Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Castle Rock Town Council Meeting: October 6, 2026 – Budget Approvals, Kratom Ban, Fireworks Debate

Town Council — Tuesday, October 6, 2026

BodyCastle Rock, Colorado

SessionTown Council

DateTuesday, October 6, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:47:14

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

1:32

I'll start off with council comments.

1:34

Again, thanks for everyone being here.

1:42

A lot of ga galas and l a lot of open houses and that kind of thing.

1:45

And hopefully that won't went well for everybody.

1:58

It was amazing.

1:59

It was uh a lot of about 20 different groups there offer mental health and and all the different different places where you can get mental health hope in Castle Rock and Douglas County.

2:11

Um it was a really special event.

2:13

Um second I just wanted to say um it's uh best cancer awareness month.

2:19

Um hopefully everyone can keep that in their in their hearts and minds a little bit.

2:24

And with that, Councilmember Holland's head.

2:27

No comment tonight, thanks.

2:28

Councilmember Bracken.

Speaker 2

2:30

Thank you, Mayor.

2:30

Yeah, I went to the candidate forum last night, and uh it was great hearing from all the candidates.

2:37

I thought the the field was wonderful.

2:39

Um the comments were great, they were very knowledgeable about about what the expectations are.

2:45

Uh and I think the field was uh was uh very well spoken.

2:50

So well done uh to the candidates and best of luck within your division.

2:55

Um I think that's it for today, Mayor.

Speaker 1

2:59

Thank

Speaker 2

3:00

you.

3:00

Councilmember

Speaker 3

3:01

Davis.

3:01

Nothing tonight, sir.

3:03

Councilmember Brooks.

3:04

Uh Mr.

3:04

Mayor, thank you.

3:05

Just to dovetail a little bit on uh Councilmember Bracken's comments.

3:08

Uh great event uh at uh Savena's and the old Willoma very well attended.

3:15

Uh and I know that there are some folks that's you know that are here tonight that were there.

3:18

Thank you for thank you for coming out.

3:20

Uh if you were not able to make it, uh I believe that it's on recorded and on the chamber website.

3:27

Right.

3:28

So uh and just as a reminder, uh there's mayor district three and district five.

3:33

Um so really, I mean, everybody you want to be up to speed on your mayoral candidates because that impacts everybody in town.

3:40

Um and then I I understand that if you're not in three or five, maybe you lose interest a little bit after that, but I would encourage you to go back and and and watch those because that way it's it's your chance to be able to hear directly from the candidates and you can decide who to support.

3:54

And in that vein, I think everybody probably should have their ballots now.

3:58

I I don't have my um my voted sticker.

4:01

I'm not that extra uh yet.

4:03

I'm gonna wait till probably this weekend.

4:05

But uh just make sure you vote.

4:07

Uh uh there's a lot on the ballot.

4:09

They did get it on one page.

4:10

There's a lot on front and back on that one page.

4:13

Uh but just make sure that you vote because that is just kind of your your basic right.

4:18

Uh and you want to exercise that and make sure that you're exercising your voice.

4:22

Well, thank you.

4:23

Thank you.

Speaker 4

4:23

Councilmember Deeds.

4:25

Thank you, Mayor.

4:26

I always ask, you know, what leads us to this time and place where you are now.

4:32

Decisions made, choices and associations.

4:36

In my six years now on town council, I've used my council comments for many things.

4:43

Information, salutes, praise, and very important motions for council to take up in debate.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

I have sat here and taken a bunch of grief over the years, but I have not challenged anybody else's comments unless I did a motion for debate.

Speaker 4

5:10

Thank

Unassigned speaker

5:10

you.

Speaker 1

5:12

Thank you.

5:13

Mayor Pochem Keep.

Speaker 5

5:16

Yes, I actually do have something to say tonight.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural████████████12%

Engineering And Infrastructure████████████12%

Personnel Matters███████████11%

Fiscal Sustainability███████████11%

Economic Development██████████10%

Fire Safety███████7%

Cannabis Regulation██████6%

Public Safety█████5%

Water And Wastewater Management█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Castle Rock Town Council Meeting: October 6, 2026 – Budget Approvals, Kratom Ban, Fireworks Debate

The Town Council met on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 6:05 PM in Town Hall Council Chambers. The meeting covered a wide range of items including proclamations, public comments, a code of conduct hearing examiner appointment, consent calendar approvals, public hearings on a landmark designation, a kratom sales ban, fireworks restrictions, and multiple budget and financial plan adoptions. The meeting recessed into executive session around 7:36 PM and reconvened, concluding with a motion to enter executive session for property acquisitions and negotiations.

