SEQUIM — A prime spot for promoting public events is about to become unavailable because of a malfunction.

A few weeks ago, a wire on the banner stand over East Washington Street in Sequim came loose and struck a car, said Jeff Edwards, office manager and parks coordinator at the city Public Works Department.

No one was hurt, Edwards said, though the car was scratched.

“We’ve got it fixed for now,” he added.

But as of January, the stand just east of Washington Street and Sunnyside Avenue will be retired.

Only the stand above West Washington Street near Costco Wholesale will bear banners next year — so community groups planning to broadcast their messages should reserve it as soon as possible.

The window for 2009 west-side banner reservations will open Nov. 3, said Lorri Gilchrist, the Public Works administrative assistant who manages the schedule.

“Please be flexible,” about when your banner has to go up, Gilchrist said.

She may have to ask organizations to reserve the week before, instead of the week of, their events, “so we can help everybody.”

The city lacks the funds to repair or replace the East Washington banner stand, Edwards said.

He estimated it would cost $30,000 to make it safe again.

Fee hike proposed

The fee for suspending a banner above Washington Street has been $75 per week, but Public Works is proposing an increase to $100 in 2009.

That hike depends on approval by the City Council, whose members are currently wrapped up in budget deliberations that include many other possible fee changes.

The council must finalize next year’s budget by Dec. 31.

To use the city’s banner stand, one must be promoting an event or service that is free or that provides a community benefit, Gilchrist said.

Religious groups may raise banners, but only if they’re advertising something that’s open to everyone.

Earlier this month, for example, Sequim’s Trinity United Methodist Church announced its annual harvest dinner, which anyone can attend.

The Aspire music and dance school in Carlsborg promoted its classes last summer, and Gilchrist explained that while it’s a for-profit business, Aspire’s grants of scholarships to young students make it eligible to raise a banner.

The Olympic Christian School was permitted, too, since any child, Christian or not, can enroll, she said.

Banner rules

Banners with personal messages aren’t allowed. Nor are advertisements for political candidates.

But welcome messages, such as for a class reunion, are typically permitted, Gilchrist added.

The complete list of rules is on the city’s Web site, www.ci.Sequim.wa.us, under the Clerk link.

Go to Resolutions and Ordinances and click on 2005 Ordinances.

The city site also has the banner reservation application under Forms, one of the links under Key Topics on the home page.

For more information, phone Gilchrist at the Public Works & Planning Department at 360-683-4908.

Banner reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis starting Nov. 3, she said.

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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailyews.com