City Council Meeting Summary of December 2, 2025

So we're directing everyone to the YouTube channel.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I will call to for the city council meeting for December second, twenty twenty-five, and we will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Pass it over to Clerk Back, and we will get you on the list.

Uh, please state your name and address before you do so.

You will also have the opportunity to call in as well.

Uh, tonight we will begin with Roy Johnson.

Hello.

My name is Roy Johnson, 2547 Streetwater Circle.

I agree with the mayor on this one.

I feel like it's personal.

The last city council meeting, city council spoke of the planning commission appointments.

There were two applicants for two openings.

There was general agreement that both applicants were highly qualified, both have experience on the commission.

Mr.

Watson was approved and appointed Mr.

Wong was not.

Two of the three councillors, counselors interviewing the candidates that both candidates were qualified and interviewed well.

Councilor Friedland said that Mr.

Wong is certainly qualified and had a great interview before he subsequently voted against Mr.

Wong.

Councilor Gai just spoke highly of Mr.

Wong.

Counselor Sampson spoke concerning public perception.

She spoke of a quid pro quote.

She said she believed that two of the council candidates that ran received a donation from Mr.

Wong.

She asserted that there was a conflict of interest for them to vote on this.

She continued in said voting.

One of the things I would say, because conflict of interest is basically you get something for something else.

Even though there is a quit pro quote that happens beforehand, we don't know.

Doesn't have to be said.

It's one of those things we're trying to be above board and we're trying to be remove all conflict.

I'm not an attorney, but I'm aware that giving money to a public official in exchange for a vote is quit pro code by definition.

Um for both the giver and receiver.

I certainly hope and believe that counselor Sampson was not alleging this crime, and I hope it was her intent to address possible negative public perception only and not to create such.

Councilor Gaikus are ticketed, articulated along a detailed list of marketing efforts made by the city.

Two openings to highly qualified people.

The mayor asked Councillor Freeland what his ideal candidate would look like.

He replied with several qualities, including somebody that maybe brings a new perspective that we haven't had on the planning commission before.

I think it's notable that when Councillor Freeland voted to approve Mr.

Watson's appointment.

This last desired attribute of not being a commission before did not come up.

But interestingly, it came up during the time of Mr.

Wong's discussion.

Should there be different standards for different applicants?

Speaking of Mr.

Wong and saying the application period, the mayor said, I feel like we have an ideal candidate already.

We want to have more candidates.

We if we do want to expand the case, we're in hopes of doing what?

Like in hopes to get an excellent qualifying candidate.

We already have that.

He continued, I feel it's personal.

I feel like there's folks that do not want to see a specific person.

Whether that person, whether that be because you're a city council or for other reasons.

No, and for me, so that's how I feel.

So I agree with the mayor.

It appears to be personal.

The state arguments present appointment uh against appointing Mr.

Wong are invalid arguments repudiated by logic and facts.

Perhaps it is sometimes human nature to have a predetermined decision or position and then to seek rationalization to support it.

I don't know if the councillor is opposing Mr.

Wong's appointments.

I don't know the counselor very well, and I haven't worked closely with him over the last two years, in public and private, but the mayor has.

I think it would be incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to find an advocate more qualified than Mr.

Wong.

And I hope that there will be sufficient public scrutiny and interest to motivate the newly seated council to do so.

My time is up.

Thank you for setting that example.

Thank you.

Next up, we have Frank Archelletta.

Thank you, Council.

I appreciate all the opportunities you have given me through all the years here.

And staff here.

I'm trying to explain the cemetery, what happened here.

Three years ago, I went to talk to Monty Stevenson for the Potter Still area where Henning had 100 plots down there.

He could bury four people in a plot, in which they did.

Not only that, what happened was they were digging up these babies there.

I went to the Human Right Commission, they wrote a letter.

The council, I gave you the letter, it went to Monty Stevenson to close that down, that area.

Evidently, it wasn't shut down.

So now we're at the point right now where you come in with the underground radar survey for the rest of the cemetery.

I want to explain something to you all.

For 60 years, I have known gravediggers and clerks, and if there was overlapping, all they did was put a board there and they moved over a little bit.

But spend 83,000 to survey the entire cemetery now.

Well, that's up to you all.

You want to spend that money, evidently that's where you're going.

But it wasn't necessary.

We were asking for that bottom part of that cemetery where Henning had the plots, where the clerks didn't have no idea, they didn't keep track, and Henning, he either gave the clerks the information or he didn't.

Who knows that part?

But the city clerks should have gone down four blocks down to the Henning Mortuary to pick up the information to where those people were buried.

And it was gate bob, by the way, 1970, 1901, 1941, that you had to put down on your maps or in your record books, everybody else buried.

