COUNCIL MATTERS: Rossland City Council Meetings, September 15, 2025
By Sara Golling
At the CoW: discussing how best to support community groups and keep spending within reason … living in la la land? At the regular Council meeting: Should Rossland have an air quality monitor? More from the Family Action Network; the pool needs two new boilers; Council refuses a request to spend $200,00 on renovations to the arena lounge …
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE: 4:00 pm
Present: Mayor Andy Morel, and Councillors Stewart Spooner, Craig Humpherys, Eliza Boyce, Jeff Weaver, Maya Provençal and Lisa Kwiatkowski (online).
Staff: CAO Bryan Teasdale, CFO Mike Kennedy, City Planner Stacey Lightbourne, Manager of Recreation and Events Kristi Calder, Manager of Operations and Infrastructure Scott Lamont, Deputy Operations Manager Josh Solman
And nine members of the public, in the gallery, for the CoW.
PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD:
A resident wondered if the City has enough money to continue spending as it is; felt that the five-year financial plan is actually “fairly short-term” and suggested it might be wise to do some longer-term financial planning.
Laura Pettitt asked that all Staff and Council members please speak clearly and audibly.
The Vice President of the library board expressed appreciation the City’s support, and agreed that moving library funding out of discretionary grants and into core funding makes sense.
DISCUSSION: On how best to manage the City’s investments in community groups.
Current spending on community groups – $1.03 million. The figures on community groups do not take into account the value of volunteer contributions, or their difficult-to-quantify contributions to the community.
Staff had prepared extensive information on the different ways groups receive support from the City, including Permissive Tax Exemptions, grants-in-aid, discounted leases on City property, in-kind assistance, and more, and had also suggested some criteria for evaluating groups’ applications for aid.
Spooner: Setting criteria a good idea, but then the criteria must be honoured and applied across the board. Organizations mut be able to prove that they meet the criteria, and should be able to prove their value to the community – a group that benefits only a few should not get as much as one that benefits many people or the whole community. He questioned why only the library and the museum for line-item funding? What about KCTS, or other groups that provide equivalent value and are long-term?
Kwiatkowski: An organization should be known to be eligible before getting to the Council table. She also questions limiting the line-item funding to museum and library and suggested making the hoops easier to jump through for small groups requesting a small amount. Re: moving away from permissive tax exemptions – important to ensure adequate advance notice to groups, and be fully aware of impact to community groups, perhaps offer bridging mechanisms. Wants to ensure that all groups are considered fairly.
Eliza Boyce: Supports streamlining of grants; also noted that the value to the community provided by groups ought to be considered. Agrees that the use of a matrix is not as objective as intended, but useful. Agrees that basic requirements should not be in the evaluation matrix. Would like environmental and climate considerations to be part of matrix; does not want to create an additional unnecessary administrative burden in applications; does not want to discriminate against groups that may operate on their own (rather than “collaborating”).
Provençal: Favours perhaps replacing “community support” in a matrix with “community impact”; agrees with adding environmental/climate to evaluation. Favours funding library and museum on a line-item basis, also considering whether other groups should be added. Favours phasing out Permissive Tax Exemptions.
Weaver: Feels “we’re going into dangerous territory” and will need to communicate well with groups to ensure that the change does not unfairly impact them. Feels perhaps the funding should be a bit more difficult to access. Has no problem making the library a standing line item, but thinks the museum is a bit more complicated.
Humpherys: Thinks “we need to do a little work on the matrix.”
Morel: concerned that the City-owned buildings – museum, library, etc. – need to be looked after to maintain their value to the City. Agrees with bringing the application process into one stream. Cognizant of the importance of community; without the sense of community in Rossland, tourism would not be as successful. Thinks businesses should contribute to community groups.
Weaver: Notes that his business makes contributions to community groups when asked, and thinks most others do as well. Would hesitate to try to mandate business contributions.
Spooner: pointed out that KCTS is constantly “grinding” every business in town for help – doesn’t think additional pressure from government would help.
Weaver: suggested cutting grant-in-aid quantum by 10% next year.
Spooner stated that he had added up the figures, and that with 1800 households, each household is contributing $833 annually to community groups. He opined, “I’m basically paying a lot of money subsidizing other people’s hobbies.”
Humpherys pushed back on Spooner’s comment about “other people’s hobbies” and Provençal stated, “Each of us benefits from every group, because each of them contributes to the social fabric of our community.” She added that it’s very important to allocate funds fairly, and she would support doing away with Permissive Tax Exemptions
Weaver commented, “We’re living in la la land as a society. You can’t keep funding all this stuff. The money isn’t there.”
Weaver moved to make the library a budget line item instead of a grant-in-aid item. CARRIED.
Discussion about criteria: suggestions will be worked into a matrix for a subsequent council meeting.
