Council Matters: Rossland City Council Meeting, July 13, 2026
Broken Goat! And, getting ready for Golden City Days and the Fall Fair. Columbia Basin Trust’s Community BBQ in Rossland this year! New Zoning Bylaw and updated Recreation Fees and Charges Bylaw adopted.
PRESENT: Mayor Andy Morel and Councillors Maya Provençal, Jeff Weaver, Craig Humpherys, Stewart Spooner, Eliza Boyce and Lisa Kwiatkowski.
Staff: CAO Bryan Teasdale, CFO Craig McDonald, Deputy Corporate Officer Cynthia Añonuevo, City Planner Stacey Lightbourne , Executive Assistant Rachel Newton, Deputy Operations Manager Josh Solman and the City’s new Manager of Recreation and Events, Lindsay Barnett.
PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD
A resident, accompanied by three other young mothers, spoke about the issue of speeding vehicles on Thompson Avenue in particular.
Morel said he had spoken with the RCMP OIC, and was assured that he had committed to providing more patrolling in Rossland. He also mentioned the ICBC volunteer speed-watch program; the ICBC website mentions “portable speed radar equipment and big flashing reader boards” for the program, but offers few other details, except that people can learn more by contacting ICBC.
Spooner commented that previous councils had put traffic-calming measures in place, which had some effect until “people who like to speed” made a lot of noise. Morel said policing works best if tickets are issued – Spooner disagreed.
BYLAWS
Recreation Fees & Charges:
A motion to adopt the new Recreation Fees and Charges Bylaw # 2868 discussed at earlier Council meetings, CARRIED unanimously.
Zoning:
Discussion: After Weaver and Humpherys declared conflicts and left the room, Provençal raised the question of allowing short-term rental of single rooms in duplexes, but Lightbourne pointed out that to make a change now would require another public hearing, with notice, and further readings. Provençal also wanted to ensure that employee housing provides adequate dignity.
Spooner asked about the elimination of the width restrictions on homes; Lightbourne noted that other areas don’t have the former historical restriction that would have prohibited certain modular dwellings that are only 13.5 feet wide, and there was no compelling reason for the restriction, so it was removed.
Boyce asked again about the fact that employee housing isn’t required until the final unit of “build-out”.
A motion to give third reading to the comprehensive new Zoning Bylaw # 2864 CARRIED unanimously, as did a second motion to adopt the bylaw.
The bylaw had been amended since second reading with a few minor corrections.
REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL DECISION
Development Variance Permit Application: 1920 Kirkup Avenue
The applicant, whose home already encroaches slightly on the front setback, seeks a variance for building a new roof over the front porch and stairs to make snow removal easier; this will require a 3.7 metre variance. There is a 4-metre City boulevard between the property line and the roadway.
A motion to grant the variance CARRIED unanimously.
Development Variance Permit Application: 1577 Victoria Avenue
The applicant wants to build a double carport where vehicles already park, with the front setback requirement reduced form 4 metres to .5 metre. There is a 5.5 metre City boulevard between the property line and the roadway.
A motion to allow the variance CARRIED unanimously.
Development Variance Permit: 2061 McLeod Avenue
The applicant’s property is on the south side of McLeod Avenue, below the road grade, with access by stairs. An encroaching shed was removed this spring to make way for remedial work on the retaining wall, and the owner seeks permission to replace it once the retaining wall is done – requiring not only a front set-back variance to zero, but also an encroachment agreement for the portion of the building that will be on City property to enable access to the building at street level instead of using stairs.
Spooner questioned whether this might set a precedent, and whether it would be a problem to have multiple encroaching structures along that retaining wall. Lightbourne said that if any other applicants wanted a similar variance and encroachment agreement, they would have to pay for a new opening in the railing as well as satisfying all the other requirements.
A motion to allow the application CARRIED unanimously.
Development Permit Application: 2003 Second Avenue (Flying Steamshovel)
An application for similar improvements had been previously approved in 2024, but the permit expired; this application seeks, inter alia, to add a covered deck on the southern portion of the west side, over the sidewalk – requiring an encroachment agreement. The applicant will be responsible for clearing and sanding under the deck, and will install a removable bollard of uphill of the deck supports to protect them from accidental snowplow impacts.
