April 7, 2026: The e-bike ordinance clears first reading with the 90-day rule

Electric Bikes, Dirt Bikes & Speed

Got the 90-day rule she asked for written into the e-bike ordinance — Approved on 1st reading Voted to approve Ordinance 26-04 on first reading, the city's first rules for electric dirt bikes, ATVs and UTVs, and for the street-legal golf carts the code calls low-speed electric vehicles. It makes parents responsible when a minor rides illegally, with a $250 mandatory minimum fine; requires helmets for riders under 18; makes fleeing a deputy a separate offense; and requires a driver's license and child restraints in low-speed electric vehicles. The draft also answers the question Salazar raised in the March study session: a vehicle held 90 days or more is deemed abandoned and can be sold after public notice, so the sheriff's office is not storing bikes indefinitely. The insurance requirement council questioned in March was dropped. The ordinance rode the consent agenda, so it drew no discussion that night. It received final passage on April 28 and is now city code.

Asked whether speed cameras actually slow anyone down — Not pursued Council took up whether to put automated speed enforcement in school zones or other corridors, a power the legislature gave Colorado cities in 2023. Ticket counts have not fallen even after the city added an off-duty deputy. Salazar said she was on the fence and leaned toward school zones only, then asked the question that became the assignment: is there data showing photo radar actually reduces speeding, or does it just generate tickets? She also asked what it would cost and what the city would give up to pay for it, given that residents already fund the sheriff's office through their taxes. Staff agreed to collect results from other Colorado municipalities before bringing it back. Council was split — several members opposed cameras outright, one backed them for school zones, and others wanted to hear from residents first. Staff returned on July 28 with the research, and council declined to go further before the presentation was given: there was no majority to proceed, members cited surveillance concerns, and staff noted two Colorado towns are refunding more than a million dollars in tickets for failing to follow state rules on camera signage and placement. Castle Pines will not be installing speed cameras.

Citizen Petitions & Outreach

Voted to set rules for citizen petitions, and to make them effective immediately — Adopted Voted to adopt Ordinance 26-05 as an emergency measure, creating the city's first procedures for citizen initiative petitions: one subject per petition, no petitions on administrative matters, and a three-person review committee — the city clerk, city manager and city attorney — that checks those two requirements and sets the petition's title. A petition committee that disagrees can take the decision to district court. Salazar spoke in support, saying the single-subject rule follows state practice and gives residents clearer feedback on petitions they file. Because council adopted it as an emergency, the ordinance took effect on passage; the public comment period the charter requires was set for the following meeting, April 28. The staff memo states the reason for the emergency: the city has no petition procedures and expects initiatives to be submitted in the near future. No residents signed up to speak when the comment period was held on April 28.

Told residents to bring questions to council rather than to social media — On the record Used her council report to encourage residents to come to council with their questions directly, and said that where council does not have an answer it can get one from city staff — adding that the best source is a primary source, not a social media post. She also thanked the resident who came that night to warn council about mountain pine beetle and the risk to the ponderosas the city is named for. Staff noted the city's wildfire mitigation grant program has been expanded to cover HOAs and private property owners.

“Just encourage all of you to come meet with council to ask your questions. If we don’t have the information that you’re seeking, we can work with city staff to get it to you. And just to remind you, the best source is a primary source, not a social media source.”

— Council Member Kori Salazar, April 7, 2026

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About this record

Every entry comes from a public Castle Pines City Council meeting; video and official minutes are available through the city clerk’s office. Ordinances take two council votes — an entry marked first reading still needed a second, confirming vote before it became law. Resolutions, emergency ordinances and contract awards take a single vote. Matters still in process are described as such rather than claimed as outcomes. Dollar figures come from the staff memo or the record; none are estimated.