OCEANSIDE: City considering electronic billboards – North County Times

Electronic billboards would be allowed under new sign regulations tentatively adopted Wednesday by the Oceanside City Council.

Hand-held twirling signs would be permitted with detailed regulations to be worked out later. The measure must come back to the council for a final vote to be adopted.

An existing ban on fabric feather signs would continue, but city officials said they wouldn’t enforce the ban pending further review.

Councilman Jerry Kern said city officials would work with the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce and business representatives to develop regulations on twirling signs and feather signs.

“I just want to be sure the business community understands we’re trying to work with you, just work with us,” Kern said.

The vote to allow electronic digital billboards was 4-1 with Councilwoman Esther Sanchez voting no. Mayor Jim Wood, and councilmen Jack Feller, Gary Felien and Kern supported the measure.

Sanchez said she agreed to allow twirling signs but not electronic billboards. She said the city had “a longstanding policy” against billboards.

“We’re doing a huge disservice to our community,” Sanchez said.

The city now bans billboards, although five remain under the terms of a 1999 lawsuit settlement with billboard companies.

City officials said they see the electronic digital billboards as a potential revenue source at a time when Oceanside faces ongoing budget deficits.

Tom Missett, who represents a company that wants to erect an electronic digital billboard along Highway 78, said electronic signs on city property could generate “$ 40 million over 20 years” for the city.

The city Planning Commission was unable agree on electronic billboards, voting to pass the matter on to the council with the recommendation that more than one conventional billboard be removed for every electronic billboard allowed.

The commission also advised banning feather signs, but wanted to allow mascots and hand-held twirling signs on private property. Zoning laws now prohibit twirling signs, although planners said they sometimes turn up.

Electronic digital billboards, feather signs and sign twirlers drew the most comment from the public.

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer David Nydegger said 95 percent of those responding to a chamber poll said mascots and twirling signs should be permitted and 92 percent favored feather signs.

“We understand that the feather signs can be ugly,” Nydegger, but he said better to have the signs to help businesses attract customers than empty storefronts.

Carl Henger, owner of Liberty Tax Service franchises in Oceanside, said sign spinners are crucial to his business.

“Eighty percent of our marketing is sign waivers,” Henger said. He said he hires 33 part-time sign twirlers during tax season to twirl the signs, many of whom are unable to find other jobs.

ClearChannel Outdoor vice president John Duong urged the council to allow more companies to compete for placement of electronic billboards. He said the proposal to require more than one existing sign to come down for every new electronic sign would limit competition to only those companies that already have signs in the city.

“It would preclude someone like us,” Duong said.

Most of those addressing the council opposed the electronic signs.

Lisa Bruhn, president of the San Diego chapter of International Dark Sky Association, said electronic digital billboards would add to light pollution of the nighttime sky and dangerously distract motorists.

“Digital billboards are there for the sole purpose to distract drivers to buy their products,” Bruhn said.

Eastside Neighborhood Association President Maria Russell said she worried that electronic digital billboards would lower property values in nearby neighborhoods.

Resident Joan Brubaker said electronic digital signs were as distracting as “a naked man standing on the side of the road.”