CITY COUNCIL: Request to Install Banner Pole in front of First Murphy House to Advertise for Community Events

Meeting Date: 12 July 2011
Prepared by: Sean Conroy, Plng & Bldg Services Manager

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Consideration of a request to install a banner pole in front of the First Murphy House to advertise for community events.

Description: The Carmel Heritage Society is requesting that the City install a banner pole in front of the First Murphy House that would advertise community wide events and events at the First Murphy House.

Overall Cost:
City Funds: Pole Installation Fee = $650
Additional Banner Installation Fees = $40 per installation

Staff Recommendation: Deny the request to install a banner pole at the First Murphy House or provide other policy direction.

Important Considerations: The City has 10 banner poles along the Ocean Avenue median and two at the Sunset Center that are used to promote community events. City Council Policy C95-07 establishes the City’s review process for the approval and display of banners. The Policy indicates that the display of banners is limited to the Ocean median, City Hall, Sunset Center, San Carlos Street, and Devendorf Park. The Policy also indicates that additional locations can be approved by the City Council with
recommendations from the Planning Commission.

Decision Record: On June 16, 2011 the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council deny the request to install a banner pole at the First Murphy House.

Reviewed by:

______________________________ _____________________
John Goss, Interim City Administrator Date

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY PLANNING AND BUILDING
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR MCCLOUD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
THROUGH: JOHN GOSS, INTERIM CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: SEAN CONROY, PLNG & BLDG SERVICES MANAGER
DATE: 12 JULY 2011
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO INSTALL A BANNER POLE IN FRONT OF THE FIRST MURPHY HOUSE TO ADVERTISE FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS

BACKGROUND AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The City has 10 banner poles along the Ocean Avenue median and two at the Sunset Center that are used to promote community events. City Council Policy C95-07 establishes the City’s review process for the approval and display of banners. The Policy indicates that the display of banners is limited to the Ocean median, City Hall, Sunset Center, San Carlos Street, and Devendorf Park. The Policy also indicates that additional locations can be approved by the City Council with recommendations from the Planning
Commission.

The First Murphy Park is located on the northwest corner of Lincoln Street and Sixth Avenue and includes the First Murphy House, a public restroom, a viewing platform and open space. The Carmel Heritage Society is requesting that the City install a banner pole in front of the First Murphy House. The intent is to allow for the display of banners for community events and to use the banner to advertise events specific to the First Murphy
House.

EVALUATION
Location: Policy C95-07 indicates that the City supports the concept of decorative banners for the purpose of promoting a festive atmosphere and informing residents and visitors of community events. The Planning Commission recommended that the Council not approve a banner pole at this location for the following reasons:

• Due to the forested character of the site, visibility of any banners would be limited and would not warrant installation.
• The banner pole would add unnecessary clutter to the downtown. The existing poles are sufficient to implement the City’s banner policy.
• There are numerous other non-profit organizations that also may want to install a banner pole if this one is approved.

Budget: It is estimated that the installation of a new banner pole would cost approximately $650. There would be a further cost to the City every time a banner was installed or removed from the pole (approximately $40 per installation).

Banner Policy: Apart from this application, staff notes that it may be beneficial for the Council to review the banner policy in general at a future meeting. There are some issues that staff would like to address. For example, the current policy requires applications to be submitted at least 60 days prior to the event and are approved on a first-come, firstserved basis.

There are often competing events that would like to display banners, but if one event has requested installation a year in advance, the other event is left with no option. It would be beneficial for the Council to direct staff to bring this issue back at a future hearing to discuss whether some revisions would be appropriate.

RECOMMENDATION
Deny the request to install a banner pole at the First Murphy House or provide other policy direction.