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Schertz council narrows proposed temporary-sign rules, directs staff to limit feather flags to 14 days
Summary
After public comment and weeks of staff proposals, Schertz council gave direction to prohibit balloon/inflatable signs and to allow feather flags on a limited basis (14 days per year); no ordinance was adopted and staff will incorporate the change into a full UDC rewrite.
Schertz City Council members on Feb. 18 directed staff to prohibit balloon and inflatable temporary signs and to allow feather flags only for short periods, while declining to adopt an ordinance at the meeting.
Planning manager Emily Delgado reviewed a series of drafts the city has debated since November and described the Feb. 4 proposal staff brought back to council: “feather flags would be allowed” while “balloon signs, including inflatable signs, are prohibited regardless of size,” and temporary sign permits would be issued in 30-day increments. Delgado said the topic has returned “take 5 for temporary signs,” reflecting repeated revisions and public input.
The council discussion followed public comments from residents who said the city should avoid creating visual clutter. Resident Dana Eldridge urged council to reject the change, saying it could lead to “a tacky look” along corridors and create safety and vandalism risks. Michelle Turelisky told the council the original ordinance from 19 years ago addressed a past problem of excessive signage and said she opposed allowing flags.
Council members debated competing priorities: supporting small businesses’ need for visibility versus preserving a consistent city appearance. “I do think the number of total days is probably a little bit too much,” Councilmember Tim Brown said, arguing shorter windows would meet small-business needs around openings or special events. Brown proposed a short period for feather flags “somewhere in the neighborhood of a…grand opening. You don't need any more than 2 weeks, 14 days.”
Councilmember Macaluso and Mayor Pro Tem Hayward said they preferred banning feather flags and inflatables to avoid a cluttered look; Councilmember Westbrook said he opposed balloon and inflatable signs. Other members, including Councilmember Watson, said they were comfortable treating feather flags as temporary signs under the UDC rules but supported shortening duration.
Council members coalesced around staff's most recent draft with one change: limiting feather flags to 14 days per calendar year and retaining a prohibition on balloon/inflatable signs. No formal vote was taken; council directed staff to incorporate that direction into the full rewrite of Unified Development Code Article 11 and return the amended language to council at a later meeting.
The item on the agenda was Ordinance 25S004 (amendments to the Schertz Code of Ordinances, Unified Development Code Article 11, Sections 21.11.6 and 21.11.17). Delgado said staff will include the council's direction in the comprehensive Article 11 rewrite and bring it back for formal action in a future meeting.
Council did not adopt any ordinance language at the Feb. 18 meeting; the item was left for future consideration after staff draft revisions.
