#planning
🏛️ Council Shaping Rossland's Next 5 Years
Your city council is reviewing the 2026-2030 Five Year Financial Plan for major infrastructure and capital projects. These decisions will determine how millions in tax dollars are spent on roads, buildings, parks, and essential services over the next half-decade.
🏗️ Infrastructure and capital projects over five years
🏢 Municipal facility and equipment needs
💰 Long-term financial planning and budget priorities
📅 Multi-year spending commitments and debt planning
🏛️ Community infrastructure investment decisions
💰 Municipal budget and tax rate implications
🏛️ Infrastructure maintenance and upgrades
📈 Long-term financial sustainability decisions
What are your thoughts on the capital budget planning process?
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Council Meeting: October 20, 2025 immediately following the Public Hearing at Rossland Council Chambers (1920 Third Avenue).
This is a preview discussion where Council will provide staff with further direction on the 2026-2030 Five Year Financial Plan. This represents an early stage in the capital budget planning process.
Resort zone seeks commercial spa expansion
A business is seeking approval to expand commercial operations in Rossland's Resort Holiday Park zone to operate a commercial nordic spa facility. This zoning amendment could set precedent for increased commercial activity in residential resort areas.
🏔️ Current CD-3-RHP zone designed for Resort Holiday Park use
🏪 Amendment would add "Commercial, Resort Use" to permitted activities
🧘 Specific proposal is for a commercial nordic spa facility
📋 Requires public hearing due to zoning bylaw change
📄 Bylaw amends CD-3-RHP zoning to allow expanded resort commercial use
🏪 Specifically enables operation of a commercial nordic spa facility
🗓️ Public hearing scheduled for October 20, 2025
📜 Documents available for inspection at City Hall and online
⚖️ Notice published per Local Government Act requirements
Should the CD-3-RHP zone be amended to allow commercial nordic spa operations?
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When will recreation plans be shared?
🏃♀️ A Rossland resident is asking Council for transparency on when the Recreation Master Plan Implementation Committee will present their progress and recommendations to the public.
🏒 The committee is working on implementing Rossland's recreation master plan
🏊♀️ Their work affects future sports facilities, programs, and recreation services
💰 Implementation decisions will impact recreation budgets and priorities
📅 Residents want to know when they'll see the committee's recommendations
🗣️ Laura Pettit asked the timing question during public input
This was asked at the October 6, 2025 Council meeting. Residents can attend future Council meetings to hear when the Recreation Committee will present, or contact City Hall for updates on the presentation schedule.
What Will Your City Look Like in 2030? 🏙️
Council is about to make huge decisions that will shape our community for the next 5 years! 💰
From your tax bill to park upgrades to road repairs - it all gets decided in the 2026-2030 Financial Plan.
The big question: What direction should staff take when planning how YOUR tax dollars get spent? 🤔
💰 Sets tax rates for residents and businesses
🚌 Plans transit, roads, and infrastructure spending
🏊 Decides on recreation facilities and programs
🏘️ Shapes housing and development policies
🚨 Allocates funds for police, fire, and emergency services
🌳 Budgets for parks, environmental initiatives
📚 Plans library, community center investments
💵 Your property taxes through 2030
🚗 Which roads get fixed and when
🏀 New recreation facilities vs maintaining current ones
🏠 How much growth and development to allow
🚑 Emergency service response times and coverage
🌱 Climate action and environmental protection funding
What should be the TOP priority for our city's spending over the next 5 years - keeping taxes low, investing in infrastructure upgrades, or expanding services?
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NEXT STEPS 🗺️
📅 Council meets: October 6, 2025 🗣️ Your voice matters: This is the PERFECT time to influence long-term planning
How to participate: • Attend the council meeting • Submit written feedback • Contact your councillor
Don't wait - once staff gets direction, the major framework is set! 🚨
Should Rossland Lead on Family-Friendly Planning?
🏡 The Family Action Network is presenting their "Growing Up Here" initiative to Council - a regional project to help rural communities attract and retain working families.
💡 They're proposing tools like a Children's Charter to guide future planning.
🌟 Over a decade supporting children and families in Lower Columbia
🏠 Runs Rossland Youth Action Network with 250+ youth engaged in 2024-25
📞 Operates family navigation services and 1-800 support line
📅 Provides community programs, events, and early years screening
🤝 Mission: "Make our region the Best Place to Raise a Child"
🚨 Childcare spaces exist but can't open due to staffing shortages
💼 Caregivers forced to leave workforce due to service gaps
📊 Kootenays has BC's lowest labour force participation at 57.1%
🚚 Some families considering leaving the region
🛠️ Proposed tools: Children's Charter, Family-Centered Planning Framework, Family Impact Assessment
📅 Meeting: Monday, September 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM 🏢 Where: Rossland City Council Chambers
🗣️ Council Decision: Whether to support FAN's regional initiative and provide letters of support for funding applications
👥 Get Involved: Attend to hear about family-friendly planning tools
🏠 Steep Lot, Failing Carport Challenge
A Rossland homeowner is seeking approval to replace their failing carport with a proper garage, but the steep topography means they need to build closer to property lines than normally allowed.
