[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6138913,"mediaKeyId","5581923-b1076839eb61292cdfc7f5d90e948bdf","parentId",5581923,"title","Longmont council directs staff to draft 2026–27 electric rate ordinance, approves sanitation option; raises CARES rebate for low-income households","audioSeconds",3990,"startMs",10065000,"endMs",14055000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5581923-b1076839eb61292cdfc7f5d90e948bdf&start=10065&end=14055","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5581923-b1076839eb61292cdfc7f5d90e948bdf/thumbnail_10065000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6138913/Longmont/Boulder-County/Colorado/Longmont-council-directs-staff-to-draft-202627-electric-rate-ordinance-approves-sanitation-option-raises-CARES-rebate-for-low-income-households","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138913-8db8453096b640f4f0ce8894f8e6c5dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181300&Signature=UAhUM-rzc2-jELksnT5c4t2A8gDc7vIBCSQA5D2-v8gjJI3ymlqD9UmyPNmlcfIemOi1Wf7gbZ7byveTOqRnM27~acj5pb8kGpu10XwtgS4zKAb8laNN-LUqUwuZqHJ5r5hLBt0gJyM~8mNNm8CX6x4lOlvbdzVoaSJCeMJVYHJh555G7NNZ3hFZEQF6noKMuyy721ihszaAi1lF9DBamv~6LYr0aHfI55UvhN6FkrZPTBnA9cg0unQ9V2Sr1Fx5IST9tAYevs6r6eusx~Os5rIRw-T3cQIDvsqEwEBXAZ4K-HiHYJdf38L0uXHqDJqLXf~W9Chas~8OtjmOPtBG~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Longmont CO\n","date","2025-08-13T05:34:23Z","article","The Longmont City Council on Aug. 12 directed staff to draft an ordinance raising electric rates for 2026 and 2027 and approved a sanitation rate package after staff presented two utility rate studies showing rising wholesale power costs, inflationary pressure on operations, and growing capital needs.

The action came after a detailed presentation by Brian McGill, utility rates and analysis manager in Strategic Integration, who said Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) proposed a 6.6% wholesale rate increase for 2026 and projected a similar increase in 2027. McGill said Longmont Power & Communications (LPC) faces a multi‑year revenue shortfall driven by purchase power increases, higher operating costs and additional capital projects; the two‑year revenue shortfall without rate changes was shown as roughly $22.1 million.

Why it matters: PRPA wholesale costs make up roughly two‑thirds of LPC’s operating budget, staff said, so wholesale increases largely drive retail rate pressure. Council directed staff to prepare a draft ordinance for electric rates so the city can recover the projected costs while staff develops a standard operating procedure (SOP) to coordinate business and childcare reviews when the new rules allow commercial daycares in more zones.

What the studies showed

- Wholesale power: PRPA requested a 6.6% increase for 2026 (staff used the same percent as a projection for 2027 and said they would re‑run the study if PRPA’s adopted wholesale rate differed materially).
- Operating costs: staff modeled a 4.4% increase in operating expenses for 2026 and 3.4% for 2027 to reflect inflation on materials, labor and contracts.
- Capital: notable program increases included a $1.4 million increase in the electric system reliability and rehabilitation program (including a proposed new line crew and transformer replacements) and $1.1 million for distributed energy resources (community solar and batteries).
- Revenue shortfall: the modeled 2027 gap included purchase power, operating and CIP increases and totaled about $14 million for that year and about $22.1 million over the two‑year period without rate adjustments.

Staff proposed a two‑year electric rate schedule (2026–27) to allow adjustment after new meter data and PRPA’s wholesale rate decisions. Under staff’s proposal, an average residential customer (about 700 kWh/month) would see an estimated monthly electric bill increase of about $5.95 in 2026 and $6.36 in 2027. Council also asked staff to refine policy changes that could reduce bad debt (deposits and property‑lien changes), and to convert some operating reserve calculations to be consistent with water/wastewater (staff proposed a change that would reduce the calculated reserve requirement from roughly $23M to $7.6M for 2025 under the new formula).

Sanitation recommendation and vote

Staff presented two sanitation options. Option 1 keeps composting as an opt‑in service and adjusts composting fees to cover program costs; it also expands the existing waste‑management fee to additional commercial accounts (an estimated 4,600 accounts) without a fee increase in 2026 so customers can adjust. Option 2 would add citywide curbside composting (requiring ~23,000 additional carts, three new trucks, and an $8M CNG fueling‑site expansion) and carry higher upfront, bond‑financed one‑time costs.

