OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Castle Rock Town Council Meeting - June 20, 2023

Town Council — Tuesday, June 20, 2023
BodyCastle Rock, Colorado
SessionTown Council
DateTuesday, June 20, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:59:54

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

I will be done in earth in this council and in our hearts and minds as it is in heaven.

0:08

This agenda I hold in my hand.

0:10

Lord, give us the willingness to turn it over to you and expect for there to be your help, your guidance, and your blessing, and for there to be continued prosperity and peace.

0:23

Your blessing, God, which we cannot do without.

0:26

I thank you right now for the fact that you have given us a glorious gospel that we hold to today that has transformed everything about our lives, and that is the fact that you were willing to die.

0:38

And Lord, you were willing to be buried, but you didn't stay in the grave on that third day.

0:44

You came from that grave, and you give us the example of the beauty of ourselves once again coming out of a grave to live a life that is resurrected and different and changed and empowered for your name.

0:56

Lord, I pray for every aspect of this meeting, and I thank you for this town and the town council members.

1:01

Let your blessing be upon all of them and their family members.

1:04

And God, we pray these things for your kingdom's sake and for your name to be glorified in that name in Jesus' name.

1:12

Amen.

1:13

Thank you, Done.

1:18

Uh roll call, please.

1:23

Councilmember Hollingshead.

1:25

Here.

1:25

Councilmember KV.

1:26

Yes.

1:26

Councilmember LaFleur here.

1:28

Councilmember Brooks.

1:29

Present.

1:30

Councilmember Deeds.

1:31

Mayor Pro Tembrakin.

1:35

Do we have Mayor Pratin Bracken online?

1:38

Not yet.

1:38

Okay.

1:39

Mayor Gray.

1:41

Here.

1:41

Thank you.

1:43

This meeting has been held at a connected meeting with a corners of town council electronic participation connected in hybrid media policy.

1:50

Please rise, flood allegiance.

2:02

For which it stands, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

2:17

I'll open up with uh public comments.

2:20

Ums.

2:26

Uh you know, we had had a great weekend.

2:29

Hopefully, everyone had a great Father's Day weekend.

2:31

We had a good car show.

2:33

Um shine, but it got it got pretty nice there at the end there.

2:40

Um I just want to uh thank you for everyone coming.

2:42

It's uh the good event we're having here.

2:45

Uh like we always like the uh public uh comments.

2:49

We have a big agenda, and uh we'll move through it as uh as quickly and as and as efficiently as possible.

2:57

Uh I also want to thank everyone for coming, and and it's just um you know, it's one of those things I want to I want to just uh thank everybody for coming here and then just let the joy and the peace and the patience and the kindness, the goodness, the faithfulness, the gentleness of of uh of our town show through and uh you know, when in doubt, empathy.

3:19

Um Councilmember Hollins said.

3:22

No comment tonight, just want to give more time to all the people that are here.

3:25

Thanks.

3:25

Thank you.

3:26

Councilmember KV.

3:28

Thank you, Mayor.

3:28

Um, I do have a few comments.

3:31

Um, the one thing that I want to be very clear about here tonight is that nobody in the community, nobody on this council, um, nobody here, nobody at the last meeting was trying to ban the drag show.

3:48

Nobody was trying to do that.

3:50

So I I want to be very clear about that.

3:53

The concern that was emanating from the community was around whether these are age appropriate shows.

4:00

That's it.

4:01

I would have this same concern, even if it had absolutely nothing to do with the pride community.

4:09

Um so this is a concern based around our children and what is appropriate for them, and that's it.

4:16

That's all.

4:17

Nobody's trying to take away anybody's first amendment rights, nobody's trying to ban the drag show, nobody's trying to do any of that.

4:25

At least certainly personally, not from me.

4:28

Um secondarily, you know, if we're all gonna somehow come together as a community, it's really challenging when I get what I would term hate mail, and I get called a bigot, and I get called transphobic, and I get called a fear monger, um, all over just wanting to make sure we're doing age appropriate shows.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████16%
Parks and Recreation█████████████13%
LGBTQIA Plus Community Support██████6%
Children Protection██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Parking Management██████6%
Land Use██████6%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Public Safety█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Castle Rock Town Council Meeting - June 20, 2023

