Lafayette City Council Meeting Summary – May 5, 2026

The Lafayette City Council met on May 5, 2026, to discuss and take public comment on Resolution 2026-13, which would permanently close the Lafayette Cemetery to casket interments. The council also held a study session on ranked choice voting (RCV) and received an update on the South Boulder Road Area Plan. After hearing emotional testimony from residents, the council voted to postpone the cemetery resolution indefinitely, allowing more time for community input and deliberation.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the April 21, 2026, special meeting minutes.
• Approved first reading of Ordinance 10, Series 2026, adopting the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code by reference.
• Approved an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement with Boulder County for a waste reduction incentive program for businesses, authorizing the city manager to execute the amendment.
• Approved the fourth amendment to the regional grant management system collaboration agreement. All items passed unanimously with no discussion or items pulled.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Frank Archelletta (longtime Lafayette resident) spoke against Resolution 2026-13, arguing that senior citizens who own 270 unused plots were not properly notified. He claimed the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) study showed many areas still have burials and that the city should not close the cemetery. He accused the city of potential discrimination and urged the council to reject the resolution.
• James Ortega (80-year resident, 1250 Scorpio Circle) said he did not receive a letter about the closure, despite city staff claiming all plot owners were notified. He stated he has six generations of family buried in the cemetery and opposes the closure. He argued that modern technology (GPR and AI) can identify available plots and that the city should honor those purchased plots.
• Edith (Edie) Ortega (1250 Scorpio Circle, 42-year resident) encouraged a vote against the resolution and confirmed she did not receive a letter. She asked the council to find a solution that allows families to be buried together.
• Beverly Smith (84-year Lafayette native, 1280 Scorpio Circle) stated she worked for the city for 22 years overseeing cemetery records and never encountered problems with remains. She said she and her sisters (including Carol Sadler) have grandparents, parents, and aunts buried there, and they purchased plots 35-40 years ago based on city maps showing them as open.
• Doug Connerau (513 East Elm Street) requested a larger, high-resolution version of the GPR map. He criticized the compensation offer ($1,500) as inadequate, noting a 2004 deed valued a plot at $1,500. He argued that per city rules, burial plots are the "sole and separate property of the owner," making this a potential takings issue.
• Jay and Carol Sadler (204 Tamaron Lane): Jay said he and his wife bought two plots in 1978 with the implied right to use them. Carol (sister of Beverly Smith) said she has 50 relatives buried there and urged the council not to pass the resolution. She argued the 270 available lots should be honored.
• Julie Blunt (884 Taylor Lane) said she learned about the meeting that morning, did not receive a letter, and has eight lots for her family including grandparents. She suggested the city should have expanded the cemetery long ago.
• Kathy Erickson (860 West Baseline Road) opposed the closure, stating she has purchased a coffin, flowers, and services, and wants to be buried next to her husband. She argued that the plots are sacred ground and that the city should not take away her right to choose burial.
• Tim Wright spoke about four lots his father bought in 1971 after his sister’s drowning accident. He said he wants to be buried there and questioned whether cremation would be banned next. He asked the council to consider the rights of plot owners.
• Sharon Stetson (626 Glenwood Drive) emphasized that residents who are volunteer firemen, former city employees, and longtime community members want to be buried in Lafayette, not another cemetery. She argued they purchased plots with deeds.
• Dwight Erickson (13912 Hudson Wade Thornton) asked the council not to pass the resolution, noting he and his wife have family buried there and plan to be buried there themselves.
• Linda Rosales (2323 High Lonesome Trail) opposed the resolution, calling it a "rush to judgment" and a "land grab." She noted the rivalry between Lafayette and Louisville and expressed concern about religious rights (Catholics not wishing to be cremated). She also questioned who would pay for special studies if exceptions were allowed.
• Catherine Ishman criticized the city for not providing adequate notice. She asked why out-of-state surveyors were used and suggested the city should obtain legal advice. She said "shame on you" for treating residents this way.
• Tony Munoz (214 North Michigan) asked the council to think carefully about the emotional impact. He noted that his family, like many in the room, is deeply connected to the cemetery. He mentioned a recent request from a family trying to inter ashes and the difficulty they faced.
• Jill Ortega (603 East Baseline Road) became emotional, describing her father’s recent death and the 63-year marriage of her parents. She argued that separating her mother from her father in burial is morally wrong. She stated that a cemetery is a healing place and that the council should not deny casket burials to those who choose them.
• Matt Wright (son of Tim Wright) opposed the closure, saying his grandfather bought plots in 1971 and the two remaining plots should remain available for his parents. He said it is not morally right to take that right away.
• Dr. Thomas Alley (Broomfield) spoke in support of ranked choice voting, noting that Broomfield successfully adopted it. He encouraged Lafayette to consider it, particularly the multi-winner version (STV) which provides proportional representation.
• Zach Kramer (435 Blue Ridge Lane) spoke in support of ranked choice voting, arguing it allows voters to vote for candidates they support rather than strategically, and gives more power to voters rather than parties.
• Grant Swift (608 Geneseo Street) read a slide on due process, stating that procedural due process requires notice and a fair hearing before depriving a person of a significant property interest. He asked the council to consider this.
• Michael Watson (708 South Carolina Avenue) decried the process, saying "shame, shame, shame" for how the city is treating residents. He spoke on behalf of his neighbor Dolores Lopez, who has a plot next to her husband and should not be separated from him in death. He said the elders of the community are being targeted.
