The City released its annual report this week and council was pleased with it. The annual report details the city’s accomplishments and gives a good general snapshot for the year of 2011.
Coun. Cary Fisher was enthusiastic about the report, saying that he read it from cover to cover.
“The city is in good shape,” Fisher said. “We have reserves, project wise, in the future.”
Coun. Kathy Moore echoes Fisher’s enthusiasm, thanking staff for their work.
Moore made a few comments. One had to do with the mine addit situation. She suggested staff add a comment about negotiations with Teck on the matter now being closed, as the City, museum and Teck have moved on to the next phase of planning.
She wanted a statement to add to make it clearer for the public.
Moore also brought up the topic of connection cost charges (CCCs), worried that since the development cost charges have now been withdrawn, there would be nothing to negotiate with if a developer comes to town. She also expressed concerns that the report shows that they expected something implemented back in January.
Mayor Greg Granstrom noted that the report only incorporates the year 2011, and so the addit situation would not be included as resolved, because the word that Teck would not be reopening it came this year.
As for the CCC implementation, Granstrom said that council has too much on its plate at the moment to worry about that. He noted that the city would have no problem negotiating prior to any development coming to town.
He said the city had control over any new negotiations.
Moore was happy with some of the other aspects of the report.
“I’m really happy to see that we’re making great efforts on water,” she said.
Rossland has implemented a number of programs as a part of water conservation such as watering restrictions, metering programs, low flush toilet rebate programs and water conservation education.
She was disappointed however on to see that greenhouse gas emissions have not gone down. Levels of CO2 being released had even gone up slightly from 2008 to 2011.
Moore also noted that the bulk of budget was staff salaries, but the numbers weren’t there.
Granstrom noted that it is public information and available.
“In the past we included it,” Moore said. “In 2009... in 2010 and 2011 it’s not there.”
She said that as they are trying to improve transparency, they should include it and she tried to make a motion, but was stopped, as city clerk Tracey Butler just said she would make a note of it.