The Castle Rock Town Council met on June 20, 2023, at Town Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included a proclamation, appointments, public comments, a budget amendment, grant awards, several resolutions for infrastructure projects, annexation and zoning approvals, park contracts, and ordinance readings. Key discussions centered on the Crystal Valley Interchange, a new sports development center, and community concerns about age-appropriate content at a Pride Fest event.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved Ordinance ORD 2023-013 amending Chapter 12.12 regarding camping and waste in storm drainage systems, etc. (Second reading, approved 7-0 on first reading).
  • Approved Resolution RES 2023-081 ratifying change orders for Denver Basin Wells Rehabilitation Project. (Both passed 6-0 on consent.)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Della Ingrando requested a municipal code change preventing children under 18 from attending sexually explicit shows.
  • George Teal (Crystal Valley Ranch resident and Douglas County Commissioner) apologized for lack of communication regarding fairgrounds regulations and proposed town-county collaboration.
  • Dana Bonham thanked Councilmembers Cavey and Dietz for listening, and urged protection of children from topless performances and inappropriate song lyrics at last year's Pride Fest.
  • Deirdre Christensen (Meadows resident, real estate branch manager) asked for revisiting the sign ordinance to allow temporary open house signs.
  • Peg Ellefson (19-year Sapphire Point resident) requested guidelines for temporary real estate signs, suggesting hours and sign type restrictions.
  • Gerald Anderson suggested an on-deck announcement system for speakers. He argued the core issue is protecting children, not First Amendment rights, and urged council to take action.
  • Joan A. Dadlani (teacher with counseling background) stated children are not miniature adults; asked for age restrictions on adult content performances, citing societal ratings and laws.
  • Brooke Bernstein (mother of two transgender children, Castle Rock Pride volunteer) accused Councilmember Dietz of targeting the LGBTQ community and said the public comment period was stacked with his supporters.
  • Bryan Fields (local father and pastor) said it is not loving to sexualize children; asked for municipal code language to define and penalize such behavior on public properties.
  • Amy Winger said drag shows portray women poorly; asked council to look at ordinances in Parker and Lone Tree regarding lewdness.
  • John Anderson (retired Castle Rock Police Commander, 40 years) noted he enforced controversial laws and won a $30M lawsuit to the US Supreme Court; told council the fairgrounds are within city limits and they have duty to protect children.
  • Evelyn Zur (Parker resident) asked council to draw a line in the sand and protect children's innocence.
  • Garrett Spradlin (32-year Castle Rock resident, works with Douglas County high schools) expressed that drag and pride are not understood; asked for letting parents decide for their kids.
  • Rene Ruff (Meadows resident, 30+ years) encouraged council to be bold and take action to protect children from sexually explicit content.
  • Charcie Russell asked about plans for enforcement if prohibited activity occurs, noted that banned performers can be replaced, and pointed to the fairgrounds jurisdiction and the $30M lawsuit.
  • Randy Mills praised the process; shared personal story about his daughter's scar becoming rodeo queen; urged protection of children without excluding anyone.