Not only that, take it to the clerks in Boulder, which Lafiat did not do.

And that's why we are in the mess we're at right now, spending 83,000.

But I'll say once again, all they ever did was just moved over a little bit if they dug, and they hit a great site, spent 83,000 for I don't know what surveyed the entire cemetery.

But not only that, people are angry right now.

You claim there's 150 letters that went out.

People can have two, three, four plots.

They don't want to be buried in Louisville.

They paid for them plots in the 70s in that.

If you were going to do that survey, you should get the survey first, and then how many people are going to die within three months?

Not that many.

But now everybody's freaking out that only a plots at that cemetery.

Folks, it was a big mistake.

Jumped to conclusions went too fast on it.

Whoever did it, staff or whoever, whoever did it.

There's no reason for it.

Or the entire cemetery.

Like I say, I was known gravediggers.

60 years now.

They do.

If there is an overlapping, just move over a little bit and then dig and put the next body right there.

It's not right what happened, folks.

It's not right.

We have an awful lot of people angry right now.

They don't want to be buried in Louisville if they die on top of the hill up there.

That is safe ground.

Our families have been in this community for 100 years here.

And it's important to be with the rest of the family members.

If I would die, I couldn't be buried.

Don't make no damn sense at all.

Not at all.

I hope you all realize what happened here.

If the city would only have the responsibility years ago for tracking the Hennings plots.

We don't know if the city gave them plots or if he purchased them.

It's none of your records at all.

We couldn't find it at all.

That's Jacob Brown, folks.

And if you folks would have been here years ago, and you would have plots up there, you'd be feeling the same way.

Right now.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

All right.

Next up we have Adam Gianola.

Council, Adam Gianola 311 North Cherrywood Drive.

I'm here to talk about tonight's agenda item.

I think it was C, which is the um the resolution regarding the city retirement plan.

I read through this through the agenda of all good incoming folks should do.

And I I found some concerning language in here that I think council should address before this resolution is adopted.

It is under number five, and I'm gonna read so that there's no confusion.

Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Lafayette, Colorado as follows.

Five delegation of authority to the city manager and chief financial officer.

The city hereby authorizes the city manager and chief financial officer and their designees.

B one to individually or jointly take such actions as they deem proper and appropriate.

Seems like that's a pretty broad authority being given to the um the city manager and the uh chief financial officer.

I don't think that was what was intended.

Um there are some qualifiers in some of the other uh parts of this resolution, and I think it's an easy fix to uh address this, put the same kind of qualifiers in to make clear that we're not giving blanket authority to the city manager, chief financial officer to take any actions that they deem proper and appropriate.

Full stop.

So um I hope that you guys can address that tonight before that's enacted.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Um so I'm not seeing any more in-person speaker forms in front of me tonight.

Are there any other members in person that would like to speak?

All right.

Uh let me double check to see if there are any callers online.

I do not see any speakers online either, and so that I will close public inputs.

Uh, and we will move forward uh with tonight's consent agenda.

This includes several items, including item A, the November 18th, 2020 2025 City Council meeting minutes.

Item B, second reading of ordinance number 26 series 2025, providing for additional appropriations during fiscal year 2025 for unanticipated 2025 revenues and expenditures required for the city of Lafayette, uh, specifically regarding modifications of current budget line items.

Item C resolution number 2025-80 regarding the city's retirement plans and other ancillary and related matters.

Item D, contract for uh FC urchin architects inc, UA, Arapahoe Center Architecture Design Services Item E, contract with Emily Horn and Associates incorporated on call engineering services, item F, change order number two, Brandon Construction, uh call utility uh repair services, and item G.

Um, change order for number number two, American Company Goose Haven Reservoir Construction Supports.

Uh Council like to pull any items.

Council Friedman.

May I pull C and D, please.

Okay.

Are there any other items that would like to be pulled for tonight?

Uh can I get a motion to approve the balance?

I move to approve the balance of the consent agenda.

Second.

Motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, none opposed.

That passes unanimously.

Okay.

Uh Councilor Friedland.

Um, I guess we'll start with item C.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, I think as we heard um from future counselor uh Giannola, um, there's maybe some language we could consider for C, and I think the city attorney would like to speak to some minor revisions that were made to the resolution today.

So thank you, Councillor Fridlin.

Yes, um, and thank you for forwarding Mr.

Giannola's concerns about that language to us.

Uh, we did have outside council for um retirement and benefits assist us with drafting this resolution to help us take care of some of the tax uh and IRS regulation issues uh to make sure that we were compliant with certain regulations, and um we did ask our outside council to take a look at uh some of the requested revisions, and they did get those back to us today.

So I have put a copy of the resolution on the day is for each of the members of council that shows just a couple of pretty minor red lines, but um, they do address uh the language that uh was raised in public comment.

