INSIDE u B e A Part Of...
A sustainable Lafayette. Opportunities to reduce, reuse, recycle and enjoy healthy, sustainable food.
u Be A Part Of...
Healthy lifestyles. Happy Trails! All trail repairs from the 2013 flood are now complete.
u Be A Part Of...
Community life. See the community calendar on the back page. Be a part of it!
cityoflafayette.com/jobs
www.cityoflafayette.com/Connect to sign up for text/email notices, Emergency Alerts, and view online publications. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!
It’s a great time to be part of the positive momentum in Lafayette! The Lafayette Connection encourages residents to BE A PART OF IT—engaged and informed about COMMUNITY LIFE, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, and SUSTAINABLE LIVING in Lafayette. The Lafayette Connection is published three times a year, connecting you with your community.
The Recreation Center is “Movin’ on Up”! Free Open House–March 8
To officially celebrate its second floor expansion, the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center will host free admission and a community open house on March 8 from Noon to 5:00pm. The 1,500 square foot second floor expansion includes a dedicated spin studio, a cardio room, a functional training area, and expanded group fitness capabilities. The cardio room boasts scenic outdoor views and features 17 pieces of cardiovascular equipment with both personal and shared entertainment screens. The functional training space will include popular resistance training elements and areas for flexibility and core fitness workouts. Also included in the project is the addition of a facility elevator providing improved access for all patrons. Admission will be free for the public from Noon to 5:00pm on March 8. Visit www. cityoflafayette.com/Recreation
for a schedule of all activities offered throughout the afternoon including 30 minute fitness class demos, guided tours, light refreshments and information booths. 2015 marks the Recreation Center’s 25th anniversary serving the Lafayette community. Mark your calendars to attend “Bob’s Big Birthday Bash” on October 10!
City Launches New Logo In late 2014, graphic artists participated in a competition to design a new City logo with the intent to provide a fresh and updated representation of Lafayette’s personality and forward momentum. The former logo had been in use since 1982 and served the City well for over three decades. In addition to representing an abstract of Lafayette’s view of the mountains to the west, the plains to the east, and the water of Waneka Lake, the new logo
symbolizes the “sails” covering Festival Plaza. This mark also denotes Lafayette’s community involvement areas; community life, active lifestyles, and sustainable living; converging and interacting with one another.
is being made to gradually replace logo items as inventories are depleted or are in need of replacement, ensuring a financially responsible replacement strategy.
Lafayette residents were given the task of selecting the winning design through an online voting process. The new mark began to appear around town in January. A conscientious effort
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| COMMUNITY LIFE
Mayor’s Corner Welcome to Sustainable Lafayette! u Sustainable Energy
u Reducing
Lafayette is home to solar gardens that provide 1.5 million-kilowatt hours per year of solar generated electricity, offsetting an estimated 1,034 metric tons of carbon dioxide. This is an annual environmental benefit equivalent to about 213 zero-emission passenger vehicles or 27,883 newly planted trees growing for ten years.
The City works hard to ensure our special events are sustainable. The 2015 Oatmeal Festival boasts a 99% diversion rate which kept these items out of landfills;
Sustainability makes good “cents”! Lafayette also has solar panels on several city buildings which have saved the over $160,000 to date. We’re a certified Gold Level Solar Friendly Community due to our innovative solar industry partnerships and leadership adopting best practices. Other city sustainability programs include water conservation projects, the Lafayette Green Business Program, electric vehicle charging stations, and EnergySmart commercial and residential programs.
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98 pounds of recyclable material 340 pounds of cardboard material 1240 pounds of compostable material only 16 pounds of trash was disgarded!
u Reusing Each year, Americans throw away 33 millions tons of food waste–that equates to 254 pounds per person. All of this ends up in a landfill. Lafayette residents now have an opportunity to keep food waste out of the landfill through the new curbside composting program! Visit www.cityoflafayette.com/PublicWorks for composting tips.
u Recycling Lafayette has a 27% recycle diversion rate that represents approximately 135 tons per month of material that is recycled and not land-filled. These recyclables produce an annual revenue stream of approximately $11,000 which fund other environmental programs in Lafayette.
u Sustainable Food Isabelle Farm at Thomas Open Space is a permanent farm stand facility providing citizens with local produce and the opportunity to become a member of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). The Lafayette Farmers Market, located in the lot behind Lafayette Marketplace, also provides an option for locally grown produce and artisanal provisions every Sunday, May–September. Eat local! Through the Wilson and Kerr Community Gardens over 100 plots are available to residents looking to raise fresh vegetables. It’s not too early to start thinking about planting your garden for spring!
