Council Matters: Rossland City Council Meeting, October 6, 2025
By Sara Golling
Concerned about City spending, and taxes? Pay attention to the Five-Year Financial Plan. Go to the event on October 27, learn more, ask questions and speak up about what’s important to you.
PRESENT:
Mayor Andy Morel and Councillors Maya Provençal, Stewart Spooner, Lisa Kwiatkowski (remote), Craig Humpherys and Jeff Weaver. Absent: Eliza Boyce
Staff: CAO Bryan Teasdale, Executive Assistant Rachel Newton, Deputy CO Cynthia Añonuevo, CFO Michael Kennedy, Manager of Public Works and Infrastructure Scott Lamont, Deputy Operations Manager Josh Solman, and Manager of Recreation & Events Kristi Calder.
PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD:
A resident spoke about the five-year plan, asking whether a new half-time position for recreation programming could be self-funded by fees, and asked about the need for a new half-time position for communications.
Melanie Mercier asked Council to support the application for a judicial review of the EAO’s decision not to require an Environmental Assessment for the open-pit mine proposal for Record Ridge, by asking that no permit be granted until after the judicial review has been heard and decided.
A resident asked question of the Operations team, wants more communication about the retaining wall plans, and was concerned about the City’s placement of a large weight of concrete above the retaining wall above his house, when the City had expressed concern about the weight of his car being parked there.
POLICY REVIEW:
Council Committees:
A motion to reconfirm the Council Committee System Policy CARRIED, as did a further motion to confirm the 2026 committee appointments. Provençal has offered to attend Library Board meetings as a liaison. Kwiatkowski felt that a Council member was not very useful attending board meetings, because community organizations’ needs tend to be more operational. Provençal thinks a liaison might be useful during this time of transition, and that the role can be temporary. Spooner thinks that Council members serve no useful role when attending as a liaison.
Regional District Appointments:
A motion to reconfirm the Regional District Appointments Policy CARRIED unanimously, as did a further motion to reconfirm the current appointments — to wit, Morel as Rossland representative on the RDKB board and Weaver as alternate.
BYLAWS:
Animal Control Bylaw:
Motions to give second and third readings to the Animal Control Bylaw # 2862, which was given first reading the previous Council meeting, both CARRIED.
Fees and Charges Bylaw:
The updated bylaw includes, among other changes, greatly streamlined sections on water and sewer connection. Rather than the previous complex cost calculations for the connections, the City will (if your reporter has read the material correctly) charge only for the actual cost of labour, equipment and materials, but will require a deposit of $1000 for each connection before beginning work. If the actual costs exceed the amount of the deposit, the owner will be charged for the costs in excess of the deposit.
Motions for first, second and third readings all CARRIED.
REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL DECISION:
2026 Council Meeting Schedule:
A motion to adopt the following schedule CARRIED:
Monday, January 12, 2026 Monday, May 4, 2026 Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Monday, February 2, 2026 Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Monday, October 5, 2026
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 Monday, June 1, 2026 Monday, November 2, 2026
Monday, March 9, 2026 Monday, June 15, 2026 Monday, November 16, 2026
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Monday, July 13, 2026 Monday, December 14, 2026
Monday, April 20, 2026 Monday, August 10, 2026
2026 Acting Mayor Schedule:
A motion to accept the following schedule for Acting Mayor CARRIED (the spots for November and December 2026 cannot be filled until after the next Municipal Election takes place on October 17, 2026):
January 2026 – Councillor Weaver July 2026 – Councillor Provençal
February 2026 – Councillor Humpherys August 2026 – Councillor Boyce
March 2026 – Councillor Spooner September 2026 – Councillor Spooner
April 2026 – Councillor Provençal October 2026 – Councillor Humpherys
May 2026 – Councillor Kwiatkowski November 2026 – Councillor _________
June 2026 – Councillor Weaver December 2026 – Councillor _________
Five Year Financial Plan Preview:
Council discussed the materials presented (about 28 pages of them) for the 2026 – 2030 Five Year Financial Plan, and how best to provide information to the public and obtain input from residents.
Kennedy noted that this DRAFT budget/financial plan is not final, but is only the first of many iterations.
The Plan outlines the essential spending anticipated, summarizes the heightened uncertainty around certain costs (tariffs, volatile costs of construction), and includes a section on the City’s reasons for expecting and basing its planning on a 3% cost-of-living increase for the next year, plus suggestions for considering increasing staffing for recreation programming by one half-time position, and for a half-time communications position.
It also includes links (repeated here for readers’ convenience) to the Utilities Master Plan, the Retaining Wall Report, the Building Assessment Report on the Miners Hall, the Arena, and the Public Works Shop, as well as the Climate Action Plan, the Accessibility Plan and the Recreation Master Plan, all of which provide information on eventual or potential expenditures.
There is also a timeline provided for public participation in, and input to, the financial plan.
Council Discussion:
Kennedy explained that the City aims to increase its revenue by 10%, and that will probably result in an increase of about $175 for the average household for the next year in Rossland-specific taxes, depending on community growth.