Um, but primary it's just uh their minor changes to clarify that that authority is intended to be limited and to only deal with the city benefit plans.

So that is before you we would ask that council uh approve this resolution with those red line changes, and for the public's benefit, you'll be able to see those red lines.

Um you'll see the the revised ordinance and the final version that um would be available from the city if you'd like to see what we did there.

Uh but they are pretty minor, they are isolated just for um council's benefit to uh page two.

There are subparagraphs A and B.

And then on page four, you will see those exact same changes in uh identical paragraphs A and B.

So we've uh that's what we have in front of you tonight, and we do recommend that you approve it with those red things.

I guess any questions, I suppose.

Do you um Council Friedland?

How do you feel about the city attorney's recommendation?

I think it seems very appropriate and appreciate the quick work.

We need a motion.

Awesome.

Uh, yeah, we'll take a motion to approve it.

I move to approve resolution number 2025-80 regarding the city's retirement plans and other ancillary ancillary and related matters.

Second motion and a second, any further discussion?

All those in therapy say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, none opposed.

That passes unanimously.

Thank you.

On to item D.

Council Prayer.

Yeah, thank you, Mayor.

Um, we had a member of the public that identified uh maybe a gap that we had in this one around um requiring a certificate of appropriateness.

Um in that contract.

Um, and my understanding is that would basically entail a required review by the historic preservation commission.

Um, and currently it's written, I believe, um, you know, highly suggested, or you know, something along those lines of you know, please do this.

And I think the the resident's point is sound that that's that's you know, fine, but we probably should just say very clearly this certificate of appropriateness is required rather than just um you know, please do this.

I think especially in the conversations we've had around boards and commissions and how we want to make sure that they're included.

Um, you know, I think this is a really great just mechanism um to say, you know, here's our process, please go complete it.

I'm sure there's others on council that have more familiarity with that certificate, so I'd be very curious what others think.

Um, but uh I thought it was a fair point and wanted to raise it to council.

Okay.

Uh so you're looking for council support to make that uh amendment.

Uh or adjustment.

Uh city attorney.

Thank you.

Just to comment on that.

So uh, first of all, I I would like to be clear for council and for the member of the public who raised those concerns that we absolutely will and must follow our procedures for historic preservation and for the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness for any modifications made to a landmark structure in the city.

So um be assured that regardless of what of how the contract or the proposal reads, that that's going to happen no matter what.

Um, and I do want to say that the uh proposal as attached to the contract does directly address uh the need for a certificate of appropriateness.

Um, I cannot personally speak to the qualifications of this architect, but it's my understanding that uh this selected contractor and architect has a great deal of um established experience dealing with historic structures and understands both local landmarking res regulations as well as the national historic landmarking regulations that are do apply to this particular building.

Um so we have uh the city has selected someone if council approves this contract uh with the necessary experience and who's very aware of those requirements.

Um so I wanted to provide that reassurance to council.

Uh I I do think it's uh um maybe not a necessary, it's it's not necessary to add anything to the contract because it does acknowledge that step needs to take place, um, and then our code would control even beyond that.

Um I just wanted to offer that that it is accounted for and it will happen.

So I just want to make sure I'm understanding.

So it was in the proposal, and it is currently in the scope of work.

It is also in the scope of work.

It's required.

Okay.

Well then.

Sounds easy.

Thank you for explaining that, and thank you for uh hearing those concerns from our community.

Uh so councilor Friedman, would you like to make a motion?

I move to approve item D.

The contract with Epstein UN Architects Incorporated EUA for the Eureppo Center Architecture Design Services.

Second.

We have motion second, any further discussion.

All those in favor who say aye.

Aye.

Are there any opposed?

None opposed.

That passes the end.

And that does wrap up our consent agenda for tonight.

Uh, we have one item under regular business.

Uh, this is item H resolution number 2025.

79, approving intergovernment intergovernmental funding agreement between Boulder County and the city of Lafayette and authorizing acceptance of a grant to provide trees to residents.

That's pretty cool.

Uh, we have our sustainability director here to get us started.

Good evening, council.

Um, I am here requesting approval of an IGA with Boulder County to uh support and expand our tree canopy.

So I will be providing um some background information on Lafayette's tree canopy, reviewing the growing shade program overview, and also sharing some activities that we're going to be doing in 2026.

So, first things first.

Uh, this program does align with the climate action plan specifically in the natural environment sector.

We have a goal that states the city will protect and enhance Lafayette's tree canopy.

Overall, we have 41% of land available for planting.

We experienced a 3% tree canopy growth between 2013 and 2021.

Um, I did mention um the first time I came to council about tree canopy.

We are number one in that um eight-year span.

Uh we also have an average canopy coverage of 14% here in the city.

