HomeMy WebLinkAbout101-Update of the Blaney Plaza Banner Policy and Consideration of Expanding the Banner Policy to Include North Campus.pdfSARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE July 18, 2007 AGENDA ITEM:
ORIGINATING DEPT: Recreation CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson
PREPARED BY: Michael Taylor DEPT HEAD: Michael Taylor,
Interim Recreation
Director
SUBJECT: Update of the Blaney Plaza Banner Policy and Consideration of Expanding the
Banner Policy to Include North Campus
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Staffs recommends that Council update the existing Blaney Plaza Banner Policy and consider
expanding the banner policy to include North Campus.
REPORT SUMMARY:
Blaney Plaza
The City of Saratoga adopted a resolution establishing rules and regulations for hanging banners
in Blaney Plaza in June 1983. The policy was refined in May of 1985. The policy was updated in
June 1990 and revised in July 2005. Changes to the rules and regulations must be approved by
the City Council. The City currently offers the site for hanging public announcement, non-profit
event banners for a fee of $300 per week. The Recreation Department manages the banner
program by scheduling the plaza, collecting the fee, and hanging banners approximately 32
weeks per year.
Current policy (Attachment A) requires organizations to deliver and pick up their banners at the
City’s Maintenance Corporation Yard Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 3:30pm. With the “off
Fridays” and the 3:30pm closure, this has not been convenient for community groups. Staff
recommends revising the existing policy to allow banners to be handled by the Recreation
Department at the Community Center. The Community Center is open more hours, is not closed
on Fridays, and is therefore more accessible to the public.
The existing policy also states “Non-Profit Organizations advertising Saratoga-based community
events or organizations advertising Saratoga-based non-profit events may hang banners in
Blaney Plaza.” Currently, organizations from Los Gatos, San Jose, Los Altos, and Palo Alto are
renting banner space. Most of the events being advertised are Saratoga “community” activities
but not necessarily Saratoga-based. Staff is recommending a revision that creates clearer
language and establishes a priority for Saratoga-based organizations and events but allows non-
Saratoga-based events to be included in the schedule when dates are available. A proposed
banner policy is attached to this report as Attachment B.
North Campus
Staff recently received requests for banners to be placed at North Campus for two recycling
events held at the facility. Without a formal policy, staff permitted the hanging of the banners on
a temporary basis across two trees on the site.
With the improvements to the North Campus and the anticipated increase in scheduled activities
at the facility, additional exposure is expected to be drawn to the campus. The North Campus site
may be a favorable location for placement of a banner to allow public announcement of events,
similar to the Blaney Plaza Banner program.
Staff recommends that if a formal policy is adopted, the policy match that of the proposed
updated Blaney Plaza Banner program (Attachment B) and that Council direct staff to determine
an acceptable location at North Campus to hang the banners.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
There is no fiscal impact of the proposed change in the banner policy. Minimal revenues may
potentially be realized through the addition of the North Campus site to the Banner Policy.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED ACTION:
If Council does not approve an update of the Banner Policy, internal inefficiencies will continue.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
N/A
FOLLOW UP ACTION:
If the banner policy amendments are approved, staff will revise practices and procedures for
hanging banners at Blaney Plaza and, if approved, add North Campus to the updated policy.
ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT:
Agenda was posted in compliance with the Brown Act.
ATTACHMENTS:
A – Current Blaney Plaza Banner Policy
B – Proposed Banner Policy
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