To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Dave Corliss, Town Manager
Title
Update: Future Council Agenda Items
Body
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We have several agenda items coming forward to future Council meetings. This is not an exhaustive listing, but an update on a few future items.
Animal Code Amendments
At the March 6 meeting, Council authorized placement on a future agenda an ordinance codifying changes to the Town animal control code. Staff anticipates placing the ordinance for first reading consideration at the April 17 Council meeting.
Signatures Required for Mayor on Ballot
When the Council authorized the placement of Town Charter amendments on the May 15, 2018 special election as a follow-up to the Charter amendments related to electing a Mayor at-large approved by the voters in November 2017, Council also discussed possible Town Code changes related to the number of signatures required to be placed on the ballot for the Mayor position. (Current Town Code requires a minimum of 25 valid signatures to be placed on the ballot for Town Council). Council requested that this item be placed back on a future Council agenda for additional consideration and direction. Staff plans to place this item on a Council agenda in May to receive direction, well in advance to ensure any necessary Code amendments are in place prior to the time of petition signature seeking.
On-street Parking Policy
Last year Council considered a policy for considering on-street parking issues (outside of the downtown area). Public Works staff has revised the policy statement earlier considered by Council (see Attachment A). This policy is slated to be considered by the Public Works Commission on May 7 and consideration by Town Council on May 15.
Group Home Regulations in Town Code
Town staff and outside legal counsel have been working to prepare possible Town Code amendments concerning group homes in residential zone districts, including briefing with several interested residents. Staff anticipates Planning Commission consideration of this issue in April or May with then the Planning Commission recommendation coming to Town Council.
Starlighting Policy
As Council and the community knows, one of the greatest traditions of our Town is the annual lighting of the Star atop Rock Park. The Town occasionally receives requests to “light the Star” outside of the traditional time period for community remembrance, celebration or other purposes. The Town has received a request from Douglas County to consider lighting the Star during the 100th Annual County Fair this August (along with a request for fireworks from the Rock). Staff recommends that the Council adopt a policy in regards to these types of requests, reserving sole authority to Council to consider these requests under certain criteria. We anticipate placing this issue and a draft policy statement on the Council agenda for April 17.
2019 Budget & Beyond: Sales tax on food for home consumption; Financial Planning for future obligations
At a recent Council meeting, staff was directed to review the issue of removing the Town sales tax on food for home consumption, and also to additionally study long-term financial obligations for the Town, particularly as they relate to long-term costs at future build out. Staff has been engaged in research and analysis on this issue since receiving Council direction. Our estimate on the revenue loss in 2019 if the sales tax on food for home consumption (sometimes called grocery tax) is approximately $7 million. Staff is looking at the implications to core Town services if this revenue was completely removed in 2019 and beyond, along with alternative revenue source considerations and possible phasing out of the tax revenue over time. Implications related to current bond covenants and the Downtown Development Authority are also being reviewed. Staff is also working on additional long-term financial planning for the Town. Maintenance of newly built infrastructure will be essential to community health - both currently and in the future. Forecasting where the necessary revenue to maintain what is currently being built should also be part of the conversations about where the Town asks residents and visitors to pay necessary taxes and fees.
Staff anticipates briefing Council members on these issues in early May with public discussions shortly forthcoming after those briefings.
Liquor Distancing Requirements
Council requested that staff review and prepare possible solutions to the issues associated with schools locating in non-residentially zoned properties and the impact of the 500 foot distancing requirement for establishments which sell alcohol. This issue was brought forward by the Economic Development Council staff. Staff has been reviewing Planned Development zoning documents and other related planning items to fully analyze this issue. This work is concluding shortly and staff plans to explore possible Town Code options for discussion with impacted entities (schools, businesses) and eventual presentation to Council.
Future Park in Meadows - Conceptual Plans
Parks Strategic Plan
On April 17, Parks and Recreation is seeking approval on the Parks and Recreation 2018-2020 Strategic Plan Draft. The Plan supports the Town's 2030 Comprehensive Master Plan and the 2015 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. In addition, on the same date, will be seeking endorsement of the Park Master Concept Plan for the new Meadows 18 park site adjacent to Aspen View Academy prior to bringing the proposed construction contract to Council on May 1.
Castle Rock Water: Bulk Water Charges, Drought Management Plan, Chatfield Reallocation Participation
Castle Rock Water plans to seek Council approval at upcoming Council meetings on several items, including changes to CRW bulk water charges to better account for true costing for these uses, adoption of the Drought Management Plan which updates our planning and response efforts when dry conditions or other events warrant reduced water usage, and approval of continued financial participation in the Chatfield reallocation project and take down of our 2018 option for additional shares. Draft documents on the bulk water changes (Attachment B), the Drought Management Plan (Attachment C), and the Chatfield Reallocation Project (Attachment D) are attached.
Recommended Changes to Downtown Parking Code
The Planning Commission has recommended changes to the Downtown Parking requirements for both residential and non-residential development and redevelopment. The Downtown Development Authority is set to review the final recommended ordinance. Additionally, because there are a few pending redevelopments already in the development review process a recommendation for how the Code change would impact those projects needs to be developed.
Attachments
Attachment A: On-street Parking Policy Revised Statement
Attachment B: Draft Memo for Bulk Water Program Changes
Attachment C: Draft Memo for Drought Management Plan
Attachment D: Draft Memo for Chatfield Reallocation Project