Castle Rock Town Council Meeting - July 19, 2022: Compensation, Budget, Infrastructure
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Castle Rock Town Council Meeting - July 19, 2022
The Castle Rock Town Council met on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at 6:00 PM in Town Hall Chambers. The meeting opened with an invocation and condolences for a recent community tragedy. Key actions included approval of employee compensation adjustments, a $19.1 million budget amendment, updates on drought conditions and wireless facilities, and several infrastructure project contracts. All votes were unanimous (7-0).
Consent Calendar
- Resolution 2022-075: Assigning the Town's 2022 Private Activity Bond Volume Cap to the Douglas County Housing Partnership.
- Resolution 2022-076: Approving purchase of 2,500 tons of Ice Slicer from Envirotech Services, Inc.
- Resolution 2022-077: Approving a construction contract with 53 Corporation, LLC for the Covy Court Stormwater Improvements Project.
- Minutes 2022-013: Approving minutes from June 21, 2022, and July 5, 2022 meetings.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public offered comment on any agenda item.
Discussion Items
- Wireless Communication Facilities Update (ID 2022-077): Matt Gohl reported that the Town has 19 wireless facilities, 3 master agreements in place, and 18 applications in process. Since 2017, 45 applications have been received, with only 1 denied. The Town cannot dictate tower locations; HOA decisions are key. Councilmember Cavey (Verizon employee) noted HOA involvement is critical.
- Drought Status Update (ID 2022-078): Mark Marlowe reported the Water Supply Index is hovering around 1.1, triggering consideration of a Stage 1 Drought Advisory asking for voluntary 10% reductions. Plum Creek flows are significantly below normal. Councilmember Johnson highlighted grim outlooks from a recent state task force, comparing to droughts of 2002-2003 and 2012-2013. Council voted to delegate authority to the Water Director to issue a Stage 1 Advisory if triggers are met.
- Calendar Reminders (ID 2022-079): Upcoming events include National Night Out (Aug 2), Candidate Orientation (Aug 8), and neighborhood meetings.
- Development Services Project Updates (ID 2022-081): Tara Vargish presented pre-applications (ADU on Senter Drive, 99-unit multifamily in Meadows Town Center, fueling station at Walmart) and active applications: Castle View Senior (200 units, 55+, 60% AMI, rent $1,200-$1,600/month); Meadows Town Center (85 units mixed-use); Affinity Senior (174 units); Plum Creek residential lots. Town Manager noted a fee waiver request for Castle View Senior will come to Council later.
- Employee Compensation, Retention and Recruitment (DIR 2022-015): Town Manager David Corliss recommended a mid-year market adjustment of $1/hour or 3% (whichever higher) plus a $250 stipend for entry-level positions under $70,000, retroactive to July 9. He cited inflation, difficulty attracting/retaining staff, and competitor actions (Douglas County 4% + stipend, Parker 2%, Parker Water & Sanitation $3/hour). Councilmember Cavey raised recession risk; Corliss said budget is conservative and adjustments could be made if needed.
- Second Amendment to 2022 Budget (ORD 2022-014, First Reading): Finance Director Trish Muller presented a $19,128,116 increase offset by >$20M in revenue, including TABOR surplus allocation ($8.5M general fund, $500K fire capital, $5.64M transportation) used for Fire Station 156 ($6M), police basement renovation ($2M), road construction ($5.64M), fire mitigation ($1M). Employee compensation for 6 months totals $1,613,359. Other items: Bell Mountain Infrastructure, sewer assessment, golf course carpet/turf, fire records system.
- Bid Requirements Amendment (ORD 2022-015, First Reading): Proposed raising Town Manager sole-source authority from $75,000 to $250,000 for goods/services, consistent with existing purchase authority. Council discussed emergency definitions and non-responsive bidders; concerns addressed by Corliss.
- 2022 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan (RES 2022-078): $235,000 in CDBG funds allocated to senior meal delivery (approx. 500 meals served since March, $9K), ADA improvements at Butterfield Park restroom ($150K), and admin costs. Public open house had no attendees; no public comments received in 30-day period.
- Wolfensberger Widening Design Contract (RES 2022-079): Service agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group for design of widening Wolfensberger Road to 4 lanes with bike lanes, pedestrian access, and roundabout at Red Hawk Drive. Budget $2.5M; bid under budget. Councilmember Johnson disclosed her husband works for Jacobs but stated no conflict.
