Castle Rock Town Council Meeting Summary - December 19, 2023
Castle Rock Town Council Meeting Summary - December 19, 2023
The Castle Rock Town Council met on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 6:00 PM in a hybrid format from Town Hall Council Chambers, 100 North Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, CO. Mayor Jason Gray, Mayor Pro Tem Desiree LaFleur, and Councilmembers Laura Cavey, Kevin Bracken, Max Brooks, and Tim Dietz were present. Councilmember Ryan Hollingshead was not present. The meeting included consent calendar items, quasi-judicial hearings, public hearings, and discussion items, and adjourned at 8:49 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approved RES 2023-147, awarding a construction contract to Global Underground Corporation for the Prairie Hawk PRV Upgrade Project.
- Approved PROC 2023-014, a proclamation congratulating Castle View High School Varsity Small Coed Cheerleading Team on its state championship; the presentation is scheduled for January 2, 2024.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Eric Gnatyuk, a resident, suggested the community design and create an official Town flag to celebrate Castle Rock's 150th anniversary in 2024.
- Dennis Desormeaux, a Founders Village resident, requested pedestrian crossing lights across Enderud Boulevard near the Ridge Road roundabout, citing six lanes of converging traffic.
- Frank Gray, President/CEO of Castle Rock EDC, reported on the success of pandemic-era small business loan programs. He noted that approximately 96% of the loans backed by a $400,000 Town contribution with First Tier Bank and Colorado Lending Source had been repaid, about 90% of Kiva loans had been repaid, and he presented a check for approximately $550 representing repayment of loan proceeds, with another similar repayment expected in 2024.
Town Manager's Report and Updates
- Town Manager Dave Corliss reviewed the proposed 2024 Council meeting schedule. Council approved a special meeting on May 14, 2024, and cancellation of the regular August 6, 2024 meeting for National Night Out.
- Calendar reminders and monthly department reports were presented.
- Pete Mangers, Assistant Director of Finance, presented the Metropolitan District Summary for the year ending December 31, 2022. Aggregate metropolitan district debt was reported at $991 million, comprising $34.1 million in developer debt, $447.7 million in outstanding principal, and $482.4 million in accrued interest. All districts were reported to be in compliance with filing and debt payment requirements. Council discussion addressed the Town's limited authority over existing districts and reforms being applied to new district service plans.
Quasi-Judicial Hearings
- RES 2023-148 – Dunkin' Donuts Site Development Plan: Staff presented a request for a 1,800-square-foot Dunkin' Donuts restaurant with drive-thru on approximately 1.13 acres at the northeast quadrant of Founders Parkway and Highway 86. The application was considered due to residential/non-residential interface requirements. Public comment included questions about sidewalk completion and business hours; typical hours are 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. No negative feedback was received from adjacent residents. The Council approved the resolution 6-0.
- RES 2023-149 – The Oaks of Castle Rock Filing 2A: Staff reviewed a site development plan for 114 single-family custom or semi-custom lots on 166 acres south of Plum Creek Parkway. The plan amends a prior 2009 approval, removes a road connection, and increases private open space. Public comment raised concerns about blasting, traffic, buffering, fencing, wildlife corridors, and the exclusion of 18 remaining lots from this application. Marilyn Alkire, a non-resident property owner, and residents Mike Engler and Cheryl St. Charles expressed concerns or opposition. Councilmembers Laura Cavey and Tim Dietz voted no, citing concerns about blasting, traffic, and the southern property border. The motion passed 4-2, with Mayor Gray, Mayor Pro Tem LaFleur, and Councilmembers Bracken and Brooks in favor.
- RES 2023-150 – RidgeView Town Center Annexation Substantial Compliance: The Council found that the annexation petition submitted by George Mattione substantially complied with Colorado Constitution and state statute requirements, and set an eligibility hearing for February 6, 2024. The property owner gave an overview of a proposed 50,000 square feet of retail or commercial space. The resolution passed 6-0.
Discussion and Action Items
- 2023 Fourth Quarter Council Community Grant Program: Pete Mangers presented two qualifying applicants: American Legion Post 1187 and Help & Hope Center. Council awarded $2,000 to each applicant.
