Digital Sidewalk Kiosk Advertising Heads to City Council for Approval Monday

After years of fighting to limit signage at local stores on Monday night the city will consider an Interactive Digital Kiosk Program with Commercial Advertising, along City Sidewalks and Public Right-of-Way (Program), Including Consideration of Submitted Responses to the City's Request for Proposals for a Potential Vendor for the Program; (2) If Desired, Approval of an Agreement with the Selected Vendor for the Program; (3) If Desired, Creation of a City Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee for the Purpose of Negotiating the Terms of an Agreement with the Selected Vendor and Appointment of Two City Council Members Thereto; and (4) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.

The City Council will consider an interactive digital kiosk program with commercial advertising along City sidewalks and public right-of-ways and potential vendor selection, at the October 28th regularly scheduled City Council meeting.

Since 2021, the City Council has discussed a potential interactive digital kiosk program in the public right of way that would provide for community information such as wayfinding, special events, business directories, cultural and art assets, and emergency alerts among other things. One component of the potential program would include commercial advertising as a means to fund the kiosk infrastructure, installation and maintenance as well as provide an additional revenue to the City.

In June 2024, the City Council approved a Zoning Code Amendment that permits digital kiosks in the public right-of way for the purposes of providing public information selected by the City, including commercial advertising, and in July 2024, a Request for Proposal (RFP) for potential vendors was issued.

The RFP requested information from qualified vendors regarding the design, potential quantity and siting of kiosks, infrastructure, installation, operation, maintenance, use, accessibility, financing, public outreach, successful case studies, advertising strategy, respondent qualifications, technology, and additional information related to the kiosks. The RFP also requested a proposed cost/advertising revenue sharing program that provides for the kiosk's infrastructure, installation, utilities costs, and on-going maintenance at no cost to City.

On October 28th, the City Council will consider two proposals received in response to the RFP and provide direction to staff regarding furthering a potential program.

The city would be obligsted to pay $670,00 in upfront cost to begin the program.

More information on how to attend the meeting virtually, request to speak or provide written comments in other formats can be found on the City's website.

Please note that eComments may be submitted once the agenda is published, which is usually about five days prior to the meeting.

 

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