To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Mark Marlowe, P.E., Director of Castle Rock Water
Lauren Moore, Water Resources Manager
Zuzana Howard, Water Resources Program Analyst
Title
Resolution Approving an Agricultural Lease Agreement Between the Town of Castle Rock and Rupple Farms, LLC [Box elder Property, Weld County]
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
Castle Rock Water (CRW) is seeking Town Council approval of a resolution (Attachment A) for an Agricultural Lease (Exhibit 1) with Rupple Farms, LLC (Rupples) for the Box Elder property. The Town closed on the Box Elder property on December 30, 2016, and is interested in continuing to work with the lessee who has previously farmed the property. The Town will assess a lease rate of $27 per acre and a grazing fee of $1,976 for up to sixty head of cattle. Both amounts reflect a 4% increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from September 2025 to September 2026. Under the proposed terms, the Rupples will lease 560 acres of farmland for one year at a cost of $15,120. They will also pay $1,976 for grazing rights. The total annual cost of the lease is $17,096.
Budget Impact
If Council approves the agreement, Castle Rock Water would receive $17,096 of additional revenue in 2027. The revenue will be deposited into the Water Resources Fund Capital Leases account<211-4375-393.70-00>.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the resolution as presented.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the resolution as introduced by title”.
Alternative Motions
“I move to approve the resolution as introduced by title, with the following conditions: (list conditions).
“I move to continue this item to the Town Council meeting on _____ date to allow additional time to (list information needed).”
Attachments
Staff Report
Attachment A: Resolution
Exhibit 1: Lease Agreement