Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Continued from the October 9, 2024, Regular City Council Meeting - First Reading of Billboard Ordinance Amending Chapter 17.330 (Signs) of the Westminster Municipal Code.
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publichearing
• Staff Report
• Mayor and City Council Questions for Staff
• Public Comments
• Mayor and Council Member Discussion
• Council Action
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From: Adolfo Ozaeta, Assistant City Manager
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Stephanie Tomaino, AICP, Contract Principal Planner
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
The Planning Commission and staff recommends that the Mayor and City Council consider and introduce for first reading an Ordinance entitled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT (CASE NO. 2024-0188) AMENDING TITLE 17 OF THE WESTMINSTER MUNICIPAL CODE, CHAPTER 17.330, SIGNS, RELATED TO ELECTRONIC BILLBOARD FREEWAY SIGNS (BILLBOARD ORDINANCE),” read by title only and waive further reading.
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BACKGROUND
Over the last several years, the City Council has discussed priorities and goals for the City. As part of the City’s three-year strategic plan, first discussed on January 17, 2022, the City Council developed Strategic Plan Goal #1 to “Achieve Financial Stability.” One of the revenue ideas generated from these strategic planning workshops was to explore the implementation of the electronic billboards to allow for outdoor advertising along the CA State Route 22 and Interstate 405 freeways. Staff has presented several items to the Mayor and City Council over the years to further progress on this goal. This includes City Council approval on May 24, 2023, for the selection of a qualified firm for the use of city-owned real property to develop, construct, operate, and maintain electronic billboards; and City Council approval on December 13, 2023, approving lease and operating agreements with the City’s selected billboard operator.
The proposed Zoning Text Amendments (referred to as the “Billboard Ordinance”) represent the next step in the City’s ongoing effort to make progress on Strategic Plan Goal #1. The proposed ordinance would update the City’s existing regulations to reflect current market conditions, establish new development standards to mitigate potential impacts to the public, and incorporate community benefits in all future billboard applications. The proposed ordinance is provided as Attachment 1 to this report.
The proposed Billboard Ordinance was presented to the City Council at a noticed public hearing on October 9, 2024. The City Council, with a 3-0-2-0 roll call vote (AYES: C. NGUYEN, HO, N. NGUYEN; NOES: NONE; ABSENT: PHAN WEST, MANZO; ABSTAIN: NONE), directed staff to continue the public hearing to the October 23, 2024, regular meeting. A summary of the prior City Council action is provided as Attachment 2. Based on City Council discussion, staff has removed the proposed development standard limiting the maximum number of billboards citywide. The City Council staff report, previous version of the ordinance, and City Council attachments are compiled in Attachment 3.
The proposed Billboard Ordinance was also discussed at public hearings before the Planning Commission on September 18, 2024 (Attachment 4) and August 21, 2024 (Attachment 5). Copies of the Planning Commission staff reports and attachments are attached for reference.
FISCAL IMPACT
The adoption of the proposed ordinance is expected to have a positive fiscal impact. Any new billboards, subject to Planning Commission approval, would require an agreement between the City Council and the applicant outlining the community benefits of the project. This agreement would include a mitigation fee, payable annually to the City, which would contribute to funding general services on an ongoing basis.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The proposed Billboard Ordinance introduces clear development standards that prioritize public safety, establish appropriate separation from residential areas, and enforce strict operational guidelines. These updates provide greater certainty for future projects and create opportunities for economic growth. The ordinance is now being presented for a second public hearing at the request of the City Council.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft City Council Ordinance adopting Zoning Text Amendment (Case No. 2024-0188)
2. City Council Action Report from regular meeting of October 9, 2024
3. October 9, 2024: City Council staff report and attachments
4. September 18, 2024: Planning Commission staff report and attachments
5. August 21, 2024: Planning Commission staff report, attachments, and late communications
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
Christian Bettenhausen, City Attorney
Christine Cordon, City Manager