🏔️ The challenge: Standard setback rules don't work on every lot
📋 Council Decision: September 15th meeting
🏚️ Existing carport has failing retaining walls and can't be safely used
⛰️ Steep slope from west to east limits building placement options
🚗 Need to maintain 2 off-street parking spaces for road safety
❄️ Covered entrance will improve snow/drainage management
🏗️ Alternative locations would require massive, expensive retaining walls
📋 The Proposed Solution
🏠 Build new 2-car garage to replace failing carport
🎆 Add covered stairway over existing house entrance
📏 Front setback: 0m instead of required 4m (4m variance)
📋 The Proposed Solution
📎 Side setback: 0.3m instead of required 1.8m (1.5m variance)
✅ Staff recommend approval - no departmental concerns
Should Council approve these setback variances to allow the homeowner to replace their failing carport with a proper garage on this steep lot?
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Official Votes
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📅 Your Voice Matters
Council Meeting: September 15, 2025
🏘️ All neighbors within 50m were notified - no objections received
🗣️ How to participate:
- Attend the council meeting
- Submit written comments
- Contact your councillors
📜 This decision sets precedent for how variances are handled on steep terrain throughout Rossland.
$117,750 for Waste Plan Update?
🗳️ Big Decision Alert: RDKB Board is spending $117,750 of taxpayer money to hire consultants for updating our 20-year-old solid waste management plan.
💰 What you're paying for: Complete overhaul of how we handle garbage, recycling, and organic waste across all 8 municipalities and 5 rural areas.
📅 Happening: August 27th Board meeting - this affects all 33,000 residents!
📋 What it is: Legal blueprint for handling ALL waste in RDKB - from your household garbage to business recycling
⏰ Why now: Current plan from 2005 is 20 years old - BC government recommends updates every 10 years
🎯 The goal: Meet provincial targets of 350kg waste per person annually by 2020 (we're currently at 520kg)
🌱 New focus: Zero waste approaches, circular economy, and keeping organics out of landfills
⚖️ Legal requirement: Provincial Environmental Management Act mandates these plans for all regional districts
🏢 Who's hired: Sperling Hansen Associates Inc. - specialized waste management consultants
💵 Total cost: Maximum $117,750 plus taxes (your tax dollars at work)
📅 Timeline: 18-24 months to complete the entire update process
🗣️ Your voice: Extensive public consultation through surveys, meetings, and online platforms
📈 Deliverables: New 10-year waste strategy, cost analysis, and implementation roadmap
What's most important to you in our regional waste plan: Lower costs for residents, better recycling programs, keeping organics out of landfills, or improved rural waste services?
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Official Votes
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📅 Board Decision: August 27, 2025 meeting
🗣️ Get involved: Public consultation starts early August with surveys and meetings through RDKB's "Join the Conversation" platform
🏠 You're affected if you live in: Trail, Grand Forks, Rossland, Warfield, Montrose, Fruitvale, Midway, Greenwood, or any electoral area
ℹ️ Contact: 250-512-3963 or rdkb.com
Crown Land Approval Decision Made
🏞️ Should neighbors get Crown land approval with development conditions?
Christina Lake's Advisory Planning Commission just decided on Ken & Pam Doleman's Crown land application - with important strings attached for future development.
📅 Decision from August 5, 2025 APC meeting
📄 Ken & Pam Doleman applied for Crown land through FrontCounter BC
🗓️ Previous 2021 application stalled due to COVID-19
🏠 Property has 1992-built structure with outhouse only
🔧 No new development since acquisition - just maintenance
💧 Grey water pit currently on property
✅ APC unanimously supported the application
📜 Future building permits must comply with Official Community Plan
🌊 Waterfront 100 Development Permit area rules apply
🌊️ Floodplain Bylaw compliance required for development
🏡 Protects neighbors from unregulated growth
📅 Stay Informed About Local Development
Electoral Area C APC meets regularly at Christina Lake Welcome Centre.
🏛️ How to Get Involved:
- Attend monthly meetings
- Comment on applications
- Monitor Crown land decisions
August 5, 2025 meeting minutes now available