<p class="p1"><strong>How much money did the city spend on the painting and labor for the bike paths down Kirkman and other streets?</strong></p><p class="p2">The bike lanes — created by restriping Kirkman and Pujo streets — cost $42,625, or $2.66 per linear foot, said Mike Huber, Lake Charles planning director.</p><p class="p2">“This cost includes a thermoplastic center line, raised pavement markers, edge lines, parking striping and bicycle markings,” Huber said in a statement forwarded to The Informer.</p><p class="p2">“The project is part of an effort to implement the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, which was approved by the City Council. These new lanes will help make Lake Charles a more bikeable community and enhance the city’s quality of life.”</p><p class="p2">The master plan — adopted in 2012 and available on the city’s website — includes policy recommendations, design guidelines and price estimates. The actual costs of the restriping fall below the estimates — $50,000 and $2.84 a foot — listed in the plan.</p><p class="p2">From the master plan:</p><p class="p2">“Bike lanes are incorporated when it is desirable to delineate available road space for preferential use by bicyclists and motorists, and to provide for more predictable movements by each.</p><p class="p2">“Bike lane markings can increase a bicyclist’s confidence in motorists not straying into their path of travel. … </p><p class="p2">“Bike lanes should be one-way facilities and carry bike traffic in the same direction as adjacent motor vehicle traffic.”</p><p class="p4"><strong>For more info:</strong> <a href="http://www.cityoflakecharles.com" target="_blank">www.cityoflakecharles.com.</a></p><p class="p4"> </p><p class="p4"><strong>City: Hunter, neighbor working on sign issue</strong></p><p class="p1"><strong>How come Mayor Nic Hunter doesn’t have to abide by the city’s sign maintenance ordinance? The sign at his restaurant needs repairs and has for over a decade. Why hasn’t it been fixed?</strong></p><p class="p2">The sign, the remnants of a billboard, stands where the northwest corner of The Harlequin property — the business and land are owned by Mayor Nic Hunter — meets the northeast corner of the neighboring property.</p><p class="p2">“The Harlequin and the neighboring property owner were both under the belief that the neighboring property was the owner of the billboard situated between the two properties, due to their understanding that the billboard was specifically carved out of the Harlequin property when the properties were sold by their previous owners,” city attorney David Morgan said in a statement forwarded to The Informer.</p><p class="p2">“Upon receipt of your question, we searched for legal documents confirming this ownership. From everything that has been located, it appears that the billboard may actually be located on the Harlequin’s property, which is news to the Harlequin and its owner, Mayor Hunter.”</p><p class="p2">Morgan said Hunter and the owner of the neighboring property “are working together to resolve any ownership issues that may exist” and that Hunter “has committed to spend whatever dollars it takes to bring the sign into compliance, should it be determined that he is the owner.”</p><p class="p3">l</p><p class="p6">The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by <strong>Andrew Perzo</strong>, an <em>American Press</em> staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.</p>