Longmont City Council Recap

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...