Some benefits of growing the tree canopy is it reduces surface temperatures, improves air quality, reduces runoff, increases water quality, reduces energy use, and also enhances tree equity.

Tree equity is the practice of distributing tree canopy fairly across all neighborhoods to ensure that all residents have the access to the benefit of trees.

And as a reminder, the city has participated with a community forestry corps program in partnership with Play Boulder Foundation for the last two years.

We have planted 43 trees in publicly owned spaces since the start of the program, and this program will also continue in 2026.

Uh now I'll provide an overview of the growing shade program.

It is a partnership with Play Boulder Foundation and a community-based organization where we'll plant 75 trees in neighborhoods that have low tree canopy that's lower than 25%, experience high heat and also are designated as an environment screen disproportionately impacted census block.

Those residents that do receive trees will have tree health checks for two to three years, where if a tree dies, uh we'll help them replace that tree.

But ultimately, we want to educate and empower residents to take care of trees.

So that will uh look like workshops geared towards winterization, how to wrap trees, um, and also providing tree care tools to residents that need them.

The expected timeline for the program is to secure a community-based organization in the early new year.

The program is expected to launch in April.

There will be some tabling at Earth Day every day, and the expected tree pickup event will be on May 9th.

And after that May 9th event, that's when all of the post-planting tree care education will happen.

We are the second city that would be launching this program.

Wongmont launched this past year and have had really great success.

As I mentioned, we do have other activities around protecting and enhancing our tree canopy.

Uh staff did apply for the Boulder County Environmental Sustainability Matching Grant in the hope that that funding will support three activities.

The first is the growing shade program discussed tonight.

We are also hoping to remove and replace ash trees at Sister Carmen.

Uh Emerald Ashbore has uh affected those trees and they need replacement.

And then lastly, a citywide tree inventory so that we can take a proactive and strategic approach to maintaining our trees.

This will lead to a community urban forestry plan, which is really exciting, and also um using a tool called ITree to place the value of Lafayette's trees.

And with that, I will open it up to questions.

Okay, awesome.

Well, thank you so much for that presentation.

I'll turn it over to Council now to see if there are any questions.

Counselor Samson.

I have a clarifying question.

So you said 41% of the land is available for planting.

Is that 41% of Lafayette?

Is that 41% of the city owned land?

That is overall the city of Lafayette.

Okay.

And does that include like residential properties?

Yes, my front yard, my backyard.

Yes.

Thank you.

All right.

Any other questions from Council or comments?

Counselor Free?

I think Dennis has come to us with tree information before, too.

And I was really excited because that was tree day.

And here you are, and a second tree day in a year.

I can't believe it.

We're so lucky.

Um so anyway, no questions.

Thank you so much.

It's awesome.

Really appreciate it.

And can't wait for three tree days next year.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh Councilor Barnes.

Thank you, Mayor.

I got a pile on.

This is amazing.

Like I imagine that we get to some point of providing more shade.

Like it's one of those, one of those elements that uh former former mayor Harkins was dreaming about.

Could we actually do something to address the tree canopy in the city and you're doing it?

So thank you so much.

This is not an easy lift, but everything you seem to do is amazing.

Uh so I greatly appreciate it.

I have one question.

How do trees improve water quality?

Of course.

So when it rains, um, there's a lot of pollutants that come off cars, and trees will actually filter those pollutants out of the water before entering our streams or going into the sewers to go to our water rack plant.

Amazing.

Thank you so much.

Okay, all right.

Well, thank you so much for that presentation and for all the hard work you've done for the city.

So appreciate it.

Thank you.

And we do have a motion if someone feels ready.

I move to approve resolution number 2025-79, approving an intergovernmental funding agreement between Boulder County and the City of Lafayette and authorizing acceptance of a grant to provide trees to residents.

Second.

Motion and second has been made.

Any further discussion?

All right, all those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Are there any opposed?

Say no.

None opposed.

That passes unanimously.

Thank you so much.

Okay.

Um that wraps up regular business uh for tonight, which brings us to our final item.

This is recognition of our outgoing counselors.

Um, as you all might remember, uh, Mary Port Temuang did uh complete his final in-person meeting at our last meeting.

So we have the opportunity to recognize him.

Uh tonight we do have uh Councilor Samson as well as myself uh departing the council.

And so um I would like to, and we do have a proclamation for you as well, Counselor Sampson.

Um so um if it's okay with you, uh we could if we could read that in and vote then.

You don't want me to read it for myself, as you want to, yeah.

Totally can.

Yeah, um, so counselor Redland, if you would.

Oh Councillor Barnes if you wouldn't mind.

Yeah, is that okay?

Thank you.

Proclamation honoring Nicole Sampson service on the Lafayette City Council, December 2nd, 2025.

