DRAFT Special Election. Information About the 2017 Special Election. CRgov.com/2017Election. More information

Transcription

1 CRgov.com Town of Castle Rock 100 N. Wilcox St. Castle Rock, CO PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID CASTLE ROCK, CO PERMIT NO. 26 Information About the 2017 Special Election 2017 Special Election The Town places a high priority on keeping the community informed. You are receiving this information because a special election will be taking place this November. At its Aug. 15 meeting, Town Council approved the ordinance setting the ballot language for the citizen-initiated 2017 Special Election. Council then directed staff to develop this educational mailer for residents. The purpose is to help voters understand the question as they fill out their ballot. Included you will find details about the ballot question, a brief history about the Town Charter, and arguments for/against the Charter amendment. This was prepared and paid for by the Town of Castle Rock. It is intended as an educational document only and is not an endorsement for or against the ballot question. The special election has been set for Tuesday, Nov. 7, More information Stay up to date at CRgov.com/2017SpecialElection, or follow the official Facebook page for Castle Rock Town Government at Facebook.com/CRgov. CRgov.com/2017Election

2 Special Election ahead. Amendment to the Town Charter? You decide. What is the Town Charter? Castle Rock is a home-rule municipality. That means we govern our Town at the local level. The authors of the Colorado Constitution knew that sometimes locals know best. That s why as a home-rule municipality, Castle Rock has a Town Charter to define how the government will run. The Charter outlines everything from the Town s name, to Town Council elections, to the process for making local laws and more. It defines the organization, powers, functions and essential procedures for our local government, as well as the rights of citizens. Adopted in 1987, as a home-rule municipality, the Town is bound, by law, to follow the Town Charter. It s an important document, and changing it takes a public vote. What is the current governing body of the Town of Castle Rock? Town Council is the governing body of the Town. Currently, Council is made up of seven Councilmembers including a Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. Each Councilmember is elected to represent a district. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem are appointed by Town Council. The Mayor presides over Town Council meetings as a chairperson, but has the same voting power and level of authority as the other Councilmembers. Town Council also appoints a Town Manager, Town Attorney and Municipal Judge. Town Council s responsibilities are outlined in the Town Charter. But, like the United States or Colorado constitutions, things can change, and the Town Charter can be amended with a public vote. That s where we are today. Read the inside of this mailer to find out more about the 2017 Special Election. CRgov.com/2017Election

3 About the special election: citizen-initiated petition Ordinance No November Election Even Numbered Years The acting Town Clerk on July 20 announced there was a sufficient number of valid signatures from registered voters in a citizen-initiated petition seeking to change language in the Town Charter regarding how the Mayor is selected. State Statute required Town Council to set the ballot language and call a special election. The special election has been set for Tuesday, Nov. 7, If approved, the change would amend the Charter to allow for the at-large, Townwide election of the office of Mayor. The Mayor is currently appointed by Town Council. Additionally, the petition included district changes. Town Council currently consists of seven Councilmembers. The proposed amendment would reduce the number of districts from seven to six. At its Aug. 15 meeting, Town Council approved the ordinance setting the ballot language. The ballot title and question will read: TOWN OF CASTLE ROCK BALLOT QUESTION CASTLE ROCK CHARTER AMENDMENT SHALL THE TOWN OF CASTLE ROCK HOME RULE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL, THE SEVEN-MEMBER GOVERNING BODY OF THE TOWN, CONSIST OF A MAYOR ELECTED BY ALL OF THE ELECTORS OF THE TOWN FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM, WITH THE MAYOR S SERVICE LIMITED TO TWO FOUR-YEAR TERMS, AND SIX COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE ELECTED FOR FOUR-YEAR TERMS BY THE ELECTORS OF THE DISTRICT WHERE EACH COUNCILMEMBER RESIDES? YES NO Election Process Typically, Town elections are held in November of even numbered years and are coordinated and administered by Douglas County. Because 2017 is an odd numbered year, this will be a special election for the Town of Castle Rock. In Douglas County, all elections are coordinated by mail ballot. For this election, ballots will be mailed Monday, Oct. 16. Completed ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7. Voters should return their ballots by mail, or to one of two locations: Town Hall (100 N. Wilcox St.) or Douglas County Elections (125 Stephanie Place).

