News-Press DCCR 11-14-2013
Castle Rock
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 34
November 14, 2013
Free
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourcastlerocknews.com
School official looks to future Larsen says he aims to unite community, change meetings By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Kevin Larsen, likely the next Douglas County School Board president, said he hopes to help mend the rift in the community created during the recent election. Now vice president of the board, Larsen is expected to fill the lead position vacated by term-limited president John Carson. A believer in the board’s education re-
form policies, Larsen said he’s pleased the candidates who share those beliefs won the Nov. 5 election. But he also recognizes that not everyone feels the same way. “Part of my belief is I’m in the right place at the Larsen right time for what Douglas County needs,” he said. “I’m going to offer everything I can as a leader to get this community together, and to make education deliver what we need to for these kids.” Larsen said the quantity of votes the losing candidates received exceeds that of any
other school board candidates in any previous race. “So I’m respectful and know there were many people who supported the other candidates,” he said. “I think what we got was approval from the majority of voters to say, ‘Continue the strategic plan, more of us are supporting it than don’t.’ “I think we’ve articulated what we believe. Equally, or maybe at this moment, more importantly, how we say it is going to make the difference of getting unity in the community.” While the board hasn’t voted on any changes to meetings, Larsen has ideas he believes will improve interactions between the board, community members and
teachers. Those include holding regular working session meetings as well as board meetings and limiting public comment during board meetings to agenda items to ensure meetings stay productive. Separate community forums would then serve as an opportunity for parents and others to express separate concerns. He also hopes to address the concern many have about the amount of time the board spends in executive session. “I don’t know if it means fewer, but I want to increase the perception and the reality of having a lot more things done out in
School continues on Page 12
Retail project is back on table
VeteraNs Visit
Council to weigh Promenade plan By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@ourcoloradonews.com
Cub Scout Pack 856 in Castle Pines recently learned the right way to fold a flag with the help of Jim Albright, left, of Castle Rock, an American Legionaire who served in the Army and Air Force, and Navy veteran Norb Cygan, in back, of Castle Pines. Photo by Virginia Grantier
Castle Pines mayor faces complaint Use of city logo in question By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@ourcoloradonews.com It’s expected that Castle Pines Mayor Jeffrey Huff’s lead in the Nov. 5 election will hold when a canvassing board meets Nov. 21 to certify the vote. But in the meantime, there is a campaign issue to deal with — a hearing on an alleged campaign violation. Castle Pines Councilmember James Einolf, in a complaint he filed Oct. 30 with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, is alleging that Huff’s use of the city’s trademarked logo without permission for cam-
paign materials violates provisions of the Colorado Fair Campaign Practices Act. An Office of Administrative Courts hearing was scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 14 in Denver. Einolf also had concerns about other campaign actions but on Nov. 8 told Colorado Community Media he was seeking to remove those from the complaint. “James has informed me that he would like to amend his complaint, dropping several of his original allegations,” Huff stated in a Nov. 8 email. “Once my attorney and I have reviewed his new allegation, we will respond appropriately.” With regard to the use of the city logo, Einolf alleges that Huff sent out a cam-
paign mailer with the registered trademark logo even though Huff didn’t enter into a licensing agreement with the city, nor pay a licensing fee. Andrew Cole, a spokesman for the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, told Colorado Community Media Nov. 7 that since this is a campaign finance complaint, if Huff is found to have violated state law, there could be fines, but it would have “no bearing on the election results.” Cole also said the administrative law judge hearing the case “could take weeks to hear the evidence and come up with a decision,” because the timeline is up to the judge.
It’s back, after all. A proposed 200-acre Castle Rock retail project that would be next to — mainly north of — the Outlets at Castle Rock and potentially twice as big, up to 900,000 square feet, will be on the town council’s agenda later this month. This after the city council, a couple months ago, decided to table the project indefinitely after negotiations between the developer and town didn’t result in an agreement — on such issues as economic incentives for the developer, public improvement fees and metropolitan district issues. Information wasn’t available on what changed to make the project possible again, something that the council would consider. But Karen McGrath, town spokeswoman, indicated this would be a long process of “many pieces.” She did say that the project — called Promenade by the developer, Greenwood Village-based Alberta Development Partners LLC — hasn’t changed in scope and size. It was in July when the town council gave 7-0 approval to a proposed private/ public partnership with Alberta — a company that has created projects in Denver and elsewhere, including the Streets at Southglenn in Centennial. In that vote, councilmembers were approving a conceptual structure in which Alberta “would be responsible for all private costs and financial risk and would be responsible for implementing the project.” Retail continues on Page 12