City Council Meeting Recap

May 2, 2023

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

OPENING OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING

PUBLIC INPUT

APPROVED 7-0: CONSENT AGENDA

• April 18, 2023, City Council Meeting Minutes
• April 24, 2023, City Council Workshop Summary
• Second Reading / Ordinance No. 05, Series 2023 / Amending Chapter 10 of the Lafayette Code of Ordinances Regarding Beverage Licensing and Tastings
• Second Reading / Ordinance No. 06, Series 2023 / Supplemental Appropriation
• Resolution No. 2023-32 / Appointing an Interim City Administrator and Authorizing an Employment Contract Pertaining Thereto
• Contract / RESPEC Company, LLC / MS4 Program Support
• Change Order No. 1 / RESPEC Company, LLC / Design Review and Engineering On-Call Services 

STAFF INTRODUCTIONS

James Brown / Risk Manager
The Risk Manager is a new position that was created as part of the 2023 budget. James joined the City as the Risk Manager on March 13, 2023 and was most recently the City of Boulder’s Risk Manager where he oversaw the risk, insurance, worker’s compensation, and safety programs for the past six years.

REGULAR BUSINESS

Metropolitan Football Stadium Funding
In August 2022, upon the sale of the Broncos franchise, the City received $200,000. The money comes from a provision of a 1998 lease and management agreement that required 2% of the net proceeds of the sale of the team to be paid to participating municipalities in the Metropolitan Football Stadium District and be used for “youth activity programs.” There is little direction on definition of youth activity programs and this funding can be spread over multiple years. 

A cross departmental group convened to develop a proposal to allocate this funding in a thoughtful way, building on existing programmatic needs and focusing on supporting the community’s underserved youth population. A project from the Lafayette Youth Advisory Commission (LYAC) to develop community-based opportunities for Lafayette high school students to access diverse curriculum and support efforts underway to expand Ethnic Studies was also proposed. 

Council directed staff to prioritize LYAC’s proposal with a budget refinement and use remaining funds for Great Outdoors Water Park passes. The final recommendation will be presented to Council at the May 16 meeting.

PRESENTATIONS

Mental Health and Human Services Tax Update/One Lafayette
In 2021, Lafayette voters approved a ballot question establishing a 0.1% sales and use tax to fund grants for nonprofits providing mental health and human services to Lafayette residents. The City collected approximately $600,000 for this program in 2022. To develop this new funding mechanism and begin distributing funds, staff presented recommendations regarding the solicitation of applications and program eligibility.

Council agreed to join an existing regional grant management partnership, to follow the presented eligibility requirements, and to have the City Administrator appoint a community advisory committee to develop application criteria/funding parameters, review applications, and make funding recommendations to Council. 

Council also directed staff to maintain the One Lafayette Legacy Fund and One Lafayette Grant Fund in their current state and to engage in future discussions during the budget process. 

Discussion / Remote Participation Policy for City Council and City Boards and Commissions
Currently, the remote participation rules in the City Council Handbook only apply during a declared local disaster emergency. The City Council recently directed City staff to prepare rules permitting members of the City Council to participate remotely in meetings following the anticipated termination of the City’s COVID-19 local disaster emergency declaration. A discussion is also needed regarding adoption of rules governing the City’s boards and commissions remote participation in meetings. The scope, application, and implementation of a remote participation policy requires a number of policy decisions so that a policy can be finalized and presented to Council for consideration.

Council agreed to continue allowing remote attendance when necessary for City Council and Planning Commission and to allow fully virtual meetings in the event of a public health or safety emergency. Council also agreed to allow board and commission chairs to decide if they will hold a virtual meeting due to public health/safety concerns. If the desire is to permanently meet virtually, a request could be made to City Council. Council supported the decision to continue providing opportunity for the public to participate via phone and in writing during its meetings. 

PROCLAMATIONS

National Police Week, May 14-20, 2023 / Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, May 15, 2023

COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS

APPROVED 7-0: Appointment to the Public Art Committee
Council appointed Marissa Aguilera Saints as a regular member of the Lafayette Public Art Committee for a three-year term from May 2023 to May 2026.

STAFF REPORTS

City Administrator’s Report: Expressed appreciation to Council for their support to appoint her as Interim City Administrator. 

COUNCIL REPORTS

Discussion and Decision Regarding New City Administrator Recruitment Process
City Council decided to conduct a formal recruitment process for the City Administrator and prepare an RFP to select a recruitment firm. They also agreed to designate Councilors Samson and Walton to prepare the RFP proposal to retain a qualified recruiter.

Councilor Barnes: Earth Day Every Day was a great community event and had an estimated 1,500 attendees.

Councilor Samson: The monthly Art Night Out event kicks off on May 12. Provided an update on SB23-213: the bill is in the House committee to consider density modifications.

Councilor Walton: Requested a Legislative summary outlining key actions taken during this session.

Mayor Pro Tem Wong: Would like to ask Council to consider spreading out the scheduling of Executive Sessions. 

ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION

Pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes sections 24-6-402(4)(b) and 24-6- 402(4)(e)(I) to confer with the City Attorney for the purposes of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions regarding annexation and development review procedures, and to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategy for negotiations, and instructing negotiators, regarding potential annexation-related agreements, all pertaining to real property located at the southwest corner of Hwy 287 and Arapahoe Road.