprinklers add roughly $5,000-6,000 to the cost of a new home, which is a real burden in an already expensive housing market. Homeowners can still choose to install them voluntarily.

The case for keeping it: Longmont is increasingly drought and fire prone, and the code exists for a reason. Councilmember Popkin’s argument was essentially: we know fire risk is a growing and expensive problem, so why wouldn’t we do everything we can?

Council voted 4-3 to remove the sprinkler requirement. Marsing, McCoy, and Popkin voted to keep it. The ordinance then passed unanimously as amended. Second reading and public hearing June 9th.

A side note on shed permits: the same ordinance also changed the threshold for when a shed requires a building permit, from 200 square feet down to 120 square feet. That change stayed in. Structures with electrical still require a permit regardless of size.

The Rest, Quickly

CDBG housing grant — Every year Longmont receives a federal housing grant from HUD, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, based on the city’s population. This year’s allocation is $546,102. Council voted unanimously to direct most of it to Longmont’s Housing Rehabilitation Program, which provides free home repairs to low-income homeowners. This helps with things like roofs, furnaces, wheelchair ramps, and lead paint mitigation. It’s administered by a Colorado nonprofit called Brothers Redevelopment. Councilmember Prieto suggested creating a public-facing resource page so residents can find out how to access these programs without having to call city staff. Staff acknowledged the gap.

Connection Church annexation referral — A church in unincorporated Boulder County asked council for permission to start the annexation process to join the city of Longmont. This is not a vote to annex, it’s just the first step where council says “go ahead and apply.” The church has moved to a new location and wants to sell the old property, but the current agricultural zoning limits the buyer pool, so annexation and a rezoning are needed first. Passed 6-1. Councilmember Marsing opposed, noting the motivation was purely financial (to maximize the sale price) and wasn’t willing to kick off a lengthy city process for that reason alone.

Water supply plan — Council adopted the 2026/2027 Water Supply and Water Shortage Implementation Plan unanimously right at the 11pm buzzer. Staff recommended stepping up to a mild drought response. Snowpack peaked nearly five weeks earlier than normal this year. The South Platte Basin is at 16% of average snow water equivalent. Storage is at about 59% of capacity versus a typical 75%. The good news is Longmont’s projected supply is still about 133% of projected demand for 2026, so there’s enough water, just less buffer than usual. A mild drought response means city facilities like golf courses and parks reduce water use by about 10%. No mandatory restrictions for residents at this stage.

What didn’t make it — Two items got bumped because the motion to extend the meeting past 11pm failed 5-2 (Marsing and Popkin wanted to stay; everyone else was done). First was the council retreat follow-up, which included draft plans for community outreach, board and commission alignment, and council operating agreements. Second was the prairie dog code amendment, a citizen-initiated proposal being introduced to council for the first time (called a zero reading), which is when something is formally introduced before any staff analysis or vote. Both will be on a future agenda.

Final public comment brought one notable item: a resident announced the formation of a new organization called the Visible Government League, which opposes mass surveillance and will hold public meetings on the second and fourth Monday at St. Vrain Cidery from 7-9pm.

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Links

Joint Passenger Rail Project: https://www.codot.gov/programs/transitandrail/jointpassengerrail

Colorado Connector project: https://coloradoconnector.com/

Free FLEX bus from Boulder to Fort Collins: https://ridetransfort.com/transfort-faqs/

Longmont’s partnership with Brothers Redevelopment on the free home repair program for income-qualified Longmont homeowners: https://longmontcolorado.gov/housing-and-community-investment/city-of-longmont-housing-rehabilitation/

Visible Government League: https://www.visiblegovernmentleague.org/

Longmont City Council Meetings: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/city-council-meetings/

Coffee with Council: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/coffee-with-council/

Mayor and City Council Members: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/mayor-city-council-members

Finding Your Council Representative: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/mayor-city-council-members/mayor-or-city-council-representative/

This is an independent recap. We do our best but we are not the official record. Links to official documents, meeting minutes, and other resources are above.

