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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOD-060-02 oe, ~ CJ~#}gron REPORT CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Date: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE December 02, 2002 Resolution #: 6ffl-/fIlfv~ Meeting: Report #: COD-060-02 File#: ;;7 By-law #: Subject: Tourism Oriented Directional Signage (TODS) Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report #COD-060-02 be received; 2. THAT Council approve one of the two options outlined in Report COD-060-02 as the Municipality's preferred action regarding the existing tourism signage. 3. THAT the funds required be provided from the 2002 contingency account 7007- X-298. Submitted by' ne Marano Director of Corporate Services ReVieWedbY:cJ ~...;:::;. ~ Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer MM'ca 1201 -- REPORT NO.: COD.060-02 PAGE 2 BACKGROUND: In 1996, the Province of Ontario announced that it intended to outsource the provision of tourism signage to an external (private) organization - Canadian TODS Limited. This company has the exclusive right to market, charge for and regulate tourism signage along the major highways traversing the Province of Ontario. These signs are intended to facilitate tourism development in the communities and attractions that use them. They are of standard size (based on the type selected) and quality and are sited in very visible locations on the preferred highways. At the end of 1999, the Communications and Tourism Office investigated the feasibility of erecting Area Profile signs at the three major entrance ways to the Municipality of Clarington. As it was still a relatively new process for all involved, there were a number of obstacles that had to be overcome but on June 15, 2000 the Municipality entered into a 5 year agreement (expiry date: June 14, 2005) with Canadian TODS for 3 signs to be installed on Highway 401 Eastbound (Courtice), Highway 401 Westbound (Newtonville) and Highway 115/35 Southbound (Orono). The total cost of this program was $1,700.00 per sign for creation (design of sign not included) plus $1,200.00 per sign for the first year "rental". In subsequent years, the Municipality is responsible to pay an annual fee of $1,200.00 per sign for the length of the contract. This report is exploring the available options regarding the possible relocation and/or re-design of the existing TODS signs, in order to refresh the entrance to the Municipality. This is considered to be an investment in tourism and economic development particularly in light of potential ITER visitors. OPTION ONE: The first option to consider is perhaps the simplest. It involves taking the existing signs and relocating them among the three signage locations already allocated to the Municipality of Clarington. For example, the sign at the Newtonville (sunflowers) location could be moved to Orono; the Orono Oazz band) sign could be moved to Courtice and the Courtice (sail boats) sign could be moved to Newtonville. The area sales representative for Canadian TODS Limited was contacted to inquire as to the potential cost of this activity. The quoted cost for this is approximately $4,500.00. At the time of the writing of this report there was no information available regarding the time lines required for the completion of this sign "swapping". Selecting this option means that only the physical locations of the individual signs changes. The signs themselves do not change and the contract between the Municipality and the provider is not affected. 1202 , . REPORT NO.: COD-060-o2 PAGE 3 OPTION TWO This option is more involved than Option One. The action here would be to totally replace the existing signs with three new ones. The new signs would utilize the same physical locations on the highway as are being used at this time. In discussion with the representative of Canadian TODS Limited, the understanding is that the Municipality would be required to "buyout" the balance of the existing contract. As of December 1, 2002, there is a total of 31 months left in the agreement. At the annual fee of $ 1 ,200/sign, the cost of buying out the existing contract is approximately $ 9,300.00 (3 signs x $1 OO/month x 31 months). For the new signs, the fees are quoted as the same as they were in 2000 - i.e. $ 1 ,700/sign for creation plus $1 ,200/sign for installation. A new contract would also be required between the Municipality of Clarington and Canadian TODS Limited. With the signing of a new contract there is the requirement for payment of the first year's annual fee ($ 1,200/sign). In summary, this option has the following (total) direct costs associated with it: Buyout of existing $ 9,300.00 contract Creation (not design) of $ 5,100.00 new sians Installation of new signs $ 3,600.00 (same ohvsicallocationsl 1st vear Annual Fee $ 3,600.00 TOTAL $ 21,600.00 Note that the fees quoted in Report COD-060-02 do not include the applicable GST. This option has an important advantage in that more information, such as the www.clarinaton-tourism.cawebaddresscanbeaddedtothesigns.This additional information was not permitted on the signs when the Municipality originally entered into the contract with Canadian TODS Limited. Under this option the Municipality could also take advantage of the old signs by relocating them to new locations within the Municipality. For example, the "jazz band" sign could be located in Orono, the "sailboats" sign in Newcastle and the "sunflower" sign in Bowmanville, at the Tourism information Center. The old signs Could also be rotated to new locations at the municipality's preference using municipal resources. 1203 -. REPORT NO.: COD-060-02 PAGE 4 SUMMARY: At the writing of this report, the necessary time lines required for the completion of Option One and Option Two were not available. They have been requested and will be forwarded to Council's attention as soon as they are received. Option One (changing the physical location of 2 or all of the signs) provides an opportunity to change the signs in a cost effective manner, while option 2 provides an opportunity to enhance the entrance way to the Municipality and to boost the municipal image by utilizing the existing signs at new locations within the Municipality. CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOW MANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-6506 1204