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Record of Proceedings

Castle Rock Town Council Meeting Summary – March 7, 2023

Town Council — Tuesday, March 7, 2023
BodyCastle Rock, Colorado
SessionTown Council
DateTuesday, March 7, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

Good evening.

0:09

Um we'll open with an invitation from uh Pastor David Love in Calvary Castle Rock.

0:17

Well, good evening.

0:18

Let's pray.

0:21

Father, I'm very, very thankful.

0:23

Very thankful for Castle Rock.

0:25

I'm very thankful for a place that where we get to live.

0:28

I'm thankful for all the servants here.

0:30

Um that give their time in order to make decisions and try and lead and guide and all those kind of things.

0:36

And so I do, I want to pray specifically for them.

0:39

I just want to pray that you bless their families.

0:41

I just pray you bless their health.

0:43

I pray they can enjoy their kids, their grandkids.

0:46

We are very, very blessed to be here in Castle Rock.

0:50

And so I do want to pray for peace here.

0:53

I want to pray for prosperity to continue to happen.

0:56

I am so grateful to be able to come down here with my grandkids and be here downtown and making it a fun place to be.

1:03

And so, Lord, I just pray that you just give them incredible wisdom.

1:07

There's decisions that need to be made.

1:08

I pray the truth will be made known so they can make those kind of decisions.

1:13

But Lord, we do pray for them at our church.

1:15

And we ask that you continue to lead and guide them, give them wisdom to make the decisions they need and give them health and give them time with their families.

1:24

And I ask this in your son Jesus' name, amen.

1:27

Thank you guys for all that you do.

1:29

Thank you very much.

1:30

Really appreciate it.

1:32

Um first we'll have the pledges of allegiance followed by uh representative Lisa Ferzel.

1:46

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all things.

2:26

Good evening, Castle Rock Town Council.

2:29

It is such a privilege to be here before you this evening as we near our halfway point in the state general assembly.

2:38

I am Lisa Frazell, your representative in the State House, House District 45.

2:46

I just wanted to come and give you a very brief update on some of the activity we've been seeing so far this session.

2:56

Little information on where we stand as far as bills go, and of course, answer any questions that you might have for me.

3:04

As of yesterday, March 6th, 230 bills have been introduced into the House.

3:16

For reference, this is this is a little over 400 bills.

3:20

In last year's session, we saw well over 700 bills introduced.

3:25

So we're still about 300 bills short of where we ended up last year.

3:31

That means that a lot more, a lot more activity, a lot more bills will be coming our way.

3:43

So far this year.

3:45

One is, and this has been in the news a great deal, are gun bills.

3:50

Today we have six gun bills that have been introduced, and it could be that more are coming, but I believe that we've seen all of those uh hit the floor.

4:05

Another theme is around private property rights and tenants' rights legislation.

4:18

There have been a number of these bills introduced, whether it's rent control, rules around pet ownership in apartments, prohibited provisions and rental agreements, and just cause eviction legislation.

4:37

I myself have introduced a bill that is nearing the end of its life in the house and hopefully going on to the Senate.

4:46

And that is not a property rights or or landlord legislation, but it is a an affordable housing bill.

5:00

So it's House Bill 231184 that allows for housing uh land, sorry, exempting land for affordable housing development.

5:06

And this would apply only to nonprofit or charitable developers for the time frame that they own the property prior to selling it to an end user.

5:18

We have a number of business bills that have passed through the House.

5:27

One is the Fair Work Week bill, which actually was defeated last week.

5:32

But we also have a bill called Environmental Standards for Appliances that mandates standards for about 75 different appliances ensuring that they meet greater than the national standards for environmental use.

5:52

Another bill that is coming up is the homeowners insurance under insurance bill.

5:58

This bill will involve the state division of insurance in the decision on whether a house is appropriately insured or not, taking that away from insurance companies who actually are in the business of underwriting.

6:19

We've also seen a number of bills that I would term pro-criminal.

6:25

Limiting address for low-level offenses.

6:28

That bill will be coming, I believe it was actually heard today, and maybe it may have been postponed to tomorrow.

6:34

We've also seen passing through the House into the Senate overdose prevention center authorization, which would allow safe injection sites for those municipalities that opt in.

6:48

Another bill like this is the reporting of overdose and dennification.

6:54

Sorry, it's late.

6:55

I'm not talking so well.

6:57

Um and what that allows for is it if you are a drug dealer or a drug manufacturer, even someone who you have been in the presence of who has partaked of your drug and have they've overdosed the and you decide to call the police and you are not liable.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use█████████████████████████25%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████16%
Public Safety██████████10%
Legislative Updates█████████9%
Hazardous Materials Management███████7%
Legal and Judicial███3%
Annexation███3%
Racial Equity██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Castle Rock Town Council Meeting Summary – March 7, 2023

The Castle Rock Town Council met on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, from 6:00 PM to 8:07 PM in Town Hall Council Chambers. All seven Council members were present: Mayor Jason Gray, Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Bracken, and Councilmembers Ryan Hollingshead, Laura Cavey, Desiree LaFleur, Max Brooks, and Tim Dietz. The meeting included a legislative update from State Representative Lisa Frizell, a hazardous-materials risk briefing, development project updates, approval of the consent calendar, two quasi-judicial hearings, and adoption of three water-related plans.