Consent Calendar

Approved unanimously (7-0) the consent calendar including: Ordinance 2026-031 (repeal/re-enactment of Title 9), Ordinance 2026-034 (water and sewer enterprise revenue bonds), Resolution 2026-103 (fire department Standards of Cover), Resolutions 2026-104 and 2026-105 (contract amendments for Fire Station 156 construction), Proclamation 2026-013 (Crash Responder Safety Week, November 2-6, 2026), and the September 15, 2026, meeting minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

David Miles (downtown resident, business owner) called for more dialogue between council and business owners, citing a perceived lack of meaningful involvement in decisions like downtown building heights. He offered to help bring stakeholders together.
Terry McIntyre thanked council for looking into an unspecified issue and asked how decisions would be communicated; staff promised to follow up.
Amy Winshu criticized Councilmember Bracken for a Facebook post that she characterized as using a homophobic slur against a resident, and urged council to note this conduct during election season.
Marcus Northison (Vice President of Castle Rock Economic Development Council) and Grace Wright Crane (Director of Colorado Space Institute) presented the CSI program at the Sturm Collaboration Campus, noting it was named one of seven NASA Aerospace Skilled Technical Workforce hubs and will bring $1.3 million to Colorado.
Susan McAfee (resident, toxicologist) opposed the kratom ban, arguing that naturally occurring kratom is safe and that only synthetic 7-OH products should be regulated; she urged council to differentiate.
Dana Baum (resident, DCGOP leader) supported the kratom ban, citing the recent deaths of two University of Mississippi students possibly linked to synthetic kratom, and praised the council's original 6-1 vote.
Benjamin Major (TNT Fireworks) and Brad Witherall (Davy Jones Fireworks) opposed banning fireworks sales during stage one fire restrictions, arguing it would push consumers to buy illegal aerial fireworks from out of state and harm nonprofits that depend on holiday sales. They proposed enhanced safety measures and customer notifications instead.
Morgan Cullen (HBA of Metro Denver) expressed concerns about the cumulative impact fee burden (noting total fees on a 2,500 sq. ft. home often exceed $100,000) and requested offsets if water resource fees increase; he cited reduced permit activity (683 in 2022, 240 in 2025, 118 year-to-date in 2026).

Discussion Items

Code of Conduct Complaint (Hearing Examiner Appointment): Town Attorney Michael Hyman recommended appointing Winetta Massey, retired Colorado Springs City Attorney, as independent hearing examiner for a complaint filed under Section 2.05.060. Councilmember Dietz, Cavey, and Brooks spoke in favor of the process, while Mayor Pro Tem Cavey detailed past instances of what she called hypocritical behavior by Councilmember Bracken and Mayor Gray. Bracken denied the allegations, citing medical records for his absence and disputing characterization of a social media exchange. The motion passed 7-0.
Local Landmark Designation (422 Front Street) – Second Reading: Ordinance 2026-030 designating the Maples as a local landmark passed 7-0 (Councilmember Davis, who recused on first reading, voted yes).
Kratom Sales Prohibition – Second Reading: Ordinance 2026-032 passed 6-1. Councilmember Bracken voted no, stating he wanted to honor businesses that had relied on the previous allowance. Councilmember Brooks and Mayor Pro Tem Cavey emphasized protecting children and noted the Englewood death. The prohibition covers retail sales of kratom products for human consumption.
Fireworks and Open Burning Restrictions – First Reading: Ordinance 2026-035 originally proposed banning fireworks sales during stage one restrictions. After testimony from fireworks retailers, Councilmember Hollingshead moved to remove that provision, keeping the ban only at stage two. The amendment passed 6-1; Mayor Gray voted against, arguing a mixed message. The rest of the code cleanup (clarifying allowed activities under stage one and two, restricted use dates June 1–July 4, use only July 4 8am-10pm, etc.) was retained.
2027 Fiscal Year Budgets and Financial Plans: The council conducted first readings of the Town’s 2027 budget (Ordinance 2026-036), rate and fee changes (2026-037), property tax levy (2026-038), and approved the 2027-2031 Balanced Financial Plan (Resolution 2026-108) and Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (2026-109). All passed unanimously. Key points: adding 5 police and 5 fire positions, full funding for Fire Station 156 operations, 4.82% increase on existing water rates, new sliding-scale system development fees based on home square footage (reducing fees for average-size homes), and a continued commitment to growth paying for growth while noting slowing development revenue.
URA and FPC Board Meetings: The council recessed to act as the Castle Rock Urban Renewal Authority Board and Festival Park Commons General Improvement District Board. Minutes and 2027 budgets were approved unanimously.
Downtown Development Authority Budget: Resolution 2026-110 approving the DDA’s 2027 FY budget (including a 3-mill levy and town match of about $220,000) passed unanimously. Director Kevin Tilson noted lower assessed values and increased personnel costs due to health insurance.

