City Council - July 21, 2026

The City Council of Lafayette, Colorado, held a meeting on July 21, 2026, focused exclusively on the Lafayette Cemetery issue. The council discussed a comprehensive subcommittee recommendation addressing long-standing challenges related to cemetery plot management, including buybacks, burial options, and individual plot agreements. Key procurement-related decisions included increasing the buyback amount for plots to $2,000 to align with regional benchmarks, waiving one cremains burial fee per plot, and authorizing the city manager to execute individual plot agreements with plot holders. The council also considered amendments to cemetery rules and regulations to implement these changes. A significant policy decision was the establishment of a 90-day (later amended to October 31, 2026) deadline for plot holders to initiate contact with the city regarding their burial preferences, with a final decision deadline extended to January 31, 2027. The resolution prohibits casket burials outside of specific exceptions and includes provisions for repurposing sold-back plots and potentially forming a "Friends of the Lafayette Cemetery" community group. Public input was extensive, with residents expressing concerns about timelines, costs (notably for professional observers during burials), and the accuracy of ground-penetrating radar data. The council voted to approve the amended resolution, reflecting a balance between addressing urgent cemetery management needs and accommodating community concerns.