Council voted to direct staff to prepare a draft sanitation ordinance using Option 1 (the opt‑in composting and revised fees approach). Motion to prepare the sanitation draft ordinance (Option 1) passed 6–1, with Councilmember Popkin recorded as opposed. Council directed staff to bring the ordinance back for formal consideration.

Longmont CARES change for 2026

Because staff proposed raising the meter‑reading fee for customers who opt out of advanced metering (see below), council directed an increase in the Longmont CARES monthly electric rebate to protect low‑income households that participate in the CARES program. Council voted to ask staff to prepare a draft ordinance to raise the CARES electric rebate to $30.75 per month for 2026 (an increase of $10 over the current CARES electric rebate). That motion passed (the recorded tally in the meeting was 6 in favor; one councilmember recorded opposition and there were two other recorded yes/no/abstain tallies reported during the meeting process; staff will record the official roll call in the ordinance drafting process).

Manual meter‑read fee and customer protections

Council reiterated previous direction to increase the monthly manual meter‑reading fee for customers who opt out of advanced (AMI) meters. Staff calculated the true per‑account cost of manual reads at $24.65/month (up from the prior $15 fee) and were directed to implement that charge beginning in 2026. Council also asked staff to ensure CARES recipients who opt out of AMI are protected by the CARES increase so those households are not financially harmed by the change.

Other policy directions

Council supported staff work to clarify deposit rules and to permit property liens for unpaid electric accounts consistent with existing water/wastewater practice (staff noted this change is intended to reduce annual bad‑debt expense; historical bad‑debt has averaged about $500,000/year). Council also asked staff to quickly develop an SOP with the Longmont Economic Development Partnership so that when the Land Development Code change allowing more commercial daycares in certain zones is implemented, business representatives will be part of mitigation conversations where a daycare buffer study identifies nearby risks.

What’s next

Council’s direction was procedural: staff will draft ordinances (electric and sanitation) and return to council for public hearings and formal readings. Staff emphasized that PRPA’s adopted wholesale rates and the city’s new customer information and meter systems could require adjustments to the final ordinance. Council will consider the ordinances in subsequent meetings and must adopt final rates by formal ordinance vote.

Ending note

Council members who opposed elements of the package said they were concerned about the distributional effects of some fees (notably the manual‑read fee and liens) and asked staff to continue looking for mitigation and clear communication. Supporters emphasized the need to invest in aging infrastructure now to avoid larger, emergency costs later.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Session 08/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Longmont City Council on Aug. 12 directed staff to draft a two‑year electric rate ordinance for 2026–27 and approved a sanitation rate approach after staff presented studies showing rising wholesale power costs, inflationary operating expenses and new capital investments.","taxTitle","Longmont, Boulder County, Colorado","taxId",3876,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6138899,"Public commenters press council on street closures, open‑space protections and ranked‑choice voting",295,4799000,5094000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5581923-b1076839eb61292cdfc7f5d90e948bdf&start=4799&end=5094","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5581923-b1076839eb61292cdfc7f5d90e948bdf/thumbnail_4799000.jpg","/articles/6138899/Longmont/Boulder-County/Colorado/Public-commenters-press-council-on-street-closures-openspace-protections-and-rankedchoice-voting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138899-6f084ba2250c0af6bbc368dc1907a7ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181300&Signature=LuHO9IP4rbI2mZ46Isris3XU1NY8PIvKwjwwjyqcbETMwnnW2jbaYuFibzLT~pc44nRGV1zNbLgYQ6Rv1c2a1t~vurMel9Zy3w6dKLAA4fRZics-1NLQsoPvhmHv4LlK71TT-E7PZsw4wK4J2KNuWTACkKPWluKwO8HxmKilSDKx56cxONoekbW79yAVxwOkx7ripmYDSssKvcV~GO6B7il-QDCX10CpGT9TDPPjTg4rWgeckoa3sDbQ3e366bF4mLELT-56ehCi3Lmd0pzB2zpveEO2Ym0p9-Rb6Uz9H8xQAwPoRcmSgPQrTPsrCFyaXWnOW6069BozrOIvwZ2fKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple residents used the public‑comment portion of the Aug. 12 Longmont City Council meeting to raise three recurring concerns: potential permanent closures near the railroad at Fifth Avenue and Atwood; protection of city open space and questions about future land exchanges; and calls for a study session on ranked‑choice voting.

Fifth Avenue / Atwood pedestrian access

Sharon O’Leary, co‑chair of the Historic East Side Neighborhood (534 Emory Street), urged council not to permanently close pedestrian access at Fifth Avenue and the Atwood railroad crossing. She cited Colorado Revised Statutes and Longmont’s Transportation Mobility Plan language about maintaining safe multimodal connections and said a recent city communication indicated the city would remove all pedestrian access at the crossing. O’Leary asked council to find funding to keep the streets open and said closures should not divide neighborhoods.

