Lafayette City Council
On July 1, council:
- Instructed staff to craft ballot language asking voters to approve a 20-year property tax increase to fund the construction of a new civic center and the renovation and expansion of the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center and the Parks and Public Works Service Center. The measure would add roughly $280 per year in property tax to the average Lafayette home, according to city estimates.
A vote to refer the question to voters is scheduled for Aug. 19.
- Received an update on sustainability work after the August 2024 adoption of a city Climate Action Plan (CAP). The plan focuses on seven key areas: energy, natural environment, community resilience, water, the circular economy, transportation and air quality.
In 2024, council passed a Universal Recycling Ordinance. During an Earth Day Every Day event in April 2024, 24,000 pounds of hard-to-recycle materials were collected; that number rose to 28,000 pounds at the 2025 event.
Other accomplishments include distribution of 50 free HEPA air purifiers through a new pilot program that received 240 applicants, the collection of 28,000 pounds of hard-to-recycle materials and a redesign of the sustainability section of the city’s website to provide education and resources, including a real-time air quality monitor.
In 2025, the city hopes to complete expanded EV charging infrastructure for city vehicles and the public at the library, Fire Station #1 and Indian Peaks Golf Course clubhouse. Future plans include bike infrastructure improvements, a pollinator district designation, facility energy audits, and greenhouse gas accounting.
A CAP awareness campaign is planned for late summer or early fall.
- Recognized Lafayette resident Cameron Parker, who in May won the statewide Civics Bee organized by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce Foundation. He will represent Colorado at the national finals in Washington, D.C. in November.
Longmont City Council
On July 1, council:
- Held a study session to discuss changes to the eligibility requirements for the Longmont City Assistance and Rebate System (CAReS), the city’s flagship income qualified assistance program. As of now, the city determines eligibility for CAReS based on residents’ cross qualifications for federal assistance programs like LEAP, SNAP and Medicaid.
Council directed city staff to draft an ordinance to create an additional pathway for qualification, where residents who prove they are at or below 50% Area Median Income for Boulder County would also be eligible for CAReS.
All agenda items subject to change. Karen Norback and Ray Keener contributed reporting.