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1. New Mayor - volunteer or paid by a corporation or special interest group? (Charter B on special election states the mayor cannot be paid by Castle Rock)?

Councilmembers may not be current paid employees of the Town. If Charter Amendment B passes, the same will be true for the new office of at-large Mayor. Councilmembers currently receive a modest stipend, but are not considered paid employees. They do not have offices within the Town, nor do they receive benefits.

2. Why does the Town not enforce it's illegal sign code? ...

Weekend home builder signs (Richmond, KB, DRHorton, Kaufman, etc.) I have previously raised this concern to Town Council, Town Manager, Planning/Zoning and was told that the Town does not have money in the budget to enforce. I don't believe this excuse when I see the Town "blow" $1.4M on an unnecessary round about.

Town staff enforcement illegal signs during normal business hours. This topic was discussed by Town Council, and it was determined that timeframe was the best use of resources. Town staff typically will do a sweep Friday afternoon and Monday morning to stay on top of illegal signs.

3. What will it take to implement the voter-approved changes to Castle Rock’s Town Council structure?

Voters on Nov. 7 approved a citizen-initiated measure to change language in the Town Charter regarding how the Town’s Mayor is elected. Now, the Mayor will be elected at-large, and there will be six Councilmembers elected within six districts. While this election changed the language in the Town Charter regarding the overall structure of Town Council, the citizen-initiated petition that provided for the election did not identify critical elements such as qualifications for Mayor and a timeline for the transition to the new Council structure. These items must be identified in the Town Charter before the voter-approved changes can be implemented.

Because any change to the Town Charter requires voter approval, another election will be required. Town Council wants community input before asking voters to consider another series of Charter amendments. To do so quickly, efficiently and with public input, Town Council has formed a Citizen Advisory Committee, which has advised Council on:

• Qualifications for Mayor, such as age, voting status, and duration of residency in Castle Rock
• Election date the Mayor will first be elected
• The timing and procedure to complete the necessary re-districting to six Council districts

Council anticipates a special election in spring 2018. Get details on the Citizen Advisory Committee and sign up for updates at CRgov.com/CitizenCommittee, or read a mailer sent to the community. 

4. Is there an effort to change how Castle Rock’s mayor is elected?

Yes, there is a citizen-driven initiative to change the Town’s Charter. The proposed change would amend the Castle Rock Town Charter to allow for the at-large, town-wide election of the office of Mayor. In addition, it will include district changes. Town Council currently consists of seven members elected from the district they live in. Currently, the Mayor is appointed. The proposed amendment would reduce the number from seven to six districts.

The acting Town Clerk deemed there are a sufficient number of valid signatures for the effort to go forward. State Statute required Town Council to set a ballot question and call an election. The special election has been set for Nov. 7. Town Council also directed staff to develop an educational mailer for residents. The purpose is to help voters understand the question as they fill out their ballot. As part of the mailer, Town staff has been identifying draft arguments for and draft arguments against the Charter amendment. Residents now have the opportunity to submit feedback regarding the mailer messaging.

Learn more about the election and draft mailer at CRgov.com/2017SpecialElection.

5. Is the Town being sued about its solicitation ordinance?

Aptive Environmental LLC, a national pest control services company, has filed suit against the Town of Castle Rock in the U.S. District Court for Colorado. In the litigation Aptive challenges the constitutionality of the Town’s 7 p.m. curfew on the ability of commercial door-to-door solicitors to contact residents. This curfew has been in effect since 2008. Aptive seeks a judicial order prohibiting the Town from enforcing this curfew on solicitors. The Town Attorney’s office is preparing a response to the litigation.

6. Is it true that there are plans to move the railroad tracks in 2020?

There are no plans to move the railroad lines. In 2007-2008, there was some discussion about moving the railroad tracks east of DIA to ensure the train engineers could maintain 55 mph between Pueblo and the coal mines in Wyoming without interrupting towns along the way. Currently, the Town is unaware of any active railroad discussions on this topic. It is a significant project without a funding source.

7. How is the Town planning to increase parking in the downtown area, to support the new businesses and planned residences, in addition to losing existing parking spaces?

The Town knows parking, especially Downtown, is a priority for residents and business owners. The Town recently hired a consultant to conduct a Downtown Parking Study to evaluate current and future needs, as well as to get recommendations for increasing parking. Town staff is reviewing suggested implementation items that resulted from the study. One of those is establishing off-street parking requirements for new residential and commercial development in the Downtown area. In addition, Town Council has also supported new striping along Wilcox and Perry streets, which will add some on-street parking. Finally, once the new roundabout at Third and Perry streets is constructed, we will see additional parking gains near that intersection. Learn more about the parking study at CRgov.com/ParkingStudy. Learn about the roundabout at CRgov.com/PerryRoundabout. Learn about the Parking Study.

8. I’ve heard Pit Bulls will no longer be banned. Is that true?

As a home rule municipality, the Town of Castle Rock has its own set of local laws and codes. It's prudent for a local government to take a look at its laws to ensure they are up to par with current legal best practices and local culture. That's why Town staff started a review of Town Code related to animals in 2017.

After conducting research and gathering public feedback, Town staff has recommendations for the Castle Rock community and Town Council to consider. One of those recommendations is to replace the current ban on Pit Bulls with a two-tired, behavior-based potentially dangerous/dangerous provision. 

Town staff conducted extensive research throughout the review process and found most Colorado communities do not have breed-specific bans. Research shows breed-specific bans present a number of challenges and are difficult to enforce. That's why the team is making the recommendation to move away from a breed-specific ban to a two-tiered, behavior-based potentially dangerous and dangerous animal system. The proposed system would allow authorities to focus on the particular behavior of a dog and not it's appearance or genetic make-up.

It's important to note, the proposed system also outlines definitions for both potentially dangerous and dangerous animals. These definitions are designed to proactively manage a potentially dangerous dog, and would not necessarily require a dog to injure/bite another animal or person before being classified as potentially dangerous. Additionally, dangerous dogs would be clearly defined, and steps to remove the animal from Town limits would be outlined.

Staff has also proposed revisions to other areas of Town Code related to a variety of animals, including chickens, bees, dogs, cats, wildlife and more. It's important to note, Town Council has not made a decision. Learn more about the proposals and next steps, and provide your feedback. 

Learn about the animal code review.

9. When are Town Council meetings?

Town Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, starting at 6 p.m. Town Council can also schedule special meetings. Get details at CRgov.com/Council.



If you can’t attend in person, watch online or on TV. Town Council meetings are broadcast live at CRgov.com/WatchCouncil, where you can also find a recording of the meeting the next day. Town Council meetings are also broadcast on Channel 8 for CenturyLink subscribers and Channel 22 for Comcast Cable Subscribers several times each day.
View Council's current agenda.

10. How can I receive emails about Town happenings?

Your Town is excited to connect with you! Get information straight to your inbox by signing up for various email lists at CRgov.com/NotifyMe. Some lists are based on projects. For general updates, sign up for the “News and Announcements” listing. For all lists, look for a confirmation email from NoReply@CivicPlus.com.) Sign up for emails.

11. Where can I learn about events and open houses?

Check out CRgov.com/Events. There, you’ll find a calendar of upcoming events that includes everything from Town Council or Board and Commission meetings to special events, concerts, and neighborhood meetings or open houses. You can also sign up for emails from the calendar listings at CRgov.com/NotifyMe. See a calendar of events.

12. Is it possible to opt out of door-to-door solicitation?

The Town's No Knock List was created to allow homeowners to opt out of door-to-door solicitation and sales. Register and learn more at CRgov.com/NoKnock. Learn about the No Knock List.