5.1. SR 01-12-2009Item # 5.1.
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Terry Maurer, Public Works Director
DATE: January 12, 2008
SUBJECT: TH 10 Banner Policy
Since the new light standards have been installed on TH 10, including a banner arm on each
light fixture, we have been working on developing a banner policy. A search of similar
communities with banner arms on light fixtures found that there are no good developed
banner policies. Therefore, I have put together the attached sheets with a number of facts
regarding the banner arms, and then some general thoughts on issues that would be relevant
to developing a banner policy. I would like to discuss these issues with you briefly at
Monday evening's workshop and then proceed to draft a banner policy based on the
direction and/or answers to the questions that the City Council provides.
I will add that this issue was discussed at one of our recent department head meetings. It
was the general consensus of the department heads that it would be good for the city image
to provide banners on the light poles throughout the year. Generally, the department heads
felt that three or four different types of banners could be used along this stretch of TH 10;
perhaps a "welcome to Elk River" banner at the east and west end of the light standards;
potentially a "downtown concert series" banner near the intersections of Main Street and
Jackson Avenue with TH 10, where stopped vehicles or pedestrians crossing the highway
have a better of chance of seeing them; and finally, an "Energy City" or some other type of
City of Elk River banner at the remaining light poles. I believe that generally, if the Council
would like banners up year-round, several departments would be willing to try and find some
additional funds in their 2009 budget to have banners made and installed.
With this as background, I will be prepared to discuss issues regarding a banner policy, to
determine how the Council would like the policy prepared.
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TH 10 Banner Policy Thoughts
• There are 26 new light poles on TH 10 (8 single fixture and 18 double fixture)
• Each pole has one 24" x 48" banner arm. The banner arms alternate direction (i.e. one
towards eastbound TH 10; the next towards Westbound TH 10)
• The old banners used on TH 10 are a different size and cannot be utilized on the new
banner arms.
• The location of the lights (banner arms) are as follows:
- East of Main Street 3
- Between Main Street & Jackson Avenue 4
- Between Jackson Avenue & Lowell Avenue 4
- Between Lowell Avenue & 4`h Street 4
- Between 4`h Street & Norfolk Avenue 3
- Between Norfolk Avenue & Proctor Avenue 8 (single fixture)
• Price of banners (24" x 48") assuming 3-color and moderate complexity of graphics are
$70 - $100 each. There are made of material guaranteed for 2 to 3 years so they should
hold up long-term display.
• Elk River Municipal Utilities has installed/removed banners in the past. It is assumed
they will continue. A MnDOT permit will be required for work in the TH 10 right of
way (lane distribution).
C~uestions Regarding Banner Policy
1. Does City Council want to see banners on poles at all times? If yes, should all 26
banners be the same or have 2 or 3 styles (i.e., Welcome to Elk River, Energy City;
Historic Downtown, etc.).
2. In the past, banners were allowed to advertise special events such as:
^ Craft Sale (Elk River Ice Arena)
^ 4`" of July Celebration
^ Relay of Iafe
^ Art Soup
Each of these organizations provided (paid for) their own banners.
3. What types of organizations do we want to allow to post banners? Only ones that
have before; only non-profit or government organizations?
4. What is the minimum number of banners a permitted organization needs to supply?
^ 7 banners gets from east end of lights to Jackson
^ 11 banners gets from east end to Lowell Avenue (basic downtown
area)
5. Should there be a minimum and maximum length of time the outside approved
organization banners could be displayed?
Do these outside organizations (non-city) have to pay for installing and removing the
banners? If yes, how much? I would suggest a per banner amount or a flat rate.
Troy Adams of ERMU estimated $200/hr. for a bucket truck, follow
vehicle and three-man crew. He further estimated it would take
approximately 30 minutes to set up and install or remove a banner.
Therefore, the cost would be $200/banner to install and remove.
7. MnDOT banner policy will allow a "business acknowledgement" in a maximum of
2" lettering. They will not allow business logos, web addresses or phone numbers in
lieu of business name. Does the city want to pursue business contribution (in
exchange for their name on the bottom of banners) to offset the cost of banners, if
the desire is to have a "Welcome to Elk River" generic banner displayed at all times.
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