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Weds., September 12, 2012 www.revelstoketimesreview.com Vol. 114, No.37
7
TIMESReview
$1.25
City beautification project Great ‘no’ sign debate shines light on city decision-making How did Revelstoke city officials decide to paint much-derided ‘no’ signs without any consultation, then decide to study removing them just two days later? AARON ORLANDO editor@revelstoketimesreview.com
Holly Hamilton (back) and Saelin and Loucious Cadieux give the new sidewalk signs at Third Street and Mackenzie Avenue their own touch with some nice chalk art. They were worried they would get in trouble for their work but it’s more likely they’ll be praised. They’re not the only ones — earlier in the day funeral director Gary Sulz touched up the signs outside Brandon Bowers at Second and Mackenzie. The ‘no’ signs went up on Tuesday with no announcement or public discussion and were largely derided as ugly and excessive. On Thursday the city started look at ways to remove them and the city’s chief administrator took responsibility for the signs. Alex Cooper/Revelstoke Times Review
Apparently the City of Revelstoke has decided that bicycles, skateboards and dogs are enough of a nuisance that residents need to be reminded of the rules — with loud ‘no’ stencils on every single corner downtown. Some corners have up to 24 of the ‘no’ signs sprayed around the intersection. The new signs are painted onto every street corner downtown, from Campbell Avenue to Orton Avenue and First Street to Third Street. They feature a trio of symbols — one saying dogs must be on leash, another for no skateboards, and the last one for no bicycles. The signs are a reminder that cycling and skateboarding aren’t allowed on sidewalks and dogs must be kept on leash. Skateboarding has been banned on sidewalks for many years, but it is allowed on city streets. Cycling is governed under the provincial Motor Vehicle Act and is prohibited on sidewalks, with the exception of young children. Dogs must be on leash except in designated off-leash areas; there are no offleash areas on any sidewalks or streets in Revelstoke. Mayor David Raven said the signs were a staff response to complaints about people violating the bylaws. “If people keep ignoring [the bylaws], you make them aware of it, I guess,” he said. “We have been getting lots of complaints of dogs not on leashes and bikes and skates on the sidewalks. It’s just a matter of time before somebody gets hurts.” Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce executive director Judy Goodman said their organization wasn’t consulted about the signage. “Wow!” was her first reaction. “It’s a lot. I had to ask what the skateboard was,” she said. She said the Chamber had worked with the city on a push to have graffiti removed downtown. More recently the Chamber advocated for a streamlined design review process after a local business struggled for over eight months to get their busi-
Sign decision, page 3
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