The following is a brief summary of selected items scheduled for discussion at the Town of Golden’s Regular Open Council meeting, as we are limited for space. It is not a complete account of the meeting package.
Residents who would like to review the agenda in detail can visit the Town of Golden’s website to download the full package and supporting documents ahead of the meeting.
• Routley seeks reconsideration of Golden time-zone decision
Councillor Wes Routley will ask Golden Town Council to reconsider its recent decision to remain permanently on Mountain Standard Time, a reversal of his position at the previous council meeting.
Council voted Sept. 1 to end seasonal clock changes following the Nov. 1 time change and remain on Mountain Standard Time, or UTC-7, aligning Golden with most of British Columbia.
In a written request dated Sept. 15, Routley said his concerns about the safety risks associated with dark winter mornings have not necessarily changed. However, he said the public consultation process failed to ask whether remaining aligned with neighbouring communities should take priority over residents’ preference for standard or daylight time.
“The public must be able to trust the process Council uses to arrive at a decision,” Routley wrote. “That trust has eroded and restoring it is the most urgent matter before us.”
Council is scheduled to receive 298 letters concerning the Sept. 1 decision at its Sept. 22 meeting. According to the agenda, 268 oppose the decision or request reconsideration, while 30 support it. Council will also receive a petition containing signatures from Golden, Brisco, Field, Parson and the Radium-Invermere area, along with statements concerning the decision’s potential effect on businesses.
Routley will first ask council to rescind its Sept. 1 resolution. If council agrees, he intends to propose that Golden remain permanently on Mountain Daylight Time, or UTC-6, in alignment with the Regional District of East Kootenay.
His proposed motion would also seek action to reduce the risks created by darker winter mornings. This would include discussions with School District 6 about student safety, a request that the CSRD consider streetlighting in affected rural areas, and a request for lighting and other safety improvements along Highway 93/95.
Town staff would also be directed to examine measures within the municipality’s authority to improve pedestrian and driver safety.
The motion calls for council to review the time-observance decision again in October 2027 following further consultation with regional governments, community partners and residents.
• Monumental beaver sculpture proposed for Golden
A monumental wooden beaver could become Golden’s next piece of public art.
Kicking Horse Culture is preparing an application to the Columbia River Basin Public Art Program for funding to create a permanent, large-scale sculpture celebrating Golden’s connection to the Columbia River system and local watershed.
The proposed artwork would be designed and built by Golden artist, woodworker and builder Derek Melanson of Woodslingers and Golden Sign Works.
The sculpture is envisioned as a playful and interactive local landmark. Early concepts include turning the beaver’s tail into a place for visitors to sit and incorporating smaller wetland creatures into the installation.
Melanson would lead the design and fabrication work from his Golden workshop. Four local artists would also be hired as paid assistants, gaining hands-on experience in carving, fabrication, construction and large-scale public art installation.
Possible locations include Reflection Lake and the future Kumsheen Park and bridge area. A final site would be chosen in consultation with Town of Golden staff, taking into account public access, visibility, pedestrian safety, nearby parking, security and future infrastructure plans.
The sculpture would require a permanent foundation, potentially including concrete footings, tamped gravel and an engineered mounting system.
Kicking Horse Culture is asking council to support the project site and provide a letter supporting its grant application. The organization is not requesting a financial contribution from the Town at this stage.
Kicking Horse Culture has also offered to coordinate the artwork’s long-term care, while asking Town staff to provide an annual power washing and identify any structural damage.
The grant application deadline is Sept. 29. Design and fabrication would take place during the winter and spring of 2027, with installation targeted for the summer of 2027.
• Thousands urge council to reverse time-zone decision (see front page)
• Golden CED seeks $90,000 for film-readiness project
Golden Community Economic Development is seeking $90,000 from the Golden and Area A Economic Opportunity Fund to prepare the region to attract film and television productions.
The proposed Golden Area Film Readiness Project has a total budget of $100,000, with the Columbia Basin Trust contributing the remaining $10,000.
A local film coordinator would be hired for the project’s first year to help establish Golden and Area A as a “film-ready community.” The coordinator would work with the Town of Golden and Columbia Shuswap Regional District to clarify permitting processes, identify potential revenue opportunities and establish procedures for managing filming locations.
The project would also identify locations that should be promoted to filmmakers, along with sensitive or unsuitable locations that should be avoided. A location database would be updated with photographs showing potential sites during all four seasons.
Approximately five local people would be trained as location scouts. The project would also develop a list of local crew members, vendors and businesses able to provide services to productions.
The $100,000 budget includes $35,000 for the film coordinator, $25,000 for location database development, $15,000 for workforce development and $10,000 for producer and director visits. Funding is also allocated for travel, marketing, support from the Kootenay Regional Film Commission and project administration.
Golden CED says attracting productions could create opportunities for local film professionals while generating business for accommodations, caterers, transportation providers, florists, event rental companies and property owners. Film activity could also provide an economic boost during Golden’s tourism shoulder seasons.
The project was developed by a local stakeholder group involving Golden CED, Tourism Golden, Kicking Horse Culture, the Golden Chamber of Commerce, Town representatives and local film-industry professionals.
The Golden and Area A Economic Opportunity Fund currently has $582,776 in uncommitted funding available. Electoral Area A Director Karen Cathcart supports the application.
Town council will consider the request at its Sept. 22 meeting. Any allocation must be supported by both the Town and Electoral Area A before receiving final approval from the CSRD board.
• Five-unit live-work development proposed for north Golden
A proposed mixed-use development at 904 10th Street North would combine five industrial bays with residential units on the floor above.
David Ratzlaff and 0804482 B.C. Ltd. have applied for a development variance permit to construct the building on land zoned Light Industrial.
Each industrial bay and the dwelling above it would form a single strata lot, creating five strata lots in total. Owners or tenants could use the units as live-work spaces, use the upper floor as an office or rent the dwelling separately from the industrial bay.
Short-term rentals would not be permitted under the property’s industrial zoning.
A similar variance was approved by council in 2021 but expired after two years. That proposal contained six units, while the revised development has five.
The application seeks three zoning variances. The front setback would be reduced from 4.5 metres to three metres, industrial parking requirements would be reduced from one space per 50 square metres to one per 100 square metres, and the required landscape buffer beside the residential area would be reduced from three metres to 1.25 metres.
Town staff say each strata lot would effectively have two parking spaces, including room inside the industrial bay and one exterior stall. The developer would also create formalized parking along King Place.
The property is surrounded by commercial and industrial uses to the north, east and south, with residential properties to the west. Staff say the residential portion of the project could provide a transition between the industrial and residential areas.
The development would add demand to sewer infrastructure connected to the 12th Street South lift station. Sewer-main upgrades associated with future development are estimated to cost $1.454 million.
Rather than requiring the developer to complete those upgrades immediately, the Town is proposing a $46,000 contribution toward their eventual cost. The money would be held by the Town and made available to a future developer undertaking the sewer work.
Planning staff support advancing the application to public notice. Notices would be sent to properties within 100 metres and published through the newspaper, Town website and social media.
Council will be asked at its Sept. 22 meeting only to authorize the public notification process. The variance itself would return to council for a later decision.
