[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6573391,"mediaKeyId","3049891-c80df0b6248e3126ff4f095f2c21e864","parentId",3049891,"title","Council affirms work plan: wildfire prevention first, housing implementation and fiscal review next","audioSeconds",2265,"startMs",9875000,"endMs",12140000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3049891-c80df0b6248e3126ff4f095f2c21e864&start=9875&end=12140","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3049891-c80df0b6248e3126ff4f095f2c21e864/thumbnail_9875000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6573391/Lafayette/Contra-Costa-County/California/Council-affirms-work-plan-wildfire-prevention-first-housing-implementation-and-fiscal-review-next","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573391-a18adb216fac40a1e40abd6654895e07/orig.mp4?Expires=1770606253&Signature=E13wW2LkYuEWDm7YM~~e-Ee0J6Cz7W3pIORh3myx3QgPgXlUD9ZKP~DcTohdO17kFoalLdkf7wfrReaLNqapmzF3-mLkiwrqwish~uvY~AaM4WYRJ59txysgMEFZWq3tCSJToN204rjLZjog~8-ENw--jtfr9JmS6UTK9gba9fmHFFJorJCT2v1sR9PnQSRDN7w4DKy4QbNmAzll5BxxcrhtXgoJg66JZo-8w8Z1KYA03ytQFNMa9udxNr7yTmgxzAqKKXR7n~DAUdf7JEoHyLlJ4llcsC7uRKh1pNZwRsaOuNCIni2PAR02FEE6gkoHW3wTdJ~l4GTMfNheRBrxrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-18T10:04:21.377Z","article","At a March 24 meeting the Lafayette City Council confirmed a set of priorities for the coming fiscal year and directed staff to prepare implementation work plans tied to the budget. Councilmembers emphasized wildfire-prevention work as the top priority and also confirmed continued work on housing-element implementation and fiscal sustainability.

The city manager reported three council priorities identified at a March 7 workshop: wildfire prevention and preparedness; the Mount Diablo Corridor/ downtown planning work, and fiscal sustainability. Council members asked staff to place wildfire prevention first in any published ordering while treating all three as council priorities.

Housing-element update and progress report
Planning staff told the council the housing element, submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), remains under state review (HCD had up to 60 days to reply). Staff described a multi-tranche implementation plan for the housing element programs: a first batch of code and zoning updates would go to the planning commission in April with subsequent tranches to follow. Staff also noted limited planning staff capacity and said they are pursuing contract/planning-consultant help and will report back on resources required to implement the full set of programs.

Fiscal and revenue follow-up
The council asked staff to prepare analyses that place the city in position to consider the next fiscal steps: (A) a capital-assessment study; (B) exploration of additional revenue sources including advocacy on sales-tax allocation methodology; (C) efficiency studies; (D) determine expected revenue from the city’s new half-cent local sales tax; (E) determine potential impacts from federal spending changes.

Why it matters: The council’s confirmed priorities and requested work plans will guide the FY 2025–26 budget and staff workload. Council members stressed that housing-element program work must proceed while capacity shortfalls are resolved and that wildfire prevention should drive near-term spending and policy focus.

