Council Matters: Rossland City Council Meeting, May 19, 2026
By Sara Golling
Employee housing a contentious and difficult issue; a major indoor climbing centre planned for Nelson; signs of hope for a Waneta border crossing for truck traffic
PRESENT:
Mayor Andy Morel and Councillors Stewart Spooner, Jeff Weaver, Craig Humpherys, and Maya Provençal, Lisa Kwiatkowski (online) and Eliza Boyce (online).
Staff: CAO Bryan Teasdale, Deputy Corporate Officer Cynthia Añonuevo, CFO Craig McDonald, Manager of Public Works and Infrastructure Scott Lamont, City Planner Stacey Lightbourne, Executive Assistant Rachel Newton, and Deputy Operations Manager Josh Solman.
PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD:
Mark Schroetel and Christine Andison of RED Resort spoke to comment on the zoning amendment on employee housing; feels that the language is “very prescriptive” and could have potentially negative unintended consequences; feels more consultation would be helpful in resolving the issue of employee housing; requests that the section on employee housing be removed.
DELEGATION:
Kootenay Climbing Association personnel , Jamie Moye and Brian Hansen explained their ambitious project, expected to begin taking shape in 2027 – CUBE 2.0, a fifteen-million (or more) dollar climbing facility and community space planned for Nelson. As described in the agenda, the centre would offer “Olympic-standard climbing terrain capable of hosting competitions and attracting event-based visitation, driving increased tourism to neighboring communities, expanding youth sport opportunities, and generating broader regional economic benefits for … the surrounding area.” A café and a “youth adventure zone” are in the plan.
CUBE 2.0 will be an “anchor” climbing centre — the only facility with the necessary height and spaces to serve and train a variety of skill levels; Jamie gave examples of high-level young climbers who had moved away from Nelson to Victoria, because only there could they access the best calibre of training facility.
The CUBE 2.0 is being funded by community contributions, a parcel of land from their municipality, grants from the federal and provincial governments, corporate donations (including Kalesnikoff) and philanthropic funders.
They are seeking a letter of support from Rossland.
BYLAWS:
Zoning Bylaw # 2864:
This is a draft bylaw to replace the current zoning bylaw, first passed in 2012 and amended numerous times since. This draft was given first reading on May 4, and Council and Staff have been seeking input from residents.
Discussion:
Weaver recused himself because of a conflict, and left the room.
The City had received a letter from Don Thompson, which referred to employee housing as “a presumed need which may or may not ever exist,” and which asserted that “RED employs approximately 400 people during peak winter operations, with about 90% of the workforce in seasonal roles. Approximately 85% of employees are local residents from communities surrounding RED. The remaining 15% have historically secured housing within commuting distance, often with access to public transportation.” Thompson referred to the employee housing clauses in the DRAFT zoning bylaw as “punitive.”
A few council members shared stories of seasonal employees living in cars, or sharing very crowded rented rooms. They noted that some employers will not hire a person unless they assure the employer that they have housing.
Spooner spoke to the issue of employee housing, saying that our OCP is very clear that we want Rossland to be diverse and inclusive, not an upscale place where the workers have to “bus in from afar” and that we need to start working on it now, not at some point in the distant future. Provençal and Kwiatkowski both indicated that they think the bylaw as written does not address the problem soon enough. Humpherys stated that he doesn’t want to City to seem heavy-handed, and thinks more talking would be helpful. Morel indicated that he doesn’t agree with just canceling the section on employee housing. He’s happy to do further work with RED to reach a resolution.
Lightbourne responded that the province requires a housing assessment every five years, and that provides a mechanism for reviewing the numbers; but for this bylaw amendment, she thinks “it’s either in there or not.” Provençal said she would be comfortable passing it as is and then go back to the negotiating table. Boyce said she’s not comfortable with it as is, because of the “built-in loophole”: that RED could build their maximum number of units — “build-out” — minus one, and then never have to create any employee housing at all.
A motion to give the bylaw second reading, as amended, CARRIED with only Humpherys opposed as he thinks the numbers are meaningless. A second motion to refer it to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, and Indigenous Nations also CARRIED; as did a third motion to hold a Public Hearing on the bylaw on June 15, 2026.
Election Procedure Bylaw # 2867:
In preparation for the upcoming civic election in October, this bylaw will replace the 2018 version, and is updated to align with provincial legislation, clarifies the role of election personnel, and allows for the use of automated ballot-counting.
A motion to give the bylaw first reading CARRIED unanimously.
REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL DECISION:
Development Variance Permit – 1706 Columbia Avenue
The applicant is seeking a retroactive variance permit for the use of large concrete lock-blocks, normally not allowed, to create a retaining wall for a parking space already built; he was not aware of the restriction, and the retaining wall is not large, and not very visible from the street, and can be masked with vegetation. A motion to allow the variance CARRIED unanimously after some discussion.
Development Permit Application – 3975 Old Red Mountain Road
The application is for a multi-building spa facility, and requires special consideration of its aquatic features – wetlands, streams, and their inhabitants — during preparation and construction. A motion to allow the development, subject to 11 listed conditions, CARRIED unanimously after discussion of the adequacy of Old Red Mountain Road to handle traffic.
Municipal Expenditures for April, 2026:
A motion to approve the municipal cheque register for the preceding month CARRIED unanimously.
FOR INFORMATION ONLY:
Council perused the usual 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
MEMBER REPORTS:
Spooner attended the FireSmart event, and commented that it requires everyone to take precautionary measures. Provençal mentioned the “Water Ambassadors” who went door-to-door, and asked if a similar thing could be done for FireSmart. Humpherys asked about any regulation regarding long, dry grass, which is also a fire hazard.
Provençal attended the library AGM. She also met, along with Morel and Weaver, with Golden Bear to work toward a new lease agreement.
Morel had attended a meeting on May 6 with a Commissioner of Stevens County about a low-level crossing at Waneta that would take a lot of truck traffic off the Trail hill and Rossland’s main street. This project has been desired by Rosslanders and truckers for decades, but previously there had been high resistance from communities south of the Waneta border crossing; Morel indicated that this is changing. Humpherys asked about the upgrade of the Canadian side of the border crossing at Paterson – Morel commented that, currently, “the American side has a fortress, and the Canadian side has a cottage.”
The meeting adjourned at 7:32 PM, and your reporter strolled home in the lovely evening, noting with some dismay how few birds were vocalizing.
