Vehicle Sponsorship OKd for Lifeguards
“The Heartbeat of America” soon will meet local CPR experts.
The City Council on Monday approved a sponsorship agreement that will provide lifeguards with three Chevrolet Blazers and eight S-10 pickups at cut-rate leases.
In return, Chevrolet can call itself the “Official Marine Safety Vehicle Sponsor of the Orange Coast Beaches” in print and broadcast advertising, and during sponsored events.
Under the deal, the city will pay 10% of the lease value for the vehicles--about $30 per month for each pickup and $40 for each Blazer. The city will save about $22,000 annually in vehicle replacement costs as part of the two-year program, city officials said. The deal also comes with an option for a two-year extension, they said.
Councilman John W. Hedges cast the lone vote against the vehicle sponsorship, saying it isn’t worth the savings and that most people use the beach as a refuge from commercialization.
“People who live along there don’t want to see it turn into a traveling billboard,” he said. “I don’t think the city of Newport Beach needs the $22,000.”
In related action, the council rejected a similar plan with Adopt A Highway Maintenance Corp. for advertising on beach trash cans.
That program would have saved the city an estimated $301,000 over 10 years in replacing trash cans, city staff members said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