What’s Coming Up at Longmont City Council
(a not-perfect but hopefully still helpful list)

All dates are subject to change. Check longmontcolorado.gov/agendas for the most current meeting agendas.

May 26, 2026

• Cannabis dispensary annexations — Two marijuana dispensaries that were annexed into Longmont in April are back for their second and final vote, including a public hearing where residents can comment. The dispensaries are located at 250 South Main and 19 South Sunset.

• Additional city budget appropriations — A housekeeping ordinance adjusting the city’s 2026 budget is back for its final vote.

June 9, 2026

• Building codes — Eleven updated building codes are back for their second and final vote, including a public hearing. These cover everything from residential construction to fire safety to swimming pools. Worth noting: the residential code includes the controversial fire sprinkler decision — this is the public’s last chance to weigh in before it’s final.

Coming up — dates not yet confirmed

• Hyperscale data center ban — Council directed staff to draft an ordinance banning large-scale data centers in Longmont. Watch future agendas for the first reading.

• Smaller data center standards — Council also directed staff to develop use standards for smaller data centers covering energy efficiency, water use, noise, and lighting. This goes through study sessions first before becoming an ordinance.

• Short-term rental rules for major events — Council gave direction on a new license type for homeowners to rent their properties during major regional events like Sundance. Staff is drafting the ordinance. Watch future agendas.

• Prairie dog code amendment — A citizen-initiated proposal to change Longmont’s prairie dog code ran out of time at the May 12 meeting. It will be introduced at a future meeting.

• Council retreat follow-up — Draft plans for community outreach, board and commission reorganization, and council operating agreements also ran out of time May 12. Coming back soon.

• Connection Church annexation — Council approved letting the process begin in May. The church now goes through a full application, neighborhood meeting, and Planning and Zoning Commission hearing before council votes on the actual annexation. Timeline unknown.

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• Hyperscale data centers are banned in Longmont — or will be, once the ordinance is drafted. Council also directed staff to develop standards for smaller data centers. Two separate votes. First passed unanimously, second passed 5-2.

• Drive-thru ordinance is now law. New drive-throughs on lots adjacent to Main Street in the MU-C zoning district are prohibited going forward. Existing ones are grandfathered in. Passed 6-1, Crist opposed.

• 110 Emery Street purchase approved. The city is buying a 2.71-acre property for $5,125,000 to develop future affordable housing. Funded by a Boulder County grant, no General Fund impact. Passed 6-1, Crist opposed.

• Atwood Commons got a lifeline. A 72-unit affordable housing project at 3rd and Atwood hit a last-minute $1.4 million funding gap after the Longmont Housing Authority had to pull project-based vouchers. Council approved a 100% fee waiver and an additional $742,842 from the city’s Affordable Housing Fund, on top of a $1,000,000 loan already committed in 2023. Both votes passed 6-1, Crist opposed.

• Short-term rental framework for major events moving forward. Council gave direction on a new Type B license for events like Sundance opening the door for Longmont Residents to rent their homes out to Sundance Attendees. Ordinance comes back later. Passed unanimously.

• Additional city appropriations for FY2026 passed unanimously. Second and final reading.

• Safe Streets grant approved, including a new camera pilot. The DERC camera system tracks near-misses, not people. No plates, no faces. Passed 6-1, Marsing opposed.

• Front Range Passenger Rail bill supported. Senate Bill 26-172 refines district boundaries and designates the Secretary of State as certifying election official. Passed 6-1, Crist opposed.

• Union Reservoir recreation permits approved unanimously. Paddleboard, sailing, model aeronautics, and RC racing all got the green light for this season.

• Vision Zero update presented. No vote. Goal: zero fatal and severe traffic injuries by 2040. The City has tracked lots of data to make informed decisions about how to make our roads safer.

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The Big Ones

Longmont Is Getting Ahead of Data Centers

Councilmember Popkin brought two motions before the formal agenda even started, both aimed at getting ahead of an industry moving faster than local zoning can keep up with.

