Rossland council briefs from Feb. 22.
Bylaw 2783 - 1936 Planer Cres: A public hearing will be held on Apr. 4 to discuss the rezoning of a property from R-1 Residential to R-1l Residential infill.
The R-1I zoning will enable subdivision of the large property to sell a triangular portion to the adjacent neighbour whose lot is also triangular, and to create a second 30-foot-wide rectangular lot.
Council raise: Council directed staff to present a new Council Remuneration Bylaw that will bring Rossland up to the average pay earned by BC municipal council members.
In comparison to municipalities of similar size, Rossland council is woefully underpaid. If the bylaw passes, the Mayor’s wage will increase from $18,700 to the average, $30,000, while councillors will go from $9,500 to $15,000. In addition, effective Jan. 1, 2024, and each year thereafter, the Mayor and council will receive an adjustment to their annual remuneration based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
A review of the remuneration bylaw is done in the months prior to an election, and will take effect in October, 2022 when the new City Council takes office.
Gold Fever Follies: Council approved a Facility Use Agreement for the Gold Fever Follies to use the Miners’ Hall.
The Follies will be charged $3,000 for its three month season, without any additional percentage paid on profits. Previously, the Follies paid $1,000 for season rental plus a 5 per cent charge on profits.
Recently, due to COVID, that 5 per cent didn’t amount to much. The production was cancelled in 2020. In 2019 profits amounted to $12,042 bringing in an extra $602 and in 2021 the Follies did not see any profit.
Members questioned whether the company should be subsidized, while others were concerned they could not absorb the greater expense.
In the end, council noted the intrinsic value in supporting long-time community events such as the Follies, the Winter Carnival and others that struggle to cover expenses.
COVID community support fund: The Rossland Figuring Skating Club and Rossland Arts Society each received $5,000 from the support fund to help cover extra expenses incurred and compensate for the shortfall due to the cancellation of their fundraising events.
To date, close to $48,000 of the $100,000 fund has been awarded to provide financial assistance to support programs, projects, services, and/or events that benefit the citizens of Rossland.
Applications for the next intake are due Mar. 7.
Rossland Pool: Council reviewed an update on the Rossland pool. With a shortage of trained lifeguards many community pools have had to reduce operating hours, particularly through COVID.
The pool is also in need of substantial repairs and upgrades but no decisions about capital improvements will be made until after the Recreation Master Plan is complete in 2023.
The city will try to keep the pool open provided staff are available and there are no serious structural issues. Council approved a budget of $32,000 for repairs and $15,000 for maintenance and wages for this year.
Rossland is recruiting staff and will know in April if adjustments to pool hours are necessary.
More sculptures: Council approved a Sculpture Plan Agreement with the Rossland Council for Arts and Culture (RCAC). Over the next 3-5 years, three additional sculptures will be installed around town. The three will join a rotation, where RCAC will provide the artwork, and the city approve all installations. A sculpture will be placed at the new city hall as well as at the intersection of Plewman and Kirkup and at a site up at Red Mountain.