Castle Pines council approves ordinance allowing alcohol in community center with permit, insurance requirements

The Castle Pines City Council on April 8 approved Ordinance 25-06, amending the municipal code to allow alcohol consumption in the Castle Pines Community Center main rental room when the organizer holds a valid special-event permit and meets specified insurance and operational requirements.

City Clerk Toby Duffy summarized the ordinance and related rules, telling the council that ordinance 19-19 previously allowed fermented malt beverages and wine in city parks under conditions; the new language extends permissive consumption to the city's community center main room under a special-event framework. "The 1 thing ordinance 19 19 does not allow for is storage, sale, or consumption of malt, vinous, or spiritus, so hard liquor, except as authorized by the Colorado Liquor Code with a special events liquor permit," Duffy said, describing the distinction between service and sale.

Why it matters: the change would let private renters serve alcohol at permitted events in the community room while keeping the city from authorizing on-site sales without the state liquor permit, and it imposes administrative safeguards intended to limit risk. Under the proposed permitting regime, applicants must submit a site plan, a trash- and cleanup plan, an application fee, a mandatory cleanup deposit and a certificate of insurance naming the city as an additional insured (described in staff materials as $500,000 per person or $1,000,000 per occurrence). Amplified-sound controls, event equipment plans (tents, canopies, inflatables) and other site-specific conditions would be part of the review.

Councilors led a sustained line of questioning about liability during the short period before the city takes ownership of the building and about longer-term responsibility once the property is transferred. Duffy said the Castle Pines North Metro District currently carries insurance on the property during the transfer process and that the city could add the room as a scheduled location on the city's policy or purchase special-events coverage. "We would not be making any money because we would not be...able to sell alcohol. They would just be able to serve it," Duffy said when asked about revenue from permitting; he estimated an application fee around $110 to cover administrative costs.

City legal counsel confirmed the city would typically receive an initial defense from CIRSA/CiRSSA where coverage applies and noted the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act provides additional defenses in many tort claims. After staff described options for adding the facility to the insurance schedule or buying an events rider, one member of council expressed continuing concern and said, "I'm gonna vote no because you haven't done your homework," before the later motion passed after additional assurances.

Public comment on the ordinance was opened and closed after the clerk reported no registered speakers.

Vote and next steps: Council moved, seconded and adopted the ordinance on second reading. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Council Member Cole, Council Member Salazar, Mayor Engerman, Mayor Pro Tem Eubanks, Council Member Hudson, Council Member Blue and Council Member Mulvey. Council asked staff to obtain quotes for interim coverage and to add the location to the city's insurance schedule as appropriate prior to full property transfer. The public hearing was closed at 7:00 p.m.