Council weighs 15‑year billboard leases with Lamar Advertising, seeks neighborhood outreach

Harrisburg's council considered several resolutions authorizing lease agreements with Lamar Advantage GP Company LLC to construct and maintain billboards on city‑owned parcels, including two proposed signs fronting Paxton Street and three existing signs on South Cameron Street.

Antonio Magna, business administrator, said the Paxton Street agreements (Resolutions 10 and 11) would create two new signs at the 1812/1820 Paxton Street location under 15‑year leases with staged rent increases. "In the resolutions there is a breakdown of the monthly payments," Magna said, summarizing the contract structure and a revenue‑share option that would pay a percentage of gross revenues to the city if revenues exceed specified thresholds.

Mike Adams, Lamar's real estate director, told council that historically such projects take 18–21 months but Lamar had agreed to a nine‑month timeline for construction on these sites where feasible. "Normally these things take about 18 months to 21 months to get done, but we agreed to do the nine months," Adams said, adding that Paxton Street board design would be adjusted to fit neighborhood character and could include city branding.

For the Cameron Street locations (Resolutions 12–14), staff said the contracts would maintain existing boards with lower annual rents (starting at about $1,200 per year and increasing to $1,800 after year six) and standard terms. Council members generally supported the leases as a revenue source and asked for clear neighborhood outreach on design and placement near PennDOT work zones.

Council opened questions about advertising access and cross‑promotion; Lamar provided public contact information (lamar.com) and offered to coordinate with neighborhood groups on design and community uses. The committee moved the resolutions to the next legislative agenda for formal votes.