City Council passes bill to allow advertising on municipal property, officials hope it sticks

City Council President Darrell Clarke. Rikard Larma/METRO

City Council passed a bill this morning which would pave the way for advertisements to be added on municipal buildings and vehicles, officials are hoping.

Council members OK’d zoning changes to allow advertisements on city-owned real estate.

Council President Darrell Clarke said he heard the city will send out requests for proposals next week.

“I got word, although informally, that there will be an RFP going out within the next week or two for vehicles,” Council President Darrell Clarke said this morning.

He said municipal vehicles would be the most lucrative opportunity for advertising, and if they are contracted, then ads can and should get up relatively soon.

“I would love to see these trash trucks with trash bag wraps on them,” he said.

Mayor Michael Nutter still needs to give his blessing. City Council has to authorize any contracts, “But at the end of the day it’s up to the administration to implement that particular program,” Clarke said.

Against calls that City Council would delay implementation of the advertising program by passing the zoning bill today, Clarke said: “This is an administration that has delayed the program for a year and a half. So, it kind of speaks for itself.”

Clarke said he’s not sure exactly how much money the advertising would raise.

“You talk to different potential vendors and they talk anywhere upwards of $10-$20-$30 million it all depends on, one, the amount of municipal property that you make available, two, the level of the contract that you let and then how you want to go about it,” he said.

Clarke said he’s not confident the bill is a done deal until he sees the ads around town.

“I just like to see us get the RFP out, get the contract done, and start bringing in some much needed revenue,” Clarke said.