Commission accepts banner donation and agrees to be permit applicant for downtown bollard signs

The Historic Preservation Commission voted to accept donated banners from the AIMS (A Glimpse Inside) committee and to authorize a commission member to serve as the applicant for the required sign permits that will cover insurance for bollard-mounted signage downtown.

The action allows the community group to display one-sided banners on bollards at four Main Street intersections in early October for an event scheduled Oct. 18 and addresses an insurance requirement the organizers could not meet as an informal committee.

Sharon Worth, chairperson for the AIMS committee, explained the group is informal and not a incorporated entity, and that “when we looked at the banner for Ballard's application, and saw the insurance requirement, that presented a pretty large problem for us.” Worth said the committee would purchase the banners and planned two single-sided banners at Douglas, Kellogg, Burnett and Clark; the permit process allows them to remain in place for 14 days.

Commissioners discussed recusals and quorum issues after one commissioner said she was on the AIMS committee and would recuse from voting; staff advised that three voters would still constitute a quorum of the current membership for the vote. A motion to accept the donation carried, and the commission then authorized a member to be the permit applicant and work with staff to submit the application.

Commissioner comments during the item were limited and procedural; staff and AIMS representatives confirmed cost and timeline details: the committee will pay for banners, the city will hold the permit/insurance, and banners will be installed for roughly two weeks around the October event.