R11524City Council Meeting, May 9, 2023 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER 11524 (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA ADOPTING UPDATED BIG BLUE BUS
ADVERTISING GUIDELINES
WHEREAS, the current Big Blue Bus guidelines were adopted by Council February
9, 2016; and
WHEREAS, due to recent changes in the law, the Department of Transportation
and the City Attorney’s Office recommends updating the guidelines; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation recommends the Council delegate
authority to the City Manager to make future changes to the guidelines, through the
Department of Transportation.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Council hereby adopts the guidelines attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
SECTION 2. The Council hereby delegates authority to the City Manager, through
the Department of Transportation, to update the guidelines from time to time as
necessary.
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SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________
DOUGLAS T. SLOAN
City Attorney
Exhibit A: Guidelines
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EXHIBIT A
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
BIG BLUE BUS POLICY FOR ADVERTISEMENTS ON BUS EXTERIORS
This bus advertising policy is intended to maximize bus ridership, maintain governmental
neutrality, avoid actual or perceived discrimination in advertising, respect First
Amendment rights, avert harm or abuse to bus riders and buses and to the City’s transit
system, maximize advertising revenues, and preserve marketability of advertising space
on City bus exteriors.
To achieve these purposes, the City allows all types of exterior bus advertising, without
regard to content and viewpoint, except advertising that contain material falling within one
or more of the following categories:
1.Political campaign speech. Ads that promote or oppose the election of any
candidate or group of candidates for federal, state, or local government office, or
any legislation, initiative, referendum or ballot measure.
2.Adult related products and services, such as alcohol, firearms, and tobacco,
smoking, smoking materials, including electronic smoking or “vaping.”
3.Sexual or excretory subject matter, and/or Harmful Matter as defined by the
California Penal Code Sections 311 or 313.
4.False, misleading or deceptive material. Any material that is, or the sponsor
reasonably should have known is, false, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, or
would constitute a tort of defamation or invasion of privacy.
5.Material that infringes on any copyright, trade or service mark, title, or
slogan.
6.Illegal Activity. Material that promotes or encourages unlawful or illegal behavior
or activities under local, state, or federal laws.
7.Profanity or violence. Advertising that contains any profane language, or
portrays images or descriptions of graphic violence, including dead, mutilated or
disfigured human beings or animals, or intentional infliction of pain or violent action
towards or upon a person or animal, or that depicts weapons or devices that
appear to be aimed or pointed at the viewer or observer in a menacing manner.
8.Material harmful or disruptive to the transit system. Material so objectionable
under contemporary community standards as to be reasonably foreseeable to
result in harm to, disruption of, or interference with the transit system.
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9.Lights, noise, and special effects, including but not limited to rotating, revolving,
or other movable parts, mirrors, flashing devices, or anything that may interfere
with the safe operation of the bus or the safety of bus riders, pedestrians, drivers
of other vehicles, or the public at large.
10. Material depicting unsafe transit behavior, such as non-use of normal safety
precautions in awaiting, boarding, riding upon or debarking from the bus.
11. Material that conflicts with any applicable federal, state, or local law, statute,
or ordinance.
The City’s acceptance of an advertisement does not constitute express or implied
endorsement of the content of the message of the advertisement, including any person,
organization, products, services, information or viewpoints contained therein, including
content that may be found via internet address or quick response (QR) codes that may
appear in posted ads that direct viewers to external sources of information. All third-party
advertisements appearing on City transit property must contain the following disclaimer,
appearing in a consistent form and manner:
The views and/or opinions expressed by the advertiser are not necessarily
those of the City of Santa Monica.
Rev. 3/2/2023
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Adopted and approved this 9th day of May 2023.
__________________________
Gleam Davis, Mayor
I, Denise Anderson-Warren, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do
hereby certify that Resolution No. 11524 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of
the Santa Monica City Council held on the 9th day of May 2023, by the following
vote:
AYES: Councilmembers de la Torre, Brock, Zwick
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Davis
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers Torosis, Parra
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
Denise Anderson-Warren, City Clerk
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