City Council Meeting Recap
Feb. 21, 2023

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OPENING OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING

PUBLIC INPUT

RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Pursuant to Sections 24-6-402(4)(b) and 24-6-402(4)(e)(I) of the Colorado Revised Statutes (1) to confer with special legal counsel for the City and the City Attorney for purposes of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions pertaining to contracts for the design and construction of the South Boulder Road Multimodal Improvements Project, and (2) for purposes of determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations; developing strategy for negotiations; and instructing negotiators with respect to such contracts.

RETURN TO REGULAR MEETING

APPROVED 7-0: CONSENT AGENDA

• February 7, 2023, City Council Meeting Minutes
• Motion / Amending the Professional Services Agreement for Water Resources Engineering Services, BBA Water Consultants, Inc.

STAFF INTRODUCTION
Morgan Walton / Finance and Accounting Manager

PRESENTATIONS
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) Update
The 2021 Legacy Lafayette Comprehensive Plan includes new goals for housing, emphasizing the need for a variety of different types of homes including the allowance of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in single-family residential zone districts. The Land Use Code project, now underway, will also consider ways to encourage a broader use of ADUs in Lafayette. Council has expressed interest in expanding the allowance of ADUs separately and sooner than the Land Use Code project would allow.

This presentation shared a proposed scope of work to expand the use of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Lafayette under the existing code. Initial work, including research and community engagement, occurred in 2019. The Land Use Code rewrite is underway and may explore additional changes that could impact ADUs, such as minimum lot coverage, minimum lot size, setbacks, height, and parking requirements. Recommendations from this larger project are anticipated for 2024.

Staff has proposed an engagement window in March and April intended to inform community members about the project in order to provide balanced and objective information and to assist community members to understand the problem and proposed solutions. Staff expects to present the draft regulations to the Planning Commission and City Council this summer.

REGULAR BUSINESS
Mary Miller Naming Discussion
In 2020, a petition circulated by independent community leaders gathered signatures calling for the removal of the Miller name on a new, private housing development. In January 2021, an independent research firm conducted a statistically valid survey of residents to help the City better understand the community’s view on the naming of public facilities, to gauge the public’s awareness of historic figures City facilities are named for, and to provide historical background information on Lafayette’s founder Mary Miller and her descendants in order to assess the community’s perception of these figures.

Following the completion of the statistically survey City Council asked the Human Rights Commission (HRC) for a recommendation on the use of the Mary Miller name on public facilities. Their recommendation included removing “Mary Miller/Miller” name and likeness from commemorative public spaces including the Mary Miller Theater, Miller Avenue in Old Town, the images of Mary on the mural on the south-side of the Library, the display of Mary Miller’s name on the roundabout at South Public Road. Three resident volunteer commissions, the Library Board, Lafayette Cultural Arts Commission (LCAC), and the Public Art Committee (PAC), were also asked to consider the recommendations as they relate to two pieces of public art.

Based on the stakeholder feedback and prior City Council discussions, the following direction was established. Full survey results and other background materials contributing to this discussion may be found in the full City Council packet: lafayetteco.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6586 

• Approved 5-2: To rename the Mary Miller Theater
• Approved 5-2: No changes to the ‘Townswoman’ art piece at the roundabout on S. Public Rd
• Approved 5-2: No changes to the Historic Mary Miller Mural at the Library but requested historical context be added
• Approved 5-2: No changes to the Miller Avenue name

COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
APPROVED 6-0: Reappointment of Elizabeth Lichtenstein and Denice Walker as regular members of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) for a three-year term. 

STAFF REPORTS
City Administrator’s Report: Will set up a meeting with the Town of Superior for a potential meeting sometime after May.

COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Mangat: Peak to Peak High School is looking for After Prom support. (Council approved using Council contingency funds of $1,000 for each high school). The March 7 meeting falls on Purim. Council  agreed to keep the meeting on the 7^th and recognize the holiday in some way. 

Councilor Barnes: The Connection Newsletter will outline upcoming changes for the compost program as does the website lafayetteco.gov/Compost. 

Councilor Walton: DRCOG TIP funding has expanded to 4 calls. Recommendation are being prepared for a Board vote. Bimonthly meeting with DRCOG subregions will begin.

Mayor Pro Tem Wong: Went to Washington DC as part of the transportation caucus. Other communities gave Lafayette commendations on our affordable housing efforts. 

ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes section 24-6-402(4)(f)(I) to discuss personnel matters pertaining to the City Administrator’s performance evaluation