By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
At the City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 15, Aldermen voted 11-3 to direct City staff to gather plans and specifications for electronic message signs to be installed on the underpass bridges on Palmer Drive. The measure was a recommendation of the Public Affairs and Safety (PAS) Committee.
The funds are provided in the FY2018 Budget to purchase and install the signs to replace the existing banners, which must be installed weekly by the Public Works Department. At this time, with the banner program, schools, charities, churches, etc., have to make a request to the City to have their banner placed on a certain week. Requests are so numerous, they need to be made more than a year in advance to secure the desired week.
Signs would increase safety
Another issue with the banner program is that a Public Works crew must close two lanes of traffic every Monday in order to safely remove the banner and install the new one. It requires a two- to four-man crew and at least two, sometimes three trucks. The process, including labor, materials, equipment and manpower, costs the City about $415 per week or about $22,000 per year.
The committee pointed out that there would be an immediate increase in public and employee safety if Public Works didn’t have to close lanes of traffic and install the banners.
Also, road signs like this UK warning signage might suffice in cases where it comes to cautioning drivers ahead. Digital signs, however, could prove to be a sound option for those traveling during nighttime. Additionally, it would be less costly for charitable groups since they would not need to purchase banners or transport them. Copy for the signs could be emailed directly to the City and placed in the software that runs them.
Aldermen weigh in
“The electronic sign is a great idea for safety reasons,” said Alderman Scott Levin (5th Ward), who chairs the PAS Committee. “We could use them for emergency notices for flooded roadways, Amber Alerts, etc. No more changing the banner, disrupting motorists, using the old cloth banners. This offers more flexibility and visibility. And, we can use it to list more than one event at a time. We could promote multiple groups.”
Alderman Noel Talluto (4th) disagreed.
“I’m going to have to vote ‘no’ on this,” she said. “We have our web site, we’re on social media, we have a City Marketing Director, we have a lot of communication out there already. My solution is no sign at all. We should weigh the benefits of this location, the benefits weighted against the reduction in character and the safety risk.”
“I asked myself, does it match the character of the area, and I think it does,” said Ald. Dannee Polomsky (3rd). “But we need to encourage development for a healthy downtown and I don’t think an electronic sign is going to add to it, considering what we’ve spent lately.”
More questions need answers
“I support the measure, but before supporting the purchase, I’d like to know the general guidelines of operation with computerized signs,” Ald. Mike Brennan (7th) said. “Will it be on 24/7? How frequently will message circulate? What is the life expectancy of this sign? What can we expect in terms of long-term maintenance?”
Ald. Michael Bram (3rd) agreed, noting this is not the first time City Council has discussed electronic signs.
“Private businesses have requested signs, are they distracting? We can debate both ways,” he said. “Do they fit in Elmhurst? I actually like the old-town feel of the banners, but I recognize their limitations, the safety issues for public works employees.
“But I have the same questions as Ald. Brennan. While it IS in the 2018 budget, there are a lot of unanswered questions. We hold these signs to specifications. I would have liked to see more detail in the report.”
“Because they have been around for a long time, I like the banners, I think they add character and look old school,” said Ald. Marti Deuter (1st). “But then again, to weigh the loss of that, compared to the increase in communication… More is better in terms of communication. I think residents would like to get as much as we can provide.”
“I’m not supporting this, I am a person who doesn’t like any more ambient lighting than is necessary,” said Ald. Tina Park (5th). “I agree that there is so much communication these days, do we really need it?”
The vote is taken
The measure passed 11-3. The entire City Council was present at the meeting. The yea votes were from Deuter, Bram, Levin and Brennan, as well as Aldermen Mark Sabatino (1st), Bob Dunn (2nd), Norm Leader (2nd), Kevin York (4th), Michael Honquest (6th), Jim Kennedy (6th) and Mark Mulliner (7th). Nay votes were given by Polomsky, Talluto and Park.