Ending
Staff will return with draft work plans and budget implications. Planning staff said the first tranche of housing-program implementation items will go to the planning commission in April and then to council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lafayette City Council Meeting, March 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Following a March workshop, Lafayette’s council confirmed priorities for the next fiscal year—placing wildfire prevention and preparedness first—directed staff to continue housing-element implementation despite staffing constraints, and asked finance staff to study revenue options including Bradley-Burns sales-tax allocation changes.","taxTitle","Lafayette, Contra Costa County, California","taxId",77659,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6573395,"Lafayette library reports rising circulation and programs; council proclaims National Library Week",1426,4373000,5799000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3049891-c80df0b6248e3126ff4f095f2c21e864&start=4373&end=5799","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3049891-c80df0b6248e3126ff4f095f2c21e864/thumbnail_4373000.jpg","/articles/6573395/Lafayette/Contra-Costa-County/California/Lafayette-library-reports-rising-circulation-and-programs-council-proclaims-National-Library-Week","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573395-969a9916b67d3cbee277138dbad62267/orig.mp4?Expires=1770606253&Signature=J65tOPot0eDwvCI3mC0Wnxy8ffF6GEBfopqObLSrYpN-ob~exzaTVXpSEg9Bvx77bLUux0BAgTK7XjR99sfKK3Q2Mq4tZ8AOhAqXHYDiAa6KKlzl0f9-ckSaWn9AUkFyWXdlf1NZqiWw~rYA~TL11sieOPF0~Pk2iHJC1cIqUfMj4ilmKg2-5xVSxnjDeZrfaLbFI6goNgUpLk5EMECpZjQD1g2dg5qq7Z5AgTGQjs6L4NDZDbp8Vk~zUvLlqfUQ2hhB7w~bH0C28Kdoy9KO95AvXUcxAmICp019~SJMzxrE8eT0W-5p6z183DvdZp~30u0RjiPiNmY6JLhsPFTgSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rob Tiggett, senior community library manager, and Carol Varney, executive director of the Lafayette Library & Learning Center Foundation, briefed the council on library activity and upcoming events and the council adopted a proclamation recognizing National Library Week.

During the March 24 meeting Tiggett reported a modest countywide increase in circulation (about 4%) and larger growth in e-book lending. He said Lafayette’s on-site counters showed roughly 204,000 annual visits using new counting technology and that Lafayette ranks high in per-capita e-book and e-audiobook circulation countywide. Tiggett also summarized outreach: summer programs, Rolling Reader mobile outreach serving children 0–5, and partnerships that produced thousands of meals and summer-reading participants.

Varney described the foundation’s funding mix (foundation, county, city, friends) and programming that supports library operations. She noted a potential risk from federal-level changes to Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) support and encouraged public backing for libraries nationally and locally.

Council action
The council adopted the National Library Week proclamation for April (motion moved and seconded; vote recorded—“All in favor, Aye”). The council and staff discussed communications and events and asked staff to post the proclamation and publicize upcoming National Library Week programs.

Why it matters: The Lafayette Library and Learning Center is a major community resource for early literacy, digital access and cultural programming. The foundation and “friends” group provide material and program support; the council’s proclamation is a recognition and a prompt to promote National Library Week activities.

Ending
Council members praised library staff and volunteers and asked staff and the foundation to work together on outreach for National Library Week and on efforts to restore or expand Sunday hours if county pilots support it.","Library staff and the Lafayette Library & Learning Center Foundation reported increases in circulation, summer-reading participation and outreach; the city council adopted a proclamation recognizing National Library Week and agreed to publicize related events.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6573400,"Lafayette council asks East Bay MUD for design compromises after decision to shorten reservoir tower",59,5881000,5940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3049891-c80df0b6248e3126ff4f095f2c21e864&start=5881&end=5940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3049891-c80df0b6248e3126ff4f095f2c21e864/thumbnail_5881000.jpg","/articles/6573400/Lafayette/Contra-Costa-County/California/Lafayette-council-asks-East-Bay-MUD-for-design-compromises-after-decision-to-shorten-reservoir-tower","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573400-96a42dc90accf721bd78c73f2397784f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770606253&Signature=LXovQayRt1JGLT1UaXNNiEIDXIGdNqSH9M-7ZwRGd~A7fato5LsucYpnsWtQWJA7oJsTOkmTOPh~9ARownhOewjGw5EDFUjYmZr9lN7mPzy9B-EqKM7S5P5t4oHv7HlpwniVuM0mfzaqIaRMZxFDoYs36InS9Mqc1cfLAN4RjRQK0AM3EPXRAJC5uYjCQT9luLYuSgkt1VyVRz01kDCJJIJu-sM4lkz0ZTePWFHRgPGw9JJZokCwn0-WJRi1MUSSj-AAvsBXwjeM7GujqWzWIG47YgYZ8NpaMMYA1gMaOtWPjpv3bve1yqg2aQrrdCeUJ3CLf9cUoKv9n6yKXV-ZKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lafayette City Council on March 24 discussed a long-running dispute with East Bay Municipal Utility District (East Bay MUD) over plans to shorten the Lafayette Reservoir tower. Council members said a technical advisory committee had proposed alternatives that East Bay MUD rejected and that the utility intends to proceed with construction in 2025.

