Government
BY BEN THOMPSON
A political campaign framed around public safety is seeking to bring several new billboards along Round Rock’s highways, an issue that could now be decided by city voters. A group of area businesses has backed the initia- tive so far, while some city o cials said the e ort is deceptive and unrelated to public safety needs. What’s happening A drive to amend Round Rock’s city charter is aimed at allowing up to a dozen new electronic message centers, or EMCs, o I-35 and SH 45 that are currently prohibited under city policy. Started by the Keep Round Rock Safe political action committee, the group says it represents businesses in favor of updating the EMC rules. The privately owned and operated signage would feature advertising with no requirement to feature local, small businesses. However, the political campaign is billed as a public safety initiative since EMCs can display local emergency notices. Petitions explained Texans can petition their local governments on various issues, such as enacting new city policies. For a policy to land on a ballot, its petition must be signed by the lesser of either 20,000 registered city voters or 5% of a city’s voter pool. On Dec. 26, the PAC announced it had submitted its petition to Round Rock with just over 4,200 signatures—well above the city’s threshold. City City, PAC clash over billboard petition process
A political action committee, Keep Round Rock Safe, is working to add more billboards along local highways.
BEN THOMPSON COMMUNITY IMPACT
of this thing will be MediaChoice,” Morgan told Community Impact . “Their pockets will be lined with money for people that want to advertise. And look, it’s going to go to the highest bidder.” PAC spokesperson Craig Holmes said he was disappointed to hear the city’s response. “Private businesses do bene t the public. Advertising is an important part of the economic ecosystem of any city,” he said. “Businesses adver- tise; attract new customers; generate income; grow their businesses; employ more people; remit more sales tax revenue to the city, county and state. Small business is the backbone of a city’s economic vitality.”
of Round Rock sta were still in the process of verifying the signatures as of Dec. 29. The background The petition follows attempts by Austin-based advertising company MediaChoice to lobby City Council members to change the sign ordinances. In recent months, campaign messaging and peti- tion drive canvassers appeared in the community to promote the e ort. Mayor Craig Morgan said he thinks the situation has confused residents, and that EMCs will not bene t the community. “They’re using them as a vehicle to try to get advertising. The only winners that will be out
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