The first was a ban on hyperscale data centers — defined as facilities with a projected peak electrical demand of 100 megawatts or more, which is more than the entire Platte River Power Authority’s system capacity. Some communities have been overwhelmed by these facilities’ electrical and water demands, and current Longmont zoning has no tools to address them. Council directed the City Manager to draft an ordinance banning them as an allowable land use. Mayor Pro Tem McCoy seconded. Passed unanimously. The ordinance will come back for a proper first and second reading before it’s final.

The second motion was for use-specific standards for smaller data centers — covering things like power efficiency, water consumption, noise, and lighting. Longmont already has smaller data centers, and the idea is to make sure future ones align with the city’s sustainability goals. This one will go through a more deliberate process including study sessions and advisory board input before an ordinance is drafted. Passed 5-2, Councilmembers Crist and Prieto opposed. Prieto’s concern was that it was solving a problem Longmont doesn’t have yet.

Atwood Commons: A Housing Project That Almost Didn’t Make It

Atwood Commons: A Housing Project That Almost Didn’t Make It

Atwood Commons is a 72-unit permanently affordable rental housing development at the corner of East 3rd Avenue and Atwood Street, right across from The OUR Center. It had its entitlements, its construction drawings, and was set to break ground in July 2026.

Then in February, HUD told the Longmont Housing Authority that honoring its commitment of 8 project-based vouchers for the project would put LHA in a budget deficit. LHA had to pull out, creating a last-minute gap of nearly $1.4 million with no other funding sources available in time.

The developer came to council asking for a 100% development fee waiver and an additional $742,842 from the city’s Affordable Housing Fund. The city had already committed a $1,000,000 AHF loan to the project back in 2023 — this approval adds to that, bringing total city support to just under $1.75 million. Staff confirmed the AHF has enough to cover it. The project serves households from 30% to 80% of area median income, with over half the units for those at or below 50% AMI. Council approved both requests 6-1, Crist opposed both times.

Short-Term Rentals: A New Framework for Sundance and Beyond

Sundance Film Festival is coming to Boulder, and Longmont wants to be ready for the demand it brings. Staff came back with a proposal for a new Type B short-term rental license specifically for major regional events, modeled after Boulder’s approach.

Council gave direction on the key questions: subletting allowed with written owner consent, ADUs and multiple units on a property allowed, deed-restricted affordable units excluded, and a one-year pilot program with a review after one year or two major events. City Manager designates which events qualify.

Council also expressed a strong preference that the license be limited to Longmont residents only, to prevent outside investors from buying up property just for event rentals.

Councilmember Kalkhofer moved to direct staff to draft the ordinance incorporating all of council’s feedback. Passed unanimously. The actual ordinance comes back for a vote later.

The Rest, Quickly

Vision Zero — Staff gave a data-heavy presentation on the city’s initiative to eliminate fatal and severe traffic injuries by 2040. 179 fatal and severe crashes analyzed from 2022-2024. 70% of them happen on just 9% of city roads. 19 top-priority locations identified. No vote, informational only.

Drive-thru ordinance — Final vote on the ordinance prohibiting new drive-throughs on lots adjacent to Main Street in the MU-C zoning district. Existing drive-throughs are grandfathered in, but that status is lost if the use ceases for 180 days. Passed 6-1, Crist opposed.

110 Emery Street — City approved purchasing a property on Emery Street for $5,125,000 to develop future affordable housing. Funded entirely by a Boulder County Affordable and Attainable Housing Tax grant. No General Fund impact. Pre-development through 2027, construction 2028, delivery 2030. Passed 6-1, Crist opposed.

Safe Streets grant / DERC camera pilot — Council approved an IGA with the Federal Highway Administration for a Safe Streets and Roads for All grant. Includes a pilot of DERC cameras, which track near-miss interactions between vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. These are not enforcement cameras. No plates, no faces. Data access is limited to the city, with a report on effectiveness shared with the federal government. City Manager noted a trial captured 15,000 instances of red-light running at one location in three months. Passed 6-1, Marsing opposed over data privacy concerns.

Additional appropriations — Ordinance 2026-17, the city’s additional appropriations for FY2026, passed its second and final reading unanimously. Nothing new to report.

