Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Continued from the August 14, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting - Banner Hanging Request from Garden Grove Unified School District.
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From: Vanessa Johnson, Community Services Director
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Tammy Huynh, Senior Administrative Assistant
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Consider the following options and provide staff direction:
A. Approve the written request from Garden Grove Unified School District to hang banners along Bushard Street, between Hazard Avenue and Bolsa Avenue, and along Brookhurst Street, between Hazard Avenue and McFadden Avenue, from September 1, 2024 through September 1, 2025; or
B. Authorize a 90-day request to hang banners along Bushard Street, between Hazard Avenue and Bolsa Avenue, and along Brookhurst Street, between Hazard Avenue and McFadden Avenue; and authorize the City Manager to extend the 90-day increments should there not be any requests for banners at the location from another organization or agency.
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BACKGROUND
The Garden Grove Unified School District has four elementary schools, one intermediate school, and one high school located within the city limits. Districtwide, they serve approximately 40,000 students of which over 3,500 students reside in Westminster.
The District has established a banner campaign to celebrate and recognize their college-bound students for their hard work and acceptance into prestigious universities. They are requesting to hang 20 banners along Bushard Street, between Hazard Avenue and Bolsa Avenue, and along Brookhurst Street, between Hazard Avenue and McFadden Avenue. The banners would be hung from September 1, 2024 through September 1, 2025.
Currently, the policy allows for banners to be placed on light poles for a maximum of 21 days, which includes installation and removal. The District’s request exceeds this maximum duration as defined in the policy for administrative approval and is therefore being presented to Council for consideration.
The Mayor and City Council adopted the Public Right of Way Banner Guidelines in 2003. The purpose of the guidelines was to identify eligible organizations and establish objectives to ensure that all banners in the public right of way meet similar criteria. These objectives include promoting community events, maintaining an aesthetically pleasing image, providing a positive visual impact and increasing awareness of a significant occasion.
This request has been approved annually since 2018; however, at the August 16, 2023, City Council Meeting, the City Council approved the authorization of a 90-day request period and authorized the City Manager to extend the request in 90-day increments should there be no other requests at these locations from another organization or agency. Due to the lack of other requests, the City Manager has been consistently extending the authorization in 90-day increments.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
Consider both options and provide direction to staff. The Mayor and City Council may choose to either revert to the previous procedure of approving the request from the Garden Grove Unified School District on an annual basis or maintain the current 90-day request period.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Application and Guidelines for Public Right of way Banners
2. Garden Grove Unified School District Banner Location Map
3. Garden Grove Unified School District Request Letter
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
Christian Bettenhausen, City Attorney
Christine Cordon, City Manager