HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - No. 2014-186RESOLUTION NO. 2014-186
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL
APPROVING THE TRANSIT ADVERTISING POLICY
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby
approve the Transit Advertising Policy, as shown on Exhibit A, attached hereto.
Dated: October 1, 2014
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2014-186 was passed and adopted by the
City Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held October 1, 2014, by the
following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Hansen, Johnson, Mounce, and
Nakanishi
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Mayor Katzakian
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
NIFERRROBISON
ity Clerk
2014-186
Exhibit A
City of Lodi Public Transportation
Transit Advertising Policy
The City of Lodi's public transportation system will accept limited advertising on and in
its vehicles, at designated areas within its transit facilities and at other transit sites as it
deems appropriate in accordance with the following guidelines:
I. Purpose and Intent
The purpose and intent of this policy is to create definite, uniform standards for the
display of advertising and announcements (collectively referred to herein as
"advertising") on Lodi Transit buses, transit facilities, and any and all other forums
owned, controlled or operated by the City of Lodi through Lodi Transit. It is the City's
purpose and intent that any and all forums for advertising under this policy are not
public forums for political discourse or expressive activity. These areas are not
intended to provide a forum for all types of advertisements but only the limited
advertisements accepted under this policy. All advertising shall be subject to this
uniform, viewpoint -neutral policy.
The City's intent and purpose is to take into account interests which are of
importance to the operation of the Lodi Transit system. These interests include the
following:
A. Maintain a professional advertising environment that maximizes advertising
revenues and minimizes interference with or disruption of the City's transit
system.
B. Maintain an image of neutrality on political, religious or other issues that are not
the subject of commercial advertising and are the subject of public debate and
concern.
C. Continue to build and retain transit ridership.
111. Advertising Standards and Restrictions
A. Permitted Advertising
The City's intent is to permit commercial advertising for products and services. All
commercial and promotional advertising must meet or exceed high quality standards
of art and design as exemplified in the industry and as determined by the City of Lodi
or its authorized Advertising Contractor as defined herein.
Commercial and Promotional Advertising. Commercial and promotional
advertising solely promotes or solicits the sale, rental, distribution or availability of
goods, services, food, entertainment, events, programs, transactions, donations,
products or property for commercial purposes or more generally promotes an
entity that engages in such activity. Commercial and promotional advertising
does not include advertising that both promotes a business or offers to sell
products, goods or services, and also conveys a political or religious message, or
issue advocacy, and/or expresses or advocates opinions or positions related to
any of the foregoing.
2. Disclaimer. The City of Lodi reserves the right, in all circumstances, to require an
advertisement to include a disclaimer indicating that it is not sponsored by and
does not necessarily reflect the views of the City of Lodi.
3. Additional Requirement. Any advertising in which the identity of the sponsor is
not readily apparent or is ambiguous must include the following phrase to identify
the sponsor in clearly visible letters: "Advertisement paid for by (Sponsor's
Name)." Website addresses or phone numbers without more information are
deemed ambiguous.
4. Government Use. The City reserves the right to utilize any areas it has deemed
appropriate for advertising pursuant to this policy for its own promotional
purposes, including, but not limited to, the promotion or announcement of City -
sponsored events, or to permit use by other governmental agencies for the
promotion or announcement of local governmental services.
B. Viewpoint Neutral Limitations on Advertising Content
The following viewpoint neutral content based on limitations permitted for placement
or display on transit vehicles or facilities owned or operated by the City of Lodi are
established. No advertising is permitted on Lodi Transit buses, transit facilities, and
any and all other forums owned, controlled or operated by the City of Lodi through
Lodi Transit, if it or the information contained therein falls into one or more of the
following categories:
1. False Misleading or Deceptive Commercial Speech. This advertisement
proposes a commercial transaction, and the advertisement, any material
contained in it, is false, misleading, or deceptive.
2. Unlawful Goods or Services. This advertisement, or any material contained in it,
promotes or encourages, or appears to promote or encourage, the use or
possession of unlawful or illegal goods or services under local, state, or federal
laws.
3. Unlawful Conduct. The advertisement, or any material contained in it, promotes
or encourages, or appears to promote or encourage, unlawful or illegal behavior
or activities under local, state or federal laws.
4. Unauthorized Endorsement. The advertisement, or any material contained in it,
implies or declares an endorsement by the City of Lodi or Lodi Transit of any
service, product or point of view, without prior written authorization of the City of
Lodi through its Transportation Manager.
5. Obscenitv or Nudity. The advertising contains any nudity, obscenity, sexual
content, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse as those terms defined by
California Penal Code section 311, et. seq., and as such laws may from time to
time be amended or supplemented.
