City Council Meeting Recap

March 1, 2022

Stay engaged and keep informed of the issues your Lafayette elected officials are working on by following the City Council Meeting Recap. Subscribe here. 

---

City Council has resumed in-person meetings. View ways to participate remotely and in person at lafayetteco.gov/CityCouncil  

PUBLIC INPUT

OPENING OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING
 
PUBLIC INPUT
 
APPROVED 7-0: balance of the CONSENT AGENDA

• February 15, 2022, City Council Meeting Minutes
• February 22, 2022, City Council Workshop Summary
• Second Reading / Ordinance No. 08, Series 2022 / Thomas Farm Lease with Red Wagon Organic Farm LLC

APPROVED 7-0: Pulled for discussion - Contract / DocuTek, Inc. / Paper Digitization Project
 
PRESENTATIONS
Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Update
The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) is a planning organization that collaborates with local governments to establish guidelines, set policy, and allocate funding in the areas of transportation and personal  mobility; growth and development; and aging and disability resources. DRCOG staff provided an update on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) projects and anticipated funding.
 
City of Lafayette COVID-19 Local Emergency Declaration Update
Since March 2020, the City of Lafayette has been under a local emergency disaster declaration as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. The declaration of a local disaster emergency allows the City to access emergency funds, including federal and state assistance; authorizes cooperation and coordination of activities related to disaster response and recovery between the City and other levels of government; and provides for implementation of and adjustments to orders, policies and procedures to ensure the public’s health, safety, and welfare and to support the timely response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At its February 15 meeting, City Council requested an update on the declaration, impacts of removing or maintaining the declaration, and a status update on declarations in neighboring communities. Boulder County, the State of Colorado, and the cities of Boulder, Louisville, and Erie continue to have declarations in place. Consensus is to keep the declaration in place.
 
STAFF INTRODUCTIONS
Chief Building Official Kevin Shulman
Kevin Shulman was promoted from Senior Plans Reviewer/Building Inspector to the Chief Building Official on January 3, 2022. This promotion fills a vacancy created by a staff retirement.
 
Senior Planner Marcy Gerwing
Marcy Gerwing joined the City as a Senior Planner on January 24. This position fills a vacancy in the Building and Planning Department.
 
REGULAR BUSINESS
Items Pertaining to the Water Reclamation Facility Improvement Project:
Notice of Award / Water Reclamation Facility Improvement Project Contract
APPROVED 7-0: Contract / Water Reclamation Facility Construction Phase Services
APPROVED 7-0: Contract / Timberline Electric & Control Corp. / Water Reclamation Facility 2021 Improvements Project
This presentation covers three separate actions related to the 2021 Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Improvement Project (Project). The Project is in response to more stringent treatment regulations imposed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Pre-design, property acquisition, and planning for the project began in 2010. The City issued a Bond in November 2021 to fund the project and the proceeds have been received. Annexation and Zoning of the acquired property was approved by Council on February 1,
2022.
 
Mary Miller / Miller Name and Public Facilities
Following the completion of a statistically valid survey on resident sentiments about the City’s founder, Mary Miller, City Council asked the Human Rights Commission (HRC) for a recommendation on the use of the Mary Miller name on public facilities. After extensive research and deliberation, the HRC advanced a recommendation on the use of the Mary Miller name to Council for discussion at the August 23, 2021, workshop. At the January 24, 2022, workshop, staff presented feedback on these items from various stakeholders including the Library Board, Cultural Arts Commission, and Public Art Committee.
 
Council arrived at consensus to proceed with the following:

• Create a naming policy for future public facilities
• Engage with the Lafayette Historical Society including future presentation to City Council on their role in Lafayette history
• Provide opportunity for Council to discuss investment in history during the budget process
• Present to City Council on how an equity lens is being applied already and how it can expand in the future

 
COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
APPROVED 7-0: Appointment of Mark Ortiz to the Planning Commission to serve a partial term ending June 30, 2025. And to serve on the Planning Board of Adjustments.

COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Mangat

•  March 11 free legal advice sessions at the Library. Register at www.lafayetteco.gov/Library

 Councilor Barnes

• WOW! is hosting a Girls and Science event for ages 3-6. Five NCAR scientists and two wizards. Sold out.
• CC4CA meeting: The Public Utility Commission is making a decision on Xcel’s Comanche coal plant outage. If you would like to retire this plant early, send a letter to the commission by Friday. Addressing the social cost of carbon is being delayed. LESAC will be looking at how to reduce Lafayette green house gas footprint.

 Councilor Briggs

• March 16 from 7-8:30 Frank Archuleta will be a panelist for the History of Latino Experience at CU.

 Councilor Samson

• Watching the affordable housing bill makes its way through the legislature.

 Councilor Walton

• Elected to serve on the DRCOG Performance and Engagement Committee.
• DRCOG sub regional forum selected Boulder County projects: Hwy 119 Boulder to Longmont, SH 7, and a Broomfield regional project.
• Where can we influence transportation decision and keep our interests involved.

 Councilor Wong

•  March 2 is the Consortium of Cities meeting.
• March is National Women’s History Month

 
ADJOURNMENT