Council tightens billboard rules, adds digital-brightness and distance limits

The City Council adopted amendments to several zoning districts to update billboard requirements, including size, height, minimum distances and brightness restrictions for digital signs. Planner Ilya Gutmann said the city reviewed how peer cities regulate billboards and adjusted its code to better control billboard proliferation. The amendments update provisions in agricultural, general business, limited industrial and general industrial districts where billboards are allowed by conditional use permit. Planning commissioners asked for clearer language allowing the city to use digital signs for public-safety announcements; staff revised wording and reported no remaining opposition. The presenter said existing billboards will remain compliant under the new rules. Amanda moved adoption of the ordinance; John seconded. The council closed the vote and the motion passed.