Lafayette City Council Meets School Budget Crisis, Backs E-Bike Safety Rules

Lafayette's City Council moved unanimously on state legislation and governance housekeeping Tuesday, but the sharpest news came during council reports: local school districts have now cut $10 million combined, with instructional staff on the chopping block and the city about to inherit sole responsibility for crossing guards. Meanwhile, the Transportation Commission laid out a 2026 work plan that could reshape how people move through downtown.

• School districts face $10M in cumulative cuts; Lafayette School District will drop its 50% share of crossing guard funding, shifting costs to the city

• Council backs AB 2346, a state bill that would require e-bike speedometers and give cities authority to set local speed limits on paths and sidewalks

• SB 922 support protects over $1M in franchise fee revenue Lafayette uses for road maintenance after a court ruling threatened the funding stream

• BART defers station closures until fiscal year 2027-28 even if its November ballot measure fails, opting first for fare hikes and service cuts

• Burton Valley earns Firewise certification covering 917 homes and 3,000 residents

• Transportation Commission outlines ambitious 2026 agenda: smart signals, downtown parking study, multimodal mobility plan, and a long-overdue active transportation master plan

Councilmember Stella Wotherspoon delivered the meeting's most consequential news during council reports: Lafayette's two school districts are in serious financial distress, and the fallout is landing on the city's doorstep.