PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM

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TO: Honorable Chairman and                                             DATE: 3/13/2002                              FILE: CAO 02-3211
      Members of the Board
     of County Commissioners

THRU: Robert D. Sumner
          County Attorney                                                     SUBJECT: Proposed Amendment to Billboard Ordinance
                                                                                                       First Public Hearing: March 19, 2002, 6:30 p.m., D.C.

FROM: David A. Goldstein
           Assistant County Attorney


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It is recommended that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners.

DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS:

Please find before you for first public hearing the proposed amendment to the billboard ordinance. At the introduction of this ordinance on March 5, 2002 a copy of the proposed legislation relating to billboards was provided to the Board. If the legislation is passed, it may have the effect of invalidating the County’s current billboard ordinance. If the legislation is passed, and the County’s current ordinance is invalidated, there may be a gap in time before the County could adopt a new ordinance that is consistent with the legislation. During this gap in time, it is possible that billboard companies could apply for new billboards. Accordingly, the County Attorney’s Office is recommending that the County act quickly to amend the current billboard ordinance to be consistent with the proposed legislation. To that end, this office has drafted a proposed amended billboard ordinance which is attached hereto.

As you know, there are pending lawsuits against the County challenging the current billboard ordinance. The County Attorney’s Office anticipates that the amended billboard ordinance will eliminate many of the contested issues in these lawsuits, and possibly end the billboard litigation.

ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS:

1. Accept the attached proposed amendment to the billboard ordinance.

2. Direct revisions to the attached proposed amendment to billboard ordinance.

RECOMMENDATION AND FUNDING:

The County Attorney’s Office recommends that the Board of County Commissioners accept the attached proposed amendment to the billboard ordinance, listen to public comment and hold another final public hearing on this ordinance scheduled for April 2, 2002 at 6:30 p.m. at the West Pasco Government Center, 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey, Florida. At the April 2, 2002 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners will be asked to take final action on the Ordinance.

No funding is required for this item.

DAG:ls

Attachment: Amendment to Billboard Ordinance

cc: Debra M. Zampetti, Zoning/Code Compliance Administrator