TITLE
Recommendation to direct City Attorney and Development Services staff to prepare an ordinance amending Title 21 of the Long Beach Municipal Code to include electronic billboard language originally proposed in December 2011. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In December 2011, City staff presented the City Council with a proposal to improve and update the City's existing billboard rules. At that time the City Council directed City staff to work with the existing billboard companies to bring back an ordinance containing "cap and trade" provisions with the goal of taking down non-conforming billboards and including a "cash in lieu" option. In March 2012, the City Council approved an Ordinance amending Title 21 of the Municipal Code which contained the majority of the recommended provisions from December 2011. City Attorney staff subsequently reached out to the various companies to discuss cap and trade provisions, but they have declined to provide staff with inventories of their existing non-conforming billboards, which is necessary to analyze the need for the "cash in lieu" option.
Accordingly, it would appear to be appropriate at this time to implement the remainder of staff's December 2011 recommendations that were not included in the March 2012 revisions to Title 21.
HISTORY
In December 2009, the City Council adopted an Ordinance initiating a one-year moratorium on the issuance of permits for the development of billboards (off-site advertising), "supergraphic" signs, and conversion of existing billboards to electronic billboards within the City. In December 2010, the City Council extended the moratorium for another year to allow staff more time to research and develop comprehensive regulations for billboards throughout the City. Across a series of study sessions spanning nearly two years, the Planning Commission and City Council have provided direction and guidance to staff on the development and framework of this Ordinance. Staff also received
community co...
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