OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Castle Rock Town Council Meeting - January 7, 2025

Town Council — Tuesday, January 7, 2025
BodyCastle Rock, Colorado
SessionTown Council
DateTuesday, January 7, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:10:04

Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

Good evening.

0:12

First, I'd like to thank everybody for joining us online or in person.

0:15

And let's go ahead and open up with an invocation.

0:18

Heavenly Father, we have asked your guidance, wisdom, and support as we begin this meeting.

0:23

We got it here today to intend to do good work.

0:28

We seek to represent fairly and those who have given us his task, help us engage in meaningful discussion, give us clarity and strength, and use our best skills and judgment.

0:42

Please bless this community and residents, businesses, and visitors, and help us continue to continue doing your good work in your name.

0:50

Amen.

0:51

Roll call, please.

0:55

Councilmember Hollingson.

0:56

Here.

0:57

Councilmember Bracken.

0:59

Councilmember Davis.

1:00

Here.

1:00

Councilmember Brooks.

1:02

Present.

1:02

Councilmember Deeds.

1:04

Here.

1:04

Mayor Pro Tem KV.

1:06

Here.

1:06

Mayor Gray.

1:07

Here.

1:08

Thank you.

1:08

All present.

1:09

Thank you.

1:09

Please rise.

1:10

So please lose.

1:32

I'll go ahead and start with council comments.

1:36

Well, first and foremost, a happy new year to everybody.

1:38

Hopefully everyone had a uh safe and joyous holiday season.

1:42

Um hopefully you have a had a great 2024 and an even better 2025.

1:48

Uh besides that, um, I don't have a lot to say except for I'm just I'm so glad to be here with everybody here and so glad by council.

1:55

And uh with that, Councilmember Holling said.

1:59

Uh happy new year, everybody, and that's it.

2:01

Thank you.

2:02

Councilmember Bracken.

2:03

Thank you, Mayor.

2:04

No comments tonight.

2:05

Councilmember Davis.

2:07

None, thank you.

2:08

Councilmember Brooks.

2:10

Um thank you.

2:12

All right, a couple of things.

2:13

Uh I want to point out to everybody that's not aware of it that if you aren't interested, uh you can go to DC Sheriff.net and see real time uh what the because it literally a changes by hour.

2:29

Um you can see real time, the inmates uh detention total, who's there, how many, offenses, uh all the all the interesting data.

2:39

I I I'm a data geek.

2:40

I find it interesting.

2:42

DC Sheriff.net um will point out without additional commentary behind it, that as of right now there are 335 inmates housed of the 335 inmates at our Douglas County detention facility.

2:55

52 of them are not U.S.

2:57

citizens.

2:58

That means that of those housed in the Douglas County prison system, roughly 15 percent are not U.S.

3:04

citizens.

3:05

Those are folks that are committing crimes in Douglas County that have been apprehended uh and being held in Douglas County.

3:13

Food for thought.

3:14

Uh I have one motion that I would like to make.

3:16

Um I think it's kind of in a way it's a it's a cleanup, if you will, um as we kind of head into the new year of uh a few different items.

3:25

Uh we have for many many years, uh I and I don't even know how long we've just automatically made public land dedications as part of the development process.

3:34

I would like to motion that we review that.

3:37

Um we review what that process is, where it started, if it needs to continue, and then also please include an inventory of all current parcels uh that are sitting undeveloped.

3:49

Sir you are talking about public land dedication for school purposes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████15%
Historic Preservation████████████12%
Land Use██████████10%
Drought Management██████████10%
Economic Development█████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Water And Wastewater Management██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Traffic Management█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Castle Rock Town Council Meeting - January 7, 2025

The Town Council of Castle Rock met on January 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Town Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included unanimous approvals of consent items, a quasi-judicial hearing, several public hearings, and discussion items. Key outcomes included the approval of a youth commission, a divided vote on the City Hotel redevelopment financing agreement (4-3), unanimous adoption of strict natural medicine business regulations, and updates to stormwater and drought management policies.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously (7-0): Ordinance adopting the 2025 Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual (second reading), Resolution approving the 2025 Spot Water Lease Agreement with Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, Resolution approving the Progressive Design-Build Agreement with S.J. Louis Construction for the Sedalia Lift Station and Force Main project, Resolution designating the public place for posting meeting notices, and the December 17, 2024 draft minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Mary Wilson, resident, spoke about the Meadows Metropolitan District, alleging bondholder overcharges and urging council to address rising taxes and fees, calling it a "$1 billion notebook" problem.
  • Amy Windju, resident, questioned the ethical and moral propriety of Councilmember Max Brooks serving simultaneously as District 4 Town Councilmember and Colorado House Representative for District 45.
  • Sarah Miles, business owner (Milestone Tech and Provision on Wilcox), spoke in favor of the City Hotel restoration, noting the need for high-end lodging downtown.
  • Susan MacAfee, resident and pharmacologist/toxicologist, urged adoption of the strictest possible regulations for natural medicine businesses, citing research on psilocybin risks.
  • Amy Windju (second appearance) also urged strict regulation of natural medicine businesses, pointing to federal illegality and potential youth impacts.