Union Reservoir permits — Four recreational use permits approved unanimously: Rocky Mountain Paddleboard, Union Sailing Club, Longmont Electric Aircraft Flyers, and LRC Raceway for RC vehicles. Fun stuff at the reservoir this season.

Front Range Passenger Rail bill — Council voted to support Senate Bill 26-172, which refines the boundaries of the Front Range Passenger Rail District to the areas where the rail will actually run. Passed 6-1, Crist opposed.

First call public comment brought: two speakers opposed to the Axon surveillance camera contract, including one who read Facebook comments in support of a camera vandal; Lance with National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, Superhero Day, Blueberry Pie Day, and Brave Hearts Day; two Library Advisory Board members asking for more city funding and a second branch; several Step Drive neighbors about a resident repeatedly lighting illegal open fires during a historic drought; a May Day organizer promoting the general strike and a Longmont events Discord; and a Harvest Junction Village resident about construction traffic and speeding from Costco rerouting.

Final public comment brought: a domestic violence survivor urging council to fund LEVI and Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley; a second speaker echoing that call and asking council to make a public statement on the CNN Rape Academy article; and a therapist advocating for library funding as a critical safe space for teenagers.

Council comments: Popkin flagged an upcoming waste and compost rate discussion and a Planning and Zoning Commission session on the prairie dog ordinance. Marsing addressed public concern about the model train in the library children’s section — it’s being retired but replaced with a smaller Longmont-themed model. Crist announced the Water Board is recommending a mild drought response including a 10% reduction in city water use on assets like golf courses. Kalkhofer shared insights from a Waste Services ride-along — don’t put things you wish were recyclable in the recycling bin, and please place your bins correctly. Mayor Hidalgo-Fahring announced Cinco de Mayo at Roosevelt Park and the Indian American New Year event at Erie High School.

Timestamps

00:53 Hyperscale Data Center Ban

02:47 Data Center Standards Debate

05:15 Compost Week And Vision Zero

07:56 Public Invited To Be Heard

13:45 Drive Through Ordinance Vote

15:07 Union Reservoir Permits

15:49 Pulled Items Housing And Cameras

19:48 Atwood Commons Funding Gap

20:50 Sundance Short Term Rentals

23:02 Passenger Rail Bill Position

24:48 Final Public Comment Highlights

27:13 Council Updates And Library Train

30:46 Sustainability Ride Along Notes

32:45 Events Notices And Wrap Up

Links

LEVI — local domestic violence and victim services organization:

https://www.longmontdomesticviolence.org/

Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley: https://www.safeshelterofstvrain.org/

CNN article exposing the “Rape Academy” website: https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2026/03/world/expose-rape-assault-online-vis-intl/index.html

Ologies podcast episode with trash scientist researcher — https://www.alieward.com/ologies/discardanthropology

Ana MW in Once Upon a Mattress at Longmont Theatre — opened May 1, runs through May 16. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM, Sundays at 2:00 PM. Go support local Longmont theatre! https://longmonttheatre.org/once-upon-a-mattress

Longmont City Council Board Committees and Commissions Applications: https://longmontcolorado.gov/boards-committees-and-commissions/application-process/

Longmont City Council Meetings: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/city-council-meetings/

Coffee with Council: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/coffee-with-council/

Mayor and City Council Members: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/mayor-city-council-members

Finding Your Council Representative: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/mayor-city-council-members/mayor-or-city-council-representative/

This is an independent recap. We do our best but we are not the official record. Links to official documents, meeting minutes, and other resources are above.

Thanks for listening!

Subscribe now

Share

TL;DR

• The Airport Advisory Board is dissolved. Ordinance 2026-16 passed 5-2. Councilmembers Crist and Prieto in opposition. Council now holds direct oversight while a new governance structure is determined.

• Two cannabis dispensaries were officially annexed into the city. Three ordinances passed 6-1. Councilmember Crist in opposition on all three. Second reading and public hearing: May 26.

• School district funding agreement renewed unanimously. The 10-year IGA between the city and St. Vrain Valley School District was renewed ahead of its May 24 deadline.

