BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 223
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Date of Hearing: April 22, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
223 (Dahle) - As Introduced February 3, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires Caltrans, until January 1, 2021, to allow the
placement of business logo signage along Interstate 80 at the
exits leading to the City of Truckee (Placer County).
AB 223
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FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor up-front costs to Caltrans to install the signs, fully
offset over time by permit fees paid by businesses benefitting
from the logo signage.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. The business logo program provides motorists with
information signs, along freeways in rural areas with less
than 5,000 population, regarding specific roadside businesses
offering gas, food, lodging, camping, 24-hour pharmacy
services, or approved recreational attractions. Caltrans
charges each business benefitting from the program a fee of at
least 25% more than Caltrans' cost for placing and maintaining
signs.
Last session, the Legislature passed AB 178, a similar bill to
assist the City of Lincoln. That city's business community had
been negatively impacted by the opening of the Lincoln Bypass
the year before, which diverted traffic from the historic
downtown and its fuel and food service providers. Lincoln was
not otherwise eligible to participate in the business logo
program because its population exceeds the definition of
rural.
2)Purpose. This bill intends to provide a similar, limited-time
exception to the Business Logo Signing Program for
participation by the City of Truckee. Truckee has a population
of over 16,000 and, like Lincoln, has always been ineligible
for participation in the Business Logo Signing Program.
Caltrans was unable to determine why business logo signs were
originally placed near Truckee. In 2008, at least 11 business
logo sign accounts in the Truckee area were closed. Following
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removal of these signs, Caltrans installed general service
signs directing traffic to exits where food, fuel, and lodging
are available without displaying specific business logos.
According to the author, businesses in Truckee were negatively
impacted following removal of logo signs. The author also
suggests the bill is necessary because construction of the
Truckee Bypass in 2002 has resulted in a downturn in Truckee
businesses.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081