City Council Meeting Recap

June 21, 2022

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

OPENING OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING
 
PUBLIC INPUT

APPROVED 7-0: CONSENT AGENDA

• June 7, 2022 City Council Meeting Minutes
• Resolution No. 2022-34 / Authorizing Assignment to the Boulder County Housing
• Authority of the City’s 2022 Private Activity Bond Allocation
• Resolution No. 2022-35 / Restatement of Governmental Money Purchase Plan (Mission Square)
• Contract / Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. / Utility Rate and Fee Study

 
PROCLAMATIONS
Lafayette Lions Club / Centennial Celebration / June 25, 2022
The Lafayette Lions Club celebrated its centennial anniversary last year but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, postponed its event until June 25, 2022. This proclamation
acknowledges the contribution the Lions Club has made to the community and encourages the community to celebrate with the Lions Club on June 25.
 
Plastic Free July
During the June 2, 2022, Lafayette’s Waste Reduction Advisory Committee meeting, committee members requested that City Council issue a proclamation recognizing July 2022 as Plastic Free July. This proclamation is a reminder that the City is committed to prioritizing waste reduction and encouraging residents to actively reduce plastic waste in their daily lives.
 
 
REGULAR BUSINESS
 
Approved 7-0: Hearing / Resolution No. 2022-36 / Lot 1 Vista Business Park / Site Plan and Architectural Review
Majestic Drive, LLC is requesting approval for a new 18,531 sq. ft., two-story light industrial / flex building at 1737 Majestic Dr. in the Vista Business Park. The Planning Commission reviewed the application on May 25, 2022, and unanimously recommended approval with three conditions.
 
Items Pertaining to Firearm Regulations
The purpose of these agenda items is to address the regulation of firearms following the Colorado General Assembly’s passage of Senate Bill 21-256, which partially removed state preemption of local firearms regulations. Ordinance Nos. 20, 21, 22, and 23 will enact new firearms regulations in the Lafayette Code of Ordinances in the following ways:

• Prohibiting possession of unfinished frames and receivers and unserialized firearms (a/k/a “ghost guns”);
• Requiring firearms dealers to post signage at points-of-sale warning of the risks of having a firearm in the home;
• Prohibiting open carrying of firearms in public places throughout the City; and
• Prohibiting the open or concealed carrying of firearms on public property.

These ordinances are intended to expand Lafayette’s ability to prevent gun violence within
the community.

• Approved 7-0: Second Reading / Ordinance No. 20, Series 2022 / Amending Chapter 75, Article IX, of the Lafayette Code of Ordinances to Regulate the Possession of Unfinished Frames and Receivers and Unserialized Firearms, As Amended
• Approved 7-0: Second Reading / Ordinance No. 21, Series 2022 / Amending Chapter 75, Article IX, of the Lafayette Code of Ordinances to Require All Firearm Dealers to Post Signs at All Locations Where Firearm Transfers Take Place
• Approved 7-0 amended to replace “motor vehicle” with “private motor vehicle” in section 75-262.5(b)(5) and to replace section 75-262.5(b)(6) with “The carrying of an unloaded firearm in a locked or enclosed case. A holster satisfies the requirement of a carrying case for a handgun.” Second Reading / Ordinance No. 22, Series 2022 / Amending Chapter 75, Article IX, of the Lafayette Code of Ordinances to Prohibit the Open Carrying of Firearms in Public Places
• Approved 5-2 amended to replace “motor vehicle” with “private motor vehicle” in section 75-263.5(d)(5). Second Reading / Ordinance No 23, Series 2022 / Amending Chapter 75, Article IX, of the Lafayette Code of Ordinances to Prohibit the Carrying of Firearms on City Property

 
Approved 7-0 with an amendment to Section 4 of the ordinance to replace subsection (j) of proposed Section 120-13 with the following language: (j) Any consumer or other person issued an administrative citation for violating any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to the procedures and penalties in Chapter 7 (Administrative Citations) of the code for such citation, provided, however, that, notwithstanding the penalty amounts prescribed in Section 7-12(a) of the code, the administrative penalty for violations of this section shall not exceed the following amounts regardless of the number of violations per citation: (1) First administrative citation: $50; (2) Second administrative citation: $100; and (3) Third or subsequent administrative citation(s): $150. Second Reading / Ordinance No. 19, Series 2022 / Amending Chapter 7, “Administrative Citations,” and 120, “Water,” of the Code of Ordinances Pertaining to Watering Restrictions and Enforcement
The City’s water supply for domestic use, outdoor irrigation, and fire protection relies on snow accumulating in the mountains during winter months and running off to fill reservoirs in the spring. The amount of water available for the City’s use varies from year to year. Available water supply is currently projected to be insufficient to meet unconstrained demands due to below average snowpack, hot/dry weather, and loss of soil moisture due to persistent high winds. Water demand has also exceeded projections, with the peak summer irrigation season commencing approximately one month sooner than normal.
 
On June 7, City Council approved Resolution No. 2022-32, limiting outdoor watering, as an initial measure to curtail demand, and Ordinance No. 19, Series 2022 on first reading with direction to staff to bring an alternative fine schedule for administrative citation fines specific to violations of watering restrictions. Staff recommends the following amendment to Section 4 of Ordinance No. 19, Series 2022, specifically, to replace subsection (j) of proposed section 120-13 in the ordinance, which would implement a separate administrative citation fine schedule for violations of the watering restrictions in Section 120-13 of the Code, as follows:
 
(j) Any consumer or other person issued an administrative citation for violating any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to the procedures and penalties in chapter 7 (Administrative Citations) of the code for such citation, provided, however, that, notwithstanding the penalty amounts prescribed in section 7-12(a) of the code, the administrative penalty for violations of this section shall not exceed the following amounts regardless of the number of violations per citation:

(1) First administrative citation: $50.00
(2) Second administrative citation: $100.00
(3) Third or subsequent administrative citation(s): $150.00

 
Alternatively, City Council could choose to pass the ordinance on second reading with no changes. In that case, the administrative penalty amounts in section 7-12 of the Code (i.e., fines not to exceed $50, $200, or $500 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd or subsequent citations) would apply to administrative citations issued for violations of section 120-13.

COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Mangat

• Councilor Barnes and the Mayor had a discussion with House Representative Tracey Barnett to provide better understanding of Lafayette's needs and how the state can provide information that allows local government to be more active; discussed climate crisis; and to be more active in the next legislation on gun safety.

Councilor Barnes

• Thanked Director Jeff Arthur for replying to a resident about the smart meter program and implementing a procedure to reduce water waste.
• Expressed a Happy Juneteenth to everyone.
• Discussed gun safety ordinances in protecting our community and delivering the best services possible for our community.

Councilor Briggs

• Explore an option for PDFs, such as our agenda packets, and website forms to be available for translation. Our website provides a button to translate into different languages, but this does not include PDFs.

Councilor Medrano

• No report.

Councilor Samson

• Thanked residents for bringing items to Council. Council listens to residents’ concerns, and it also helps educate everyone. In addition, it allows Council to get involved in, such as sustainability measures in composting and water monitoring system.
• Reviewed recent bill protecting mobile home residents and mobile home homeowners and other bills impacting affordable housing.

Councilor Walton

• Bike to Work Day is tomorrow, June 22, and the City is hosting a breakfast station near the Library from 6:30-9am.
• Denver Regional Council of Governments meeting with an early discussion to create an Economic Development District supporting regional efforts that would serve our City with possibly federal grant money in economic development.

Mayor Pro Tem Wong

• Appreciated tonight’s dialogue with Council and robust conversation.   

 
ADJOURNMENT