Castle Rock Town Council Meeting – June 17, 2025

The Castle Rock Town Council met on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Town Hall Council Chambers. Six members were present (Mayor Gray, Mayor Pro Tem Cavey, Councilmembers Hollingshead, Davis, Brooks, Dietz); Councilmember Bracken was absent. The meeting included council comments, appointments, unscheduled public appearances, several presentations, a consent calendar, advertised public hearings, and an executive session. Key actions included directing staff to study downtown building heights, approving a grant program allocation, passing first readings of ordinances on adult performances and accessory dwelling units, and awarding salary increases to the Town Manager and Town Attorney.

Consent Calendar

• Ordinance 2025-021 (Second Reading): Financing for a recreation center and associated improvements – approved 6-0.
• Resolution 2025-072: Second Amended and Restated Development Agreement for Cornerstone Presbyterian Church – approved 6-0.
• Minutes of the June 3, 2025, meeting – approved 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mike Polhemus (Pastor, Church of the Rock) and Andrew announced that a settlement had been reached in the federal lawsuit between the Church of the Rock and the Town of Castle Rock, allowing the church to continue its on-site temporary shelter ministry, coffee ministry, and disaster relief partnerships. A joint statement was read, noting that a revised letter of determination permits the shelter and that the town may add fencing or landscaping.
• Anya Zavadil (Castle Rock resident) raised concerns about council members texting with audience members during meetings, suggesting a cell phone policy to ensure transparency and attention.
• David Hammelman (Water Commission member) urged support for the Platte Valley Water Partnership, emphasizing that long-term decisions decades ago secured the town’s water independence.
• Several representatives from nonprofit organizations spoke in support of their grant applications (see Discussion Items).

Discussion Items

• Council Comments & Direction

  • Councilmember Davis moved to direct staff to bring back a discussion on lowering the height requirement in the Downtown Overlay District from six stories to four stories, and to review the boundaries of the Downtown Core. Motion passed 6-0.
  • Councilmember Brooks moved to direct staff to explore a pilot program for kiosks to help homebuilders with wayfinding. Motion passed 6-0.
  • Councilmember Brooks reminded residents of the Ducky Derby on June 22.
  • Councilmember Dietz commented on a recent protest, noting that some signs advocated violence, and requested future council dialogue on such events.

• Appointments (APPT 2025-004): Appointments to the Public Art Commission, Design Review Board, and Downtown Development Authority Board were approved 6-0.

• Presentations

  • Legislative Update (Kristin Read, Assistant Town Manager): Recap of the 2025 legislative session; of the eight bills the town supported, five became law; of the 16 opposed, 10 passed. Notable: the “Yes in God’s Backyard” bill was defeated.
  • Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) (Trish Muller, Finance Director): The 2024 audit received an unqualified (clean) opinion. The town also earned a certificate of excellence from GFOA.
  • Special Events Security (Chief Jack Cauley): Overview of increased officer presence, drone technology, barricades, and real-time crime center use at events. Council commended the police department.

• Council Community Grant Program (DIR 2025-022) – Nine applications were considered. After public comment, a motion was made to award $562.50 to each applicant except Green Thumb (which did not have a representative speak). The motion passed 6-0. (Note: The minutes record $562.50 per applicant; the transcript suggests a motion for $500 each. The official minutes are used here.)

• Ordinance 2025-022 – Adult Performances and Public Indecency (First Reading): Adds prohibitions on live adult entertainment in public places intended to sexually arouse, including exposure of specific body parts or simulated sexual activities. Public comment from Anya Zavadil argued the wording could target the LGBTQ+ community and was recycled from a 2023 proposal. Councilmember Brooks said it plugs a gap; Councilmember Hollingshead noted it does not ban drag queens but a specific performance type. Approved 6-0.

• Ordinance 2025-023 – Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (First Reading): Streamlines approval by making all ADUs administrative (no public hearing), removes the owner-occupancy deed restriction, clarifies setbacks, and aligns with state law (HB 24-1152). The town has permitted 81 ADUs since 2018; only nine required public hearings. Approved 6-0.

• Ordinance 2025-024 – Vacating Right-of-Way at Cantril School (First Reading): Vacates a 20-foot alley running through the Cantril School property (312 Cantril St.) to clean up the plat. Matt Gohl (Assistant Town Manager) also provided an update on improvements at the historic school, including ADA upgrades, new restrooms, electrical service increase from 600 to 1000 amps, and over 1,600 program registrations in 2025. Approved 6-0.

• Resolution 2025-073 – Services Agreement with Dewberry Engineers, Inc. for the Plum Creek Diversion Upgrades Project ($470,000 plus 10% contingency). The project aims to increase the existing diversion’s capacity from ~7–8 million gallons per day to the permitted 25.8 MGD. Includes design of a new screen structure and an infiltration gallery, as well as preliminary design for a second diversion near the wastewater plant. Approved 6-0.

• Resolution 2025-074 – Services Agreement with W.W. Wheeler & Associates, Inc. for the Platte Valley Water Partnership Water Court Case ($510,000). This partnership with agricultural and municipal providers seeks to appropriate unappropriated South Platte River water. The water court case is scheduled for June 2026; 30–40 opposers are expected, many monitoring to protect existing rights. Approved 6-0.

Key Outcomes

• Downtown Height Study: Staff directed to bring back discussion on lowering the height limit to four stories and expanding the downtown core boundary.
• Homebuilder Kiosk Pilot: Staff to bring back information on a pilot program.
• Grant Awards: $562.50 each to eight organizations (excluding Green Thumb), totaling $4,500.
• Ordinances Passed (First Readings): Adult performances ordinance and ADU ordinance.
• Right-of-Way Vacation Approved: For Cantril School property.
• Service Agreements Approved: Dewberry for Plum Creek Diversion; W.W. Wheeler for Platte Valley water rights.
• Executive Session (EXEC 2025-003): Held to evaluate Town Manager and Town Attorney performance.
• Salary Increases: Town Attorney Mike Hyman – $250,000 effective July 3, 2025; Town Manager David Corliss – $277,000 effective June 1, 2025. Both approved unanimously.