Town of Castle Rock

Studies continue to rank Castle Rock as one of the safest communities in the State and the Country. To help ensure the Town can continue to maintain its margin of excellence in public safety, Town Council is considering placing on this November’s ballot a request for a 0.2% sales tax increase, to provide the funding needed to hire 40 fire and police employees from 2025 to 2029. Town Council in July unanimously gave initial approval to place the request on the ballot so voters can decide. A second and final vote will occur on Aug. 20. Hiring this staff would allow the Town to: Put a fourth ambulance into service in Castle Rock, as there are currently on average 18 minutes a day when there is no ambulance available in Town Help adequately staff the new fire station planned to open in Cobblestone Ranch/Terrain in 2026 Add police officers for patrol, schools and traffic safety Keep up with the almost 200% increase in immediate/urgent calls Castle Rock Police Department has seen in the last 10 years The Town’s sales tax rate has been the same since 2011 and cannot keep pace with the growing cost of maintaining excellent public safety services. The Town’s property tax mill levy rate, meanwhile, has declined by 46% since 2011; the owner of a median-valued home in Castle Rock ($663,360) pays $37.50 in Town property tax annually. The proposed sales tax increase would amount to 20 cents on a $100 purchase. It is projected to raise a little over half of the $7.6 million that would be needed annually in 2029 and beyond to fund the 40 proposed public safety positions. The remaining funding needed for the initiative would come from permanent reductions in Town spending in areas including Downtown initiatives, economic development and other Town staff expenses. The majority of shoppers in Castle Rock come from out of Town, meaning the majority of the Town’s sales tax revenue is not paid by Castle Rock residents. If a household buys $30,000 in taxable goods annually within Castle Rock, the total proposed increase would amount to $60, which would be spread out over hundreds of transactions during the year. Public comment on the proposal is welcome – visit https://lnkd.in/dfwHuJtR to share input. Additional information, including frequently asked questions, can be found on the webpage. Get Town news straight to your inbox. Sign up online at CRgov.com/NotifyMe, or follow the Town on Facebook (facebook.com/CRgov), Twitter (@CRgov), Instagram (CRGOV) and LinkedIn (search Town of Castle Rock). Need to talk to the Town? Dial 720-896-TOWN (8696) to reach a menu for help with frequently asked questions or live assistance during business hours.

Interested in learning what’s happening this year in Castle Rock with public safety, parks and recreation, roadwork, water and development projects, and what’s ahead in 2025? Find out at the State of the Town on Tuesday, Aug. 13. The entire community is invited to join Mayor Jason Gray at the annual, family-friendly event from 6 to 7 p.m. at Cantril School, 312 Cantril St. Stop by early for cold treats served up by the Castle Rock Police Department Frosty 5-0. Mayor Gray’s 30-minute presentation starts at 6 p.m. It will entertain you while catching you up on all things Castle Rock. “I encourage everyone to join me at the State of the Town to connect with the community and learn about updates and information related to our Town,” said Gray. “It’s also a great opportunity to see historic Cantril School in use and the work underway to preserve it and make it accessible for all to experience.” Parking at Cantril School is limited. Park at the Encore parking garage, at the corner of Perry and South streets, and ride the Town Trolley to and from the event. The ride is free, and the trolley will run through 7:30 p.m. 

The security of Castle Rock’s water supplies is crucial, along with where and how sewage gets handled. Traffic impacts lives daily, and those effects are important. For a development in the center of Castle Rock, Town Council — which is accountable to Town residents — should oversee these critical issues. The proposed Pine Canyon development in unincorporated Douglas County would bring 1,800 homes and 600,000 square feet of commercial space into the center of Castle Rock. The development would cause daily depletion of Denver Basin Groundwater — Castle Rock’s long-term water supply source for times of drought — as no renewable water sources are proposed for the project. It would also construct an unneeded sewage treatment plant within 460 yards of homes in Castle Rock, bringing with it odors and potential overflows. Further, Pine Canyon residents would drive daily on Castle Rock’s roads without paying into Town road projects, which is a requirement of building a home in Castle Rock. For these reasons and more, the Town opposes Pine Canyon unless it’s developed in Castle Rock, using existing Town water and sewer infrastructure and abiding by the Town’s renewable water plans and conservation regulations. The development must also pay its fair share to the community it will undoubtedly impact. Visit CRgov.com/PineCanyon to see additional detail about why the Town opposes the proposal and to share your thoughts. The Town will relay feedback shared to Douglas County's Planning Commission, as they are hearing a water appeal and zoning request related to the proposal on Monday, Aug. 5. Or, participate in that meeting yourself: https://lnkd.in/gFnu7Pqr

It #WaterWednesday and we have the answer to last week's question for you: The cycle and soak method of watering is beneficial because the water soaks deeper into the root zone. 🧐 As Smart Irrigation month comes to a close, we have a few final tips to carry you through the rest of the season. 1.       Don’t water during the heat of the day. Not only is more than half of sprinkler water lost to evaporation, but the sun can also scald the plants. Plants are also conserving energy during the heat of the day and aren’t prepared to absorb water effectively. 2.       Don’t water once in the morning and once at night. This is not cycle and soak and actually has the opposite effect. Frequent irrigation keeps roots close to the surface, making it easier for them to dry out and require more water. 3.       Keep to the every-third-day schedule. Most homes built before 2018 have Kentucky bluegrass lawns. This is a cool-weather grass that will go dormant and turn brown during the heat of the summer. Cool weather, not more water, is what will turn this type of lawn green again. 

