Council Matters: Rossland City Council meetings, December 8, 2025
By Sara Golling
Grants to community organizations; the Community Contributor Award goes to SRRAC members; how a couple of unplanned projects are being paid for; and, coming up — a “Community Communications Corner” at the library …
- COMMITTEE-OF-THE WHOLE (4:00 pm)
Present: Mayor Andy Morel, and Councillors Eliza Boyce, Steward Spooner, Craig Humpherys, Lisa Kwiatkowski and Jeff Weaver. Staff: CAO Bryan Teasdale, Executive Assistant Rachel Newton, Deputy CO Cynthia Añonuevo, and CFO Craig McDonald.
Morel expressed his gratitude, and thanked Rossland’s not-for-profit organizations and their many volunteer members for their many contributions to the community that make Rossland so special.
Jan Morton of Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society introduced the organization’s new executive director, Finya Eichhorst.
Spooner spoke about the recent changes to the process of allocating grants, and pointed out what he saw as some contradictions between the stated eligibility requirements and many of the applicants for funding; one of them being providing services without charge, and one of them being not providing assistance to businesses – he cited the Chamber of Commerce. He was asking for feedback on his understanding of the policy.
Weaver pointed out thay some of the applicants who don’t seem to meet the requirements provide value to the community and been receiving grants for years. He expressed huge discomfort with the process.
Boyce said she has been trying to figure out the intention behind some of the requirements.
Kwiatkowski asked whether the intention was to revise the eligibility requirements, or to disqualify applicants who don’t meet them.
Teasdale pointed out that the applications are not pre-screened; staff just receive them and provide them to Council.
Morel noted that all applicants are not-for-profit associations, and for him, community contribution is the key criterion.
Boyce responded that she would like to stick with the criteria in the policy, but is open to revising it. She added that she thinks it’s completely wrong that the provincial government is cutting funding to Search and Rescue groups.
Council discussed the financial status of Tourism Rossland (strong), and the total benefits granted to the Museum, and then issue of multiple-year funding commitments – after a somewhat fraught discussion, Council voted to agree on funding for only two years (2026 and 2027) for organizations that had asked for multi-year funding.
Council deliberated on the amounts to be granted to applicant organizations from the available funds – a total of $188,521 remaining to be granted after existing obligations.
Applicants for this round of funding are seeking amounts that add up to a total of $283,909, leaving a total amount of $95,388 by which organizations will be collectively disappointed.
Rossland Council’s recommendations, which are not final until approved at the January Council meeting, are as follows — where there are two figures, the first amount is for 2026 and the second is for 2027:
Applicant name: Amount asked: Awarded:
Black Jack Ski Club $ 2,000 1,167
Golden Bear Children’s Centre 6,000 4,583 / 4,417
Green Thumb Players Society 300 Zero
Kootenay Columbia Trails Society 50,000 44,848 / 46.400
Living Lakes Canada 5,000 3,500
Lower Affordable Columbia Housing Society 8,000 5,083
Rossland & District Search and Rescue 10,400 8,383 /8,500
Rossland Arts Centre Society 41,450 18,000
Rossland Council for Arts and Culture 15,000 12,000
Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre 84,872 63,000 / 65,833
Rossland Tennis Society 3,600 3,067
Rotary Club of Rossland 1,500 570
Save Record Ridge Action Committee 2,000 1,717
Seven Summits Centre for Learning 10,000 1,917 / 1,833
Take a Hike West Kootenays Program 1,000 833
Tourism Rossland 25,000 8,667
Trail & District Chamber of Commerce 17,787 Zero
Any unallocated funds will be available for requests arising during the year.
- PUBLIC CONSULTATION (6:00 pm):
Present: Everyone who was present for the previous session, plus City Planner Stacey Lightbourne, Manager of Operations and Infrastructure Scott Lamont, and Deputy Operations Manager Josh Solman.
Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw:
This bylaw is required annually by provincial legislation. It is the current year’s explanation for the inevitable differences between expenditures planned before the year began, and what actually had to be spent – sometimes less, sometimes more, sometimes for different projects – for instance, the Cook Avenue infrastructure replacement project that has been causing traffic detours was not in the original budget, but a collapse after heavy rainfall necessitated replacement of the Cook Avenue storm drain; and it is much more cost-effective to replace other dangerously worn pipes on that route at the same time.
The City has explained how funding was re-allocated from other budget items to cover the cost of the Cook Avenue project, as well as the additional funding to complete the north section of the Centennial Trail Improvement Project.
No residents contributed opinions.
- REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING:
PRESENTATION: 2025 Community Contributor Award:
Mayor Morel presented this year’s Community Contributor award to three individuals, Melanie Mercier, Nils French, and Elissa Ferguson, for their work as members of the Save Record Ridge Action Committee (SRRAC) on opposing the mining proposal on Record Ridge.
French said, sometimes volunteering is fun, but this time it felt like a call to action. He spoke about seeing just how wrong things are, and how much is being ignored, and he thanked City Council for working on behalf of the community. He said they are setting dates for a judicial review of the decision not to require an environmental assessment of the proposal. He stated that the company still has only one of the six permits they would need to proceed. Members of the gallery applauded the group.
PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD:
Steve Miller spoke on behalf of a 55-plus group, and is seeking advice on how best to involve seniors in the activities in the games, such as a new entry, “cornhole” which involves tossing a beanbag through an opening about 20 feet away. He wants to start a seniors’ coffee club, with cafes providing coffee and toast to seniors on specific dates.
Morel ensured that Miller was aware of the Rossland Seniors’ Association; Miller indicated that that he had been trying to reach people there, without success.
BYLAWS:
Council unanimously passed motions to adopt four bylaws that had received first, second and third readings at earlier meetings: the 2026 Annual Revenue Anticipation Bylaw # 2855, the 2025-2029 Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw # 2854, 2025, the Sewer Rate (2026-2027) Bylaw # 2859, and the Water Rate (2026-2027) Bylaw # 2860.
REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL DECISION:
2026-2027 Community Resiliency Investment Program:
A motion to support an application for funding to the 2026-2027 Community Resiliency Investment Program – FireSmart Community Funding & Supports Program, and to provide grant management for the program, CARRRIED unanimously.
Municipal Cheque Register Report for November 2025:
A motion to approve the City’s expenditures for November CARRIED with no discussion or questions, also unanimously.
Council perused the regular monthly reports:
- 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
Rossland Public Library – request for funding and letter of support:
The Library Association has asked Council for funding assistance to create a “Community Communications Corner” in the library, for displaying and distributing “vital community information, including municipal documents, tourism guides, and local event flyers …” The request is for a one-time grant of $250.
The other request was for a letter of support for a grant application to the Columbia Basin Trust BasinReads program, for funding to install new automatic doors, and to install an awning over the ramp to keep it free of snow and ice – to improve accessibility.
Spooner said he thought the request for funding was “ridiculous” but others thought it would help the City with its communications strategy for a very small investment.
A motion to provide both the $250 funding and the letter of support CARRIED with only Spooner opposed.
MEMBER REPORTS:
Morel announced that the RDKB is recruiting for a new CAO, as Mark Andison is retiring after 30 years of service. He commented with happy amazement on the huge turnout for the tree lighting ceremony.
The meeting recessed to an in-camera session and your reporter emerged into the darkness, sleet and slippery slush and made it to Ferraro’s before closing time, possibly for the first time ever after a Council meeting, and then home.
