To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Jeff Brauer, Director of Parks and Recreation
Title
Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Castle Rock Consenting to the Dissolution of the Rueter-Hess Recreation Authority
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
The purpose of this agenda item is to seek Town Council approval of a Resolution (Attachment A) consenting to dissolve the Rueter-Hess Recreation Authority Board. Earlier this year, the Town entered into a new intergovernmental agreement to establish the Rueter-Hess Reservoir Advisory Board to replace the Authority Board. The new Advisory Board sits under the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners. The intent of the transition was to centralize the ongoing implementation of the reservoir’s master plan and its development, financing, construction, administration, operation and maintenance. The Resolution will dissolve the original board and IGA to formally marshal in the new organizational structure.
Disucssion
Completed in 2012, Rueter-Hess Reservoir is located on Hess Road, one mile east of I-25 at the Castle Pines Parkway, Exit 188, or three miles west of Parker Road. It is located on Newlin Gulch, which is a tributary drainage of Cherry Creek. The dam rises 185 feet above the bedrock and the reservoir encompasses 1,170 acres, which is about one and half times the size of Cherry Creek Reservoir. The site is owned and maintained by the Parker Water and Sanitation District for drinking water purposes.
In 2013, the Town of Castle Rock began participating in initial discussions with neighboring communities regarding offering recreational opportunities at the reservoir. The discussions centered on the formation of a regional partnership whose goal would be to develop and administer the planning, design, construction and maintenance of a recreational master plan for Rueter-Hess.
In 2015, Castle Rock Town Council voted to support an agreement establishing the Rueter-Hess Recreation Authority, acknowledging future Town participation in the site’s recreational development. The Authority’s purpose was to bring recreational opportunities to Rueter-Hess Reservoir and its adjacent property, and set the policies and procedures by which the site is funded, developed and maintained for public recreation.
In addition to Castle Rock, Authority partners have included Parker Water and Sanitation, Douglas County, the Town of Parker, the City of Lone Tree and the City of Castle Pines. Each partner in the agreement has maintained a position on the Authority Board and the Town’s appointed representative has been Jeff Brauer, Director of Parks and Recreation.
Since its inception, the Authority has performed a number administrative functions including establishing bylaws and annual budgets. A recreation master plan funded by Authority members was also completed in 2017. Outstanding public participation in the reservoir’s planning process resulted in a preferred concept for the property’s recreational and educational opportunities. The Parker Water and Sanitation District endorsed a “peaceful and serene” mandate to the Authority based on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and primary mission of providing safe drinking water. Guided programming such as Stand Up Paddleboarding and fishing days have been offered, and a mini-incline and trail area was developed just north of the reservoir for ongoing public use.
To set the reservoir up for future management success, the Recreation Authority recently transferred its governance responsibilities to sit under Douglas County. The County has open space resources that will be helpful when the site eventually opens for public use and the participating jurisdictions all reside within the County through the newly established Advisory Board.
Budget Impact
The amount of each municipal member’s annual contribution obligation for Rueter-Hess Reservoir is as follows based on population: City of Lone Tree - $100,000; City of Castle Pines - $100,000; Town of Castle Rock -$210,000; Town of Parker - $210,000; Douglas County - $250,000. Newly added municipal members, as allowed, will pay an amount that is recommend by the Advisory Board and approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
This expense has been budgeted for 2023 and future years. The fee is typically split between General Fund account 110-5200-452.50-80 and Parks and Recreation Capital account 130-5275-452.50-80.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommend that Town Council approve the Resolution as introduced by title.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the resolution as introduced by title.”
Alternate Motions
“I move to approve the Resolution as introduced by title with the following changes ______”
“I move to continue this item to a future Town Council agenda on _____date to allow additional time to (list information needed).”
Attachments
Attachment A - Resolution