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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8770M M � 1 � M M • RESOLUTION NO. 8,770 494 2 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY 3 MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO 4 TARE ALL APPROPRIATE STEPS TO OBTAIN FEDERAL— FUNDS —TO- MATCH —WITH CITY _ —. 5 FUNDS, TO PAY FOR THE REMOVAL OF 6 BILLBOARDS WITHIN THE CITY; AND FOR 7 OTHER PURPOSES. 8 9 WHEREAS, Little Rock, Ark., Ordinance No. 14,430 ( "LRO "), and Little Rock Ark., Resolution No. 6973 ("LRR "), adopted April 10 5, 1983, provided for the removal of billboards on the City's 11 scenic corridors after seven years, and established a fund for 12 the deposit of sign permit fees to pay for the removal of 13 designated billboards; and 14 WHEREAS, sign owners and site owners waited until the end of the amortization period, then filed suit in Pulaski County 15 Chancery Court to challenge the legality of the ordinance; and 16 WHEREAS, the Chancellor ruled against the City's position 17 and concluded that the amortization provision of LRO 14,430 did 18 not constitute just compensation in any form; and 19 WHEREAS, the City has appealed the case to the Arkansas Supreme Court; and 20 WHEREAS, the City Attorney has advised the Board of 21 Directors that the Chancellor's decision is unlikely to be 22 reversed, and that the major issues concerning the valuation of 23 billboards are not likely to be decided on appeal; and WHEREAS, one purpose of the recent amendments to the sign 24 ordinance, LRO 16,181 (February 18, 1992) and LRO 16,244 (July 25 7, 1992) was to maintain the status quo in the number of 26 billboards, but not to undermine the desire or the ability of 27 the City to remove billboards through negotiation, or if 28 necessary, through eminent domain; and 29 WHEREAS, federal funds may be available to match with City funds on a pro rata basis to pay for the removal of 30 nonconforming billboards, and the Little Rock Board of Directors 31 deems it necessary to obtain these matching funds and proceed 32 with a plan to designate and remove billboards within the City. 33 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF 34 THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS: 35 36 P--J57 �-y 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 • • 495 SECTION 1. The City Attorney is authorized to dismiss the appeal of City of Little Rock v. Donrey, et al, Arkansas Supreme Court No. 92 -697. SECTION 2. The Mayor, City Manager and the City Attorney are hereby directed to take the necessary steps to to a request - -and receive from-the-Arkansas-state-Highway-and—Transportation _ Department, a pro rata share of federal funds for the removal of billboards on the scenic corridors in the City. SECTION 3. Any funds received by the City pursuant to the Highway Beautification Act billboard removal program, shall be combined with City funds which have accumulated in the sign permit fees account, and shall be used to pay just compensation for the removal of billboards within the City, to the extent that such funds can be used for the stated purpose. ADOPTED: August 18, 1992 WMAO i . , ,, • 4. APPROVED- SHARON PRIEST MAYOR