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Berkeley took a step closer to sprouting advertising-bus shelters along AC Transit routes Tuesday when the City Council authorized the city manager to enter an agreement with advertising agency. 

After voicing concerns about maintenance and the nature of advertising on the 125 backlit mini “billboards,” the City Council unanimously approved the resolution to enter into an agreement with Lamar  

Outdoor Advertising of Alameda County. Mayor Shirley Dean was not present. 

AC Transit entered into an umbrella agreement with Lamar to build shelters in seven cities including Berkeley, Emeryville and Albany. Each city must sign its own agreement with the agency before the project can proceed.  

Lamar will construct and maintain the $8,000 shelters. Each will have two advertising spaces, four feet by six feet, that will be illuminated by florescent lighting. They will also be outfitted with garbage cans and transit maps. 

Councilmember Dona Spring sought reassurances from Brendan Marcum, Lamar General Manager, that the advertising shelters will not advertise alcohol, tobacco or firearms.  

Marcum assured the council that Lamar would conform to city regulations on the advertising subject matter. 

“We respect the regulations of the city in which we operate,” Marcum said. “And I have to add that I have never been approached by those types of companies wanting to advertise.” 

Councilmember Polly Armstrong said she was prepared to support the recommendation but had recently heard that Lamar had a reputation for maintaining the shelters for just the first year. Soon after, Armstrong said they often fall into neglect. 

Marcum said the contract with AC Transit specifically calls for the shelters to be washed with an all-purpose detergent every two weeks and washed with a high-pressure spray once a month. He said the shelters would also be kept free of graffiti and debris. 

The shelters have been supported by the Commissions on Aging and Disabilities, which have assisted Lamar with choosing locations. 

Berkeley resident L.A. Wood said he remains skeptical about the shelters and would like to see a public hearing process established so neighbors can have a say in where they are built. 

“I always thought Berkeley should have a more traditional look,” Wood said. “These thing are modernistic and ugly.” 

The final locations of the all 125 shelters has not been determined yet. But Marcum said Lamar is ready to begin building the first shelters as soon as the city signs a Transit Shelter Implementation Agreement.