03-27-2002 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MARCH 27, 2002 The City Administrator reported that once the bus bench location plan is prepared, it would be the intent of staff to allocate benches based on which company had a bench in that location. That would also be based on bus bench locations prior to October of 2001 that is prior to when Ameribench placed numerous benches around the City. Rollie Danielson, U.S. Bench, reported that this company has served the Metro area for the past 56 years and have serviced Little Canada for the past 28 years. During that time, U.S. Bench has had 13 benches in the City. Danielson reported that a workable ratio of benches to population seems to be 1 bench per 1,000 people. Danielson reported that U.S. Bench has provided this service to the City in exchange for the placement of advertising on the benches for which they charge $1.33 per day per bench. Advertising is placed on only one side of the bench. Danielson noted that U.S. Bench takes care of all maintenance issues related to their benches. Danielson reported that they have never had or caused a problem in the 28 years they have operated in the City. He also noted that there are 94 bus stops in Little Canada, and they have had 13 benches in the City. Danielson noted that last fall another company canre in and placed several additional benches in the City. Danielson noted that at the request of the City, U.S. Bench removed three benches from along Little Canada Road in order for the City to place their benches along the improved streetscape. U.S. Bench was working on substitute locations with Public Works for those three benches when Ameribench came in and placed their benches. Danielson felt that U.S. Bench has provided a service to the City for many years. With regard to the proposed ordinance, he asked for some attention to the provision requiring a 300-foot separation between benches. He also asked that the system of allocating bus bench locations to the two companies be based on bench locations that existed prior to October of 2001. Kevin Moss, Ameribench, pointed out that the Planning Commission supported the ordinance allowing bus benches as temporary advertising in the public rights-of--way. He noted that these bus benches also provide a service to residents at no cost to the City. Moss indicated that he had some comments with regard to the proposed ordinance. He noted that many cities allow advertising on both sides of the bench, while the ordinance before the Council restricts advertising to one side. He also questioned the 300-foot bench separation requirement and felt this was too restrictive. Moss pointed out that the proposed ordinance requires benches be secured to the ground, while most cities prohibit this. Moss urged the Council to adopt the ordinance, and suggested that if the ordinance is adopted, benches be allocated based on a location plan put together by staff and considering the 13 locations that U.S. Bench had and the 16 locations that Ameribench had. Moss stated that Ameribench does not want to start with bench locations prior to October 1 s` given that they had no benches 10