Pool-related issues pop up again as plebiscite and policy changes around TALC contemplated

Council has decided to actively sample Rosslanders' opinions with a plebiscite on the value of the Trail Aquatic Centre (TAC) to taxpayers, and council have also asked city staff to investigate the possibility of expanding the subsidy program that currently helps certain TAC users afford the double fee charged to Rosslanders.

Kari Kuznekov and Lesley Beatson addressed council at the public input period on Monday to express their hope that the stalemated negotiations with Trail would be resumed and a compromise would soon be found. The complicated history of the impasse has left other Rosslanders feeling that a compromise may be out of reach, at least in the near term.

"I have two requests," Kuznekov told council. "My first is to consider revisiting negotiations with the new council in Trail. My second is to consider amending the policy that council created to subsidize certain user groups."

Because Trail charges Rossland residents double the typical fees, Rossland has budgeted $20,000 to subsidize seniors, children under 18, and people with special needs. Because the city cannot reimburse individuals, the subsidy is offered through registered non-profit organizations, such as the seniors’ society and the swim club. Last year only $12,000 was used. In upcoming budget discussions, council will decide whether to change the amount budgeted to the subsidy.

Kuznekov said it's a problem that adults are not subsidized. "I find this policy very restrictive," she said, noting that it costs a lot when adults accompany their children to TAC.

Beatson echoed Kuznekov's statements, noting the importance of regional cooperation. "I understand there have been difficulties on both sides," she said, "but really it's time to find ways to cooperate in a region of this size. The majority of people in Rossland work in the greater region. It's time, please, to negotiate with Trail Recreation. It's time to get along with all the greater community so we can share recreational resources."

Both Beatson and Kuznekov tied their comments to the grant application council recently submitted to convert Rossland's pool into a year round facility.

"I find it hard to understand how we could afford to do that," Kuznekov said. "Operational costs are way more than what we have funds for."

Beatson said, "I'm outraged at the grant proposal for the pool in Rossland when we have, 10 kilometres away, a fantastic, under-used facility.

Coun. Kathy Moore made a motion to refer the existing TAC subsidy policy back to staff after her research suggested that it can be legally expanded. She noted that expanding the policy could be a way to "meet the needs of citizens without going back to Trail [for more negotiations.]"

"I got a lot of interesting information back in the staff report," Moore said. "There's no problem with us expanding the [subsidy] program if we want to." In other words, there is no legal impediment to Rossland subsidizing all TAC users—adults as well as seniors and children—and to reduce the requirements placed on non-profits to allow them to mediate the reimbursement.  

Not everyone on council was convinced that the changes Moore suggested would be legal and acceptable, but agreed with Coun. Kathy Wallace who noted, "I'm certainly interested to see staff respond to these policy changes."

Council voted in favour of Moore's motion, asking council to review the recommendations to expand eligibility by deleting the specific user groups, to delete the two-year requirement on clubs and societies, and to greatly simplify the application for individuals.

"It's win-win," Moore said. "For our community, we can give citizens the ability to go back and use Trail facilities. And it's a win for Trail, because they're going to get more business."

Talk around the table turned to Coun. Jill Spearn's motion to hold a plebiscite to ask Rosslanders how much value they put on TAC.

Mayor Greg Granstrom said, "We've been dancing around the flagpole for a while. Two councils ago made a decision, the last council made a decision, and here we go again. Perhaps it's time to ask the question to the public and see what they want."

"My mind's going in the same direction," Wallace said. "It's been going around for a few years. I know people who miss using the aquatic centre, miss it strongly; and I know people who don't want to pay for [TAC], and don't want to pay for it strongly. I certainly support going to a plebiscite. What is the cost to the community?"

CAO Kumar responded that a plebiscite would be relatively inexpensive, with the major costs including advertising, printing, postage, and staff time.

Coun. Tim Thatcher said, "It would be good to get some hard numbers," adding later, "we need to find out how many people in each household are using the aquatic centre."

The plebiscite, however, will probably only consist of one or two questions to gauge the importance of TAC to Rosslanders and their pocket books—the exact question will be formulated by staff to be debated at the next council meeting. The last usage data was taken before Trail increased the fee for Rosslanders, and since that time attendance from Rossland has declined precipitously

Coun. Cary Fisher addressed Beatson's point about regional cooperation. "I see the aquatic centre as being a lightning rod," he said. "My family uses it pretty infrequently, but in the broader context of the greater community, where 80 per cent Rosslanders work in Trail, there are huge financial issues behind it that have to be part of the whole recreation question for the public. It's not a matter of are you in or are you out. It's a matter of looking at it from a broader perspective and understanding that we are part of a greater community."