Capecoral.com reports that the Cape Coral City Council has approved a Lamar proposal for two digital billboards at the foot of Cape Coral Bridge off Veterans Parkway near Del Prado Boulevard by a 6-2 vote.  Lamar was the only company to submit an RFP for the sign.  Here are the details:

• The signs are 10.5 by 36 and 50 feet tall.

• Lamar will sell advertising on the boards under a 20 year agreement with the city with two 10 year renewal terms.

• Lamar will give the signs to the city.

• Lamar will pay $54,200 to the city annually and will donate $12,500/year to the Cape Coral Caring Center to feed the hungry.

Insider’s take:  Only 1 company submitted an RFP.  Insider wonders if this was because the sign reverts back to the city at the end of the of the lease.  Some council members complained about the potential for distraction during the approval process and Joe Mazurkiewiz, President of Lamar’s Consultant BJM Consulting had the great response:

“The research is all over the place. How close signs are to right-of-ways, do they have animation, do they allow video? None of these are allowed by Lamar. There are 25 digital billboards in Lee County. They have been around for eight years. No lawsuits or complaints due to the digital billboards. Police use electronic billboards for public service announcements. So does the city, their parks & recreation department. You can’t say on one hand we think these are dangerous, and then on the other use them to get your messages out.”

Representative Cicilline, are you listening?