One Victory for the City in Billboard Battle

The ruling comes as the city's elected officials struggle to limit the size, location and brightness of new signs. Since the ban was approved seven years ago, [Deputy City Attorney Rocky] Delgadillo has had to respond to more than a dozen lawsuits, including one that led to a legal settlement allowing 840 billboards across the city to be converted to digital signs.

Faced with an outcry from neighborhood groups that called the city's action ineffective, the council approved a temporary 90-day sign ban while the city's lawyers attempt to make its billboard law capable of withstanding a legal challenge. Although the moratorium took effect Dec. 26, some unpermitted signs have continued going up, according to the city's lawyers.

Councilman Bill Rosendahl, whose Westside district takes in coastal neighborhoods, applauded today's ruling, saying it would give the city credibility in its battle against billboards.

'Obviously, we have seen billboards pop up like mushrooms in our district," he said. "It has been totally out of control.'"