L.A. City Council Bans B'boards, Supergraphics in Emergency Move
The Los Angeles City Council has voted to prohibit new digital billboards, supergraphics and some highway-facing signs, in an emergency move born of the expectation that a federal judge could soon issue an injunction making it impossible for the city to ban such signs.The city has been rewriting its sign laws, and in the meantime has been passing temporary bans, reports the Los Angeles Times.
The council's action was in response to a lawsuit challenging the city's latest sign moratorium, filed by Liberty Media Group, which said the city had not followed the correct procedures when it put the temporary bans in place.
One temporary ban was set to expire on Aug. 17, which coincides with the council's summer recess. City officials feared billboard companies would take advantage of the lapse in time to build new signs before a new ban could be implemented.
The Los Angeles City Council has been attempting to control digital signs and billboards since 2002. It has lost a number of cases, which have gone to federal court, writes the Contra Costa Times.
When it comes back from its recess, the council will consider whether it will set up special sign districts and improve enforcement.
A lawyer for one billboard company says council members were overstepping their authority, and added that the public did not have enough time to review the proposal before the emergency vote, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
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