Background

The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 27982 on May 17, 2011, enacting an emergency moratorium that stops the acceptance of applications to install or construct new billboards or to alter, modify or replace existing billboards anywhere in the City for 180 days. The purpose of the moratorium is to allow the City to further review and consider changes to its billboard regulations. The Tacoma Municipal Code addresses moratoria in Chapter 13.02.055.

The City Council referred the moratorium to the Planning Commission to develop findings and recommendations addressing, at a minimum, whether the emergency moratorium is needed.  If so, what is the appropriate duration of the moratorium?  On June 1, 2011, the Commission conducted a public hearing and made a recommendation to the Council regarding the need for the duration of the moratorium. 

The City Council conducted a public hearing on July 12 to receive public comment on the Commission's recommendation, and adopted Ordinance No. 28003 on July 19 to retain the moratorium.  The Council also amended Ordinance No. 27982 to exempt from such moratorium vested applications for billboard relocation permits and applications for repair of existing billboards for purposes or implementation of safety improvements mandated by state or federal standards.