City Council Meeting Recap

August 15, 2023

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OPENING OF REGULAR MEETING

Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call

PUBLIC INPUT

CONSENT AGENDA

Approved 7-0

• August 1, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes
• Resolution No. 2023-44 / Calling an Election on November 7, 2023, Designating the City Clerk as the Election Officer, and Authorizing the City Clerk to Enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with Boulder County Clerk and Recorder
• Contract / Designscapes Colorado, Inc. / Xeriscape Conversion Project
• Contract / Essenza Architecture / Bob L. Burger Recreation Center Pool Renovation

PRESENTATIONS

Communities that Care Pilot Update

The 2014 public safety property tax provided one year of funding for the Communities That Care (CTC) Coordinated Youth Spaces pilot program that began in October of 2022. The program invites middle and high school students in the community to engage in a variety of healthy and safe opportunities offered centrally at a program hub and at several networked activity sites throughout the City, including the Studio 775 Makerspace at the Lafayette Library, the eSports center at the YMCA, Muse Studio, and Confluence. Council was provided a presentation on the project and will have an opportunity to discuss future funding during the 2024 budget discussions.

REGULAR BUSINESS

Items Related to a Board and Commission Ballot Measure

City Council requested staff to investigate a potential 2023 ballot measure that would remove the requirement that residents serving on a board or commission be a registered elector. A voter poll was launched, with 1,087 responses, to measure voter sentiment on the issue. Council did not feel sufficient support would be in place for this election year.

• Initially, 54% of respondents indicated that the requirements should remain the same, and 33% indicated they would consider amendments.
• Support for the four versions of the ballot language ranged from 11% to 20%. The simplest version of the language received the highest support, and the third alternative, which would exempt the voter registration requirement for up to two members per board, received the lowest support.
• Support for the final ballot measure language increased to 39% after respondent education.

APPROVED 6-0: Public Hearing / First Reading / Ordinance No. 15, Series 2023 / Short-Term Rental Regulations

Short-term rentals are generally defined as the rental of a dwelling unit (or a portion of) for guest housing for a period of less than 30 days. After a year of community engagement, analysis, and guidance from the Planning Commission and City Council, an ordinance was drafted for consideration. This code update will establish both zoning regulations and a licensing process for short-term rentals that would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and establish certain limitations aimed at minimizing impacts on the local housing supply and to the surrounding neighborhood.

APPROVED 6-0: Public Hearing / First Reading / Ordinance No. 16, Series 2023 / Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations

The proposed ordinance would allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) throughout the City as an accessory use to single family dwellings. It would also allow ADUs to be interior to the primary dwelling unit, attached to the primary dwelling unit, or as a detached accessory structure. There are no proposed changes to the underlying development standards for ADUs or for accessory or primary structures, such as parking, building height, and setbacks. This effort is intended to implement adopted City policies within the Legacy Lafayette Comprehensive Plan and the Economic Development and Housing Strategic Plan, which include goals around the broader use of ADUs, within the current zoning standards for both primary and accessory structures.

APPROVED 4-2: Resolution No. 2023-45 / Kensington / Tebo Annexation Substantial Compliance

State law prescribes annexation procedures that municipal governments must follow through the Colorado Municipal Annexation Act (Act). This process determines if a property could be annexed, not if it should. If City Council determines a petition for annexation is in compliance with the Act, the Act mandates that a date is set for an Eligibility Hearing. The Eligibility Hearing determines if the allegations made in the petition are supportable and eligible to move forward to the City’s annexation and zoning process.

Kensington Development Group, LLC has submitted a petition for annexation on behalf of Tebo Partnership, LLLP, the property owner, for an approximately 35-acre parcel of land which is located at the southwest corner of Highway 287 and Arapahoe Road in unincorporated Boulder County.

This approval accepts the annexation petition, finds the petition in substantial compliance with the applicable requirements of the Colorado Municipal Act, and establishes September 19, 2023, as the date for the Eligibility Hearing.

STAFF REPORTS

City Administrator’s Report

• During the Recreation Center’s annual maintenance closure, the racquetball courts were repurposed into additional fitness space.
• Facilitated staff conversation about how to implement LEAD/University of VA training across the City.
• Aug. 16 is our employee appreciation event, some facilities will close at 2pm.
• Cloud Break Energy is asking for a letter of support for the community solar project in Boulder County.
• August 28 will be the start of budget presentations.      

COUNCIL REPORTS

Mayor Pro Tem Wong:

• Consortium of Cities discussion about affordable housing. Lyons tour may be of interest.
• There are two tracks discussing minimum wage review. County may considering 2024 while remainder of region is considering 2025.

 
Councilor Barnes:

• SRAC is meeting with Planning Commission and LOSAC on the Climate Action Plan which includes 60 goals and 4 focus areas.
• Spoke on behalf of the City to the Air Control Quality Commission regarding increasing zero emission vehicles and strengthening emission restrictions.
• Signed on with the CC4CA to encourage TriState Power to use funding support clean energy.

Councilor Briggs:

• Rocky Mountain Airport Round Table hired a consultant to look at noise abatement. Concerned residents can submit a form to report concerns. https://www.jeffco.us/1697/Noise-Complaint-Online-Form#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20been%20affected,at%20303%2D271%2D4874 .
• Would like to have staff provide recommendations for a cemetery recognition as well as a broader strategy to consistently address ongoing issues. How do they all tie in together? Schedule time at an upcoming workshop for discussion.

Councilor Samson:

• Request to purchase up to 7 Arts Hub fundraiser tickets on Sept. 9.
• Asking Councilors to review the City Administrator recruitment brochure draft by Aug. 16. The draft timeline for hiring includes public engagement opportunities in early October.

Councilor Walton:

• Suggested the Nov. 7 (Election Day) meeting be moved to Nov. 6. (Approved 6-0).
• Senior Resource Fair on Sept. 22. 9am-noon. https://www.lafayetteco.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=8098 
• Boulder County Senior Law Day is on Sept. 30 in Longmont.
• Reminder that Meals on Wheels is a resource that serves our community.
• School starts tomorrow. Watch for students.

ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION

Pursuant to Section 24-6-402(4)(a) of the Colorado Revised Statutes for purposes of discussing a potential acquisition of real property for open space west of 95th Street.