February 27 City Council Meeting agenda now available

The agenda for the February 27 City Council Meeting is now available. The study session will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the regular meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.

City Council meetings are held as a hybrid meeting, with both virtual and in-person attendance options available. Meetings are held at the Castle Pines Library Event Hall (360 Village Square Lane). Register to attend the meeting virtually.

Wildfire mitigation is one of City Council's strategic goals and priorities. To help mitigate wildfire risk and protect the community, the City developed a grant program to provide financial resources for residents and homeowners associations to conduct wildfire mitigation projects.

How much funding is available for a project?
Homeowner associations and individual residents can apply for wildfire mitigation funding. The City will accept funding requests for up to $5,000 from an HOA and up to $250 from a resident. All funding requests require a minimum match of 50% from all applicants. If a resident has a wildfire mitigation project expected to cost $500 or more, they would be eligible to ask for the full $250 of City funds.

When are applications due?
Applications will remain open until March 29, 2024. If your project is selected, funds will be reimbursed after completion of the project. A final report, before and after pictures, and proof of payment or receipt(s) must be submitted to receive reimbursement.

What type of projects are eligible? 

• Projects should focus on open space and vegetation mitigation
• You can replace plants or trees susceptible to wildfire, remove vegetation encroaching on residential structures, or complete other projects to reduce fire hazards around your home.
• Any planted plants must be of a species on the approved Wildfire Resistant Plant List.

Visit the Community Wildfire Mitigation Grant webpage for more information.

One of the City's 2024 Road Solutions projects is the construction of improvements to the intersection of Lagae Road and Happy Canyon Road. Project improvements will include:

• • A roundabout at the intersection of Lagae Road and Happy Canyon Road
  • Increased traffic efficiency
  • Improved safety

Construction of the roundabout is expected to be completed by July 2024.

This work will be completed as a part of an early action item for the eventual improvements to the I-25 and Happy Canyon Road bridge and interchange. The roundabout will tie into the eventual final construction of the bridge/interchange project.

Traffic Impacts
To complete construction as quickly as possible and to maintain safety for workers and the traveling public, a road closure will be in place during construction. Lagae Road, between Happy Canyon Road and Chase Lane, will be closed beginning Saturday, Feb. 24. A detour will be in place via Castle Pines Parkway to access I-25 or Happy Canyon Road. Please follow construction signage and drive safely. See the detour map for more information on the traffic detour route.

Schedule

• • Feb. 24, 2024 - Construction and road closure begins
  • July 2024 - anticipated project completion

Visit the project webpage to learn more about the project.

Questions? Email communications@castlepinesco.gov.

Meeting highlights from the February 13 City Council meeting include:

• Approving a professional services agreement with Landtech Contractors, LLC for landscape maintenance.
• Approving an intergovernmental agreement with Douglas County to provide law enforcement and animal control services.
• Approving the annexation of City-owned territory, known as the Havana Street Annexation, into the city.
• Approving the findings of the Conditions Study for the Castle Pines West Commercial District Urban Renewal Area and approving the Castle Pines West Commercial District Urban Renewal Plan.
• Approving amendments to the City Manager's employment contract.

To view more information about all agenda items or to view the meeting recording, visit the City Council Meeting webpage.

Are you a business owner in Douglas County who owns or leases business personal property in Colorado? If so, and the value of these assets is greater than $52,000, state law requires you to report the property to the County Assessor. The deadline is Monday, April 15, 2024.

Approximately 3,000 Douglas County businesses will receive a 2024 Business Personal Property Declaration Notice, instructing them how to view, download, and print an asset listing, as well as how to file the full declaration online at DouglasFilesOnline.org.

Several options are available for filing a declaration:

• File online – once a property record has been established, businesses have the option to view and file their asset listings online. Filing online saves time, reduces paperwork, and improves efficiency. Businesses that file electronically will receive an email confirmation.
• File by mail – the declaration must be postmarked by April 15 to be considered timely. An asset list, spreadsheet, or IRS Form #4562 -Federal Depreciation and Amortization Schedule may be attached to the form.
• File by email – a scanned copy of the declaration may be emailed to bpp@douglas.co.us.

Do you have questions or require additional information, including the type of business personal property that is taxable? Please visit the Assessor’s website or call 303-660-7448.

The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners has approved its annual partial exemption of business personal property taxes for their portion of the total mill levy, again for the first $100,000 in Actual Value.

This exemption only applies to Douglas County Government’s General Tax, all other tax authorities remain at the $52,000 State exemption level. For the 2023 business taxes that are paid, each business owner will receive a refund check reflective of the exemption honored by Douglas County.

