Lafayette City Council Meeting – May 6, 2025

The Lafayette City Council met on May 6, 2025, beginning at 5:30 PM and adjourning to executive session at 7:14 PM. The meeting included a consent agenda, four proclamations, a first reading of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance, a parking modification request, staff and council reports, and two executive sessions. All votes on the consent agenda, proclamations, and regular business items passed unanimously.

Consent Calendar

• Council unanimously approved the consent agenda containing items A through J. These included: April 15, 2025 City Council meeting minutes; April 22, 2025 workshop summary; first reading of Ordinance No. 09 (2024 Model Traffic Code); second reading of Ordinance No. 07 (lease with Lafayette History Museum); second reading of Ordinance No. 08 (additional appropriations and carryforwards); Resolution No. 2025-23 (fire apparatus purchase contract limit); Resolution No. 2025-24 (Youth Corps intergovernmental agreement); Resolution No. 2025-25 (third amendment to regional grant management agreement); Resolution No. 2025-27 (deadline extension for Vista Business Park site plan); and Change Order No. 5 with Otak, Inc. (South Boulder Road Multimodal Improvement Project).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ron Spalding (1326 W. Lost Ave., Lafayette) expressed full support for approving the parking modification request for the Community Supper Club. He also suggested elevating National Police Week to a month-long recognition, noting that the city had issued nine monthly proclamations in the past year including Black History Month, Radon Action Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Plastic Free Month, and LGBTQ+ Pride Month. He asked the council to consider recognizing the Lafayette Police Department with a full month in the future.
• Karen Benker (1919 Andrew Alden St., Longmont), the new RTD director for the district, provided an update. She noted that she met with city staff Katie and Jeff Arthur in February to discuss transit mobility needs and the Colorado 7 BRT project. She stated that no final decisions have been made on Colorado 7, and she hopes RTD will provide the service rather than CDOT. She also mentioned that the September board run may restore three round trips of the LX bus. She reported that Lafayette taxpayers have paid $25 million toward the Northwest Rail project over the past 20 years without receiving service, and the RTD board is tentatively scheduled to vote on the first intergovernmental agreement for rail on May 28th. She encouraged the council to attend or send communications to support the rail project. She also noted that the partnership program for RTD local service grants is open until May 14th.
• Scott Griebling (965 Mallory St., Lafayette) spoke in favor of the proposed ADU ordinance but urged the council to adopt more aggressive measures now rather than waiting for the land use code update. He supported the recommendations from a letter by four local architects (including former planning commissioner Eric Ellis) for broader ADU flexibility.

Proclamations

• Item K – Lung Cancer Action Week (May 5-11, 2025): Councilor Tapia Vega read the proclamation. Nick Torres, Advocacy Director of the American Lung Association in Colorado and a Lafayette resident, spoke about the importance of lung cancer screening, noting that Colorado’s screening rates are among the lowest in the country. The proclamation passed unanimously.
• Item L – National Police Week (May 11-17, 2025): Councilor Gallegos read the proclamation honoring the 51 sworn members of the Lafayette Police Department. Mayor Pro Tem Wong thanked Chief Bash and encouraged ride-alongs. Passed unanimously.
• Item M – Older Americans Month (May 2025): Councilor Barnes read the proclamation with the theme “Flip the Script on Aging.” Council noted the work of the Senior Advisory Board. Passed unanimously.
• Item N – Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May 2025): Mayor Pro Tem Wong read the proclamation. Councilor Barnes recognized 15 elected officials in Colorado from the AANHPI community and shared a story about physicist Chien-Shiung Wu. Passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Item O – First Reading of Ordinance No. 10, Series 2025 (ADU Regulations): Planning Director Phil Kleiser presented. The proposed ordinance makes three main changes: (1) expand ADU allowance to the Agricultural, Public, and Developing Resource zones; (2) remove the one off-street parking requirement for ADUs, relying instead on existing site and street parking unless no parking exists; (3) remove subjective design language for attached/interior ADUs. Since 2023, 10 ADU permits were processed, with only three outside Old Town. The Planning Commission recommended approval on April 23. Staff recommended approval to align with a state funding program. Public comment included Scott Griebling urging bolder action. Council discussed the letter from four architects proposing additional changes (e.g., larger accessible ADUs, height increases). Some councilors favored passing the ordinance now and addressing larger changes in the land use code update; others wanted to postpone. The council voted to approve the first reading unanimously, with direction to staff to consider the architect recommendations through the code update process.
• Item P – Resolution No. 2025-26 (Parking Modification for Community Supper Club, 206 S. Public Road): Building Director Steven Williams presented. The applicant, Scott Skiba (operations partner), requested a parking modification to waive additional parking needed for a 260 sq. ft. patio enclosure and to update an off-site parking agreement with the neighbor to the north. Currently, the restaurant provides 2 on-site spaces and leases 5 off-site spaces (7 total) where 20 would be required under code. Staff recommended approval, noting no increase in guest capacity or peak parking demand. Council asked about the tenuousness of the off-site lease, but the applicant explained efforts to secure parking and the constraints of the historic building. Council unanimously approved the resolution.

Staff Reports

• City Attorney’s Report: No report.
• City Manager’s Report: City Manager announced a successful relaunch of the Farmers Market on Sunday with professional barricades; demolition at the 701 Pocket Park beginning this week after Xcel sign-off; Art Night Out beginning May 9; a direct link to the council work plan on the website; a bond exploration meeting on May 15; and the internal promotion of Melissa Heisel as the first Community Services Director, with 20+ years of service (14 in Lafayette). Upcoming meetings: May 20 (land use code update, annexation hearing for Gateway/Cairo, PUD amendment for King Supers/Vasa Fitness, mid-year appointments); May 27 (capital bond polling results, board code updates, and term limit discussion).

Council Reports

• Councilor Tapia Vega: Praised the Farmers Market and Art Night Out; expressed excitement for the end of the state legislative session.
• Councilor Barnes: Provided updates on the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) – workshops planned for the next few months; the Senior Advisory Board touring other senior centers; Farmers Market feedback (large crowds, need for better bike parking near East Simpson and Jack’s Ranch).
• Mayor Pro Tem Wong: Endorsed HB 25-1315 (vacancy bill); noted upcoming Dr. COG and Northwest Mayors’ meetings; praised the Farmers Market.
• Councilor Fridland: Open Space Board discussed capital projects; Sustainability Resiliency Board meeting this Thursday.
• Councilor Gallegos: Wished teachers and graduates well.
• Mayor Mangat: Noted receipt of a sister city interest letter from Equayitos, Peru, and will work with the city attorney to draft a response; awaiting response from a community in El Salvador; emphasized need for a stable nonprofit partner.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• Four proclamations approved unanimously.
• Ordinance No. 10 (ADU regulations) passed on first reading unanimously; second reading scheduled for June 3, 2025. Council directed staff to consider additional flexibility recommendations via the land use code update.
• Resolution No. 2025-26 (parking modification for Community Supper Club) approved unanimously.
• Council adjourned to two executive sessions at 7:14 PM: (1) to discuss potential sale of city-owned property in West Ridge Filing No. 1 and (2) to receive legal advice and discuss negotiations regarding the South Boulder Road Multimodal Improvements Project contract. Both motions passed unanimously.