Key Outcomes

Independent Hearing Examiner Appointed: Winetta Massey will oversee the code of conduct complaint against Councilmember Davis (motion passed 7-0).
422 Front Street Designated a Local Landmark: Ordinance 2026-030 adopted on second reading (7-0).
Kratom Retail Sales Prohibited: Ordinance 2026-032 adopted 6-1, effective after publication.
Fireworks Ordinance Amended on First Reading: The ban on sales during stage one restrictions was removed; final adoption will require second reading.
2027 Budget Approved on First Reading: The $[amount]-million general fund budget (not specified in transcript) and associated rate/fee ordinances advanced unanimously to second reading (October 20).
Balanced Financial Plan and CIP Approved: Resolutions 2026-108 and 2026-109 passed unanimously.
DDA Budget Approved: Resolution 2026-110 passed unanimously.
Executive Session Authorized: Council recessed to discuss property acquisitions (Chateau Valley and vacant parcel near 1st & Wilcox) and negotiation strategy for Dawson Trails town-owned property (motion passed 7-0; no return to open session).

Meeting Transcript

I'll start off with council comments. Again, thanks for everyone being here. A lot of ga galas and l a lot of open houses and that kind of thing. And hopefully that won't went well for everybody. It was amazing. It was uh a lot of about 20 different groups there offer mental health and and all the different different places where you can get mental health hope in Castle Rock and Douglas County. Um it was a really special event. Um second I just wanted to say um it's uh best cancer awareness month. Um hopefully everyone can keep that in their in their hearts and minds a little bit. And with that, Councilmember Holland's head. No comment tonight, thanks. Councilmember Bracken. Thank you, Mayor. Yeah, I went to the candidate forum last night, and uh it was great hearing from all the candidates. I thought the the field was wonderful. Um the comments were great, they were very knowledgeable about about what the expectations are. Uh and I think the field was uh was uh very well spoken. So well done uh to the candidates and best of luck within your division. Um I think that's it for today, Mayor. Thank you. Councilmember Davis. Nothing tonight, sir. Councilmember Brooks. Uh Mr. Mayor, thank you. Just to dovetail a little bit on uh Councilmember Bracken's comments. Uh great event uh at uh Savena's and the old Willoma very well attended. Uh and I know that there are some folks that's you know that are here tonight that were there. Thank you for thank you for coming out. Uh if you were not able to make it, uh I believe that it's on recorded and on the chamber website. Right. So uh and just as a reminder, uh there's mayor district three and district five. Um so really, I mean, everybody you want to be up to speed on your mayoral candidates because that impacts everybody in town. Um and then I I understand that if you're not in three or five, maybe you lose interest a little bit after that, but I would encourage you to go back and and and watch those because that way it's it's your chance to be able to hear directly from the candidates and you can decide who to support. And in that vein, I think everybody probably should have their ballots now. I I don't have my um my voted sticker. I'm not that extra uh yet. I'm gonna wait till probably this weekend. But uh just make sure you vote. Uh uh there's a lot on the ballot. They did get it on one page. There's a lot on front and back on that one page. Uh but just make sure that you vote because that is just kind of your your basic right. Uh and you want to exercise that and make sure that you're exercising your voice. Well, thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Deeds. Thank you, Mayor.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com