Agoura Hills Rejects Legalizing Pole-Top Advertising Signs

Voters in Agoura Hills overwhelmingly rejected two measures that would have legalized existing pole-top advertising signs, and elected three candidates who ran on a pro-environment platform.

By about a 3-1 margin, voters rejected measures that would have allowed pole-top advertising signs to remain in place. The city has fought with about a dozen businesses for years to take down the signs.

About a dozen pole signs, some nearly 100 feet high, tower above motorists along both sides of the Ventura Freeway in the affluent suburb. Residents and city officials have complained that the signs create the wrong image and pose an obstacle to city efforts to beautify the roadside.

The defeat of both measures leaves in place a city law that requires removal of pole signs.

City Atty. Greg Stepanicich said the City Council must officially reject appeals by merchants who want to leave their signs in place, before enforcing their removal at the owners’ expense. The council already has held public hearings on the matter.

“The inclination of the council was to reject the requests,” Stepanicich said. “I expect them to deal with that issue within 60 days.”

Ann Stires, a political consultant for about a dozen merchants trying to preserve their signs, said it was unclear whether her clients would take legal action to try to block the anti-sign law.

“At this point, I think we’re going to let the dust settle for a couple of weeks to see if they want to do something together or each on their own,” Stires said.

Les Hardie, a local homeowner activist who helped organize Citizens Against Pole Signs, said the vote shows that residents’ commitment to removing the towering signs has not wavered since the anti-sign ordinance was approved eight years ago.

“This was a resounding rejection of the claims of sign backers that there is broad public support for pole signs in the community,” Hardie said. “That was what they were using to try to coerce the City Council into a compromise.”

The City Council election paralleled the outcome of the pole sign measures, with environmentally minded candidates sweeping all three open seats.

Incumbent Fran Pavley, who has served on the council since incorporation in 1982, won her fourth consecutive term, while Ed Corridori and Denis Weber also won.

The top three candidates will serve four-year council terms after a swearing-in ceremony Dec. 8, said Pat Manning, Agoura Hills city clerk.

They will join Louise Rishoff and Joan Yacovone on the five-member council.

The losers, Paul (Gary) Mueller, Steve Soelberg and Lyle Michelson, ran on a pro-business slate and had support of the Concerned Tax Contributors, a campaign committee formed to support pole-sign measures.

In Westlake Village, Kris Carraway joined James Emmons and Douglas Yarrow, incumbents who were up for election on the City Council.

Emmons, who serves as mayor, led all candidates with 1,666 votes, representing about 27.1% of the total number of ballots cast.