Council Comments

  • Mayor Gray condemned anti-Semitic flyers circulating in Castle Rock, called the prejudice disheartening, and encouraged residents to report incidents to police.
  • Councilmember Brooks recognized his stepdaughter and highlighted 2022 crime reductions in Castle Rock, including a 42% decrease in property crime, a 4% decrease in crimes against persons, and a 15% decrease in auto theft, crediting Police Chief Cauley.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Bracken said emails from Denver City Council about climate preparedness and job creation were disingenuous and urged vigilance about state and Front Range policy messaging.

Legislative Update – Representative Lisa Frizell

  • Rep. Frizell (House District 45) reported that 230 bills had been introduced in the Colorado House as of March 6, compared with more than 700 bills in the previous session.
  • She described pending legislation on gun bills, tenant and property-rights measures, an affordable housing bill (HB 23-1184) exempting land for nonprofit and charitable affordable housing, and bills on overdose prevention centers and reporting immunity.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Bracken questioned the state potentially superseding local zoning and land-use control; Rep. Frizell said she had not yet seen that bill and that local-government experience in the legislature should guide decision-making.
  • Councilmember Cavey voiced strong opposition to pending gun-control bills and a psychedelics bill that municipalities could not opt out of. Councilmember Brooks expressed 100% support for defending Second Amendment rights alongside Cavey.

Town Manager’s Report

  • Assistant Town Manager Kristin Read provided a legislative update: the Town reaffirmed support for making motor-vehicle theft a felony, support for local control on psychedelics, and opposition to statewide land-use regulations. She asked Council for direction on proposed bills involving flushable-wipes labeling, collective bargaining, and municipal-code arrest authority.
  • Council directed staff to draft a letter communicating its positions to the Town’s legislative delegation, the Colorado Municipal League, and others. The motion passed 7-0. Council tabled a position on the collective-bargaining bill pending more information.
  • Town Manager Dave Corliss reminded Council of the April 6 State Demographer presentation and May 9 Boards and Commissions interviews.

Hazardous Materials Risk Overview

  • Fire Chief Norris Croom presented the hazardous-materials risk assessment requested after the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment.
  • Castle Rock Fire and Rescue is the Town’s designated emergency response agency; the county is the DARA for county property. The Town completed a comprehensive risk assessment in 2021, including a 12-month rail commodity flow study.
  • Most rail hazardous materials through town were Class 9 miscellaneous and Class 3 flammable liquids; 22% were other classes. None of the chemicals involved in the East Palestine derailment were transported on Castle Rock rail lines during the study period.
  • On highways, roughly 88% of vehicles observed were not placarded; of the 12% placarded, most carried flammable liquids and 65% spanned other hazardous-material classes.
  • Chief Croom said no one front-range department could handle an incident like East Palestine alone; the Town would rely on mutual-aid agreements, the Douglas County incident management team, and county, state, and federal escalation. The Town is not notified of train contents, but trains carry a bill of lading for responders.
  • Councilmember LaFleur asked about multi-jurisdiction highway incidents; Councilmember Cavey asked about notification of rail cargo; Councilmember Dietz thanked Chief Croom for the update.

Development Services Project Updates

  • Director Tara Vargish highlighted new pre-applications, including 10 warehouse condominiums at 379 Alexander Place (about 63,000 square feet), a Discount Tire storage enclosure, a town widening project on Crowfoot Valley Road, a Founders Village pool pavilion, a roundabout at Mikelson Boulevard and Mitchell Street, a Caliber Collision tenant (about 20,000 square feet) in the Meadows, and a VA Community Behavioral Health outpatient clinic near the AMC theater in the Meadows (under 25,000 square feet).
  • A formal application was received from T-Mobile to build a public bathroom at Bison Park with wireless equipment in the cupola; it will go to Planning Commission and later to Council.
  • Vargish noted upcoming Council discussions on multifamily parking requirements, industrial zoning, and sign code updates.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No oral public comments were made during unscheduled public appearances or the advertised public hearings.

Consent Calendar

  • Council approved the consent calendar 7-0, including:
    • ORD 2023-001, ORD 2023-002, and ORD 2023-003: Canyons Far South annexation, initial zoning, and development agreement.
    • RES 2023-020: Partial fee waiver for the Meadowmark Senior Multifamily Residential Housing Development.
    • ORD 2023-004: Ground lease with CORE Electric Cooperative for an EV charger at Philip S. Miller Park.
    • ORD 2023-005: Municipal code amendment regarding tasting licenses.
    • RES 2023-021 through RES 2023-024: Four water-rights lease agreements with Turnpike LLC, Rupple Farms LLC, Dove Meadow Dairy Inc., and H&H Farms.
    • MIN 2023-006: February 21, 2023 Town Council minutes.

