Steinbach council holds off on discussing signage

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/11/2015 (3081 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When it comes to the mobile signage issue, a sign outside Steinbach city hall might as well have said, ‘open in two weeks.’

Council acknowledged on Tuesday they have heard lots of concern about the sudden enforcement of the city’s mobile signage bylaw but will delay reviewing what to do about it until Dec. 1, the date of their next council meeting.

Mobile signs have been a hot-button issue since dozens of business owners were informed last week the portable signs—even those located on their lot—violated a zoning bylaw last amended in 2010 that has not been enforced until now.

No permits are currently pulled to place a mobile sign on one’s property, but the city’s bylaw says that shouldn’t be the case. A $105 permit is needed for every 30 days a sign is up. Then, there must be 30 days without a sign before another permit for another 30 days. A sign cannot be located in one location for more than 90 days in a calendar year, the bylaw reads.

City staff realized this August they had not been enforcing rules they made up.

Administration was tasked this week to present background materials and a summary of resident concerns for council’s perusal next month.

Councillor Michael Zwaggstra suggested these documents would inform council’s discussions, and through them, recommendations can be drawn up.

Deputy mayor John Funk said he was interested in reexamining the bylaw to ensure they are not hindering the prosperity of the small businesses benefitting from these signs.