Coquitlam hopes it has a solution to tidy up community signs at the designated intersections where they are posted.
Council has given the green light to installing fixed frames that would allow community organizations to slide four-by-four foot signs into them at the six locations the city has set aside for the signs.
The spots were approved in 2013, but last year the Coquitlam’s sports advisory committee asked the city to look at providing fixed-frame signage because the sign sites can look disorganized and unsightly. But tidying them up might come at the cost of convenience for the organizations.
“Ultimately, there is a trade-off between the cleanliness of the sites, and the flexibility for groups to post signs; the more flexibility there is, the higher the potential for unsightliness,” said a report to council.
Under the new plan, community groups would insert their signs and remove them. The city proposes to ticket tardy sign removers $150 and an additional $25 to collect an impounded sign.
“It is not staff’s intention to use these provisions unless absolutely necessary,” said the report.
Coun. Craig Hodge, the former chair of the sports advisory committee, said issues of enforcement and capacity have been raised about the fixed frames but this solution is worth trying.
“Let’s move to this, let’s try this for a while,” said Hodge.
Couns. Chris Wilson and Teri Towner thought there might be a problem with not enough frames to meet the demand.
“I think we’re going to impede capacity,” said Towner. “I am worried about the unintended consequences of cleaning it up.”
Deputy city manager John DuMont acknowledged there is potential for local sports and cultural organizations not being happy.
“I’m not going to tell you there won’t be complaints because there’s going to be some growing pains going to a system like this,” said DuMont. “I don’t think we can come up with a set of guidelines that’s perfect in every situation.”
The estimated cost to build the frames is $2,400.
WHERE THE SIGNS ARE
The sign locations and how many frames and signs they will have:
• East side of North Road, just north of Cameron — one frame, four signs.
• Southeast corner Lougheed Highway and Brunette Avenue — two frames, eight signs.
• West side of Mariner Way at Austin Avenue next to Riverview Forest Park entrance — two frames, eight signs.
• Grassy triangle where Lougheed Highway, Dewdney Trunk Road and Sharpe Street intersect — three frames, 12 signs.
• Southwest corner Johnson Street and Guilford Way — two frames, eight signs.
• Northeast corner Shaughnessy Street and David Avenue — two frames, eight signs.
