PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TO: Honorable Chairman and                                      DATE: 3/26/2002                                       FILE: CAO 02-3215
      Members of the Board
     of County Commissioners

THRU: Robert D. Sumner
          County Attorney                                             SUBJECT: Proposed Amendment to Billboard Ordinance
                                                                                               Second Public Hearing: 
                                                                                               April 2, 2002, 6:30 p.m., N.P.R

FROM:David A. Goldstein                                        REFERENCE: First Public Hearing:
           Assistant County Attorney                                                   March 19, 2002, 6:30 p.m. D.C.

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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 second 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. This legislation has passed both the House of Representatives and Senate of the Florida Legislature. If the legislation is signed by the Governor, it may have the effect of invalidating the County’s current billboard ordinance. If 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 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. Adopt the attached proposed amendment to the billboard ordinance.

2. Do not adopt the attached proposed amendment to billboard ordinance.

RECOMMENDATION AND FUNDING:

The County Attorney’s Office recommends that the Board of County Commissioners accept public comment, adopt the attached proposed amendment to the billboard ordinance by role call vote, authorize the Chairman’s signature on same, direct Board Records to file a certified copy of the ordinance and the coding form with the Department of State within ten (10) days after enactment, retain one (1) original, and send one (1) certified copy to the County Attorney, New Port Richey.

No funding is required for this item.

DAG:ls

Attachment: Amendment to Billboard Ordinance

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