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May 5, 2009 in City
Mayor orders companies to remove old benches
Ads will have to meet higher standards
Mayor Mary Verner holds a press conference at the corner of Indiana Avenue and Monroe Street on Monday to announce that bus benches with signs will be removed. Bus rider Dave Parisia, right, told her removing the benches would be a “waste of money.”
(Full-size photo)
After nearly three hours of passionate debate, the Spokane City Council agreed Monday to continue allowing advertising on bus benches.
Council members, however, heavily criticized existing bench ads and said the city must demand higher quality signs that meet aesthetic and accessibility standards.
The move came hours after Mayor Mary Verner publicly declared that she will stand by her order to advertising companies that their benches be removed by the end of the month to give a bench ad program “a fresh start.”
It’s unclear if there will be a gap between the removal of the current benches and installation of new ones.
Verner said her administration will immediately begin a bidding process for a short-term contract for sign companies to install benches at locations determined by the Spokane Transit Authority to be the busiest stops. That list includes 100, though some of those stops are at locations downtown and elsewhere that already have ad-free benches.
“My goal is to get bus benches that are actually usable,” Verner said.
She will also create a committee to examine higher standards for bench ads. Once those rules are agreed on, a second bidding process will begin to service a larger number of stops, she said.
Sunset Outdoor Advertising Manager Tom Townsend said after the meeting that with a bidding process in place, the company likely will comply with the city’s order as a sign of good faith. Sunset, which also goes by Emerald Outdoor, owns most of nearly 250 benches in city right-of-way. “That’s all I’ve been wanting,” he said.
Council President Joe Shogan lambasted Sunset for not removing the signs when its contract wasn’t renewed and for maintaining what he called poor-quality signs. “If I sound upset, you cannot with impunity break the law and say, ‘Gee whiz, I’m doing it for the good of the city!’ ” Shogan shouted.
Shogan several times interrupted Townsend when he was testifying to get him to admit the company no longer had a contract.
“Your trespassing on the city’s right of way,” said Shogan, who also interrupted Mike Fairburn, whose lawn care company is among those advertising on the benches.
Eventually, council members Mike Allen and Steve Corker appealed to the rest of the council to allow people to speak without interference.
“This is a disincentive to the people who came to testify,” Corker said.
More than a dozen people testified on the topic.
City administrators ordered the signs removed after Lamar Outdoor Advertising began putting up signs without a contract. Lamar said they had the right to do so because Sunset’s contract had run out. Verner and others point to a 2001 sign law that banned bus bench ads and say it’s well past the time to start enforcing it.
Last year, Verner worked with STA to transfer authority of benches to the agency. But the STA board, including Spokane City Council members Nancy McLaughlin and Al French, voted against the $38,000 contract, arguing it was an unnecessary expense because the current program doesn’t cost taxpayer money. They also criticized STA’s proposed benches because they were backless.
Councilman Richard Rush, who was the only STA board member to support purchase of the benches, sharply criticized French for playing politics with the benches. One woman, Margaret Simonson, brought up French’s ties with Sunset’s co-owner Tom Hamilton. Before Hamilton owned Sunset, three of Hamilton’s businesses contributed $6,800 worth of ads to French’s unsuccessful 2003 campaign for city council president.
“Despite your attempts to try to smear my reputation, it would be nice if you kept to the issue that’s before us,” French said, adding that he hasn’t used bus ads in campaigns since 2003.
French stressed that just because he supports allowing advertising doesn’t mean he’s happy with the current benches.
“I think we can do better,” French said. “I’m anxious to get through the next process.”
Rush cast the lone vote against French’s proposal to allow ads.
He said he could be persuaded to support bench ads but only if higher standards were developed and put in place first.
At a morning news conference near the corner of Indiana Avenue and Monroe Street, Verner pointed to a pair of benches that she said typifies the city’s problem with the current system.
The benches don’t match, they’re placed in the middle of the sidewalk for a bus stop on a busy corner, and there’s not much room for passing pedestrians or wheelchairs, she said. The backs of the benches also contain ads, to which some neighborhoods object.
Some benches around the city need repair and are unsafe, Verner said, although the two benches she was using to illustrate the problem had their wooden seats replaced recently.
Townsend said his company works fast to fix problems when brought to his attention. He said accessibility issues are easily fixed and concerns about bench conditions are exaggerated.
