Castle Rock Town Council Meeting - July 16, 2024
Castle Rock Town Council Meeting - July 16, 2024
The Castle Rock Town Council met on July 16, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Town Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included extensive discussions and votes on a proposed 0.2% sales tax increase for public safety funding, approval of a metropolitan district service plan, and other routine and policy items. Key votes included unanimous approval of the budget amendment, the ballot measure for November 2024 (after amendment), and an intergovernmental agreement for bus unloading enforcement.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0) the Consent Calendar, which included:
- Resolution 2024-075: Approving the 2024 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan.
- Resolution 2024-076: Assigning the 2024 Private Activity Bond Volume Cap Allocation to the Douglas County Housing Partnership.
- Resolution 2024-077: Increasing contingency for the Denver Basin Aquifer Rehabilitation contract with Applied Ingenuity, LLC.
- Resolution 2024-078: Approving the Memorandum of Understanding with Douglas County for the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program.
- Minutes from July 2, 2024.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Unscheduled Public Appearances (before main agenda):
- Ron Reddit invited Council to a water symposium, noting speakers on water legislation and regional projects.
- Kevin Davis thanked staff and specifically praised Hannah Branning of the Castle Rock Water Department.
- Dana Dana (Castle Rock resident and Public Art Commission member) spoke in favor of the arts funding component tied to the proposed sales tax increase, calling it a "win-win" for police/fire and cultural nonprofits.
- Katie Bauer (resident, teacher) expressed concerns about the condition and neglect of Centennial Park tennis courts, alleging mismanagement and asking Council to investigate and prioritize repairs.
- Jason Bauer (resident) questioned parks funding and transparency, claiming that special events costs were not fully disclosed, and urged a "wants vs. needs" budget analysis before asking for tax money.
- Sherry Rich (resident, Castle Rock Band groupie) highlighted the band's shoestring budget ($3,000 annually) and need for community support, supporting the arts funding component.
- Public Comments on Ballot Measure (ORD 2024-010):
- Laura Vine Court (Public Safety Commission member) supported the measure, emphasizing the need to fund police and fire to maintain quality of life.
- Jason Bauer opposed the tax increase, urging Council to eliminate "wants" and prioritize cuts before raising taxes, questioning the use of sales tax incentives for development.
- Mark Neal (owner, Castle Rock Bike and Ski) opposed the sales tax increase, arguing that Castle Rock already has the highest municipal sales tax in the front range and advocating instead for a property tax increase, noting the town's extremely low mill levy (0.92 mills) as a root cause.
- Dana Dana (returning) spoke in favor of the ordinance, supporting police and fire funding and noting that the arts community would assist with advocacy.
- Public Comments on Natural Medicine Ordinance (ORD 2024-011):
- Beth Joquet (resident, dietitian, and psychedelic counselor) requested reconsideration of location and hour restrictions, explaining the clinical protocols (no driving after sessions, no medicine storage) and potential benefits (PTSD, addiction, etc.).
- Richard Myers (resident and business partner) shared personal experience with plant medicine and urged inclusive regulations.
Discussion Items
- Town Manager's Report & Storm Response Update: Town Manager Dave Corliss provided updates on calendar, major projects (public safety staffing, road work, water system), and a detailed storm response presentation from Mark Marlowe. Key points: 43 customer issues from June 9 storm, 26 fully addressed, 7 under investigation with Jacobs Engineering; design criteria changes were discussed, including requiring emergency overflow paths and prohibiting flanking inlets in most cases. Councilmember Brooks questioned landscaping standards in new developments (Colorado Scape).
- ORD 2024-009 (Budget Amendment, First Reading): Trish Mueller presented a second quarter budget amendment totaling approximately $12.3 million, including $11.3 million for water infrastructure (Plum Creek Water Purification Facility, Paintbrush Park pond) and $1 million for Lost Canyon Ranch trails and improvements. Approved unanimously (7-0).
- ORD 2024-010 (Ballot Measure for Sales Tax Increase, Emergency Adoption): This was the main discussion item. Dave Corliss, Commander Varilla, and Chief Kroom presented the need for a 0.2% sales tax increase (20 cents on $100) to fund 40 public safety positions (22 police, 18 fire) over five years. Key points: current staffing levels are below national average (1.1 officers per 1,000 residents); an ambulance is unavailable 18 minutes per day on average; SRO coverage is limited (maximum of 7 schools per officer). Council debate: Councilmember Dietz proposed amending the third bullet to require Town Council approval before any remaining funds could be used for road maintenance and parks/recreation services, replacing the original language. The amendment was adopted. Councilmember Cavey and others expressed concern over the phrase "without limitation or condition" in the ballot language, but legal counsel advised it was standard TABOR de-bruising language. Motion to approve as amended passed unanimously (7-0).
- RES 2024-079 (Coordinated Election): Authorized Douglas County to conduct the November 5, 2024 municipal election. Passed 7-0.
- RES 2024-080 (IGA for Bus Unloading Enforcement): Authorized an intergovernmental agreement with Douglas County Sheriff's Office to enforce an ordinance limiting unloading of commercially-transported passengers within town, with a $50,000 annual cap. Councilmember Brooks supported it as a proactive measure to prevent issues from Denver's sanctuary policies. Passed 7-0.
