Innisfail council has approved the expense of $24,360 to develop a program for wayfinding signage that will make it easier for citizens to find important civic institutions and services.
The decision was made during the regular council meeting at the town office on July 11.
“We put out a proposal call for a wayfinding signage program,” said Henry Wong, the director of community services.
“Out of the three proposals received, one was within our budget of $30,000.”
Administration recommended that council approve the proposal submitted by Bond Creative, a communication design firm based in Calgary.
“Some of the places that Bond has actually worked for are the Town of Cochrane and the Town of Ponoka to name a few,” Wong said.
Bond Creative will be offering recommendations for gateway signage, signs for town facilities and signs for certain amenities.
These signs will indicate to passersby how to get to places such as the hospital and the swimming pool.
Wong said he expected something in writing by the end of September or the beginning of October.
However, the $24,360, plus GST, that Bond Creative asked for won't cover the actual cost of building these signs.
“It's just for the concepts,” Wong said.
“From there, within that report, there will also be recommendations for what the signs should look like, basically a rough estimate of production costs.”
Wong said that there would be dialogue between stakeholders within the community and the design company.
Mayor Brian Spiller raised a concern over whether there will also be signs that point to local businesses.
“Some of our most asked questions are directions to the golf course and the local zoo,” he said.
However, Spiller also said that if they were to include one business, others would want to be on the signs as well.
“The wayfinding is more for pointing visitors and people within our community,” Wong said.
“It's not really meant to advertise local businesses.”
Entro Communications had also offered its services for $98,000.
The third submission, from ATS Traffic Group in Toronto, offered a price list of its signage products.
No local companies had offered any submissions.
Wayfinding signage was identified as a priority during the council strategic planning session last fall.
Funds were then allocated in the 2016 budget towards developing a program for wayfinding signage.
Henry Wong, director of community services
"It's just for the concepts," Wong said."From there, within that report, there will also be recommendations for what the signs should look like, basically a rough estimate of production costs."
