COUNCIL MATTERS: Rossland City Council meeting, August 12, 2024
By Sara Golling
Rossland’s 92-year-old Pool; that contentious lane access at 2nd and Queen; the high cost of creating a “mine tunnel” experience; new roadwork coming at RED; Permissive tax exemptions (or not); how the TRP pilot is going; a bid to host the Coy Cup; and more …
Rossland City Council Meeting, August 12, 2024
Present: Acting Mayor Maya Provençal and Councillors Eliza Boyce, Craig Humpherys, Lisa Kwiatkowski, Stewart Spooner, and Jeff Weaver (remote). Absent: Mayor Andy Morel
Staff: CAO Bryan Teasdale, CFO Mike Kennedy(remote), Manager of Operations Scott Lamont and Deputy Manager of Operations Josh Solman, City Planner Stacey Lightbourne, Manager of Recreation & Events Kristi Calder
Public Input Period:
Several residents concerned about the proposed closure of the Second Avenue/Queen Street lane access spoke, asking Council to consider that the lane is the main access for residents on the lane, and that some had donated land to improve safety; they pointed out that the Fire Department had stated that the access in question is easier for fire trucks to negotiate, and that closing it would result in some homes being further from vehicle access to a hydrant, which would likely increase their insurance costs. Residents noted that the St. Paul Street entrance/exit is steeper and is a sharper turn, and is in a busy school zone; and that, if there is any future work done on St. Paul Street, it would effectively eliminate all easy vehicular access to the lane. Residents suggested that closing the Second Avenue/Queen Street lane access would create at least as many hazards as leaving it open.
Delegations:
1. Rossland Recreation Master Plan Implementation Select Committee
Kathleen Pistak and Robert Duffield (remote) presented the Committee’s recommendations about Rossland’s outdoor pool, which was built in 1932 by volunteers, using donated funds, on land donated by the City. Now, 92 years later, the pool is still safe to use, but fails to meet some standards, and is described as still being “fine to use, until it’s not.”
The Committee’s recommendation is to “phase out” the pool – to use “minimal investment to maintain the pool’s operations while exploring alternative options for seasonal water-use.”
The Committee’s ten-page report details the financial implications of keeping the pool open (or not), and explores a number of potential solutions. Building a new pool was considered only until the Committee realized that a new pool would cost well in excess of 30 million dollars – too big a tax burden for residents.
They cited effects of climate change, including heat and wildfire smoke, as factors increasingly limiting the number of days the pool can be open for use during the summer.
Provençal thanked the Committee; Boyce wondered what has happened that communities can no longer afford to build and operate a pool.
Spooner said he had attended meetings, and was impressed that the members of the Committee had “no agenda” but simply wanted to reach the best conclusion for the community.
Weaver thanked the Committee for their courage in taking on a difficult issue, and said he agrees with their conclusion. He noted that people will no longer have the many choices and amenities we have taken for granted for so long.
2. Rossland Museum – Presentation and update on the Mine Experience Project
Joelle Hodgins (Museum Director) and Chris Bowman (Museum Trustee) explained the current state of progress on the Mine Experience project, and the amount of funding still required to complete it. The original “mine experience” was a section of actual former mine tunnel, and it was a notable draw for tourists and residents alike until it was closed for safety reasons in 2009 – then Museum revenues dropped sharply.
Bowman noted that the total budget for the project is estimated at 5.2 million dollars, that that 4.4 million dollars have been raised already – 85% of the total. He indicated that work should begin soon, to avoid potentially losing funding. Hodgins said that work could begin with what they have, but they need to secure funding for completion.
PETITION:
Second Avenue Lane/Queen Street intersection Design:
Council studied and discussed the three options as summarized by City staff and ISL Engineering:
(1) to close the access for vehicular traffic to the lane at Queen Street (recommended; would result in a shorter crosswalk, and lane access would allow pedestrians and bicycles)
(2) to make the lane access one-way (longer crosswalk, would require signage)
(3) to leave the lane as is (does not meet standards, but is low-risk; longer crosswalk)
A petition signed by 23 residents asked that the lane access remain open as is.
Discussion:
Boyce said she supports leaving the current route at Second and Queen open for two-way access, and thinks the other points of access to the lane also have safety issues.
Spooner acknowledged that he is not an expert, but has examined the lane and its points of access, and is not comfortable closing the access as recommended.
Humpherys had also walked the route and favours leaving it as is, possibly with additional signage; he thinks the intersection of the lane with St. Paul is equally hazardous.
Weaver said that he could go with either leaving it open as is, or making the lane one-way.
