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Lafayette adopts year‑round plaza display policy with 20‑day limit
Summary
The council unanimously adopted a policy allowing cultural displays in Lafayette Plaza year‑round for periods up to 20 days, with a first‑come/first‑served application process reviewed by the city manager and department heads and legal review to avoid overtly religious displays.
The Lafayette City Council voted unanimously to adopt an updated plaza display policy that expands the city’s 2015 winter holiday display rule to permit year‑round cultural displays for up to 20 days and limits plaza use to no more than two concurrent displays.
City Attorney Suhre Maine explained that the draft policy creates an application process routed to the city manager and relevant department heads for safety and compatibility review. "We would be looking at these displays, to ensure that they weren't necessarily overtly religious," Suhre Maine said, explaining staff will review submissions for compliance with state and federal constitutional law.
Under the policy, applicants must demonstrate that a display is a cultural holiday observance and meet sizing and location parameters; staff asked for applications at least 30 days in advance but not earlier than two months. The policy also authorizes the city manager to determine which plaza areas are available and limits city support to two displays at a time so the plaza remains usable.
A virtual commenter asked about potential conflicts with state law and referenced the Kennedy v. Bremerton case; the city attorney said the policy was drafted to comply with both state and federal constitutional requirements and that staff would consult the manager on any submissions that raise concerns.
Council members said the policy should be tried as a pilot and that the council can rescind or modify it later if needed. The motion to adopt the updated Lafayette Plaza holiday/display policy was moved by Council Member (Speaker 6), seconded by Speaker 3, and approved unanimously (4–0).
