August 12, 2013 · Exit133

31 Billboards Down...

Things have been pretty quiet on the billboard front in Tacoma lately - intentionally quiet. And now there's this update, included in last week's City Manager's report to Council.

On August 15, 2012 the City entered into a two-year Standstill Agreement with Clear Channel that provides an opportunity for the City and Clear Channel to meet and confer on viable options related to resolving the existing lawsuit. As part of this agreement, Clear Channel agreed to remove 31 existing billboards, relinquish its rights to "banked" billboards, and repair certain billboards that were in an unacceptable state of disrepair. The 31 billboards identified in the agreement have since been removed.

Planning and Development Services staff has reached out to Clear Channel since January 2013 and have exchanged files on existing billboard locations, ownership, and removal/rehabilitation. Clear Channel has recently assigned new staff to this issue. They initially promised us a preliminary proposal in spring 2013 but postponed the delivery of the information during the State legislative session. Their latest schedule is to forward to City staff a preliminary draft proposal late summer/early fall.

31 down...

Filed under: Billboards

7 comments

Published Author RR Anderson August 12, 2013

keeping it quiet is a mistake. Where are the blue sky ribbon cuttings? https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tacoma-Pierce-County-Shameber/550724138297501
Erik B August 12, 2013

Now around 220 left to remove.
fred davie August 12, 2013

...and in doing so clear channel advertising has solidified it's nearly 100% grip on the Tacoma outdoor advertising market. Mayor Strickland and her cronies have made it impossible for anyone except clear channel to put up a billboard. Enjoy your politically awarded monopoly Clear Channel!
Tacoma nana August 12, 2013

Way to go Anders!!!
Flannimal August 12, 2013

Democracy at it's best. When the people and big business approach city council on opposing sides on an issue....the people get lip service and big business gets what they want.
JONATHAN August 14, 2013

Does anyone have a map of the 31 billboards they removed?
JONATHAN August 14, 2013

Here is a link to the list of the removed and repaired billboards: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/business/2012/08/15/new-details-on-city-of-tacomas-agreement-with-clear-channel-over-billboards/