Discussion Items

  • Proclamation: Smart Irrigation Month (July 2023) – Approved 7-0 on June 6, 2023; Mayor Gray read it into the record. Appointments to Board of Building Appeals, Design Review Board, and Historic Preservation Board – Approved 6-0.
  • Budget Amendment (ORD 2023-014, Emergency Adoption on First and Final Reading) – Staff requested $191.6M appropriation for Crystal Valley Interchange ($93.7M), sports development center design, Plum Creek North Park, Sedalia Reservoir, brush truck, etc. Funded by multiple partners and internal short-term loans. Councilmember Cavey asked about cash flow; staff clarified borrowing mechanisms. Approved 6-0.
  • Council Community Grant Program (DIR 2023-022) – Four applications: Lady Trailblazer, Douglas Land Conservancy, Paul's Mystery Ship to End ALS, and Rimmel's Ranch. Staff recommended $500 each. Councilmembers Cavey and Dietz moved to amend to $750 each due to rising costs. Approved 6-0.
  • Crystal Valley Interchange (Items 11,12,13) – Three actions: IGA with Douglas County (RES 2023-082), construction contract with Kraemer North America for Package 1 (RES 2023-083, not-to-exceed $17.2M), and amendment to Jacobs Engineering design contract (RES 2023-084). Commissioner Teal spoke in support. All approved 6-0 or 7-0 (when Bracken returned for RES 2023-084).
  • Aspen View Academy School Resource Officer (RES 2023-085) – Aspen View will fully fund an SRO (first year $252K, subsequent $154K/year for 5 years). Staff noted modern replacement of school marshal program. Unanimous support; approved 6-0.
  • Hummingbird Event Center (RES 2023-086) – $500K incentive loan (part loan, part development credits) to Brinkerhoff Restaurants for a 5,000 sq ft event center near La Loma. Parking concerns addressed with valet and cross-easements. Approved 6-0.
  • Fire Department Standards of Cover (RES 2023-087) and Strategic Plan Update (RES 2023-088) – Chief Croom presented performance gaps in planning zones, plans for new Station 156 and monitoring medical units. Both approved 6-0.
  • Memmen Young Annexation, Zoning, and Development Agreement (Items 18,19,20) – Second reading of annexation (ORD 2023-010) and PD amendment (ORD 2023-011) with conditions: additional responses on access, blasting, traffic at SDP; no future variances on major ridgeline. Development agreement (RES 2023-089) included building permit cap of 252 until Ridge Road widening or 1/1/2025. Debate: Councilmembers Cavey and Dietz dissented, wanting infrastructure in place first. Items passed 4-2.
  • Plum Creek North Park Construction (RES 2023-090) and Playground Equipment Sole Source (RES 2023-091) – Contract with Colorado Designscapes for $3.7M (total project $4.6M). Commissioner Teal spoke in favor. Approved 6-0 each.
  • Sports Development Center Design Contract (RES 2023-092) – Fourth amendment to Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture for design development and construction documents for a $70M facility at the brickyard. Presentation by Confluence Companies and architect; financing from impact fees and development-generated taxes. Councilmember Cavey raised concerns about using park reserves and prioritizing; others expressed excitement. Approved 6-0 (unanimous).
  • Multi-Family Residential Parking Requirements (ORD 2023-015, First Reading) – Increased parking ratios: regular multifamily to 2 spaces/unit, townhome to 1.25, senior to 1.1. Effective 30 days after second reading. Staff noted that active applications (e.g., Well Springs conversion) are exempt. Approved 6-0.
  • Large Vehicle Parking and Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance (ORD 2023-012, Second Reading) – Removed daytime parking allowance for large vehicles in public rights-of-way; kept 72-hour limit for RVs; added active loading/unloading provision. Approved 6-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes passed 6-0 or 7-0 on most items. Notable split vote (4-2) for Memmen Young annexation, zoning, and development agreement (Cavey and Dietz opposed).
  • Council directed staff to prepare a memo on pros and cons of planning commission vs. council authority over skyline ridgeline variances (motion by Brooks, seconded by Cavey, vote 6-1 with Bracken opposed).
  • Emergency budget amendment adopted to authorize Crystal Valley Interchange contract.
  • Grant awards increased from $500 to $750 per organization.
  • Contracts approved for Crystal Valley Interchange Package 1 ($17.2M) and Plum Creek North Park ($3.7M).
  • Design contract approved for sports development center (up to $2.5M).
  • Ordinances advanced: multi-family parking on first reading; large vehicle parking on second reading (effective after publication).
  • Unscheduled public appearances extended to allow three additional speakers; meeting adjourned at 10:10 PM.

Meeting Transcript

I will be done in earth in this council and in our hearts and minds as it is in heaven. This agenda I hold in my hand. Lord, give us the willingness to turn it over to you and expect for there to be your help, your guidance, and your blessing, and for there to be continued prosperity and peace. Your blessing, God, which we cannot do without. I thank you right now for the fact that you have given us a glorious gospel that we hold to today that has transformed everything about our lives, and that is the fact that you were willing to die. And Lord, you were willing to be buried, but you didn't stay in the grave on that third day. You came from that grave, and you give us the example of the beauty of ourselves once again coming out of a grave to live a life that is resurrected and different and changed and empowered for your name. Lord, I pray for every aspect of this meeting, and I thank you for this town and the town council members. Let your blessing be upon all of them and their family members. And God, we pray these things for your kingdom's sake and for your name to be glorified in that name in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you, Done. Uh roll call, please. Councilmember Hollingshead. Here. Councilmember KV. Yes. Councilmember LaFleur here. Councilmember Brooks. Present. Councilmember Deeds. Mayor Pro Tembrakin. Do we have Mayor Pratin Bracken online? Not yet. Okay. Mayor Gray. Here. Thank you. This meeting has been held at a connected meeting with a corners of town council electronic participation connected in hybrid media policy. Please rise, flood allegiance. For which it stands, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I'll open up with uh public comments. Ums. Uh you know, we had had a great weekend. Hopefully, everyone had a great Father's Day weekend. We had a good car show. Um shine, but it got it got pretty nice there at the end there. Um I just want to uh thank you for everyone coming. It's uh the good event we're having here. Uh like we always like the uh public uh comments. We have a big agenda, and uh we'll move through it as uh as quickly and as and as efficiently as possible. Uh I also want to thank everyone for coming, and and it's just um you know, it's one of those things I want to I want to just uh thank everybody for coming here and then just let the joy and the peace and the patience and the kindness, the goodness, the faithfulness, the gentleness of of uh of our town show through and uh you know, when in doubt, empathy. Um Councilmember Hollins said. No comment tonight, just want to give more time to all the people that are here. Thanks. Thank you. Councilmember KV. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I do have a few comments. Um, the one thing that I want to be very clear about here tonight is that nobody in the community, nobody on this council, um, nobody here, nobody at the last meeting was trying to ban the drag show.

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