Lafayette's City Council tackled state wildfire legislation, introduced a new senior planner, and honored decades of volunteer service at its Monday, July 13 meeting — the first regular session since the city's June 9 housing settlement with the Housing Action Coalition.

The council's Legislation Committee, consisting of Councilmembers Candell and Cervantes, recommended the city oppose AB 1751 and support two wildfire-related bills, according to the meeting agenda. AB 1751, the Missing Middle Townhome Ownership Act by Assemblymember Quirk-Silva, would require cities to ministerially approve townhome projects that meet state density and design standards, stripping local discretionary review. The bill was amended and re-referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee as of July 2.

The committee recommended supporting SB 876 by Sen. Padilla, which would require insurers to pay actual cash value within 30 days of a total loss and double additional living expense limits during declared disasters. It also backed SB 894 by Sen. Allen, which would create a state loan program for home hardening and defensible space improvements. Both bills cleared committee and moved to Assembly Appropriations by early July.

Whether the full council voted to adopt those positions has not been confirmed. Official minutes had not been posted as of July 19.

New senior planner, volunteer recognition

Assistant City Manager Tracy Robinson introduced Scott Watkins as the city's new senior planner. The hire comes as Lafayette faces a busy planning calendar: under the June 9 settlement with the Housing Action Coalition, the city agreed to consider upzoning 130 acres along and near Mt. Diablo Boulevard and to pay $120,080 in attorney's fees.

"While we dispute HAC's contentions, this settlement agreement was made as part of a compromise in order to avoid time consuming and costly litigation," Mayor Carl Anduri said in the city's June 9 announcement of the deal.

Mayor Anduri also recognized four volunteers whose terms ended June 30: Design Review Commissioners Jon Gray (six years) and Arman Hailou (six and a half years), Banner Advisory Committee Member Judith Klein Flynn (10 years), and Capital Projects Assessment Committee Member Lee Thompson, who served 32 years.

The council entered closed session to confer with legal counsel on Vesce v. City of Lafayette (Contra Costa Superior Court Case No. MSC20-01130), a property access dispute involving a Happy Valley Road easement. The California Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's dismissal in April 2024 and sent the case back for further proceedings.

The consent calendar included approval of the June 22 meeting minutes and a reassignment of council liaison appointments.

The council's next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, July 21 at the Lafayette Library. Residents can submit written comments to [email protected] by noon the day of any meeting or attend in person at the Don Tatzin Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd.