Digital Billboards

Outrage over the potential installment of digital billboards in Tacoma has been building since at least July, when the Tacoma City Council agreed to settle a 2007 federal lawsuit brought against the city by Clear Channel (Clear Channel claimed Tacoma's anti-billboard ordinance, adopted in 1997, violated the company's right to free-speech). The controversial settlement, at its simplest, called for Clear Channel to remove over 250 conventional billboards and give up the rights to roughly 150 more, and in turn be allowed to construct up 36-38 digital billboards (depending on whose numbers you're going on). Tacoma residents didn't take kindly to this agreement, and have been vocal in their criticism of the City Council and other city officials responsible for it. Many citizens have taken to lobbying the Planning Commission and other involved city offices to oppose the settlement.

On Tuesday the Tacoma City Council passed a "Moratorium on Billboards," meaning the city will not accept applications for new billboards or modifications to existing billboards for up to six months. Mainly, council members say this action was meant to allow more time to consider and research the billboard issue.

The News Tribune's Lewis Kamb has been all over this escalating drama, especially this week, publishing interesting stories about the Planning Commission's potential recommendations and Clear Channel's legal threats to the city.

The Tacoma Daily Index also published extensive public comments from Tuesday night's meeting.

Redistricting

On Thursday the Pierce County Redistricting Committee met for the first time in front of an audience of about 20 concerned citizens. The County's new districts will be implemented in 2012, and may look very different from the current boundaries. You may recall the controversy this process drew in 2002, and the committee seems determined to avoid another boondoggle. The first proposed district map has been released and seems to make a valid effort to put communities back together fairly and logically.

There is no pleasing everyone, however, as residents of Summit and Waller, who often consider themselves one community, were outspoken Thursday about their separation on the proposed map. Another contentious drawing is District 7 (Gig Harbor and the Peninsula), which would now include Anderson and McNeil Islands and the City of Steilacoom. Many want the Islands and Steilacoom to stay in District 6 and not with Gig Harbor.

This map is only the first proposal and this process is only just getting started. It already seems inevitable that at least one incumbent Pierce County Councilmember will be drawn out of their district.

Great News for Tacoma

More accolades for Tacoma last week as city's Complete Streets Design Guidelines were recognized as one of the of the best complete street policies in the country by the National Complete Streets Coalition. The group reviewed more than 200 state and local policies and found Tacoma's guidelines to be among the top 15 in the nation.

Commission Opportunities

Both the City of Tacoma and Pierce County are currently seeking to fill seats on various volunteer commissions. Tacoma's Planning Commission is seeking volunteers to fill three openings - with one position specific to Council District 1, one open to applicants with public transit expertise, and a third (so far as I can tell) open to the entire community. Pierce County is seeking individuals to sit on its Arts Commission and Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission.