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City of North Vancouver passes election sign bylaw

Despite regulations, ‘free-for-all’ expected
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Despite what you may have seen on a few bike racks: the City of North Vancouver’s 2018 municipal election has not yet begun.

City council was discussing new election signage regulations at Monday’s meeting when Coun. Rod Clark noted that campaign signs advertising mayoralty candidate Kerry Morris were already in place – more than four months ahead of election season.

“We all have to play on an equal playing field,” Clark said.

The four bike rack signs – which hadn’t been election related until recently – will be dealt with, promised city staff.

Election signs are not permitted until the nomination period for the municipal election closes on Sept. 14. However, Clark was pessimistic about the chances of an orderly campaign.

“In spite of the regulations it’s going to be a free-for-all. It always is,” he said.

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Council noted that campaign signs advertising mayoralty candidate Kerry Morris were already in place more than four months ahead of election season - photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

While council unanimously supported the new regulations, Coun. Don Bell was concerned that first-time candidates might be confused by certain aspects of the bylaw, such as one suggesting that election signs are forbidden on highways except: “. . . when there is a fence or hedge on or adjacent to private property that exceeds 1.2 metres in height, (in which case) an election sign may be placed within 0.6 metres from the property line adjacent to the hedge.”

Bell suggested some maps might help illustrate the point.

In response to Bell’s concern, city staff said the nuances of the bylaws are explained to candidates in person.

The bylaw forbids banner signs as well as any signage that hinders pedestrian traffic or obscures a drivers’ line of vision. Signs that are: illuminated, electrified, animated, moving or flashing are also verboten, as is the practice of putting signs on trees or flagpoles.

However, candidates can now put as many signs in a spot as they like as the previous regulation was found to be difficult to enforce.

All signs must be more than 1.5 metres from the curb, unless the sign is in a structure, such as a bike rack, approved for advertising.

All campaign signs must be taken down within one week of the election.

The city’s chief election officer has the power to impound a non-conforming sign for seven days.

A maximum fine of $10,000 could also be levelled against a candidate who violates the bylaw.

Coun. Craig Keating did not attend Monday’s meeting.