This check will be dispersed in addition to the Reserve Mill Levy Refund check in summer 2024.

Colorado Statute demands County Assessors to value all business personal property for taxation purposes. Business personal property includes machinery, equipment, and leasehold improvements specific to business purposes. All personal property is taxable in Colorado unless specifically exempt by the Colorado Constitution.

The agenda for the February 13 Council Meeting is now available. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. with interviews for open seats on the Planning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The regular meeting will reconvene at 8:30 p.m.

Register to attend the meeting virtually.

Mayor Engerman and "Mayor for the Day" Logan O'Neill provide updates on City activities, including road construction projects, park planning feedback opportunities, and upcoming events.

 

Meeting highlights from the January 23 City Council meeting include:

• • • Approving the acceptance of right-of-way and easement areas for sections of South Havana Street and Castle Pines Parkway from Douglas County.
    • Approving City Council appointees to various committees and boards for 2024 and 2025.
    • Approving an intergovernmental agreement with Douglas County that accepts the County's contribution of $1.5 million toward the construction cost of the Happy Canyon Road and Lagae Road roundabout.
    • Approving a change order to a professional services agreement with Ulteig Engineers, Inc. for construction management and inspection services for the reconstruction of Monarch Boulevard.
    • Approving a change order to the professional services agreement with Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers and Architects for construction management and inspection services for the Happy Canyon Road and Lagae Road roundabout.
    • Approving a bid award to RMD LTD, LLC for street reconstruction, stormwater, and pedestrian improvements on Monarch Boulevard.
    • Approving a bid award to RMD LTD, LLC for the construction of the Happy Canyon Road and Lagae Road roundabout.
    • Approval of a professional services agreement with Michael Baker International, Inc. for design services for the I-25 bike and pedestrian bridge.

Update from City Manager Michale Penny

Following the approval of contracts for the construction of the Happy Canyon Road and Lagae Road roundabout and the reconstruction of portions of Monarch Boulevard, staff will begin working with the contractors to finalize the construction schedule and plans for traffic management. These projects will include significant traffic impacts. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months and be sure to follow posted signage in construction zones when the project begins. Crews will work diligently to complete these projects as quickly as possible.

To view more information about all agenda items or to view the meeting recording, visit the City Council Meeting webpage.

 

The agenda for the January 23 City Council Meeting is now available. The study session will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the regular meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Please note that the regular meeting will begin with an executive session. The rest of the regular meeting will resume at the completion of the executive session.

Register to attend the meeting virtually.

The City of Castle Pines and the Communities of Excellence group invite you to participate in an important survey regarding your sense or feelings of community in your neighborhood and the city. Your responses will influence decisions about your community now and in the future.

The survey will begin today and will close on the evening of Tuesday, January 30. There are two ways for Castle Pines residents to participate in the survey:

1. 1. 1. Complete the online survey.
      2. Some residents will receive a text message on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 16, inviting them to participate in the survey. This text will have the City of Castle Pines logo at the top.

Please make your voice heard by sharing your opinion and participating in this important survey. Your answers are completely anonymous and confidential, and the survey will take just 10 minutes to complete. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact City Offices by calling 303-705-0200 or emailing Communications@CastlePinesCO.gov.

COMPLETE THE SURVEY

 

What is the Castle Pines Communities of Excellence Group?

• • The City of Castle Pines is participating in the Communities of Excellence 2026 program, which is an organization that assists community leaders in implementing the Communities of Excellence Framework. This framework is adopted from the Baldridge Excellence Framework which is a validated systems improvement framework that is believed to improve health status, educational attainment, economic vitality, and quality of life for community residents by focusing on improving overall community performance.
  • The Castle Pines Community of Excellence (CP COE) group is comprised of a variety of community stakeholders including local business owners, commercial property owner representatives, City staff, and members of the Chamber of Commerce, South Metro Fire, Douglas County Libraries, and the Douglas County School District.
  • The CP COE is developing its strategic plan which will help give direction to the efforts brought forth for the community.
  • The Mission of the CP COE is currently to “improve community identity, connections, and pride for a unified and engaged Castle Pines through effective communication, community resources, programs, and events.”
  • The current Vision is “a cohesive community with a unique identity that allows everyone to prosper and connect.”
  • The survey will help the CP COE determine projects for its strategic plan, as well as get a feel for the temperature of the community and the existing perspectives of residents. The survey results will drive the actionable steps of the group.