Agenda Item Title:
Request to Approve a New Proposed Street Light Pole Banner Policy for Purposes of Adoption by the City
Origination Group:
Legal & Finance Committee
Origination Meeting Date:
04/27/2022
City Council Hearing Date:
05/02/2022
Staff Contact:
Jennifer B. Utter, Assistant City Attorney; Steve Frooman, Traffic Engineer
Agenda Item Summary:
Over the course of the last few years, the City of Rapid City has authorized exclusive use of certain City street light poles to display private party banners. Such authorization has created and opened a “public forum”, implicating First Amendment freedoms. This Council previously requested that the City Attorney’s Office research and develop a uniform policy to govern the use of City street light poles by private groups or individuals. City Attorney staff members have conducted legal research, met numerous times with internal and external stakeholders (Engineering, Streets, Community Development, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Veteran’s Banner Project representatives (past exclusive user) for purposes of information gathering and to identify and discover factors which would affect the implementation of such a proposed policy. A brief memo is attached with some highlights of the proposed policy. The proposed policy is attached, which will guide the process for City personnel as they field applications for private use of the City street light poles by eligible applicants.
Funding Source & Fiscal Impact (if applicable):
| Funding | Cost Center |
|---|---|
Recommendations:
Origination Recommendation Action:
Approve