Summary#
Montréal city council adopted a position directing the city to award a contract to Communications Tremblay Ménard inc. for signs in five parks. The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the goal is to update outdated signs and improve wayfinding and safety.
- The proposed contract covers 108 signs at Angrignon, La Fontaine, Jarry, Jeanne-Mance and Maisonneuve parks.
- The company was the only bidder and its bid was compliant. The city’s position is to award it the contract for up to $111,448.49, taxes included.
- The city council also set out budgets for contingencies, quantity changes and other project costs, bringing the maximum total to $144,883.03, taxes included.
- The work is scheduled for April to July 2026. The signs concern park rules, play areas, sports fields, shared paths and barbecue areas.
What it means for you#
- Park visitors: If the contract proceeds, signs will be installed and some old signs removed at the five parks. The decision does not itself change park rules or access.
- Taxpayers: The city centre and the agglomeration would share the cost. The decision summary assigns 90.33% to the city centre and 9.67% to the agglomeration, based on net amounts after tax rebates.
Money#
The maximum authorized amount is $144,883.03, taxes included; no separate cost estimate for the work is provided.
- The contract itself is capped at $111,448.49, taxes included.
- The other authorized amounts are $16,717.27 for contingencies, $11,144.85 for changes in quantities and $5,572.42 for other project costs.
- The decision summary says the total is $132,297.52 net of tax rebates, funded through existing borrowing bylaws and the parks service’s capital plan. It assigns $12,803.27 net of rebates to the agglomeration and $119,494.26 to the city centre.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not say how many signs will be replaced, as opposed to added, or give their final wording and locations.
- The contract has one compliant bid. The materials do not explain whether another procurement approach was considered.
- The city’s internal estimate was 43.61% above the bid, but relied on two earlier projects from 2022 and 2023. The materials do not establish which figure better reflects the work’s cost.
Case for#
- City staff say many signs are about ten years old and need updating. Clearer signs could help visitors find park facilities and understand park rules.
- The bid was compliant and substantially below the city’s internal estimate. Staff say the earlier projects used for that estimate differed in scale and timing.
Case against#
- Only one supplier submitted a bid, so there was no competing bid to compare with the selected price.
- The large gap between the bid and the internal estimate makes the price harder to assess, even though staff explain that the estimate used older, different projects.
- The decision includes contingency and other cost allowances, but the materials do not say how much of those amounts will ultimately be used.