June 15, 2006
Lawrence City Commission
Mayor Mike Amyx
PO Box 708
Lawrence, KS 66044
Dear Mayor Amyx:
Downtown Lawrence, Inc. requests the approval of vinyl fence banners in the 700 and 800 blocks of Massachusetts Street during the waterline replacement project as community signs of interest. DLI would like to request an exemption from Section 5-705.1 of the Sign Ordinance for the placement.
Members of the business community on these two blocks have asked DLI for guidance on the placement of banners on the safety fencing in front of their businesses in order to provide visibility. DLI has formulated the following plan to cover requests during the project. While this plan may not cover everything that may come up, it does provide a good starting point. Any questions or problems that arise will be acted upon by DLI with DLI having the final determination (in agreement with all City codes).
Each banner would be 30" x 60" attached to the top half of the fence using plastic bands and metal grommets. A business could order a one sided or two sided banner, but only one banner per business. They may have a different design in accordance with the design plan listed below, but they will all be the same size and placed at the same level. They will have the same border so that they have some degree of uniformity. We will choose 1 vendor to do all of the banners and each business will be responsible for ordering their own. DLI would solicit bids from Downtown businesses with the ability to do this type of work. Determination of which vendors are solicited and which is chosen will be at the discretion of DLI. DLI will also have the option to place banners, 30" x 30", on the fence stating messages such as "All Businesses Open" or “Additional Parking at Rear” along with DLI logo. These would not have any other business listed and DLI will negotiate with businesses in order to place signs in front of those businesses. Participants will only be allowed to place banners in front of their own business, and only when the fence is erected on their side of the street. Banners for the east side of Massachusetts would have to be removed when the fence is moved to the west side of the street.
Responsibilities:
General Design:
This would be the responsibility of DLI working in conjunction with the printer. Criteria would include general layout, minimum text size, maximum effective text, and method and location of attachment.
Specific Design and Message:
This would be the responsibility of the individual business purchasing the banner. Each design must adhere to all general design points. Message would be limited to any combination of the following marketing information concerning the specific business; name of business, goods and/or services offered, business hours, contact information, and parking availability. Businesses may also use their own logos and/or marketing slogans.
Maintenance:
Each individual business would be responsible for initially attaching their banner to the fence in the prescribed manner. They will also be responsible to remove and repair or replace any banner that DLI determines is in need of such attention. This would include torn, vandalized, and faded banners. Also, the business owner will immediately remove any banners attached outside of the prescribed manner after being notified by DLI. These could then be re-attached according to procedures.
Costs:
Each business will purchase the banner. There will not be a request for matching funds for these purchases.
Any questions or problems related to the program will be addressed to DLI staff and will be decided upon by DLI.
We are making this request only for those businesses located on the 700 and 800 block of Massachusetts Street and only for the duration of he project. Other businesses will not be allowed to participate. As it will be up to the individual businesses to decide whether or not to participate, we do not have a total number of banners that will be placed on the fence. City staff have received the contractor’s permission to use the fence for the hanging of banners.
Thank you for your consideration of the request.
Respectfully submitted,
Rick Marquez
Director, DLI