City Council Meeting Recap

Sept. 23, 2021

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

PUBLIC INPUT
 
INTRODUCTIONS
Presentation and Introduction of Police Department Employees
The Police Department introduced one recent promotion, Commander John Sellers, and eight new staff members hired in 2020. All officers hired in 2020 replaced positions in the department that were created by vacancies. The new hires successfully completed field training and achieved solo status in the patrol and animal control divisions and include Officers Jaime Crownover, Allison Rutt, James Bacon, Arvelle Higginbotham, Callie Piper, Jonathan Kidd, Amanda Gonzalez, and Andreas Reimann
 
ADJOURN TO THE LAFAYETTE LIQUOR LICENSING AUTHORITY
Approved 6-0: Hearing / Resolution No. 2021-65 / Approval of a Transfer for a Hotel and Restaurant Liquor License from DJ Restaurant Group LLC d/b/a Reelfish to Asevedo Group LLC d/b/a Reelfish Fish and Chips / 2770 Arapahoe Road, Suite 112
 
RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION
 
PRESENTATIONS
Medtronic and the City of Lafayette Public Art Partnership
Medtronic, a global leader in medical technology, is constructing a new 42-acre campus at the corner of Northwest Parkway and Highway 287 in Lafayette. As per the City’s municipal code and based on their project, a minimum of $30,000 is required to be dedicated to public art. Understanding this is a southern gateway into the City, Medtronic has chosen to increase their Public Art commitment to $150,000, well above the minimum requirement. In response, the City of Lafayette will be matching their commitment for a total Public Art Budget of $300,000. Staff presented an overview of the public art selection process. Council will review the final selected art piece in first quarter 2022.
 
Project Hopscotch Activation in Old Town Lafayette
From September 15 to October 15, Old Town Lafayette will be featuring a new outdoor public art activation called Project Hopscotch. Local artists designed 10 unique and artistic hopscotch courses which have been installed on adhesive vinyl clings along Public Road and Simpson Street. The courses feature a unique QR code, and for every scan, the Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority will donate $1 towards a scholarship fund, up to $2,000, that benefits a local art student. Download a map of the courses at www.hopscotchlafayette.com.
 
LAND USE MATTERS
Approved 6-0: Resolution No. 2021-63 / Lot 1, Block 1, MDT-Ryan Office Campus Subdivision Filing No. 1 / Site Plan and Architectural Amendment
Ryan Lafayette, LLC, (aka Medtronic Office Campus), is requesting to add two stories above the one-story connector building for Phase 1. The addition would add another 18,000 square feet to the building area, providing space for a Customer Experience and Innovation Center, but would not change the footprint of the building. This change requires an amendment to the approved Site/Architectural Plans. On August 25, 2021, the Planning Commission reviewed the request and recommended approval of the Site Plan and Architectural Amendment, finding the amendment complies with the criteria of Section 26-16-7.1 of the Lafayette Development and Zoning Code.
 
2022 BUDGET ITEMS – Public Hearing  
 Approved 7-0: Public Hearing / Resolution No. 2021-67 / Adopting the 2022 Budget and Establishing the Mill Levy
Approved 7-0: First Reading / Ordinance No. 19, Series 2021 / 2022 Budget Appropriation
The 2022 Recommended Budget is $130,054,411 and represents an anticipated 2022 debt issuance in the Water Fund for $30 million and several one-time expenses in the Capital Projects Fund for multi-modal projects. These large, one-time expenses make comparing annual budgets challenging, as these projects require the budget be appropriated in the first year even if the project spans multiple years. The ongoing budget, a better reflection of economic circumstances, includes modest increases.
 
Staff has continued to focus on balancing ongoing expenses with ongoing revenues; shifting from disaggregated requests to long-term, strategic plans and goals; aligning organizational structure with dedicated resources; investing in professional studies that support future rate changes; and implementing/formalizing best practices throughout the City. This work continues and will require difficult decisions and trade-offs in the coming years to maintain financial stability including the structure and cost of the City’s water utility system, use of the City’s ARPA allocation, and implementation of recommendations stemming from multiple strategic plans, to name a few. The proposed budget is available for public consumption at www.lafayetteco.gov/Budget
 
REGULAR BUSINESS
Approved 7-0: First Reading / Ordinance No. 20, Series 2021 / Water Reclamation Facility Bond Parameters
Due to additional regulations set forth by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the City must upgrade its Water Reclamation Facility to reduce discharges of total inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous to Coal Creek. The project cost estimate is $46,435,000 and the project is expected to be completed by December 2023. To complete the project, the City requests issuance of a corresponding debt. The proposed Bond will allow the City to issue the debt in mid-November. The maximum amount of debt that can be issued is $46,500,000; the maximum allowable interest rate is set at 4.00%; the maximum repayment period is 30 years, ending December 1, 2051.
 
CONSENT AGENDA - Approved 7-0:
 
COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilor Barnes

• The library is hiring four positions. View them at www.lafayetteco.gov/Jobs
• Oct. 10 is Indigenous Peoples Day. The Library will host an event called Sons of the Red Sun with a gathering of stories and songs at 2:30.
• Electric Vehicle Showcase is Sept. 24 from 3-6pm:  https://www.lafayetteco.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=8799

• The Lafayette Youth Advisory will hold a virtual Council Candidate Forum on Oct. 6 at 6:30pm. Details at https://www.lafayetteco.gov/424/Elections
• BVSD is facing a substitute crisis. The State has adjusted requirements interested high school graduates can now apply on the Colorado Dept. of Education website.

• Attended the housing summit hosted by Congressman Neguse, Migratory Bird Day, and Bike to Work breakfast station.
• Reminded Council to provide input on the housing study and residential waste collection 
• DRCOG hosting robust conversations regarding greenhouse gas emissions rulemaking. Will likely vote in favor of this initiative.

ADJOURN