COUNCIL MATTERS: Rossland City Council Meeting, August 11, 2025
By Sara Golling
Taxpayer alert! — Some very meaty information available for everyone interested in where all those tax dollars go (and links to some of it). And: a decision about the Coy Cup, a report on the condition of 11 retaining walls around town, discussion on how to involve taxpayers in budget and financial planning … and more.
Present:
Mayor Andy Morel and Councillors Stewart Spooner, Lisa Kwiatkowski, and Craig Humpherys (remote). Absent: Jeff Weaver, Maya Provençal and Eliza Boyce.
Staff: CAO Bryan Teasdale, Deputy Corporate Officer Cynthia Año Nuevo, CFO Mike Kennedy, City Planner Stacey Lightbourne, Manager of Public works and Infrastructure Scott Lamont, Manager of Recreation and Events Kristi Calder and Executive Assistant Rachel Newton.
PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD:
Lisa Henderson spoke on behalf of the Gold Fever Follies, asking Council to override Clause 9 (regarding storage spaces) of the current contract, and for the City to work with the Follies to reach an agreement that will work for both the Follies and Rossland Recreation. Kwiatkowski asked what efforts the Follies had made to talk with Rossland Rec staff and reach agreement; Henderson explained that Rossland Rec had requested to communicate with just one designated contact person, and that the designated contact had been overwhelmed with unexpected complications in managing the Follies’ current performance, so she (Henderson) had reached out to the Mayor to see if he could initiate some discussion; the upshot was that Henderson will put the request and rationale in writing.
Bill Lunn spoke about the great pleasure it gave his wife to have the Follies visit her care facility and even perform in her room. He explained that he had been to see the current performance (“Yours Truly”) twice, and that the second performance was marred by loud noises from upstairs – music with a thumping bass line, and sounds as of furniture being roughly moved. He suggested ways those disruptive sounds could be mitigated.
Shirley McLim, the volunteer who manages costumes for the Follies, begged the City not to take away the on-site costume storage, and explained why is it is so necessary.
Patti Grimsrud reported on the Rossland Heritage Pool Society and their fundraising efforts to help extend the useful life of Rossland’s 93-year-old outdoor pool. She would like more information on the boilers that heat the pool; one of them has failed, but just one cannot be replaced by itself – if there is any replacement, both boilers will have to be replaced.
DELEGATIONS:
- Rossland Senior Warriors:
The Warriors presented Council with their plan to host the Coy Cup without any cost to taxpayers and emphasized the benefit to Rossland businesses if they are successful in applying to be hosts. Their plan requires ice to be maintained in the Arena during the month of March, when it would normally be removed and the arena floor made available for “dry floor” uses. They also provided a letter of support from the Timberwolves Lacrosse Team, who would otherwise be using the arena for games during March.
- Golden Bear Children’s Centre:
Laura Nutini, Director of Golden Bear, and Betsy Friedlander and Jeremy Girard, Board members, spoke about the role Golden Bear plays in the community, the number of families it serves, the professionalism of staff, the need for more childcare spaces in Rossland and the fact that Golden Bear provides just over half of the existing spaces. They went on to describe the financial challenges the Society faces, and the work being done to upgrade the building. The Society realized that they will end up “in the red” this year.
They emphasized the portions of the Official Community Plan that focus on the City’s part in enabling the provision of child care.
They pointed out that their rates are capped by provincial rules, so when their costs go up, they cannot just raise their rates to cover the increased expenses – and costs do continue to increase. They explained that their rent, for example, has risen since 2012 far in excess of the increase in Cost of Living.
Other challenges faced by Golden Bear include the scarcity of affordable housing for staff; lack of child care has been identified as a barrier to families moving to Rossland, and lack of staff housing is another barrier to having more childcare.
REFERRAL FROM DELEGATION:
Council discussed the new proposal by the Rossland Senior Warriors, and a motion to extend the 2025/2026 Rossland Arena ice season until April 1, 2026 with the Rossland Senior Warriors paying the standard adult prime time ice rental rate and arena lounge rental rate, plus all additional arena overages between the dates of March 2-April 1, 2026 CARRIED unanimously.
BYLAWS:
For Information Only – Staff presented a proposal for changes to the Fees and Charges Bylaw. The changes will consolidate fee schedules from multiple existing bylaws into one document, and improve consistency, transparency, and accessibility. Staff will also be assessing fees and recommending changes where needed.
REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL DECISION:
- 2026 Permissive Tax Exemption Applications preliminary overview: Staff requested direction on four applications, and on the wording of the policy itself. Spooner stated that Rossland Child Care Society (Golden Bear) should not be eligible because it competes with for-profit businesses, and that a change in the policy would be necessary for it to be eligible. After discussion, a motion to defer the discussion until more Council members are present and there is more information available, CARRIED with only Spooner opposed.
- Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre Phase 2 Expansion – Budget Request: a motion to deny the request CARRIED unanimously; staff provided their analysis and reasons to deny the application.
- School District 20 Jubilee Field License to Occupy Extension: a motion to approve the extension CARRIED unanimously.
- 2025 Strategic Priorities Fund Application Submission: a motion to submit an application for grant funding under the 2025 Strategic Priorities Fund Program for the Wagon Road Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project in the amount of $7 Million CARRIED unanimously.
- Municipal Cheque Register Report for July 2025: a motion to approve the previous month’s expenditures by the City CARRIED unanimously.
- Discussion on Approach for 2026–2030 Five Year Financial Plan: Council and Staff discussed how best to inform and engage Rossland’s population during the budget and financial planning process. Kwiatkowski proposed events she called “world cafés” to focus on education and answering questions from the public, and suggested that Provençal organize them. Teasdale noted that no motion is necessary for that. He also stated that Staff will make best efforts to ensure that all meetings to discuss budgetary matters will be well-publicized in advance.
STAFF REPORTS FOR INFORMATION ONLY:
Building Condition Assessment for the Arena, Miners Hall and Public Works Yard:
The report sets out the history and current needs of each building, listing repairs that are needed for each, why they are needed, and the estimated costs. Lamont noted that to conserve funding, his department intends to let components keep operating instead of replacing them sooner with components that would be less carbon-intensive; Morel commented that he would like to keep seeking out grant funding that could justify replacing carbon-intensive items sooner.
2025 Utility Master Plan:
For residents concerned about property taxes and projected increases over the next few years, this lengthy and detailed plan is required reading – or, at least, the shorter and more readable “Overview.”
Both documents are in the Council package for the August 11, 2025, meeting, but the links above will take readers to the documents without hunting through the 897-page document for the meeting.
Monthly Reports to Council for July:
- Building Permit Report
- Building Permit Inspections by Type
- Step Code Energy Rebates_2025
- Public Works & Water Production Report
- Eye on Water Report
- Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control Monthly Report
2025 Retaining Walls Structural Evaluations
The City had eleven retaining walls evaluated, with recommendations and cost estimates, and the report makes fascinating reading for anyone concerned about safety and, of course, taxes. The materials included previous inspection reports on various retaining walls. The bottom line: there are three sections of retaining wall that need replacing as soon as possible, while several others can wait a year or two.
Climate Dashboard and Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) Reporting:
The bottom line (again): Rossland continues to generate an increasing level of GHG emissions year over year. The City generated 490.12 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents in 2024 (2023: 473.67, 2022: 425.33). The Water Treatment Plant (111.7 tC02e) and Arena (63.5 tC02e) are the assets that generate most of the City’s GHG emissions.
REQUESTS ARISING FROM CORRESPONDENCE:
- Kootenay South Bison Burger Trailer Replacement: Request for Letter of Support: A motion to provide a letter of support for the Kootenay South Metis Society for replacement of their current mobile kitchen unit CARRIED with only Spooner opposed.
- Black Jack Ski Club 2025 Golden City Grind Event Request: to use the Centennial parking area, and the portion of the Centennial Trail that connects to the Monte Christo road, and KCTS trails for a series of “Fun Runs” on September 21, from 9:00 AM until noon; the crew will be setting things up on September 20 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, and will be clearing up on the race day from noon until 1:30 PM. A motion to approve the request CARRIED unanimously.
- 2025 Heritage Legacy Fund Grant Application – Columbia Cemetery Markers and Heritage Pool Plaque: A motion to authorize the application and provide grant management through the Heritage Society CARRIED unanimously.
MEMBER REPORTS — highlights only
Morel noted that he is concerned about the effects of tariffs on the costs of the sewage treatment plant (“Columbia Pollution Control Centre”) as many of the components come across the border and the project won’t be completed until 2027.
Morel also reported that the potential replacement of Grand Forks RDKB office was an item of discussion at the RDKB board table, which discussion will be continued.
THE MEETING ADJOURNED at 8:00 PM, and your reporter walked home in the dusk, observing en route some children on various wheeled objects still zipping around the Skate Park, and the improvements begun nearby.
