The City of Richmond is spending $250,000 on its 2016 Teddy Waste Award bid, er, 20-metre high art pole outside a local community centre.

Yes, a pole, romantically called "The Multipole" by its creator. From the Richmond News:

Another public art display has been put into question. A $250,000, 20-metre high “mirror ball” tower is planned for the new 110,000 square foot, $80 million Minoru aquatics and seniors centre. Coun. Carol Day wanted staff to check any safety issues with it being near a flight path. She also questioned its costs.

The large pole would signal the entrance and exit to the park from Granville Avenue.

Artist Sheila Klein designed the piece called “Multipole.”

Klien stated in the staff report to council various things may be attached to the pole, such as a fish sculpture or flags. On top will be a mirror ball.

Bruce Grenville, senior curator at the Vancouver Art Gallery, was part of the panel that initially approved the art, which was then endorsed on Monday by Mayor Malcolm Brodie all councillors the planning committee save for Day, who said the report failed to have enough information for her to make a judgement on it (see report here).

Meanwhile Coun. Bill McNulty said he doesn’t think it’s council’s prerogative to deny a public art project at the final stage of approval.

Attention, Coun. McNulty: don't think of it so much as an "art project" - think of it as a $250,000 waste of taxpayer money.