Longmont council advances landing-fees ordinance after hours of public comment; rates to be set later

Longmont City Council on Oct. 28 voted to advance an ordinance that would authorize the city to impose landing fees at Vance Brand Municipal Airport, a decision that followed more than three hours of public commentary and heated debate.

The council vote (5–4) advanced the ordinance from first to second reading, allowing staff to consult the Federal Aviation Administration, solicit proposals for fee administration, and return with a specific fee schedule and any proposed exemptions. The ordinance as advanced does not set dollar amounts. Mayor Joan Peck said the ordinance establishes the local authority to adopt fees later through the city’s rates-and-charges process and does not itself implement a fee schedule.

Why it matters: Staff says the airport’s operating pro forma covers routine maintenance and operations but lacks funding for capital work and required local matches for federal and state grants. Assistant City Manager Sandy Cedar told council that accepting state and federal airport grants often requires a local match and that without additional local revenue options the city could be unable…