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Item No: 4 <br />Meeting Date: March 1, 2010 <br />Type of Business: WS <br />Administrator Review: ________ <br />City of Mounds View Staff Report <br /> <br />To: Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate <br />Item Title/Subject: Discussion about allowing courtesy/transit benches in the City <br /> <br /> <br />Introduction: <br />City Staff received an inquiry from a new resident who lives at Silver Lake Road and <br />County Road I. He was interested in placing a bench at the bus stop in his yard and selling <br />advertising space on the bench. Staff reviewed the city code to see if it dealt with these <br />types of courtesy or transit benches. Other than the sign code, the Mounds View City Code <br />is silent about the placement or use of these benches. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br />This inquiry about a bench is the first one that staff has received – possibly ever. There <br />currently are two benches at the bus stops on the corner of County Road H2 and Long <br />Lake Road. These benches appear to have been in place for many years and have <br />advertising on them. Private advertising companies own and place the bus benches, who <br />then put advertising on them to generate revenue. Metro Transit does not have anything to <br />do with the benches. The Mounds View City Code does not require a permit for signage on <br />transit benches or in a transit shelter or enclosure. <br /> <br />Staff researched to see if any other cities allow or have requirements for courtesy or transit <br />benches. Most cities probably have at least one bench at a bus stop, no matter whether <br />the city code addresses them or not. Some cities specifically regulate the benches and <br />require annual licenses. The following is a list of nearby cities and if they regulate benches <br />in their city codes: <br /> <br /> Fridley: The city code does not address bus benches. <br /> <br /> Roseville: The city code does address bus benches. <br /> <br /> Arden Hills: The city code only addresses a park bench donation program for <br />placement in parks and trails. <br /> <br />Maplewood: The city code does address courtesy benches. <br /> <br />Shoreview: The city code does address transit benches. <br /> <br />New Brighton: The city code does address courtesy benches. <br /> <br />Spring Lake Park: The city code only addresses memorial benches as a park donation. <br /> <br />Blaine: The city code does not address transit or courtesy benches. <br />