Putting the CPN URA to Public Vote

(I don't know what anyone's intentions are with regards to stalling, or any of that. And rather than accusations, which lead to hurt feelings, and the inevitable defensive counter claims, can't we just act like neighbors about this? If 500 citizens have signed a petition to put an item on the ballot, that item should be put on the ballot. Yes, those signatures need to be verified. If it's true that a few hours of staff time can preclude a $15,000 expenditure for a special election, let's spend a few hours of staff time to try to place this item on the regular ballot. Let's get this item on the list of things to do, take care of it in a timely fashion, and just move on along to whatever comes next, and avoid the torch and pitchfork meetings. Torch and pitchfork can result in "bunker" mentality, and only beats drums more loudly for recall. The campaign over the URA question can actually be good for the community because it provides a forum for council members to explain to citizens why they voted for it. Citizens can explain to council members why they are not happy with the action of council. We may find the truth lies somewhere in between, if we could just communicate with one another.) - MS)

WWW.BLIGHTSNOTRIGHT.COM
Put the CPN URA to a Public Vote


City's Stall Tactics Raise Concern

The citizen petition to abolish the Castle Pines North Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has been with the City Clerk’s office for the last 17 days. The clerk is responsible for validating a minimum of 346 of the 495 petition signatures against the Douglas County voter registration list. While state statute allows 30 days to verify petition signatures, a petition this size should take less than one day to complete. It’s unfortunate, but not surprising, that the City Council and the City Clerk haven’t prioritized this petition request by citizens of Castle Pines North.

Blight's Not Right purposefully stopped gathering signatures and delivered the petition on July 21 to allow ample time for validation and for City Council to either abolish the URA or place the question on the November ballot. We also notified the City it was our desire to avoid the unnecessary expense of a special election (which would cost a minimum of $15,000) and we expected the issue to be placed on the regular November ballot.

17 days later, the signatures are not yet validated. We believe City Council is intentionally stalling action on the petition so they can continue to spend public funds for advocacy purposes for the URA, a practice that is restricted by the Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) once action is taken on a petition. The policy behind FCPA is clear: a public entity should not advocate for or against a ballot issue using public funds because those funds are extracted from citizens who may not agree with the government's position on the matter.

City Council Meeting - August 10, 7pm

Bight's Not Right will represent the petitioners at the City Council meeting this coming Tuesday to demand that action be taken on the petition and that City Council cease spending public funds on their expensive marketing brochures to promote the URA. We will also reiterate our request that City Council place the issue on the November ballot to avoid the unnecessary costs of a special election. If you too are dissatisfied with the City Council's apparent disdain for the people it allegedly represents, please join us at the Community Center (7404 Yorkshire Drive) on Tuesday, August 10 at 7pm.


Check out this Castle Pines Connection article on the petition, and visit www.blightsnotright.com for more information.

Regards,
Blight's Not Right