Nov. Vote May Determine Future Charter Commission
Rick Langenberg
After years of speculation regarding a dicey subject that has generated much discussion but little tangible action, elected leaders have delivered the first pitch in what some are calling the “local control” arena.
The results of the Nov. general election will determine whether town leaders hurled a strike, ball or a wild throw, or if the topic just gets delayed as it has in the past.
At their most recent meeting, the city council formerly started the process of possibly becoming a home rule city through the formation of a nine-member charter commission. By approving this ordinance, the stage is set for the first official vote on this issue, which has generated mixed opinions.
Proponents of home rule see this type of government as a good way to give the town more local control, especially with current trends in the state legislature. Some questions, though, have been raised about the impacts, and whether a home rule designation would give city leaders and officials too much power.
This evening (June 17), the city will hold its final town hall meeting on this subject, which has gained much interest in the past, but never moved forward. As a result, Cripple Creek now reigns as one of the few remaining tourism communities in Colorado, with a population of 1,000-plus people, that is still a statutory town. And with the changes occurring locally in the development arena, many see the timing as ideal.
Plus, the state government’s growing efforts to take a more controlling stance on key issues, such as gun control, housing and a variety of regulations, has raised the ire of many local leaders. They see the advantages of the city taking efforts to control their own destiny by adopting its own local constitution.
The meeting tonight, which will feature a leading Colorado attorney who has much expertise on the home rule subject, Jeff Wilson, is slated to begin at 6 p.m. in the Butte Theater.
“It is a community decision,” said City Administrator Frank Salvato, who stressed that he is not trying to push the effort. Also, he notes that the council doesn’t have the final say. “This is up to the citizens.”
In the last few months, the town has held several meetings outlining the home rule benefits and pitfalls and the overall process.
Mayor Annie Durham believes that home rule could provide the town with some definite advantages. “Community education is the key,” said the mayor, who noted that previous meetings turned some skeptics into believers.
Cripple Creek has toyed with a home rule designation before. According to previous reports, the city did have one formal vote on the issue a number of years ago, resulting in a “nay” verdict. But for the most part, the topic has been discussed heavily, but it never really moved forward. In the past, the issue got a cold response by the gaming community. Casino operators were worried about this type of home rule government resulting in more taxes and fees.
However, with home rule, the city could actually assess device fees a different way. The vast majority of communities of Cripple Creek’s size are home rule. Both Woodland Park and Manitou Springs wave a home rule banner, while Victor and Green Mountain Falls still operate as a statutory government like Cripple Creek.
Voters Face Key Decisions
During the Nov. election, voters will face two questions. They will initially decide if they want to form a home rule commission for the purpose of drafting a home rule charter. Then, if the majority of the voters say yes, then the next question deals with picking nine members to serve on the commission as at-large members. The candidates that receive the most tallies will get elected to this board, and face the responsibility of developing a city charter, often regarded as the town’s mini-constitution, within six months.
If nine members can’t be picked, the home rule effort will die.
If it moves forward, and a charter is developed within the time frame, then a second and final vote will occur in Nov. 2026. Cripple Creek citizens will then decide if they approve or disapprove of the charter document.
To become a commission candidate, a person must get 25 petition signatures from registered voters in Cripple Creek. Plus, the candidate must be a registered elector in Cripple Creek. According to the process, nothing precludes a member of the city council or a local advisory committee from seeking a spot on the home rule commission.
However, the council as an elected panel cannot take an official position on the possible home rule bid, according to attorney Erin Smith.
The forthcoming Nov. vote is timed at the same time, as a regular election for two council seats. The seats up for grabs are those occupied by Melissa Trenary, who is term limited, and Bruce Brown. Brown previously served as mayor for about 10 years.
At a meeting on June 4, the council gave the idea of getting the ball rolling in the home rule process a thumbs-up. In fact, most council discussions on the issue have generated support for the idea.
The main obstacle could involve time. The city is currently partaking in a variety of high stakes projects, such as finalizing the first mater plan since 2009 and striving to become a Main Street city.
But Durham noted that many of these efforts are tied together.
Candidates interested in seeking a spot on the possible home rule charter commission should contact the city clerk’s office.
