Rossland council begins wrapping up term ahead of Oct. 17 election
Published 5:30 am Tuesday, September 15, 2026
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Rossland council is beginning to wrap up its term, dealing with community grants, zoning changes, murals and development permits as the Oct. 17 local government election approaches.
At its Sept. 8 meeting, council approved $75,231 in community grant funding for 15 organizations delivering programs, services, projects and events in Rossland.
Council also gave second reading to a zoning amendment for 2025 First Ave. that would change the property from R-2 Medium Density Residential to R-DT Downtown Residential to accommodate a proposed residential development near downtown.
A public hearing on the amendment is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5, which is also the final regular council meeting of the current term.
Another zoning amendment, which would allow indoor self-storage in the C-1 Downtown Commercial Zone, was the subject of a public hearing Sept. 8. The city said no written submissions were received and no one spoke during the hearing.
Council also gave first, second and third readings to its draft 2027 permissive tax exemption bylaw, which provides property tax relief to eligible non-profit, charitable, educational, cultural and community organizations.
A new mural policy was approved to establish guidelines for future mural projects in Rossland.
Council also approved a proposal from the Rossland Council for Arts and Culture, which secured Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance funding to administer two downtown community mural projects and a mural workshop at the Rossland museum this year.
Two development variance permits were approved, including one at 1910 Second Avenue for a new garage, carport and breezeway, and another at 2012 Thompson Ave. for replacement of an existing three-bay carport.
Council also approved the Lucky Strike Trail Running series, a multi-distance race series planned for Centennial and surrounding trails during September and October.
The meeting included a delegation from Scott Leyland of the Natural Control Alternatives Society on the future of Rossland’s communal bear-proof dumpster program.
Leyland highlighted the success of similar programs in other bear-aware communities and discussed options for maintaining the service in Rossland.
Meanwhile, the city is asking the public to help shape the future of Rossglen Park in Lower Rossland.
A Rossglen Park input event will be held Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the park on Irwin Avenue.
People can stop by the gazebo to share ideas and explore possibilities for the future of the venue.
Those unable to attend in person can provide feedback through an online survey available through the City of Rossland website.
Rossland’s current council will hold its final regular meeting Oct. 5 before voters head to the polls Oct. 17.
The inaugural meeting of the newly elected council is scheduled for Nov. 2.