BUENA PARK : City OKs Fees, Rules for Newspaper Racks
The City Council this week voted in favor of imposing an annual fee for newspaper racks, despite a request from the Los Angeles Times to postpone a decision.
The ordinance, approved 4-0, sets a $15 installation fee per rack and a sliding scale of fees for renewals.
The ordinance also regulates placement of news racks in public areas to clear sidewalks for disabled people. It also sets size limits on racks and allows city officials to impound those that need repair.
Cynthia Amer, a Times representative, said the company is willing to relocate some of its 44 racks, but she objected to the fee schedule. She asked for a delay on the vote until newspaper representatives could discuss the fees with city officials.
“We are very strongly opposed to any ordinance that is a per-rack ordinance,” Amer said.
Councilman Don R. Griffin said the fees reflect the cost of city inspections of news racks.
“The evidence before us shows that the staff was extremely fair,” Griffin said of the fee schedule.
Owners of newspaper racks have 90 days to comply with the regulations.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
