City Council Meeting Recap
March 21, 2023

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

OPENING OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING

PUBLIC INPUT

CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED 6-0 

• March 7, 2023, City Council Meeting Minutes
• Removal of Appointed Member of Lafayette Human Rights Commission
• Items Pertaining to the Senior Center HVAC Upgrade
  •  Contract / Nielsen Mechanical
  • Funding Agreement / Boulder County Area Agency on Aging
• Purchase Orders and Amendments

PRESENTATIONS
Co-Responder Program
The Lafayette Police Department’s Co-Responder Program, administered in partnership with Boulder County Department of Health, is a service program supported by the Lafayette community as demonstrated by the passing of the 2021 Public Safety Ballot Initiative which provides funding to increase co-response efforts within the City.

The co-responder program works by Lafayette police officers requesting a behavioral health specialist (co-responder clinician), when available, to respond with officers to calls for service that may involve mental health issues, substance use/addiction issues, death of a loved one, or another type of crisis. Once on scene, the team works to not only de-escalate the situation, but also to provide behavioral health screening and assessment and referral or linkage to needed services. As of March 2023, Lafayette has three co-responders nested within the Lafayette Police Department. The annual total calls for service and clinical case management referrals have almost doubled from 186 in 2021, to 335 in 2022. Please watch the Co-Responder Program Video available in English or Spanish.

Discussion of Potential Community Survey
Statistically valid surveys assist municipalities and elected officials to measure the diverse opinions of a broad range of residents by collecting data to compare past benchmarks, gauging satisfaction levels, and better understanding the community’s vision for the future. This information helps cities to improve service delivery and provides guidance for strategic decision-making and budget prioritization. 

Council provided guidance to conduct a statistically valid 2023 Resident Survey. The 2021 Resident Survey results can be found at lafayetteco.gov/ResidentSurvey

REGULAR BUSINESS
APPROVED 5-0: First Reading / Ordinance No. 04, Series 2023 / Budget Carryforward and Supplemental 
Each fiscal year, multiple budget appropriation ordinances are presented to City Council for review and approval. Budget adjustments are a necessary part of governmental business as Colorado law requires that annual budget appropriation end on December 31 of each year, but government business activity continues year-round. Colorado law also requires that municipalities maintain balanced budgets whereby expenditures do not exceed a combination of revenues and/or use of fund balance as reflected in approved budgets.

This Ordinance is being presented before Council to amend the 2023 Budget by carrying forward budgets for certain one-time operating and capital projects and initiatives, along with related encumbrances, from the 2022 Budget that were not completed by year-end. The Ordinance also provides authorization for the City to modify portions of its 2023 Budget based on changes that have occurred since the Budget was adopted. 

NO ACTION TAKEN: First Reading / Ordinance No. 03, Series 2023 / Amending Chapter 25 of the Lafayette Code of Ordinances Regarding the Sale of Dogs and Cats
City Council directed the City Attorney’s office to draft an ordinance prohibiting the sale of dogs and cats in the City of Lafayette. After two alternative draft ordinances were presented to City Council on March 7 for consideration and discussion, Council requested an ordinance prohibiting all sales of dogs and cats and other animals under inhumane conditions, with exceptions for the sale or adoption of household pets by animal shelters and animal rescues.

After further deliberation and consideration from community input, Council asked staff to provide additional options and alternatives to consider and discuss at a future work session.

APPROVED 6-0: Resolution No. 2023-17 / Miner’s Crossing Filing No. 5, Lot 2 / Site Plan and Architectural Amendment
This is a request for approval of a one-story, 2,175 square foot building addition on the east side of an existing 40,949 square foot commercial building at 1380 S. Public Rd currently being remodeled for an indoor amusement business called Bounce Empire. The addition would contain a delivery area, storage space and offices. At the February 22, 2023, meeting, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the site plan amendment with no conditions.

Items Pertaining to Lafayette Tech Center Filing No. 3, Replat M
The City has received a minor subdivision application to combine three lots into one approximately 2.5-acre lot in the Lafayette Tech Center. Concurrently with this application, the property owner has submitted a site plan and architectural review application to develop the lot as a 4,680 square foot daycare and children’s learning center facility with associated offices. The site is currently vacant and located west of the intersection of Cherokee Trail and Old Laramie Trail.

Minor subdivisions are typically approved administratively; however, given the application contains easements to be dedicated to the City, the plat must be approved by City Council. The plat and minor subdivision application meet the requirements of the municipal code; therefore, staff is recommending the approval of the plat.

APPROVED 6-0: Resolution No. 2023-18 / Minor Subdivision
APPROVED 6-0: Resolution No. 2023-19 / Site Plan and Architectural Review

COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
APPROVED 6-0: Appointments to the Library Board
Council motioned to reappoint Susan Curtis and Dave Belin as regular members of the Library Board for three-year terms ending March 2026, and April 2026, respectively.

APPROVED 6-0: Appointments to the Human Rights Commission
Council motion to appoint Dulce Carter as a regular member to complete a three-year term ending August 2025 of a recently vacated seat, and Jack Hanley as an alternate member to the Human Rights Commission.

STAFF REPORTS
City Administrator’s Report: Reminder that March 25 is the Chat with Council event at Liquid Mechanics from noon to 1:30pm. The Chamber’s Annual Dinner is on March 30. The March 27 workshop will include a Utility Rate Study presentation and an Organizational Capacity and Workplan discussion.

COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilor Barnes: The Environmental Sustainability and Resilience Advisory Committee selected a representative for the Land Use Code working group and is developing a Sustainability Report. A reminder of the compost changes coming April 1 and the Earth Month events. Received requests to commit to the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge and to participate in the National Day of Conversation.

Councilor Briggs: Tunes and Tales at Outdoor Classroom May 31, 6:30-8pm

Councilor Samson: The State is now requiring labeling notices on disposable wipes advising consumers not to flush them. A statewide land use bill is scheduled to be announced on March 22. 

Councilor Walton: The City will need to take a position on Proposition 123. 

ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Pursuant to Section 24-6-402(4)(b) of the Colorado Revised Statutes 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