City drops dissolution lawsuit against Castle Pines North Metro District
Councilmember Tera Radloff (second from left) casts the final vote for the unanimous withdrawl of the city’s dissolution
By Elizabeth Wood West with photo by Tim Gamble
Two years ago this February, the City of Castle Pines filed a petition with Douglas County District Court asking that the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) be legally dissolved into the city. The acrimonious and expensive two-year dispute was unanimously ended at the February 14 city council meeting.
In a joint statement issued by Mayor Jeff Huff and Metropolitan District President Steve LaBossiere, both agreed, “City council’s unanimous vote to withdraw the Application for Dissolution ushers in a new era of cooperation between our two jurisdictions. We believe both city council and the metropolitan district board are firmly committed to moving positively forward and collaborating to develop and implement cost saving strategies for the benefit of the people we jointly serve.”
During public comment, seven Castle Pines residents spoke in favor of dropping the lawsuit, with one resident submitting a petition signed by 79 residents urging council to drop the lawsuit. Four residents spoke against dropping the lawsuit.
LaBossiere read a letter from CPNMD to city council that conveyed a spirit of cooperation and a commitment to work with the city. Just prior to the vote, new council members Kathy DesRosiers, James Einolf, and Marc Towne voiced their optimism and resolve to move forward and work with CPNMD for the good of Castle Pines residents, a message echoed by council member Tera Radloff and Mayor Jeff Huff. Council member Kim Hoffman said she had received 12 e-mails from residents urging the city to not drop the lawsuit, and added, “If CPNMD will consider integration, then we have something to talk about.”
The City’s Resolution No. 12-10 to withdraw the application for dissolution said in part, “Whereas, the City Council believes that the interests of the citizens of the city are better served by good communication and voluntary cooperation between the city and the district … the City hereby withdraws the City’s application for dissolution previously filed with CPNMD and directs the city attorney to take all necessary and appropriate steps to effectuate withdrawal of the dissolution petition that was filed in Case No. 1984CV126, including joining with CPNMD in a stipulated motion to dismiss the dissolution proceeding with each party paying its own attorney’s fees and costs.”
Mayor Huff sumarized, “The dissolution action had a probable outcome that was not in the best interests of Castle Pines residents. Council felt that there were better, more productive alternatives to costly litigation.”