- ORD 2024-011 (Natural Medicine Businesses, First Reading): Proposed regulations for natural medicine healing centers (under state law) limiting them to light/general industrial zones, with 1,000-foot distance from schools and residential dwellings, hours 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and other operational restrictions. Public comment raised concerns about restricting existing businesses. Council discussion: Councilmember Cavey opposed the underlying substance, comparing it to marijuana; Councilmember Brooks suggested grandfathering existing businesses. A motion to continue to a September meeting passed 5-2 (Cavey and Dietz dissenting).
- DIR 2024-013 (Right-of-Way Parking Regulations): Staff and Commander Galvan presented enforcement challenges with RV/trailer parking, noting 25% of parking complaints involve trailers, with a small number of residents circumventing the 72-hour/1,000-foot rule. Council directed staff to bring back an ordinance that removes the 1,000-foot move provision, adds a prohibition on evasion, and clarifies vehicle definitions. Passed 7-0.
- RES 2024-081 (Castle Meadows Metropolitan District Service Plan): The plan for three districts on 136.2 acres at I-25 and Plum Creek Parkway adheres to the town's model service plan: maximum 50 mills debt service, 60 mills total, 35-year term, no compounding interest, and a 5-mill regional contribution to the town. Council approved 7-0.
- RES 2024-082 (Motorola Radio Purchase): $1.5 million for 179 radios for Fire and Rescue, budgeted in the General Long-Term Planning Fund. Councilmember Cavey recused herself (works for Verizon, Motorola is a customer). Passed 6-0.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (unanimous): Consent Calendar, ORD 2024-009 (budget amendment), ORD 2024-010 as amended (ballot measure; will appear on November 2024 election), RES 2024-079 (coordinated election), RES 2024-080 (bus enforcement IGA), DIR 2024-013 (staff to draft parking ordinance), RES 2024-081 (metropolitan district service plan), RES 2024-082 (radio purchase).
- Continued: ORD 2024-011 (natural medicine businesses) to a September town council meeting (vote 5-2).
- Staff Direction: Staff will bring back an ordinance revising right-of-way parking regulations based on the approved recommendations.
- Next Steps: The second reading and public hearing for the sales tax ballot measure will occur on August 20, 2024. The natural medicine ordinance will return in September.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. We'll open with an invocation. Heavenly Father, we ask for your guidance, your wisdom, and your support as we begin this meeting. Pardon me. We gathered here today in intent to do good work. We were to present to represent fairly and to fairly and truly to those who have putting us in charge of this task. Help us engage in meaningful discussion and give us clarity and strength to use our best skills and judgment. Please bless this community, the residents, the businesses, and visitors, and help us continue doing good work in your name. Amen. Call to order roll call, please. Councilmember Hollingshead? Here. Councilmember Kavey. Yes. Councilmember Bracken. Present. Councilmember Brooks. Present. Councilmember Deeds? Here. Mayor Pro Tem La Floor. Here. Mayor Gray. Here. All they're present. Thank you. Please rise at the Pleasure of Leadance. Under God. Tonight I or I was kind of hoping to do uh kind of a nice recap of the Ford of July and a bunch of the concerts and that kind of stuff. Um but instead, you know, I uh it's uh kind of compels me to talk about violence. Um, unfortunately, um, you know, we're almost a country of almost 250 years of a republic, and we still can't figure violence out. And we cannot figure out how to uh talk through our problems. Um we can't talk figure out how to be civil. Um you go back to Aaron Burr and Hamilton. Um there's so many different uh assassination attempts and attempts on different people's lives because of religious views or because of political views. And it's just um I'm tired of being mad about it. I I'm just sad. I just I mean, over the weekend, that is just a horrible event that has not become commonplace, but man, it should be it should be so out outside the norm. You know, we we go back to to Lincoln, Garfield, Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, um, the attempt on Reagan, the attempt on Trump over the weekend, uh Pope, uh, you name it. Um, we as a civilization, um just can't get it right. And it's just it's really sad to me sometimes to think about that we cannot have uh civil discourse of disagreement um without turning to violence. Um you know, and and one of the things that you know council member uh deeds has mentioned before recently is a lot about is you know it is time to have love and compassion and it's and I try to talk about just about every council meeting, and it's just um you know I believe that that we do a good job here on this dias. Uh and I and I think we do a good job of respecting each other and hopefully um we can figure out as a nation and as as a country that to move forward. Um it's just it just uh it's it really really sickens me and it's super upsetting, and I didn't know what to say tonight about it, but it's just I just want to uh let you know that uh my heart goes out to our entire nation, but um I I want to make sure that our community um can talk to each other in a way that is respectful and loving and um having discourse and having a disagreement doesn't turn to um swearing or fighting or violence. Um it's just uh it doesn't need to be like this anymore. Um I'd like to follow up with a couple things. I know there's a lot of police and fire here tonight. You know, it is I mentioned it last night, it is a fact that our police and fire do a great job for our town. They are uh they have a ton of accommodations, they have uh a lot of a lot of respect in the community, but and and not not only in the front range, not only in Castle Rock, but but nationwide. Uh both of our chiefs are recognized as leaders across the country as well.
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