City council has signed up to ‘Love Barrie’, or at least look into a landmark sign displaying that sentiment.
Council gave final approval Monday night to a motion that city staff investigate the feasibility of procuring a landmark sign (‘heart icon’ Barrie) for people to pose with, and post on social media to bring the city together, at a cost of no more than $200,000. Coun. Mike McCann is responsible for fundraising the money and has already raised $50,000.
“In the end, we are just asking for information,” Coun. Gary Harvey said. “There’s no money on the table, no taxpayers’ money in there.”
McCann has said his sign idea is intended to unite Barrie — to help businesses by driving residents and visitors to the downtown and have them celebrate the city. He has also said Barrie doesn’t have a distinct landmark sign within its limits; other cities with one have done well promoting their businesses, McCann said, citing Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto.
“I think there is value in this sign and it will help with social marketing,” said Deputy Mayor Barry Ward.
Council passed the motion by an 8-3 vote, but there was considerable opposition from some members of council — reflecting Barrie residents.
“There is a lot of sizzle and a lot of steak,” McCann said. “I have heard a lot of sizzle from the opposition.”
“If this is going to be the public icon for Barrie, we need to have the public behind it,” said Coun. Clare Riepma. “This is not the time to be spending money on items we don’t need, even donated money.”
“If people want to fund-raise for better issues, nothing is stopping them,” said Coun. Sergio Morales.
“I don’t think we should be spending any more time on this sign,” said Coun. Keenan Aylwin, who tried to send the motion to committee earlier in the meeting. “People are struggling in the community.”
“This really would have been better as a private project,” said Mayor Jeff Lehman. “The reality is there are far, far more important things we should be spending our time on now.”
Only Couns. Ann-Marie Kungl, Aylwin and Riepma voted against the motion.
Earlier in the meeting, council heard two deputations on the motion — one for, one against.
Aurelia Stec is a visual artist and said she is in favour of the sign, despite some public opposition to it, and McCann.
“A handful of naysayers does not diminish the voice of citizens,” she said. “The proposed sign announces Barrie on a world stage, aligning us with other world-class cities who have embraced this adage.”
Victoria Butler, Barrie’s poet laureate, held an opposite view.
“To hear that there are people willing to donate upwards of $50,000 to a project in the middle of a pandemic when so many of us are struggling to even pay our rent, all under the guise of supporting our community, is such a slap in the face,” she said.
The motion council approved Monday night includes there being consultation with the public art committee and MacLaren Art Centre about the sign’s location. McCann’s preference is Meridian Place, with Kempenfelt Bay in the background.
It asks that city staff investigate the feasibility of procuring a landmark sign (‘heart icon’ Barrie) to bring the city together to promote civic pride and encourage residents and tourists to capture memories and share them on social media.
The proposed sign would be bold and have Lake Simcoe in the backdrop; it would be six to 10 feet high and incorporate basic colours and effects so that the lights could be changed in recognition of special occasions. Staff would report back to councillors after this investigation.
Following completion of a competitive bid process, and once a preferred vendor is selected, a working group would be established, including Mayor Jeff Lehman, McCann, Carol-Ann Ryan of the public art committee, Karen Carter of the MacLaren Art Centre, the vendor and city staff to select the sign’s final design, its location and installation timelines, with a goal of being ready by July 1, 2022, and report back to councillors by memo.
The sign’s cost would not exceed $200,000, with the total cost to be fund-raised by McCann in accordance with the city’s donation policy with assistance from the Downtown BIA, Tourism Barrie and the Chamber of Commerce, and that an update on the total funds raised be provided to Barrie councillors with the report back from staff.
