Council Approves Contract for Management of Bus Benches

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The Los Angeles City Council Friday approved a 10-year contract with a Florida-based company to manage the city's thousands of bus benches.

Martin Outdoor Media was selected by the Board of Public Works among three applicants to replace and manage the city's benches.

The City Council debated the contract on Wednesday, but a vote was put off amid concerns raised by Councilman Mitchell Englander.

After about 90 minutes of debate Friday, the council approved the pact on a 11-1 vote, with Englander dissenting.

Martin will replace the benches at the city's 4,000 bus stops with new benches and install at least 3,000 new trash cans under the terms of the contract.

The agreement requires Martin to pay the city at least $2.76 million in revenue from advertising on the benches over the life of the contract.

Martin would be prohibited from placing alcohol, tobacco, firearms or sexually explicit ads on the benches.