A motion to approve the application CARRIED unanimously.
2025 City of Rossland Annual Report:
A motion to approve the Annual Report CARRIED unanimously. Morel expressed his hope that more residents will read the report and become better-informed about the City and how it operates.
Storm Water Management Plan: RFP Review and Award
A motion to award the contract to complete the City of Rossland Storm Water Management Plan to WSP in the amount of $146,880 CARRIED unanimously. The City recently received a grant of $70,000 from Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) for this project.
Municipal Cheque Register Report: City expenditures during June, 2026
A motion to approve the report CARRIED unanimously.
FOR INFORMATION ONLY:
2026 Corporate Management Plan – Q2 Report
2026 Budget Update, Second Quarter
Building Permit Report
Building Permit Inspections by Type
Step Code Energy Rebates
Public Works & Water Production Report
Eye On Water Report: As the City points out, “EyeOnWater allows users to connect to supported water utility accounts and track their latest water usage, detect leaks, and discover trends for of usage.” People can easily sign up for it.
Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control Monthly Report
MORE REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL DECISION:
Broken Goat event, 2026:
A motion to allow the requests for the Broken Goat race CARRIED unanimously.
Columbia Basin Trust Community BBQ
A motion to provide CBT with access to the Jubilee field for the barbeque CARRIED unanimously. Every year, CBT holds a community BBQ in a different community. This year Rossland was chosen; the event will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. CBT will hold their AGM in advance of the BBQ at the Miners Hall, and will hold their board meeting in Rossland on September 11 and 12.
Golden City Days and Fall Fair 2026:
Motions to approve the closure of Third Avenue from City Hall to the arena parking lot from 9:00 am on Friday, September 11 until 8:00 pm on Saturday, September 12, 2026 for Golden City Days events, and the closure of Spokane Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturday, September 12, 2026 for Fall Fair events, and a noise exemption for amplified music on the corner of Third Avenue and Spokane Street from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm Friday, September 11, 2026 and 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Saturday, September 12, 2026, and use of the Jubilee Street, St Paul Street and Second Avenue on Saturday, September 12, 2026 beginning at 10:30 am for parade evnts with traffic management, and the use of Centennial Trail and Trailhead on Sunday, September 13, 2026 for Golden City Days race events CARRIED unanimously.
Here’s a summary of events as provided in the City Council materials:
Fall Fair – continued events as in previous years: exhibits, community information sessions, music, concession, vendors, animals on Spokane Street.
Petting Zoo/kids activities (Fall Fair on Spokane)
Family Dance – Friday evening event on 3rd Avenue
Firefighter Pancake Breakfast – Firehall (Will coordinate road closure with fire department)
Parade – Saturday event from 10:30 am to 11:15 am (route same as last year, map attached to the application. Along Jubilee from north end of the park (community garden) down St Paul and then onto Second Avenue
Food Vendors and market on 3rd Ave – Friday and Saturday
Live Music/Stage events – Friday night and Saturday
Arcade Games/Kids Activities – Saturday
Stake your Claim game – Saturday
Golden City Grind – Sunday Event (9:00 am start)
(Huck’N’Berries will not take place this year.)
MEMBER REPORTS:
Provençal handed out cake on at the Museum on Canada Day, as did Morel.
Morel reported that a local resident carried the new flag up Mt. Roberts and put it up; Morel did not go up himself this year, and the gathering on the summit was smaller than in many other years – the weather was not conducive to climbing Mt. Roberts this year; after the cake and goodies, there was a ten-minute downpour, which later cleared up again.
East end services: Rossland now has a wildland fire truck, mostly funded by CBT.
West Kootenay Transit: there will be a fare review shortly.
The meeting adjourned at 7:13 pm and your reporter walked home, eyeballing the potential sidewalk and bike lane coverage of the proposed new Steamshovel deck, which will be just under ten feet wide, and wishing for a few days of gentle, soaking rainfall for our forests and gardens and the tadpoles in the ephemeral ponds at Strawberry Pass.
