Today, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a 3 month Interim Control Ordinance on all off-site signage, which prohibits the installation of off-site and supergraphic signs or the alteration of existing off-site signs citywide. The ICO has the possibility of one 3 month extension. Council File #08-3422 is seen as a necessary first step by many of the Councilmembers and is intended to serve as a 'pause' while the City focuses on redrafting the Sign Ordinance, which is expected to be in front of City Planning Commission in mid-to-late January 2009.
Although, originally intended as a six month ICO, Councilmembers Weiss and Reyes offered a friendly amendment to shorten the ICO to three months and to limit it only to digital conversions and to supergraphics , with the hopes that that would win unanimous support. However, after hearing concerns from Councilmembers Parks, Hahn, Zine and Huizar, who fear their districts are also suffering from the blight of 'out of control' billboards, the ICO was restored to apply to all signs (not just digital conversions and super graphics).
Representing the public in a favor of the ICO were the following organizations: The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, The Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight, The Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council, The Encino Neighborhood Council, The Westside Neighborhood Council, The Westwood South of Santa Monica Blvd. Home Owner's Association and several individual residents.
Going on record against the ICO were representatives from: The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, The Central City Association, Allen Matkins, and several individual developers. The unilateral thesis of their disfavor with an ICO is the sentiment is that the revenue 'certainty' of off-site signage allows important projects to secure financing. They cited that it was often critical for a development to 'pencil-out' by having the added revenue stream afforded by off-site signage.
However, Vanessa Rodriguez, from the LA Chamber of Commerce welcomed the City Council's task of rewriting the present ordinance with a land-use based approach and welcomes the formation of a working group to guarantee that a policy can be developed that further encourages the growth of the sign-industry, factoring in consideration for its economic impact for the City.
Councilmember Reyes urged all of his fellow councilmembers to vote unanimously in support of the ICO because it would serve as an important first step and that the real focus was to develop a comprehensive sign-ordinance that would address the "TIME, PLACE & MANNER" of off-site signage and to iron-out all of the legal loop-holes presently beleaguring the City. Councilmember Rosendahl indicated his 'hat's off to Dennis Hathaway' and also requested the new sign ordinance address a strategy for obtaining monetary sanctions on illegal signs. This is an issue that Phil Michaelson from the City Attorney's office expresses discomfort with b/c of first amendment considerations (and therefor, is a matter where the AIA/LA should help lend some insight in an effort to correct this misunderstanding).
Councilmember LaBonge agreed with Councilmember Weiss that our City's architecture was being compromised & denigrated by supergraphics and billboards. Per the digital conversions, he also reminded his colleagues that this is about safety, not about revenue.
Councilmember Hahn agreed with Reyes that revising the current sign-ordinance was paramount and that the focus should be on TIME, PLACE & MANNER.
Councilmember Zine asked for clarification on the City's Inspection Program. He also took a step further and wanted to know if Los Angeles could ban all signs and City Attorney Michaelson concurred that an outright ban could indeed be possible if, and only if, the City did not have discretionary exceptions. Zine is against the digital conversions and, similar to Rosendahl, may explore outright bans for their own districts if that is legally possible.
Councilmember Huizar reminded his colleagues that illegal billboards effect all parts of the City and expressed his concerns with the City's lack of enforcement. Chief Zoning Administrator Michael LoGrande replied that the intention of the revised sign-ordinance would be to create regulations that were legally enforceable and will create a process to better coordinate with LADBS to ensure a protocol of enforcement. Huizar also asked about the status of LADBS inventory of all off-site signage (legal & illegal) and it was answered that this complete inventory would most likely take two years.
As the revised sign ordinance moves forward, I will continue to keep everyone as closely informed as possible. There should be a draft available for further review in early January.
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