- ORD 2023-040 – Municipal Code Amendment on Town-Owned Annexations (First Reading): Staff presented an ordinance to clarify that town-owned property that is not solely public streets or right-of-way is exempt from certain state annexation hearing and noticing steps, and to update noticing requirements to align with current webpage-based practice. Council approved first reading 6-0.
- RES 2023-151 – Castle Rock Water Five-Year Strategic Plan 2024-2028: Mark Marlowe, Director of Castle Rock Water, presented the plan, highlighting that approximately 70% of the 117 tactics in the prior plan were completed. Goals for the new plan include long-term water supply, employee retention, customer satisfaction, financial sustainability, and infrastructure rehabilitation and replacement. Council approved the resolution 6-0.
- RES 2023-152 – Plum Creek Water Purification Facility Expansion Contract: Marlowe presented a construction contract with Garney Companies, Inc. to expand the water purification facility from 6 million gallons per day (MGD) to 12 MGD. The initial guaranteed maximum price is $65.8 million; the contract approved tonight is for $311,000 in pre-construction services. Work packages are expected to come before Council in April and September 2024, with project completion anticipated in summer 2027. Council approved the resolution 6-0.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the 2024 Council meeting schedule with a special meeting on May 14, 2024, and cancellation of the August 6, 2024 meeting (6-0).
- Approved the consent calendar (6-0).
- Approved RES 2023-148 for the Dunkin' Donuts site development plan (6-0).
- Approved RES 2023-149 for The Oaks of Castle Rock Filing 2A site development plan (4-2; Councilmembers Cavey and Dietz dissenting).
- Approved RES 2023-150 finding substantial compliance for the RidgeView Town Center annexation and setting the eligibility hearing for February 6, 2024 (6-0).
- Awarded $2,000 each to the American Legion Post 1187 and Help & Hope Center under the Council Community Grant Program (6-0).
- Approved ORD 2023-040 on first reading (6-0).
- Approved RES 2023-151, the Castle Rock Water Five-Year Strategic Plan for 2024-2028 (6-0).
- Approved RES 2023-152, the Plum Creek Water Purification Facility Expansion construction contract with Garney Companies, Inc. (6-0).
- Adjourned at 8:49 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Those I like first. Yeah. Thank you. Of course. Good evening. First, I'd like to thank everybody for showing up online and in person. And second, I'd like to open an invitation. Heavenly Father, we ask your guidance, your wisdom, and support as we begin this meeting. We gather here today with the intent of doing good work. We seek to represent fairly and well those who have given us a task. Help us engage in meaningful discussion and give us clarity and strength to use only the best skills and judgment. Please bless this community, the residents, businesses, and visitors, and help us to continue doing work in your name. Amen. Roll call, please. Councilmember Hollingshead. Councilmember KV. Yes. Councilmember Bracken. Here. Councilmember Brooks. Present. Councilmember Deeds. Here. Mayor Pro Tem LaFleur. Here. Mayor Gray. Here. Thank you. Thank you. Please rise for budget leaders. Liberty and Justice. First, thanks for everyone for coming again. Also want to say Merry Christmas to everybody. Happy New Year. We're not gonna convene until uh reconvene until after the new year. So I want to um, you know, one of the things I want to mention is you know, hopefully our new year can be good. Hopefully, we can uh uh have a great new year with love and gratitude and forgiveness um uh for 2024, uh which has also been mentioned just before meeting started. Um we've had more loss in our community. I just want to make sure that uh you guys um you know extend the hand when you can and and and try to uh be gentle when you can. Um one of the reasons why Councilmember Holland said it's not here tonight is because he's attending a uh an event in the honor of one of his teachers who passed away uh the last couple days. So it's it's going around unfortunately, and at this time of year it's it's it's harder than usual sometimes. So with that, I want to cur um introduce uh Laura Katie. Thank you. Um just also wanted to wish everybody a very merry Christmas and happy new year. Um looking forward to see what uh good work that we can do in 2024. Thank you. Max or sorry uh uh Kevin Bracken. Thank you, Mayor. Uh yeah, Merry Christmas, and uh uh don't need to say the same, so uh carry on and uh no other comments. Thank you.
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