• John Lemke (Longmont resident) spoke in support of ranked choice voting based on his experience running for city council. He explained how STV can avoid vote splitting and produce consensus candidates. He noted Boulder County’s clerk has run RCV elections and that the technical capability exists.
• Denise Walker (2500 South Public Road) spoke in support of the Older Americans Month proclamation, praising the senior center and fitness programs. She advocated for aging in place in Lafayette.
• Danielle Suzuki (former Lafayette resident, speaking for her mother Anita Maynard) said her father passed away in 1999 and her mother purchased two plots based on a city clerk’s map showing them as clear. She requested the council wait to vote until all plot owners are notified of the GPR results, and requested an exception for her mother to be buried next to her husband, similar to an exception made for another family.
• Andy Valenzuena (retired Marine, 28 years service) spoke about plots his father bought in the 1950s. He said he wants to be buried next to his father, a Korean War veteran. He warned of potential legal action for negligence, breach of contract, and mishandling, including a class action lawsuit.
• Edward Heitzman (PhD candidate, CU Boulder) spoke in favor of STV, explaining its benefits in preventing gerrymandering and providing proportional representation. He noted that Lafayette’s current system could allow a 75% bloc (white voters) to win all seats, locking out a 20% Hispanic/Latino group.
• Celeste Landry (Boulder County) supported STV, noting that Cambridge, MA has used it since 1941 and that it ensures proportional representation. She encouraged the city to move forward and request rules from the Secretary of State.
• Christina Miller (Denver, descendant of Manzanaris, Atencio, Roblito families) said her mother is 83 and worried about being separated from her father. She said the family has been in Lafayette for over 100 years. She asked the council to listen with their hearts and not separate families in death.
• Stephanie Carpenter (Broomfield, cousin of Christina Miller) shared her father’s experience: he was diagnosed with cancer last year and died on Christmas Eve. The family received a letter two months before his death saying his plot (purchased 50 years ago) could not be used. He was buried in Broomfield instead. She asked the council not to do this to others.
• Rob Glenn (401 West Cannon Street) acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue. He suggested that for something as serious as cemetery closure, the city should provide better process—more public hearings and opportunities for input after presentations, similar to quasi-judicial hearings.
• Emmy Pfizer (Chief Impact Officer, Colleges Colorado, via phone) encouraged the council to support a ballot measure on proportional ranked choice voting, noting growing momentum in Colorado, including in Longmont and Broomfield.
• Anita (via phone) said she has family buried in the cemetery and owns plots. She questioned why the city would close the cemetery when the GPR report states the graves are orderly with no evidence of stacking.
• Christopher (via phone) said the public does not understand the whole situation and that graveyards fill up. He was not sold on STV and said outsiders should stay in their own cities.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 2026-13 (Closure of Lafayette Cemetery to Casket Burials): The city council, after hearing from the state archaeologist and city staff, discussed the resolution. The state archaeologist recommended against casket burials due to the high density of burials and the risk of disturbing human remains. City staff presented the GPR findings showing the cemetery is over capacity. The council was divided; some members expressed sympathy for the community but noted the legal and ethical issues. A motion to postpone the item indefinitely was made and seconded.
• Ranked Choice Voting Study Session: The city clerk and Boulder County elections director presented an overview of ranked choice voting, including instant runoff voting (IRV) and single transferable vote (STV). They discussed costs, legal requirements, and the need for Secretary of State rules for STV. Council members asked about proportionality, costs, and timing. Some members expressed interest in putting a measure on the ballot in 2026, but others were concerned about ballot fatigue and uncertainty about Secretary of State rules. No formal action was taken; the council may revisit after gathering more information.
• South Boulder Road Area Plan Update: The project team presented initial findings, including community engagement results, urban design analysis, and market analysis. Key themes included support for local independent businesses, safer walking and biking, more green space, and better connections to Coal Creek. The area is 52% surface parking or vacant land. The market analysis showed healthy retail and office vacancy rates but limited new development due to high costs. The plan is still in the listening and analysis phase.
• Proclamations: The council adopted four proclamations: Older Americans Month (May 2026), Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May 2026), National Public Service Recognition Week (May 3–9, 2026), and Municipal Clerks Week (May 3–9, 2026). All passed unanimously.
• Proclamation for National Police Week (May 10–16, 2026): Passed unanimously after supportive comments from council members.
• Procedural Motions: The council voted unanimously to move agenda item J (Resolution 2026-13) before the proclamations to accommodate the public audience. The council also voted to postpone the economic development update to the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Cemetery Closure Resolution Postponed Indefinitely: After public comment and discussion, the council voted unanimously to postpone Resolution 2026-13 indefinitely, meaning it will not be voted on tonight. The existing moratorium on casket burials remains in effect. The council indicated they may revisit the item after more community engagement and possibly with additional options (e.g., road reconfiguration or expansion).
• Land Use Code Update: Councilor Gianola expressed support for moving forward with the final draft of the land use code at the next meeting (May 19, 2026).
• Ranked Choice Voting: No formal action taken. The council will likely continue gathering information and may consider placing a measure on the ballot in a future election.
• South Boulder Road Area Plan: The project team will continue the visioning phase with community engagement and will return to council for a workshop later in the summer/fall.