Some see billboards as a distracting nuisance. Others consider signage along the Barrie Collingwood Railway to be a potential money-maker.

Barrie’s general committee held a lengthy debate Sept. 28 over whether to permit a handful of new billboards along the rail corridor. The motion, which was approved by the committee, needs to be ratified by council next week.

Advertising is technically prohibited on city land, in an effort to prevent the commercialization of public property and avoid traffic distractions. However, billboards were already in place along the railway when the city took on ownership nearly a decade ago. Thus, the panels can be kept in usage.

But the last railway advertising contract has expired. So city staff want to begin the search for another advertiser and they urge councillors to sweeten the pot by allowing for up to three new signs to be constructed, likely at points visible to Highway 400 motorists.

This advertising could generate tens of thousands of dollars in additional revenue for the municipality, staff say.

“We directed our staff to come up with revenue sources,” Mayor Jeff Lehman said. “We need to make an effort to at least explore these. I don’t believe commercial advertising belongs in our parks or public spaces. (But) this is the exception for me. It’s a rail corridor, folks.”

A recent review of the railway showed it averaged $700,000 in annual operational deficits in 2017 and 2018.

But Coun. Clare Riepma called this type of signage “visual pollution” and “clutter.”

“I don’t believe there’s ever been a survey done that showed people wanted more billboard signs,” he said. “We need fewer. It’s time we take back our city from the advertising agencies.”

Proposed pilot project may help local concert organizers

The local arts scene may get another financial bump from the city soon.

Next week, council could approve a plan to allocate funding through the 2021 budget process for a pilot project that would assist with the organization of neighbourhood concerts that feature emerging local musicians and artists. The concerts could take place throughout the city.

Barrie sees this as a way to develop local talent within the arts sector. This program would run over the summer months.

List of streets for student drivers narrow

Learning to drive?

Well, your choice of streets on which to be educated upon could shorten soon. Next week, council is expected to add O’Shaughnessy Drive, Quance Street, Boag Court, Warner Road and White and Lake crescents to its list of roadways where student driver training is prohibited.

Several streets are already on the list including Brookwood, Thrushwood, Ramblewood and Touchette drives, Cranberry, Blueberry and Blackbird lanes and Megan and Bentley crescents.

Allandale parking restrictions to be suspended

It’s about to get easier to park near the Allandale Waterfront GO Transit station.

Also next week, council may approve a plan to temporarily suspend a 7 to 9 a.m. parking restriction in the Allandale neighbourhood. The decision would stay in effect until the overflow parking from the Allandale Waterfront station becomes an issue for surrounding residents, or when a “viable technology-based solution” can be implemented.