Castle Rock Town Council Meeting: October 4, 2022

The Castle Rock Town Council met on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at 6:00 PM in the Town Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included an executive session, proclamation, consent calendar, and several advertised public hearings and action items. Council approved a resolution supporting the Douglas County School District's mill levy override and bond initiatives, adopted the five-year Capital Improvement Program and Balanced Financial Plan, approved a construction contract for the Colorado Front Range Trail, established designated truck routes, and advanced a right-of-way vacation.

Consent Calendar

• Ordinance 2022-021 (Second Reading): Adopted the 2023 Fiscal Year Budget for the Town of Castle Rock.
• Ordinance 2022-022 (Second Reading): Amended stormwater development impact fees, water and stormwater rates, and meter set fees.
• Ordinance 2022-023 (Second Reading): Levied general property taxes for the Town for 2022, to be collected in 2023.
• Ordinance 2022-024 (Second Reading): Levied general property taxes on behalf of the Castle Rock Downtown Development Authority for 2022, to be collected in 2023.
• Resolution 2022-108: Appointed directors to the Boards of Directors of Dawson Ridge Metropolitan District Nos. 1 and 5.
• Minutes 2022-016: Approved minutes from September 6 and September 20, 2022 Town Council meetings. All consent items were approved unanimously (7-0) with no discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were received during the Unscheduled Public Appearances or during any of the advertised public hearings.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 2022-109: Council expressed support for the Douglas County School District’s 2022 Mill Levy Override and Bond Initiatives (5A and 5B). Councilmember Cavey voted no; the resolution passed 6-1.
• Resolution 2022-110 and 2022-111: Town Manager Dave Corliss presented the 2023-2027 Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Balanced Financial Plan (BFP). Highlights included a 35% increase in police and 39% increase in fire department budgets over five years, and funding for transportation projects through impact fees. Council discussed the need for state funding for the Crystal Valley Interchange with CDOT. Both resolutions passed unanimously (7-0).
• Ordinance 2022-028 (First Reading): Approved the Third Amendment to the 2022 Fiscal Year Budget, increasing budgeted revenues by $3.8 million and expenditures by $12.8 million, including funds for trail improvements, park construction, and drainage improvements. The budget remains balanced. Passed unanimously (7-0).
• Resolution 2022-112: Approved a $6.43 million construction contract with Native Sun Materials Inc. d/b/a Native Sun Construction for the Colorado Front Range Trail project. The trail will be five miles of 10-foot-wide concrete, connecting sections through Castle Rock. Funding includes a $2 million Connect Initiative grant. Passed unanimously (7-0).
• Resolution 2022-113: Established designated truck routes to limit heavy truck traffic adjacent to residential areas. Discussion noted the estimated truck traffic increase was less than 3% of total volume. Councilmember Johnson voted no; passed 6-1.
• Ordinance 2022-027 (First Reading): Vacated a 2.5-acre, 50-foot-wide unimproved portion of Brookside Circle right-of-way owned by Foundation Automotive Group to facilitate redevelopment. Councilmember Dietz voted no; passed 6-1.

Key Outcomes

• Votes:
  • Support for school district initiatives: 6-1 in favor.
  • Five-Year CIP and Balanced Financial Plan: both 7-0.
  • Third budget amendment (first reading): 7-0.
  • Front Range Trail contract: 7-0.
  • Truck routes: 6-1 (Johnson opposed).
  • Brookside Circle vacation (first reading): 6-1 (Dietz opposed).
• Next Steps: Staff to implement truck route signage; design and construction of Front Range Trail to begin fall 2022 with completion by September 2023; further budget amendments as needed; continued pursuit of funding for Crystal Valley Interchange.