The CoW adjourned at 5:45 pm, and Morel announced that the Regular Council Meeting would be delayed for five minutes to allow councillors to have a snack.
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING: 6:05 pm
PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD:
Kayle Robson spoke on behalf of the Rossland Heritage Pool Society. She spoke of the need for political will to keep the pool a community amenity, providing swimming lessons and water safety.
Sandra Beautain, also for the Rossland Heritage Pool Society, stated that attendance records for the pool are not accurate – rather, they are under-reported. Also, the Society has consulted with engineers who think the pool is not “unsafe” as she had heard someone state publicly. She said that the Society has offered to contribute funds ($3,500) to the boiler replacement.
Melanie Mercier, for the Save Record Ridge Action Committee, spoke in opposition to the West High Yield open-pit mine proposal, and is asking the City request that the Minister of Health ask for a pause in the in the review process to allow for an air flow study to be done to see how asbestos-bearing dust would disperse from the mine site and from ore trucks.
Montana Burgess, a new resident of Rossland who has a young daughter with asthma, wants Rossland to have a proper air quality monitoring station, and is asking the City to make that investment for the community.
Jorge Rivas spoke to express gratitude to the City for taking care not to hurt birds during the Centennial Trail improvements, but also concern for a stoat (ermine) family who had resided in a talus slope or rock-pile near the Centennial Trail, which has been removed. He suggests that the City should also take care of other creatures as well, and would like the stoat’s home replaced.
DELEGATION:
Heather Glenn-Dergousoff, Executive Director of the Family Action Network, explained to Council the new regional initiative to develop a Children’s Charter and a Family-Centered Planning Framework to help guide rural local government planning. She listed the services that FAN provides, including: 1-800 number to provide advice and assistance; a local quarterly family newsletter; “Check early, check often”; Rossland Youth Action Network (YAN); and more.
BYLAWS:
Referral from Prior Meeting: Permissive Tax exemption Bylaw #2853
This Bylaw will ensure that all permissive tax exemptions come up for renewal in the same year, to allow for future alternative methods of supporting the community organizations currently benefiting from tax exemptions. A motion to give the bylaw first reading CARRIED, as did motions to give the bylaw second and third readings.
Zoning Amendment Bylaw # 2856: 3975 Old Red Mountain Road
The applicant seeks to change the uses permitted in the current CD3-RHP zoning to include commercial amenities intended for people who are not overnight guests – in particular, for this property, a spa.
After discussion, during which Humpherys questioned the claim that a spa would add 20 jobs, a motion to make the requested change and to hold a Public Hearing on the matter on October 20, 2025, CARRIED unanimously, with the proviso that no building permit will be granted until the applicant provides an infrastructure servicing plan that meets the Subdivision and Servicing Bylaw, and includes all phases and timelines for full buildout.
Animal Control Bylaw # 2862:
The new version of the animal control bylaw includes provisions defining aggressive and vicious dogs, and prohibiting harmful tethering. It also regulates leaving animals in vehicles and outlines minimum standards for care in shelters.
Provençal asked, and Lightbourne explained that the provision about not slaughtering chickens on the property arose from an earlier incident. Another Council member raised the issue of the many, many little plastic bags of dog excrement that so many, many dog owners see fit to leave in so many places.
A motion to give the bylaw first reading CARRIED, with only Boyce opposed.
POLICY REVIEW:
Road, Sidewalk, Stair Snow Removal Policy: A motion to approve the policy as amended CARRIED unanimously. The amendments consist of adding the following areas to be plowed, with the priorities indicated: Added Centennial Place (3rd priority); Ridge Road (3rd priority); Topping Terrace (as 4th priority); small Alley off Butte (4th priority); and, between the end of Red Mtn Road (start of parking lot) and Caldera has been switched to not-city plowed.
Third-party Charges Policy: A motion to approve the policy as amended CARRIED. The amendment consists of adding, under “Rates,” the following provision: “d) Where the City has provided a quote for third-party work and accepted payment of the quoted amount, any differences between the actual cost of work performed and the quoted amount will be billed after completion.”
REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL DECISION:
Development Variance Permit: 2160 Lower Georgia Street
The applicant wishes to build a new double garage on the site of an existing carport supported by failing retaining walls, and to put a roof over the stairway from the garage to the home. The steep lot and space limitations mean that the front and side variances are needed for the project. No neighbours have objected, and staff have no concerns. A motion to grant the variance CARRIED unanimously.
Tender Review and Award – Emergency Infrastructure Improvements for Cook Avenue:
As the Council materials explain, an existing storm drain collapsed during the 2025 freshet; the extent of the damage, and the age and condition of the nearby sanitary sewer and water lines, make it more cost-effective to replace them all in that area at the same time.
This work was not anticipated in the 2025 budget, so staff have examined and listed the other projects that can be delayed to free up budget funds for the Cook Avenue infrastructure repairs.