City staff summarized six possible responses: continue technical discussions; pursue additional outreach to the East Bay MUD board; inform residents and encourage public comment; ask state or regional officials for help; consider litigation (by the city or private parties); or work with East Bay MUD to improve the final design. After discussion council members rejected litigation by the city as unlikely to succeed and instead focused on urging design changes and informing the public.

Why it matters: The tower is a local landmark. East Bay MUD has said seismic concerns and dam-safety issues motivate the retrofit; Lafayette officials and a volunteer technical committee proposed alternatives that the committee says were not accepted. Council members said they want to preserve as much historical character as possible while recognizing East Bay MUD’s stated safety concerns.

Council directions and next steps
- The council recorded four deliverables to pursue immediately: (1) the council liaisons (vice mayor and Council Member Cervantes) will meet with Lafayette’s East Bay MUD board member; (2) staff will post an informational web page describing the status of the project and how residents can comment; (3) staff will send a letter to East Bay MUD asking the utility to adopt a design that better matches the current tower aesthetic (including a request to reuse original doors/windows if feasible) and to consider shortening the tower by 30 feet rather than 40 feet; and (4) the city will issue a postcard or similar citywide notice and use social channels to direct residents to the web page and to East Bay MUD contact information so residents can comment directly.
- The council explicitly declined to authorize the city to commence litigation, and members said the city would not actively encourage private litigation, although private parties remain free to pursue legal action.

Clarifying points offered during discussion
- City staff said East Bay MUD had posted construction would begin in spring 2025 but that East Bay MUD had not yet finalized the operating-house design; demolition could precede final aesthetic decisions if the utility proceeds on its schedule.
- The Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) rates Lafayette Reservoir as “fair” for dam safety, and DSOD modeling treats inundation as a hazard because of downstream population exposure; council members said they were reassured by staff that catastrophic 30-foot inundation through downtown Lafayette was not an expected outcome and that dam-safety ratings reflect downstream exposure as well as structural condition.
- A member of the technical advisory committee told council staff that the committee found errors and “misinformation” in East Bay MUD statements to the public; the city said it would seek to correct factual misstatements in its communications while continuing to press East Bay MUD for design modifications.

Ending
Council members said their priority is to preserve the municipal relationship with East Bay MUD while improving the final appearance of the tower for Lafayette residents. Staff will prepare the web page and a draft letter to East Bay MUD; the council liaisons will pursue discussions with the board representative and return with an implementation update.","After two years of technical review, the Lafayette City Council was told East Bay Municipal Utility District plans to shorten the Lafayette Reservoir tower; council directed staff to increase public outreach and asked East Bay MUD to consider design changes to preserve historic character.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6573404,"Contra Costa County Fire briefs Lafayette on updated hazard maps, evacuation planning and new detection tools",399,1039000,1438000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3049891-c80df0b6248e3126ff4f095f2c21e864&start=1039&end=1438","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3049891-c80df0b6248e3126ff4f095f2c21e864/thumbnail_1039000.jpg","/articles/6573404/Lafayette/Contra-Costa-County/California/Contra-Costa-County-Fire-briefs-Lafayette-on-updated-hazard-maps-evacuation-planning-and-new-detection-tools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573404-2ecd61b93701a7a780fb2e34c9857239/orig.mp4?Expires=1770606253&Signature=RiiSUodzVn6Uy5KVdpW03CdABu1lmd5sgIaCxQ72vzYECbnHNnd8zZMZu0bGDEpEEo1ptbf90eP5cXKg2sJWoJIZzCq86Cg55RYeNc0biLvdhIqSPztPUxSmk8Xq6gWbxbWZ7GB~UWbLXYcR5BToRGnH4RVHt8BBZaicZ5zoLQJgmp-35J67S3FWd2RhoGbf3sojlccQdNi6NFTFpDxACg5F9eyzrKyt2PgigPfBdf2S0Z--f10oCOetB-smAaXA3-qVr5Sj4znJlIyV0cNRDibY4SiUfkXgNLwnnLeJsDa5totDb3wsIM6caAQUqRcrZXbmJZi4-2cr4RJJF9j1bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Contra Costa County Fire officials told the Lafayette City Council on March 24 that updated wildfire hazard maps released by Cal Fire and new modeling tools should change how local mitigation work is prioritized.

