Castle Pines voters approve home rule charter

Voters have approved a home rule charter for Castle Pines.

Unofficial results of the May 14 election show 77 percent of voters said yes to home rule for the 11-year-old city of about 11,300 people, according to a news release.

"This is an exciting achievement for the community," Mayor Tera Radloff said in the release, which was issued by the city. "Home Rule helps set the foundation for building a strong community and really puts into motion our ability to better self-govern and make local decisions that uniquely impact the community and the residents who live here."

Castle Pines becomes the 102nd municipality — and the newest — in Colorado to be governed by home rule, the release states. The charter becomes the city's "constitution" and most important guiding document.

"Under home rule, Castle Pines residents are given greater authority to create laws that meet the needs and expectations of the community," the city's website, www.castlepinesgov.com, says.

The charter outlines the structure and organization of government; business procedures to be followed by municipal government; and powers and limitations of municipal officials and agencies, according to the website.

Thirteen charter commissioners were elected in November 2018 to draft the charter. Commissioners had 180 days to write the charter language.

"I want to thank the members of the Charter Commission and the residents of Castle Pines for supporting the efforts of the Home Rule Charter Commission," Jeff Huff, vice chair of the Home Rule Charter Commission, said in the release. "Charter Commission members dedicated many hours to writing the city's new charter that will undoubtedly lead Castle Pines into the future."

Home rule procedures begin immediately for the city, staff and elected officials, the release says. First, the city will begin amending ordinances to come into compliance with the charter’s new requirements.

To read the home rule charter online, go to  www.castlepinesgov.com/sites/default/files/media/2019-01-30_castle_pines_home_rule_charter_adopted.pdf