Open space, the Bigelow/Distal issue

Jamie Seaman (517 Independence Drive) addressed a prior council discussion about the Distal/Bigelow land exchange. Seaman asked council to reject a land exchange that could repurpose open space for public works or industrial uses, urged strengthening protections for public open space in the municipal code, and recommended adding open‑space disposition provisions similar to Boulder’s municipal code that enable a petition and ballot process if voters wish to approve a disposal of permanently protected open space.

Ranked‑choice voting supporters

Two speakers from the grassroots Ranked Choice Voting for Longmont group, Summit Lau (1009 Pratt Street) and Dagny Dash (address on transcript 1632 Hideaway Court), thanked council for a previously approved motion to hold a study session on ranked‑choice voting and asked council to pursue a study session as the next step. The group reported more than 600 petition signatures in seven months and argued a study session would allow council to evaluate mechanics and public implications before any ballot measure.

Other public comments and takeaways

Speakers praised the city’s internship program and Longmont Public Media, discussed neighborhood block‑party funding and shared perspectives about voter rights and broader civic matters. Council acknowledged the comments; several items (for example, a request for advisory board input on definitions of ‘‘net benefit’’ for open‑space disposition) were discussed elsewhere on the agenda and were later tabled or referred for further staff work.

What council did

Council did not take immediate policy action on the street closure or on the open‑space disposition beyond hearing public comment; the earlier agenda item to ask advisory boards to discuss a ‘‘net benefit’’ definition for open‑space disposition was withdrawn by a motion on the record and will be reconsidered later if reintroduced by council. Council members repeatedly noted state statute and local code when discussing the legal framework for public streets and public open space.","During first‑call public invited to be heard several residents asked council to keep Fifth Avenue and Atwood open to pedestrians and vehicles, urged protections for open space and urged a study session on ranked‑choice voting; council acknowledged and recorded the comments.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6138903,"Council establishes Longmont Tourism Improvement District, names council appointee and city manager designee",727,8264000,8991000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5581923-b1076839eb61292cdfc7f5d90e948bdf&start=8264&end=8991","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5581923-b1076839eb61292cdfc7f5d90e948bdf/thumbnail_8264000.jpg","/articles/6138903/Longmont/Boulder-County/Colorado/Council-establishes-Longmont-Tourism-Improvement-District-names-council-appointee-and-city-manager-designee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138903-197a7904e7d2cd5dbda4ab05bb3ec8ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181300&Signature=ZF~Jlj-CoDooyIa9VQ-QhaKzmV1Ezga7l2qV~JP1-KVBTKiwDEYW-wvvWTd8ccInlYBwOU6oCkAF0in0g8K6nBI08nzgJxPRaVhJW~fd1Pr~Nr6Dgk4jPpVnZv2zfe3cBM4t-MRFSaio44s-utTLUezfAaxJIXbv0nH14BJN-9ESo3uNm7L6r87H7jLMmgxnSbmK59~LCT0QLiEJaogEL1o4pFcGCVeEE-ItfY4~DF~X8~si9qCwBuCiFENJEHVXJhDO990tOqtULjzfMhYQQveapr1CFIdNxmmVA02q0OP0BSB69srSD3ijF40DU9AG2DHrd6F3GvQI4-wSVk9S4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Longmont’s City Council on Aug. 12 adopted an ordinance establishing the Longmont Tourism Improvement District (TID) and filled two appointments required in the ordinance text.

What happened

Staff asked council to supply a council appointee and a staff non‑voting appointee so the ordinance text could be published in full on second reading; council nominated and appointed Councilmember McCoy as the council voting member and designated the city manager (or the city manager’s designee) as the non‑voting staff member. Council amended the draft ordinance to insert those appointments and then passed the ordinance as amended.

Vote and implementation notes

The amendment inserting the council appointee and the city manager’s designee carried on the record (vote recorded in the meeting as 6–1 in final passage). The ordinance becomes effective Oct. 1, 2025 (the effective date staff noted in the ordinance draft). Terms are staggered in the ordinance language so that initial appointments have one‑, two‑ and three‑year terms to establish the board’s staggered schedule.

Why it matters

A TID is a self‑funded mechanism paid by lodging operators (typically collected as a surcharge on hotel rooms at participating properties) to fund marketing, conventions, events and tourism‑related projects. Staff told council the instrument responds to a hotel‑sector request for a local mechanism to fund tourism promotion. Council discussed flexibility in the staff appointment language to account for turnover and asked staff to avoid binding language that could create short‑term vacancies.

