Council Gets On With It All
By Sara Golling
Rossland City Council Regular Meeting, October 13, 2015:
Present: Mayor Kathy Moore, Councillors John Greene, Marten Kruysse, Andrew Zwicker and Andy Morel. Both Aaron Cosbey and Lloyd McLellan were unable to attend.
Staff: Planner Stacey Lightbourne (doing the minutes), and Interim CAO Mike Maturo.
The gallery was empty, and there were no delegations, so Council got right down to business and dealt with public agenda items expeditiously before moving to an in camera session.
First up was a motion to “partner with Interior Health to promote health and wellness in the community and to reduce the risk factors for chronic disease.” This item arose from an earlier delegation from IHA. Zwicker, Morel and Moore all spoke in favour, and the motion CARRIED unanimously.
Council then discussed a public engagement plan for the proposed new water and sewer rates: Moore noted that the plan had been amended as a result of comments and suggestions, and that the date for public consultation has not yet been confirmed. Moore said she hoped to set the date for the public consultation, and for Council to approve the amended engagement plan, at this meeting. A motion to approve the amended plan CARRIED unanimously.
A further motion to hold a public engagement event about the water and sewer rates at the Seniors’ Hall on November 12, with the doors opening at 6:30 and a presentation at 7:00, CARRIED unanimously.
A Batch of Bylaws:
Council members present were all on the same page and voted unanimously to adopt three bylaws that had already been discussed and had gone through first, second, and third readings: Bylaw 2593, to amend the Official Community Plan (OCP) by changing the property designation at 2099 Third Avenue from Public and Institutional to Mixed Use; then, Bylaw 2594 which changes the zoning of that same property from Public and Institutional to C-2, Commercial Service; then, Bylaw 2597, to change the zoning of the lots at 2025 and 2035 First Avenue from C-1, Commercial Downtown Core, to R-3, Residential Multiple Family.
Council then discussed a motion to give first and second readings to Bylaw 2602, to rezone 2075 Thompson Avenue from R1 — Residential Infill to Detached Infill Residential Guest Home. Council members discussed the application to ensure that parking would not be a problem. Neighbours will have an opportunity for input at a public hearing at a later date, to be announced. The motion CARRIED unanimously.
Council then discussed a motion to direct staff, as they have time, to investigate ways of ensuring that guest accommodation does not exceed an appropriate level for the community. Morel expressed a concern that City policies should not encourage an excessive number of “dark houses”. Kruysse wondered whether Rossland would develop a policy that would just “chase the market”, or be proactive. Greene clarified that once a house is zoned as a guest house, the zoning is permanent, unless and until further re-zoned. The motion CARRIED unanimously.
A motion to adopt the Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw, granting benefits for the new hotel at Red and to the new owners of the building that formerly housed RossVegas, CARRIED unanimously.
Woodstove Exchange Program:
At an earlier meeting, Council had directed staff to “apply for the provincial woodstove exchange program (community level) for funding to promote the exchange and offer incentives to replace old woodstoves.” For this meeting, staff supplied a memo explaining that City Hall currently lacks the staff resources to fill out the long and complex application (which, your reporter notes, asks for information that Rossland is not equipped to supply, such as “measurements showing poor air quality during the heating season” — Rossland has no air quality measuring equipment; and “the number of homes heating with wood, and the number of old technology stoves in use;” this information is not readily available to the City). Staff suggested that, if the RDKB receives confirmation of the funding, Rossland could inform the program co-ordinator of Rossland’s top-up funding offer of $100 per woodstove exchange for Rossland residents and then inform the public about the RDKB program.
Financial Report: Council examined the financial report, prepared by now-departed former Acting Chief Financial Officer Lois Hunter, and discussed it briefly. A motion to receive it CARRIED unanimously.
Member Reports:
John Greene reported that the Heritage Conference was a resounding success and that the Museum is very close to having full funding in place for its renovation project.
Zwicker reported that he had been in Sooke, where their street lighting is limited to corners, and that it was “scary walking around at night, especially when there are warnings issued about cougars.” This was apropos of earlier talks about rationalizing street lighting in Rossland.
Moore reported that she would like to pass her RDKB board and committee obligations on to Lloyd McLellan for the time being; she explained that she thought he would be able to report more fully on all the activity than she is at present, and assured Council that McLellan has agreed to this change. The motion to accomplish it CARRIED unanimously.
Moore reiterated the information provided earlier in a City press release, that Rossland’s CAO Cecile Arnott will return to her position on October 19 and thanked both Lois Hunter (who has already moved on to a new position) and Mike Maturo for their exemplary work with Council “under very trying circumstances.”
Moore reported on an event she had attended on “aging in the Kootenays” and passed on some of the information, including some statistics about the relative wealth or poverty of elders in Rossland. On October 14, she and Greene will go to the “sod turning event” at 2:00 pm for the sewer pipe/pedestrian bridge in Trail.
Kruysse cited a statistic he had seen to the effect that 8% of Rossland’s population are considered “poor”.
Council then adjourned to an in camera session, to discuss matters that fall under the headings of “labour relations” and “negotiations.”
Your reporter wandered off home in the gloaming, briefly wondering about the potential outcomes of this batch of Council’s in camera sessions, then moving on to contemplate our unusually fine fall weather and the fact that several waterholes, such as the one on Record Ridge and the one above the field behind Black Bear neighbourhood, and little wetlands such as Coyote Swamp and the one on the upper north side of Deer Park Hill, are now completely devoid of visible wetness. The North Jubilee wetland, on the other hand, is wonderfully full of water. That leads to thoughts of leaking ancient water lines; but perhaps it really is fed by a year-round natural spring. Chlorine test, anyone?
P.S.: Council must have decided they needed more time to discuss labour relations because on Wednesday, October 14, the City issued notice of a further in camera council meeting to be held on Thursday, October 15, on that topic.
