20

15

CITY OF
LONGMONT
REPORT TO
THE COMMUNITY

Public Works &

Natural Resources
FORESTRY
PARKS, OPEN SPACE & TRAILS
TRANSPORTATION
TRASH & RECYCLING
WATER

Longmontworks

Public Works & Natural Resources

Public Works & Natural Resources (PWNR) provides a diverse range of

services for Longmont. Many of the services provided by PWNR are essential
to our everyday lives. They range from the naturally beautiful to the lessthan-glamorous, but they all come together to support our health, safety and
comfort. As you thumb through this report, take a moment to consider what
the services of Public Works & Natural Resources mean to you and what it
takes to provide them. Your dollars, participation and feedback are key.

Dale Rademacher

General Manager, Public Works & Natural Resources

OUR MISSION
To provide life-essential
services, infrastructure,

2015 Total PWNR

Departmental Budget

$90.6 M OVER $1 B

replacement value of PWNR

systems and assets water,
sewer, streets, storm drainage,
open space, parks and
sanitation

and natural resources

management that
sustain and advance the
health, safety, prosperity
and mobility of the

$90.6 M

community.

2015 Total Number

of Staff

217

full-time, permanent
employees

full-time, permanent
employees
$46.8 M in operating funds

$30.8 M in capital
improvement projects

Visit our website

LongmontColorado.gov/pwnr

$13 M in debt service

Find budget details at

bit.ly/city-budget

forestry
LONGMONTS URBAN
FOREST IS A VALUABLE
ASSET FOR ALL
RESIDENTS.

City of Longmont

Public Works & Natural Resources

Trees slow traffic, increase property values, improve

drainage, save on energy costs and improve air quality.
Forestry maintains trees on public property, including parks
and street rights-of-way. Forestry is responsible for planting,
pruning, tree removals, integrated pest management, tree
safety inspections and inventory of public trees. Forestry
indirectly manages the estimated 300,000 trees on private
property through arborist licensing and enforcement of tree

RE S I D E NT TIP:

TreesAreGood.org

C URREN T T REE CANOPY

1,461 ACRES
8.7% OF 16,704 TOTAL ACRES

TREE
PLANTING

386 TREES

were planted in 2015

RE S I D E NT TIP:

safety, protection and preservation codes.

LONGMONTS URBAN FOREST

stores

sequesters

62,873 489.5 $8.4 M

tons of carbon

tons of carbon
per year

FORESTRY
MAINTAINS

21,274 TREES
on public property
value of over $55 Million

Go to LongmontColorado.gov/forestry for more information

EMER ALD A SH BORER

EAB is a non-native wood-boring beetle
that can attack all ash tree species.
EAB was found in Boulder in 2013.

EAB HAS NOT BEEN FOUND

IN LONGMONT YET.

provides a

LONGMONTS
URBAN FOREST HAS
APPROXIMATELY

43,000 ASH TREES

In an effort to bring greater
awareness to EAB, Forestry staff
tied green and yellow ribbons
around valuable ash trees
throughout the town in 2015.

value in savings

parks, open space & trails

ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS
IS EASY WITH PARKS
AND TRAILS PEPPERED
THROUGHOUT TOWN.
RE S IDENT TIP:

along the beautiful backdrop of the

Front Range and the towering majesties
of Longs Peak and Mt. Meeker. Your
next adventure or moment of relaxation
is never far away.

Discover and explore at LongmontColorado.gov/parks

LONGMONT PARKS

42 PARKS

2352
acres

OVER 2,350 ACRES

TRAILS & GREENWAYS

199 MILES

Longmonts parks and trail system rests

Neighborhood
Parks 192 acres
Community Parks
253 acres
Other City Public
Lands 253 acres
District Parks
1,654 acres

YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK

9 PARK RENEWAL PROJECTS

were completed in 2015 thanks to your dollars from the

Park & Greenway Maintenance Fee, in addition to ongoing

maintenance and repair at City parks, greenways and pools.

S NOW R OUTE T R A I L

LO N G M O N T S A V ED

An experiment was launched in 2015

to examine the feasibility of creating
designated snow routes for trail users.

70 MILLION

The test route followed Left Hand Greenway, offering trail

access to Longmont Recreation Center and Museum.

gallons of potable
water per year and
City costs.

