Ridding the city of bus benches that double as miniature billboards would only hurt small businesses, argue those against any such purge.
"It's one of my best dollars spent," said Tina Rowell, manager of Jack's Drum and Guitar Shop. "There's not anything else that gives you that kind of exposure for the money."The Sugar House shop, which relies on bus-bench advertising for much of its business and rents bench space in Murray, is typical of enterprises that don't have the money to advertise regularly on television, in newspapers or on larger billboards, said Charles Schwab, president of Metro Outdoor Advertising.
A business can buy a bus-bench billboard on a one-year contract for $30 or $40 a month; full-size billboards can run up to $1,500 a month.
Schwab, whose company has about 25 bus-bench signs in Murray and more than 400 along the Wasatch Front, says the benches also provide a public service for free.
"Taxpayers don't have to pay for it," said Schwab, whose bench expenses are covered by those who buy ad space.
The city is cracking down on bench billboards, however, complaining that many are not even located at bus stops and others are unkempt eyesores or create safety hazards because they're too close to the street.
But Schwab and Brian J. Harris, owner of Artistic Promotions, which places ad benches in Murray and elsewhere, insist they strive to meet city standards. The companies are the major bus-bench billboard firms doing business in Murray.
"It's a good concept unless it's abused," said Schwab, who conceded that some past bus-bench ad practices haven't been appropriate. "It got a little out of hand, but our aim has always been to provide a service and to do it attractively."
Harris says his company has been just as good about following the law.
The city on Friday will nonetheless open bids for a new bus-bench contract with a single provider, says Jack DeMann, executive assistant to Mayor Lynn Pett. DeMann says the city initially thought of getting rid of bench billboards completely, but decided instead to call for bids for every form of bench or shelter, with or without advertising. Out-of-state businesses as well as local ones have shown interest in winning such a contract, he says.
DeMann says the city is looking in part for "the most pleasing deal aesthetically" and that it wants to deal with only one company.
He says Schwab and Harris should be prepared "for any eventuality, either if they're awarded the bid to perform to its standards or to remove their benches if they're not rewarded it."
Some parts of the Salt Lake area allow bus-bench advertising; some don't. It is against the law in Salt Lake City and is being phased out in Sandy. Salt Lake County, on the other hand, permits it and even takes a cut of revenues.
Bill Barnes, spokesman for the Utah Transit Authority, says the public bus agency has no control over where ad-covered bus benches go.
"We aren't even consulted," said Barnes.
Murray city officials say they have received complaints from some UTA patrons who wait at benches that aren't at bus stops, only to watch haplessly as busses pass them by.
"I hope people understand they're not our benches," said Barnes, who noted only bus stops with the official, blue UTA sign are legitimate. "If you got a nice operator, and he could do it safely, he might stop, but he's not supposed to."