Selfie-bait City Hall sign moving ahead despite some criticism

In the event you pass through the city’s pearly gates (or at least across the High Level Bridge), find yourself downtown at City Hall, and still wonder where you are, your worries are over.

A large illuminated sign announcing “Hamilton” will be erected in the front courtyard of City Hall, where on occasion ceremonies, protests and exercise classes are held.

City council unanimously approved a motion Friday that moved the sign concept forward. The motion says it will be funded entirely through private donations.

The cost has been estimated at $250,000 to $300,000.

The idea was hatched in the context of Canada 150 activities to create another destination point in the core.

Not everyone loves it, or the process behind it. Local artists had no opportunity to offer ideas for the sign, lamented Coun. Donna Skelly. There is no competitive bidding for the installation, and Coun. Jason Farr said a local architect called it all “ridiculous.”

But in keeping with the breezy vibe of council’s last meeting before summer break (at one point Mayor Fred Eisenberger quipped that Coun. Judi Partridge’s shoes were “exceptionally spectacular”), Farr suggested that any talk is good talk.

“If we can get as many selfies taken in front of these eight letters as we have the number of people talking about it, it will be great,” he said.

All that remains is that the project be subject to review by the city’s heritage permit review committee and by its integrity commissioner.

On the latter point, Coun. Matthew Green said the city needs to examine the donors behind the sign: “We would not want a list to come out afterward and have a brouhaha over that ….As a best practice, we need to have an eyes-wide-open policy, because that can be highly sensitive, and can take a well-meaning project and turn it into a P.R. nightmare.”

He didn’t elaborate on a specific scenario in mind. Eisenberger said the donations represent a “gift with no strings attached.”

P.J. Mercanti, CEO of Carmen’s hospitality group, and Laura Babcock, president of Powergroup Communications, have been spearheading the sign project, with about a half dozen donors so far offering to pay for it.