[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6349300,"mediaKeyId","2239072-f339c7b2723473198adbed418f2fc82d","parentId",2239072,"title","Resident urges council to prioritize $6M service center over larger bond projects","audioSeconds",283,"startMs",950000,"endMs",1233000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239072-f339c7b2723473198adbed418f2fc82d&start=950&end=1233","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239072-f339c7b2723473198adbed418f2fc82d/thumbnail_950000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6349300/Lafayette/Boulder-County/Colorado/Resident-urges-council-to-prioritize-6M-service-center-over-larger-bond-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349300-0bb62a8997b094c62ce7b402b2d31e7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164923&Signature=MAwo-S4vKsiJyDb3NlfsHECbYc-KIL3sB6RGRlLzrwSkgEcrNBSJOTpVctWRt47DuDn6MTvBIwv6HsNHIZZDT857ClooahWuchxymgkU1LfdkqpOAIY8BZnFxPU-10eAZ72xIcoDUkKS1VeZGaA6LIMLpeu6cciREfml6Nqb3Tc7mahApqS3qD0JFLQdQP9NhouOvmEJ09eb3WNA23Rr28iH6pmltWTQ1qwdR8A0BlHka9NFd0KHnd3FVdKAzy-ZBCsc0uB0H-1~bWGHW9ZFZEL4s~WFRC~9u6dbiCgK-wGDcvf88aBY667Mx6S85AIfP3hMY0Pb4m4FFxCQng53Kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lafayette City, CO","date","2025-02-05T13:35:52Z","article","At the City Council public-input period, resident Ron Spaulding urged council to prioritize the proposed service center project and delay putting larger projects before voters at once.

Spaulding said he attended the recent council workshop and a tour of the sites and ranked the three priority projects as: (1) the service center, (2) the Bob Burger Recreation Center and (3) a new city hall. He described the service center as the most urgent and said it also appeared to be the least costly, citing an approximate price of $6,000,000. He said the larger projects would amount to \"anywhere from $58 to $74,000,000\" in combined expenditures and that he doubted voters would approve all three at once.

\"I really think that the citizen would approve one in the service center,\" Spaulding said, adding that robust public outreach and the kind of tour the council took would help voters understand the need. He recommended that the council consider staged bond measures, with the service center first and the recreation center and city hall potentially deferred to 2026.

Spaulding described himself as fiscally conservative and said even improving the current recreation center (an Option B he estimated at about $17,000,000) might be acceptable if the larger Option A (estimated at roughly $36,000,000 across multiple phases per the transcript) is unaffordable. He encouraged public engagement and suggested an open house or site walk-through to help voters weigh choices.

The council acknowledged his comments; no formal action was taken during the public-input period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council - February 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Lafayette resident who attended a recent council workshop urged the council to prioritize the service center project, citing cost and public support, and recommended delaying larger bond questions for future years.","taxTitle","Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado","taxId",4315,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6349305,"Toastmasters present Marquis de Lafayette history; library to host March program",219,416000,635000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239072-f339c7b2723473198adbed418f2fc82d&start=416&end=635","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239072-f339c7b2723473198adbed418f2fc82d/thumbnail_416000.jpg","/articles/6349305/Lafayette/Boulder-County/Colorado/Toastmasters-present-Marquis-de-Lafayette-history-library-to-host-March-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349305-86d86b35d5106d2faac47762179352e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164923&Signature=mDTk-~7TBvbBSC5lmg9cAvOpqFL5Mz~ZVxGpCSdQlM5UL0tTAPcx5lW23DWGJUyKXVVPHSOXXJkHPXj7~ZLa814j0dzX82TFyw3cTa~uBz4XiZ9-lfjCNNQzSie3YiPIlYeLme6ST0DUgm6NScvtx-QGgCM0qF8x6E-9DRXepxWJt25dcoR3LfX12fgHbvyZIl~dxdfUZAdJtYwSrrrcrAsVhC6ttn69Hl1B0-8yB~CKX7on02absJwqCMjeCAzTVAQQt9SuCs99auTrhkrPuCYWw0BI9w5Cu5oL-oaG3Qjv2Lw-RFWJpbHk~FldLUtmsfvL1e9oBcGSV5N~yy6z~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of Lafayette Toastmasters and the American Friends of Lafayette presented a short history of the Marquis de Lafayette during the City Council public-input period and announced an upcoming program at the Lafayette Public Library.

A club representative introduced a multi-session project reporting on Lafayette’s namesake and his 1824–25 tour of the United States. The speaker said the group has been presenting historical ‘‘moments’’ and will present a program at Lafayette Library on March 6 at 6:30 p.m. as part of the library’s Fayette Learns series.

