PORT ANGELES — The naming rights of city park facilities and programs can now be sold, according to a sponsorship policy unanimously approved by the City Council Tuesday.
The policy will allow organizations and businesses to apply for sponsorships of a Port Angeles city facility — such as its name — a program or event or allow a temporary “recognition display” placed on park property for its financial support.
Deputy Parks Director Richard Bonine said that the policy sets no rates or time limits for sponsorships.
“There is no set time,” he said before the meeting.
“It just depends upon what the sponsor is willing to do and what the city thinks is appropriate.”
Neither council members nor staff discussed how much revenue the city expects to make through the sponsorship policy.
City Council member Dan Di Guilio told the other council members — all of whom participated, with Cherie Kidd by telephone — that they must use caution in deciding how the city will accept and reject sponsorships.
“We have to be very careful with this one,” he said.
“We could get into some issues.”
Bonine said that the city has been approached by businesses, civic organizations and residents about sponsorships but declined to identify any of them.
Each proposal will be reviewed by Bonine, the City Council’s Parks and Facilities Oversight Committee and the city’s Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission before being considered for approval by the City Council.
“I’m not going to sit behind a desk and rubber-stamp everything,” Bonine said.
A tool for funding
The purpose of the policy, Bonine said, is to give the city a tool to raise additional revenue for funding its facilities and programs when the city is cutting back allocations because of budget constraints.
The city stopped funding the William Shore Memorial Pool at the end of March; the pool is now supported by donations from the community and will be until an election on a taxing authority to fund it is voted on in May.
Port Angeles also cut funding for the Arthur D. Feiro Marine Life Center and the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center in half this year. City staff members are recommending eliminating city funding of the marine and art centers next year.
On March 3, a proposed sponsorship policy was pulled from a City Council meeting agenda to allow city staff to add criteria to use when evaluating a proposal for sponsorship.
The policy says that, in general, businesses and organizations are eligible for sponsorships if the proposal:
• Supports the mission of the city’s Recreation Division.
• Will relate to the intent and purpose of the facility.
• Provides a “positive and desirable image to the community.”
• Provides a cost that is comparable with its value.
The policy says businesses or organizations are not eligible for sponsorships if:
• The proposed sponsor is an “adult” business or its revenue is substantially derived from selling alcohol, tobacco, firearms or pornography.
• The sponsorship is political or religious in nature.
• It constitutes an endorsement of a business.
• It creates a conflict with city policy.
“I think it’s a good step, and I appreciate those restrictions,” said City Council member Don Perry.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