- Four Corners Intersection Improvement Contract (RES 2022-080): Service agreement with RockSol Consulting Group for construction management of improvements at Founders Parkway/State Highway 86/Fifth Street/Ridge Road. 80% federally funded, 20% local match. Budget $757,000; completion summer 2023.
- 2022 Bridge Rehabilitation Contract (RES 2022-081): Contract with ABCO Contracting for repairs to South Wilcox Street over East Plum Creek and Plum Creek Parkway over Union Pacific Railroad. Budget $800,000; bid came in $425,000 under. Work August-October 2022.
- Nighttime Construction Variance (RES 2022-082): Request to vary noise ordinance for night work on Craig and Gould North Infrastructure Improvements: 4 days of 24-hour jack-and-bore at railroad, and up to 3 weeks of night trench excavation on 6th Street to minimize business disruption. Project 30% complete, $7.6M budget. Hotel accommodations offered to affected residents (~25).
Key Outcomes
- Drought Authority: Council unanimously delegated authority to the Castle Rock Water Director to issue a Stage 1 Drought Advisory between meetings if the Water Supply Index drops below 1.1 and other triggers are met.
- Employee Compensation Adjustment: Council unanimously directed staff to implement market adjustment ($1/hour or 3%, whichever higher) plus a $250 stipend for employees under $70,000, effective July 9, 2022.
- Budget Amendment (First Reading): Ordinance 2022-014 approved unanimously on first reading.
- Bid Requirements Change (First Reading): Ordinance 2022-015 approved unanimously on first reading.
- CDBG Annual Action Plan: Resolution 2022-078 approved unanimously; plan to be submitted to HUD by August 16, 2022.
- Wolfensberger Widening Contract: Resolution 2022-079 approved unanimously.
- Four Corners Construction Management Contract: Resolution 2022-080 approved unanimously.
- Bridge Rehabilitation Contract: Resolution 2022-081 approved unanimously.
- Nighttime Construction Variance: Resolution 2022-082 approved unanimously.
- Meeting Adjourned: 7:56 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Um I'd like to open up a prayer tonight. You know, in light of uh I mean I went to two funerals in last week and then also with in light of what happened last few uh couple days ago and near Perry's Pizza. You know, I'd like to open up an in a different prayer. Um hopefully some uh something to raise the spirit a little bit. Uh Lord is Lord is near the brokenhearted and it's saves the crushed spirit. And all we can do with the with Christ, all can we do all of us can do all things with Christ, which strengthens me. And move on to the other part of the prayer is um help us engage in meaningful discussion, give us clarity and strength to do on our best skills and our judgment. Please bless our community, our residents, our businesses, and visitors, and please please help us continue doing good work in your name. Amen. This meeting has been held in a connected meeting in accordance with the town council electronic participation connected hybrid meeting policy as a town clerk for roll call. Councilmember Hollingshead. Here, Councilmember KV. Yes, Councilmember LaFlore. Here, Councilmember Johnson. Here. Councilmember Deeds. Here. Mayor Pratim Bracken. Present. Mayor Gray. Here. All are present. Thank you. Please rise to please allegiance. I know that everybody either watching or here or watching in the future understands what our community has gone through. This last week we had a uh a murder in our neighborhoods, and it's it's hard. Um it's really really difficult. Um but it is an active investigation. It is something that wouldn't be appropriate for a council to talk about. Um we don't want to uh do anything that's inappropriate out there, and making sure that they can do the investigation properly is is important and they can hand that investigation off to prosecutors in this in the future. So we are mindful of that. I think that's more what's more important is to be mindful of the victim and their family rather than being um speculating on what on the uh on the perpetrator. Really what we need to do is support the victim and her family in any way we can. If you know the victim is in their family, the victim and their family, please reach out to them and please let us help if we can. Um it's really really important that we can do something for them and uh take take a little bit of their pain away. Um I appreciate that. And with that, I'll move on to Ryan Hollingshead. Thanks, Mayor. Um, just wanted to say thanks for all the help from town staff, especially our communications department with our first open house of the summer. Uh went really great last week at Bison Park. And you know, we got a pretty good turnout with all the creative ways of getting the messaging out, and it also stood up a lot of emails of people who wish they would have come and just asked questions. So I've gotten some good feedback from that. So thank you. Councilmember Katie. Thank you, Mayor. I just would like to um extend my heartfelt condolences to the gentleman that lost his life in our community two nights ago. It was a terrible tragedy, and um, you know, my thoughts and prayers are with his family and his friends. Thank you. Councilmember the floor.
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