Budding Campaign Billboards
30th Place & South Utica More Pictures
A reader tipped me off about the "mini billboards" that Jeff Stava's camp are using. I took a few pictures and roughly measured the sign. The measurements are approximately 7.5 ft. wide by 4 ft. tall. Here is Tulsa's Political Campaign Sign City Ordinance:
Title 42I have emphasized the square feet surface area limit in the above ordinance. For the political camps that are having problems figuring out surface area. Surface area is calculated by taking the width and multiplying it by the height. Let's take for example Jeff Stava's campaign billboards -
CHAPTER 12SECTION 1201. USE UNIT 1. AREA-WIDE USES BY RIGHT
C. Use Conditions.
1. Political Campaign Signs -No political campaign sign shall be erected more than forty-five (45) days prior to any election, nor shall any sign be permitted to remain on any property more than seven (7) days following an election; no political campaign signs shall be permitted on public property and they shall be permitted on private property only with the consent of the property owner; the display surface area of each political campaign sign located in R or O Zoning Districts shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet in surface area; only one side of a double-faced sign shall be computed in the computation of display surface area.
7.5 ft x 4.0 ft = 30 square feet in surface area
This is almost double what the ordinance allows.
Here are some comments that Tulsa Topics has recently received about Stava's campaign signs.
I think this demonstrates Mr. Stava's developer mentality. Damn the zoning code, full speed ahead. If this is not nipped in the bud--other candidates will follow suit next election. I am making a complaint to neighborhood inspections.And another reader writes -
This misuse of political campaign signs by Jeff Stava shows either his ignorance or disregard for the law. I have learned never to attribute to evil what can just as easily be explained as ignorance. In my discussion with Stava, he seemed uninformed about several issues, so I conclude that ignorance is at play here.I personally haven't made up my mind for who I'll vote for in the Dist. 9 race. I plan on attending the District 9 Candidate Forum and listening to each Candidate's thoughts on the various issues before I decide, but I am disappointed in the seemingly flagrant disregard of the law.
Posted by Bobby on 
February 24, 2006 02:27 PM | 
Tulsa Tulsa+City+Elections+2006 Jeff+Stava City+Council+District+9
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Comments
Before you suggest someone is in flagrant disregard of the law, I would suggest you read the law - in its entirety.
Per 42 TRO 225:
"SECTION 225. SIGN EXCEPTIONS
A. The following signs shall not be subject to the sign limitations of the district in which they are located or the sign limitations in Section 1221 of this code.
7. Election campaign signs, if erected not more than forty-five (45) days prior to an election and removed within seven (7) days following election.
Posted by: Deena Glass | February 24, 2006 04:48 PM
Whether you’re breaking the law or not, it's not a good idea to agitate the people you're hoping will vote for you.
When I see those big ass signs, the first thing that goes through my mind is "What a freak'n egomanic!"
Posted by: Tommy | February 24, 2006 06:05 PM
Sorry in my fit of rage I misspelled egomaniac. :)
Posted by: Tommy | February 24, 2006 06:07 PM
What's the legal's on "campaign sign located in R or O Zoning Districts"
What specifically are "R" or "O" zones? Also, have you seen the size of Mayor Unfortunate's signs?
cheer's
Blackfox
Posted by: Blackfox | February 24, 2006 06:36 PM
wow, that is one butt-ugly sign.
Posted by: meeciteewurkor | February 24, 2006 07:02 PM
Just for the record, the original Ordinance quoted was 1201. The Exception Section 225 which excluded limitations referred to those contained in 1221, not 1201.
It appears Mr. Stava is out of compliance. That is, unless 1221 is a typo.
Since none of you folks actually provided a link to the original, it makes it hard to verify.
Posted by: XonOFF | February 24, 2006 09:37 PM
http://www.cityoftulsa.org/OurCity/Ordinances/Title42-12.asp
Posted by: meeciteewurkor | February 24, 2006 10:37 PM
You know, now that I've perused the ordinances on the city's site, that thing really needs to be made more user friendly.
hmm.....
Posted by: meeciteewurkor | February 24, 2006 10:40 PM
Hey, y'all, according to our wonderful Mr.Hardt, he said in a public works committee re: campaign signs, that anyone can call unFortune's hot-line and report signs that are in violation of the ordinance. In this case, he was speaking of signs located in easements. I have taken him up on that and everytime I call, I remind the recipient of what Mr. Hardt said. So, why can't this same signage apply. It's breaking the law, and Mr.Hardt made it clear he would take action on any reports that are given. I say call the hot-line and see what happens. It's worked in Dist.6, so far. I just keep calling and calling...........
Posted by: Honestly | February 24, 2006 10:42 PM
SECTION 1221. USE UNIT 21. BUSINESS SIGNS AND OUTDOOR
ADVERTISING
The Tulsa Ordinance that is quoted is 1201
Per 42 TRO Revises 1221 NOT 1201
Posted by: Bobby![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tulsatopics.com/tulsatopics/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 24, 2006 11:06 PM
Mee: The Ordinances really need to be PDF versions or hyper linked for each Chapter so that they are easily navigated and printable.
The City needs some good IT guys!
Posted by: Bobby![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tulsatopics.com/tulsatopics/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 24, 2006 11:26 PM
The city actually does have very good IT guys, they're just overworked. Not to mention they've all been grabbed to go through Been's email...
Actually....
I've got a little plan for those ordinances.. and it has nothing to do with pdf's...
:)
Posted by: meeciteewurkor | February 25, 2006 07:49 AM
http://www.cityoftulsa.org/OurCity/Ordinances/Title42-2.asp
Anyone see a Section 225 here?
Ah,here it is:
http://www.cityoftulsa.org/OurCity/Ordinances/documents/21100.pdf
Ordinance 21100, August 2005
As I read it, it does seem to omit any other requirements ("of the district in which they are located") for campaign signs.
And, would also seem to eliminate easment and right-of-way requirements, size requirements, et al. So, _anything_ is allowed.
August 2005, hmmm....any perceived anticipation by our Mayor here?
Or, just poor legislation?
So, just what ordinance are Public Works' folks using to pick up signs now?
Posted by: XonOFF | February 25, 2006 12:20 PM
I have on good authority that Section 1221 is not applicable to R and O zoned districts. For R & O districts, 1201 is the rule.
R = Residential Districts
O = Office Districts.
Posted by: Bobby![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tulsatopics.com/tulsatopics/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 25, 2006 01:33 PM