[OMS_MANAGERS] FW: Looking for Lamp Post Banner Policies

Thu Dec 19 13:52:44 PST 2019

Thank you, Chuck, Darin, and Sara Lu,

I appreciate your help and info!!

Thanks,

Lise

From: OMS_MANAGERS [mailto:oms_managers-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Sarah Lu Heath
Sent: Friday, December 13, 2019 11:19 AM
To: Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] FW: Looking for Lamp Post Banner Policies

Sarah Lu Heath

Executive Director

Astoria Downtown Historic District Association

No.1-12th Street, Suite 114

PO Box 261 

Astoria, OR 97103

503.791.7940

www.AstoriaDowntown.com <http://www.astoriadowntown.com/> 

From: OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us <mailto:oms_managers-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> > On Behalf Of W Darin Rutledge, Executive Director
Sent: Friday, December 13, 2019 10:56 AM
To: Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at listsmart.osl.state.or.us <mailto:oms_managers at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> >
Subject: Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] FW: Looking for Lamp Post Banner Policies

Lise – 

Let’s chat at the network meeting next month (or between now and then, if we can make it work). We manage the Main Street lamp post banners here as well, and are just now starting to get requests from outside groups for new banners. I’d like to compare notes and maybe share what feedback you’ve received. I’m attaching the policy that technically is still in effect with the City of Klamath Falls, but needs to be updated because they’ve completely handed it off to us. This policy addresses the large overhead banner as well which is not part of the program, so you’ll have to pick through for the lamp post banners). Following are my notes for when I get some free time to put the policy together.  😊

Here are the key issues of concern that I’ve captured along the way. This is the information that I share when we get a request, and it will be reflected in our policy when it’s updated: 

*	Schedule – with limited space, the policy should address how long banners will be displayed and how we will prioritize when multiple groups want banners at the same time. Also, define minimum and maximum display timeframes to control installation cost. 
*	Criteria – what criteria does the group need to meet for us to display their banners? Non-commercial only? Does it have to tie in to a local event or program? Does it have to be a local business or organization? If a nonprofit partners with a sponsor, will we allow the sponsor logo on the banner? Can a business hang their own customized banners outside their storefront? Will we allow wayfinding banners, or is that a separate program?
*	Quantity – Define a minimum quantity. It’s not worth anyone’s effort to put up 2 lamp post banners. Most of our blocks have 4 lamp posts on each side of the street … at 2 banners per, that’s 16 banners. That’s probably my starting point. 
*	Location – Define how location will be determined and prioritized if a specific location is requested.
*	Written agreements – we have several groups that have had “arrangements” with the City for their banners for several years. I spent a good amount of time last year fielding calls from people wondering when their banners were going up because we were not aware of these arrangements. Put the specifics in writing, especially for recurring seasonal displays. Also, it helps to define minimum quality standards, remind them that they should plan to replace them every so often, etc.)
*	Banner quality – we have several suppliers within regional reach that do quality work. We also have some that do horrible work. The policy needs to address exact specifications of the banner, and should require a sample to be approved by us (or at least approval of the specs that the supplier will be using to produce them).
*	Marketing – should we put this policy on our website and market it as a service, or simply have it available when people ask us to hang banners? All the above factors are impacted depending on how this program is delivered. 

Some other internal things to consider as you ramp up: 

*	Cost – we have a subcontractor that installs and takes down the banners. This contract includes a calendar of which banners go up/come down when, and it’s a set-fee contract. It works, but we had some extra stuff going on last year that created additional labor above/beyond the contract. This year, we articulated an hourly rate in the contract for one-off displays so that we have a basis for any costs that are passed on to the requesting group (I’m happy to share the contract with you as well, if you’d like). The key is making sure OUR cost and the cost for the customers is known ahead of time and articulated in the policy. Do we have special pricing for members, nonprofits, etc.? 
*	Lamp post maintenance – my advice is to work out with the City how maintenance will work before you hang a single banner. Will you perform the maintenance and capture the cost in your contract with the City? Will you do it and rebill the City? Will you simply contact the City and report any maintenance needs? Common issues we’ve experienced are banner arms that have been poached from old lamp posts and do not accommodate the banners; banner arms (upper and lower) that have been damaged by trucks, etc.; banner arms that are missing ball finials, etc.; missing banner arm assemblies that have been damaged and patched together with hose clamps, etc. The key here is make sure they are committed to keeping the lamp posts in good shape, and repairing them when they are not. We have several lamp posts that frankly look pretty shoddy. We’re working with the City to get them included in a maintenance budget, but I wish we’d have cleared all that up before – it’s our name on the lamp posts now, and I don’t want them to look like they aren’t cared for. 
*	Depending on the current banner stock, make sure you have a plan for storage and inventory. Our contractor stores all the banners, and is responsible for them when they are not on the lamp posts. Make sure you’re confident in their ability to keep them safe, not lose them, and make sure that reasonable maintenance takes place before they are stored.
*	Lifecycle – depending on quality and care, the banners can last quite a while. We have some that are nearly 10 years old – many of them are still of acceptable display quality, some are not. That was our first task was to inventory what we had and determine how many of them simply needed to be thrown out. As a result, instead of having a full set of 80+ matching banners during some parts of the year, we usually have at least 2-3 different banners on display at any given time (see quantity/schedule/location comments above). Know what needs to be replaced and when. These things aren’t cheap, and sometimes getting the wheels going on new ones can take a while. 

Looking forward to hearing from others that are managing this program too! 

Cheers!
D

From: OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us <mailto:oms_managers-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> > on behalf of STUART Sheri * OPRD via OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers at listsmart.osl.state.or.us <mailto:oms_managers at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> >
Reply-To: STUART Sheri * OPRD <Sheri.Stuart at oregon.gov <mailto:Sheri.Stuart at oregon.gov> >, Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at listsmart.osl.state.or.us <mailto:oms_managers at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> >
Date: Friday, December 13, 2019 at 8:11 AM
To: Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at listsmart.osl.state.or.us <mailto:oms_managers at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> >
Subject: [OMS_MANAGERS] FW: Looking for Lamp Post Banner Policies

From: Lise Grato [mailto:director at albanydowntown.com] 
Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2019 8:38 PM
To: STUART Sheri * OPRD
Subject: Looking for Lamp Post Banner Policies

Hi Sheri – can you please send this to OMS Managers

I’m looking for Lamp Pole Banner Policies. Our 10-year old 1st Ave streetscape exclusively displays Albany Downtown Association banners. With our not-so-new streetscape came lots of new lamp posts all with space for banners. Recently here have been a couple external requests to hang banners for events/commemoration and we truly appreciate that the City of Albany directed the groups to us. We’re thrilled to be the keepers of the lamp posts banner space and know we will be getting more requests for their use. 

Our Design Committee is working on a policy so we can be fair and clear on what is accept and what is not. The City of Albany has a sign policy when it comes to yards signs and buildings, that’s not what I’m looking for. We are looking to frame our policy more along the lines of non-commercial, civic use. It might be similar to the policy governing big street banners that span gateway roads and highways. Our goal is to secure continued use by ADA along with other civic use … not Wal-Mart on every lamp pole in Historic Downtown Albany.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Lise Grato

Executive Director

Albany Downtown Association

126 SW Ferry Street

Albany, OR 97321

Email: director at albanydowntown.com <mailto:director at albanydowntown.com> 

Phone: (541) 928-2469

Cell: (541) 905-2908

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