Joan Peck – 2023 Longmont Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire

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Candidate: Joan Peck

Office: Longmont Mayor

Website: joanpeckforlongmontmayor.com

QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES:

Yes/No Questions – Please answer only with yes/no.

Are you a homeowner? Yes

Do you think your City should have a homeless shelter? Yes

If the City police force was fully staffed, would you advocate for adding more officers? No

Do you believe there’s a need for more housing? YES

Do you believe the City should spend more money on homelessness services? Yes


General Questions – Please limit responses to 300 words or less.

Why do you want to be mayor?

Continue the projects that council and staff are working moving our city forward.  

When was the last time you paid rent, and where was that?

1977 in Littleton, CO

When considering new developments, which is more important: density and affordability or preserving neighborhood character? 

Density is not necessarily affordability.  Developers have market rate rentals. Older neighborhoods with old infrastructure need to be considered before adding apartment buildings which may overload the smaller water and sewer lines.  I do think we need to build density – carefully.  

Boulder County has experienced extreme natural disasters over the last decade, including flooding and wildfire. How do you plan to address these challenges?

Mitigating weeds and overgrowth on open spaces is necessary for wildfires. Our flood recovery program is addressing flooding. 

How do you think you stand out from other candidates? 

Experience.  I’ve been on council for 8 years. Council members usually have a learning curve and realize the passions one has for wanting to govern may not be workable with Federal and State and constitutional constraints.

What question would you ask a fellow candidate on the ballot?

Have you served on a city board or commission?

What are your solutions for the growing population of people experiencing homelessness?

Transitional housing with wrap around services until housing becomes available.  Stale legislators need to be in the conversation to understand the unintended consequences laws make on the local level.  

What’s your plan for creating more affordable housing in Longmont?

Longmont has created two funds, affordable and attainable housing.   LHA works with federal funds and various grants to build according to HUD average median income ranges. 

 How will you address climate change? How do you plan to meet some of the City’s climate goals?

PRPA is diversifying the types of energy for our cities to use. They are purchasing 100hr storage batteries for solar. The city is educating residents on how to electrify their homes.  A community solar garden is being considered to generate electricity. 

What are your goals for transportation and how will you achieve them?

The city received a $400,000.00 partnership grant for  ride share for local transit.  The county received a grant to start construction on Hwy 119 to build separate bus and bike lanes. The Front Range Passenger Rail will go from Pueblo to Fort Collins.  The Alignment to Union Station may be the RTD Fastracks Northwest corridor to Longmont.  

How do you plan to engage non-English speaking constituents?

There are several Spanish speaking staff employees available as translators.  We have a Spanish speaking Councilor who is willing to translate. 

How does diversity factor into your policy making?

Diversity factors into everything we do. 

How will you reach residents who have different lived experiences than you?

Meeting one on one, online conversations, email and phone.

Rank your top 5 issues in priority.

Transportation

Housing – A & a

Unhoused population

Environment

Online tax collection