The presenter described Lafayette as an opponent of slavery and cited his association with James Armistead Lafayette, who served as an intelligence operative during the Revolutionary War and later won his freedom with assistance to secure a testimonial and petition. The presentation said Lafayette had advocated anti‑slavery positions in his writings and conversations with American leaders during his 1824–25 visit.

\"Lafayette, we are here,\" the presenter said, using a phrase the club has adopted in its local messaging. The presentation urged awareness of Lafayette’s abolitionist record and invited residents to attend the March library event for more detail.

The council thanked the speakers and noted that presentation materials were distributed to members.","Members of Lafayette Toastmasters and the American Friends of Lafayette delivered a public-input presentation about Marquis de Lafayette’s abolitionist history and announced a March 6 program at the Lafayette Public Library.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6349309,"Council approves consent agenda and appointments unanimously; water items and legal hires included",1860,1282000,3142000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239072-f339c7b2723473198adbed418f2fc82d&start=1282&end=3142","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239072-f339c7b2723473198adbed418f2fc82d/thumbnail_1282000.jpg","/articles/6349309/Lafayette/Boulder-County/Colorado/Council-approves-consent-agenda-and-appointments-unanimously-water-items-and-legal-hires-included","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349309-a883f8d6cf61f3f86e7270b7a22d1e6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164923&Signature=hm29F82RQvVf3lD9vdQrcAvLhQ-qY9tMCVLFyF9gufBj3AcvZGGxlqhnJjukdXnc0yFOAMicg0pLaFCRewB9C4ziZ0pOid-V7RqUcy8c5uy4hEefq5fVqz3XWQRz0GYKz5djACUHtSjWRJooHIgjnLs1NnGnnVt9PB5obkDd4Qf7ekig3Q2VAObYm~nW00cPQifaare9sASeqYZeMJ9BBdEv7UOAMgaQioedDsR9wRI7eEIIT3jx1PhhTww3SeUUvYwmDnYwogxikhkCWSD~denhbCP9WzQLE2KoYW31jhJ9wvEjJEyp7HBOfqyqBFl6d5M91YqYkcq0Nfbx0FHBQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lafayette City Council approved its consent agenda and several personnel items unanimously during its Feb. 4 meeting, including bringing city attorney services in-house and approving related water-district resolutions and other procedural items.

On a unanimous voice vote the council approved the consent agenda, which the clerk said included the Jan. 21 council meeting minutes; a Jan. 28 workshop summary; and a second-reading ordinance (No. 2, Series 2025) amending a section of the code of ordinances. The consent agenda also included a resolution (listed as item D on the agenda) appointing a city attorney and approving a city attorney employment agreement.

Council announced the in-house hire and congratulated the incoming city attorney. The clerk and mayor noted the city will also bring on a deputy city attorney; the council later introduced Deputy City Attorney Erin Poe, who the mayor said joins the city from Boulder and was described as having extensive municipal experience.

The consent agenda included items related to the Colorado-Big Thompson Project and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. The clerk described two resolutions tied to Northern Water: approving cancellation of three temporary use permits and approving an application for an annual renewable perpetual water contract under Colorado statute cited in the agenda as \"CRS 30 seven-forty 5 to 131.\" The consent agenda passed unanimously with no items pulled for separate discussion.

Later in the meeting council voted unanimously to reappoint the presiding municipal judge to a two-year term beginning Feb. 1, 2025, and on a separate vote approved an ordinance on first reading setting the annual salary for the presiding municipal judge.

Votes were taken by voice and recorded as unanimous. No roll-call vote tallies by individual yes/no were read into the record; the meeting record shows seven council members present at roll call and the mayor stated the motions \"pass unanimously.\" The council adjourned to an executive session at the end of the agenda and did not return to open session.

Summary of actions approved in open session:
- Consent agenda, including: Jan. 21, 2025 minutes; Jan. 28, 2025 workshop summary; Ordinance No. 2, Series 2025 (second reading, code amendment); resolutions related to Northern Water and Colorado-Big Thompson water rights (CRS reference provided in agenda). (Outcome: approved unanimously.)
- Resolution appointing in-house city attorney and approving employment agreement (Outcome: approved unanimously.)
- Resolution reappointing presiding municipal judge for a two-year term commencing Feb. 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 20 25-07). (Outcome: approved unanimously.)
- Ordinance No. 3, Series 2025 setting the annual salary of the presiding municipal judge (approved on first reading). (Outcome: approved unanimously.)

Where the agenda cited statutes, the agenda text used a shorthand citation; the minutes and staff reports should be consulted for full statutory references and ordinance/resolution numbers.