Walking the Talk Local nonprofit and Lafayette Green Business Award Winner Sister Carmen Community Center, has been strengthening the community and families for over 30 years. Individuals, grocers and farmers donate to their food bank which has enabled them to provide 1,273,676 pounds of food to families. They also grow much needed fresh produce in their own community garden! The Sister Carmen Thrift Store is the ultimate place for reusing and repurposing items which would otherwise end up in the landfill. Proceeds from the thrift store keep Sister Carmen’s essential programs going.
Learn more about sustainability programs in Lafayette! Check out www.cityoflafayette.com/GoGreen Happy recycling, reducing, reusing, composting and planting!
Mayor Christine Berg
u Spring Clean Up; April 27–May 6 Each year the Public Works Department offers free residential pickup of tree limbs, bagged leaves, and grass. This “green” program requires yard waste to be bagged into compostable bags. Visit www.cityoflafayette.com/ SpringCleanUp for details and the pickup schedule for your specific neighborhood. Drop off service is also available at the Service Center 1700 Avalon weekdays through May 6.
SUSTAINABLE LIVING |
Be a Part of...Community Life You know Lafayette is great, but did you know we’re…. • one of the top 5 Colorado cities to raise children • one of only 30 Colorado HEAL Cities (Healthy Eating Active Living) • a “Gold Level” Solar Friendly Community • one of the top 10 Safest Places to Live in Colorado • the 2014 top Parks and Recreation agency nationwide for populations of our size • a National League of Cities “Inclusive City” • a Governor’s Arts Award winner Learn more about other great recognitions your community has received at www.cityoflafayette.com/Awards
Be a Part of...Healthy Lifestyles Happy Trails! Trail destruction caused by the 2013 flood is now officially behind us! Approximately 95% of the Coal Creek Trail was severely impacted by this flood and required 15,000 lineal feet, or just under 3 miles of trails to be rebuilt or repaired. The final portion of trail and underpass repairs were completed in December 2014. The South Public Road Trailhead was hit especially hard, but this clean slate provided the Lafayette Open Space Division an opportunity to include exciting enhancements in the re-design. Residents now have access to 22 parking spaces and a permanent restroom facility. Additionally, the trail underpass is wider and taller, providing more light, better visibility and safer passing clearances for pedestrians. Ongoing efforts to revegetate the trail corridor will continue throughout 2015 and beyond. Users will notice areas where the trail route has been pulled back from the creek to lessen the potential for future problems and costly repairs in a flood. Staff is working to identify andenhance natural gathering places closerto the water to provide users with more intimate experiences within close proximity to the creek. Volunteer opportunities to assist with upcoming projects will be listed on www.wlrv.org or www.cityoflafayette.com/Trails For a map and more information about the Coal Creek Trail and other magnificent passages through Lafayette visit www.cityoflafayette.com/Trails.
17 new Art on the Street sculptures will be installed in March. Giraffe by Dale Montagne will be a new installation at the WOW! Children’s Museum. www.cityoflafayette.com/AOTS
Be a Part of... Sustainable Living Lafayette Residents Continue Water Conservation Residents continue to uphold and support Lafayette’s water conservation measures. A permanent ordinance was put into place following the 2013 drought to protect the City’s water resources and includes the following practices; • No watering of outdoor landscaping between the hours of 10am and 6pm. Watering by hand with a hose equipped with an automatic shut-off valve is allowed during these hours. • Excessive overrun of water onto any area not covered by vegetation such as sidewalks, curbs, driveways, streets and other paved areas is prohibited. • Washing down paved areas such as driveways with a hose is not allowed.
