Council approves Trail recreation subsidies
Sean Miller, president of the Trail Stingrays, spoke to Rossland city council during public engagement about the added expense the Stingrays face for Rossland swimmers. Later during the meeting, council voted to include $50,000 in the 2016 annual budget for a subsidy program for use of Trail recreation facilities. Council also voted to pay out $9,250 in claims that were made in 2015 for a subsidy benefiting seniors, youth and the disabled. Council then voted to set aside $14,670 for similar claims in 2016.
Council then considered setting aside the remainder of the $50,000 ($26,080) for a subsidy for two 10-visit passes to the Trail Aquatic Centre for any Rossland resident, but was concerned about cutting other sports out of the subsidy, so instead voted to have staff come back with more information about other programs in Trail that would require subsidy.
Mayor Kathy Moore and councillors are open to hearing from the public on this issue.
Tourism Rossland update
Deanne Steven from Tourism Rossland presented a Tourism Rossland update to council and submitted a Community Funding Application for $31,855, which would be equal to business license revenue. In previous years Tourism Rossland has received $22,803. Any additional funding received this year would be spent on events coordination and marketing. Council will make a decision regarding this request when they put together this year’s budget.
Steven also requested a letter of support for Tourism of Rossland’s application to renew the Municipal and Regional District Tax for the next five years. They are making a request to raise the tax from two to three per cent, and 84 per cent of Rossland accommodators are in favor. Council approved the request for support.
City joins Kootenay Car share
Council received a request that the City of Rossland join Kootenay Car share and register up to four employees as members.
Councillor voted to approve the request and only Councillor Lloyd McLellan was opposed, because he didn’t think it would save the city any money. Council voted to pay for the fees using the care of climate reserve.
Easy Peezy station at City Hall
Council voted to convert the men’s washroom in the front of City Hall to an family-friendly Easy Peezy washroom with a change table, step stool and signage.
Water and sewer rates
Once again council faced the question of what to do about updating Rossland’s water and sewer rates, and voted to move forward by increasing rates by 4.5 per cent across the board, effective beginning the second quarter of 2016. Council did a first and second reading of the bylaws; they have not yet been adopted.
Chairs needed
Both the Sustainability Commission and the Rossland Library Board are seeking new chairs. Contact Councillor Andrew Zwicker at councillorzwicker@rossland.ca for more information on the commission chair position and Councillor Andy Morel at councillormorel@rossland.ca for more information on the library chair position.
Skatepark drama
Councillor Lloyd McLellan made a motion to have the team boring holes on Washington St. also bore holes in the arena parking lot to see if it would be possible to use it as a location for the Rossland Skatepark, instead of the Emcon lot. The motion was defeated, with councillors McLellan and John Greene opposed.