Rossland council is looking for public input on the downtown dog leash bylaw as well as gauging the interest in a smoking ban. This, to coincide with the soon-to-be-complete downtown project.
Coun. Kathy Moore said it would be a great opportunity for Rossland to get behind the initiative and exceed the provincial standards for no-smoking bylaws. Moore noted 67 different municipalities that already exceed the province.
“It’s not an extreme position to take,” she said.
Coun. Jody Blomme said it is an important topic to discuss, regardless of the outcome.
Coun. Jill Spearn approved the discussion. “I’m glad we’re revisiting it, our community has evolved,” Spearn said, but she noted that she would like to see these two issues separated from one another.
Coun. Kathy Wallace asked what the process would look like, to which Mayor Greg Granstrom said they should first decide what they were seeking and if we want to seek it, before getting into the technical side.
Coun. Tim Thatcher thought it was a good idea to look into the dog bylaw.
“Since people do travel with pets, they may not stop if it’s not friendly to the pets,” Thatcher said.
Council then made a motion to get some public input.
Then it was a matter of deciding what the format would be, whether questionnaires, town hall meetings, or some other form..
Corporate officer Tracey Butler advised that drop letters seem to be the most well received option in the community, which could be supplemented with public sessions.
Granstrom said that they would invite residents to come and speak., write letter or show up at public input sessions at the next two council meetings.
Then they would hold a town hall meeting if things progress and interest in the changes is shown.