She asked what Phase 2 looked like. At the council meeting, there technically wasn't a Phase 2, there was a definite Phase 1 concept, and the original concept presented prior to any citizen meetings or the Urban Renewal process. The closest thing to a "Phase 2" was what Will Damrath (of Panattoni) referred to as the " ultimate phase" or the " potential future concept". The video shown at the August 12th meeting, again, as clearly stated, was the original concept.

Apparently, Ms. Benker, with her written comment " none of these elements was in Phase 2 of the plan" didn't get that nuance. Mr. Damrath even said Phase 1 " does not prevent this future option, but what it allows us to do is to study that as a future option. What it also allows us to do is study a hundred other future options."

A reasonable person might've figured Ms. Benker understood the phasing process when, at the August 12 meeting she said the following: " First of all I think phasing the mall is a great idea. There is no doubt it's the way to go, because of many of the things you (Mr. Damrath) have said, with the market being the way it is, where debate goes on as to whether or not we're in a recession. So there's definitely some wisdom in waiting for Phase 2. And make no mistake; we want to partner with Panattoni. And I think we just need to keep working toward a mutual vision because I think the vision that you just stated is exactly the vision we see on council." (emphasis added)

How does that spoken statement square with her written comments?

But back to phasing. The idea of phasing was suggested to Panattoni during the Urban Renewal process, as the " economy is kind of looming". It was after that, according to Mr. Damrath, that they started seriously considering phasing. The very thing council is now complaining about. Mr. Damrath also said, " We feel like this is a project, if the will is here, that we can get going on and move forward on. And it buys us many future options, and we can study the Phase 2 options, whether that's mixed use, indoor, hybrid, whatever. I think we'd be remiss in not at least studying the pros and cons of this phase plan and the benefits to the city today."

At the end of her piece, Ms. Benker asks " is this how you would spend $15 million?" Wait a second, she was one of the main ones saying this would not cost the city anything, as in " no new taxes", anyone remember that? It was just that a portion of new sales tax generated by the URA would not be collected by the city. The contradictions throughout her recent comments are staggering.

To add confusion, at the August 19 city council meeting, Ms. Benker reiterated the need to have a shop local campaign, " Shop Longmont" was mentioned by councilmembers Gabe Santos and Mary Blue along these lines. Yet the most obvious, largest sales tax revenue generator (that would be the mall) gets this Mickey Mouse treatment? (apologies to Walt Disney)

It appears that Ms. Benker, and the other members who couldn't be bothered with going to a single citizen/mall meeting ( McCoy and Hansen, Levison made one), pretty much want something for nothing. They gladly welcome Panattoni as a partner, a partner who adds to their General Fund coffers, but the city as a partner has little in return to offer - no land, no incentives, no expertise, no businesses to fill the mall, no offer to fix crumbling roads, and no design concepts. Just an ability to collect sales tax and permit fees. Some partner!

But it's par for the course for Ms. Benker and the ward she represents. Just ask Budget Home Center and the property owners in that area, another property rights trampling story. Take a drive around our three wards and you decide for yourself which appears the most "blighted". If that's what you'd like to envision for the entire city of Longmont, then I think you have your next Mayoral candidate.

On a positive note, there is one fairly nice portion of Ward 2. For many visitors, it's the first glimpse of Longmont as it welcomes visitors coming from I-25 and the east. It's called Harvest Junction. Want to guess who developed that? (hint: starts with a P, ends with anattoni).

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©2008 Chris Rodriguez/Longmont Advocate LLC

(Chris Rodriguez is a Longmont resident, and the publisher and broadcaster of Longmont Advocate, a community website and podcast that raises local issues to increase public awareness and interest)