Lafayette Downtown Development Authority Meeting – June 8, 2026

The Lafayette Downtown Development Authority (DDA) met on June 8, 2026 at 6:01 PM. The meeting covered updates on the Second Fridays in Lafayette branding, a discussion on developing a street closure policy for Harrison Avenue and Simpson Street, and the introduction of a comprehensive wayfinding program for Old Town. The board also approved prior meeting minutes, awarded a Dig grant, and received staff updates.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously approved the May 11, 2026 meeting minutes as presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public offered comments.

Discussion Items

Second Fridays in Lafayette Brand Update and Feedback

Executive Director Bridget Keating introduced the brand update from the Alchemy Collective (Gail Wolf and Diane Paulie) for the Second Fridays initiative, a business-led promotion during off-months of Art Night Out. The presentation included brand guidelines, a logo, and potential taglines. Key discussion points:

• The team developed taglines: "Discover something new in your old town," "Where color creativity and collaboration collide," "Discover something new in your town," and "Wander into something new."
• The project initially focused on Old Town but shifted to inclusive language ("Lafayette" instead of "Old Town") to include businesses outside the DDA boundary.
• Board positions:
  • Director Hubard supported "Where color creativity and collaboration collide" but Director Hardy questioned its appeal to general audiences.
  • Director Faith strongly disliked "Wander into something new" and found "Where color creativity and collaboration collide" too wordy.
  • Several members favored "Discover something new" for its simplicity and broad appeal.
  • Director Tim suggested adding culturally diverse symbols to the logo icon; the team agreed to explore this while maintaining legibility at small sizes.
• The board provided feedback and direction to finalize "Discover something new" as the tagline and incorporate inclusivity and diversity in the logo.

Potential Street Closure Policy for Harrison Avenue and Simpson Street

Keating presented the need for a policy to manage temporary street closures in these areas, which are seeing increased event interest (e.g., Juneteenth, Fall Harvest Festival). Currently, closures are governed by the city's community event permit process without a DDA-specific framework. Two options were presented: continue with the existing process or develop a DDA policy.

• Stakeholder perspectives:
  • Joanna (WoW! Children's Museum) shared that the Fall Festival caused significant revenue loss for WoW, with a proposed $87 compensation for a $2,000 loss. She emphasized the need for better business engagement.
  • Ty noted that the existing permit process is complex and suggested that a DDA policy could streamline and clarify expectations without adding burdens.
  • Janae supported upfront clarity to avoid conflicts.
  • Tom suggested a comprehensive DDA-wide policy rather than piecemeal approaches.
• Board consensus: Directed staff to draft a street closure policy for Harrison and Simpson, emphasizing simplicity, business engagement, and clear criteria (e.g., frequency, integration with existing businesses). The policy should be developed as a guide before the permit process.

Old Town Comprehensive Wayfinding Program

Keating introduced Phase 1 of a wayfinding strategy, funded at $180,000 in the DDA budget. The project includes community engagement, conceptual design, and a roadmap for implementation (future phases: construction documents and installation). Timeline: draft RFP in summer 2026, release in September, award in November, start work in January 2027.

• Faith raised accessibility concerns for users with low vision and mobility. Keating confirmed that accessibility and bilingual elements would be part of the RFP requirements.
• The board supported moving forward with drafting the RFP and forming a subcommittee to review it.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Minutes from May 11, 2026.
• Direction: Staff to develop a draft street closure policy for Harrison Avenue and Simpson Street, with a focus on clarity and stakeholder engagement.
• Direction: Staff to draft an RFP for a wayfinding strategy consultant, with board review via subcommittee.
• Grant Awarded: A Dig grant for Tangerine's upper-floor demolition to create 2–3 tenant units was approved; $14,000 remains in the program for the year.
• Planning: Tentative off‑site retreat with Longmont DDA set for July 20, 2026; work planning workshop scheduled for August 2026.
• Staff Updates: Agency of Record transition underway; microgrant projects advancing (community paint-by-number, mural at Little Herbal Apothecary, summer concert series); Director Tim reported on Juneteenth event collateral and volunteer needs.