• Water waste ordinance crossed the finish line. Ordinance 2026-15 passed unanimously. Final vote.

• State budget cuts are coming that could affect Longmont. Marijuana tax shareback headed to zero. Prop 123 housing program cut $130 million statewide. The multimodal transportation grant program was eliminated entirely.

• Consent agenda passed unanimously. Included two first readings returning April 28, and an RTD agreement for the First and Main transit facilities.

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The Big Ones

Airport Advisory Board: Dissolved

This one has been building for months. The ordinance to dissolve the Longmont Airport Advisory Board passed its final vote 5-2. Councilmembers Crist and Prieto voted against it.

The argument in favor: the board hasn’t been functioning effectively, and council needs to take direct ownership of airport governance before building a better structure.

The argument against: advisory boards exist to bring in expertise council doesn’t have. Crist compared dissolving the board without a plan to the US leaving NATO. She had wanted to table the vote until council had a clearer path forward. Prieto said the problems reflect council’s own leadership failures, not the board’s.

The process was not linear. Before the vote, Crist moved to table the ordinance. Mayor Hidalgo-Fahring ruled that motion out of order. Crist said it felt like a sneak attack that Mayor Pro Tem McCoy had made the original motion before she had the chance. Marsing then moved to call the question — a procedure that ends debate and forces an immediate vote — but it didn’t get the two-thirds majority it needed, so debate continued. Eventually they voted, and the ordinance passed.

During the public hearing, every speaker who came supported dissolving the board. Residents cited airport noise, leaded fuel concerns, a steep increase in air traffic over the past two years, and feeling dismissed when they brought concerns to the board. One resident described the noise as “a bit like Chinese water torture.”

Mayor Hidalgo-Fahring also mentioned she is traveling to Washington D.C. to meet with the FAA as part of the Northwest Mayors and Commissioners Coalition, with noise abatement as one of the topics.

Council now holds direct oversight of the airport. What comes next is still to be determined.

Two Dispensaries, Now City Residents

Two marijuana dispensaries operating in county enclaves within Longmont’s city boundaries were annexed into the city. They’ve been surrounded by Longmont but technically in unincorporated Boulder County, which meant they weren’t paying city sales taxes, despite benefiting from city roads, the greenway, and other infrastructure.

Three ordinances passed 6-1. Councilmember Crist opposed all three, citing her professional background and personal opposition to voting for something still federally illegal.

Second reading and public hearing: May 26.

The Rest, Quickly

Water waste ordinance passed its final vote unanimously. This is the ordinance from March 24 that gives the city clearer enforcement tools for irrigation systems leaking in public rights-of-way. Done.

School district IGA renewed unanimously ahead of its May 24 deadline. This is the 10-year agreement that determines how developers contribute to school capacity through a “cash in lieu” fund when building new housing. Key changes: those funds can now be used for safe pedestrian access improvements near schools even if they’re not on school property, and the requirement that funds stay within specific high school feeder boundaries has been removed so they can go anywhere they’re needed within Longmont.

State budget update was informational, no vote. Three hits to flag. The marijuana tax shareback that currently puts $40,000 into Longmont’s general fund is proposed to go to zero. Prop 123, a voter-approved statewide housing program, is facing a $130 million cut. Longmont has no current projects in the pipeline for those funds, but it eliminates a future tool. And the multimodal transportation grant program has been completely eliminated, not just reduced. Future transportation capital projects could be affected.

Consent agenda passed unanimously minus the three marijuana items Crist pulled. Two first readings on consent: additional city appropriations and a drive-thru uses clarification in the municipal code, both returning April 28. Also an amendment to the city’s IGA with RTD for the First and Main transit facilities, connected to the Front Range Community College transit hub project covered in the March 24 episode.

Public comment brought airport noise concerns from an Oldtown resident who has lived three miles from Vance Brand for over 40 years and said the noise has never been worse. D-Flock Longmont returned to thank council for moving forward with a tech advisory board and asked that community experts be allowed to review the Axon contract before it is finalized.

Links

This is an independent recap. We do our best but we are not an official record. Links to official documents, meeting minutes, and other resources are below.

