A potential vote on “quality of life” projects in Longmont and the future of Vance Brand Airport were among the topics discussed Saturday morning at the monthly “Coffee with the Mayor” discussion at the Lashley Street Station..
A handful of residents were told the city is considering presenting to voters a single package of funding proposals to upgrade or build key facilities in the city. The projects could include an expansion of the library and museum, the construction of a performing arts center or another recreation center, Mayor Pro Tem Aren Rodriguez said.
Rather than bring each proposal to voters separately, it makes more sense to put them on the ballot as a single plan, Rodriguez said.
“In the bigger picture, they all relate to each other, they are all part of a quality of life issue,” Rodriguez said.
The hope, he said, is to “get the community behind all of these in one fell swoop.”
It also avoids pitting one project against another. “It does not create winners or losers,” Rodriguez said.
Mayor Joan Peck said any proposed ballot issue will first go before residents to gauge their support. “We will have community engagement,” Peck said.
Peck also said the city is piecing together plans for Vance Brand, adding that improving the facility has been stalled by a series of lawsuits over noise and safety concerns.. Those suits have been settled and now “we have a window to move forward,” she said.
The airport will receive $295,000 in federal funding in each of the next five years to help with capital improvements at Vance Brand, Joni Marsh, assistant city manager, said.
The city is also ready to put out to bid work on a sewer system on the southside of the airport, which will spur aviation-related development at the facility, City Manager Harold Dominguez said.
