Darin Recchi

Council · Rossland

Lower Rossland 10 yrs

About

I've lived in Rossland with my family for 10 years. I’m running for Rossland City Council with a focus on financial responsibility, a healthy and growing local economy, and building for Rossland’s future.

Policy commitments

Buildings

We all want healthy, affordable, and comfortable homes. These policies will help to lower energy bills, cut pollution, and improve indoor air quality.

✓ Support electrification of new buildings. Supportive

✓ Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems. Supportive

~ Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings. Neutral

~ Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events. Neutral

Climate Justice

Our community is already experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, and taxpayers are on the hook to upgrade and repair critical infrastructure.

~ Pursue available legal options to recover a fair share of the climate costs facing our community from fossil fuel companies and other big polluters. Neutral

✓ Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation. Supportive

Ecosystems

The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all rely on healthy ecosystems. Nature can also help protect our community from extreme weather by controlling floods, protecting shorelines, and cooling neighbourhoods. Access to nature improves the health and well-being of residents, and supports biodiversity.

✓ Protect and restore ecosystems, which are essential to human survival, health, and economic well-being. Supportive

~ Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater. Neutral

Land Use

We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.

✓ Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit. Supportive

✓ Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience. Supportive

✓ Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens. Supportive

Transport

Connecting neighbourhoods through public transit and active transportation networks will cut pollution, improve public health, and make our communities more affordable (and fun!).

~ Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit. Neutral

✓ Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities. Supportive

~ Expand EV charging infrastructure. Neutral

Watersheds

Climate change, increasing populations, and overconsumption threaten our water security. Healthy watersheds and forests are critical to support clean drinking water, stormwater management, climate resilience, and biodiversity for future generations.

✓ Implement water conservation plans and educate the public to conserve drinking water. Supportive

✓ Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure. Supportive

✓ Develop and implement a water security plan. Supportive

Zero Waste

Zero waste policies reduce pollution, keep waste out of landfills, build resilient local economies, and safeguard public health by shifting society away from a disposable culture toward a sustainable circular economy.

✓ Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience. Supportive

~ Implement bylaws to eliminate waste from new buildings, renovation, and demolition projects and to use existing buildings as efficiently as possible. Neutral

✓ Supportive

~ Neutral

× Opposed

– No response

Climate action

How have you contributed to climate action in your community through advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your personal carbon footprint?

I'm constantly exploring and implementing ways to reduce energy usage in our household, waste less, use less, and recycle better.

Questions for Rossland

Do you support saving Record Ridge, and if so what will you do a) locally to make sure it doesn’t happen and b) in your work with the Province?

I don't support how WHY Resources has approached the project to extract minerals from Record Ridge with lack of communication and community consultation. I'm running for Council to represent everyone in Rossland and ensure the best possible outcome for Record Ridge, Rossland and the surrounding areas. My work with the Province will come as the next Mayor and Council continue the work currently underway.

What next steps will you prioritize over the next 4 years to move forward on Rossland’s 100% Renewable Kootenay Plan?

Next steps in an initiative involve measurement and reporting. Establishing measurable interim targets and publicly reporting progress is necessary to ensure everyone understands the initiative and progress. As a rural community we can better prioritize transportation initiatives and focus on areas in the municipality where we can have maximum effect, like existing structure and operations.

What steps would you take to reduce environmental risks, support long-term prosperity and strengthen Rossland’s resilience as a mountain community closely connected to its natural environment?

This is a big question with a wider scope than climate change. Rossland has a Climate Action Plan to support and the OCP includes measures for environmental and wildfire mitigation. I would take steps to ensure action is measurable and discussed regularly by council. Unpredictable snowpack increases the necessity to become a community that attracts year-round visitors and activity, we need to continue focusing on support for the economic drivers like downhill and cross-country skiing, mountain biking, hiking, golfing and all forms of recreation. It not only supports tourism but the decisions of individuals and families relocating to Rossland, and potentially bringing their jobs with them, to be a part of this community & lifestyle. A large portion of my focus will be on economic drivers for a sustainable Rossland.

How should the City plan for long-term water security, and what investments, policies or changes in water management would you prioritize to ensure Rossland has a reliable and resilient water supply for both current and future residents?

We need strong representation with federal and provincial levels of government to fund adequate investment in water security. It's obvious that we need to get ahead of infrastructure investment for water supply & storage, both for regular water usage by the community and emergency management needs. The Province has the largest direct role in water allocation and we need to advocate for our piece of initiatives for watershed and disaster resilience funding.

How would you balance the financial benefits of development with protecting the natural environment and ensuring Rossland remains a strong, connected community for year-round residents?

I'm not worried about sprawl. In the 10 years I've lived here growth has been negligible, in my opinion there should have been more growth over that time. If you expand out on the City of Rossland map we are surrounded by forest, there's no lack of it. The communities at Redstone and Red Mountain have expanded (with a mix of full and part-time resident occupants) and I've noticed no erosion in Rossland's community character. I'm confident we have enough residents who care about and invest in the natural environment and our footprint to keep us in check.

What role do you believe the municipal government should play in supporting the health of residents?

As a municipality we can't cover all the bases. The Province is responsible for health care, affordable housing and transportation and we need to ensure we're adequately represented in all those areas. We're fortunate to have the regional hospital and resources close to Rossland. Affordability is a big issue without one clear path to solution; I'm an advocate for maintaining a strong local economy to support residents with adequate jobs and income. The effects of inflation, in particular increases in housing and food costs that effecting us locally, and the ability to manage those costs within our means waterfall from a strong economy that supports local and remote work and provides income options for all residents.

If you wish to clarify or add information you may use this space.

Compiled & presented by

Authorized by West Kootenay Climate Hub, registered sponsor under LECFA, wkclimatehub@gmail.com

Vote4Tomorrow is an independent voter guide to evaluate where local candidates stand on climate and environmental policies that will affect our future.

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