Longmont City Council approved the LifeBridge annexation last night, 6-1, with the opposing vote wanting to send the issue to the ballot. I am glad to see the Councilors took their role seriously enough to make a decision, although the article in the Camera doesn't provide much in the way of rationale. When $200 million of the $610 million total land value is approved for tax-exempt development, they must have solid reasons for making such a concession. If a majority of Longmonters feel this was inaccurate representation, they'll vote them out of office.
Of those voting in support, Doug Brown's Ward 1 term expires in November and he has filed to run for Mayor. He can answer why he supported this during his campaign; the four open seats (including Mayor) will bring out at least a dozen candidates and this decision should be revisited as a campaign forum question each time.
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6 comments:
Well, no surprise on that vote - money can't buy you love, but it sure can buy City Councils.
Doug Brown should seriously rethink running for Mayor - if this 'Annex' tanks as badly as I suspect it will, it will be the most foul-smelling alabatross to have around one's neck.
And if anyone thinks this is the end of the matter, think again - these are Dominionists, they've already got a candidate lined up to run for Council... and there will be more.
Imagine a City Council dominated by LifeBridge puppets. Think it can't happen? Folks in Colorado Springs didn't see it coming either.
Karen Benker was the only councilor with no guts. Putting these things to the voters is a cop out on council responsibilities. I put the Lowe's vote in Lafayette in the same camp.
Doogman - is it a surprise that someone who would run for council would have an agenda? Are you implying that no one has run for office in Longmont with an agenda until now? Or, maybe it's OK as long as it's aligned with your agenda?
What didn't the folks in CoSpgs see coming? These people have to win votes to get into office, it's not immaculate councilship.
D-B,
The "cop out" with the Lowes vote in Lafayette was actually a cop out by the city government.
It was made clear to the council that if the annexation of the Waneka-Lowes property was approved, it was going to go to a city wide vote. If it had gone to a council vote, the staff would have recommended the annexation. They wanted to stay out of the middle. So the council was steered toward a city wide vote. Little did the council members who support know that they would be publicly endorsing it and the strength and perseverance of the opposition,
Anyone know if Longmont voters can petition for a special election on annexations?
I was wondering what recourse Longmont citizens might have as well.
Regarding the Lowe's annexation, you can blame "city government" if you want, but I thought the elected council ran the town. Ha.
Why did city admin feel the need to put the Lowe's annexation to a vote? The average citizen has no idea what impact a Lowe's store on the east side of town (with no other commercial nearby) will have. Most of them just wanted a Lowe's in town, at any cost. Well, there will be a cost to pay, it just won't show up for 15-20 years. When the Lowe's store is vacant it can be added to the Countryside Village redevelopment plan for 2027.
Yes, let's explore the options Longmont voters have if they disapprove of the annexation. My guess - most voters don't really care one way or the other, they don't see how it impacts them.
D-B,
I wanted to point out the mechanics of how the special election for Lowes came to be. You can judge the intentions. I have my opinion and was certainly close to it.
An elected council is suppose to set policy. Howver if its primary source of information and institutional memory is the city staff and that is not challenged or researched independently, the result is predictable.
The impact of Lowes is going to be felt fairly soon, if and when the construction starts. Just like the widespread reaction to Eagles Plan on S. Boulder Road. There is no hiding a major eye sore on 7.
City managers know that city council membership comes and goes. They persevere and hope no one remembers, just like any CEO. Then they declare "victory", move on and the city or enterprise is left behind for the residents or employees to deal with.
The city gov did not want to buy the land that is now the Thomas Open Space, remodel the Senior Center, build Simpson Mine and White Tail Park, restore fiscal sanity to the Rec Center, and save the golf course. Public Road is in big trouble while everyone focuses on Countryside, some businesses will not renew their lease and I know of one up for sale now. So a city council can make a difference, depending on who is on it.
But the city gov focuses on money. It is all about the money. Just follow it. Which is what the Longmont Council did.
Some historian centuries ago predicted democracy wouldn't list as soon as the voters realized they could vote themselves a lot of perks. So far, he is wrong.
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