Sundance Lodging Hub

Renting Your Home for Sundance

Festival Lodging Rental License BOULDER

Another site: Apply for rental License BOULDER

Leaded Aviation Fuel and the Environment

Blood Lead Levels In Colorado Airport Communities Fact Sheet

CSU research contributes to federal policy changes surrounding lead emissions from small aircraft

Colorado Pilots Association Airport Advocacy

About Diane Crist

Longmont 2026 Budget Documents

City of Longmont 2026 Proposed Budget

2026 City of Longmont Pay Plan

City Employee Salary Increases

Longmont City Council Meeting Agenda Portal

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• Flock is out. Axon is in. Council voted unanimously to switch license plate reader vendors from Flock Safety to Axon, with conditions attached. The public was not happy about it.

• The Airport Advisory Board dissolution passed first reading 5-2. Not gone yet, but heading there. Final vote on April 14.

• Growing Gardens, a nonprofit providing thousands of pounds of free produce to Longmont residents, got a win after being left in limbo by the YMCA closure. They had run the farm out of the YMCA and Council directed staff to explore other options for them and similar organizations, 6-1.

• First Friday Makers Market got $7,000 from contingency funds to help cover costs for the season. 6-1.

• Wildfire resiliency code adopted into Longmont’s municipal code, changing requirements for new construction. Not retroactive.

• First and Main transit hub (the Front Range Community College project) moved forward unanimously through two ordinances. Popkin was basically vibrating with excitement.

• Two state bills: Council supported a housing funding bill and opposed a school zone signage bill as an unfunded mandate.

The Big Ones

Flock is Out. Axon is In.

This has been building since Council told the police department to pause its relationship with Flock Safety and come back with alternatives due to immense public pushback against Flock.

The police department came back with their recommendation: switch to Axon. Council voted to approve this switch and it passed with conditions attached.

The contract was not finalized at the time of the vote. It will be public once executed.

The chamber was packed before the meeting even started. Tech experts in the crowd raised pointed questions about cloud infrastructure and whether the security claims fully hold up. Several members of Deflock Longmont (link in show notes) spoke. The consistent message: the issue is not just which vendor, it is the technology itself. Council voted unanimously to move forward anyway, and each member explained their reasoning. It was a long night.

Worth flagging: Mayor Pro Tem McCoy said the thing he is actually most concerned about is not the city-managed cameras but the private cameras around Longmont that have zero oversight. That conversation is probably coming.

Airport Advisory Board: On Its Way Out

An ordinance to dissolve the Longmont Airport Advisory Board passed first reading 5-2. The idea is a governance reset: Council takes direct oversight temporarily while they figure out a better structure, potentially an airport authority model.

Two council members opposed it, arguing advisory boards exist to bring in expertise Council does not have, and that dissolving is not the right response when the problems could be fixed more directly.

A local pilot spoke during public comment about youth flight programs, community use of the airport, and feeling like the aviation community has been kept at arm’s length by Council. He invited Council to come by the Hangar and said that felt that within a year and through collaboration, they could get a lot done together.

Final vote is April 14. If you care about Vance Brand, that is the meeting to be at.

The Rest, Quickly

Growing Gardens is a nonprofit community farm that provided around thousands of pounds of free produce to Longmont neighborhoods last year, including to local childcare centers. They have been running the farm on YMCA property but only have a temporary agreement through the end of the growing season. The motion was pretty specific about finding city land for Growing Gardens directly, but after some back and forth about fairness to other nonprofits, it was broadened to direct staff to look into options generally for Growing Gardens and similar organizations. Passed 6-1.

First Friday Makers Market asked for city co-sponsorship for their monthly downtown market (full ask was $21,000-$27,000 annually). Council approved $7,000 as a one-time contribution to cover traffic costs for the first part of the season, with a check-in mid-summer. Passed 6-1. First market is April 4. Link below.

Wildfire resiliency code (O-2026-11) is now in Longmont’s municipal code. Building something new in the far southwest part of the city? You may have additional requirements. Nothing changes for existing structures.

