Ordinance to Regulate Mobile Billboards Passes First Hurdle

In light of an increased number of public mobile billboard displays, the voted unanimously on Monday to approve a proposed ordinance that would regulate how quickly the signs can be removed.

Speaking in council chambers, City Engineer Ramiro Adeva said the city needs a quicker means of removing the mobile ads, which he said can become road hazards.

"They're very dangerous," Adeva said. "They're often put right at the corners of four-way intersections, getting in the way of line of sight." This creates a public health and safety concern, he said.

Because they are lightweight, the billboards fall over easily, creating an obstruction, he added, indicating a photo of a recently fallen sign on a local sidewalk. He also called the ads "a visual blight" and magnets for vandalism and graffiti. Current codes require a lengthy due process for removing the billboards, Adeva noted.

The proposed ordinance allows the sheriff or certain city staff to impound a mobile sign 24 hours after the owner is cited for the first offense. It also addresses both public streets and public property, and would allow for a post-impound hearing process.

"I think this is a valid police action on behalf of the municipality to be able to control [this problem]," Councilman William Koehler said during deliberation. "They're just a visual blight. ... We've gone to great lengths to identify and set standards for permanent signage in the community. ... This will allow us the tools to regulate."

"I think this is overdue," said Councilman Denis Weber.

Mayor Harry Schwarz summarized by saying, "We have so many ordinances that protect our city from looking like a blighted area. This is just one more ordinance to do this. Not only are they [mobile billboards] unsafe in my view but they are also unsightly and trashy-looking.

"We needed this ordinance to tighten things up, and along with other ordinances, to keep our city looking nice," Schwarz said.

The council approved the expedited billboard impounding ordinance with a 5-0 vote.

A second reading and final approval will go before the council on Dec. 14. If it receives approval, the ordinance would go into effect Jan. 14, 2012.