Boyce noted that making it one-way would force traffic into the school zone on St. Paul. She’d like a mirror added at the Second Avenue/Queen Street access, to improve visibility.
Kwiatkowski said she “leaned toward keeping it open.”
Provençal called for a vote on the motion to close the Second Avenue/ Queen Street lane access, and the motion FAILED unanimously.
Then, a motion to leave the lane access open for two-way traffic CARRIED unanimously.
BYLAWS:
Zoning Amendment Bylaw # 2838 – 2253 Washington Street
A motion to give the bylaw third reading CARRIED unanimously, as did a motion to adopt the bylaw, discussed at earlier Council meetings.
Recreation Fees and Charges Bylaw # 2837
Motions to give the draft updated bylaw first, second, and third readings each CARRIED unanimously. The bylaw makes adjustments to the fees and charges for some activities at City recreational facilities.
POLICY REVIEW:
Recreation Bursary Policy
The updated policy increases the amount available for eligible low-income applicants from $200 to $250; it also allocates an additional $12,000 for free recreation programming, allocates an additional $3000 for free educational programming, and an additional $3000 for the YAN “Shreds” program.
A motion to approve the updated policy CARRIED unanimously after a brief discussion clarifying the rationale for the amounts allocated.
Road, Sidewalk, Stair Snow Removal Policy
A motion to approve the updated policy CARRIED unanimously; the policy has added sections of road and sidewalk.
REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL DECISION:
Development Permit Application – Lot 1 and Parcel A, Red Mountain Loop Road
This application is to extend Red Mountain Road from the stub ending near Caldera to the Red Mountain base area, eventually making what is now the turn-off for Caldera the main entrance to the Resort. The application included 151 pages of material showing the plan and information in support of it.
During discussion, Council members expressed regret that the project would impact two wetland areas, but felt that the proposal is well done.
A motion to approve the application, subject to a list of 15 detailed conditions, CARRIED unanimously.
Development Permit – 2042 Columbia Avenue: Façade painting
A motion to approve the application for the proposed new paint job CARRIED unanimously.
Development Variance Permit – 812 Rossland-Cascade Road
A motion to grant the variance, allowing for an inside setback reduction from 3.5 metres to 1 metre, to facilitate placement and construction of a storage building, CARRIED unanimously.
Renewal of Agreement between City of Rossland and Rossland Public Library Association
A motion to approve the draft lease agreement for 2024 to 2029 CARRIED unanimously.
City of Rossland and RCAC – updated Memorandum of Understanding
A motion to approve the draft updated MOU between the City and the Rossland Council for Arts & Culture CARRIED. The RCAC is a volunteer organization that contributes to the development and maintenance of the Rossland Miners Union Hall,, raises funds for improvement projects such as the conversion of the old attic space into the Lily May Room, and has the right to use the Hall for events without paying fees.
Kwiatkowski felt that the language in the MOU about RCAC’s obligations was “vague.” Calder explained that the MOU means that grants are sometimes available that would not be otherwise; she also pointed out the RCAC owns the furnishings and curtains in the Hall, and the City makes use of those when it rents out the Hall for paying events such as weddings.
Permissive Tax Exemptions for 2025 (and beyond):
Permissive tax exemptions enable certain non-profit organizations, schools, and churches (inter alia) to survive and provide services to the community; it is assumed that their value to the community justifies dividing the cost of the foregone tax revenue among all the community’s other property owners. During the previous Council’s term, Rossland began granting multi-year exemptions to save administrative costs and Council time, so this year only eight organizations are up for consideration.
At this meeting, Teasdale requested that Council provide direction on each of the current batch of exemption applications, so that staff can create a bylaw for future approval.
At staff’s request, Council agreed to decide on each of the eight current year’s applicants for a permissive tax exemption. They also decided that each exemption would be valid for two years. The decisions (each made by resolution) are as follows:
1. Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church – for the land surrounding the church: NO exemption. (The church building and the land below it receive an automatic statutory exemption.)
2. Rossland Child Care Society (Golden Bear): NO exemption.
3. Rossland branch, Royal Canadian Legion: NO exemption.
4. Golden City Manor (seniors’ housing): 100% exemption.
5. Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society – 2061 First Avenue: 75% exemption
6. Rossland Seniors Society: 100% exemption
7. Visions for Small School Society (Seven Summits Centre for Learning): 100% exemption
8. Rossland Search and Rescue: 30% exemption for the whole property, to cover the one unit used by SAR.
Municipal Cheque Register for July, 2024:
A motion to approve the July, 2024 expenditures for the City CARRIED.
The staff report included the following information:
“Total monthly payments totaled $3,778,086 for July 2024.
“Noteworthy expenditures occurring during the period include:
$26K to Nathan Baker for refund of tax sale property deposit + interest.
