City Council adopts sign-code amendment requiring contact info on temporary right-of-way signs
Loading...
Summary
The City Council held a special meeting and unanimously approved Ordinance No. 51 33 (PLH25-0013) to amend the sign code so temporary signs in the public right of way must include contact information; the ordinance takes effect Aug. 27 if filed tonight.
The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 51 33 (PLH25-0013), a sign-code text amendment requiring contact information on temporary signs placed in the public right of way, during a special meeting called July 1. Mayor Hartke and all council members present voted unanimously to approve final adoption.
Council called the special meeting to move the ordinance into effect ahead of the fall election cycle. "The first day that political signs can be posted for the November is August 25," a city staff member told the council; by approving adoption tonight, staff said the ordinance would be effective Aug. 27 instead of the later Sept. 10 effective date that would result from waiting for the next regular meeting.
Council member Poston, who moved adoption, said she appreciated the special meeting and supported acting early so residents and candidates would not have to "backtrack." The motion was seconded by Council member Encinas. After a clarification from the city attorney that the amendment "applies to all temporary signs," council members confirmed the ordinance requires contact information (name, address or phone number) on temporary signs and allows removal of signs that do not comply.
Council member Harris said she supported the approval but added it "still needs more work" and expressed interest in revisiting the ordinance in the fall to strengthen it while avoiding "unintentional consequences." The city clerk reported there were no public comment cards for the special meeting.
The formal action recorded was a motion to approve the final adoption of Ordinance No. 51 33 (PLH25-0013), which passed unanimously. The ordinance, as discussed at the meeting, applies to all temporary signs in the right of way and includes a requirement that signs display contact information; staff may remove signs that fail to comply. If the city had delayed adoption until the next regular meeting, staff stated the effective date would have been Sept. 10.
No additional amendments or conditions were recorded in the meeting minutes beyond the council members' comment that they expect to continue work on the ordinance in coming months. The city clerk confirmed there were no public comments submitted for the special meeting.
Council and staff framed the timing decision as an administrative step to reduce confusion for residents and campaigners ahead of the election posting period rather than as a change to other substantive permitting processes.
For reference, the ordinance is recorded on the agenda as "PLH25-0013 — temporary signs in the right of way; sign code text amendment; Ordinance No. 51 33."