Improvements made in 2015 to the raw water

irrigation systems in parks allowed operations
to utilize raw instead of treated water.

SANDSTONE RANCH
TRAIL UNDERPASS

QUAIL CAMPUS
TENNIS COMPLEX

This project created a trail

connection along 3rd Ave to
Sandstone Ranch. The trail
includes an underpass that allows
users to safely cross busy HWY
119, and it serves as a flood control
measure for Spring Gulch #2.

Construction took place in 2015 to build 10

new tennis courts, improved trail connections
and 69 additional parking spaces at Quail
Campus, home to a community park, Longmont
Recreation Center and Museum.

City of Longmont

Public Works & Natural Resources

YO UR DO LLA RS AT WO RK

LONGMONT PROVIDES A

Since 2000, thanks to your dollars

from the 2/10 of a cent Open Space
Sales and Use Tax, the City of Longmont
has protected nearly 2,500 acres of Open
Space which it manages. In addition,
the City holds 788 acres in conservation
easements with Boulder County and
manages the 358 acres of Lake McIntosh.

HIGH QUALITY OPEN SPACE

AND TRAILS SYSTEM FOR
LONGMONT AREA RESIDENTS
AND VISITORS.
The purpose of Open Space is to
PRESERVE:
NATURAL AREAS
WILDLIFE HABITATS
AGRICULTURE
VISUAL CORRIDORS

LINK TRAILS TO
PROVIDE ACCESS

PROVIDE URBAN
SHAPING BUFFERS

DESIGN DISTRICT
PARKS

CONSERVE NATURAL
RESOURCES

AGRICULTURE
Longmonts Open Space
program managed eight
agricultural leases on

900 ACRES

2015 Agricultural Yields on City owned land (tons)

Alfalfa Hay
1437
Winter Wheat 433
Corn Silage
Barley 83
Grass Hay 418
Corn, shelled
1120

that generated $60,000

7883

Yields support
local, sustainable
agri-business

NOXIOUS WEEDS

YOU CAN HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD

CITY OPEN SPACE LAND

TREATED FOR WEEDS

STAY
CLEAN
KEEP
CONTROL
VOLUNTEER

465 ACRES
LONGMONTS TOP 5 NOXIOUS WEEDS
Kochia (Tumbleweed) | Cheatgrass | Canada
Thistle | Hoary Cress | Perennial Pepperweed

RE S I D E N T TIP:

on
trails

dogs leashed
(and on trail)

shoes between visits

to different properties
weeds on your
property

to join the Citys Invasive Weed

Control & Restoration Crew.
To join, visit LongmontColorado.gov/parks.

Go to colorado.gov/pacific/agconservation/noxiousweeds for more information

transportation
A SAFE AND EFFICIENT
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK
IS VITAL TO THE HEALTH AND
PROSPERITY OF LONGMONT.

337 MILES
3613 CUBIC YARDS

City of Longmont

Public Works & Natural Resources

From filling potholes to building

bridges, work is continually
underway to maintain and
improve this essential
component in our daily lives.

OF CITY-MAINTAINED
CENTERLINE ROADWAY
IN LONGMONT

Frequently asked questions at

bit.ly/sweepinglongmont

1700

OF DEBRIS
REMOVED DURING
STREET SWEEPING
R E S I D E N T T I P:

POTHOLES FILLED
R E S I D E N T T I P:

Report potholes & service requests:

ServiceWorks.LongmontColorado.gov

FOCUS ON SOUTH MAIN

Work got underway in
2015 for Focus on South
Main a multi-year effort
designed to improve the
southeastern gateway to
Longmonts core along
Main Street:

Main Street and Ken Pratt

Boulevard Intersection
Improvements
March 2015 August 2015
Main Street Pavement
Reconstruction
Sept. 2015 July 2016
Main Street Bridge
Replacement at
St. Vrain Creek
Nov. 2015 Sept. 2016

144 MILES

SNOW PLOWED ROADWAY

Find out when and where we plow.
LongmontColorado.gov/snow

214 SIGNS

WERE REPLACED
OR REPAIRED
IN 2015

YOUR DOLLARS
AT WORK
Street Fund Sales & Use
Tax: 3/4 of a cent tax on
every dollar purchase
in Longmont; in effect
through Dec. 31, 2026
This voter-approved tax funds
a variety of City transportation
improvements including street
maintenance and repair, as
well as transportation system
safety and efficiency.

trash & recycling

WEEKLY TRASH
COLLECTION & DISPOSAL
SERVICES ARE PROVIDED
TO ALL SINGLE-FAMILY
AND MANY MULTI-FAMILY
HOMES IN LONGMONT.

