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Longmont council halts negotiations over ‘Distal’ land, directs composting talks with Boulder County
Summary
City staff reported that negotiations over the so-called Distal property are concluded and unresponsive, and the council voted unanimously to stop pursuing that option while continuing discussions with Boulder County about using the Toll property for a composting facility.
Longmont city staff told the City Council that negotiations over the privately‑proposed Distal option have ended and are no longer viable, and the council voted to stop considering the site and pursue composting discussions with Boulder County.
The council’s decision followed a staff update from the city manager that the other party had been “unresponsive” to repeated information requests, and that staff recommended ceasing negotiations. Mayor Pro Tem Hidalgo Faring made a motion “that we no longer consider the Distal as an option but I would like to move forward working with Boulder County on the composting facility at Toll.” The motion was seconded by Councilor McCloy. After limited discussion and a reminder that details of prior negotiations occurred in executive session and could not be disclosed, the council voted; the chair stated, “let’s vote. And that carries unanimously.”
Why it matters: Councilors said the composting facility conversation is timely because the city and county have been jointly searching for feasible sites, and abandoning the Distal option narrows the set of options staff will analyze as part of an intergovernmental discussion about an organics/composting site on or near the Toll property.
What council discussed and decided - Staff summary: City manager Harold told council the other party had failed to answer repeated requests for information and that continuing negotiations “is more advantageous for us to not move forward.” - Motion: Stop considering the Distal property as an option and continue to pursue a composting facility on the Toll property in coordination with Boulder County (moved by Mayor Pro Tem Hidalgo Faring; seconded by Councilor McCloy). - Outcome: Motion carried unanimously.
What the record does not show - The council did not reveal substantive negotiation details because those discussions were held in executive session and were described by staff as confidential. The transcript does not include the identity of the other party beyond the shorthand “Distal,” nor does it include any new contract terms or financial figures related to the Toll composting proposal.
Next steps: Staff will cease negotiations with the Distal party and continue coordination with Boulder County on the Toll site. Council members requested a future presentation on composting that includes county participation; scheduling depends on county availability.
