YORBA LINDA : City Council Nixes Bus Shelter Proposal

The City Council last week gave a cold shoulder to a proposal from a firm that wants to erect bus-stop shelters in the city.

Bus Shelters of California had asked the council to permit it to erect the shelters and sell advertising on them. But the council voted 3 to 1 to table the proposal, which would require an amendment to the city’s zoning code to allow advertising on public streets.

Tony Ingegneri of Bus Shelters of California said the firm wanted to build shelters at 10 to 15 bus stops on Imperial Highway, Yorba Linda Boulevard and Esperanza Road.

Ingegneri said the city could retain the right to reject advertising it found unacceptable. In addition, the city would receive about $1,000 per shelter annually, a small percentage of the advertising revenue.

However, Community Development Director Patricia Haley questioned the city’s legal right to accept some forms of advertising but reject others. In a report to the council, Haley said the company’s policy of allowing cities to reject advertising that is at odds with local standards may be unconstitutional.

Councilmen Mark Schwing, Henry W. Wedaa and Daniel T. Welch voted to table the request. Mayor John M. Gullixson cast the dissenting vote. Councilwoman Barbara Kiley, whose husband is a consultant to Bus Shelters of California, abstained from voting.