Whereas after serving on the planning commission, Nicole Sampson was elected to the Lafayette City Council for a four-year term in 2021.

And whereas during her tenure, Councilor Sampson served as a liaison to several city boards, commissions, and committees, including the Cultural Arts Board, Historic Preservation Commission, and one Lafayette Committee.

And whereas a leader in the field of policy and legislation, Councilor Sampson thoughtfully and diligently represented the city of Lafayette as a member of the Colorado Municipal League Policy Committee helping guide statewide policy to work in partnership with local municipalities.

And whereas while on City Council, Councilor Sampson has contributed to several transformative projects and initiatives, including the implementation of a dedicated sales and use tax to support mental health and human services for Lafayette residents, investment in over 250 units of permanently affordable housing, regulations allowing accessory dwelling units to promote housing diversity and significant investments in Lafayette's water system and water storage.

And whereas Councilor Sampson has always demonstrated thoughtful and equitable decision making for Lafayette residents, and whereas the city of Lafayette and its residents will reap the benefits of Councilor Sampson's dedicated service for years to come.

Now, therefore, the mayor and the city council of the city of Lafayette, Colorado, do hereby commend and honor Councilor Nicole Sampson for her dedicated service to the Lafayette City Council and community.

So moved.

Second.

All right.

A motion and second on that proclamation.

Before we vote this in, I think this is appropriate time for any council comments or discussion on this item.

Counselor Gayos.

I just wanted to say thank you.

It's been such a pleasure working with you the past two years.

I appreciate all of your institutional knowledge on everything.

I love how anytime we're talking about grants or anything state related or house build related, you always have something thoughtful to add.

So I'm gonna miss you very much, and good luck in the future.

Thank you.

Other counselors, Councilor Friedland.

I I didn't really know you at all before starting this journey.

Sorry.

I I I just have to say you are such an impressive person.

Um you are so passionate.

You are so just sharp about so many different things.

Um you think about things in such a rational, logical way.

Um and I just we're gonna miss you.

You you do a great job up here.

I really appreciate what you do.

Um and yeah, I wish you the very best.

I know you're gonna go do amazing things at all the next chapters that you're gonna have.

Uh, and I just appreciate that you shared some time with us on help this community.

So thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilor Barnes.

Thank you, Mayor.

I would just like to thank thank you for all of the sacrifices that you've made uh over these times.

And um thank you for I can tell, I could tell many times that you were biting your lip because there were just so many things that you know were really really frustrating.

So thank you for doing what everyone does on this council, and that is doing your best to make the right decisions for the city, whether you feel 100% for that or not.

And when you didn't, you let us know.

So I thank you for your honesty.

I thank you for your sacrifice.

Um I'm gonna miss you on this council.

Uh so feel free to come in anytime you'd like.

Uh, it seems to be a place where we get to go once we've left.

And uh it will be greatly appreciated by at least me, and I think all the rest of the counselors here when you're you're in the space.

So uh thank you for your commitment.

Thank you.

Councilor Tapivego.

Thank you.

Um I've served with you now for two years.

It's incredible how much I've learned from you.

Um, the expertise you have on things is just something that I wish I will one day have.

Um, it will take me a very long time to know as much as you on some subjects.

Uh, but there's a lot of things I I love about serving with you.

But one of them is I know that when you raise your hand, we're gonna talk about policy, and it's gonna be something that matters.

Um I I think back, there was one meeting, I I believe it was the same meeting.

We both pulled uh we both pulled one item from consent's agenda, and we both pulled it for one word within like a 450-page like packet.

Yeah, and I realized, oh, okay, me and Counselor Samson are the same person.

We're looking at every single word of this packet.

Uh so I just appreciate all your expertise and everything you brought to council, and I'd love serving with you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh and finally, for me, Counselor Samson, I'll uh reiterate what I mentioned earlier at the previous meeting.

Uh, thank you for empowering me, and thank you for um putting your trust uh not just within me but within this council and being supportive and being at the right places at the right time and filling uh all the spots that we needed your support in.

I would not be in the position I am if it wasn't for you, but not just because of your support, but you also have the confidence and the ability to give me constructive criticism and tell me when you or give me suggestions on what you think I should do.

And oftentimes it's different from the from the majority of people that are being supportive.

You you you have the ability to just be straight up and honest and say, JD, like I I think this is wrong if you should try this instead, or um you always have given me the ability to open uh different perspectives that I didn't think were there.

I always like joke around sometimes, like oftentimes staff will present us with options like okay, your options are one, two, or three, and counselor sampson will be like, uh, there's always a door for it.

Yeah, there's always something else.

Uh there's always you know something else that isn't right in front of us that we can't see directly.

