March 25, 2025 Town Council Recap

Image of Councilmembers with text "Town Council Vacancy"

Applications for Town Council Vacancy Due April 1, 2025!

Gretchen Davis's resignation on March 4, 2025, created a vacancy on the Keystone Town Council.

The Keystone Town Council is currently seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Town Council. Applicants must be a registered elector of the Town of Keystone, have resided in the town for at least one-year preceding appointment to council and be over 18 years of age. Term to expire April 2026. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Work sessions usually begin at 4:00 p.m. and Town Council meetings begin at 7:00 p.m.

Applications are due by April 1, 2025.

Interviews for the position will be held on the afternoon of April 8, 2025. Applicants should plan to be available that afternoon.

Interested persons should submit a letter of interest and qualifications to:
Town Clerk, Town of Keystone
1628 Sts John Road, Keystone, CO 80435
or email clerk@keystoneco.gov

Coffee with Council

Mark your calendars! Members of the Keystone Town Council will be hosting their monthly "Coffee with Council" at a different time in January, to provide an opportunity for additional members of the community to be present and participate. 

Join Councilmember Carol Kerr and Mayor Ken Riley for our next Coffee with Council on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. As the ski season winds down, find out what's going on with the Town of Keystone and sharing your thoughts with Town Councilmembers. 

These conversations provide an opportunity to chat with Councilmembers in a more informal setting and allow for a more in depth small group conversation. All members of the Keystone community are welcome and encouraged to attend!

May's Coffee with Council will return to an evening time slot. Details are still being finalized on the location, but we anticipate it being on May 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Mark your calendars now and be on the lookout for updates!

Wildlife-Proof Refuse Container Regulations

Keystone's natural setting and the wildlife within it are critical components of our community. Town Council adopted an Ordinance 2025-O-06, Regarding Wildlife-Proof Refuse Containers and the Feeding of Wildlife, to take necessary steps to minimize interactions between wildlife and residents. This ordinance will help limit the ability of wildlife to feed on our refuse. 

General provisions of note in the ordinance are detailed below. For full details read the full text of the ordinance. 

For single-family residential units: Residential containers shall be stored inside the home or garage. Containers may be set outside for curbside pick-up from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the scheduled pick up day.  For residents unable to keep their refuse container inside the home or garage, they will need to store their refuse in a wildlife refuse container or enclosure approved by the Town of Keystone. 

For multi-family housing developments and clustered residential housing  using centralized refuse containers: These units must use a wildlife-proof dumpster enclosure for all refuse that is kept closed in a secure manner except when refuse is being deposited. If an enclosure can not be constructed, a petition can be made to the Town Manager allowing the use of a wildlife-proof refuse container as an alternative. 

For commercial establishments: All refuse containers receiving refuse from commercial establishments and restaurants shall be secured in an enclosure. If an enclosure can not be constructed, a petition can be made to the Town Manager allowing the use of a wildlife-proof refuse container as an alternative.  

The ordinance has two deadlines that property owners and residents should take note of: 

August 15, 2025: This is the deadline for bringing any containers into conformity with the new ordinance. 

August 15, 2026: This is the deadline for bringing any enclosure into conformity with the ordinance. 

If any individual or entity encounters hardship in meeting these deadlines by the proposed deadlines, they can reach out to Town Manager, John Crone, to request an extension to meet these guidelines for a reasonable period of time. 

Town Council anticipates discussing a rebate program at an upcoming meeting to help offset the cost of securing the appropriate container for residents. More information will be provided soon. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to the Town Manager at jcrone@keystoneco.gov. 

Volunteers Needed to Serve on the New Town of Keystone Trails and Open Space Advisory Board

The Town of Keystone Community Development Department is recruiting community minded citizens to fill openings on the Town of Keystone Trails and Open Space Advisory Board. The Advisory Board will advise the Town Council on the Town's open space, trails, parks and recreation projects.

The advisory board members will assess the state of the trails, open space, parks and recreation facilities inside the town, as well as those forest service trails which connect to the town and make recommendations to the Town Manager and Town Council for future maintenance and development needs. Initially, the Advisory Board will provide input to the trails and open space portion of the town's comprehensive plan which is being developed by the Community Development Department. After adoption of the Comprehensive Plan, the Advisory Board will lead the effort with consultant support to develop a Town Trails and Open Space Master Plan which will lay out the long-term vision for the future development and use of trails and open space in the town, funding requirements and potential sources of funds to make the vision a reality.

Meetings will be held once quarterly in the evenings. Additional special meetings and field trips are held periodically. Members of the Trails and Open Space Advisory Board shall be property owners or residents of the Town of Keystone. If you are interested, be prepared to commit approximately 5-7 hours to prepare for and attend meetings.

To apply, send a letter stating your interest and background to the Community Development Department, 1628 Sts. John Road, Keystone, CO 80435 or via email to LHirsh@keystoneco.gov Letters must be received by April 18, 2025. Interviews will be held in late April. Appointments will be made in late April by the Town Council. For additional information, contact Lindsay Hirsh, Community Development Director at (970) 450-3500, ext.2.

Business Licensing Established and Annual Fees Set

On February 25, 2025, the Keystone Town Council approved an ordinance establishing a new business licensing program. Implementation of business licensing will allow the Town of Keystone to be aware of all of the business activity in the Town of Keystone. This will help make sure the Town can reach out and maintain contact with businesses to protect the property, health, welfare, peace and safety of the Keystone Community.

Business owners with a presence in the Town of Keystone, please be aware that a new business licensing program is going into effect on July 1, 2025. The Town is beginning outreach right now to notify local businesses, and will launch a business licensing application by the beginning of May 2025. Licenses will officially be issued and go into effect beginning July 1, 2025, and be valid until June 30, 2026.

The Town Council passed Resolution 2025-09, Establishing the Business License Fees, on March 11, 2025. The annual license fee is $50 and a fee for a Peddler / Solicitor / Transient Vendor is $25. These small fees are meant to cover the administrative costs associated with administering the licenses. Be on the lookout for more information soon and reach out to the Town Clerk with more questions at clerk@keystoneco.gov