For public engagement, Morel suggested a “world café” style event. After discussion about which venue would be best, the Miners Hall was chosen and a date set for October 27, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Kennedy asked whether Council wanted to consider a half-time position for communications. Spooner said he thinks it is a minimum that the city should offer to improve communication Provençal supports it because “we are in an unprecedented time of misinformation and disinformation and divisiveness” and thinks the need for accurate info is huge; she thinks the expense is relatively small compared with the benefits. Kwiatkowski thinks the City is dealing with the results of not having dedicated communications staff, and supports the idea of a hire. Weaver noted that he has been reluctant to support it (“we could save money”) but he sees the value of communications and now supports a hire. Humpherys is still not sure that a half-time hire will solve anything and would prefer to try to do without until after the election. Weaver said he doesn’t think it will solve all the problems, but he sees it as a first step. Morel sees the value provided to the RDKB by having communications staff, and thinks it would be a timely hire for Rossland.
Kennedy also asked whether Council wants to maintain, or adjust, the percentage allotted for grant-in-aid applications, given that the library is no longer vying for the grant-in-aid funding. Provençal said she would support lowering the total percentage allotted for division among other groups to account for the Library being funded directly. Spooner wishes the City could simply provide regular funding to community groups in line with their value – their service — to the community.
Kwiatkowski wants our budget to maintain as high a level of funding to community groups as possible, because “there is a huge multiplier effect” to the funding. Humpherys agreed, and added that the groups need to know in advance, as much as possible, what funding they will receive. Morel noted that the City also asks them to report on their performance. Teasdale noted that the grant-in-aid currently allows for a four-year commitment to any group. He also pointed out that an expenditure of (about) $67,000 is equal to one percent in terms of taxation.
Kennedy wondered whether Council wants to maintain or add to the budget for Spring Clean-up. Lamont pointed out that the City’s service and costs for Spring Clean-up and FireSmart clean-up have been increasing; this spring it took twice as long to do Spring Clean-up. He also pointed out that the City’s Hugel is almost full, and they have not found another location, and that if the service is not there, some people resort to illegal dumping. Spooner suggested the City could provided a place for people to take their yard waste, instead of paying for heavy machinery to pick it all up from the curbside.
Provençal suggested increasing the amount for 2026, and really focusing on clear communication and education about the options and choices and costs.
Kennedy asked for direction about the suggestion for a half-time hire for recreation. Calder noted that the cost-recovery would possibly be similar to or greater than current levels. Provençal supports the hire, especially if a slight increase in fees can pay for it. Spooner agreed with the hire, if it could be paid for by fees, as did Humpherys. Morel also supports advancing the hire, and favours subsidizing the youth programming by higher adult fees. Weaver noted that “all of these discretionary expenditures are really important” but doesn’t think that 5% cuts to all departments is the way to go. Spooner spoke again about the number of different organizations in town providing children’s programming, and wondered how many different places we need to do that.
Council made no budget decisions at this meeting; they want to hear from residents to inform the next version of the budget.
REQUESTS ARISING FROM CORRESPONDENCE:
Remembrance Day Ceremony Request:
A motion to close Washington Street between First Avenue and Columbia Avenue on November 11, 2025, as needed for the annual Remembrance Day event, and to allow the Cenotaph courtyard outside the Library to be used for the event, CARRIED unanimously. The Legion arranges for the use of Columbia Avenue, as it is a Provincial highway.
Letter of Support for recent Anglo Teck merger:
A motion to send a carefully-worded letter of support for the Anglo Teck merger CARRIED, with Provençal abstaining. Kwiatkowski voiced approval for a letter that would offer support for anything that keeps Teck sustainable. Spooner noted that every change to more distant management has made a noticeable negative difference to local communities.
MEMBER REPORTS (selected highlights only):
Provençal moved that the City send a letter in line with the request made by Melanie Mercier during Public Input Period; the motion CARRIED.
Spooner reported that he had attended Tourism Rossland’s AGM.
Morel was unable to attend the UBCM this year, because of a family health crisis. He thanked everyone for their support during that time.
Humpherys attended the UBCM, but arrived late because of a storm. He thanked Teasdale for orienting them and generally offering support. They had two ministerial meetings, and presented information about why Record Ridge should be preserved. Local MLA Steve Morisette was present and was very supportive.
Weaver asked if there had been conversations about taxation in other communities; Humpherys responded that it sounded like Rossland is “ahead of the curve” and that municipalities that have not yet taken similar steps will be doing so very shortly.
Teasdale mentioned that he had conversations with government officials expressing all of the concerns that Rossland has been expressing over the past few years regarding the Record Ridge mine application.
Morel noted that the RDKB has begun its budget planning; there has been more talk on collaborating to reduce costs, and Rossland has been proactive in seeking opportunities to do that.
The meeting adjourned, and your reporter walked home in the dark, wondering why all politicians aren’t as civil, collaborative, and concerned about the best interests of their constituents as a whole as our local government – whether one agrees with their every decision or not, and I confess to having disagreed with them quite strongly on rare occasions.