Quasi-Judicial Hearings

  • ORD 2023-006: Plum Creek Planned Development Plan Amendment No. 3 – Council approved 7-0 a rezoning of a 1.5-acre tract west of Mount Royal Drive and West Prestwick Way to allow three single-family homes. The applicant, Peter Rinehart of The Douglas Group, and engineer Mike Tollefson of Point Consulting presented the proposal. Planning Commission had recommended approval 7-0 with a condition that the rezoning set no precedent for future golf-course rezoning. Council asked about view impacts and home values.
  • RES 2023-025: Wellspring Community Annexation substantial compliance – Council approved 7-0 a resolution finding the annexation petition for 498 E. Wolfensberger Road substantially compliant under state law and setting an eligibility hearing for April 18, 2023. The petition was signed by 100% of landowners owning 100% of the property.

Adopted Water Plans & Programs

  • RES 2023-028: 2023 Water Efficiency Master Plan (WEMP) – Approved 7-0. The plan aims to reduce demand to 100 gallons per capita per day (current level around 115–116), support renewable-water goals, implement advanced metering infrastructure, develop a ColoradoScape ordinance, and require high-efficiency toilets for new construction. Mark Marlowe, Director of Castle Rock Water, said meeting conservation goals could save $70–110 million in future water infrastructure costs.
  • RES 2023-026: 2023 Water Use Management Plan (WOMP) – Approved 7-0. The plan maintains summer watering schedules (no watering between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.), uses water monitors, and funds rebates through violation surcharges. Water Efficiency Supervisor Rick Schultz clarified that first violations carry no fine and are courtesy notifications; repeat violations drop significantly after the first notice.
  • RES 2023-027: 2023 Water Conservation Rebate Incentive Program (CRIP) – Approved 7-0. Changes include increasing the ColoradoScape turf-replacement rebate from $1.20 to $1.50 per square foot, reducing the rebate for impervious surfaces such as artificial turf to $1.00 per square foot, increasing high-efficiency toilet rebates from $100 to $150, removing smart-controller rebates, and increasing program funding from $145,000 to $200,000.

Key Outcomes

  • Agenda accepted 6-0, with Mayor Pro Tem Bracken not present for that vote.
  • Consent calendar approved 7-0.
  • Motion directing staff to draft a legislative-position letter approved 7-0; collective-bargaining position tabled for additional information.
  • ORD 2023-006 and RES 2023-025 each approved 7-0.
  • RES 2023-028, RES 2023-026, and RES 2023-027 each approved 7-0.
  • Meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Um we'll open with an invitation from uh Pastor David Love in Calvary Castle Rock. Well, good evening. Let's pray. Father, I'm very, very thankful. Very thankful for Castle Rock. I'm very thankful for a place that where we get to live. I'm thankful for all the servants here. Um that give their time in order to make decisions and try and lead and guide and all those kind of things. And so I do, I want to pray specifically for them. I just want to pray that you bless their families. I just pray you bless their health. I pray they can enjoy their kids, their grandkids. We are very, very blessed to be here in Castle Rock. And so I do want to pray for peace here. I want to pray for prosperity to continue to happen. I am so grateful to be able to come down here with my grandkids and be here downtown and making it a fun place to be. And so, Lord, I just pray that you just give them incredible wisdom. There's decisions that need to be made. I pray the truth will be made known so they can make those kind of decisions. But Lord, we do pray for them at our church. And we ask that you continue to lead and guide them, give them wisdom to make the decisions they need and give them health and give them time with their families. And I ask this in your son Jesus' name, amen. Thank you guys for all that you do. Thank you very much. Really appreciate it. Um first we'll have the pledges of allegiance followed by uh representative Lisa Ferzel. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all things. Good evening, Castle Rock Town Council. It is such a privilege to be here before you this evening as we near our halfway point in the state general assembly. I am Lisa Frazell, your representative in the State House, House District 45. I just wanted to come and give you a very brief update on some of the activity we've been seeing so far this session. Little information on where we stand as far as bills go, and of course, answer any questions that you might have for me. As of yesterday, March 6th, 230 bills have been introduced into the House. For reference, this is this is a little over 400 bills. In last year's session, we saw well over 700 bills introduced. So we're still about 300 bills short of where we ended up last year. That means that a lot more, a lot more activity, a lot more bills will be coming our way. So far this year. One is, and this has been in the news a great deal, are gun bills. Today we have six gun bills that have been introduced, and it could be that more are coming, but I believe that we've seen all of those uh hit the floor. Another theme is around private property rights and tenants' rights legislation. There have been a number of these bills introduced, whether it's rent control, rules around pet ownership in apartments, prohibited provisions and rental agreements, and just cause eviction legislation. I myself have introduced a bill that is nearing the end of its life in the house and hopefully going on to the Senate. And that is not a property rights or or landlord legislation, but it is a an affordable housing bill. So it's House Bill 231184 that allows for housing uh land, sorry, exempting land for affordable housing development. And this would apply only to nonprofit or charitable developers for the time frame that they own the property prior to selling it to an end user. We have a number of business bills that have passed through the House. One is the Fair Work Week bill, which actually was defeated last week. But we also have a bill called Environmental Standards for Appliances that mandates standards for about 75 different appliances ensuring that they meet greater than the national standards for environmental use.

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