So thank you for providing that perspective.

Uh, thank you for for being there as a support system, but also as a as a thought partner, and uh the council, if you if it's okay with you, I know you have some words you'd like to share as well, but afterwards, uh, we'd love to do a photo with you and with your with your plaque there.

Um, and but I do want to give the floor to you because uh this is your moment.

I want to make sure you have the opportunity to share your thoughts on your experience on council.

Sure.

Well, thank you.

I'm standing up.

Just feels right to stand up.

So my experience on city council has been a lot like being in the Wizard of Oz.

At the beginning of the movie, Dorothy was caught in a tornado.

And when her house stopped turning, she found herself in Oz, a lively technicolor world.

That is what it's like when you go from being a voting resident to a sitting city council member.

As a resident, everything so seems so simple.

So black and white.

You know, just consider the options and just vote.

But once I'm council, one starts to see the colors or the reasons why issues are presented to the council in a certain way, or why the elected officials could only take on specific information into consideration.

Now, once Dorothy was in Oz, she met some friendly and interesting characters.

I too have had the great opportunity to meet some wonderful residents of Lafayette along my journey as a council member.

Some who have provided terrific perspectives and information that made a difference in my votes on issues.

In fact, I said, you know, there were times I came in, I read all the information, I was sure how I was gonna vote, but then there was somebody that came up to the podium and gave some public input, and I thought, well, that's something I should also consider, and I changed my vote.

So I want you all to know how important that is to city council.

Dorothy also met some jovial people of Munchkin Land who provided her with direction to follow the yellow brick road to reach her goal.

Like Dorothy, I am grateful of the boards and commissions and the people who sit on those who provide feedback and input and guidance to city council.

You truly are also an important part of this story.

Now Dorothy met the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion.

These are all characters who had a shared mission that became her friends along the journey.

And I can honestly say I have known several council members who also shared my mission and moved forward, as well as staff members who have all helped us.

We've all moved this city forward on this.

I also I and I also want to shout out to a lot of people who have sat or not even sitting up here.

Stephanie Walton, Anis Modrano, Carolyn Cutler, the list goes on of the wonderful council members who have who I've sat with, served with, or who have been great mentors to me.

Now I may not have saved Lafayette from two wicked witches during my terms on council, but I'm quite proud of a lot of the other things that I've been able to contribute to this city.

I have used my knowledge of federal funds to provide information to city staff on how to use the ARPA funding to fill in a gap for funding Willoughby Corner.

I've used my skills in grant development to help create a health and human services grant program and a water assistance program.

I was happy to use my skills in government processes to write the request for proposals and facilitate getting that RFP out to bid so we could hire a search firm and fill the vacancy in our city manager position.

I also remember talking to Fritz six years ago about creating an in-house city attorney position and team.

And I am thrilled that I was on city council to see that realized.

Many of that code was confusing and out of date, and many of the boards were not sure what is my role, what is not my role in this.

Both of which I could not have done if I was not on council.

And also, I am glad I had the opportunity to work the with the local businesses to develop a special tax district.

So as I leave this role, I have some parting gifts for the new council members and those that are staying on.

So like at the end of the Wizard of Oz, there were gifts given out.

And I will share these with everybody so you will know.

First of all, is a medal of courage.

Because it takes a lot of courage to run for city council.

It takes a lot of courage to sit up here.

It takes courage to say a motion.

And one of those things, it was one of those things that as new council members would come on, I would elbow them under the table and say, I'm gonna make the motion, you make the second.

Just so they would have the courage to start getting to the point where they could speak in public, whether it's a motion or saying this is what I believe in.

So whenever you are nervous, remember this medal of courage is here for you.

When you get information to vote on, you have to make a decision on how is this going to impact everybody in the community?

Not just people that look like me or act like me, but people who are also in this community and live in a different part of the community or have other challenges.

You have to really put your heart into it and try to understand what it's like standing in their shoes.

And last, this is less exciting, but this is not a certificate or a diploma like the scarecro bat, but what this is this is a list of quotes from past presidents of the United States, and these quotes talk about being thoughtful in your decisions, seeking out comprehensive and balanced review of information before forming a judgment on an issue.

And I will say you don't need to be an expert on everything.

When I first got on council, one of the things I said is there is no way any one of us is gonna know everything.

So instead, each one of us have to dig deep into a certain topic area, and we have to lean on each other and trust one another when we are moving forward with these issues, and we have to be thoughtful in that.

And and I have to say uh I want you all to have the courage, the heart, and the confidence to be that, to be thoughtful and empathetic as you go forward.

So, as I say goodbye, I'm gonna click my heels three times and say there is no place like home.

Oh, a photo.

If that's okay.

Yep.

You want this?

Sure.

Do we need to vote on the motion?

