Happy Monday, Longmont! Just like that, the 157th Boulder County Fair has come to a close. We hope you got your fill of fried Oreos, 4-H milkshakes, and overweight, yet adorable, farm animals.
Today — Ranked choice voting returns to Longmont City Council, a potential subsidy for composting services, and a rough week for local wildlife.
Let’s dive in.
TOP STORY
🌎 City council could finalize ballot questions on ranked choice voting, open spaces
In tomorrow’s Longmont City Council meeting, council members may put the finishing touches on two questions headed for November 3 ballot. Two ordinances on ranked choice voting and open spaces protections have arrived at their second reading.
Ranked choice voting:
This is by far the most controversial one. It draws large crowds from both sides each time city council discusses it. This ordinance would ask voters to approve electing city council members and mayors using ranked choice voting starting in 2029. This would allow voters to rank their favorite candidates in order of preference. How it works…
All ballots are tallied by first-choice votes.
If one candidate has more than 50% of the vote, they win automatically. If no one does, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated.
Votes from ballots whose first choice was eliminated, are now transferred to their second choice.
This repeats until a candidate receives a majority of votes.
Supporters say…
Voter turnout and engagement would increase, as supported by this study from the American Bar Association.
RCV is more representative of what voters want. Candidates will need to receive a majority of votes rather than a plurality. For example, Longmont Mayor Susie Hidalgo-Fahring received less than 40% of votes when she was elected with a plurality last November.
Opponents say…
It can be confusing to voters, more expensive, and harder to hand-count.
Ballot exhaustion: If a voter only ranks one candidate, and that person happens to get eliminated in early rounds, their vote no longer counts.
Before anything is decided, a public hearing will offer locals one last chance to speak their mind.
Now to open spaces…
Not so controversial. As it turns out, people like preserving Longmont’s natural land. This ordinance would ask voters to strengthen protections for open spaces by requiring a citywide vote to sell or transfer land designated as “open space.” Currently, only parks and water rights have this luxury.
The bill includes some exceptions to avoid the hassle, delay, and expense of an unnecessary election to allow for routine, low-stakes operations that don’t compromise an area’s open space nature. These include…
Rights-of-way and easements. This means the city can allow someone to use a strip of open space for something like running a sewer line under ground.
Normal open space operations. This could be something like trail management or agricultural leases.
Selling structures on open space land. An example of this is a barn left on a piece of land acquired by the city. Longmont could then sell just the barn itself and the proceeds would return to the Open Space fund.
Don’t forget…
Another question headed for the November ballot will ask voters to approve a tax increase to fund 86 more jobs in public safety over the next 10 years. This ordinance arrives for its first reading tomorrow.
Additionally, an ordinance to loosen restrictions on short-term rentals (allowing more people to rent out their houses and apartments for special events) is also on its first reading tomorrow.
Headlines
3 Big Things
Courtesy: St. Vrain State Park, Colorado State Parks
Rough week for wildlife at St. Vrain State Park: Dramatic temperature swings and West Nile Virus affect more than just humans. SVSP recently reported that last week’s temperature roller coaster caused a few small fish kills in some of its more shallow ponds, including Killdeer and Yellowlegs. Most victims were shad, but some bass and carp were found, as well. The following day, the state park reported that two Cooper’s Hawks tested positive for West Nile Virus. One of the birds died, but the other is still alive, albeit suffering through symptoms, like seizures. SVSP captured the hawk and brought it to a raptor rehabber. On a lighter note, SVSP announced its red-tailed hawks, ospreys, American Kestrels, great horned and barn owls all had successful nests and fledglings.
Longmont pool team falls in first round of world championships: Longmont’s own The Castaways were defeated in the fist round of the APA World Pool Championships last week by Florida-based team, The Take Over. It was somewhat an unlucky draw for The Castaways — The Take Over would eventually place 17th in the tournament of more than 800 teams across the world. The Castaways finished in 513th place.
Transportation board to discuss road project request program: On the agenda at tonight’s Transportation Advisory Board meeting is the introduction of a new neighborhood roadway safety program. According to a City of Longmont agenda packet, this program intends to provide residents with a clear process for requesting traffic calming and roadway safety improvements on neighborhood streets that wouldn’t otherwise be addressed through larger projects.
Check this out
Longmont may subsidize composting fees
The world’s most confusing recycling process is about to get more confusing.
After a 50% hike in the price of curbside composting for residents, Longmont City Council will mull whether to subsidize the service.
Backstory:
Following a sanitation rate study in 2025, the City of Longmont opted to raise the price of curbside composting and solid waste. The study found the price change was necessary to adequately fund the services.
Compost charges increased from $6.60 per month to $9.90 per month. The city acknowledged the price spike was significant but added that it hadn’t raised the price since the service began in 2017.
Solid waste charges increased by 9.6% to $26.30 per month.
What might change?
Longmont may reverse the composting price hike and instead, utilize an uncommon method by subsidizing the needed funds of one service by raising the price of another. In this case, the city would increase solid waste charges by 92 cents and keeping composting charges at $6.60 per month.
But, why?
Subsidizing one rate class at the expense of another is uncommon unless it’s for the sake of advancing community goals. In this case, Longmont is trying to increase waste diverted from the landfill.
Longmont is aiming for 75% diversion by 2030. In 2025, it was at 39%.
The downside?
Transparency and equity:
The subsidy muddies the already-pretty-muddy waters of price transparency. People may think the actual cost of solid waste service is higher than it is.
Solid waste customers would be helping to fund a service they may not use.
City council can either keep charges the way they are, or direct staff to move forward with the subsidy.
Events
Happening this week
Ribbon-cutting for e-bike share program: Try out one of Longmont’s new e-bikes for free on Wednesday when the city hosts a ribbon-cutting for its newly-launched electric bike share program. Following speeches from the mayor and project partners, attendees will be invited to take free introductory rides on the new bikes — but they’re encouraged to bring their own helmets. It begins at 10 a.m. at the 8th Avenue and Coffman St. Park-n-Ride.
History Colorado presents Lincoln Hills: Mountain Sanctuary: Head to the Civic Center Wednesday night for a presentation on the history of Lincoln Hills, one of the few recreational resorts available to African Americans during the heavily-segregated 20th century. The Colorado mountain resort was one of the largest west of the Mississippi when it was created in 1922. It begins at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, and registration is required.
Vision Zero Task Force meeting: All are welcome to the next edition of this city-led volunteer group’s meetings as they continue to do their part for Longmont’s traffic safety. The meetings are centered around learning, discussing, giving input on traffic safety and projects. It takes place Thursday from 6 - 7 :30 p.m. at the Longmont Senior Center. Food is offered! Learn more here.
Last Call
Weather forecasts predict a clear and sunny Monday for Longmont with a high around 97 degrees, per the National Weather Services. There’s a 20% chance of precipitation after 3 p.m.
Gas prices continue their slow descent. The average price for a gallon of gas locally is $4.02, according to AAA.
Longmont City Council is looking into how to better include people who have county residence, but not Longmont residence.
Longmont Recreation Center pools close today until September 18.
New streetside banners have been added in downtown Longmont.
Auditions are officially open for The Rocky Horror Show at the Longmont Theatre Company.
The Pumphouse Brewery launched several new cocktails.
Registration for fall activities with the Longmont Recreation Center begins tomorrow.
Until next time,
The Longmont Brief
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