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One Digital Sign vs. Millions of Taxpayer Dollars? A Unanimous City Council Got It Right This referendum process could cost Millcreek taxpayers millions of dollars. It delays the construction of a needed Unified Police Department precinct and city hall. Taxpayers will pay twice to relocate city offices and our police and continue to pay the construction loan. THE PROBLEM: Millcreek and UPD currently lease space that expires June 2023. Both new offices will be part of a mixed-use city center known as Millcreek Common. Because Millcreek had to acquire the property under threat of condemnation, it had no choice but to take title to the property with a significant development impediment: a Reagan Outdoor Advertising billboard located at 1333 East 3300 South and associated right-of-first refusal to purchase the property. Billboards have special rights under Utah law. An eminent domain/condemnation battle with Reagan could take 3-8 years of delay in litigation and cost Millcreek taxpayers millions of dollars. Could the city solve this problem without spending any taxpayer dollars while removing as many billboards as possible? THE SOLUTION: The city negotiated with Reagan to terminate its right-of-first refusal and eliminate the equivalent of three billboards, including the billboard at 1333 East 3300 South, in exchange for Reagan building and operating one digital sign located on city property. The concept of trading static signs for fewer digital ones was supported by all four community councils (Mt. Olympus, East Mill Creek, Canyon Rim, and Millcreek). After robust public engagement in two planning commission meetings and three city council meetings, the Millcreek City Council acted. They unanimously voted to allow only one digital sign, if Reagan removes the equivalent of three billboards, and terminates the right-of-first refusal. No additional digital district signs will be allowed in Millcreek. The one digital sign will be limited to: Message rotations every eight seconds No videos No sexually oriented products or services ---PAGE BREAK--- No products harmful to minors, including alcohol, tobacco, or firearms No political candidates or issues Millcreek businesses receive a 10% discount for advertisement on this sign Millcreek gets 40% of sign rotations at no charge to advertise community events Must be dimmed at night Must include pixel blinder technology to protect dark skies and peripheral light pollution Not exceed 26.5’ (compared to the 33.5’ tall existing sign) An ordinance change was required to permit the new digital sign. On November 8, 2021, the city council passed Ordinance 21-48, which is the subject of this referendum. Also, that night, the city council passed Ordinance 21-49, which approved the sign agreement with Reagan. The Referendum does not challenge Ordinance 21-49. Without an agreement with Reagan, the existing billboard stays on Millcreek Common indefinitely. Forever is a long time. This agreement trades a permanent right for a 40-year lease. A signage swap reduces billboards in Millcreek and saves taxpayers millions. It allows the construction of city hall and the new police precinct to move forward. Repealing the ordinance in a referendum costs our community and solves nothing.