"We are asking if you would vote to tax yourself to fund the projects you want the city to pursue."
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Your City Council has referred three initiatives to the upcoming ballot. It may be confusing to some residents as to how we decided on these three amenities that are up for a vote this November.
I have been on Council for eight years. During that time the Council has heard from residents asking for amenities they would like to see available in the community. The list of suggestions is long and varied. The challenge to staff and Council was what amenities should we prioritize? Some people want another recreation center and/or pickle ball courts. Senior citizens want an expansion or a new building for the Senior Center. A branch library is needed within walking distance. A trail bike park is another suggestion. Also, Centennial Pool is in need of repair, and so on.
No matter which project we chose, there would be winners and losers. We also must determine how to pay for them. To redirect funds from other services would leave a funding gap in our city.
To overcome this dilemma, the Council directed staff to create a survey listing a host of projects that could be ranked in order of preference. The survey was distributed on many social media platforms including the City website and local newspapers. Council chose the three choices indicated by the survey to refer to the ballot and included a transparent funding source for each.
The City Council is not raising your taxes, we are asking if you would vote to tax yourself to fund the projects you want the city to pursue. Your vote is your voice! Vote for none, one, two or all; whichever you believe would best serve the most residents in the future.
The ballot measures are:
This is one of the Council’s workplan items decided upon in our 2019 retreat. A site has not been selected. The owners and developers of the Sugar Mill are interested in putting the A&E Center in their development plan. A feasibility study placed the A&E center in the STEAM area, along the St. Vrain River Corridor. If chosen, the tax wouldn’t go into effect until the arts community raises $35 million dollars in five years toward the project, per their agreement. If the $35 million goal is not reached in the time period, Council would re-evaluate the path to address the funding of the project.
A new branch library and increased funding for operation and maintenance of all Longmont libraries, present and future.
Residents have been in favor of stronger financial support of our present library and for having another library in our city. A branch library supports walkable, bikeable neighborhoods.
A recreation center located at Dry Creek Community Park along with a partnership with the YMCA (Y) for a recreation facility (pool, ice rink and day care center) with an affordable housing component.
The Council decided to combine the new recreation center and the partnership with the Y on one ballot question. The land for the proposed recreation center site at Dry Creek Park was purchased before residential development was completed, knowing that would be a growth area. The site is non-negotiable.
The director of the Y contacted the Mayor and City Manager to discuss the degradation of its facility on the corner of 9th Street and Lashley Avenue. The Y’s facility needs repair and updating. The intent was to put affordable housing on a new site with an expanded day care center. A partnership with the City was discussed at that time.
Within the same time period, it was determined that Centennial Pool has a limited life span and would cost $23 million to repair. The Y proposed a land swap with the existing Y facility and Centennial Pool. The affordable housing component would be under the Longmont Housing Authority (LHA) to manage with a $12 million dollar investment from the City.
I implore you to vote your conscience on each ballot measure. Consider each project as an investment in our city for future generations. I was twenty-nine years old when the Senior Center was on the ballot. It wasn’t something I could personally use at the time, but it was needed for present and future generations.
Thank you for your consideration and for your participation in these important issues.
Joan Peck
Longmont Mayor
