Telephone poles and other public property in Flin Flon may no longer be a free-for-all for residents promoting community events or political views.
City council is poised to enact a by-law to regulate signage on public property. It will require permits and time limits for signs, and ban signs that solely “further a political cause or public issue outside of an approved election period.”
Also banned would be temporary signs “whose purpose is solely to advertise a commercial venture,” though this definition does not include garage sales or non-profit community events or fundraisers.
“We’re getting lots of signs,” said Coun. Ken Pawlachuk, who introduced first reading of the by-law on Tuesday.
“If you want to put them up, there’s going to be a fee and you’ll have to follow regulations to put them up.”
Mayor Cal Huntley said a key part of the by-law is the requirement for people to take their signs down.
Coun. Karen MacKinnon said the by-law ties into the city’s efforts to beautify the community.
The by-law would not apply to municipally approved mobile or permanent signs, or to signs on private land. It would regulate signs on telephone poles, light standards, hydrants, trees, utility boxes “and any other structure located upon public land.”
Signs would be allowed to stay up for no more than 60 days at a cost of $20. Those wishing to leave their signs up for no more than seven days would pay $10.
If a permit is issued for a sign, the city would retain the right to remove it “at any time.” The by-law would let the city bill the cost of the removal to the person who put up the sign.
Even individuals or groups who did not put up a sign could find themselves billed for removal. The by-law allows those costs to also be passed on to “any person or organization directly benefitting from the placement of the sign.”
Multiple signs may be authorized under a single permit, provided each sign bears similar content and composition.
The by-law must still pass a third and final reading. That could happen as early as council’s next meeting on July 19.
