Longmont City Council Recap

Content note: this episode and newsletter discuss a fatal police shooting, domestic violence and suicide. To skip that segment, jump to 12:30 in the episode or to “The 2027 budget” below. Too Long Didn’t Listen * Dariss Yearby’s family and supporters asked council for accountability. The 20-year-old was shot and killed by a Longmont police officer in August during an alleged hostage situation. The...

Too Long Didn’t Listen * The city’s YMCA purchase was approved unanimously. It passed on the consent agenda along with a lease letting YMCA childcare keep operating in the building through June 4, 2027. * The Growing Gardens lease passed first reading. The nonprofit farm at the YMCA would get free rent and utilities in exchange for food donations and education programs. The final vote is October 6...

Too Long Didn’t Listen September 1st * The 2027 budget was presented — $547 million total, a $6.8 million gap closed through tactical cuts, and a leaner format than usual due to unforeseen revenue challenges. The YMCA was included in budget planning unanimously. No vote, presentation only. Public hearing required before October 1st. * The early childhood education endorsement got a second chance....

Too Long Didn’t Listen * The public safety tax is officially on the November ballot, 6-1. Crist in opposition. The second and final reading passed tonight, locking in the 70/30 sales-to-property-tax. * Three First and Main ordinances passed unanimously. The urban renewal plan is approved, the parking garage financing is authorized, and a necessary easement was cleared. * Longmont held an ethics co...

Too Long Didn’t Listen * Ranked choice voting is officially on the November 3rd ballot, 6-1. Crist in opposition. * The election cycle stagger is also on the November ballot, 5-2. Crist and McCoy in opposition. Contingent on RCV passing. * Open space charter amendment on the November ballot, 6-1. Crist in opposition. Would require voter approval before the city can sell or repurpose open space. *...

Too Long Didn’t Listen * Ranked choice voting cleared first reading, 6-1. The ordinance submitting ranked choice voting to voters passed its first of two required readings. Crist in opposition. Second reading August 11th. If it passes, voters decide November 3rd. Takes effect 2029 if approved. * The election cycle realignment ordinance also cleared first reading, unanimously. This is the companion...

Too Long Didn’t Listen * The FAA grants for Vance Brand Airport finally passed, 6-1. Council voted to accept two federal grants covering 95% of the cost to reconstruct the airport’s taxilanes. Mayor Pro Tem McCoy was the only vote in opposition. * The city is moving forward with buying the YMCA. Council voted unanimously to direct staff to proceed with the $4.5 million purchase, funded by Recreati...

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 aft...

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. Con...

TL;DR * 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 redesig...

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. Requi...

TL;DR * 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 ar...

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. * Sc...

TL;DR * 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...