$2.7M to the RDKB for annual property tax requisition
$241K to WKBRH for annual property tax requisition
$23K to Kan-West Roads Ltd for bulk purchase of dust control agent
$73K to ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd for various engineering consultancy services ($46K
for Second Avenue project management, $10K for Utility Master Plan, $7K for St. Paul St.
improvement planning)
$57K to BC Assessment Authority for annual property tax requisition
$32K to Marsh Canada Ltd for insurance on Rossland Yards, of which 75% was recovered form
Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society
$11K to Centrix Control Solutions for emergency repairs at water treatment plant due to
lightning strike
$10K to Happy Cities Studio for work on the City’s Accessibility Strategy
$27K to Iconic Waterworks for various water and sewer repair materials
$224K to Kays Road Contracting Ltd as a progress payment for 2nd Avenue infrastructure
upgrades.”
FOR INFORMATION ONLY:
Climate Action reporting
In 2012, the City signed the BC Climate Action Charter, making Rossland eligible to receive grants under the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP). To remain eligible, municipalities must participate in reporting on specific types of greenhouse gas emissions.
To view the City’s “attestation” for the purposes of Local Government Climate Action Plan required reporting, click this link. It will take you to a lengthy questionnaire with the City’s answers, plus a two-page “interactive dashboard” below that.
Trail Recreation Program Pilot – Q2 report
Rossland entered into a one-year agreement with the City of Trail near the end of 2023. In return for a payment from Rossland of $100,000, Trail would allow Rossland residents to use Trail’s recreational facilities at the same rates as Trail residents during 2024 – instead of the former requirement to pay twice as much as Trail residents following Rossland’s withdrawal from regional recreation and Trail’s introduction of the “Trail Resident Program” in 2009.
The first half of 2024 shows a large increase in Rosslanders’ use of Trail recreational facilities: Rossland users have spent $52,000 there to the end of June – at last year’s “TRP” rates for Rossland residents, that amount of use would have cost $104,000. In 2023, Rosslanders spent only $30,000 during the same period, for use that would now cost only $15,000.
Staff will be tracking numbers for the remainder of the year, to recommend whether a future arrangement should be pursued with the City of Trail, and if so, what that arrangement should be. Expect a decision from City Council by the end of this year.
Regional Age Friendly Program Report
The report listed activities carried out and planned for seniors in Rossland, Warfield and Trail – lunches, dinners, games, chair yoga, and more. The events have been well-attended.
Monthly Reports to Council:
Council perused the regular monthly reports on:
Building Permits
Building Permit Inspections by Type
Step Code Energy Rebates
Public Works and Water Production Reports for June and July
Water Smart Report and Eye on Water
Bylaw Compliance
REQUESTS ARISING FROM CORRESPONDENCE:
Rossland Senior Warriors Coy Cup 2025 request:
The Rossland Senior Warriors would like to apply to host the 2025 Coy Cup; if their bid were successful, that would require keeping ice in the Rossland arena until April 1, 2025 – and that would leave the dry-floor users with no place to go for the month of March, such as the Lacrosse players. Staff noted the economic advantages to Rossland if the Senior Warriors were successful in their hosting bid, but also noted the additional expenses to the City and others.
Kwiatkowski was not happy about bumping Lacrosse from the arena for March, and didn’t think the positive economic impacts would be that significant as she considers March still to be “prime time” here recreationally; Calder noted that the region has other ice available during March, but no other dry floor for Lacrosse.
Spooner said that he thinks March, especially the last two weeks, is “pretty dead” in Rossland.
A motion to extend the ice in the Rossland arena until April 1, 2025, on a “cost recovery” basis if the Senior Warriors’ bid to host the Coy Cup is successful, CARRIED narrowly – four to three.
Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre Request:
The Museum requested permission to use City land adjacent to Museum property for an Arts and Culture Festival event to be held on September 14 and 15, 2024.
A motion to approve the request CARRIED unanimously.
MEMBER REPORTS: (Nil)
The meeting adjourned to an in camera session, and your reporter walked home in the warm and slightly smoky evening, contemplating what Jeff weaver was referring to when he commented during the meeting that people will not have the choices we have had in the past. The poet Robinson Jeffers wrote lines inspired by earlier struggles which still seem apt:
We shall have to accept certain limitations
In future, and abandon some humane dreams; only hard-minded, sleepless and realist, can ride this rock-slide
To new fields down the dark mountain, and we shall have to perceive that these insanities are normal;
…
… One has known all these things
For many years: there is greater and darker to know
In the next hundred.
(From “May-June, 1940” by Robinson Jeffers)
