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Regular Meeting December 2, 2002 35. Page 3 takes away the bargaining rights of the property owners. Billboard signs should at least pay property taxes for the right to be placed on property. 5) Ron Mullen stated he is a former Mayor of Austin. He stated he helped adopt the first sign Ordinance, which limited the number of billboards in the Austin area. Large sign companies pressured the State to allow competitiveness among landowners and sign companies. He stated he opposes this Ordinance, due to the ramifications it will have on landowners. 6) Curtis Ford stated he is an owner of a sign company. He stated he opposes the proposed Ordinance. He stated regulations have changed since some of the signs were erected. He also stated he supports the old sign Ordinance because it will eventually decrease the number of billboards over time. 7) Alyn Randolph Foster stated he attended the Planning and Zoning Commission meetings and they worked hard on this Ordinance. He encouraged Council to adopt this Ordnance. He stated he is proud to be living in a scenic area and encouraged Council to protect this area. 8) Mike Dishman stated he is a property owner trying to make a profit. He stated his property taxes have skyrocketed and cost him more in taxes than he makes from the sign company, who leases a spot from him. He stated the proposed Ordinance would not allow bidding for the billboard. If he loses the current sign on his property, he would not be allowed to replace it. He stated he opposes the new Ordinance because it infringes on free enterprise and capitalism. 9) Chris Stokes stated he is the owner of Outdoor Advertising. He also stated he went before the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding this proposed Ordinance. He stated he does not support the proposed Ordinance as it is written. He supports limiting the number of billboards. He also stated he has revised this Ordinance and would like Council the to review his recommended revisions. 10) Ivar Gunnarson stated he is the owner of Gunnarson Advertising. He stated he wrote a letter to the Council stating he wants a cap on the number of signs. He feels if you take down a billboard, then that billboard should be able to be replaced with another billboard in a legal location. Mayor Habingreither asked if anyone else wished to speak. No one did, so he closed the public hearing. Mr. Taylor moved for approved of the Ordinance on first reading and Mr. Tatum seconded the motion. Ms. Tatum inquired whether the proposed Ordinance allows the sign company to get another permit once a lease is up on a sign. Mr. Patterson, Director of Planning, stated this proposed Ordinance would put a cap on existing billboards. If a sign company is changed, the sign would be eliminated. The sign company would have to renew the lease with the landowner. Ms. Tatum asked if the intent was for there to be no more signs in San Marcos. Mr. Patterson stated the Planning and Zoning Commission's intent is to put a cap on and attrition of existing billboards with no replacement policy. Ms. Narvaiz stated she has concerns about the ramifications to property owners. She also stated she is not in favor of this Ordinance as it is currently written. Ms. Tatum inquired whether it is illegal for this Ordinance to not allow businesses to put up signs. Mr. Mark Taylor stated he is researching this concern and has not completed his research. Mr. Taylor stated if this Ordinance is adopted, then the potential cost of signs will get incredibly high. We need to allow competition. He stated he does not have a problem with signs coming down and moving to another location. Ms. Narvaiz stated she feels the Council