City Council Meeting Recap

November 1, 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
Human Resources Director Sarab Khalsa
The City initiated a national recruitment process for a human resources director, and after several rounds of interviews by executive leadership, the Human Resources team, and an employee panel, Sarab Khalsa was hired in October. Mr. Khalsa previously held the position of Human Resources Manager for the City of Burbank, CA. Updating the City’s compensation philosophy, evaluating performance evaluations, integrating the City’s new employee values into recognition programs, and creating standard policies within and throughout the organization are among important initiatives that he will address.
 
City Engineer Bryan McIlwee
After an extensive national recruitment and interview process, Bryan McIlwee has been selected as the City Engineer and began work on Oct. 11. Bryan most recently served as the Director of Engineering for the Town of Bluffton, SC and previously served as the Assistant Town Engineer/Stormwater Manager for the Town of Hilton Head Island, SC. The City Engineer is responsible for a broad variety of duties related to the City’s transportation, water distribution, wastewater collection, and stormwater collection systems.
 
PRESENTATIONS
City Hall Remodel Update
In May 2020, the City purchased a vacant 1.99 acre parcel from Boulder County fronting Public Road intended for a future municipal project. Conceptual design plans were paused due to the unstable construction market and continuing challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff have shifted to seeking modest improvements to the current City Hall; an opportunity that arose when the Chamber of Commerce relocated to the new facility in Old Town. While the ultimate goal is to relocate City Hall in the next 3-5 years, the current opportunity allows staff to address some of the initial findings from a 2019 study which indicated there was design, customer service, and security issues.
 
Winter Mobility Plan
This presentation serves as an annual update regarding the City’s Winter Mobility Plan. The Winter Mobility Plan was developed in 2020 and is intended to coordinate cross-departmental and interagency efforts to support community mobility and public safety during and after winter storm events. A copy of the 2020-2021 plan is available at www.lafayetteco.gov/Snow. The 2021-2022 plan will be published on the City website later this month.
 
LAND USE ITEMS
Items Pertaining to Ziggi’s Coffee, Lot 5C SOLA Filing No. 1 Replat C – Public Hearing Noticed in the Daily Camera on September 30, 2021
Ziggi’s Coffee is requesting approval for an 1,832 square foot, one-story drive-thru restaurant with indoor seating at 2396 Balmstone Drive. The 0.73-acre site is located northeast of US Highway 287 and Exempla Circle, just north of Dairy Queen. The Planning Commission reviewed the applications on October 13, 2021, and unanimously recommended approval with no conditions.
Approved 7-0: Public Hearing / Resolution No. 2021-79 / Lot 5C SOLA Filing No. 1 Replat C / Special Use Review for Drive-Through Use
Approved 7-0: Resolution No. 2021-80 / Lot 5C SOLA Filing No. 1 Replat C / Site Plan and Architectural
 
REGULAR BUSINESS
Approved 7-0: Second Reading / Ordinance No. 21, Series 2021 / Amending Chapter 26 of the Lafayette Code Regarding Land Use Regulations Pertaining to Oil and Gas Development, Facilities, and Operations
As outlined in first reading on Oct. 19, this ordinance repeals and replaces the City’s existing oil and gas land use regulations based upon enabling legislation (SB 19-181) and rulemaking at the state level that provides local jurisdictions with greater authority to regulate the location, surface impacts, and external effects of new and existing oil and gas facilities. Both the Planning Commission and staff recommend approval, and City Council approved the ordinance 5-1 on first reading.
 
Budget Supplemental
Approved 7-0: First Reading / Ordinance No. 23, Series 2021 / 2021 Budget Supplemental
Each year at least two supplemental appropriation ordinances are presented to City Council for review and approval. Adjustments to the budget are a necessary part of governmental business as Colorado law requires an annual budget appropriation by December 31 each year, but government business necessarily continues year-round. This ordinance provides authorization for the City to modify portions of its 2021 Budget based on changes that have occurred since the 2021 Budget was approved in fall 2020. The requested 2021 additional expenditures total $50,823,982, which includes just under $47 million of bond proceeds in the Water Reclamation Fund. In addition to the expenditures, there are also revenue increases totaling $53,450,567 for 2021. In addition, staff requests to increase the Lafayette Corporate Campus GID 2021 Budget in the amounts of $240,000 in expenditures, and $241,150 in revenue. 
 
Lafayette Corporate Campus General Improvement District Budget Supplemental
Approved 7-0: Resolution No. 2021-02 / 2021 Budget Supplemental
 
Approved 7-0: Resolution No. 2021-83 / Memorandum of Understanding / Opioid Settlement
A nationwide litigation against various pharmaceutical companies for their role in causing an opioid epidemic in Colorado has been filed. The City Attorney’s Office received a request to execute and return the Colorado Opioids Settlement Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and related supporting documents before a deadline of November 5, 2021, in order to ensure that the State of Colorado, the City of Lafayette, and other Colorado local governments receive the maximum possible proceeds from a settlement.
 
CONSENT AGENDA Approved 7-0

• Approval of the October 19, 2021, City Council Meeting Minutes
• Approval of the October 25, 2021, City Council Workshop Summary
• Approval of the October 5, 2021, Lafayette Tech Center, Lafayette Corporate Campus, Lafayette City Center, and Exempla General Improvement District Meeting Minutes
• Second Reading / Ordinance No. 22, Series 2021 / Amending Ordinance No. 5, Series 2021 Authorizing the Acquisition by Eminent Domain of Certain Real Property Interests Necessary to Construct, Operate and Maintain Public Improvements Required for the State Highway 7/119th Street Intersection Improvements Project

COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
Approved 7-0: Appointment to the Waste Reduction Advisory Committee
Recommendation to appoint Rose Briggs as a regular member of the Lafayette Waste Reduction Advisory Committee. 
 
COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Harkins

• Metro Mayors Caucus is meeting with local health directors this week.
• Encourages everyone to get a booster. Parents can pre-register children aged 5-11 on the state’s website for a vaccination.
  
  

Councilor Barnes

• The significant reduction in commuter traffic due to COVID has not resulted in a significant reduction in greenhouse gasses, which means other areas need to be explored in addition to car trips.
• Lafayette Cultural Arts Committee met with the Human Rights Commission regarding the Miller naming project and will be considering their recommendation.
  
  

Councilor Behanna

• Nov. 19 craft fair 10-3 at the Senior Center and a Thanksgiving luncheon from 12-1
• Sign up for Snow Angels if you anticipate needing help
• Energy Sustainability Advisory Committee (LESAC) applications are being accepted through Dec. 1 for an open position.
• LESAC will hear a presentation at their next meeting from G0EV regarding the state goal of 1million EV vehicles on by 2030.
• Confluence Coworking just became a fully vaccinated facility.
  
  

Councilor Mangat

• Vote! Tomorrow is election day. Turn your ballots by 7pm. It’s too late to mail, drop them at a drop box or in person location.

Mayor Pro Tem Walton

• Shared a presentation given by DRCOG staff on regional transportation during COVID and an update on Hwy 7 plans. 

Councilor Wong

• Human Rights Commission is meeting in November for their 2022 plan and hosting a December retreat.
• Centaurus High School won 3^rd place in the state 4A band competition.