Assistant Chief (Contra Costa County Fire) summarized the county’s 2024 accomplishments, local call volume and how the department is preparing for fire season, and he outlined public steps residents should take now, including signing up for the county Community Warning System (CWS) and knowing their evacuation zone via the Genesis platform.

The presentation included three points city officials said matter most: (1) the state’s 2025 wildfire-hazard-severity maps now show very high, high and moderate classifications and cities must adopt map layers for local responsibility areas; (2) the county uses finer-grain fuel and flame-length models, plus structure-risk analysis, to prioritize mitigation projects beyond the map categories; and (3) new technology—ember-casting progression models and expanded aerial and camera detection systems—are being used to forecast fire spread and improve early response.

Why it matters: Lafayette residents face a mix of very high, high and moderate-rated areas under the 2025 maps. County officials said the updated maps change which neighborhoods will be eligible for some county mitigation work and grant programs, and urged residents to confirm their zone and defensible-space obligations.

Key details and follow-up actions
- The assistant chief said Lafayette apparatus ran about 2,195 calls in 2024 with medical calls and vehicle collisions the largest categories; the first two months of 2025 totaled 334 calls and call volumes are “on track” with last year.
- On the map changes, the presenter noted that Lafayette had about 4,440 acres previously listed as very high in the 2011 adopted maps; under the 2025 mapping there are 41 acres in the “very high” class, 5,309 acres now listed as high and 1,668 acres listed as moderate in Lafayette. He advised residents to use the county’s interactive before/after swipe tool to review neighborhood-level changes.
- The county is asking for public comments before the local ordinance adopting the updated maps; a public meeting was scheduled for April 1 at 6 p.m. in Martinez (Board of Supervisors chambers) with hybrid attendance and a recorded public-comment option.
- County mitigation decisions are not made solely on the severity map label; staff said they also review 5-meter fuel-resolution models that estimate predicted flame length, ladder fuels and slope to pick fuel-break and evacuation-route cleanup locations.
- On proposed “Zone 0” regulation (defensible-space rules closest to structures), the county said the draft Board of Forestry standards circulated in March would likely require new-construction rules to begin on a future date and may apply differently in State Responsibility Areas (SRA) versus Local Responsibility Areas (LRA). The draft at that time suggested zone-0 rules apply to all three severity classes in SRA but only to very high in LRA; the Board of Forestry workshops were continuing and public comment was open.
- The county described new modeling and detection tools—ember-cast progression models and AlertCalifornia wildfire cameras with emerging AI detection—as improving early detection and situational awareness; the presenter said the county validated model outputs on known past fires.

Resident questions and concerns
Residents asked about the new map numbers and how they were derived; one speaker said the acreage changes seemed confusing and asked for clarity on which areas grew or shrank in each category. County staff agreed to request and post the underlying moderate/high acreage breakdown used to make the maps.

A resident asked about the consequences for residents whose rating decreased; the county reiterated that mitigation prioritization uses multiple layers of data, not just the map label, and that grant eligibility and mitigation projects are considered using those finer-grain fuel and risk models.

Council discussion focused on public outreach and coordination. Council members and staff said they would ensure the city posts explanatory information and a link to the county’s interactive map and comment portal, and urged residents to sign up for CWS.

Ending
County staff encouraged Lafayette residents to sign up for emergency alerts, prepare a “go bag,” review defensible-space guidance and attend the April 1 public meeting to submit comments on the revised hazard maps. The county said it will continue outreach on evacuation-route cleanups, Firewise community support and other local mitigation activities.","Contra Costa County Fire presented updated wildfire hazard maps, local call statistics and new detection and modeling tools to the Lafayette City Council, answering council and resident questions about evacuation zones, “Zone 0” regulations and local mitigation work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council affirms work plan: wildfire prevention first, housing implementation and fiscal review next

Lafayette library reports rising circulation and programs; council proclaims National Library Week

Lafayette council asks East Bay MUD for design compromises after decision to shorten reservoir tower

Contra Costa County Fire briefs Lafayette on updated hazard maps, evacuation planning and new detection tools