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Erie council approves contract with Lotus to update sustainability and add climate-action plan, with midterm study session
Summary
The council approved a contract with Lotus Engineering & Sustainability to update Erie's sustainability plan and create a measurable climate-action component; approval included a motion to hold a study session with the consultant mid‑process and invitations to advisory boards, and council accepted a Boulder County matching grant of about $30,000 toward the work.
The Erie Town Council voted on Jan. 28 to contract with Lotus Engineering & Sustainability to update the town's 2019 sustainability plan, incorporate a climate‑action component based on greenhouse‑gas inventories (2021 and 2023), and provide a five‑year implementation assistance package.
Sustainability Manager Erica Thorley said the town received three proposals and selected Lotus for local knowledge, equity‑focused outreach capacity and an implementation component other bidders lacked. Thorley described public engagement beginning in spring 2025 with a draft plan expected in late 2025 for resident comment and final adoption shortly thereafter.
Council members asked about prior work by Lotus, integration with the comprehensive plan and resilience planning, water efficiency scope, landfill methane‑capture work, and funding. Thorley confirmed a Boulder County sustainability matching grant of just over $30,000 has been awarded to support the effort and noted Erie's local share is roughly $85,000 (total contract roughly $117,000). Councilors stressed the need for balanced outreach and to consider fiscal priorities and housing-affordability trade-offs when framing recommendations.
Several councilors requested a mid‑process study session with Lotus and invited appropriate advisory boards (tree board, airport, sustainability advisory board, etc.) to participate; the final motion approved the contract with the condition that the council hold a study session within the next six months to review progress and that staff invite board representatives. Ms. Thorley said Lotus will begin work in February and community engagement will be active through the summer.
