Lafayette officials outline $74 million in priority facility needs, ask council to weigh financing options

Lafayette city officials on Tuesday presented an initial plan for three priority capital projects — a renovated recreation and aquatic center, a new city hall and a renovated public works service center — and laid out municipal financing options for council consideration.

City Manager Katie Dolan opened the presentation by saying the meeting would “touch on and elaborate on 3 priority projects that we've identified,” and financial advisers from Hilltop Advisors described tools ranging from certificates of participation to sales‑tax revenue bonds and unlimited‑tax general obligation bonds.

The projects identified as highest priority reflect deferred facility maintenance and aging infrastructure. Deputy City Manager Megan Davis summarized the facility assessments staff commissioned in 2023–24: “The recommendation was for replacement of City Hall. For the recreation center and aquatic center was a renovation and a renovation for the service center,” and she said earlier assessments and preliminary designs produced the cost estimates presented to council.

Staff presented preliminary cost estimates escalated to 2026: roughly $34 million for a substantial recreation and aquatic center project, $34 million for a new city hall and $6 million for the service center — about…