4 RWhat does a YES vote mean? If the Charter amendment passes, the Town Charter will then reflect the changes approved by voters. Going forward, the seven-person Town Council will consist of a Mayor elected at-large, or Townwide, and six Councilmembers elected by the voters in each district. It s important to note, even if the Mayor is elected at-large, the position will have no greater power or level of authority as the current Mayor or other Councilmembers. One question of note is the transition plan. A plan will need to be developed to specify the timeframe within which the Mayor will first be elected by all Castle Rock voters and when/how districts will be reconfigured from seven to six. Because the citizen-initiated petition did not specify a timeline, transition plan, or requirements to become Mayor, most likely Town staff will ask Council to hold a second special election in early Town Council may ask voters to amend the Charter to clarify that the Mayor must be an eligible elector similar to the requirements for Councilmembers. Additionally, voters may be asked to decide the timing of the Mayor election and redistricting. Other Charter amendments helpful in clarifying the effects of this Charter amendment may also be proposed to voters at that time. If this measure is approved, Town Council may formally address the need for additional Charter amendments after Nov. 7. RWhat does a NO vote mean? If the Charter amendment does not pass, the Town Charter would stay the same. Since adoption in 1987, the Town Charter has outlined Town Council as seven Councilmembers including a Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. Each Councilmember is elected to represent a district. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem would continue to be appointed by Town Council. Additionally, the Mayor would continue to have the same voting power and level of authority as the other Councilmembers.

5 Arguments FOR the Charter amendment: Residents currently have no direct input on the selection of the Mayor by the Town Council. Every voter will have the opportunity to vote for one Councilmember and the Mayor. This may increase a resident s voice in Town Council and Town issues. The elected Mayor will have the same powers and responsibilities as the Mayor selected by Town Council. That means the general function of Town Council will remain the same. The other three municipalities in Douglas County elect a Mayor by vote of the people. By Castle Rock electing a Mayor, the Mayor may have more presence with regional issues and associations across Colorado. Arguments AGAINST the Charter amendment: With the election of the Mayor, the district where the Mayor resides will have two residents of that district on Council a Councilmember and the Mayor. This could give one district a greater voice in Town issues. For nearly 30 years, a Town Council consisting of seven Councilmembers with one member selected by the Council as Mayor has, in the opinion of many residents, served the Town well. The Charter Amendment does not detail the transition from seven to six Councilmembers and a Mayor. This will likely necessitate a subsequent special election with additional election expense. Although the powers of the Mayor will not increase with the Charter amendment, some may perceive the changes as an increased concentration of power in the Mayor position rather than all members of Council having the same power.

6 What are the Mayor s current responsibilities? Could those change? Currently, the Mayor presides over Town Council meetings as chairperson, but has the same voting privileges and level of authority as the other Councilmembers. The Mayor also serves in a ceremonial role for the Town and may be asked to speak at community events and other engagements. It s important to note, these responsibilities will not change with this Charter amendment. What is redistricting? Town Charter requires that election districts reflect approximately the same number of registered voters within each district. The maximum deviation between the most populous and the least populous district must be, at the time of evaluation, no more than 15 percent variance. Election district boundaries are evaluated every six years by the Election Commission. The Election Commission consists of five registered electors of the Town and is responsible for adoption of reasonable rules and regulations consistent with the State statutes, the Town Charter and Town ordinances related to the conduct of elections. The election commission is scheduled to reevaluate election district boundaries in How do I register to vote? Verify your voter information, register online, or update your current registration with a new address on the state website. Head to govotecolorado.com, or register in person at the Douglas County Elections Office, 125 Stephanie Place. Colorado law now allows voters to register through Election Day. However, if you re registering by mail or online, you must complete your registration eight days prior to Election Day. Once your registration is received, Douglas County Elections will send out the mail ballot. Please keep in mind, all ballots must be received by 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7. How do I stay up-to-date on Town Council meetings? Town Council meetings are scheduled on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The public is encouraged to attend, and timeframes for public comment are included in the agenda. Meetings begin at 6 p.m. in Town Hall Council Chambers, 100 N. Wilcox St. View the agenda or watch Council meetings live at CRgov.com/Council. This brochure was prepared and paid for by the Town of Castle Rock. CRgov.com