City of Longmont

Public Works & Natural Resources

Curbside recycling collections occur every other

week. Trash is hauled to the Front Range Landfill
for disposal. Recyclables are processed through
the Boulder County Recycling Center, where
recyclable materials are prepared for shipment
to recycling mills. Through service offerings and
customer education, Longmont is increasing
waste diversion and expanding how customers
think about disposal.

29,300 TONS 11,800 TONS

HO U S EHO LDS SE R VE D

29,232

OF TRASH COLLECTED
IN 2015

31%

OF RECYCLABLE
MATERIALS

TOTAL LANDFILL
DIVERSION RATE
FOR 2015

including curbside collection

and Waste Diversion Center

Sanitation conducted a survey of customers

RESID ENT TIP:

and habits to develop new alternatives to

enhance service, increase waste diversion and
create a long-term, equitable business model.

Find out what changes are in store for the

future at LongmontColorado.gov/solidwaste

WASTE DIVERSION CENTER & SPECIAL PROGRAMS DID YOU KNOW?

Every residential
customer has
access to City
trash and recycling
programs that go
beyond the cart.

RE S IDE NT TIP:

EVENTS:

SERVICES:

Hard to Recycle
Collection

Fall Leaf & Spring

Branch Collection

Landfill Drop Day

Holiday Recycling

Paper Shredding
Service

Household Hazardous
Waste Disposal

Watch for the Longmont Post Consumer newsletter in your mailbox for the
trash & recycling schedule or visit LongmontColorado.gov/solidwaste

water
WATER IS MANY
THINGS. IT IS THE
THIRST-QUENCHING
LIQUID THAT COMES
FROM OUR TAPS.

It is a refreshing shower. It is the creek flowing

WATER UTILITY

2015 LONGMONT WATER FAST FACTS

through our neighborhood. It is even the medium that

carries away our waste. Its vital that we plan and care
for all of our water systems. Longmont has a long
history of operating with such a mindset and we reap
the rewards of ample high quality water.

5.2
847.9

billion
gallons
were used

56,000

million gallons were

used during the peak
month of August

CONSERVE

gallons were
used per
person

29.6
9,685

million gallons
were used on
peak day

tests were
done on the
drinking water

REVENUES VS. EXPENSES 2015

2015

Total revenue: $18 M

Total expense: $18.9 M
Operating expenses:
$12.9 M
Capital Improvement
expenses: $6.0 M
R E S I D E N T T I P:

DEBT VS. RESERVES 2015

2015

Total debt in Water

Fund: $10.8 M
Expected Fund
balance: $15 M

WATER CONSERVATION
For information on conservation programs:
ConservationCenter.org
R E S I D E N T T I P:

Watch for the water quality report this summer and

learn more at LongmontColorado.gov/water

WATER SYSTEM

13 RESERVOIRS 35 DITCHES 4 STORAGE TANKS

25 M gallons in total storage

TWO RAW WATER

TREATMENT FACILITIES

450 MILES

4.7 BILLION

of water
distribution line

gallons of water produced in 2015

The distribution system is

cleaned annually through the
water line flushing program.
Replaced 4921 feet or 0.93
miles of water line in 2015

WASTEWATER SYSTEM

STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM

gallons of wastewater
treated in 2015

storm drainage
system in Longmont

2.5 BILLION 333 MILES 360 MILES 19.9 6.7

of sewer line

2015 SANITARY SEWER LINE MAINTENANCE

28.2 164.6 10.6

miles
inspected

miles
cleaned

miles of
root cutting

YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK

IMPROVEMENTS IN
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Two important projects to better protect
the environment and meet new regulatory
requirements hit notable points in 2015,
and both thanks to voter-approved funding.

