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Aquatic Center in Longmont, Yes or No vote?
When the city contracts for a feasibility study to be done on a specific project or issue, it’s to get more information from research done by the contractor. It’s a deeper dive into the research so that City Council has as much information available to make good decisions with both the city and the residents in mind.
Even though the research from the feasibility study on the aquatic center came to us with many red flags pertaining to cost, revenue and the lack of population to make it feasible, the residents want to be able to vote on it, and so you can.
I did not vote to put the aquatic center on the ballot. When the 2nd half of the feasibility study was presented to council, I was only supportive if the school district (SVVSD) would partner with us at a 50% level. The competitive SVVSD swim teams are going to be the biggest users of the center. SVVSD adamantly declined to partner with us.
The cost to the residents to maintain the aquatic center will be approximately $1 million per year. The ballot language referring to the regressive .03 percent sales tax for operation and maintenance does not state that this tax will not sunset, it’s in perpetuity to generate approximately $600 thousand per year. $500 thousand must be generated through use fees, be they onetime or with passes. City Council has not discussed how we would generate the $500k if use fees won’t cover the cost. Could it be with an event planner to schedule back-to-back swim or hockey meets?, perhaps we would take it out of the general fund?, etc. We should have addressed this before putting it on the ballot as our fiscal responsibility to the city.
Longmont has been aware of the need for more full recreation centers. We need one in the North East area and one in the South West. If we are going to create a city per Envision Longmont for walkable, bike-able areas, this would be a Smart city growth plan.
Joan Peck
Joan Peck is a member of the Longmont City Council. This opinion is her own and does not necessarily represent the opinion of the City or the Council.
