Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

City puts $20 million bond issue for flood work on ballot

Bank swallow habitat protected
Construction on St Vrain Creek (3 of 3)
Construction work at St Vrain Creek, part of Longmont's Izaak Walton Reach 1 from Boston Ave Bridge

 

City Council Tuesday night unanimously approved putting a $20 million bond issue on the November ballot to fund anti-flooding measures on the St. Vrain Creek. 

The vote came after City Manager Harold Dominguez assured city councilors and activists that the city will ensure bank swallows nesting near the waterway will have a habitat to return to during the project. 

“Our staff is committed to the mitigation of the bank swallows,” Dominguez told councilors .”It is important for us to really respect the environment.”

Jamie Simo of Stand With Our St Vrain Creek told councilors members of the group met with Dominguez last week and came away satisfied the city will create habitat for the rare birds.

“We are excited the city is committed to replicating the habitat before the swallows return next year,” Simo said.

Stand With Our St. Vrain Creek wanted language included on the proposed bond issue aimed at protecting the rare birds during construction of the anti-flooding efforts. Without that protection, the bank swallows could be erased from Longmont forever, they said.

The bonds will finance the completion of the Resilient St. Vrain Project, city staff members said Tuesday night. The RSVP was established after the 2013 flood to help protect property and people in the event of another major flood.

The issuance of $15 to $20 million in revenue bonds is supported by the city’s financial plan presented to the council in 2021, including a three-year schedule of rates adopted for 2022 to 2024. The city previously considered a $15 million bond sale, according to a staff report.

However, “due to macroeconomic conditions,” authorization of up to $20 million is recommended to cover potential cost increases, the staff report states.

The mitigation work, which includes diverting a portion of the creek, will protect at least 150 homes and several businesses in that area from future floods, staff members told councilors.

“The work will get developed areas out of the floodplain,” Dominguez said.