Oh, uh let's do the motion for a sorry.

Uh we do have a motion in a second on that proclamation.

All those in favor say I.

I are there any opposed, none opposed.

That's unanimous.

Thank you.

Okay, well we don't know.

I'll hand over here.

Oh yeah.

Thank you.

All right.

Um, because I have not handed this in yet, this is my letter of resignation, by the way, um, which I am planning on doing so very soon.

Um, technically, um I don't fall, I don't have there's no proclamation for me, which I don't deserve anything is, but um, and there's um really this is this is sort of a different agenda item in a sense.

Um so I was just wondering if it was okay for counselor if I used um this kind of in-between before adjournment as sort of a uh unofficial council comments uh for my parting words for you all.

Would that be right?

Sure.

Okay, thank you.

Um so uh I know there's been um you know a lot of talk of what is JD gonna do, when is he gonna resign and all that?

Um, but I am uh I would like to just be very transparent up front and to let you guys know that this is my last meeting.

So and um when I say last, I mean part one of this meeting.

I am planning to deliver my letter of resignation right here to our city clerk um after I'm done speaking.

Uh afterwards, I will adjourn the meeting, or I will adjourn the meeting first, then I'll do that, and then we'll swear in our new counselors, and then uh it'll be your your moments uh to speak.

Um so as I depart, I just had a few things that I'd like to say, and um I'd like to just start off, and I will get emotional.

Uh by the way, this is like one of those things that I I speak to my uh middle schoolers about, uh, especially the uh already start uh uh I've done this many times up here, so I'm used to it.

Um but especially to the young men and boys in my room because a lot of them like there's like um they get so upset to like um cry or to actually show emotion, but for me it's like it's very easy because I have you know, um of course there's like an element of self-confidence that comes with it, but a lot of experience doing it.

Um, but it's like my hope is um like there's a reason why you have a lot of like pent up anger and frustration, right?

Um within young people or young men specifically that ultimately will lead to like violence, things like that.

And so when I when I stand up, and I do this in my class from my one of my former students in the back, but uh it's like I have no issue um crying or getting upset, right?

Or not it's not upset, sorry, being emotional in front of people on TV on camera does not bother me at all whatsoever.

In fact, I encourage it, and uh that's why I do it.

Um, and so that was all just like a to preface what I actually wanted to say, is like um so uh much like many of the people that are also here in the audience, um I grew up here in the city of Lafayette.

Um it is my hometown.

Um like as I was younger, you know, my family and I, we spent a lot of time like interacting with community services, and I have mentioned this briefly before, but like as I was younger, my sister who's here tonight, my cousins and my friends, um we experience a lot of city services, but from the perspective of the recipient, as opposed to to the deliverer, like as a city council or city staff member might be um younger, we would go to the library, right?

Read those books and get those uh lakeside passes, and then by the way, I'm perfectly okay.

Um like uh as like I had a chance to chat with the police chief just yesterday when our our our um uh sister city mayor Marchong came to visit, and they were discussing the Santa Cop program, which is also something that um continues to go on that our family got to benefit from as kids, and so like, and then when I was in the eighth grade, got hit by a car, and that car was a public works truck for the city of Lafayette.

So many interactions, both positive and negative with the city.

Um by the way, if anyone knows that gentleman tell me, forgive him.

Um so those are like our first interactions with the city, and then as you get older, as I became like, you know, I graduated high school and got more involved in the community, you start to see um the perspective of city services, not from the recipient standpoint, but from the hard work and that in the in the the labor that it takes from city staff and and the the passion that it takes from city counselors uh to push these initiatives forward and to make sure that they become core memories uh for members of the community that can truly benefit from that and um as I got older, as I started to sort of to start to see the full circle, the full picture, um you also start to determine like how can you at least for me personally I felt like uh passionate about how do you continue that circle of like uh someone a member of council or a member of staff determining a city program that the public could benefit from.

And then you start to realize, oh, one of those ways that you can be involved in that circle of fulfillment is through getting involved in public office.

Whether that's coming through to the city council meetings, to the five-minute public comment, whether through um uh applying for a job within the city, or whether it's like running for counsel.

And um uh the only reason I ran for council or even had a thought of it was through support from others, from other people empowering me to make that decision.

It was funny when I first got on council, people are like even online or whatever in person would like come up with these theories or conspiracy theories or whatever, like why I was running for office, and it was all BS because at the end of the day, it was through the empowerment of others.

Uh so I'm gonna I'm gonna talk for a little bit.

But um, it's my last meeting, just let me won't hear from me for a while after this.

Um it was the empowerment of others.

Uh, for example, um a couple people I want to shout out.

