(a) Notwithstanding Section 5440, a city described in subdivision (b) may erect a nonconforming display if all of the following apply:
(1) The display is placed on property that the city has owned since before January 1, 1995.
(2) Not more than one additional display is added to the number of signs within the city that do not conform to this article as of January 1, 2000.
(3) The display is located within the boundaries of the city.
(4) Placement or maintenance of the display does not require the immediate trimming, pruning, topping, or removal of existing trees to provide visibility to the display, unless done as part of the normal landscape maintenance activities that would have been undertaken without regard to the placement or maintenance of the display.
(5) No public funds are required to be expended to pay for the costs of the display.
(6) The display does not impose additional liability on the Department of Transportation.
(7) The display does not cause a reduction in federal aid highway funds, as provided in Section 131 of Title 23 of the United States Code.
(8) All proceeds received by a participating city by allowing the erection of the nonconforming display are expended by the city solely for parks and programs for at-risk youth.
(9) The display does not advertise products or services which are directed at an adult population, including, but not limited to, alcohol, tobacco, and gambling activities.
(b) For purposes of this section, city is any city that meets all of the following conditions:
(1) The city’s population is 17,000 persons or less.
(2) The city’s annual budget is less than eight million dollars ($8,000,000).
(3) The city’s geographical area is less than 1.7 square miles.
(4) The city is located in an urbanized county containing a population of 6,000,000 or more persons.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 280, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2000.)