Initiative petition seeks outdoor advertising limits

Missouri Secretary of State Rebecca Cook has approved an initiative petition for circulation by the Save Our Scenery 2000 Campaign Committee.

The group, based in Columbia, is proposing a change in state laws to limit the construction of new outdoor advertising and to increase the authority of local governments to regulate that advertising within their jurisdictions.

The proposal is designed to reduce the number of outdoor advertising signs around Missouri, particularly in scenic and historic areas, and to reduce the number of large signs.

Existing signs in certain areas would be allowed to remain but could not be replaced.

For the measure to be on the Nov. 7, 2000, general election ballot, signatures must be obtained from registered voters equal to 5 percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in six of Missouri's nine congressional districts.

The state's constitution requires that initiative petitions must be submitted to the Secretary of State's Office six months prior to the general election, which will be May 7, 2000.

The ballot title for this proposal states:

"Shall Missouri statutes be amended to prohibit the construction of most new outdoor advertising and to further restrict existing outdoor advertising along all National Highway System highways in Missouri