Lafayette outlines $74M capital package for rec center, civic center and service center; council OKs polling and outreach

City staff presented Feb. 25 a package of three capital projects and financing options and recommended pursuing a general obligation bond funded by property tax; council directed staff to proceed with community polling and outreach to gauge voter support.

The projects under consideration are a recreation and aquatic center, a new civic center to replace or augment City Hall, and expansions/repairs at the city service center. Staff estimated the combined package at about $74 million and recommended a 20‑year bond structure; staff also presented alternatives using a sales‑tax increase and cautioned about sales‑tax volatility.

Deputy City Manager Davis described the package as meeting “the strategic outcomes that we’ve identified here at the city,” and said the projects respond to facilities that have been in service 30–50 years. Staff presented two options for the recreation facility (a more extensive expansion and a renovation), described accessibility and life‑safety deficiencies at City Hall (built 1985), and…