The City received two compliant bids, one from a company the City has contracted previously for major projects, and another bid – about $12,000 lower — from a different company. The City asked ISL engineering to assess the bids, which they did, and recommended that the City accept the lower bid; Staff seek a decision from Council.
A motion to accept the bid from Triahn Enterprises CARRIED unanimously after brief discussion.
Replacement of Boilers for Rossland’s Outdoor Pool:
One of the pool’s two boilers was rendered inoperable during the start-up operations when a mechanical failure resulted in a small fire. This past summer, the remaining boiler has laboured away on its own, but staff are of the opinion that it would not be practical to go into the 2026 season and beyond with the remaining boiler, which is “at high risk of failure.” Replacing just one boiler is also not practical, so Council was asked to decide whether to spend $31,800 plus applicable taxes to install two new boilers.
A motion to replace the two boilers for the amount cited CARRIED unanimously.
Rossland Arena Lounge Renovation Proposal:
In view of the upcoming BC Winter Games being held in Rossland and Trail from February 25 to March 1, 2026, Council was asked to make a decision about whether or not to renovate the arena lounge, and if so, to what extent. The current proposal includes upgrades to flooring, lighting, storage, bar and kitchen spaces, and general aesthetics, and would cost approximately $200,000. The words “crazy” and “outrageous” were heard before discussion began … some Council members questioned the necessity, as they felt the area was still functional.
Calder explained that storage will be a problem for the Winter Games, as several bikes will have to be moved out of the current storage area.
Discussion resulted in a motion by Boyce that Council not approve any budget for Arena lounge improvements at this time, which CARRIED unanimously.
Five Tonne Dump Truck with Hooklift and Sander: RFP Review and Award
Staff issued a Request for Proposals in July, and received five bids, only one of which was deemed compliant, and which was neither the lowest nor the highest bid. Staff recommend accepting the New West Truck bid of $345,141.74. The funds are adequately budgeted.
A motion to accept the bid CARRIED unanimously.
2025-2027 Communications Strategy
Julie Rogers Consulting prepared a 2025 – 2027 Communications Strategy for Rossland, and Council discussed whether to adopt it, or to approve it in principle but defer implementation pending budget confirmation – since implementation would ideally involve hiring at least a part-time co-ordinator, and a City staff member had declared at a Council meeting earlier this year that no new hires were in the City’s 2025 to 2029 financial plan.
That declaration was in response to objections to the proposed property tax increases, and the communications strategy was at least in part a response to the need for better communication from the City to residents about the upcoming prospect of — and the reasons for — tax increases, among other matters.
A motion to adopt the strategy CARRIED.
Rossland’s Expenditures during August, 2025:
The “cheque register report” for August shows total expenditures of $501,453.36. The Council materials identify “Noteworthy expenditures occurring during the period include:
$12K to Family Action Network as final installment for the delivery of Youth Action Network (YAN) programming
$11K to Fire Line Consulting for ongoing Fire Smart programming
$33K to Marsh Canada Limited for insurance of the Rossland Yards building, of which $25K is billed back to the Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society (LCAHS) for the residential portion of the building.
$13K to Kodiak Customs for upgrade work performed on the skateboard park
$33K to contractor for delivery of Age Friendly programming
$34K to Rossland Historical Museum Association as direct reimbursement for activities carried out under a grant via CBT on museum revitalization
$16K to Sims Contracting Ltd. for danger tree removal
$12K to Stewart McDannold Stuart for legal services
$15K to Teale’s Water Utility Services to perform annual fire hydrant inspection services.
A motion to approve the August cheque register CARRIED unanimously.
Council perused the regular monthly reports but had no questions:
- Building Permit Report
- Building Permit Inspections by Type
- Step Code Energy Rebates
- Public Works & Water Production Report
- Eye On Water Report
- Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control Monthly Report
A Request from the Rossland Museum and Discovery Centre for a letter in support of their application for a New Horizons for Seniors grant: a motion to supply the requested letter CARRIED unanimously.
MEMBER REPORTS (highlights only):
Spooner reported that the Recreation Implementation group had a meeting in the new gazebo.
Provençal moved that the City send a letter to the Minster of Health regarding the asbestos concern re the RRMM. The motion CARRIED.
Morel reported that he had a productive meeting with the Follies. He has some RDKB meetings in Grand Forks. Solid Waste meeting: Rossland is doing well, but there is still room for improvement in amounts to divert from landfill. Attended the opening of the new fire training centre in Trail, which will provide space for training for other fire services as well.
The meeting recessed to an in camera session at 7:30 pm , and your reporter went home in the dark, feeling rather tired and wondering when the first fall frost will arrive, and whether the ermine survived the loss of their rockpile home near the Centennial Trail.