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Betty on May 05 at 6:39 a.m.
Of all the things to waste time on this surpasses the Power’s garden on the top of city hall—if there are benches that need to repaired, cite the owners but do permit the advertising as it is no worse than what one sees driving I-90 through town, and less detracting to drivers and they do serve the purpose of providing rest for the riders. Thank goodness STA doesn’t regulate the whole town as they could go after what it looks like coming in from the east on trains—despicable down in that area! Corker and French as usual prevailed with more clear thinking.
Ninch on May 05 at 7:57 a.m.
What are you talking about? STA does NOT regulate anything. The City of Spokane does, and when it comes to sign ordinances… well they keep adopting new more stringent ones but they never enforce them, except when someone complains. The City just does not want to invest in adequate personnel to enforce all the codes and regulations they keep adopting. And it is the City Council who is responsible because they set/adopt those budgets for enforcement staff.
Also the issue of “expired” contracts should be investigated. This debate only came up because a competitor pushed it. This kind of stuff happens all the time with local governments of all sizes… either through the incompetency/negligence of not tracking contracts or through informed collusion by elected officials.
td9993 on May 05 at 8:03 a.m.
So let me get this straight. While Avista continues to destroy Spokane by raising rates so high that some can’t pay, while giving their CEO 2.2 Million and coming out $25 million ahead, teachers being laid off and homeless shelters closing..this…THIS is where the Mayor draws the line?
What an UNBELIEVABLE waste of time.
springishere on May 05 at 8:37 a.m.
Is the extent of our Mayor’s ability to improve life for Spokane citizens? I’m sure going to sleep better at night knowing those terrible benches are (maybe) going to be done away with. No matter that my car’s alignment is needing adjustment on a regular basis due to our crumbling decrepit streets. And, I’m so relieved that our fire battalion chiefs are getting those much needed raises when our city budget is already in the red by millions - MILLIONS. I’m proud to have some of the highest compensated municipal employees in the nation. THANK YOU MARY, FOR ALL YOU DO!!!!
Ninch on May 05 at 9:14 a.m.
You people do not have a clue about the powers and responsibilities of local governments and their mayors.
City of Spokane does NOT set rates nor salaries for Avista, which is not a public utility. (BTW: My bill was only slightly higher this last winter… some rate increase but mostly cold weather.)
City of Spokane does NOT have anything to do with teacher salaries.
City of Spokane may be able to help out on homeless shelters.
As for union employee pay raises, the Mayor is very limited, especially when it is the “elected representatives” (aka City Council) who makes the decisions there.
Finally, someone will always complain about Spokane streets… of which there are too many to keep tip-top…it being an urban area located in a freeze/thaw climate. I suggest you slow down and also call the City of Spokane “Pothole Repair ” at (509) 625-7733.
liarsinnews on May 05 at 9:17 a.m.
Priorities? Talk about fodder for, the Jay Leno show. I wonder if city hall is aware of the local TV channels asking viewers for comments regarding the bus benches? Someone should tell Mayor Verner, about the outrage about her priorities. I think Verner would be watering the garden instead of turning the hose on the house that is burning. Leadership? Nope!!
Nick42 on May 05 at 4:36 p.m.
Thanks for the effort, Ninch, though your words seem to be falling on deaf ears. When I read these comments, I feel as though I am trapped in an episode of “The Simpsons.” Though it’s not nearly as funny.
Ron_the_Cop on May 05 at 8:26 p.m.
Mr. Adams,
I heartily agree something is out of whack with the priorities down at City Hall. Here’s and excerpt of an email I just sent to the Mayor and Council:
As I said in my letter to Ast. AG Scott Marlow I have major ethical and professional concerns with how Mr. Tucker handled this investigation. To put it bluntly he didn’t do “crap” and buried the Savage case from public scrutiny. I will not let him get away with this.
BTW I have yet to hear from you re my formal demand for an immediate inspection of the RPS parking garage. The City Attorney indicated that the City would wait until after Tucker made his decision - well that was almost a month ago.
I find myself in agreement with Doug Clark’s column this morning. Seems to me this topic has more relevance than the safety/sign bus bench issue that you are spending considerable time on.
Det. Ron Wright (Retired)
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/?p=136