First and Main transit hub: Two ordinances for the partnership between the city, Front Range Community College, and developer Vertikal Richmark LLC both passed unanimously. This is the transit-oriented development project downtown that Councilmember Popkin compared to Denver Union Station. The vibe in the room was genuinely exciting for this one.

State bill positions: Council voted to support HB 26-1206, giving local governments the option to levy housing development taxes if voters approve it first (6-1). They voted to oppose HB 26-1318, which would require new school zone signage statewide at an estimated cost of $100,000 or more to the city with no state funding attached. One council member wanted to support it but the unfunded mandate concern won the room. Unanimous opposition.

Coming Up

April 14 is the next regular session. The water waste ordinance and the airport board ordinance are both up for second reading and final vote.

April 4 is the first First Friday Makers Market of the season.

April 4 there is an event on wildfire resiliency. Link below.

April 22 is Earth Day in Longmont. Go Earth!

This is an independent recap. We do our best but we are not the official record. Links to official documents, meeting minutes, and the transparency portal are all in the show notes.

Timestamps:

00:00 Meeting Night Overview

00:43 Introductions and Proclamations

02:00 Trash Can Note Mystery

03:25 Growing Gardens After YMCA

05:19 Group Homes Notification Debate

06:48 Housing Report and True North

08:39 Budget and Wildfire Code Votes

10:08 Transit Hub and Urban Campus

11:03 Wastewater Leaks and Airport Board

15:22 Flock Out Axon In

25:41 Makers Market Sponsorship

28:08 State Bills and Public Concerns

30:57 Wrap Up and Notices

Links:
Deflock

https://deflocklongmont.com/

Axon

https://www.axon.com/

City of Longmont Flock Info Page

https://longmontcolorado.gov/public-safety/transparency-records-and-online-options/flock-cameras/

Longmont Police Department Flock Transparency Portal

https://transparency.flocksafety.com/longmont-co-pd

Councilmember Marsing’s comments on Flock Vote: https://www.reddit.com/user/WingMan126/?share_id=sl2MUpC8xtBUSbToS2xyq&utm_content=1&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1%2F

True North Longmont

https://longmontcolorado.gov/housing/affordable-housing/true-north-longmont/

First Friday Makers Market

https://www.downtownlongmont.com/do/first-fridays-makers-market

Longmont Downtown Development Authority

https://www.downtownlongmont.com/who-we-are/ldda

Surviving Wildfires— Home Preparedness Show

https://bouldercounty.gov/event/surviving-wildfires-home-preparedness-show/

Wildfire Risk MAP

https://co-pub.coloradoforestatlas.org/#/

Climate Risk MAP https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/64f5e578a8b749a99f81093fc767fb0d

Hail, not wildfire, driving largest increase in Colorado’s homeowners insurance premiums

https://www.cpr.org/2026/02/11/hail-increase-homeowners-insurance-premiums-colorado/

Climate threats lead to huge jumps in Colorado home insurance rates, and the state is seeking solutions: https://www.rmpbs.org/news/housing-transportation/colorado-home-insurance-rates

Longmont City Council Moves Toward Dissolving Airport Advisory Board: https://www.timescall.com/2026/02/25/longmont-city-council-moves-toward-dissolving-airport-advisory-board/

Longmont Council to Weigh Airport Board Dissolution, Downtown Campus Votes: https://www.timescall.com/2026/03/23/longmont-council-to-weigh-airport-board-dissolution-downtown-campus-votes/

Trash can answers: https://www.reddit.com/r/Longmont/comments/1rs55gd/hi_neighbor_waste_bin_collection_notice/#:~:text=Happy%20Thursday%20collection%20day%20for,%2Dtrash%2Drecycling%2Dcomposting/

Longmont City Council Board Committees and Commissions Applications: https://longmontcolorado.gov/boards-committees-and-commissions/application-process/

Longmont City Council Meetings: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/city-council-meetings/

Coffee with Council: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/coffee-with-council/

Mayor and City Council Members: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/mayor-city-council-members

Finding Your Council Representative: https://longmontcolorado.gov/government/mayor-city-council-members/mayor-or-city-council-representative/