Um first it was uh Elena Verbeer, who, as many of you know, is the uh facilitator for the Lockheed Youth Advisory Commission and encourages and still does as she continues to instruct at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Um it promotes um empowerment and um sort of this reconstruction lens of how we view society, not as participants, but how do we um reconstruct it and change it for the betterment of all uh through equity-based lens, but just through overall, like what is straight up fair and and in kind and what is not.

And um she encouraged me to run.

Um my first election right when I graduated college.

I was 21, had no idea what I was talking about, what I was doing.

Uh still don't.

And um she was like, just run.

And I was like, uh, we'll see.

And then we were at an event together, sitting, and it was like one of the uh city uh um one of the uh the La Pet program, one of their unveilings for the work they were doing.

And she just standed, she just stood up and started telling people I was running for office.

Before I said, I was like, I already declared he's gonna run.

This is JD's gonna run to a council members, and like I was like, I guess I'm running.

Um so it was like yeah, that but that's empowerment.

That's what that is.

Um and then you have to obviously get support beyond one other, right?

You need like your your family, so my sister.

My sister was all about um being supportive and telling me the smart thing to do as opposed to uh what's like the political maneuver that like a lot of people try to influence me with, but um just being there as uh a light as what's the right path.

Obviously, some of you have um met my mother, my father who run the liquor store down the street.

Um kindest most supportive family ever.

So if they say JD, resign or like stuff down, then it's like okay, I'm gonna listen to that.

Um obviously my friends that are here supportive as well uh in the back too.

They didn't get a chance.

We're at capacity at this point, but um uh my cousin, obviously um Bookard and my friends Carlos, Gernam, um, my cousin Neil and Naveen, everyone who showed out tonight, appreciate you.

Some of you are like shut up already.

If we got some of you have to take my seat, but um I just wanted to make sure that I really took my final moments to shout the people out that deserved it.

Obviously, my fellow counselors.

Counselor Barnes, you are um so incredibly kind and genuine and pure and not corrupted by all this political BS that surrounds these positions.

And so I appreciate that.

Counselor Friedlin, you are um so driven to learn and to improve yourself, and you're like studying and learning all these uh uh you're going in depth on issues that you weren't as familiar with before you got elected.

So I appreciate your ambition and your ability to just uh dive deep into it.

Counselor Gallegos, you are like such like anytime I have doubt or like I worry about like oh, should I have done this, should I have not?

You are there to be like my support and be like, no, JD, like to to uh be someone that I can trust and actually like when you say something, actually believe what you're saying, and so thank you for being that authentic support for me, counselor Samson.

I thought you awesome you are um counselor Tapia Vega, even uh you it feels weird to say this, but you remind me of a lot of myself.

Like when I first got on council, I was like questioning a lot of things.

I was like, this is inefficient.

Why are we doing this?

This doesn't make sense.

This is a waste of time.

Or but like, but you're not coming at it from like a critical standpoint, you're coming at it from like an improvement.

Like how do we um like focus on the right things that are actually important?

And to all city staff, I already had uh had a moment to chat with you and give you gifts, and so I will continue to say that you do the actual work.

So many uh elected officials will take credit for everything and say, I did this, I pushed for this, that's great.

And and there is oftentimes where that is true.

The council member does push, and the council member does do a lot of the work, but at the end of the day, the day-to-day work is staff.

They are the ones putting their like the uh you know, uh feet on the ground, patting the pavement, doing the hard work that it takes to accomplish a lot of what we direct.

Um shout out to all the other former members of counselors, uh, council counselor Walton, thank you for being here.

Um shout out to Christine Berg for me, a mentor of mine, um uh former mayor Chris Barry, former mayor Frank Phillips, former mayor, um Alexander Lynch, former mayor, um Bob Berger, who used to pick me up from elementary school, and I was fifth grade, fourth grade every day would pick my sister and I up.

And um shout out to the community for um electing a young person who at the time um didn't have that resume above for believing in in me and supporting me.

Um that was very long, I know.

Um, but um I want to make sure I didn't you know leave anything behind be at my last council meeting, and so thank you to you all.

Shout out to the judge, by the way.

I didn't I saw you there that make sure I shout you out because you have done a lot of hard work um in terms of the creating reform in our in our in our justice uh program here.

So thank you to you.

Thank you to you all to the community.

Um I'm very happy to support um counselor, future counselor Jensen, future counselor Gianola.

I think you guys are gonna do amazing work in these seats.

I'm I'll be here as a resource.

I'll be here to support you.

I'll be here to I still have my email for a couple days.

Um so I'm happy to just work a little bit, you know.

Um shout out to you all.

Um thank you so much for your support.

Um, and thank you for being um for believing in me and for empowering me.

It's truly been an honor.

Thank you to the city of Lafayette.

I appreciate you.

So for the final time, meeting adjourned.