SR-1000-003-01 (2)
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TD:GS:JH:SES:RF:~
Councll Meetlng: September 27~ 1983
lObO -- 003. lJ\
e
Santa Monicat Callfornla
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TO:
Mayor and City Counc11
SEP 2 7 19B3
FROM: C1ty Staff
SUBJECT: Policy Recommendatlons for Bus Benches
Introductlon
ThlS report provldes lnformatlon regardlng dlfferent policles for
provldlng
bus
benches
wlth
consideration for commerclal
advertlslng and for speclal artistlc deslgns.
Background
For many years the City of Santa Mon1ca has provided bus benches
from transit funds and no commercial advertlsing has been
allowed.
In fact~ such advert1s1ng is currently prohlbited in
the Santa Monica Municlpal Code Sectlon 8534. There have been
proposals during the past four years from advertislng companies
who wlsh to build bus shelters at no cost to the Clty but wlth
11ghted advertlsing panels.
Staff and the City Council have
rejected these offers to construct bus shelters because it lS
believed that the benefits do not outwelgh the loss of community
aesthetics and lack of sldewalk space.
During the past year the Art in Public Places Commlttee of the
Arts Commlsslon has become lnterested ln street furniture ln
general and ln the furniture on W11shire Boulevard 1n particular.
There have been deslgn seminars and several meetlngs which
resulted 1n a des1re to provlde speclal artlstlcally deslgned bus
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SEP 2 7 \~6~
benches on Wilshire Boulevard.
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TD:GS:JH:SES:RF:~
Council Meeting: September 27t 1983
e
Santa Monlca, Callfornia
The staff has met on several occaSlons wlth members of the Arts
Commlsslon
to discuss the varlOUS policy alternatives for
provldlng bus benches. The following policies are recommended as
a result of these dlScusslons:
1. It lS recommended that commerclal advertising on bus benches
not be allowed since It lS felt that this is contrary to the
deSlre for better aesthetlcs for the Clty.
2. It lS recommended that 1n areas where speclal aesthetlcs are
des1red and funds are avallable~ such as Wllshire Boulevard,
special bus benches be deslgned and translt funds be made
available at an amount equal to the cost of provlding
standard benches. Add1t1onal funds are to be provlded from
Gas Tax Fundst the proposed "Percent for Art" Fund or other
Non-General Fund sources to fund the difference 1n cost.
3. It is recommended that~ Subject to final approval by the City
Council, the details of the speclal bus benches be determined
ln concert w1th the Art 1n PubllC Places Commlttee of the
Arts Commlsslon, the Transportatlon Department and the
Department of General Servlces.
BudgetjFlnancial Impact
The Clty presently purchases bus benches from Transportatlon
Funds for approx1mately $200 each.
Specially designed benches
w1ll cost conslderably more but the total prlce cannot be
determ1ned untll the benches are des1gned. (Exlstlng bus benches
on W11sh1re Boulevard could be used elsewheret so there will be
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TD:GS:JH:SES:RF:~
Council Meetlng: September 27t 1983
e
Santa Monlca, Callfornla
no loss of any prlor investment.) Funds for thlS additlonal cost
would need to be obtained from available Gas Tax Fundst the
proposed "Percent for Art" Fund or other Non-General Fund
sources.
Recommendatlon
It lS recommended that the City Council adopt the above pollcles
regardlng bus benches.
Prepared by: Jack Hutchlson~ Dlrector of Transportatlon
Stan Scholl ~ 01 rector of General Servl ces
Rusty Fl i nton
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