Next steps

Staff will proceed with final administrative steps required by ordinance publication and board formation, and staff will return to council if additional appointments or procedural questions arise.","Council moved to create a Tourism Improvement District (TID) and appointed Councilmember McCoy as the council’s voting representative and the city manager (or designee) as the non‑voting staff appointee; the ordinance was adopted after an amendment to insert those appointments.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6138908,"Council adopts code changes allowing commercial daycares in more residential and mixed zones with a 500‑foot environmental buffer",1204,6815000,8019000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5581923-b1076839eb61292cdfc7f5d90e948bdf&start=6815&end=8019","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5581923-b1076839eb61292cdfc7f5d90e948bdf/thumbnail_6815000.jpg","/articles/6138908/Longmont/Boulder-County/Colorado/Council-adopts-code-changes-allowing-commercial-daycares-in-more-residential-and-mixed-zones-with-a-500foot-environmental-buffer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138908-f21c12d89075ed22a97c74df1d4893dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181300&Signature=dSrx7NnekUmH7gtIt3C8yFqpBpkeX6O4qrb5ucW79P9FTlYaqGvuYMPkI~MM20oMFjTIHBAl8oEDdPWnf1738nu5y~gAxd2F6nYhasEPuJ2kGxfdgeZQuY9s-ILz-Xg9f4Th11RhYTzL6CS9XN2-xqIWbiAUVeP4skt42FHBSqob2TOBSgWhC917oidcp8gKG3OKiw9vbIelevcxn3QFvCvQswd2dVmHxhCrjV4ONfvPVmM-2Iy3w6VTKXbZGQP18ACbPvbb21F9tYC8YPlSCsxK1w7n4AMNwucimIDPhzikbtVfQyPWoncsXCIo4TymG9Y8z6G204GwiC1QCSxiOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Longmont City Council voted on Aug. 12 to adopt an ordinance amending Title 15 of the Land Development Code to allow commercial daycare facilities in additional zoning districts and to require environmental buffer studies for new or expanding facilities.

Key points: the ordinance permits commercial daycares as a use‑by‑right in the Neighborhood Professional Employment (NPE), Neighborhood Activity General (NAG) and Residential Mixed Neighborhood (RMN) zones, and permits them as a conditional secondary use in Rural Residential (RRU) and Residential Single Family (RSF) zones. The change removes the prior conditional‑use designation in some zones, and it requires an environmental buffer study to evaluate hazards within a 500‑foot radius of a proposed facility.

Why it matters: staff framed the amendment as an effort to expand access to childcare near employment centers while protecting children’s health and safety. The environmental buffer study standard is intended to identify nearby industrial operations, fuel stations, dry cleaners, auto repair shops, or other potential hazards, and to require mitigation measures (for example, enhanced ventilation, containment or other controls) approved by the planning director before a facility may proceed.

Public‑policy framing and business input

Kelly Sage, president and CEO of the Longmont Economic Development Partnership, told the council she supported expanding childcare near employment centers but raised concerns that a 500‑foot buffer could unintentionally preclude some light manufacturers. After discussion she said LEDP would work with staff to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) so business perspectives are included when a proposed site later triggers a buffer‑study review.

Council action and implementation

Council approved the ordinance on second reading and asked staff to develop a SOP in partnership with LEDP to ensure business concerns are considered when mitigation questions arise. Staff and planning director Kristen Cody said the buffer is not a fixed setback; it is an area for study within which hazards are identified and mitigation is reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis. No facility may proceed if a hazard exists that the owner is unwilling to mitigate.

What council members asked

Council members asked how mitigation would work for events such as a solvent release at a dry cleaner, and staff clarified mitigation depends on the identified risk and could range from exhaust location changes to more complex containment requirements. Council members emphasized the goal of balancing access to childcare with public safety.

Next steps

The ordinance was adopted on second reading (final adoption completed at the meeting). Staff will return as part of implementation with the SOP and the administrative procedures to evaluate buffer studies, and will incorporate coordination with the City’s development review and emergency services teams.","On second reading the council adopted an amendment to Title 15 allowing commercial daycares as a permitted or conditional use in additional zoning districts while requiring an environmental buffer study within a 500‑foot radius to evaluate nearby hazards and mitigation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Longmont council directs staff to draft 2026–27 electric rate ordinance, approves sanitation option; raises CARES rebate for low-income households

Public commenters press council on street closures, open‑space protections and ranked‑choice voting

Council establishes Longmont Tourism Improvement District, names council appointee and city manager designee

Council adopts code changes allowing commercial daycares in more residential and mixed zones with a 500‑foot environmental buffer