City of Powell River will look into the prospect of adding crosswalks and examining signage advertising smoking products after receiving correspondence regarding these subjects.
At the July 19 committee of the whole meeting, councillors considered a letter from Adria Hiltz, who expressed concerns over advertising for vaping and smoking, as well as the lack of a crosswalk at Alberni Street and Fernwood Avenue, where the letter writer’s best friend’s sister was hit by a car.
Committee chair Maggie Hathaway asked if any action had been taken on the crosswalk. Councillor CaroleAnn Leishman said there was direction to staff two years ago.
Mayor Dave Formosa said he was not sure where the city was at with the crosswalk.
“You all know my feelings on crosswalks,” said Formosa. “We try hard to get them and they are almost impossible. It took us seven years to get the one at Willingdon Beach.
“Within our own city, when you speak to our senior staff, when they speak to insurance companies, it’s almost like they don’t want you to have them because if you put them in, you are inviting people into the street, they get hit and you get sued.”
Formosa said efforts had been made to get a crosswalk on Manson Avenue by Larry Gouthro Park. He said there is a crosswalk at Duncan Street and Manson Avenue and the next one is at Edgehill Elementary School.
“I’ve never, in the last 14 years, been able to have luck,” added Formosa.
He said regarding advertising for smoking materials, they can’t be advertised and smoking products cannot be shown.
“I don’t know where this advertisement is coming from,” said Formosa.
Hiltz’s letter did not specify where the advertising was.
“I would like to know a little more about that,” said Formosa. “You are not allowed to advertise, by law.”
Leishman said she thought she saw something on a road sign outside a gas station about vaping.
She said regarding the crosswalk, Hiltz had sent a letter two years ago, when, at the time, she was in grade four and was trying to get to Edgehill safely.
“Since then, her best friend’s little sister got hit by a car,” said Leishman. “We’ve been waiting for a staff report on how to get this crosswalk, and the one at Manson [Larry Gouthro Park]. Just direct staff to make it happen.”
Hathaway said staff could be asked for a report on how much it would cost.
Councillor Cindy Elliott said the bylaws staff could maybe explain the jurisdiction around advertising smoking products.
Corporate officer Chris Jackson said the city regulates signs, such as size and location, but not necessarily what is on the signs. He said there would be provincial or federal regulations, but the bylaw staff could follow up.
Hathaway suggested a letter be written for the mayor’s signature to Hiltz for being a good community member.
Jackson said he had heard three actions. One is to write a letter to Hiltz, the second is to provide bylaw enforcement with information so they can conduct a follow-up regarding signs, and the third is a report regarding a prospective crosswalk at Alberni and Fernwood and Alberni and Manson.
