Parties Interested in Sign/Billboard Blight

To: Parties Interested in Sign/Billboard Blight

From: Gerald A. Silver, Pres. Homeowners of Encino

Subject: #68 SIGN/BILLBOARD BLIGHT UPDATE

URGENT MESSAGE TO LOS ANGELES RESIDENTS:

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is about to finalize a settlement agreement between the billboard companies (read-- environmental polluters) and the City of Los Angeles that will:

- Legalize numerous illegally constructed billboards
- Allow intensely backlit boards
- Allow many illegally constructed one-sided billboards to become double faced
- Gut the City's billboard enforcement program
- Allow flashing, moving image billboards

This cannot be allowed to happen. Contact Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa immediately and all LA City Councilmembers listed at the end of this email with the message--

* NO! NO! DON'T APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE BILLBOARD COMPANIES.

* FORCE THESE VISUAL POLLUTERS TO FOLLOW THE CURRENT CITY ORDINANCES!

* MAKE THEM TAKE DOWN ILLEGALLY CONSTRUCT BOARDS

A SWEET-HEART DEAL WITH THE BILLBOARD COMPANIES IS A BAD DEAL FOR LA RESIDENTS!

Email/Call/Fax Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today! mayor@lacity.org
213/978-0600 (Phone), 213/978-0750 (Fax)
200 North Spring Street, Room 303, Los Angeles, CA 90012

See full list of City Councilmembers at the end of this email!

Don't forget to also email us a copy of your correspondence. We will see that it is placed in the hands the proper officials. Send to: gsilver4@earthlink.net

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WELL HERE IT IS IN BLACK AND WHITE!

THE MOTION BELOW WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ON SEPT. 13, 2006!
MOTION

I HEREBY MOVE that Council ADOPT the following recommendation of the City
Attorney in order to effect settlement in the case entitled Clear Channel Outdoor,
et. al v. City of Los Angeles, et al., United States District Court Case No. 02-7586, and
Vista Media Group, et al, v. City of Angeles, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case
No. BC 282832, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR:

AUTHORIZE the Department of Building and Safety and the City Attorney to settle
the litigation filed by Clear Channel and CBS challenging the City's off-site sign
inspection program, upon the following terms, subject to final approval by the
Department of Building and Safety and execution by the Office of the City Attorney
on behalf of the City of Los Angeles:

1. Clear Channel and CBS shall each take down 49 structures of their choosing for
a total taken down of 98 structures.

2. Each company shall provide the City with addresses for all of their off-site sign
structures in the City and with copies of all permits in their files.

3. Each company shall pay an initial inspection fee of $186 per sign structure to
cover the cost of inspection for the first three years, plus an additional $184 to cover
the cost of inspection for the second three years. The agreement shall terminate
after 6 years.

4. Each company shall take down all structures erected in or after 1999, for which
no permits can be located.

5. The City will allow each company to modernize up to 420 structures, for a total of
840 structures, to include: (i) digital technology that allows static advertising to
be changed remotely rather than by physically changing poster sheets, (ii) tri-
vision signs. (iii) horizontal or vertical back-lit 30 sheets and (iv) second faces on
currently existing single faced structures, upon payment of applicable permit fee.

6. Each company shall return each of their sign structures to compliance with
their respective permits, subject to the right to retain currently existing structures
which vary in minor respect from their permit.

7. The City will issue permits for signs owned by each company and erected prior
to July 1, 1986, for which permits cannot be located upon payment of applicable
permit fees.

8. The City will allow each company to obtain a permit for each structure erected
after July 1, 1986. but prior to 1999, for which no permit can be located, limited
in number by the limit upon modernized structures, on the condition such
structure could have been lawfully erected at the time of its construction and
upon payment of applicable permit fees.

9. All disputes under the agreement shall be subjected to the Board of Building
and Safety Commissioners or, at the discretion of Clear Channel or CBS to non-
binding arbitration with costs paid by Clear Channel and CBS.

10. Each company shall dismiss their federal and state litigation and waive
claims for attorneys' fees.

This matter was approved by the Budget and Finance Committee (Parks - Huizar-
Smith - Rosendahl - Greuel "yes") at its meeting of August 14, 2006, in Closed
Session as permitted by Government Code section 54956.9( a), (Planning and
Land Use Management Committee on August 8, 2006, additionally considered
this matter in Closed Session.)

PRESENTED BY
BERNARD C. PARKS Councilmember, 8th District

SECONDED BY
GREIG SMITH
Council member, 12th District

03-2771
September 13, 2006
Motion
ADOPTED
SEP 1 3 2006
LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL
TO THE MAYOR FORTHWITH

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Los Angeles Times - Dec. 3, 2006

City's legalization of illegal billboards

Re "Council to settle billboard lawsuit," Nov. 29 The article on the settlement of the lawsuit brought by billboard companies against the city of Los Angeles clearly illuminates City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo's ethical negligence, as well as the City Council's craven surrender to deep-pocketed media companies. For those of us working to try to combat visual blight in our local communities, this agreement is nothing less than a disaster.

However, the settlement also illustrates a fundamental problem that reaches far beyond this individual case. By meeting in executive sessions to approve an agreement that sets terms for the future regulation of billboards and other signage throughout the city, the council has completely circumvented the democratic process, which requires public input and debate on issues of public policy. Instead, council members walk out from behind closed doors and hand us a fait accompli that is, by their own admission, a product of fear of more litigation by these wealthy corporate conglomerates. This from people ostensibly elected to uphold the public interest.

DENNIS HATHAWAY Venice