City of Austin Council Message Board

Colleagues,

At this Thursday's City Council meeting, we will again be taking up an agenda item regarding the relocation of billboards. This item has previously been postponed twice as we gathered more information, spoke with stakeholders, and considered the original intent of our December 2024 resolution that initiated the process of amendments to the billboard relocation regulations. I believe that Item 52 as written is not the appropriate vehicle for a thoughtful, thorough, and responsible examination of our sign code. This Thursday, I will offer a motion to postpone the item indefinitely, directing city staff to reconsider the previous approach and look more holistically at how we regulate billboards in our city and whether current code has been effective in addressing our needs and goals.

I hoped by focusing on our land needs for transit and housing, we could make some modest, common-sense changes and achieve a win-win result for our community and property owners. While it seemed relatively simple, it's become clear that a limited, piecemeal approach fails to consider all the values and goals reflected in our policy and how interconnected our sign regulations are. I strongly believe that with a more thorough approach and robust stakeholder engagement and input, we can get to a better place.

The proposed direction to staff is below.

I move to postpone the item indefinitely and provide the following direction:

1. The City Manager is directed to explore options to revise the City’s sign ordinance to accomplish the following goals:

● Incentives to remove and/or relocate billboards out of and away from residential neighborhoods and scenic areas; and
● Flexibility and needs assessment for billboard relocation based on the size of the sign, number of sign faces, and adjacent uses.

2. The City Manager is directed to return to Council with a resolution that will initiate any recommended changes.

Chito

On behalf of CM Ellis:

MPT Vela,
Thank you for bringing this motion to indefinitely postpone Item 52. To clarify the goals and outcomes that Council desires, I suggest we slightly amend this portion of your direction

"● Incentives to remove and/or relocate billboards out of and away from residential neighborhoods and scenic areas;"

to:

"● Removing and/or relocating billboards out of and away from residential neighborhoods and scenic areas;"

I hope this change aligns with your intent and can be incorporated into your motion tomorrow.

Thanks!
Paige

Thank you for your suggestion, Council Member Ellis! I support your proposed clarification, as my intent was to set reducing and removing billboards as a goal of examining our sign regulations and not predetermine or restrict what approaches can be considered.

Chito