This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Longmont City Council will be holding a study session tomorrow, August 15, 2017, starting at 7 PM. The agenda will consist of the following study session items:
A. Longmont Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) Parking And Access Study Update
From City Council Communication: In 2016, the Longmont Downtown Development Authority (LDDA), with the support of the City of Longmont and Boulder County, contracted with the consulting firm of Kimely Horn to perform a Parking and Access study for the Downtown Area. The goal of the study was to develop a set of strategic recommendations to assist the City and the LDDA in their partnership to develop a proactive, customer-friendly and well-managed public parking system that will support the City’s larger economic development and mobility goals today and in the future. Kimberlee McKee, LDDA Executive Director, and a representative from the consulting team will make a presentation on this report which was presented to the LDDA Board in November, 2016 and again was discussed with the LDDA Board at its July 26, 2017 meeting.
B. Discussion On Future Planning And Development In The Terry Lake Neighborhood
From City Council Communication: The area commonly referred to as the Terry Lake Neighborhood has been part of the Longmont Planning Area for several decades. Currently, this portion of the planning area extends from 95th Street on the west to Main Street/Highway 287 on the east and from State Highway 66 on the south to Vermillion Road on the north. The current Envision Longmont Multimodal and Comprehensive Plan contemplates this area as primarily parks, greenways, and open space and the Terry Lake Mixed Use Area. The Envision document does not provide guidance about this specific use, rather relies on the Highway 66 Mixed Use Corridor Framework Master Plan and Design Guidelines, which was adopted in 2006.
C. Update On Wastewater Utility Issues
From City Council Communication: The Wastewater Utility continues to experience cost increases that affect the utility’s financial outlook. While staffing levels have been significantly decreased in the utility since 2000, resulting in annual cost reductions in excess of $2 million each year, operating costs have still increased by an average of 2.8% each year between 2006 and 2016. Major cost drivers affecting the utility include new regulatory requirements requiring large capital expenses at the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), unrecovered flood related costs, deployment of new metering technologies, increasing post-recession construction costs, and aging wastewater infrastructure reaching the end of its life cycle.
A planned replacement of the City’s billing system in the five-year planning window, along with the aforementioned cost drivers, has impacted the financial plan for the utility. The staff is recommending modest rate increases in the 2% to 3% range in 2018-2020. Along with the day to-day costs to operate and maintain the wastewater utility, the Sewer Fund pays a 4.16% franchise fee and is required to maintain an unappropriated reserve of 90 days operating and maintenance costs. These rate increases will allow the utility to maintain its target debt service coverage and appropriately fund operational costs.
Longmont City Council holds study sessions on the first and third Tuesday of every month and allows the Council to talk on a more in-depth level about issues. No formal action may be taken by the Council at a study session other than to direct staff to proceed in a certain manner and to bring items back to a regular session for action.
Did you miss last week council meeting? Click here to watch the video.