Did you know that the Castle Rock Fire And Rescue Department is organized into several divisions? All divisions work together to help keep the community safe. Today, we want to highlight CRFD's Fire and Life Safety Division. CRFD's Fire and Life Safety Division focuses on prevention services, education and enforcement to build connections with residents and prevent fires. The division members' responsibilities include fire inspections, education, fire/arson investigations, fire and life safety enforcement, plan review and community relations for risk reduction. The Fire and Life Safety Division strives to keep community members safe through the use of fire sprinklers and alarms, education and ensuring our buildings are built and maintained to protect our community.    Everyone has a part, and the Fire and Life Safety Division is instrumental in building strong connections that make a difference to the Town and CRFD's service area. The services provided by this division play a key part of a greater whole by helping protect residents within our service area, firefighters and those visiting Castle Rock.

Get to know the amazing individuals who make our Town a great place to live! This week's #WeWorkForYou, we're highlighting two dedicated members of our team who have each devoted 20 years to serving our community. From finance to the Castle Rock Fire And Rescue Department and supporting customers to enjoying the beautiful outdoors, Debbie and Lori share their passion and commitment to making Castle Rock a better place every day. 👋 Debbie has been with the Town for 20 years, starting with 3 years in Finance and spending the last 17 years with the CRFD. When asked what she likes most about being part of Town staff, she says, "No matter the issue, I've always experienced teamwork and goodwill from other members of the Town." The most rewarding part of her job is knowing that she is doing something she enjoys. Her favorite places in Castle Rock are Philip S. Miller Park and the Castle Rock Outlets. 👋 Lori has also been with the Town for 20 years, supporting both internal and external customers. She loves the people she works with, saying, "Everyone works so well towards a common goal." The most rewarding part of her job is knowing she's helped either a customer or a member of the CRFD. When she's not at work, you can find her on any of the many great hiking trails around Castle Rock. Let's give Debbie and Lori a big shoutout for their incredible dedication and hard work!

📆 If you are a resident of southeast Castle Rock, you're invited to join us for an open house to meet with your Town Council representative from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, at Fire Station 153, 5463 E. Sovereign St. Join District 5 Councilmember Brooks for updates on the planning process for Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space; improvements at the intersection of Founders Parkway, Ridge Road, Fifth Street and State Highway 86; the proposed new sports development center; and more. No formal presentations are planned, but a number of Town staff members will be present in addition to Town Council members to answer questions and provide updates. 🍦 Free frozen treats will be provided by the Castle Rock Police Department Frosty 5-0. For the complete list of upcoming Town Council open houses and a link to find your Council district, read the news release at https://lnkd.in/gghyP-TB

Adequate funding for our Police and Fire departments is among the top priorities for the Town of Castle Rock. There is a demonstrated need to hire 40 additional police and fire personnel over the next five years. In order to make this necessary expansion of our critical public safety departments — 22 police staff and 18 fire personnel — Town Council on Tuesday approved the first reading of an ordinance that would place on the November ballot a 0.2% sales tax increase (20 cents on a $100 purchase). If adopted on second reading, Castle Rock voters would decide their support on the Nov. 5 ballot.   Here is a closer look: https://lnkd.in/ggjWdwe6

Smart irrigation is all about efficiency. Remember, more water does not mean healthier plants. Here's our next question to test your Smart Irrigation Month knowledge: ❓Why is Cycle and Soak irrigation so good for plants? A) It allows water to soak deeper into the root zone. B) It uses less water. C) It uses more water. Find the answer at CRconserve.com and here next week. And here's the answer to last week's question: Sprinklers placed 15 feet apart should have a reach of 15 feet.

July is Ultraviolet — UV — Safety month! With over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year, skin cancer is America’s most common cancer. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer.  Castle Rock Fire and Rescue takes skin cancer prevention and precautions very seriously because the skin cancer risk for firefighters is very high. CRFD members are encouraged to apply sunscreen regularly and to wear sun-protective clothing and sunglasses regularly — we encourage you to do the same! When it comes to skin cancer, early detection is key. This is why CRFD members also undergo mandatory skin exams with a dermatologist. Here are a few sun protection tips: ☀️ Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all skin not covered by clothing. Remember to reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating. ☀️Wear a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection when you will have prolonged sun exposure. For more effective protection, select clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor number on the label. ☀️Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information on sun protection and skin cancer awareness, visit https://lnkd.in/dfNTc-XH.