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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 10/17/2000 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 145, 2000, AMENDING Y- AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 21 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: October 17, 2000 STAFF: Tom Frazier/ Linda Dowlen SUBJECT: First Reading of Ordinance No. 145, 2000, Amending Section i4-1 of the City Code Pertaining to Signs on Bus Shelters and Bus Benches. ;RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. !- FINANCIAL IMPACT: The potential outcome of changing the City Code to permit adv , ising on the City's bus shelters in commercial areas and along arterials is an increase of futue net revenue by an estimated $79,500. This revenue would primarily be used for placing bul' shelters without advertising in major residential neighborhoods and to increase Transit servile productivity. The City will install 100 bus shelters in commercial areas and along in or arterials. Shelters without advertisements would be placed in low density residential neighborhoods. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: At its January 4, 2000 meeting, Council adopted on Second Reading Ordinance No. 192, 1999, amending the City Code to allow advertising on bus shelters though October 1, 2000. The purpose of this Ordinance is to modify Section 24-1 of the Code lio eliminate the time restriction. As per Council direction, staff has undertaken the following procelss: • Five pilot bus shelters were installed at: College Avenue (west side) near Myrtle Street; College Avenue (east side) near Boardwalk; Hprmony Road (south side) near Lemay Avenue; Dunbar Street (east side) near Swallo4 Road; and Stover Street (west side) near Swallow. The purpose was to evaluate w(jether the Fort Collins citizens found the shelters acceptable as to design and function. - Over a six-month period, staff has surveyed the public's impressions on these shelters. <`$ The survey findings are now ready to be shared with Council prior to a decision on the change to the Ordinance. The results of the survey showed that 68% of the people were; in favor of bus shelters with advertising. The survey also indicated that people were concerned with control over the content i DATE: October 17, 2000 2 ITEM NUMBER: 21 on the signs. The majority of the respondents also expressed concerns about advertising on shelters placed in residential neighborhoods. Based on these findings, staff recommends an amendment to the City Code to permanently allow advertising on bus shelters as part of a City program for such advertising. The plan is to place 100 bus shelters at various bus stops in the city. Utilizing the revenue from bus shelters with advertising in commercial areas and on arterials, Transfort would place shelters without advertising in low density residential neighborhoods and increase Transit service productivity. BACKGROUND: Over the past several years, staff, Councilmembers, and the public have discussed the issue of more bus shelters. These discussions have focused on new revenue, improved customer safety and convenience, reduction of bus shelter expenditures, and increasing the number of shelters. The use of the advertising program to develop bus shelters would increase customer comfort, convenience, ,and safety throughout Fort Collins much more rapidly than if the City were to attempt to provide this same service. The services of the contractor under the likely arrangements would include securing the right-of- way, construction of the bus shelter pad, supplying electricity for shelter lighting, installing the shelter and any amenities (bike racks, waste baskets, benches, signs etc.), and site maintenance, such as weekly trash removal, shelter repair, and monthly shelter washing. The services that would be provided by the bus shelter advertising contractor greatly exceed the service provided by Transfort/Dial-A-Ride. Currently, there are 33 bus shelters, which are washed 2-3 times per year, only a few have trash receptacles, and none are lighted. Transfort/Dial-A-Ride budgets for an additional six bus shelters each year. The Growth Management Committee discussed the Ordinance at its October 9 meeting. At that meeting the Committee raised questions regarding the scope of the shelter advertising program. In particular, concerns regarding noncommercial and sexually explicit advertising were raised. There was also discussion regarding current restrictions on tobacco and alcohol advertisements. These issues will be addressed between the first and second reading of this Ordinance. • ORDINANCE NO. 145, 2000 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING SECTION 24-1 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY PERTAINING TO SIGNS ON BUS SHELTERS AND BUS BENCHES WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Fort Collins has determined that it is in the best interest of the citizens of the City that Section 24-1 of the Code of the City be amended to specifically authorize the placement of signs on bus benches and bus shelters; and WHEREAS,previously,signs have been placed upon bus benches pursuant to an exemption contained in the Land Use Code, and the Council, by adopting Ordinance No. 192, 1999, added an exemption to Section 24-1 of the City Code allowing for the placement of signs on bus shelters, which exemption authorized no more than five bus shelters and expired on October 1, 2000; and WHEREAS,the Council has determined that the October 1,2000,expiration and the five bus shelter limitation should now be repealed. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that Section 24-1(b)(5)of the Code of the City of Fort Collins be,and hereby is,amended to read as follows: Sec. 24-1. Signs on streets and sidewalks prohibited; exceptions; permit. (5) Signs on bus benches and bus shelters displaying advertisements pursuant to an agreement between the city and the owner, provided that such agreement regulates (without limitation) the size, content, placement,illumination,design and material used for construction of said bus benches and bus shelters,and the signs placed thereon. 7k-ny Rich 461e'111�Llt which pertains to bas�sheiters shall Liu latel shelters: Introduced and considered favorably on first reading and ordered published this 17th day of October, A.D. 2000, and to be presented for final passage on the 7th day of November,A.D. 2000. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading this 7th day of November, A.D. 2000. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk