HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 9/20/2022 - Memorandum From Drew Brooks Re: September 6, 2022, Work Session Summary - Transfort Advertising DiscussionTRANSFORT
250 N. Mason St.,
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
MEMORANDUM
Date: September 9, 2022
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Thru: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Interim Deputy City Manager
Caryn Champine, Director of Planning, Development and Transportation
From: Drew Brooks, Transfort & Parking Services Director
Re: September 6, 2022 Work Session Summary: Transfort Advertising Discussion
The purpose of this work session was to provide an update in creating a new Transfort
advertising policy before issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new advertising
agreement. Staff provided historical context regarding past and current agreements, updates
and changes to the proposed policy, revenue and expense impacts, and three possible options.
Feedback
Overall:
Councilmembers expressed support and additional information regarding discontinuing
commercial advertising on Transfort buses, benches and shelters, and transitioning those
displays to either public art or “government speech” only.
Specific Feedback:
• Dialogue and majority support for transition to option 3, which would discontinue
commercial advertising and use our advertising capacity for the purpose of “government
speech” and possibly public art to better align with City values.
• Emphasis and support for restricting advertising size on benches.
• Concern in eliminating or reducing this revenue stream considering current bus operator
staffing challenges and climate action goals which are dependent on travel mode shift.
Comments and Clarifications:
• Councilmembers expressed interest in learning and exploring more about what
advertising mediums other City departments use and if those efforts could be directed
more towards Transfort advertising space in lieu of commercial advertising.
• Councilmembers expressed a goal to make “Transfort whole” regarding the loss of
commercial advertising revenue and directed staff to explore solutions as part of
adapting this program and during the budget process.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 31E90B47-DF7D-4DF2-8021-665117DDA28D
• There was discussion regarding the revenue received for advertising in comparison to
other revenue sources. For clarification, the pie chart below provides a high-level
overview of funding sources used for operations in the 2021 budget. Note: this graph
does not show revenues from any source for capital projects.
Next Steps
• Staff will continue revenue and expenses analysis and discussions, and provide options
in the upcoming budget process, or separate appropriation.
• Staff will develop a new Transfort Advertising Policy to reflect the shift from commercial
to government speech and determine how to phase out current commercial advertising.
The City Manager will review and approve the new policy, with consultation from CAO
and Finance. Staff will send a memo updating Council on the key components of the
new policy.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 31E90B47-DF7D-4DF2-8021-665117DDA28D