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Pomona, California, Billboard Zoning Ordinance Amendment, Measure Y (June 2016)
| Measure Y: Pomona Billboard Zoning Ordinance Amendment |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| June 7, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
|
| Topic: |
| Local zoning, land use and development |
| Related articles |
| Local zoning, land use and development on the ballot June 7, 2016 ballot measures in California Los Angeles County, California ballot measures City tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Pomona, California |
A measure to allow and tax billboards was on the ballot for Pomona voters in Los Angeles County, California, on June 7, 2016. It was defeated by a margin of 304 votes.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of an initiative authorizing the installation of up to 10 billboards in specified locations and city fees of $1 million for each billboard over 40 years. |
| A no vote was a vote against against the initiative, rejecting a proposed deal for 10 billboards along the freeway. |
This initiative was designed to allow a deal with a company called Bulletin to construct and operate 10 signs along the freeway. Bulletin pledged $250,000 in annual fees to the city, for a total of $10 million over the 40-year life of the deal.[1]
Election results
| Pomona, Measure Y | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 10,031 | 51.56% | ||
| Yes | 9,423 | 48.44% | ||
- Election results from Los Angeles County Elections
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[2]
| “ |
Shall the Pomona zoning ordinance be amended to authorize the installation of outdoor advertising signs within specific freeway adjacent corridors and to impose planning regulations and restrictions concerning the number and location of the outdoor advertising signs, and to establish development fees to be paid to the City of Pomona in an amount of $1 million for each billboard installed?[3] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Pomona City Attorney:
| “ |
This ballot measure amends the current City of Pomona Zoning Ordinance to allow the installation of up to ten Offsite Outdoor Advertising Signs (“billboards”) at nine specific freeway-adjacent locations situated along the Orange (57) Freeway, Chino Valley (71) Freeway, and Pomona (60) Freeway. Measure Y identifies specific locations along the freeway corridors and imposes restrictions upon the location, height, and size of the billboards. Measure Y prohibits the placement of billboards within 90 feet from a school, church or other similar place of worship, and restricts the distance between billboards installed. Newly erected billboards can be static illuminated displays or digital displays. Each billboard face would be no larger than 872 square feet. Measure Y limits installation of billboards through the terms of the proposed amended ordinance and the terms of a Development Agreement (Exhibit A to the ordinance) entered into by the City and billboard company. The terms of the Development Agreement cannot be changed except by further approval by the voters of Pomona. Measure Y establishes the duration of a Development Agreement for four (4) ten-year terms (40 years total). Over the 40 year lifetime of the Development Agreement, the City would be paid monthly fees totaling $1 million for each billboard installed. These revenues would be available to fund essential City services, including police and fire protection, street and park maintenance, library and recreation services and other vital City programs. A “YES” vote would allow for the installation of up to ten new billboards, amend the provisions of the Pomona City and Zoning Code, and provide an opportunity for additional revenues to the City in an amount up to $10 million. A “NO” vote would reject the proposed billboards and would result in no new revenues being paid to the City. [3] |
” |
| —Pomona City Attorney[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[1]
- James N. Popovich, proponent
- Vernon L. Price, proponent
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ | Vote YES on MEASURE Y.
Over 8500 of your fellow Pomona residents signed petitions requesting that this measure be placed on the ballot. A YES vote on Y will provide the City with an additional $250,000 annually in unrestricted funds to support more fire, police, library and recreation services as well as street and park maintenance. It will NOT increase our taxes. It will make the sign company pay the city a fair-share of its advertising revenue to benefit city residents. The sign company supports a YES vote on Y. In addition, local Pomona non-profits and the City will be offered free advertising on these digital signs to promote local events and make public service announcements. Many other cities do the same thing. A YES vote on Y will create strict design standards for new freeway signs and put limitations on the height, size and location of signs as well as restrict the visual and scenic impacts of signs. All designs will be finalized after input from the residents. It will put a permanent cap of 10 on the total number of freeway signs that will be allowed under this measure. None of the signs can be located in areas zoned residential or open space. The City of Pomona’s budget needs more money. A YES vote will bring new revenue to the Pomona City budget and will improve City services. A YES vote on Y will generate 10 MILLION DOLLARS for the City over the life of the measure. A YES vote on Y will give Pomona the toughest freeway sign controls in the region and substantial revenue to support our City services. A YES vote on Y will help to restore the cuts made to the police, fire and library services. Vote YES on MEASURE Y[3] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Cristina N. Carrizosa, Pomona City Council Member
- Maricruz Hernandez, Pomona resident
- Rubio R. Gonzalez, commissioner
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ | VOTE NO on YUCKY MEASURE “Y”
THIS is what THEY AREN’T TELLING you: Distracted drivers are the number one cause of fatal car collisions. Police and firefighters responding to one fatal car accident will cost more than the $250,000 we’ll get annually, from the billboard owners! These huge electronic signs (dangerous driver’s distractions), HAVE BEEN BANNED in the CITY of LOS ANGELES! Don’t be deceived by people who are paid lots of money to gather signatures: They were paid to eliminate city districts in Pomona, remember? They brought the trash transfer station, but we still don’t have additional police officers, longer library hours, or better parks as they promised. What we have is additional toxic air pollution and an increase in the campaign accounts of some elected officials! Neither the city nor the residents will control the advertisers’ messages/graphics (sleazy ads, adult entertainment, alcohol, weapons?) Non-profits and city will get discounts, but they will still have to pay. JUST ANOTHER LOPSIDED DEAL The owners will make millions, even billions, while Pomona will receive a mere pittance. Adding insult to injury, it’ll take 40 years for Pomona to receive the ten million listed in the contract. NO WAY! Yucky measure Y doesn’t deserve your vote. NO GOOD DEAL- NO BILLBOARDS Pomona has plenty of billboards already, but if you want to add electronic billboards, the city council must re-negotiate for a shorter, more profitable contract. Pomona deserves better! Our public safety and Pomona’s future are not for sale. Say no![3] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a successful initiative petition campaign.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Pomona billboard initiative Measure Y. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Los Angeles County Elections, "NP 090 County of Los Angeles Official Sample Ballot," accessed May 22, 2016
- ↑ Los Angeles County Registrar, "Presidential Primary June 7, 2016 Measures Appearing on the Ballot," accessed May 20, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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