A majority of the Longmont City Council Tuesday night brushed away a suggestion to move the non-profit Longmont Economic Development Partnership into a branch of the city government.
The development group was part of the city until 2015, when it was rebranded and redesigned as an organization working outside of the city government. It still works in tandem with city officials to attract economic development, officials said Tuesday night during a city council regular session.
Councilmember Polly Christensen asked that the council reconsider the EDP’s status, saying Longmont could save the $365,000 it gives to the group by absorbing its professional staff into city government.
She also said the EDP receives half of its funding from private business groups that are criticizing and targeting city issues including landlord licensing and affordable housing.
Some members of the EDP have “lectured us that we need to align ourselves with them,” Christensen said. “They work for us … we don’t work for them.”
“I think for them to come tell us … and feel they should order us around is quite fairly ludicrous,” she added.
Christensen asked the council to put the issue of moving the EDP into the city government on an upcoming agenda for consideration. The rest of the council declined to support Christensen’s idea, saying the input from local business groups is helping Longmont develop a long-term development plan.
Councilmember Tim Waters — also a candidate for mayor — was especially pointed in his criticism of the proposal. “I think it’s a really bad idea,” Waters said, adding business leaders give a valued perspective on policies and issues that affect business growth.
“We view them as partners,” Waters said. “They speak truth to power. If you are not going to listen to your partners, who are you going to listen to?”
Councilmember Marcia Martin added Christensen’s proposal was an “odd thing for a council member to move … it’s an odd time to bring forth such a massive structural change.”
She added the EDP has been instrumental in landing important economic packages for Longmont including the incoming Costco development.
