At-a-glance: Longmont council approves bike-share MOU, LGID/LDDA agreement, adopts several state positions and moves tourism-district ordinance

At its March 25 meeting the Longmont City Council took a range of formal actions: it approved a regional bike-share memorandum of understanding and a related resolution to begin procurement and matching funding steps; it approved an intergovernmental administrative agreement involving the Longmont General Improvement District and the Longmont Downtown Development Authority; it adopted multiple municipal ordinances and budget items; and it voted on several state legislative positions at staff recommendation.

Key council actions (summary):

- Bike-share MOU and regional program: Council approved a resolution authorizing a memorandum of understanding to join a regional docked and dockless bike-share program and to pursue a Colorado Energy Office grant and matching local funds. Staff said the city will contribute match dollars initially (staff cited roughly $79,000 of City match to leverage larger state funding), will complete a joint RFP and expects a vendor selection in the near term (staff said the contract-approval window on the MOU shows completion no later than Dec. 31, 2025, though the city hoped to select a vendor by summer 2025). The council-approved MOU and related resolution put Longmont into the multi-jurisdictional procurement and committed the city to the matching and outreach steps described in the MOU. Votes: both resolutions passed (record: unanimous among members present; Councilor Rodriguez was absent).

- Longmont General Improvement District (LGID) and Longmont Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) services IGA: The board of the LGID and council as LGID directors approved an intergovernmental agreement authorizing the LDDA to provide general administrative services. The board voted to adopt the resolution; the council later ratified the LGID action as required. Vote: approved (all present voting in favor; Councilor Rodriguez absent).

- Tourism Improvement District (TID) ordinance (2025-24): Council debated a proposed tourism improvement district ordinance that would permit a lodging fee collected and administered regionally. Councilor Crist moved to table the ordinance until September 2025; the motion lacked a second and council later approved the ordinance. During debate Councilor Crist and others argued the timing would be poor during high inflation and raised concerns about an out-of-state program manager (Civitas) taking a program-management fee (staff materials showed about 20-25% of collected fees to cover manager costs in the proposed budget). Councilors Yarborough and others argued the TID could bring incremental revenue for amenities and downtown businesses. Outcome: ordinance approved; vote details recorded in the meeting minutes (see provenance and action list below).

- Ordinances and budget actions: Council approved an ordinance concerning management of certain plastic products (an amendment to Title 9) and a separate ordinance making additional appropriations for the 2025 fiscal year. These items were on the consent and second-reading portions of the agenda and were approved after public hearing or consent actions where applicable.

- City legislative positions: On staff recommendation council adopted official city positions for several state bills: council voted to oppose SB25-132 (a proposal concerning liquor licensing for distilleries/tasting rooms), support SB25-161 (transit reform and RTD accountability measures), and oppose HB25-1158 (provisions on digital educational materials for schools) following staff and advisory input. Council also supported House Bill 25-1272 (construction-defect reform for midmarket housing) after staff discussion and committee testimony from a council member. Several other housing-related bills were discussed and one (HB25-1240 concerning rights of tenants using housing subsidies) was tabled for further clarification and return to council.

Votes at a glance (selected actions from the meeting):

- Resolution to approve regional bike-share MOU and next steps (agenda items 20-25-16 and 20-25-17): outcome approved; vote: unanimous among councilors present; Councilor Rodriguez absent.

- LGID resolution approving IGA with LDDA for administrative services (LGID R-2025-01 / City consent item 20-25-18): outcome approved; vote: unanimous among councilors present; Councilor Rodriguez absent.

- Ordinance 2025-21 (Title 9 amendment on management of plastic products): adopted after public hearing; outcome: approved (vote details recorded in minutes; one councilor opposed, Councilor Christ, and Councilor Rodriguez absent; exact numeric split recorded in official minutes).

- Ordinance 2025-22 (additional appropriations for fiscal year 2025): adopted; outcome: approved 6-0 (Councilor Rodriguez absent).

- Ordinance 2025-24 (Tourism Improvement District): adopted after debate and unsuccessful motion to table; outcome: approved (see official minutes for roll-call specifics and individual vote positions; Councilor Crist recorded as opposing in floor debate).

- City positions on state legislation (adopted at meeting): Oppose SB25-132 (liquor licensing expansion): approved; Support SB25-161 (transit reform): approved; Oppose HB25-1158 (digital education materials): approved; Support HB25-1272 (construction-defect reform): approved. Several items were handled by motion and roll-call as shown in the official minutes.

What to watch next: Staff will continue the RFP and IGA processes for the bike-share program, work with partner jurisdictions on matching commitments, and implement the LGID/LDDA administrative agreement. City legislative staff will inform state delegation offices of council positions taken at the meeting. The city will also follow through on tourism-district implementation requirements and report future contracts and program-manager terms back to council as required by the ordinance.