TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL BYLAW NO. 1142

July 16, 2024Pages 191–19710 sections

A bylaw amending election procedures to regulate the size, placement, and timing of election-related and 'Voting Opportunity' signage.

1 CALL TO ORDER- Mayor Tobias called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Prohibits election signs on Town Public LandRequires signs to be removed within 48 hours after voting endsProvides maps (Schedule A) of designated public land areas where Voting Opportunity signs are permitted

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL BYLAW NO. 1142

Page 191–197

A BYLAW TO AMEND THE ELECTION PROCEDURES BYLAW IN RELATION TO SIGNS

The Council of the Town of View Royal, in open meeting assembled, enacts as follows:

This Bylaw may be cited as “Election Procedures Bylaw No. 989, 2018, Amendment Bylaw No. 1142, 2024”.
Election Procedures Bylaw No. 989, 2018 is hereby amended as follows:

a.) By adding “or Voting Opportunity Sign” after “means an Election Sign” to the “Large Sign” definition in section 1.1;

b.) By adding the following definition to section 1.1 in the appropriate alphabetical order: “Voting Opportunity Sign” means a sign used by Elections Canada, Elections BC, School District 61, School District 62, or the Town to inform about their respective voting events.

c.) By deleting the “Small Sign” definition in section 1.1 in its entirety.

d.) By deleting sections 9.1, 9.2, and 9.3 in their entirety and replacing with the following:

“9. ELECTION-RELATED SIGNAGE

9.1 General Regulations

9.1.1 A person must not place or permit to be placed an Election Sign on Town Public Land or Town-owned equipment, buildings, structures, and appurtenances.

9.1.2 Except in relation to messages placed by Town staff on the Public Safety Building’s electronic reader board, a person must not place or permit to be placed a Voting Opportunity Sign on Town-owned equipment, buildings, structures, and appurtenances.

9.1.3 Election Signs and Voting Opportunity Signs must be removed within forty-eight (48) hours after the last day of voting for which the signs relate.

9.2 Private Property

9.1.2 A person must not place or permit to be placed an Election Sign on private property:

a.) except in relation to a federal, provincial, or local government election or similar type of voting event, including but not limited to by-elections, referenda, plebiscites, and recall or initiative campaigns;

b.) any sooner than thirty (30) days before the last voting day;

c.) without the consent of the owner or occupant of the property;

d.) that is illuminated, animated, rotating, flashing, or has moving lights or other electrical features;

e.) that has attachments such as balloons, kites, an electronic message centre or inflatable devices;

f.) that obstructs, simulates, or detracts from the visibility of regulatory signs or other traffic control devices;

g.) that interferes with traffic sightlines at Street intersections;

h.) that interferes with the safety of Roadway users;

i.) that overhangs Public Land;

j.) with more than two (2) sign faces or sides;

k.) within 0.61 metres (two (2) feet) from the Roadway; and

l.) within five (5) metres (16.4 feet) of a fire hydrant.

9.3 Town Public Land

9.3.1 Elections Canada, Elections BC, School District 61, School District 62, and Town Voting Opportunity Signs are permitted at a density of one Large Sign for each of the designated Town Public Land areas as shown in Schedule “A.

9.3.2. A person must not place or permit to be placed a Voting Opportunity Sign on the designated Town Public Land areas:

a.) except in relation to a federal, provincial, or local government election or similar type of voting event, including but not limited to by-elections, referenda, plebiscites, and recall or initiative campaigns;

b.) any sooner than thirty (30) days before the last voting day;

c.) that is illuminated, animated, rotating, flashing, or has moving lights or other electrical features;

d.) that has attachments such as balloons, kites, an electronic message centre or inflatable devices;

e.) that obstructs, simulates, or detracts from the visibility of regulatory signs or other traffic control devices;

f.) that interferes with traffic sightlines at Street intersections;

g.) that interferes with the safety of Roadway users;

h.) with more than two (2) sign faces or sides; and

i.) within 0.61 metres (two (2) feet) from the Roadway.

9.3.3 Voting Opportunity Signs must be placed and removed in a manner so as not to damage Town Public Land or infrastructure.

9.3.4 Elections Canada, Elections BC, School District 61, and School District 62 are responsible for the cost of repair of any damage to Town Public Land or infrastructure that occurs in the course of placing and removing their Voting Opportunity Signs.

9.3.5 Voting Opportunity Signs must be self-supporting.

9.3.6 Any supporting structures used for the placement of Voting Opportunity Signs must be no deeper than 0.3 metres (one (1) foot) below grade.

e.) By deleting “Schedule “A” – Permitted Election Sign Zones on Public Property” in its entirety and replacing with the attached new “Schedule “A” – Permitted Voting Opportunity Sign Areas on Public Property”.