The St. Cloud City Council approved an agreement will a media company to place a large double-sided billboard at the northeast corner of U.S. Highway 192 and Hickory Tree Road.
The Council also asked staff to draft a plan to budget city funds to each member to host or sponsor community events.
Per the agreement, the digital board will be replacing five other boards in city limits which will be removed including a “stacked” board located on the property of a Mister Car Wash in front of the Saint Cloud Home Depot. Following a presentation and update from Chris Ashley of Outfront Media, a company specializing in billboards and transit advertising based in New York City. The company says it plans to offer message space at no cost.
Mayor Chris Robertson called the agreement a “big win.”
“Many times, we get citizens saying we didn’t know about an event. This is a great way to let citizens know what’s going on,” he said.
A public safety aspect Robertson noted is the ability for the board to quickly post emergency messages, including Amber Alerts.
Ashley said the city is guaranteed space on the billboards.
“The vast majority of the time you ask for something, we’ll be able to put it up,” he said. “You’ve got guaranteed space. You’re always going to have space.”
Ashley said the billboard will be equipped with ambient light monitors that can adjust the lighting based in ambient light, emitting less like at night.
On the subject of the community grants, Council member Jennifer Paul asked legal counsel and the city manager to consider allocating money to each member for the purpose of hosting or sponsoring community events throughout the year. She pointed out the city has eliminated its community grant program and believes there needs to be a replacement.
After lengthy discussion, and a noted dissent from Council member Kolby Urban, the Council directed city staff to draft a policy enabling each council-member to have money allocated in each year’s budget to sponsor local events that benefit the community and to sponsor tables at these and other occasions. Urban noted the city could face a severe budget shortfall if the State Legislature and Governor get their wish and Florida residents pass a constitutional amendment to phase out or ultimately end non-school property taxes by 2037 in the November election. While the ballot initiative will require a 60% majority to pass, like all such amendments, polling suggests it may pass. Urban stated he would much rather see the proposed money allocated for public safety in such a situation.
Urban’s dissent notwithstanding, tacit agreement was to budget $10,000 for sponsorships and $5,000 for tables. This proposal is not unlike the community betterment grants which Osceola County commissioners receive to fund projects in their respective districts. Unlike the County Commissioners, St. Cloud City Council members, like Kissimmee city commissioners who do not have such funds available, are elected by and represent the city at-large. The draft policy will be presented at the April 14 meeting for the Council’s consideration.
