Sustainability Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2020 09 16

Home Browse Search

ORDINANCE NO.04, SERIES 2020 INTRODUCED BY: COUNCILOR TIM BARNES AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE, COLORADO, AMENDING CHAPTER 25 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF LAFAYETTE, COLORADO, REGARDING PRAIRIE DOGS WHEREAS, the Lafayette City Council recognizes the importance of existing and planned uses of urban properties and human land uses in urban areas to the Lafayette community, but also believes that protection of biodiversity and of natural ecosystems are important community goals; and WHEREAS, the Lafayette City Council believes it is important to find a way to balance all the elements and processes of naturally evolving ecosystems, including the natural abundance, diversity and ecological integrity of plants and wildlife, with human needs; and WHEREAS, the Lafayette City Council further believes it is important to minimize adverse impacts of any conflicts between the presence of wildlife and desired land uses on the health, safety and welfare of the City and its citizens and natural ecosystems through the exercise of police power; and WHEREAS, increased development in Lafayette, coupled with Lafayette's strategic location near Denver and Boulder, and other factors, have resulted in significant increases in human land use activities, conflicts between prairie dogs and landowners and conflicts between prairie dog control measures and other wildlife species and habitats and local ecological processes; and WHEREAS, increases in conflicts between wildlife and urban life have further resulted in increased relocation of prairie dogs from private lands onto publicly -owned open space when conflicts between the animals and existing or planned land uses were irresolvable; and WHEREAS, the Lafayette City Council finds that continued increases in conflicts between wildlife and urban life, coupled with the lack of available publicly -owned open space for prairie dog relocations, negatively impact Lafayette's citizens and natural ecosystems; and WHEREAS, the Lafayette City Council further finds that the present regulations of the City of Lafayette that relate to wildlife and ecosystem management inadequately address such impacts; and WHEREAS, the City Council further finds and determines that the amendments herein to Chapter 25 of the Code of Ordinance of Lafayette, Colorado will help to minimize adverse impacts to publicly -owned open space, local biological diversity, local natural ecosystems and wildlife habitat, and the public health and safety, and help to balance ecosystem and wildlife protection with human land uses in the community.