Castle Rock Town Council Meeting Summary — October 1, 2024

The Castle Rock Town Council met on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 6:00 PM in Town Hall Council Chambers, 100 North Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado. Mayor Jason Gray presided. Mayor Pro Tem Desiree LaFleur and Councilmembers Ryan Hollingshead, Laura Cavey (attending remotely), Kevin Bracken, Max Brooks, and Tim Dietz were present. All votes taken during the meeting were 7-0. The minutes record adjournment at 7:50 p.m.; the transcript’s final time reference is transcribed as 8:47, a discrepancy.

Consent Calendar

• Approved as presented by a 7-0 vote: RES 2024-100, approving amended bylaws of the Castle Rock Volunteer Firefighters Pension Fund; RES 2024-101, approving a nighttime construction variance for the Cobblestone Ranch Water Storage Tank 18 project; PROC 2024-011, proclaiming Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Purple Thursday; and MIN 2024-018, approving the September 17, 2024 draft minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during unscheduled public appearances or during any advertised public hearing.

Reports and Presentations

• Brazilian Police Delegation: Police Chief Cauley introduced three leaders from the Polícia Civil de Santa Catarina (PCSC), Brazil, who came to Castle Rock after reading about the department’s One by One community policing in Simon Sinek’s The Infinite Game. The delegation described Santa Catarina’s police structure, modernization efforts, seizures, and a 4.4% reduction in homicides. They planned to spend the rest of the week with Castle Rock police.
• Executive Session Report: Council was informed that the September 17, 2024 executive session was held with the Town Attorney under Section 24-6-402(4)(b), C.R.S., for legal advice on the Douglas County Pine Canyon Development Rezoning and Water Appeal. Town Attorney Mike Hyman asked for any disclosures of improper discussion; none were made.
• Fire Prevention Week Proclamation: Mayor Gray read a proclamation designating October 6-12, 2024 as Fire Prevention Week, with the theme Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You. The proclamation had been approved on September 17, 2024 by a 7-0 vote. Sparky the Fire Department mascot attended, and Castle Rock Fire and Domino’s announced a smoke alarm testing event.
• Town Manager’s Report: David Corliss gave calendar reminders, and Development Services Director Tara Vargish provided updates on a new quasi-judicial territorial road annexation application and several pre-applications, including hospital, residential, commercial, school, small-cell, and water service proposals.
• Town Attorney’s Report – Bella Mesa Metro District: Mike Hyman presented a review-and-comment item for approximately $9.78 million in subordinate limited tax general obligation bonds proposed by the Bella Mesa Metropolitan District. The bonds would finance public improvements on remaining undeveloped property, mature in 2054, and are subject to a 55.664 mill levy cap. Councilmember Brooks asked why it was not a public hearing; Hyman explained that Council has review authority only, not approval authority, for debt issuance. Councilmember Dietz asked about buyers; an underwriter said the bonds are required to be sold in $500,000 denominations to institutional investors, not retail investors.

Discussion Items

• DDA Property Tax Levy (ORD 2024-020, first reading): Kevin Tilson, Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance, presented the Downtown Development Authority’s three-mill property tax certification. The three mills are projected to generate approximately $225,000 in 2024 taxes to be collected in 2025. State bills SB 24-233 and SB 24B-001 were noted as potentially affecting future revenue. No public comment was offered. Approved 7-0.
• DDA 2025 Budget (RES 2024-102): The proposed 2025 DDA budget includes about $225,000 from the three-mill levy and an equal town match, with increased personnel, office administration, professional services, and flower box/patio program costs. It continues trolley and carriage service and a facade grant program. Councilmember Brooks asked about a potential Rinrock facade grant; Tilson said an application was expected in November. No public comment was offered. Approved 7-0.
• Comcast Cable Franchise (ORD 2024-021, first reading): Assistant Town Manager Kristin Read presented a 59-page franchise agreement renewing Comcast’s right to use town rights-of-way for cable service through November 2034. Customer service standards and the franchise fee would remain unchanged; the PEG fee would change to 0.45% of gross revenue to help stabilize declining PEG revenue. No public comment was offered. Approved 7-0.
• Home Occupation Regulations (DIR 2024-019): Tara Vargish explained current rules, which prohibit personal services such as beauty shops, barbershops, tattoo, and massage services, as well as animal grooming. Castle Rock stands out from neighboring jurisdictions on these prohibitions. Mayor Pro Tem LaFleur said such businesses are already operating; Mayor Gray said he was comfortable allowing personal services and animal grooming if there are no traffic or complaint issues; Councilmember Hollingshead supported one-on-one services if traffic is not substantial; and Councilmember Brooks said the traffic language could be more specific. No public comment was offered. Council directed staff to evaluate the prohibited list, conduct additional research and community engagement, and bring back a recommendation to include personal services and animal grooming. Passed 7-0.
• Tallgrass Water Infrastructure and Lease Agreement (RES 2024-103): Mark Marlowe, Castle Rock Water Director, presented a public-private partnership with Tallgrass Colorado Municipal Water, LLC in Weld County. The agreement covers Phase 1A infrastructure — rehabilitating and redrilling wells, building part of a gathering pipeline, and connecting to Tallgrass’s existing system — with a one-year option for the Town to purchase the infrastructure for $15 million or negotiate further phases. An engineer estimated the construction at $17 million to $24 million. The companion water lease would pay $1,552.60 per acre-foot, with a guaranteed 257 acre-feet worth about $400,000 and potential revenue above $6 million over a little more than three years; current leases generated about $192,000 over seven to eight years. The Castle Rock Water Commission voted 5-0 to support the agreement. Councilmembers Bracken and Dietz voiced support. No public comment was offered. Approved 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Accepted the agenda as presented, 7-0.
• Approved the consent calendar, 7-0.
• Approved ORD 2024-020 and RES 2024-102 for the Downtown Development Authority, both 7-0.
• Approved ORD 2024-021, Comcast cable franchise, first reading, 7-0.
• Directed staff to return with revised home occupation regulations for personal services and animal grooming, 7-0.
• Approved RES 2024-103 with Tallgrass, 7-0.
• Adjourned by a 7-0 vote; minutes list the time as 7:50 p.m., while the transcript’s time reference at adjournment is transcribed as 8:47.