The council indicated the deputy city attorney will be introduced and work alongside the new in-house city attorney to provide municipal legal services going forward.","Lafayette City Council approved the consent agenda, appointed an in-house city attorney and approved related water-district resolutions; council also reappointed the presiding municipal judge and approved a salary ordinance on first reading.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6349314,"Lafayette municipal judge reappointed; court reports rising caseload, seeks streaming and paperless upgrades",1093,1995000,3088000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239072-f339c7b2723473198adbed418f2fc82d&start=1995&end=3088","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239072-f339c7b2723473198adbed418f2fc82d/thumbnail_1995000.jpg","/articles/6349314/Lafayette/Boulder-County/Colorado/Lafayette-municipal-judge-reappointed-court-reports-rising-caseload-seeks-streaming-and-paperless-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349314-51c9672170351e11391c1ad5dfee7558/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164923&Signature=IQn2VZJ4iundhJgWS1eNNDs1uDwEY6PhToSoNjRBJSN84sVvOPveXCDEIboHoc14kgFSXhrWdzBZck-Xe7X~GOWibCaavvhC3kriiULw-VAJzdmvOJYDxRAAAdIBxUa7LEvIUQrv83~jm55ZtidrOq0ztAcJ7SDblREzDn8vCPQ1CWo6fiZOO8ySIg7vsF5lfo3rwsbDt11gL4J1lrwuZmR6Lu7xnq~cr9W41BOfnoEpt-lpVMmkfVjT2KEka98PGjArsE6TPbnau24qHuIQIbX4WjcPyGq7eFmb5mWEtp3B8IFbGesw7JA9dbuEKeDmxJilgMtk8tqKm0GxbFP6Ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lafayette City Council unanimously reappointed Amanda (Amanda Bilhash/Villhesh per transcript) as presiding municipal court judge and approved an ordinance on first reading setting the judge’s annual salary, while the judge and court staff outlined operational changes and near-term goals for 2025.

The municipal judge told council the court has shifted from fully virtual hearings to in-person dockets, added Spanish-language check-in times, and is seeing ticket volumes increase \"exponentially,\" pressuring scheduling and prompting plans to pursue grants and technology to improve access and efficiency.

The court’s update said the schedule now reserves morning sessions for Spanish-speaking clients and two traffic sessions, with afternoons set aside for longer matters such as hearings, bond returns and juvenile matters. The judge said the court has handled its first jury trial since the current schedule and has been coordinating to secure in-custody appearances when defendants are held in other counties.

\"If I can't do a bond hearing within 48 hours, they get released, and it's just this unending cycle,\" the judge said, describing how delayed first appearances can lead to repeated bookings and added burden on law enforcement and defendants.

Court staff reported procedural-fairness work with a consultant, LaGrata Consulting, producing changes focused on clearer signage, plain-language communications and staff training emphasizing respect, voice, neutrality and understanding. The court has added support staff, begun manual text reminders to defendants and is exploring software to automate notifications.

The court also described operational limits tied to a 2023 state law requiring expanded public access. The judge said the court is \"prohibited from live streaming juveniles\" and that live streaming regular dockets would be costly and manpower-intensive; the court has issued an order allowing streaming on a case-by-case basis and expects to work toward broader coverage as budgets permit.

The court is working with the Humane Society of Boulder Valley to standardize animal-behavior evaluations and to shorten impound times. The municipal prosecutor, contract attorney Trisha Murphy, was identified as the city’s prosecutor; the court said improved coordination with animal-control officers has reduced delays for impounded animals.

Short-term goals identified for 2025 include updating the court webpage with the communications department, evaluating docket efficiency as ticket volumes rise, applying for a state grant to support first appearances for in-custody defendants, and beginning work on a mission-statement update. Longer-term goals include pursuing a paperless case system and beginning routine live-streaming coverage in 2026 if budgeting and staffing allow.

Council members praised the court staff and encouraged councilors to observe dockets. The council voted unanimously to reappoint the presiding judge by resolution and to adopt the salary ordinance on first reading; both votes were recorded as unanimous in open session.

The council discussed the items in executive session earlier in the meeting and then returned to the public meeting to take the votes. The judge and court staff intend to return to council with updates and initiatives for the coming year.","The Lafayette Municipal Court reported rising ticket volumes, expanded in-person operations and plans to seek grants and technology upgrades. Council unanimously reappointed the presiding municipal judge and approved a salary ordinance on first reading.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges council to prioritize $6M service center over larger bond projects

Toastmasters present Marquis de Lafayette history; library to host March program

Council approves consent agenda and appointments unanimously; water items and legal hires included

Lafayette municipal judge reappointed; court reports rising caseload, seeks streaming and paperless upgrades