From: <JimLewis_at_(domain_name_was_removed)>
Date: Sat Feb 16 2008 - 15:10:50 PST

February 16, 2008    

Glen Rojas
City Manager
City of Menlo Park
701 Laurel Street, 2nd Floor
Menlo Park, CA 94025  

Dear Mr. Rojas,  

Re: Budget Line Item - Request

       Banner Encroachment Fee  

Regarding the upcoming 2008-2009 fiscal year City of Menlo Park budget review, I'm writing at this time about a single line item for your review and consideration:  

Budget Request:  

In this regard I would respectfully like to submit a Budget Line Item - Request for your, the Finance and Audit Committee and the City Council's consideration. In reviewing the City of Menlo Park's green colored, 30 page "Master Fee Scheduled" (Revised 03-20-2007) there is a line item shown under the title of "Maintenance", on page 30, as follows:  

"BANNERS: El Camino Real - One week display - per pole - per week..... $10.00"  

In doing some research, investigation and study into the history of this item, I'm told that it was introduced only a year ago or so, when it was thought that the City was facing a significant budget shortfall. The Utility Users Tax (UTT) was introduced at the same time. The UUT was eventually adjusted, but the Banner fee was left in place.  

Discussion:  

In evaluating the Banner fee intelligently, I'm told that it has had the opposite intended effect. Instead of raising income, or stimulating it's use, we find that it has resulted in TURNING PEOPLE AWAY, it has DISCOURAGED IT'S USE, it is not competitive with surrounding cities and only ONE group, again, only one group, paid this fee in year 2007. That group was Music for Menlo and due to the amount of money involved, they cut way, way back on the full use they had hoped to use and restricted themselves to a small area.  

It is my understanding that another group REFUSED to pay it, and that was the highly respected and nationally recognized Children's Hospital at Stanford. Instead, they used the poles along El Camino Real in Palo Alto, but backed off and did not use a single pole in MENLO PARK. Why? It was my understanding that it was too expensive.  

Fee vs. Tax:  

As you know, fees are to be commensurate with costs, otherwise, some may view it as an indirect way of collecting an unintended TAX. Perhaps this fee falls into that category, and if not, perhaps it approaches that category.  

If you need a 100 people to write in about this issue, I'm sure it can be arranged.  

If you need a petition circulated to show the pulse of the community on this line item, I'm sure it too can be arranged.  

However, if common sense rules, then a change in the policy to ENCOURAGE it's use by responsible and valued users may be something you'd like to entertain.  

Research:  

Research can be done on what cities to the north do (Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, Foster City, etc.) and cities to the south do (Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, etc.) and even cities to the east (such as East Palo Alto, Newark, Fremont, Union City, Hayward and so on).  

If you'd like this data, volunteers can assemble it, although perhaps you have a more efficient way of doing it through staff, the League of California Cities and so on. A consultant could also be hired.  

Downtown Holiday Committee:  

As an active member of the Downtown Holiday Committee chaired by Kerry Hoctor of Village Stationers fame, as a sub-group of the Downtown Merchants Group of the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce, I found it curious that downtown Menlo Park during the December holiday season had zero, zip, nada, none, and was de-void on any "b a n n e r s", even though within easy reach banner were everywhere in the downtown areas of Redwood City, East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, Mountain View and Los Altos. By comparison, Menlo Park seemed sterile, plain and nearly boring in comparison.  

If the goal is to stimulate "sales tax" for the good of the community during the holiday season, it was clear that it wasn't going to be done by the use of banners. Everyone else in surrounding cities, that is nearly 100%, embraced the use of holiday banners. Maybe they knew something that we didn't. Or maybe we knew something that they didn't. You decide.  

City of Palo Alto:  

In preparation for this email, I personally met with the City of Palo Alto Senior Project Manager. His information about banners was very helpful. You too  may wish to speak with him. His contact information is as follows:  

Bob Morris, P.E.
Senior Project Manager
Engineering Division
Public Works Department
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, Ca 94301
Tel. (650) 329-2454
Fax 329-2299
email: _bob.morris@cityofpaloalto.org_ (mailto:bob.morris@cityofpaloalto.org)  

In their city, only a "flat" fee is charged for banners. One fee for "short term use" and a slightly higher fee for a "longer term use." Their code section about banners can be seen on their website.  

Banner Supplier and Installation:  

Another group you may wish to speak with during the evaluation of this issue is one of the largest groups in the nation for banner supplies and installation. They are as follows:  

AAA Flag and Banner Manufacturing
8955 National Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Tel. (301) 836-3341
Fax 280-1061
website: _www.aaaflag.com_ (http://www.aaaflag.com)  

I spoke with them and also their regional office in San Francisco. It was apparent that they are the pre-eminent experts in this field. If you want to know about banners, they are the folks to call.  

Attachment:  

For your information, attached is a copy of the ONLY application for banner use on El Camino Real filed in year 2007. It was from the Music at Menlo group requesting permission to install 50- 3'x6' banners. Total cost, $2,500.00, allowing them from 7/6/07 to 8/10/07 to display signs advertising this annual cultural event.  

Thank you for your consideration  

Respectfully,  

Jim Lewis
a concerned citizen who
takes pride in his community  

Encl. Encroachment Permit, Music for Menlo 2007 cc: Fran Dehn, Les Koonce, Chamber of Commerce

         Finance and Audit  Committee
         Menlo Park City  Council
         Other Interested  Persons
 



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(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598) Received on Sat Feb 16 15:12:26 2008