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CRA debates ad‑free digital kiosks, pauses for more study
Summary
Staff proposed an ad‑free, pilot digital kiosk program (1–5 units) from Toshiba; commissioners raised concerns about cost, a five‑year lease term and visual/sidewalk impacts and did not reach consensus to proceed at this meeting.
City staff returned to the CRA on July 14 with a narrower, ad‑free kiosk option from Toshiba after the board previously rejected an advertising model. Ruby Riley, downtown manager, presented a turnkey pilot program for one to five kiosks with a five‑year lease and an option to purchase; staff emphasized integration with the Downtown Boca website and emergency alerts.
“We feel we've obtained a program that is without advertising,” Riley said, describing lease and purchase pricing and preliminary suggested locations near transit nodes including the Brightline station, Palmetto/1st Ave and Camino Real/Publix.
Board members raised multiple concerns. Commissioner Noklis and Vice Chair Thompson questioned the five‑year lease length, the lack of usage data from existing kiosks and potential sidewalk crowding. Commissioner Drucker noted other cities’ revenue models and said she favored exploring a revenue‑generating option; several board members flagged visual pollution and the tradeoff between advertising revenue versus city cost.
No formal vote or vendor authorization occurred; staff will explore alternatives and provide additional information on term lengths, cancellation clauses and usage data from comparable installations before the CRA acts further.