Discussion Items

  • Council Comments and Motions: Councilmember Brooks successfully motioned (7-0) to review the town's public land dedication to schools process and inventory undeveloped parcels. Mayor Pro Tem Cavey successfully motioned (7-0) to direct staff to prepare a memo on increasing municipal court penalties for theft, burglary, and related charges.
  • Town Manager's Report: Calendar reminders (MLK Day, Presidents Day, National League of Cities), 2025 meeting schedule approved (special meeting May 13, cancel August 5). Liaison designations to boards/commissions confirmed. 2025 Community Survey update (same vendor, draft survey process). Castle Rock Water’s 2024 Sanitary Survey results presented. Development Services project updates (multiple pre-applications and quasi-judicial projects) provided by Tara Vargish.
  • Dawson Trails Site Development Plan (RES 2024-122): Quasi-judicial hearing for 229 single-family lots on 56 acres in Planning Area B1. Staff and planning commission recommended approval. The council approved unanimously (7-0).
  • Youth Commission (RES 2025-004): Becca Schnorr presented the proposal for a Youth Commission for students grades 9-12 to advise council, with staggered terms and school-year calendar. Approved unanimously (7-0).
  • City Hotel Redevelopment (ORD 2025-001, First Reading): Devin Visciano (White Development) and Kevin Tilson (Downtown Alliance) presented the proposed 33-room boutique hotel, dining, and rooftop bar in the historic City Hotel (1872). Financial incentives included a 50% net new sales tax share-back (up to $1 million over 10 years) and a $750,000 low-interest loan from the downtown special fund. Council discussion centered on parking and traffic concerns. Sarah Miles spoke in support. The ordinance passed 4-3 (Gray, Hollingshead, Bracken, Brooks in favor; Cavey, Davis, Dietz opposed).
  • Natural Medicine Businesses (ORD 2024-011, Second Reading): Town Attorney Michael Hyman presented the ordinance imposing the strictest local regulations allowed by state law, with no grandfathering. Passed unanimously (7-0).
  • Storm Drainage Criteria Manual (ORD 2025-002, First Reading): Mark Marlowe presented updated criteria (adopting Mile High Flood District changes) to require more inlets, emergency overflow paths, and slope maintenance. Passed unanimously (7-0).
  • Drought Rates (ORD 2025-003, First Reading) and Drought Management Plan (DIR 2025-002): Mark Marlowe outlined tiered drought rates (reducing outdoor water budgets and increasing surcharge thresholds) and the updated plan. Discussion included balanced approach vs. stronger incentives. Councilmember Brooks suggested revoking Water Wiser certification for violators. The ordinance passed unanimously (7-0); the plan was discussed with direction to proceed.
  • Fifth Street Water and Sewer Improvements (DIR 2025-003): Mark Marlowe and Dan Sailer presented a project to install water/sewer infrastructure before roadway widening, serving St. Francis of Assisi Church, Cornerstone Church, and other properties, potentially enabling annexation. Council endorsed proceeding as presented.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved 2025 council meeting schedule (special May 13, cancel August 5) (7-0).
  • Confirmed liaisons to boards and commissions.
  • Dawson Trails site development plan (RES 2024-122) approved (7-0).
  • Youth Commission (RES 2025-004) established (7-0).
  • City Hotel redevelopment ordinance (ORD 2025-001) approved on first reading (4-3).
  • Natural medicine businesses ordinance (ORD 2024-011) adopted on second reading (7-0).
  • Storm drainage criteria manual (ORD 2025-002) approved on first reading (7-0).
  • Drought rates ordinance (ORD 2025-003) approved on first reading (7-0); drought management plan received direction to proceed.
  • Fifth Street water/sewer improvements project direction approved to proceed.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. First, I'd like to thank everybody for joining us online or in person. And let's go ahead and open up with an invocation. Heavenly Father, we have asked your guidance, wisdom, and support as we begin this meeting. We got it here today to intend to do good work. We seek to represent fairly and those who have given us his task, help us engage in meaningful discussion, give us clarity and strength, and use our best skills and judgment. Please bless this community and residents, businesses, and visitors, and help us continue to continue doing your good work in your name. Amen. Roll call, please. Councilmember Hollingson. Here. Councilmember Bracken. Councilmember Davis. Here. Councilmember Brooks. Present. Councilmember Deeds. Here. Mayor Pro Tem KV. Here. Mayor Gray. Here. Thank you. All present. Thank you. Please rise. So please lose. I'll go ahead and start with council comments. Well, first and foremost, a happy new year to everybody. Hopefully everyone had a uh safe and joyous holiday season. Um hopefully you have a had a great 2024 and an even better 2025. Uh besides that, um, I don't have a lot to say except for I'm just I'm so glad to be here with everybody here and so glad by council. And uh with that, Councilmember Holling said. Uh happy new year, everybody, and that's it. Thank you. Councilmember Bracken. Thank you, Mayor. No comments tonight. Councilmember Davis. None, thank you. Councilmember Brooks. Um thank you. All right, a couple of things. Uh I want to point out to everybody that's not aware of it that if you aren't interested, uh you can go to DC Sheriff.net and see real time uh what the because it literally a changes by hour. Um you can see real time, the inmates uh detention total, who's there, how many, offenses, uh all the all the interesting data. I I I'm a data geek. I find it interesting. DC Sheriff.net um will point out without additional commentary behind it, that as of right now there are 335 inmates housed of the 335 inmates at our Douglas County detention facility. 52 of them are not U.S. citizens.

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