Ammonia Treatment and Biosolids

Dewatering Improvements Project
Headworks/Primary Treatment Project

miles
inspected
in 2015

miles
cleaned
in 2015

STORM DRAIN INLETS:

THE CREEK STARTS HERE
The Citys storm drainage system is designed to carry
rain and snow melt to the creek. Storm drainage
inlets are the grates or openings located in the street
near the curb. Any pollutant (garbage, chemicals, pet
wastes, etc.) that is in our streets may enter the storm
drainage system and, ultimately, the creek. There is
no treatment of this water. Yard wastes like leaves
and grass clippings are Longmonts biggest problem
because of the potential for blockages.

R E S I D E N T T I P:

Stormwater Information:
KeepItCleanPartnership.org

VALUE & COSTS OF EACH SYSTEM

VALUE OF
SYSTEM

OPERATING
COST
MAINTENANCE *

WATER

$419 M

$12.9 M

$1.2 M

WASTEWATER

$146 M

$7.6 M

$1.6 M

DRAINAGE

$76 M

$3.8 M

$900 K

*DOES NOT INCLUDE COSTS TO EXPAND OR IMPROVE.

flood recovery
IN SEPTEMBER 2013,

The flood displaced hundreds of residents,

LONGMONT EXPERIENCED

and destroyed personal property, businesses,

THE MOST DEVASTATING

FLOOD EVENT IN ITS HISTORY.
R ESIDENT TIP:

public spaces and infrastructure. Public

Works & Natural Resources has a leading
role in putting the pieces back together.

Follow our journey at LongmontColorado.gov/flood-info

FLOOD RECOVERY PROGRESS IN 2015

PARK

ROAD & BRIDGE

Projects

Button Rock Preserve

repaired and reopened much of
the area June 2015
Kanemoto Park
pool replacement constructed
December 2015, open for
swimmers in summer 2016

Button Rock Preserve

Harvest Junction

SEWER

Projects

Harvest Junction area

sewer line repair completed
September 2015

Main Street Bridge

Replacement
began October 2015
Sunset Street Bridge
Replacement
began November 2015

Main Street Crossing

sanitary sewer relocation
completed September 2015

Sunset Bridge Replacement

Projects

City of Longmont

Public Works & Natural Resources

RESILIENT ST. VRAIN

Resilient St. Vrain is the City of Longmonts extensive,
multi-year undertaking to make the community more
resilient for future floods by reducing the size of the
floodplain through Longmont, while also restoring the
valuable community asset of the St. Vrain Greenway.

EXISTING FUNDING

$73 M
R E S I D E NT TI P:

including $20
million in voterapproved Storm
Drainage Bonds

ESTIMATED COST

$120-140 M

FUNDING SHORTFALL

$47-67 M

for which the City

is actively seeking
grants and other
funding possibilities

The project is
in final design
with construction
anticipated to
begin in late 2016.

Learn more about this important project at LongmontColorado.gov/ResilientStVrain

TAKING STEPS IN SUSTAINABILITY

A Sustainability Evaluation System (SES)
was developed in 2015 to account for
economic, social and environmental impacts
of decisions under consideration. Resilient
St. Vrain is the first project to utilize the SES.

2015

2015 also began the creation of a

Sustainability Plan for Longmont.
RESIDENT TIP:

Info at:
LongmontColorado.gov/sustainability

ST. VRAIN & LEFT HAND

GREENWAY

Projects

Reopened additional sections of

trailways damaged by flood

STORM DRAINAGE
Projects

Heron Lake Relief Channel

construction completed
December 2015

View our Trail Status Map at

LongmontColorado.gov/trail-status
R E S I D E N T T I P:

WATER

Projects

South St. Vrain Pipeline

repair completed - December 2015
The flood cut off four of Longmonts
five water sources. In 2015 all raw water
supplies to the City were restored.

PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
LONGMONT CO
PERMIT NO 19

CITY OF LONGMONT
Public Works & Natural Resources
1100 S Sherman St.
Longmont, CO 80501

POSTAL PATRON

VISIT US ONLINE
Information: LongmontColorado.gov/pwnr
Service Requests: ServiceWorks.LongmontColorado.gov

PARKS, OPEN SPACE

& TRAILS:

TRASH &
RECYCLING:

303-651-8446

303-651-8416

LONGMONT
TRANSPORTATION:

WATER:

303-774-4446

303-651-8468
FORESTRY:

303-651-8446

ENVIRONMENT:

303-651-8376