Longmont Planning and Zoning Commission elects chair, adopts 2025 bylaws with land‑acknowledgement reading and procedural changes

LONGMONT — The Longmont Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 15 elected new leadership for 2025 and adopted amended bylaws that change how meetings open and how minutes are recorded.

The commission unanimously elected Commissioner Haidt as chair for 2025 and elected Commissioner Pullen as vice chair in roll‑call votes recorded in the meeting. Commissioners also approved the commission’s 2025 meeting schedule and posting locations by unanimous vote.

The body then discussed and adopted multiple amendments to its bylaws. The commission voted 5‑0 to adopt a change directing that the commission read a land acknowledgement aloud at each meeting at a point following roll call. Commissioners discussed whether the wording should be rewritten later and agreed that any future change to the wording would follow the bylaws’ amendment process (typically requiring written notice five days before a change after the initial annual adoption). Assistant City Attorney Jeremy Terrell advised that it is common practice to adopt the bylaws at the first meeting of the year and that subsequent amendments require written notice.

The commission also voted 5‑0 to add an explicit reference to the Longmont code of ethics (Longmont Municipal Code citation read during discussion) in the bylaws’ voting and conflict‑of‑interest section so that members have a direct citation they can reference. Commissioners discussed whether that reference was necessary; staff noted the ordinance adopting the city code of ethics already identifies quasi‑judicial boards as subject to the city ethics code, but members said an explicit in‑bylaws citation would make the obligation clearer.

On meeting procedure, the commission debated several items brought forward by staff and commissioners: whether to change the public‑comment time limit, how to label and treat study/work sessions and whether minutes should be verbatim or action‑focused. After discussion the commission left the public invited to be heard time limit at five minutes per speaker (commissioners noted most speakers do not use the full time and that developers or applicants are not subject to the same limit in presentations) and agreed to call study sessions “work sessions” to match staff scheduling. Commissioners voted 5‑0 to change the minutes format: going forward minutes will record actions taken (motions and votes) and list presenters and public speakers and the general topic each raised, but will not attempt to capture full verbatim transcripts; staff will continue to record audio/video of meetings and make them available for detailed review.

Commissioners also discussed start time flexibility and left the standard 7 p.m. start in place while affirming that the executive secretary may set earlier start times for heavy agendas. The commission approved the bylaws as amended by a 5‑0 vote.

Other business: the commission approved the Dec. 18, 2024 minutes (4 approvals, 1 abstention by a commissioner who was not present at that meeting). Staff previewed upcoming training and work‑session items and reminded commissioners of the procedural requirement that bylaws amendments after the initial annual adoption must be posted in writing at least five days in advance of a meeting.

Why it matters: The bylaws changes make a ceremonial land‑acknowledgement statement a regular part of the commission’s agenda and formalize how minutes are kept, clarifying how the public record will be maintained (shorter written minutes plus full audio/video recordings). The explicit code‑of‑ethics reference is meant to reduce confusion about members’ legal obligations.

What’s next: Staff will publish the adopted bylaws, update the commission’s agenda templates to add the land acknowledgement after roll call, and switch the minutes template to the action‑only format. Any further changes to the wording of the land acknowledgement or the bylaws will require the standard notice for later amendments.