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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
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Franklin Wu
Chief Administrative Officer
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REPORT NO.: COD.060-02
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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.
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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.
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REPORT NO.: COD-060-02
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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
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