Water Conservation Resources • FREE! Xeriscape workshops on April 16 and 29 • Garden In A Box kits will be available March 6 • Slow the Flow free indoor water audits Check the back page calendar for event details or more info at: www.cityoflafayette.com/PublicWorks
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Lafayette Connection Calendar Events u FEBRUARY February 1-28 Red Dress Month Free heart healthy classes all month Bob Burger Rec Center / 111 W. Baseline Rd. www.cityoflafayette.com/Recreation
February 4-April 8; Every Wednesday 1-5pm
Tax Help from AARP volunteers Lafayette Library; Call for appt 303-665-5200, option 2 www.cityoflafayette.com/Library
February 15; 9am-3pm
Winter Compass Navigation Hike at Echo Lake at Mt. Evans Depart from Jax Outdoor Gear (900 Hwy 287) www.cityoflafayette.com/ OutdoorAdventure
u MARCH March 6–while supplies last
Garden In A Box kits go on sale www.cityoflafayette.com/GardenInABox 303-999-3820 x222
March 7; 10-11am
Confab with Christine Monthly meet the Mayor event Every 1st Saturday. Check website for location. www.cityoflafayette.com
March 12; 10am-2pm
Brilliant–Cartier In the 20th Century (Denver Art Museum) Depart from the GO! Center 103 S. Iowa. www.cityoflafayette.com/Go
March 28; 10-11am (rain date April 4)
Easter Egg Hunt; Ages 1-8 Waneka Lake Park / 1600 Caria Dr www.cityoflafayette.com/Recreation
March 28; 10am-Noon
Air is Everywhere; A Leap into Science Family Workshop preschool age+ & families Lafayette Library / 775 W. Baseline Rd www.cityoflafayette.com/Library
u APRIL April 4; 10-11am
Confab with Christine Monthly meet the Mayor event Every 1st Saturday. Check website for location. www.cityoflafayette.com
April 13-27
May15; 10am-3pm
One Book 4 Colorado Book Giveaway (while supplies last) Lafayette Library / 775 W. Baseline Rd www.cityoflafayette.com/Library
Beer, Beautiful Beer–A Guided Denver History Tour Depart from the GO! Center 103 S. Iowa. www.cityoflafayette.com/Go
April 16; 6-8 pm
May 30; Noon-3pm
Xeriscape for Beauty & Conservation Space limited–registration required. Lafayette Library / 775 W. Baseline Rd 303-999-3820 x222. www.conservationcenter.org/water-wise-seminars
April 22; 6pm
Signs of a Living Planet; Seeing Earth through Lafayette Open Spaces Lafayette Library / 775 W. Baseline Rd Space is limited–registration req’d to Martin@EntrepreneurialEarth.com
April 27-May 6
Spring Clean Up; City-wide yard waste pick up program www.cityoflafayette.com/SpringCleanUp
April 29; 6-8 pm
Installing and Maintaining Your Xeriscape Garden Space limited–registration required. Lafayette Library / 775 W. Baseline Rd 303-999-3820 x222. conservationcenter.org/ water-wise-seminars
u MAY May 2; 10-11am
u JUNE June 1-July 17 Every Hero Has a Story! Summer Reading Program Sign-Up for Infants–adults Lafayette Library / 775 W. Baseline Rd www.cityoflafayette.com/SummerReading
Every Wednesday; June 3-July 22; 12-1pm
Picnic on the Plaza Concert Series Festival Plaza/311 S. Public Rd www.cityoflafayette.com/FestivalPlaza
June 6; 10-11am
Confab with Christine Monthly meet the Mayor event Every 1st Saturday. Check website for location. www.cityoflafayette.com
June 13; 9am-12pm
Confab with Christine Monthly meet the Mayor event Every 1st Saturday. Check website for location. www.cityoflafayette.com
Lafayette Police Dept Bicycle Rodeo 355 W. So. Boulder Rd (Flatirons Church parking lot). www.cityoflafayette.com/Police
May 4-10; Screen-Free Week
Art Night Out (every 3rd Fri) Festival Plaza / 311 S. Public Rd Enjoy music, beer/wine garden, artist booths, kids art every 3rd Friday, May through September. www.cityoflafayette.com/ANO
K-12 students receive a free week’s pass to the Rec Center when committing to turn off electronics Bob Burger Rec Center / 111 W. Baseline Rd. www.cityoflafayette.com/Recreation
May 10; Moms Play Free
Moms and grandmas get in free w/a child’s paid admission Bob Burger Rec Center / 111 W. Baseline Rd. www.cityoflafayette.com/Recreation
May 15; 5-9pm
Art Night Out (every 3rd Fri) Festival Plaza / 311 S. Public Rd Enjoy music, beer/wine garden, artist booths, kids art every 3rd Friday, May through September. www.cityoflafayette.com/ANO
April 13; 10:30am
One Book 4 Colorado Story Time Lafayette Library / 775 W. Baseline Rd www.cityoflafayette.com/Library
Kids Fishing Derby; Ages 6-12 The 1st 100 to pre-register receive a free fishing pole. Day of registration runs 10:45-11:45. Waneka Lake 1600 Caria Dr. www.cityoflafayette.com/OutdoorAdventure
June 19; 5-9pm
June 21; Dads Play Free
Dads and grandpas get in free w/a child’s paid admission Bob Burger Rec Center / 111 W. Baseline Rd. www.cityoflafayette.com/Recreation
u JULY July 4; 4-10pm 4th of July Celebration & Fireworks Food, beer/wine, kids activities, concert Waneka Lake Park 1600 Caria Dr www.lafayettecolorado.com
July 8; 10am-2pm Symbol denotes an ongoing and/or reoccuring event
Kids’ Public Safety Day LaMont Does Park 500 S. Boulder Rd www.cityoflafayette.com/Police