6. Community Standards. The advertisement contains material that describes,
depicts, or represents sexual activities or aspects of the human anatomy in a way
that the average adult, applying contemporary or community standards, would
find offensive or inappropriate for viewing by minors.
7. Prurient Interests. The advertising, or any material contained in it, contains
harmful matter or any other matter that is prohibited under the provisions of
California Penal Code section 313, et. seq., and as such laws may from time to
time be amended or supplemented.
8. Tobacco. The advertisement promotes the sale or use of tobacco or tobacco -
related products.
9. Alcohol Marijuana and Regulated Substances. Advertising that promotes the
sale or use of beer, wine, distilled spirits, alcoholic beverages, marijuana, or any
substance licensed and regulated under California law; however, this prohibition
shall not prohibit advertising that includes the name of a restaurant that serves
alcoholic beverages that is open to minors.
10. Firearms. Advertisement that promotes or solicits the sale, rental, distribution,
availability, or use of firearms or firearms -related products.
11. Demeaning or Disparaging. Advertising that includes language, pictures, or
other graphic representations that are derogatory or defamatory of any person or
group because of race, color, national origin, ethnic background, age, disability,
ancestry, marital or parental status, military discharge status, source of income,
religion, gender or sexual orientation.
12. Profanity, Riot. The advertisement contains profane language or presents a
clear and present danger of causing a riot, disorder, or other imminent threat to
public peace, safety and order.
13. Violence. The advertisement contains an image or description of graphic
violence or the depiction of weapons or other implements or devices associated
in the advertisement with an act or acts of violence or harm on a person or
animal.
14. Adult — Oriented Goods or Services. The advertisement promotes or
encourages, or appears to promote or encourage, adult book stores, nude dance
clubs, and other adult entertainment establishments, adult telephone services,
adult Internet sites, and escort services.
15. Political. Advertisement promoting or opposing (i) a political party; (ii) the
election of any candidate or group of candidates for federal, state or local
government offices; (iii) any legislation, initiative, referendum or ballot measure;
or (iv) a political action committee, political campaign or political philosophy.
16. Religious. Advertisement that contains any direct or indirect reference to religion,
deity or includes the existence or nonexistence of any deity, religious creed,
denomination, belief, tenet, cause or issue relating to religion.
17. Public Issue. Advertising expressing or advocating an opinion, position, or
viewpoint on matters of public debate about economic, political, religious or
social issues, that causes City owned property to become a public forum.
18. Harmful or Disruptive to Transit System. Any material in the advertisement that
is so objectionable under contemporary community standards as to be
reasonably foreseeable that it will result in harm to, disruption of or interference
with the City's transportation system. The advertising, or any material contained
in it, incorporates any rotating, revolving, or flashing devices, or other moveable
parts.
19. Traffic Interference. The advertising, or any material contained in it, displays any
word, phrase, symbol or character likely to interfere with, mislead, or distract
traffic, or conflict with any traffic control device.
III. Advertising Program and Administration
The City shall incorporate this Policy into its advertising contracts.
A. Review by Advertising Contractor
The City's Advertising Contractor shall review each advertisement submitted for
display on or in Lodi Transit's property to determine whether the advertisement
complies with this policy. If it appears the advertisement may be questionable,
the Advertising Contractor shall notify the City's Transportation Manager, or
designee, and obtain approval before the advertisement is installed.
B. Review by City Staff
The Transportation Manager or designee shall review the advertisement and
supporting information to determine whether or not the advertisement complies
with this policy. If City's Transportation Manager, or designee, determines the
advertisement does not comply with this policy, a written document will be
prepared and forward to the Advertising Contractor specifying the standard(s)
with which the advertisement does not comply.
C. Notification to Advertiser
The Advertising Contractor will send the advertiser a prompt, written notification
indicating advertisement rejection with specific standard(s) the advertisement
failed to comply with and a copy of this policy. A copy of the rejection notification
will be forwarded to the Transportation Manager for retention.
D. Appeal to City Manager
Rejection of an advertisement may be appealed to the City Manager, or
designee, by written notification to the City's Transportation Manager. The City
Manager will review all pertinent documents and issue a written decision. The
City Manager's decision shall be final and is not subject to appeal.
E. Unilateral Amendment
The City of Lodi reserves the right to unilaterally amend this policy at any time
upon providing written notice to any advertiser then under contract with the City.
F. Moratorium
The City of Lodi, through the City Manager, reserves the right to at any time,
subject to any contractual obligations, declare a complete ban or moratorium on
all advertising on any real or personal property under the City's control and direct
that no advertising of any kind, other than City advertisements or
announcements, be accepted for display and posting.
G. Advertising Contract
All advertisers shall be required to execute an agreement with the City of Lodi
prior to installation of advertising on City owned or controlled property.