Tulsa Beautification Foundation, City Forge New Partnership

The City of Tulsa and the Tulsa Beautification Foundation have partnered to create a new sign program to reduce clutter on the arterial streets and eliminate public safety hazards resulting from illegal signs in the right of way.

The sign inspection and enforcement program was eliminated in 2001 when the general fund budget was reduced by $23 million.  With the lack of proper enforcement, illegal signs began popping up in the right of way and businesses installed signs without the proper City sign permits. The City’s sign inspector positions were cut, along with the City’s ability to enforce the codes.

In 2007, the Tulsa Beautification Foundation, which is linked to the Tulsa Community Foundation, approached Mayor Taylor about helping with beautification needs. Inspections Manager Shannon Benge submitted a grant request to fund a Sign Administration Program.

“Because of the work done over the past year- with both the advisory board and the Beautification Foundation, we have a great program to implement,” Mayor Taylor said. “The Foundation’s commitment to beautification throughout the city will help this program succeed.”

TBF is providing up to $500,000 in funding over four years. In the fifth year, the City’s sign program will be self-sustaining, based on revenue from permits and inspections fees.

"Our mission is pretty simple: make the city and region more beautiful,” said Tulsa Beautification Foundation President Phil Lakin. “One small step in this important process is to remove illegally-placed signs that have cluttered our medians and intersections for far too long. This grant is just one on a long list we'll be making to the City to make citizens more proud of where we live.”

With Foundation funding and City matching funds, the City has hired eight inspectors. The starting salary for each inspector if $32,000. The inspectors not only remove illegal signs from the right of way, but they also work with businesses that need assistance with their sign permits and advice on installation. When there is a violation, an official notice is sent to the business, which is given an opportunity to obtain a permit or take corrective action.

Benge said businesses are required to have proper permits for each sign in anticipation of stricter enforcement, on Aug. 1, the City inspectors notified all sign contractors in the City to give them time to apply for permits before the program launch.

“We continually work with the Sign Advisory Board and the Tulsa Beautification Foundation to improve the “Sign & Site Program” and modify ordinances to keep our city beautiful,” said Inspections Services Manager Shannon Benge.