Parks commission approves shorter banner displays and new storage-unit policy

The Alameda Parks and Recreation Commission approved changes to its banner rules and a new policy governing storage containers in city parks, voting to adopt both measures after Director Long presented the revisions.

Director Long told commissioners the banner policy shortens the maximum display period from 60 days to 30 days and caps banner size at 4 by 6 feet, and adds Lidecker and Longfellow parks to the list of allowable locations. "Previously, they were up for up to 60 days, and we're reducing that to 30 days," Long said. The director said the change intends to balance advertising opportunities with preserving park aesthetics.

On the storage policy, Long said the department is introducing an initial, modest fee structure and an annual renewal requirement so the department can track ownership and discourage abandonment. "We're not using this as a revenue generator," Long said. The proposed late fee for missed renewals is 50 percent of the annual fee; staff offered example amounts of $25 for a small container and $75 for a large container during the discussion.

A commissioner asked how access and security for stored containers would be handled. Long said program manager Joey Carroll would oversee issuance of locks so both the user and the department would retain a key. There was no public comment on the item.

A motion to approve both the updated banner policy and the storage-unit policy passed on a roll-call vote, with Commissioner Robbins, Vice Chair Swartz and the chair recorded as voting yes. A commissioner characterized the fiscal impact as minimal, estimating about $1,500.

The commission set a next meeting date for April 9; staff said the memorial policy item that had been on the December calendar will return for further consideration in April after additional revisions.